Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the Uncategorized category.
Summer Update:
Ok, so my updating of this blog has been terrible, but I promise, there’s a really good reason for that!! Nah there’s not actually, I just worked so much this summer that I had very little to blog about!
Being “home” from Canada is weird. I’m back at college now, going to classes, and keep seeing old friends from Kingston everywhere I go…. then I realise it isn’t them… I miss Kingston a lot, mainly I miss my friends, as I seem to have more friends on that side of the Atlantic than this right now! Classes started last week, and already I am snowed under with work. I’m also applying for graduate schools, and taking 2 non-credit language courses, something which is required of me for my PhD applications.
This summer has been a mixed bag to be honest, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and quite a few accidents. My allergies have driven me bonkers most of the summer, but appear to be settling down, I had a wonderful, if slightly tedious summer job, working in an HR/Admin company, and I currently am working for my friend’s taxi depot, as well as temping for a recruitment agency, and trying to fit in a shift or two in the hotel as well!
I had a great summer horse wise too, even though I ended up not competing for various reasons. Trudi is her wonderful, quirky, sometimes annoying self, and Morgan, the new little stallion is just wonderful. That little pony has so much attitude that it just radiates out of him…. Sometimes he uses it for good ends, and works like a SUPERSTAR, and sometimes he uses it for bad – such as last weekend, when we were out driving and he planted his feet after 2.5miles and WOULD.NOT.MOVE.
He just had that look of “Neh-neh-neh-neh-neh-neh! You can’t make me! I will not move. I will NOT.”
I’m just going to go and attach a bunch of pictures from this summer now… 
Holidays, 21st Birthday, ponies, and of course “The Accident”….
Oh yuh… I had a BIG ONE this year… an “I should have died” accident… It was a fluke, I wasn’t wearing my hat, and even if I had have been, it wouldn’t have mattered… It was a hospital job, that’s for sure!
So; I was helping Christine handle the foals, and we were trying to get the halters on them. The little filly gave up the chase after about 2 minute, stood in the corner, and let us put her halter on… so we went to the colt’s stable. Colt ran around, and ran some more, and crashed into his mum, and ran some more. I DID get my hands on him, but he balked, and got away… We decided to give him a breather, and leave the stable. I was walking along the back wall, keeping VERY close to his butt, (which is what you’re meant to do, that way, if they kick, you only get a little bit of force, rather than the full extension) and the next thing, I see something coming out of the corner of my eye, turn to look, and get landed, square between the eyes, by the foals hoof. He’d “double barreled” me, meaning had kicked me with both feet, but only one of them hit me… I banged the back of my head on the stable wall, and fell to the ground. Christine let the horses out, and got me out of the stable, taking me to the ER/A&E… She really should have called the ambulance, but apparently I protested! I have very little memory, but from what I’m told, I was on cloud 9 that day! haha! In an attempt to keep me awake/conscious, Christine told me to phone my mum, to phone Conor, to phone Christopher on 40min journey to the hospital. When we got there, I got seen immediately, the blood gushing out of your face is usually a good one. They did some tests and scans, apparently I *do* have a brain, and kept me in for 12 hours to “observe” me… They let me out once they saw me scoff a whole Big Mac meal, and not vomit it! I walked out of the ER with a broken nose and a fractured skull! It’s ok though, I was back at the barn 2 days later! 
There’s no lasting damage, my nose is a normal shape, and my skull is healing… I was lucky though, had the kick been to the side of the head, I most probably wouldn’t be writing this…. :-S Scary, but sure… If I didn’t ride, I’d be insane, so I guess it’s worth the risk!
Right… It’s PICTURE TIME! (Scroll over the pictures for the titles!!)
-
- (yes, that IS horse shit above my left eyebrow)
-
- It got WORSE.
-
- Wanna Kiss???
-
- My Beffers! lol!
-
- Also known as: Love of my Life!
-
- He WAS clean 2 min before!
-
- Buddies or Brawling partners?
-
- Morgan’s first day in the field
-
- I love living so close to the sea!
-
- I am SO wearing HER dress!
Life in Northern Ireland….
I’ve been home in Northern Ireland for a few months now, and in some ways, I love it… I’m settled into quite the routine now, I have my job, I have my horses, and I have my ever so lovely boyfriend, who is pretty much awesome. I have some of my friends here, I talk to others all the time, and I am just falling back into a routine, something I thought I craved….
