but names will never hurt me.
2013 - the list
Song of 2013:
Linkin Park - Iridescent
Tv-show of 2013:
Pretty Little Liars
WIN of 2013:
Buying Vasara.
FAIL of 2013:
Getting burnt out - again.
Worst thing of 2013:
Vasaras injury
Wish I had done more during 2013:
Had time to spend with Mathias and to take better care of myself.
Countries I've visited 2013:
Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, France, Iceland, Austria.
Trip of 2013:
Iceland with Mathias and mom.
Professional success of 2013:
Getting brought on by kwintet AND promoted.
Getting-wiser of 2013:
I am not my job and the copany's success is not on my shoulders - in order to perform in the long run I need to be less personal in my realtionship to my work.
Funniest picture of 2013:
Top 3 expensive purchases of 2013:
1. Vasara
2. Trip to iceland
3. Michael Kors trench coat
Linkin Park - Iridescent
Tv-show of 2013:
Pretty Little Liars
Buying Vasara.
FAIL of 2013:
Getting burnt out - again.
Worst thing of 2013:
Vasaras injury
Wish I had done more during 2013:
Had time to spend with Mathias and to take better care of myself.
Countries I've visited 2013:
Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, France, Iceland, Austria.
Trip of 2013:
Iceland with Mathias and mom.
Professional success of 2013:
Getting brought on by kwintet AND promoted.
Getting-wiser of 2013:
I am not my job and the copany's success is not on my shoulders - in order to perform in the long run I need to be less personal in my realtionship to my work.
Funniest picture of 2013:
Top 3 expensive purchases of 2013:
1. Vasara
2. