In No Words Or Less
A life with horses and photographyArchive for April, 2006
Mad Cow
Ok. So I was on this “camera high” when I went riding with J yesterday afternoon.
A few days before, I mailed M to ask her if she would be kind enough to sms me or mail me or call me when she _was_ going to ride on the weekend/public holiday.
I got no reply. No response at all. So, in MY world, no response means the person has not read the mail or the person does not think you are worth a reply and is ignoring you. Either way – i said “stuff it” and decided to ride yesterday, on a public holiday.
J and I got back, after a wonderful, relaxing, gentle stroll down to the grass patch (the boys had had their exercise when we tried to catch them in the paddock… galloping and cavorting around like colts!) we were all smiles and happy faces and WHAM. There she was. M. She bitched and swore and ranted at me. I asked if she had received my mail, she said “yes, but I did not feel the need to reply.” because she thought we had a “standing agreement”.
Er yeah, M, that was like TWO YEARS AGO. Things change! And all i wanted to KNOW was if she would MIND if i rode when she COULD NOT. She bitched. goodness. She was just lucky i was in a good mood. Or I would have laid into her like a drunken sailor.
She shoved her finger in my face and bitched and said “if you’re NOT happy with riding monday, wednesday and friday, you tell me now” i said i was not complaining, i was simply looking out for the horse, as it was unfair to leave him standing for 5 days because she was “having issues”. Wow. I guess she was mad. No real reason to be. I’m not a sneaky person, i’m pretty straightforward. This was, honestly, the first time i’d ridden Ex on one of “her” days. But to me, lack of response does NOT mean “we have an agreement”… it means “i’m thinking about it” or “i hate you” or something like that. so…. i’m annoyed. but also, i’m feeling vaguely ill and upset, because i am not a person who likes conflict and i don’t like people overreacting and getting mad with me for no reason. misunderstandings make me sick to the stomach. Communication is key.
anyway. i needed to get that out or i’d go mad. i’m still feeling a little ill… but i’ll get over it, because i _know_ that she overreacted. I also feel that in this case B might stand up for me. I’m hoping he will. They are HIS horses afterall, not hers. But you never know… she’s his ex girlfriend… she might still have sway.
*shrug*
i’m going to try not to stress about it. It’s difficult for me. But i have so much else in my life, better things…
technorati tags: mad cow, riding, horses, stupid people, losing my temper
Joy in buckets
Somehow, my package from the US elluded both the US and SA customs offices and landed up at my local postoffice.
I collected it today.
I am so happy i could cry.
I have unpacked the boxes (and seen all the cute little additions that JC made for me, along with wrapping all the boxes up separately like little gifts) and have of course taken photos – with my camera phone…
all up on flickr.
I’m waiting for the battery to charge 
the relief is incredible.
technorati tags: camera, photography, travels, Customs, happiness
twisted
so there go my big dreams.
camera is “lost” apparently.
Usps will only refund the insurance after 60days.
so.
i get nada.
nothing.
zip.
zilch.
and my Mavica is drowned after sunday’s show. it’s still drying out and i don’t even know if it will work once it has completely dried.
*shrug*
once again, Universe, you win.
Universe 1 kitty 0
K.O.
technorati tags: camera, photography, misery, self-pity, zero, what now?
NRA Eventing – Cross country – Sunday 23 April 2006
I got totally _drenched_. (today and yesterday) My poor Sony Mavica drowned eventually and i'm waiting for it to dry out. I hope it still works after all this.
The Common was plastered with rain for the entire 3 hours i was there. It happens every time they have eventing in Noordhoek It's a joke amongst the organisers and participants.
But all the riders and horses still decided to compete! Nothing stops riders… we're a mad lot.
My camera is still not here. I called the SA Customs office, and the package has not even arrived in the CPT yet. Apparently it has not even been sent off from the Seattle USPS office. IF that's the case, I will be very upset. I'm really counting on this camera, to help me earn a living!
*sigh*
Hopefully I will get paid by JP and blick, for this site photography i've done. I'm waiting for W to arrive, to help me sort out some pages to send through. She's the creative design-savvy one. I'm going to pay her, of course, and put her name as credit. It will be a good opportunity for her as well.
technorati tags: cameras, photography, horses, cross country, noordhoek, cape town, south africa, rain storms
snippet 10
“This is Georgina. She will be be joining you on the tactical training today. Make her welcome.”
Sarge stood next to a young woman in civvies. He had an unreadable expression on his face. All business today. He left the room.
Stepman of course leapt up from his chair and shoved his hand out at the woman. She looked at his hand for a beat and then took it and shook it.
She didn’t smile, but you could see the tension go out of her shoulders.
“What you here for, Georgina?” asked Stepman, settling himself on the corner of one of the briefing room desks.
The rest of the squad were watching now, and the woman took a deep breath.
“I am, apparently, your new tactical advantage.” she said quietly. She had a wry smile on her face as she said it, and you could just see she was repeating something she’d been told all too often.
There was a bit of laughter, and Chase was about to ask for clarification (because that’s what he always did) but the door swung open and Sarge stepped in again, this time with two bigshots. One in a suit, the other in DGUs.
“Gentleman,” said the suit, trying to look important,”Georgina is very special and must be treated as such. She will rely on you for protection as she is not a trained soldier. You will rely on her for information. Very special information. You will discover her incredible talents during this next training mission. Your squad was selected, after careful research, because you seem to be an open-minded and intelligent lot. Your sarge is vouching for you here, so don’t let him down.”
