The End of the world is Nigh

Or something...
Dreadful earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday.  Then they have had to cope with 130kph winds, with a Southerly front approaching.  
Now the Manawatu is flooding.....
I have moved again - now at Linton.
I sleep like a log and have woken up to being surrounded by water with the garage awash.

This is nothing compared to what my friends in Canterbury are having to deal with.  Part of me would like to head down there to help, but realistically there is not much point.   I would only be yet another person needing to eat, wash and defaecate....

Start of the new semester today

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting - and I am inside on the computer. Something 'wrong' with that picture somehow ;) Would a great day to be playing ponies.

I have just finished doing some preliminary work on the survey that I am writing. Next on the list is the readings I need to do for 'school' this week.

Had a lovely time at the cafe on Saturday, baking up a storm. It really is great fun - had forgotten how much I used to enjoy baking - and this is even better because I am not faced with having to consume the product before I can make more.....

Yesterday Sunday, I went and busked at the local Farmer's Market. Didn't make my fortune but still better than a kick in the teeth. The goddamn 'remember' let me me down though and I had to bluff my way though the left hand in some of the pieces. Still I don't think the punters really cared that much and the sign of a 'good' performer is being able to make people think that the mistakes are meant, haha.

The Official Results are out

and I passed all my papers.
I was not expecting not to, if you get my drift but it is really great when the official notification drops into the mail box.

I have also now been accepted officially for the Bachelor of Veterinary Technology class of 2010. The fact that I am 'part time' and will finish ahead of the class of 2010 is neither here nor there.

The coming semester I am doing equine repro and a business paper. Also starting the prelim work on a research project which I am a-hoping will result in some income over the summer break.

Not much else to relate as living here in Palmy in the house sit is comfortable and warm but it does mean that I am existing in an animal free zone, sadly.

Have been playing some music though, so that is an upside.

Toasty Warm in Palmy :)

Have a house sit for 2 months. The incentive was being able to keep warm without having to worry myself sick about trying to find the $$s to pay the power bill.

Also means that I can get some part time work, the money from which does not get totally annihilated by the travel costs to same.

Those that 'know' me from many years ago will not be too surprised about what I am doing to raise some dosh. (No, NOT that, haha!!) Doing the baking for a cafe. Long time since I did any serious baking - the last time I think was when I was still cooking for the shearers way back in the late 80's. But surprisingly I am really enjoying myself. All the 'produce' is selling OK, which is the true assessment of the quality I guess. When people come back for seconds or ask 'have you any of the *whatever* you had last week' you know that you have something 'right'.

Other than that, I like many others, am awaiting the results from 1st semester exams.

Off helping to scan ewes tomorrow. It would be 'nice' if isn't raining (fat chance). Haven't really seen the sun for over a week now. I am like any self respecting merino - grey skies make me depressed (not really as far as I am concerned, but true for the merinos).

Already had two music sessions since I have been here (5 days). Having to work the callouses up slowly or I will be unable to play for a while. Hope to get in some busking to augment the commisariat, which is barer than Mother Hubbards these days.

Exams all finished for this semester

Last one was on Saturday.
Will be off house sitting for a couple of months, next week. At least I will be warm, which has been a problem over the last while - not being warm that is. There is no heat source in this flat and I don't have the funds to buy a heater, never mind pay the resultant power bill. Also have a wee part time job lined up for while I am in PN as the travel costs will not kill the point.

Those of you who are email buddies I will send you the details and contact ph number as well, then you can ph me up (haha).

Two exams today, phew

Six hours of writing has really strained the wonky finger - the one that Bridgie munted.

Hard brain strain especially the first exam which was Cell Biology.