I guess I’ve been seeing Conor for a good 6 weeks or so now, maybe longer, and it’s all going well… I have a lot of fun with him, and he teaches me a lot… about everything! My new pony arrived this weekend, and he is amazing. He’s 13.1, he’s 8 years old, and he’s a coloured stallion, called Morgan. He’s such a chilled out little dude, I can’t wait to get him driving and out and about! Trudi, the floozy that she is, is in her element now that she has a “real man” around the yard! She’s constantly calling and prancing round – the concept of game playing is alien to her! (Just like her owner there then! haha!)
I started a new job a few weeks ago, working for the company who manages the HR services for the N.Ireland Civil Service… It’s deathly boring, but it’s right up my ally - there’s rules, and procedures, and best of all – LISTS! I’ve become so “type A” since living abroad it is ridiculous!
Other than that, I guess not too much is new, I’ve just been working, playing with ponies, and hanging out with Conor… It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since I last blogged!! I guess I’m just out of good blog fodder!!
xxx
An Update….on the life of Lauren.. :)
Ok, so it’s been far too long since I last posted, but hey, I’ve been back in Ireland, and I’ve been a little bit busy….
Here’s what’s been going on:
- I went to England, and found a pony…. His name is Morgan, he’s a 13.2 “traditional” cob stallion, with beautiful markings, and a cheeky little attitude. I adore him already, and although I am trying not to get TOO excited in case it doesn’t work out, I am BEYOND excitement about bringing him over, to his new home!! Fingers crossed he will be here within a month!!
- I quit my job in Clarks… NOT perhaps my best economic move, but most definately best for my sanity levels…They are reassessing the situation now, and hopefully I can be transferred to a different store, with a better management system. Again, this is all up in the air!
- Trudi, my horse, was diagnosed with mild arthritis… it’s not serious yet, it’s just in her neck and one hock, so hopefully with stretching and supplements for her joints, she’ll be ok…
- My beautiful friend Margarita died, 3 weeks and a day ago…31 March 1989 – 4 June 2009… Margo was an inspiration to everyone who ever met her, she was a true friend to everyone, and never uttered a bad word about anyone.. She fought her battle so bravely, so courageously, and with unbelievably few tears.. I am so proud of her, I miss her, but I am not sad… Margo, I called up to chat to you…was lovely to see your mum and Kate there, and Louise and Eleanor too called up!! Ride your ponies, be free… I’ll see you on the other side pet!
- I totalled my car… Again. I was overtaking, and somebody pulled out of a junction in front of me… We hit head on, and although not badly hurt, I have some pretty funky muscle damage to my neck and shoulders, and some delightful tummy pain where my seat-belt dug in.. Ah well, could have been worse, and cars can be replaced. Kelsey is clearing subliminally linked to me, and didn’t want me to suffer alone… So she fell off her horse the same day, and broke a few ribs… Way to go KPC!!
- I had a three and a half hour coffee date… Ashleigh came home… I reckon the only reason we left was because I had to pick my younger brother up from school!
- I have met a guy… and I sort of like him. It’s still insanely new, and I’ve seen almost a bit much of him this week, but that’ll settle down I’m sure… He’s 21, he lives about an hour away, he’s smart, funny, handsome, sweet, he makes me laugh and I enjoy spending time with him… As I said, I’ve probably seen him too much this week – 5 times in 4 days – but to be honest, that is NOT ENTIRELY my fault… It should have been 3 times… but he spontaneously drove down to see me on Wednesday night, despite our spontaneous lunch on Wednesday! :p We had a lovely date night last night… He even let me beat him at pool!! (Silly fella potted the black!
- I finally caved in and got a Crackberry style phone… The Samsung Tocco… I can email.. I can facebook… I most likely will lose it or kill it… I love it and hate it in equal measure!
- Oh yeah, and I got my exam grades back… I did really well! I finished up second year, and will be starting final/senior year on a 2.1, which for my American friends, is one step down from the top! I’m really chuffed, coz I’m very close to a First Class honours, so with just a touch more effort, I could definitely get that!!
So there you… 6 weeks in a nutshell!
Oh Mrs…
I miss you so much…I drove past your house last night – your front light was on, and my heart broke… I was walking the dog on Monday, and almost called in for a cuppa… it’s like there’s an invisible “reality check” at the top of your street though, I can see your house, I turn in to call by, and then I bounce back, when reality sets in, and I realise you’re no longer there…
I saw Nic today… she misses you… she’s doing well though, she looks really well, and David and Charlotte are looking after her nicely for you! Murphy hadn’t forgotten me – he was all over me with his “stories” and kisses – I’m pretty sure he took off all my makeup!! He’s been scrapping again though – he just got 10 staples taken out a few weeks ago! Nightmare pup!
