Horses and Humus

One of my favourite things to do is go horseriding. While on warfarin last year I wasn't able to, as any fall or accident could have been fatal, but at last I am able to make up for lost time.

My first ever riding experience was near Lake Windermere, and it was quite a trial by fire. Nowadays it can be much closer to home, and although there a a large number of stables in the area, we prefer Studland Stables in the Purbecks.

I have fantasies it's true, and each time I climb upon my steed, I imagine myself as a rider of the Rohirrim, a warrior of Gondor, going into noble battle.

The reality is of course a little quieter though, and as we enter the stable courtyard, we are welcomed by Tom, sticking his head out to find out if he's the one going out today.

Not Tom today, but for me it's going to be Megan, seen below getting her gear secured before coming out.

 

And for Amanda.......Flash!

It was a beautiful, sunny and very cold day, as we rode through the woods and heathland of the hills. Flash and Megan taking every opportunity to stop for a drink.

It was great fun, and I had missed it so much.

 

Unfortunately, the riding had to stop at some point, and so we brought the horses back to the stables, and I had one last chat and stroke with Megan.

 

Amanda said her goodbyes Flash, and we headed of to Lulworth for a bite to eat in the pub there.

The following day, both of us woke up with 'John Wayne' legs. It was another wonderfully sunny day, and we decided to grab the bull by the horns, and have another go at the allotment. It's been neglected over the last few months, it's now February, and things need to start getting done there if we want any fruit and veg this year. Before anything else is done, we had to build some compost bins, and so it was off to Marchants Nursery, where Laurence the nursery manager had put some wooden pallets aside for us to use, and so the van was filled with as many as possible and we set off back to the allotment.

The compost bins are going to be at the back of the allotment, and so I carried them all there before making a start on nailing them together.

 

While Amanda carried on clearing brambles from the metal fence, I started with the hammer and nails.

And in no time at all the first one was up, and Amanda started to creosote it.

 

The remaining pallets were smaller than the first, and so the second bin was also. Leaf mould and grass etc will go in the larger one for at least a year, where it will be turned periodically, and the following year it will be moved to the second bin for about another year, at which point it should be ready to spread over the plot and dug in to improve soil condition.

 

Tea break time, and the tomato soup and Twix bars came out. What do you think of Amanda the Pixie?

 

We ran out of creosote, but now have more and shall be returning tomorrow to finish off. For now though, one is finished and ready to use.

 

Thanks for dropping by, see you again soon.