Today, internet friends, is my 27th Birthday! Which has had me thinking about the massive year that had just passed. This blog is for life documentation so if you want to revisit the last year with me, come on in.
I have often said that when I turned 26 I had a bit of a ‘mid twenties crisis’. I was suddenly really conscious of the future and how much I wanted to achieve but didn’t really feel like I was.
26 has been a rollercoaster, it started with the revelation in December that I was going to have a hip replacement within the next year. This was followed by the happy occasion of moving in with my boyfriend along with a wonderful few Christmas celebrations with each of our families (and the animal ones).
Passing my towing test (after one failed attempt..) and my Level 2 UKCC in Equestrian Coaching made me feel like I was getting better at my job and starting to become worthy of it but in February I made the difficult decision that I would have to leave it in order to have a guilt free, successful hip replacement recovery back where I had lived before.
At the end of March, we (humans and pets) made the big move back to the Cotswolds.
In April I finally managed to reconnect with my family – I went to visit my brother and his little family and my parents. I started tutoring, I started my new job at the shop, I started blogging AND of course I got my operation date through. I also created this video – which was essentially an expression of the wonder of being back at my yard.
If you’re a long time reader of mine you know the story from here, Pea and I got out to lessons and I felt like I was just getting somewhere towards my goals, I even managed a fun ride when it all stopped in June for my hip replacement.
June and July were spent like this..
And this..
Cut to the end of August (if you want to relive the gory details of my recovery it is all linked in My Hip Story) and the big event was my return to the saddle.
In September I entered my first online dressage competition and by October I felt ‘better’. I got myself a new job, in a school again and experienced the absolute wonder of getting a blogging award (My Blogging Journey). There was also loss in our household as we said a sad goodbye to Percy the guinea pig though we then welcomed Patrick to keep Peter company.
In what little of November we have had, Pea and I have got back out for a lesson and she feels better than she has ever felt before (in my completely unprofessional opinion!) Your Horse Live finished off my year of horsey education trips which included Badminton, Burghley, Blenheim, British Dressage Championships and HOYS.
This may seem like more of a ‘new year’ style post but all my thoughts around my birthday revolve around how massive this year has been and although on paper it looks like a bit of a mess, I’ve learnt, I’ve achieved and, if I’m honest, I actually feel so much more confident about the future now. Bring on 27!
My amazing cake was made by MUCK Cakes by Hannah