It was really strange being just Nic and I… there’s a chair in that office that just has your name all over it, and really, I missed you so much today… It’s going to get easier, but I’m struggling to deal with it now that I am home.. I think that being away meant I could almost not process the fact that you were gone, and only now, as I go about day to day life, is it really hitting me…
I miss you lots… I want to show you my new ponies, and get your advice on stallions for Trudi – YES – we’re breeding her!! Looking at a wee Connemara, Nic thinks I’m mad! Anyway chick, I miss you.. it’s really tough, but I know that I’ll see you again on the other side… and the thought of seeing you looking all flipping gorgeous again, and that beautiful smile, keeps my chin up… I can’t wait to see you again… Keep singing Mrs… as always!
xxxxx
Game On!
Return to Ireland!
Well, it has most certainly been an interesting return to N.Ireland. I suppose I have been home for just over 2 weeks now, and although I am enjoying being home again, with my dog and my pony, I’m ready to go back to Canada… haha!
When I came home, I was supposed to pick up Teddy…. we then discovered that Teddy was only 3, and therefore, too young to compete, and he has no paper trail proving otherwise… At this stage, I was offered Topper, by the same people – a lovely, 14.2 Welsh Cob, 5 yo, Bay, 3 white socks, white blaze, absolute cutie. I drove him, and loved him, and he’s such a wee cuddler in the stables, a real wee man. I was supposed to pick Topper up this previous Tuesday, after his injections, and move him to the new yard. It was at this stage that his owners decided to hold on to him, and back out of the loan agreement we had. Fair do’s, he’s their pony after all…
This just leaves me in kind of a muddle… I now have two driving ponies, neither of which are competition fit, in either training or fitness, and two unbroken, potential driving ponies, ready and waiting for me… Basically, I have to suck up missing this season, and focus on bringing the youngsters on… It’ll be worth it next year… On the same note, I am looking into my “next horse”… I am intending on breeding Trudi, my bay Connemara X TB to a little Connemara stallion “Song of Freedom”, who is a 13.2 grey guy, who just oozes “look at me” presence… My hope is to produce a lovely moving driving pony, of about 14-14.2 hh, small enough to be driven in ponies, yet big enough for me to hack, and Christine to do ridden affiliated dressage with…
Since being home, I’ve also got my old job back in Clarks, which is fine, and in this economic climate I’m just really lucky to have a job! I don’t think I am going to be getting very many hours to be honest though, so I am also applying to do some bar work in a local hotel, just to boost funds a bit!!
I got my new (to me) car yesterday, so I will have to post pictures soon!!
xx
Words to live by…
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
I need to remember this more often, as when I am learning a new skill, or a new technique, I often get so mad when I can’t pick it up perfectly the very first time…
On Thursday, I had a driving lesson, and spent some time trying to get to grips with driving “Coachman’s Style” – or with both my reins in one hand. It was difficult, yeh, and I have the fine motor skills of a baby chimpanzee, but I’m getting there… I “got it,” however briefly my success lasted.
It’s almost time to go back to Ireland – 5 days now!
On the Road Again…
I’ve packed my bags, and said goodbye to the ponies… this is it, I’m moving again…
For the second time in just under a year, I find all my belongings in a suitcase, my life packed into a rolling vessel… I’ve said goodbye to my house mates, I’ve said goodbye to some of the best friends a girl could ever wish for… Some people I have said goodbye to, probably for good, some I know without a doubt I will see again. I don’t know when I will next get to visit Ontario, but this place has become another home to me, somewhere I feel completely at ease, and I love being.
I have great friends, great housemates, and great horses.
Tomorrow I get on a bus, and head to Boston, another place I call home… Although my love for Boston will never die, it is no longer the only place I want to be, nor does it hold the only people I want to see… I will be spending a week in MA, before jumping on a plane, bound for Ireland, and more importantly, bound for everything I hold dear – my ponies, my pup and my family.
I don’t want to leave Kingston, but man, I’m ready to go home. I’m ready to stay home for a while, set down some roots, and just relax and get reacquainted with the country I grew up in… It feels like I have been away for an age…
I guess I have – I’m certainly not the same young woman who left Ireland in 2007… or even the same one who left in 2008… I’ve changed, I’ve matured, and the experiences I have had, I wouldn’t change one of them for the world….