Piked out on one whole question in the second exam - required the use of formulae and algebra and maths. Decided there was NO point in even going there...The time was better spent doing the other questions
Thought that this might appeal - very topical :)
cartoon

Pics reposted so the blog is not so boring :)

Here is where you will find my pics Pics More pics here more pics Then I remembered about my first trip to the UK which I put up on livejournal livejournal which I have managed loose the password for, which is why I started up the blogspot one :) Having changed my ISP I no longer have the email address for livejournal to send me the password. Fun, eh?o

Chemistry is dead - Long live Chemistry

Decided that there was no point in failing papers because the Chemistry is so much hard work that I was neglecting the other papers. So pulled the plug on chemistry for this semester and signed up to do it in Summer School, where it will be the only thing I have to worry about.

As a consequence of this momentous decision I am now really enjoying all of the other papers. This enjoyment is showing in the better marks.
Interestingly enough I was congratulated in my taking a mature look at what I was comfortable dealing with and acting accordingly. Joking aside, I would like to think that I am capable of making 'mature' decisions :)

So busy working on an essay at the moment. Has just started to piss down - while to the north there is still bright sunshine. One of the interesting vagaries of Manawatu weather.

Brain Farts notwithstanding

I talked about Bridgie going to AK on Tuesday - but at no time have I said that Isla went the week before Easter. She has gone to a family with two keen little girls and a mother who is into harness. Seeing Isla head off was really hard. She was just so keen to get on that float. Always has been one to want to find out what is around the next corner - she will be a brave and enjoyable pony. One who would have been wasted sitting in my paddock. She deserves a better life than I could have given her. But so sad to see her go :(

Semester Break is nearly over

Sadly.
Because next week I have two semester tests and a lab test. The week after I have the dreaded Chemistry.

I have worked steadily with my study over the break and have made a lot of progress but I am so aware of the large gaping holes in my knowledge. I really do not know whether age is creeping up with my capacity to remember stuff or I am already on the steady downhill slide to dementia....
Please someone, if it is the latter a bullet would be a good thing.

I spent the past week back with the goats. Sue hurt her back so I went over to do the goats for her. I actually enjoyed it. Funny thing the milk yields went up again - with quite a bang - even Sue remarked on it. She thought that I was feeding them more. But I wasn't - feeding them differently, but not more. Hmmm. Doubt that will lead to any changes though. The reality is, that it is nothing to do with the feeding - it is something much more fundamental than that; you that know me will need no explanation.

Bridgie heads off to AK on Tuesday. I sorted out her covers and bridle today and took them all up to Liz's. Went and had a commune with Bridgie in the paddock. Why does doing the right thing hurt so much?
That gets pretty close to what is the meaning of the world, eh?

Better get back to brain strain 101.

Today it rained - just a bit

I have been enjoying the lovely weather - sunny, warmish and not windy. The downside of course is that it has not rained productively for quite a while.

Hence the tank water is welly low....

Still battling on with the Chemistry - a long way to go. Not helped that I let myself get severely side tracked today.

Not much else has been happening.

Whatever made me think going back to Uni was a good idea??

She asks.....
Nearly a month since my last post.
My brain has been in meltdown mode for the past month.

Had the first semester terms test today - and have another tomorrow night.

The big bugbear is chemistry - not just for me but for most of the peeps. I need a full one on one tutor so if there are any volunteers out there....

Bridgie is leaving me in a couple of weeks and heading up to Auckland. This decision was not easy to make but ultimately I have to do what is best for the pony. Now I am even considering that Isla would also be better going off to a new home. Realistically I will not have the time or the $$s for the next couple of years and what is best for the ponies has to be the ultimate factor in making decisions. Sigh

BUT for all the bleating above I am really enjoying getting the brain working again notwithstanding the odd brain fart, lol.

Worked another night at the races last Sat. Was good to get out and do something different.

It is a tiring life being a student....

First week in at Massey as a student. Tiring just getting to grips with the whole deal. Am pleasantly surprised at just how good my knowledge base is - except for the bloody damn maths components of the papers.

First lab we had to do mean, median and standard deviation. Right, I don't even have a calculator - I mean they cost money!!!! So I started laboriously doing the calcs the old fashioned way. Interestingly enough by the time one of the supervisors took sufficient pity on me to lend me one it was more a case of checking my answers... As I pointed out who the hell uses a calculator for s/d anymore? That is what the formulae in exell are for!!

In the process of packing up the flat - to move once again.

Ponies coming home on Wed. Isla is now wearing britching quite happily. Really need to bite the bullet and make arrangements for her to go onto a place of 'higher learning'.

Don't expect much in the way of updates for a bit; being bogged under with study is not conducive to vast quantities of erudite prose.

There has been a lot of ponies and not much music of late.

But thanks to the ponies (or rather horses specifically) I was totally stoked to be able to go to a harp concert last night. It was in St John's Church in Feilding and featured Robin Ward.

Robin is a Palmy guy now living in Bedfordshire in the UK. He comes back each year to see family and does a tour at the same time. What makes Robin so different from other harpists (and puts him into a field of his own) is that he plays the 'triple harp'. You can find out more should you wish, by going to Robin Ward.

I first met Robin at the Wellington Folk Festival in 02. By neccessity Robin has learned to make his own triple harps. The one he played last night is made from Jarrah picked up from the side of the road as he travelled about Aus. The triple harp is much lighter strung than even my minstral harp so much lighter over all weight wise and so easier to transport.

Of course I 'had' to buy a CD as well (which I have playing on the computer as I write this).

All of this 'financed' by horses. When does anything get financed by horses? Ususally you can consider them to be a bottomless hole down which you choose to throw money (especially the stuff you don't have),

Answer: when you are in the 'crash' car at the races. I was asked if I could do it, and to my amazement was nicely recompensed for my time. Thankfully it was a quiet night - when in the crash car a 'good' night is when nothing happens.

Ponies are well. Weather has been somewhat agin doing much more with Isla - that and lack of time as I deal with and to all the tasks requiring my input at Sue's, as I look after all her animals.

Massey starts next week, so time will be at an even greater premium, sigh.

Well the blood rushed to the head

Yesterday we had a good day. Bridgie and Marije went to the Pleasure Horse Nationals at Tielcey Park. They had a good day and both went really well. I crazily put on a post entry for the 51 years and over best rider class (hrrrrmmmph I hear you say!!). Fortunately they called a canter to trot transition just before I blew my foo foo - but I was gasping :(

Have to confess that this is only the second time I have ridden in well over a year - my bad. But bugger me days Bridgie did me proud and we got second out of a class of 5. I think I was the oldest too. First time in my life I have ever won anything in a rider class....

Marija and her friend AnaMarie painted Bridgie for the Fancy Dress. The theme was Kiwiana. They used facepaint and Bridgie had full colour pukekos, kiwi, jar of vegemite etc - all this things which the girls have found to be totally NZ. They didn't get called in - the standard was very high - but Bridgie did look really good. Have pics on the camera but no USB cable so you will have to wait until I trundle back to Foxton (prob Wed) to check all is well with the flat and Liz.

What with all the prepping for the show Isla has been 'neglected' for the past few days. She will 'keep'.

Am presently farmsitting for my years ago former landlady. One of the joys (and I use the word very tongue in cheek) is milking her herd of toggenburg dairy goats. This morning it took me 1/2 an hour to get them through the shed BUT it took me nearly 2 hours to get them in the bloody shed. Undisciplined rabble; nothing has changed over the intervening years. Actually enjoyed the milking part. Sue's poodle, Sunny, enjoyed being turned into a herding dog. With a bit of time and skillful handling he could be quite good. Ditto for the goats actually - I will just have them all toeing the line by the time Sue gets home.

Working at the Manawatu Raceway tomorrow. I think I may be up for some fast rides in the crash car; will keep you posted.

Seeing as I am at Sue's if you want to talk to me then give me a ring.
Having to cope with dino dial-up, but at least I do have 'in home' computer access here :)

Talking about Liz she has put some pics of her bellie up on her picasaweb site, if anyone wishes to go have a look.

Isla has a meeting with the farrier

Yesterday Isla had her first appointment with a farrier.

