The beginning of an Era

Tuesday 25th July
Went to view a couple of horses locally at Blythe, Colin Mosley a friend of Tess(my Instructor) he had a couple of horses for sale, one that would be Ideal for me! and one that would suit Dean, Tess came with us to check that they would be suitable, as I couldn't afford to make a mistake this time! After Ben I really needed to get it right, (hey Ben's another story in my life that I'd like to forget!!) Lost alot of money on that horse, Plus it had issues!!
We arrived at Colin's place, He showed me this very quiet Chestnut MARE ! I know a Chestnut mare...for those who don't know, you tend to leave these well alone! ( they are a bit like mad red headed women) I tried her didn't like wot I felt, very Wooden compared to Paddy, then I sat on the Bay horse, very big stride, laughed as I couldn't sit to her trot, she was 17hh far to big for me, so Dean had a sit! Dean like her and he liked her size, he jumped her and the more he rode her the more he liked her. We told Colin that we would think about it and discuss it tonight and get back in touch. Dean wasn't sure about The Chestnut for me as he said she was too old @ 11 years and persisted to tell me I would find a younger one with the same temperament. I wasn't so sure!

Saturday 29th July
We organised for the both horses from Colin's to go to Tess's yard for the week end so we could give them another try, I felt that I hadn't given the chestnut (Harmonie ) a fair chance! and Dean felt the Bay Horse (Solly) was too good for him, but both Tess and I new he would be fine. We hacked out today, wow it was Fab!! we didn't go far but I really enjoyed it, both horses had not put a foot wrong, Harmonie was soooooo sweet to do and Solly was too, The added bonus being the Sun Shone Hot all Day!!!!( yes note this day cos it was very hot)

Sunday 30th July
Went to Tess's yard for a lesson on Harmonie and Dean on Solly, Another Hot day!!! did some flat work and then some jumping, oh wot a star she was, yes her dressage needed alot of work but Tess PROMISED me she would come and ride her and get her so she was softer in her mouth. She also needed to put some work into Solly too as Dean ..well just hasn't a clue and he didn't want to spoil Solly by trying to learn himself when the horse wasn't sure of what to do either!

Monday 31st July
Rang the vet today to start the proceedings for a vetting for Purchase, My usual vet couldn't come for another week! Dam! But Tess organised a vet she new to come Rob Morris.

1st August 2006

Both horses past the vetting with flying colours, they came home that day! I was now a proud owner of a 11 yr old French chestnut mare called Harmonie Du Plant, and Dean a owner of a 7 yr old Bay warmblooded mare called Solinde.

11th August 2006

Works night out Bowling at Scunthorpe.

Im let out on my own!

I was doing pretty well till I had a few then I lost!

21st August 2006




Its been mayhem at home, we are having the school resurfaced and to day it was delivered. Bless Dean we had 16tonnes delivered and he shifted it all by barrow, even the guy that delivered it said he was off his head.


22nd August 2006


Baby Olivia List was born, Dean now has a niece and although I'm not related I suppose she a niece to me too cos some would say Dean and I are as good as married.

29th September 2006
Works night out in Grimsby.
Im let out on my own again! and Deans left at home playing his guitar with a bottle of wine! LOL

Left all the Gang in RBI and Right




The Boss and John the office Geek!

7th October 2006

Craig and Kyla's wedding
The Wedding was held on the Lawn of Scotterwood House in a marquee on one of the paddocks, we shipped the new horses to livery, poor things they didn't know what was going on as they hadn't been with us long.

Me the morning of the big day! and Dean looking Sexy!

Kyla and Craig and Olivia.



The day was rather a long one for me as
I was chief baby sitter and all Olivia did
all day is scream, and yes i did feed her and changer her.

Photo of in side the Marquee.

31st October 2006
Sarah and I went to work a little Gothic today.

24th November 2006
Works night out. As you can see I go out quite alot and Dean never wants to, I so lucky he doesnt mind me going and he's not one of these guys thats always in the pub, just so you know Dean is always invited to these nights out!

