A short update

Many apologies for my lack of blog posts recently.  I have also not had time to visit and comment on your own blogs, although I did have problems last week leaving comments for bloggers with word verification. Blogger is now asking for two words to be verified,  one of them I can hardly make out at all (and I am NOT a robot.... what is that all about?!!).  I have removed word verification from my own blog, so hope anyone trying to leave a comment will be able to do so.

My elderly mother has been ill, so I have had to spend more time helping her with shopping and housework. Poor Spotty is lame so he is needing more attention too, and of course most nights are spent rehearsing. The play is in two weeks time and it is only a short run, so I hopefully will have more time then to catch up.

I hope you are all keeping well, and when time allows I will come and visit your own blogs. And if I get past the blogger security sign in, then I shall leave a comment too! If anyone else is having the same problems, please let me know.

Love, Abby xx

There's No Business Like Show Business

Thank you to the lovely followers who have kindly been asking me how the play rehearsals are coming along.  I love being involved in theatre productions but they do tend to take over my life a bit! 
The play I am currently involved in is a comedy.  The story involves a property developer who wants to drive a lady out of her home so he can purchase the estate she lives in.  My character is the very feisty lady who refuses to sell at any price. It all gets a bit 'Midsomer Murders' but the cast are having great fun at rehearsals. The play starts on March 9th so there are just under six weeks to go!
My husband always tells me that I turn into Norman Bates from 'Psycho' when I am rehearsing for a play as my character takes me over a bit (he nearly moved out when I played Lady Macbeth!).
My friend Cinzia is directing the play. She is creative producer and director of November Club

This is a clip from one of Cinzia's productions, Traces & Graces. I was delighted to have taken part in this outdoor performance and I wrote a post about it last year which you can look at here
The song is sung by the wonderful Katie Doherty who is an award winning musician and composer.

Katie's album Bridges

I studied dance and drama at school during the 60's and early 70's. In 1995 I met Delaval and Veronica Astley when my son started school with their children. They were both actors and he had just finished playing a character in 'The Archers' when they moved into our village.  It was through them that I was encouraged to get involved in the performing arts again. I did start at the bottom.... literally. I was the rear end of a pantomime horse!
Don't expect to see me receiving an oscar anytime soon.....

I will leave collecting of awards to my husband's cousin!
      

Danny Boyle pictured with me after receiving an oscar for Best Director (Slumdog Millionaire)
apologies for the picture quality, I have no idea how to scan a photograph.

Last year Danny directed Frankenstein at the National Theatre...

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller won joint 'Best Actor' awards for his production. 
Cumberbatch and Miller alternated in the roles of Frankenstein and the Creature, so in deciding the best actor prize, the judges, made up of leading theatre critics, said it would have been "invidious" not to recognise both actors.

Danny is currently working as Artistic Director for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

Good luck Danny, we are very proud of you!

A big welcome to my new followers, and apologies for my lack of visits and comments to your own blogs. I will try and catch up with you all this week.
Keep warm....  winter is finally arriving in the UK today!
Abby xx

My Muddy Pony

I arrived at the RDA centre yesterday morning to find only one other volunteer had turned up! All the children for the first lesson needed leaders and two of them required sidewalkers. Thankfully the three teachers that brought the children helped with mounting and two of the grooms had to down tools and lead ponies. It was a challenging session!
Spotty was not used, so when lessons had finished I went down to the field to see him.

I am sure I used to own a light grey pony!

 

                                          Even his field companion has a dirty face.

                                                    This side is no better!

But I am sure that underneath his rug I will find some clean spots! :)

A big hello and welcome to my new followers, and thank you all for your kind comments on my previous post. The one thing I did not expect to gain from blogging was new friends, and it has been a real pleasure getting to know each and every one of you.

I look forward to following you all throughout 2012.
Abby xx

Thanking Mrs Exeter and other things.....

Image from The Graphics Fairy

I hope you have all had an enjoyable Christmas. It has been a busy period for me as my father in law always comes to stay with us for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. And my son is back home from university for the holidays, bringing with him bags of washing and hungry friends!
Spotty is on holiday from RDA lessons, and he has been out every day in the field eating and enjoying the mild weather. He has rolled in the mud and looks like a rescue pony, so no picture until I can put him through the car wash! ;)   
  
Before Christmas, the lovely Mrs Exeter kindly awarded me with the Liebster award.....
THANK YOU MRS E! 