Goodbye Kingston, Goodbye Queen’s, and Goodbye Canada… You’ve been wonderful, and I’m so glad to call myself a Queen’s Girl… so glad to consider this town a second home, and so grateful for the welcome you’ve given me.
xxx
Two Weeks Already?
Gosh, I suck at blogging! I have a googleReader, so I still get to keep up with all my friends blogs, but wow, I’ve not written a post in TWO WEEKS! I’m sorry. I am bad a keeping in touch.
Basically, not much has gone on this past fortnight… classes have just finished on Wednesday past, I had a term paper to hand in that week too, and I got my midterm back with an 85% – which was a higher grade than ANY of the 5 super geeks I like to call my friends. I was so pleased….
I’m currently working on my final assignment in Canada, an 8-10page paper on the success of feminism, and its effects on masculinity during the period 1870-1970… It’s ok, I have a comprehensive plan… I just don’t have a thesis yet! I think I’m almost there on the thesis development though, with the main theme of my argument being that women posed a threat throughout this period, and that as such, for every gain made, men belittled and lessened it as much as they could, right up until 1970’s.
That’s really all that’s been going on… school, work, sleep…
This week finished up kind of badly to be honest, I seem to have gotten sick, I’ve got a bit of a head cold, which isn’t helping my cognitive functioning, that’s for sure! I also had some aggro in work this week, when one of the assistant managers gave me 6 demerit points for something which was A.) accidental, and B.) not as big a deal as he’s making it out to be. Basically, if he’d done HIS job properly the first time round, the same mistake would not have happened twice… but no, he was in the office with his girlfriend… and it’s ME that’s being accused of neglecting my duties. Grr. I hate student run government and its associated places of work! haha!
It’s all good now though, I’m chilling out in the library with Kelsey, I’m supposed to be working on my thesis, but then I realised how long it’s been since I blogged…so here I am… I’m gonna miss Kelsey so much… she showed up today with snacks and sweets for me, and a box of tissues in the library. She’s the best. I love her. Her family have invited me up to their house in Toronto for Easter Dinner next Sunday, and I love her mum and her wee sister so much – we’ve been up to their ski house in Collingwood a few times this winter, and Christine is just a wee dote. Kelsey and I are hatching plans to marry Justin and Christine off the day and hour that they turn 18!! haha!!
I can’t believe I leave Kingston so soon – this year has flown past, and to be honest, the last 2 years have gone by so fast! I only have 9 days left in Kingston, although I plan to get at least 5 more driving outings in before I leave, I need to make sure Diana will keep driving after I leave!! We drove Minnie on Thursday night for the first time since December, and she was perfect. We’re driving again tomorrow, and will hopefully ground drive Mickey, who has been lame for a year with a fracture.
Once I leave Kingston, I’ll be shipping down to Boston for a few days, and will be kicking about there for a week and a day, until I fly home on April 23rd… Scary stuff!! Looking forward to getting home to my horses etc, and seeing my friends and family, but I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty big relocation and adjustment – I’m going from single, independant gal, with few committments, to living with my parents, juggling rules, a new job hopefully, and plenty of new horses and ponies! There’s so many things I’m going to miss about Canada… the horses, my friends, my profs, my university… but I think what I will miss most is how it smells on a sunny day… that smell just doesn’t happen in Ireland… I can’t describe it, but I just love it.
I'm working on my hands, but they're getting better!
How can this be?
It’s been 12 weeks tomorrow since Helen died… 83 days… that is terrifying. I still miss her… every day… even though it’s hard to really believe that she is gone… It’s Nic’s birthday next week too, that’s going to be hard, just from a memories point of veiw…like the time I created a fire hazard in the barn, because there were so many candles on the cake for one of their birthdays… I wish every day I had told her how much she meant to me, and how grateful I was for everything she did, and taught me growing up… An old friend hit the nail on the head at her funeral – he said “those two were like really cool aunts to you when you were a kid,” and to be honest, that is exactly what it was… I looked up to them, respected them, and told them everything… I miss that… I miss drinking tea with them all the time! I only lost Helen, but Nic and I have definately drifted apart – I’ve been away so much over the last two years that I have barely seen her, so I guess it feels like I lost her somewhere along the line too. I’m really excited to get home, and go for a cuppa with Nic, and tell her all about my adventures in Canada-Land… and all about my new pony! He may only be mine for a while, but I am still really excited about him, and that means Nic will be too.