Sarge winced a little at the last comment, but didn’t meet any eyes. He was a stoic, steady man who only said what was needed, but he always had your back.
The suit and the uniform left and Sarge stood at the blackboard. You could see him gathering his thoughts before he spoke.
Georgina stood to one side of the room, clearly still very anxious.
“Boys and girls.” said Sarge,”I’ve been briefed on Georgina’s capabilities. I consider myself pretty open-minded and well-read, but even so, it took me a little while to accept things. You are free to say what you feel, but only _after_ this training exercise. Clear?”
We all yessir’d.
“If even half of these things are true, we’re a lucky squad. If this works out.”
We were pondering this when Beacon raised his hand.
“Sir”
“A question, Beacon?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Continue.”
“What exactly can she do, Sir?” he asked.
“Basically, boys, Georgina can see ’round corners.” said Sarge.
technorati tags: snippet10
Hot DAMN!
So there I was… ready to go, camera in hand. Sitting on the curb outside my house, waiting for today's "driver". My guide today was C. I waited.
And Waited.
And Waited.
10am was the pickup. I got a call at 10:15am to say he would "be there soon".
What exactly "soon" was, i don't know. So i went inside, because the wind was cold.
And I waited some more. I was getting peeved. I was ready to be all miffed at this C person.
He arrives 10:30am (nearly on the dot) and HOT DAMN!
There was no way I could be mad at him. He was gorgeous. Wearing smart pants and a smart shirt. He even smelled nice. Wicked smile. Big dark eyes. Butt you could bounce coins off. And the true test – the way he drove. Lawdy. Sexy as heck. He was also very intelligent, and funny too. Made me laugh. Only a year older than me – a capricorn…
So I had a nice bit of eye-candy to keep me happy while we drove all the way out to Worcester and Paarl.
Of course the lust was totally one-sided (my side) so I don't expect to hear a peep from him. But that's ok, it was a good day anyway.
technorati tags: PE boy, freelance, photography, sites, Worcester, Paarl, travelling, capricorn
ImgSeek
Luck by any other name…
Sometimes i get these weird “i need change” spurts.
I’ve been feeling antsy for a few weeks now, especially after all the house sitting i’ve been doing.
I got home today, from housesitting for C. I had a good time, as i always do – Tigger and Gonz are wonderful dogs who i have fun with and who take good care of me – but i’m tired now. Body, mind, spirit. So i was desperate to get home. Then when i got home, even though it was so good to see my dogs and cats and family, i felt all restless and .. out of place. I needed change and i needed it fast.
I measured things and started shuffling bits of furniture around. My mother suggested that since I was all “full of energy” i should hang the “new” curtains up. Great Idea! I got all DIY and stuff, and then of course the “but that won’t work because” started. I took the old curtain lintel off the wall – to find a couple of extra holes in the wall. (At least it was painted). So I have to putty those up… Then i measured the pole i’m putting in, and it was 30cm too long. So i had to ask my brother to hacksaw that off. Then, when trying to drill the holes in the wall, the drill is too weak, which begins the Power Drill Search. I thought perhaps it was just because my drill is a battery powered one, so it just needed to be charged. So it’s sitting here on my desk charging. Then, while i waited for it to charge, i started putting the pretty rail thingies on – they, of course, don’t fit on the ends of the pole. So i had to start trying to whittle down the inside to fit on the pole. All this and i haven’t even opened the curtain packets yet. I have this horrible dread that something ELSE is going to be “not quite right”.
I’m just so TIRED of it. Can’t things just WORK first time? Like they do for other people?
I feel better now. Venting is good. I’m also tetchy because I haven’t ridden in days and days. It’s been public holidays and Ex is “booked” by M for those days and weekends. Even though 95% of the time she NEVER EVEN PITCHES to ride. All heck would break loose if i turned up to ride and she was there, or if she came to ride and i was out on Ex.
And poor M is having more issues with her knee, so she can’t ride till the end of May! She asked me to ride Dexter for her as often as i can.
I need to snap out of this doldrum I seem to be circling. I have so much going right. I need to just concentrate on that. The good things. All these horses to ride! My camera is on its way! I’m healthy and fit and alive! I’m not totally broke, thanks to T’s husband and the freelance photography I’ve done for them! My brother won’t have to pay my bills this month, if i’m lucky!
Just get over it, girl!
technorati tags: DIY, self-pity, horses, people, camera, travel, dogs, cats
Unhappy Horses
IOL: Horse sickness test results pending
This link was sent to me by an alert friend…
I'm hoping this has been resolved. I'm really hoping it's not AHS.
technorati tags: African horse sickness, horses, Cape Town, IOL
Wikipedia Birthday meme
I was tagged… so here goes…
Wikipedia Birthday meme
Following Yogi’s lead. and Marwei’s
1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. In the Search box, type your birth month and day (but not year).
3. List three events that happened on your birthday.
4. List two important birthdays and one interesting death.
5. Post it.
My birthday is the 29 September:
Events
- 61 BC – Pompey the Great celebrates his third triumph, for victories over the pirates and the end of the Mithridatic Wars on his 45th birthday.
- 48 BC – Ptolemy XIII of Egypt had Pompey murdered and his head cut off on his 58th birthday. Pompey’s head and ring were kept for Julius Caesar.
- 855 – Pope Benedict III becomes pope.
Births
- 2 BC – Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem of Judea. (Luke 2:1-7)
- 1328 – Joan of Kent, wife of Edward, the Black Prince (d. 1385)
Deaths
Taa daa
Posted…
technorati tags: birthday, wikpedia september 29