Liebster is a German word that means dearest. This award is given to people with blogs that have less than 200 followers and I should pass it on to five other blogs.
So, in no particular order, I would like to nominate....


Metscan   Mette is from Finland, and writes about many things including fashion and interior design. Mette also owns horses, and has a beautiful flat-coated retriever called Morty.        

Helen Tilston Painter  Helen, lives in USA, and is an artist who paints in oil en plein aire. Helen can be found painting at Indian Rocks Beach in winter, and during the summer months in Canada and Europe.

Simply-Chateau  Shirley, lives in France, and finds the most amazing shabby chic treasures to sell on Ebay and in her Etsy store.  She also writes very amusing posts :)

My Equestrian World    Edward is from UK. He writes about his wonderful horses and ponies, and takes some brilliant pictures of them too.

Nomadic Mumblings  Andrea, who lives in Spain, is currently training to be a dressage judge. Andrea also writes about many other interesting topics, and also takes beautiful pictures from her home which is just south of Madrid.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the holidays, and I would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Abby xx

Vintage tree decorations

During the 1990's I had my own antiques business. When attending fairs and auctions, I would always keep an eye open for old Christmas decorations. After ten years, I had collected enough to cover a six foot tree. This year I purchased a smaller tree, so have ended up with a decoration on almost every branch!

Everyone has their own idea of what a perfect tree should look like. For me, I love the smell of pine, so always buy a real tree. Some of the decorations are worn and now shabby looking.....

  .....just how I like them!

 

I love this bird...

and this old horn, acorn and spotty bauble......  just had to have something with spots on!

Some date from the 1930's and 40's....

....and many from the 50's and 60's.

And no tree would be complete without a santa.

And as for a vintage fairy to place on top of the tree.....

the search continues!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend  xx

Heroes on Horseback

This year the Telegraph newspaper is making its 22nd annual Christmas Charity Appeal on behalf of three charities.
I am delighted that one of the chosen charities is Riding for Disabled. Some 30,000 people benefit each year from the 500 centres across UK with the help of 18,000 volunteers. But for every one person who takes part, there are four on a waiting list, the charity urgently needs to expand. As a volunteer, I have first hand experience of how beneficial horse riding is to the adults and children who come to the centre. Riding strengthens the spine and legs, but also develops overall muscle tone and has body wide benefits.

Captain Guy Disney, who lost his right leg below the knee in Afghanistan, has said that "RDA is a fantastic charity, it's holistic. Riding took my attention away from my injury. Hopefully those in the military will have greater contact with it and benefit from it".

Followers of my blog will of course know how much the children and adults have come on at the RDA centre during this year. For me the comment of one child sums up RDA.......
"On the ground I'm in a wheelchair. On a horse I can dance".

The phone-in day is tomorrow. Tel: 0800 117 118 10am - 6pm, and will be manned by the Telegraph journalists, or visit telegraph.co.uk/charity
If you are inclined to make a donation could I make a plea on behalf of the RDA.....
THANK YOU!!

A warm welcome to my new followers, and I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Abby xx

Late night blogging

Lovely Elaine, who has a wonderful blog Ted and Bunny noticed I had left a comment on her post at 1.04am. I have been so busy lately, that I have slipped back to my old habits of late night blogging! The reason? Well....

Today I must....
Visit my friend who is in hospital
Visit my aunt who has just left hospital
Take my mother shopping   
Buy food/drinks for the village Gardening Club Christmas party
Phone/email everyone to remind them about above, as date has changed!
Lunge Spotty
Help with RDA lesson
Read and respond to work emails
Clean house (this may have to wait until tomorrow as my vacuum cleaner has broken)
Purchase new vacuum cleaner!!
Wash a huge bag full of clothes left by son who has moved out!!
Make casserole
Learn lines for play.....

 

.... or maybe not!!
1.00am... blog, then fall asleep writing comments!!

If I have left you a comment that is full of spelling mistakes, or makes no sense at all, then I hope you will forgive me ;)

A very warm welcome to my new followers. I shall of course be visiting your own blogs.....
if I can stay awake long enough!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of the week, and have a lovely weekend too.
Abby xx