International Politics

I took Rex to the doctor this afternoon - he has a chill in his kidney. We were sent to the lab for Rex to give blood - the lab technician was an Asian gentleman from some where on the sub continent.
Making polite conversation he asks us: "Where are you from? UK?"
I say: "We are from Ireland."
Rex says: "Actually we're from Northern Ireland."
And the bloke says: "Madam, your son is a Unionist."
He knew all about N. Irish politics and I couldn't tell you what country he comes from.

High Noon

Already I'm suffering from bullying in the workplace and my job has only begun. I've got this charming wee job at the stables teaching riding to pony club children - bliss except that one of the other instructors really really doesn't like me (for no particular reason that I can think of for I don't believe we have ever even engaged in conversation - she's not really a woman who talks - I say "Good Morning" and she grunts)
Anyway she's started to rubbish my riding - last night she criticised me loudly and openly - and a gang of pony club mothers were listening.
"You're cutting that corner!"
"You changed rein far too sharply!"
"She's on the wrong leg!"
"Don't play in her mouth!"
(I promise these are riding terms - nothing kinky!)
Bahrain is a very small island and guess what - it's all over the playground this morning - "That rude instructor that nobody likes.... She was shouting at the new instructor last night..."
"OMG! And what did the new instructor say to her? Did she attack or retreat?"
Well, the answer is neither just yet -
I have made an appointment to speak formally to the stable manager at 5 this afternoon to tell her frankly it's 'that woman' or me.
And if that fails I suppose there will have to be a gunfight in the jumping paddock...

Happy Birthday Florence

Nine years ago today I woke up with a pain in my tummy. Time for a bath, I thought, and I really must wash my hair. And blow it dry and slap on all of my makeup...
My mother phoned: "It's the due date," she said.
"And the baby is coming," I told her.
At the hospital a lovely young doctor with her handbag on her back told me I was 6cm dilated, and fully effaced - my cervix just had to stretch a bit more and then it would be action stations.
"Would you like me to stretch it to 10cm?" she asked me.
"Yes please."
And just like that I was ready to push. And two pushes later she was born. Precise and tidy and hard as nails with never any fuss about her.
Happy Birthday Florence.

New Year Resolution

We resolve:
TO ALWAYS KNOCK THE BATHROOM DOOR BEFORE ENTERING
TO ALWAYS LOCK THE BATHROOM DOOR
TO ALWAYS FLUSH THE LAVATORY

Arms

Apologies to those of you who don't know the back of a horse from the front, and frankly couldn't care less. Here are two photographs taken this morning of me riding my darling Al Kateef. In the top shot my arms are as stiff as pokers and look at poor Al Kateef's head. I think he's saying, "Ouch! You're hurting my mouth!"
In the second photo my instructor Hussein has come into the arena to shout a bit at me - (and wave his long whip around)and just look at the difference in Al Kateef and myself - now there's a straight line from elbow to bit and we're in tune with each other

Docking Station

He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I gave him a quite detailed list - a bottle of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, a Sony HandyCam, a sports watch, Christmas edition of the Spectator, The Natural Confectionery Company's jelly dinosaur sweets, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, Tefal's new chip pan - because years ago he bought me a collection of Alexander McCall Smith novels that I'd already read -
And what did I get for Christmas?
Yes, well, I didn't know what it was either.
He was very enthusiastic. He said, "I spent hours choosing this in the shop. I listened to all of them. This one is top of the line. It has the best sound quality."
"Yes, but what is it?"
"An iPod docking station."
"What's an iPod docking station?"

Team Tinsley

Once Beatrice learns to rise to the trot and Rex recovers his bottle I'm thinking I might teach them how to play polo - if only I could be sure they'd use the mallets to strike only the ball and not each other...