She was very well behaved and what is more took to balancing on a hoof stand like a pro.

Even allowing for the fact that the hoof stand was actually too high for a pony with duck's disease she managed very well.

Isla wasn't worked yesterday as it was the great WASH DAY (1st one) for Bridgie prior to her outing on Sunday. IF I have a sufficiently bad rush of blood to the head (AND it is not too bloody hot) I just MAY enter the geriatric rider's class!!

All the work horses were also foot trimmed which is why there was no time for doing anything with Isla.

Trixie and Katie are coming 'home' tomorrow and Cas will gain a live in girlfriend (Trixie) which will surely make him happy.

For reasons known only to Blogger

Getting pics up as I want them to appear along with the appropriate text seems to create a major mess. So rather than muck about, here is a teaser pic of Bridgie, with Maria the visiting Dutch vet student up, plus a link to the rest of the pics my picasa web album

Because we are all just a little nutty, Maria and Bridgie are off to the National Pleasure Horse Show next w/e.

Finally I have some pics :)

Here she is, all 13hh of her.

Yesterday was not one of her 'best' days. Maintaining a halt was not at the top of her list of priorities. All because Bridgie was still in the yards and honking out her displeasure at the situation.

Funny ponies, they do not mind not having a horsey friend but they do dislike being left on their own. Once Maria had finished the clean up and came out to groom and saddle up Bridgie, quietness and sanity once more prevailed.

I really DO need to get some pics of Isla

She looks one spunky pony with the gear on, I tell you.

Today we were out and about on the long reins. First day in the harness saddle (complete with crupper). Took her into the arena to trot her around a bit in case she was a bit antsy about the crupper but no problems.

Thought she may have been a little toey because she was hollering fit to bust when all the other horses left the complex. I decided to leave her tied up until she got over it. Funny little pony she wants company, not necessarily that of other horses. She stopped calling out (she has a hideous voice that could easily be mis-interpreted as being a 'tanty' voice - as I amongst others thought that it was to start with) so I went out to do something with her. Only to find that she had shut up because she had 'company' in the form of two students who were busy washing down the yards with the high pressure hoses. Now that would make most horses want to leave........

I forgot to mention that today was the first day on the long reins. Isla was going so well that we left the arena and I proceeded to drive her down the race and back up, then up the race the other way, through the complex and out to the carpark, round the carpark several times (Dover was a bit of a distraction there, through the hayshed a couple of times, round some logs, trees and the caravan which is parked up by the hayshed. The only time she stuck me up in anyway was when she was giving Dover the trampy glad eye the first time round, but she got the message quick enough with no hassles and didn't even look at him the second time.


So all good so far.

Still no pics of Isla

But I have to report that Isla has now graduated to a bridle and lunging roller.

She is also OK about her hind feet and I can clean out the lot with her just tied up ans she doens't miss a beat. All good :)

Had a rush of blood to the head yesterday and attacked Bridgie's feet. I got two done before my foo foo started to blow so conned one of the visiting Dutch vet students to do the other two. Not the tidiest job in the world, but much better than not being done at all.

Amazing what having a set of high quality nippers to use, can achieve.

I have a new pony :)

Or the original one recycled...
Seriously though I have been working with Isla for just four sessions and she is now confident with her forefeet and getting there with the hinds. Believe me that is a great progress for me with my wonky balance when I bend over.

Today she was tied up while there was mare teasing going on, horses being moved about etc, while I groomed her and cleaned out her front feet.

Went into the arena where I worked quietly with her for her to lift her hind feet. All the panicky reactions were defused by not letting her move her front feet, putting her back to position when she moved without permission. A bit like doing dog 'stays'.

I am really beginning to 'like' this pony. She has a really good brain on her, enough spunk that she will not be stodgy; pity she is so small. (I think I would break her if I hopped on).


mmm promised some pics, didn't I?

Must put that on the 'to do' list.

BIG THANKS to Liz who is supervising me, I could not have done this without her.
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