Post by flee on Feb 26, 2017 12:05:45 GMT
It's a solemn day in the Flee household . We've just come to the sad but sensible conclusion that after 12 years of faithful service it's finally time for Cliff to go . Cliff ? Cliff is our horsebox , a handsome 7.5 tonne , 3 horse chap , painted in an unusual but lovely hue called " Batchelor Blue " ( those of you of a certain age may be able to make the tenuous link ).
We have downsized our horse numbers considerably over the past couple of years , we are all getting older and certain other contributing factors have meant that Cliff now spends most of his time sitting idly in a corner of the yard , his main job these days being a monthly trip to pick up shavings and occasionally shunting large items of household furniture around . Infact he was only actually used for bona fide horsey transport purposes on 3 occasions last year , so when the road tax reminder arrived a couple of weeks ago I knew Mr F was right when he said that it would be a much more sensible option to swap him for a trailer . My lovely , uncomplaining , solid , reliable Cliff who has trawled us up and down the country for all these years with never a hiccup . It was with a sad and heavy heart that I set about clearing him out ....But then this is Flee so it didn't take long for me to get distracted and veer off on another train of thought .
Right , so I started on the cupboards in the living area and emptied them of all the pots , pans , plates , cutlery , cleaning stuff , emergency washing line ( string ) , kettle , clever bread toasting gizmo that you put on the hob , etc etc . All the useful stuff you accumulate over the years , all with a specific job and all (once) used regularly .Sorted . So then I turned my attention to the wardrobes , of which there are two , and this is where the head scratching started . Now , before I continue , just let me point out that I am the one who shows/rides our native ponies and , beside one emergency change of kit for Mr F , everything else in the clothing department is mine . And this is only a fraction of what I unearthed -
2 Tweed jackets ( one well worn , one barely worn ) , 3 navy jackets ( but only ever wear the same one whether it be dressage ,evening performance or hunting) , 11 ties ( but only wear 2 ) , 3 plain white stocks ( one like a rag , one still in it's wrapping , one in use ) one fancy evening stock , 4 stock pins ( but always use the same one ) , 3 tie pins ( ditto ) , 2 stock shirts ( ditto ) , 2 short sleeved shirts ( ditto ) , 3 long sleeved shirts ( ditto ) , 3 hats for in hand showing ( always wear the green one ) , 4 identical brown leather show canes and 5 assorted whips , 2 pairs of long leather Cavello boots ( the beautiful , pristine , extortionately expensive pair I bought 8 years ago and the ancient , battered , comfy ones that fit like slippers , bought second hand nearly 15 years ago and now so worn that the leather has actually peeled off the insides of the calf - but they're still the ones I wear ) , 5 pairs of brown leather gloves , 3 pairs of black , 3 pairs of white and numerous odd unmatching ones . Oh I've barely scratched the surface , the list goes on and on . I'm all for being prepared and catering for emergencies and all that but when did I ever think I was going to use all this stuff ?
But I think it was the jodhpur collection that really brought it home . 9 pairs in varying shades of beige and canary !!!! And , inevitably , I always wear the same old favourites . And then I thought so , granted , I may be glad of a spare pair in the event of a sudden downpour or a mishap with the hoof gloss , but if I've had cause to change my jods 9 times before I actually get into the ring , what on earth would make me suppose that I would still be in a fit state to ride my pony ?!?!
Do I suffer from OCD or optomism ?
I'm supposed to be starting on the tack lockers this afternoon . I may be some time .
NB . Will be posting an add for Cliff shortly , but if anyone is interested then please feel free to PM me !He's never let us down in 12 years and has been meticulously maintained by Mr F ( fully qualified mechanic/deisel fitter ).
ADVERT NOW UP . PLEASE SEE HORSEBOXES ETC FOR SALE FOR DETAILS .
We have downsized our horse numbers considerably over the past couple of years , we are all getting older and certain other contributing factors have meant that Cliff now spends most of his time sitting idly in a corner of the yard , his main job these days being a monthly trip to pick up shavings and occasionally shunting large items of household furniture around . Infact he was only actually used for bona fide horsey transport purposes on 3 occasions last year , so when the road tax reminder arrived a couple of weeks ago I knew Mr F was right when he said that it would be a much more sensible option to swap him for a trailer . My lovely , uncomplaining , solid , reliable Cliff who has trawled us up and down the country for all these years with never a hiccup . It was with a sad and heavy heart that I set about clearing him out ....But then this is Flee so it didn't take long for me to get distracted and veer off on another train of thought .
Right , so I started on the cupboards in the living area and emptied them of all the pots , pans , plates , cutlery , cleaning stuff , emergency washing line ( string ) , kettle , clever bread toasting gizmo that you put on the hob , etc etc . All the useful stuff you accumulate over the years , all with a specific job and all (once) used regularly .Sorted . So then I turned my attention to the wardrobes , of which there are two , and this is where the head scratching started . Now , before I continue , just let me point out that I am the one who shows/rides our native ponies and , beside one emergency change of kit for Mr F , everything else in the clothing department is mine . And this is only a fraction of what I unearthed -
2 Tweed jackets ( one well worn , one barely worn ) , 3 navy jackets ( but only ever wear the same one whether it be dressage ,evening performance or hunting) , 11 ties ( but only wear 2 ) , 3 plain white stocks ( one like a rag , one still in it's wrapping , one in use ) one fancy evening stock , 4 stock pins ( but always use the same one ) , 3 tie pins ( ditto ) , 2 stock shirts ( ditto ) , 2 short sleeved shirts ( ditto ) , 3 long sleeved shirts ( ditto ) , 3 hats for in hand showing ( always wear the green one ) , 4 identical brown leather show canes and 5 assorted whips , 2 pairs of long leather Cavello boots ( the beautiful , pristine , extortionately expensive pair I bought 8 years ago and the ancient , battered , comfy ones that fit like slippers , bought second hand nearly 15 years ago and now so worn that the leather has actually peeled off the insides of the calf - but they're still the ones I wear ) , 5 pairs of brown leather gloves , 3 pairs of black , 3 pairs of white and numerous odd unmatching ones . Oh I've barely scratched the surface , the list goes on and on . I'm all for being prepared and catering for emergencies and all that but when did I ever think I was going to use all this stuff ?
But I think it was the jodhpur collection that really brought it home . 9 pairs in varying shades of beige and canary !!!! And , inevitably , I always wear the same old favourites . And then I thought so , granted , I may be glad of a spare pair in the event of a sudden downpour or a mishap with the hoof gloss , but if I've had cause to change my jods 9 times before I actually get into the ring , what on earth would make me suppose that I would still be in a fit state to ride my pony ?!?!
Do I suffer from OCD or optomism ?
I'm supposed to be starting on the tack lockers this afternoon . I may be some time .
NB . Will be posting an add for Cliff shortly , but if anyone is interested then please feel free to PM me !He's never let us down in 12 years and has been meticulously maintained by Mr F ( fully qualified mechanic/deisel fitter ).
ADVERT NOW UP . PLEASE SEE HORSEBOXES ETC FOR SALE FOR DETAILS .