In other (uneventful) news – I have 25 days left in Kingston! Terrifying.
I have started packing, and am seriously concerned about how I am going to get everything back to Ireland. SERIOUSLY concerned. How did I get all this stuff over here to begin with?
St Paddy’s day was a write off for me – I got a little bit tipsy after writing my last exam (until JANUARY) and then went to a house party with the guys from Dublin… Dan came and got me, and had me home, asleep by 10.30. I woke up on Wednesday, and I did not feel very clever… I think I will perhaps give the alcohol a by-ball for a wee while.
Really missing my ponies and puppy at the minute, I am even DREAMING about being back in the yard again. I’m really looking forward to getting home, and setting down some roots after my few years of galavanting. I thought there was going to be a new guy on the scene, but he appears to have disappeared… I’m not too concerned, I’m probably just being a typical girl and over analysing everything. It’s not my style – I normally wouldn’t even notice, but I think perhaps I was just kinda excited about getting home, and seeing if anything would happen there.
Oh well – Que Sera – life goes on.. and right now, it’s going on for brunch… and I’m hungry… Bagel and cuppa tea time!
xxx
Flip, I’m almost done!!
Apologies for the lack of posting recently, I don’t have an excuse, I’ve just not got a lot going on to report on!!
Life in Kingston is pretty standard, not a lot extraordinary going on at the minute. School is pretty good, I have turned in one of my essays, and written 2 out of my 3 midterms. I have another midterm on Tuesday, and after that, I won’t sit another exam until January 2010, so that’s pretty cool. I’m attempting to study today, but spring is FINALLY here, and I really just want to be outside, down by the lake! It’s not very warm yet, but it is about 10 degrees Celsius out there, so it’s a marked change on 6 weeks ago, or even 2 weeks ago to be honest!!
I was walking to the library this morning, and I could help but feel completely happy in Kingston – sure, I’d be over joyed if I could have my ponies and dog here, and I miss my family and friends, but do you know what? I’m just fine, just as I am… I’ve learnt a lot about myself this year… I’ve learnt that I can do it by myself… I’ve learnt that I really enjoy my own company, and I’ve learnt that I am far more ambitious, and capable, than I had ever imagined. I guess we were pushed pretty hard in VCB, we were expected to achieve our full potential – but I really think that this year has allowed me to see what that potential really is… It’s an opportunity that I don’t regret for a second – it’s been really tough at times, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m awestruck by what I’ve learnt, and how much I’ve changed this past year. It’s gone by so fast as well – before I went home at Christmas, I thought the year was going to go on forever, but here I am, about to start my third from last week of school, and I’m only five and a half weeks from being back in Ireland…
I don’t really know how I feel about going back to Ireland… part of me is really excited – I’ve got the new pony, I’ve got Trudi, I’ve got my pup, and my family and friends… not to mention the excitement of getting a good job for the summer, and building my stables at home… I’m going to be seeing my friends, hanging out at the barn, going to horse shows… I’m really excited to get my teeth stuck into life in Ireland… really, it’s about time I did… I need to stay there for a few years, try to establish a life there again,after 2 years of back and forth travels.
On the other hand though, I’m nervous about going home… more precisely, of living with my parents and brothers again… I’m nervous of losing the freedom I have here, the freedom to come and go as I please, of being able to be alone when I please, the freedom of silence, the freedom to have friends round, and just relax, anytime I please. I’m worried about fitting back into a family unit, one which I never really fitted into in the first place… My gut feeling is telling me to get my own place, that I’m past living with my parents – after all, I haven’t lived with my family for more than 28 days since I left home in 2007, and I’m not sure how that is going to play out when I do move in. However, a by-product of me realising my full potential this year was to decide to go to grad school, and get my law degree… this is costly, and I want to do it by myself… which means, I have to save money, and put it away for my tuition fees, my living expenses, and that sort of thing… It makes very little economical sense then, to try to live by myself, especially when my parents live a mere 30 minute commute from my college… I guess that the situation will be what I make of it… I just hope they realise I’m not a kid anymore… and I am not the same person they waved off last year… I’m going back to Ireland as a changed person… I’m going back to Ireland as a confident, mature, and driven young woman… as someone who knows exactly what it is she wants, and will do anything to make that happen.
