Back from Germany, Christmas over, back to work!

Its been a week since I got back from Germany and shamefully I havn't even posted! Just all the festivities of Christmas and having the family here have made things pretty busy and havn't had chance to write an update :(

The 'family holiday' (half of which consisted of me riding at Leonie's!) to Germany was great! We saw my young horse Chad, who had grown a fair bit since I last saw him back in February. He has had the summer off in the field after being broken in, and now he is back in work apparently like he never even went out of work! He is amazing to ride; he is only 3 but feels 6, has such a good brain, an amazing temperment and beautiful paces. He actually looks just like a young Seb especially when they are wearing the same blue Bucas rug! I'm more than happy to leave him with Leonie though, he is going so well there and he his getting the best training I could ask for. I've got to focus on Julius and Seb and our Young Riders this year and next year, so he is fine being in Germany for now :)


Chad... I actually went in to his stable and crouched next
 to him and gave him a cuddle... not many 3 year olds
you can do that to!!



Seb... "The Bucas Boys"!


















So after four days of intense riding at Leonie's I have been refreshed and cleaned up my skills a bit. It is amazing that such a small amount of time can make such a big difference. I would love to be there full time but unfortunately the cons outweigh the pros at this point in time. I've got too many opportunities here in England to move away just yet, but its definitely something to think about when I'm in my 20s. Also there has to be a balance in life with friends/recreation and the sport/career. For once I actually have a boyfriend I am willing to make it work with despite being so busy, and social life has always been really important to me. If my family is here I'm fine but when I'm alone here I need friends around me or else I'd become quite miserable!

Delicious roast turkey!

It's been lovely having my family here for Christmas, my first ever Christmas outside of Australia actually! We went to the Cricklade Country Club for our Christmas lunch, which was also my first ever roast Xmas lunch too! I'm used to having seafood and salad, not turkey and roast potatoes. It was very nice there, it felt like we were on the set of Dowton Abbey! It's a shame we aren't as posh as that, proven by my sister and I pulling a Christmas cracker and having it's contents flung at the waiters head :/




Dad, Mum, Grandad, Bec

While everyone is relaxing and enjoying time off work, I am back to normal with waking up super early to do some biology, then riding from 8am until lunchtime, then some more biology study in the afternoon/night. Some nights I'll let myself of study to go have some fun, but really I have some serious work to get done. I figured out the other day that I pretty much have to finish the entire AS and A2 course by March in order to get my practicals and research assignments in... gulp!

Fortunately, my mum is here and that makes things easier, especially on the horse side of things. I have been looking for that missing link in my training for absolutely ages and I think I found it, my mum! Every time she comes over, she helps me with the boys and I always come across revelations that transform my riding bit by bit. Sometimes the solution you have searched so hard for is right there under your nose... or in this case one of your immediate family!