7th December 2006


Went to see PLACEBO in Nottingham!

What an awesome night! Brian I think your fantastic and sexy even if you are Bisexual!!!!

We went with our friends Keith and Sharon. I got rather intoxicated to the point I threw up when we went to a fancy restaurant and didnt eat a thing, Dean wasnt impressed with me.




Brian is on the right and Stephan to the left.

14th December 2006
Went to see the Pogues in concert!

15th December 2006
Works night out again ! Harry Kars Brigg.

sit down meal for 20

Derek my LineList partner in crime at work with the Boss

20th December 2006

Office Secret Santa.




I got a pair of pink fluffy dice for the car and a Porsche Boxter! A miniature I may add ;-(

Sarah with her make up, Deana with an ornament with roses in, (poor sod) Nigel well what a cracker!


And the boss with his wrinkle cream and mug!
Neil with his Joke set!









Christmas came and went, the 8 days we had off work together just flew by, Christmas dinner was spent at Elsham Hall, nice place just not enough people, there was only three tables booked.


Sorry no photo's.

31st Dec 2006

Went to the White Swan Scotter, had a nice meal and a dance, then walked home 2 miles after midnight!




Me acting the fool as usual.

18th January 2007
High winds hit Scotter and Lincolnshire.

Laughton Forrest

January was Quiet, but February was a little more exciting, for me anyway!
I got my new car!

February 2007

March 2007

Red Nose Day!

We raised £1000!

Here are a few photos of us all looking daft, come on it was for charity

Two weeks in Gambia

We got off the plane and the heat was shocking, i knew I was going to like it here or well thats what I thought!! but we did get a lovely greeting by singers and drummers.

As soon as we arrived we realised having the hotel with the largest pool in Gambia wasnt all that it was cracked up to be!

West Africa, Two Star, we was going to have fun!!!
Our hotel wasnt the best but it was a base and thats all we needed, we had bought the Rough Guide and had decided we were going to do some touring by bush taxi (local transport) thats if you could get on one !

The crocodile Pool
We went to see Charlie which was the name of the crocodiles kept in a nearby village, you could stroke Charlie if you dared! we haggled a price with a nearby bush taxi.

It was alive Honest! and no I dont look worried, unlike dean!

There was also a museum and some of the costumes that were worn for different tribal dances, the below was for when a boy was circumcised, this is supposed to keep away evil spirits.

Its enough to scare anyone!

There was a tree that looked like a rib cage!

At night we saw tribal dancers on stilts.

We visited the Docks, awwwww what a stench! remembering we did this all by Bush taxi and the Hotel taxi's and the Tourist taxi's were getting a bit fed up (that was mild may be very cross)with it as we were traverling for about 20p and not paying any thing like the tourists £2 to£5. The Gambians that were Tourist taxi drivers were not very polite!

The Bush taxi's were much to be desired, one time we had to sit in the back with a local that was traverling with a spare wheel and a can or Diesel.

we went to see the monkeys down at the monkey park!

They are so cute!

We had brought some old clothes of Olivers (my nephew) to give to the remote villages and some books and toys too, we thought it would be a simple job to just take these to a village, ,Our house boy was going to take us in a bush taxi where we could take the clothes, the tourist taxi's got wind of what we plan to do, so we met him out side of the hotel to then get a bush tax, the tourist taxi's questioned us of what we were doing and we realised something was wrong, Our house boy arrived and told us just to walk with him, we went around the corner to try to discuss our plans and the next minute the tourist taxi men followed us, this was quite destressing, then the next minute a 4 x4 turned up with anoth 10 people and manhandle our house boy int to the vehicle pushing and shoving him and went off with him, we didn’t know if we was going to see him again! We took a lot of abuse that day!

So then we met a young girl Mable who took us to her village where she had a next dorr neighbough who had been left with 9 children on her own, she lived in a tin hut and had no money, some photos of our day showed how they were so pleased with our gifts, it was also very sad to see the state of the young children.

As you can see they are wearing Olis clothes.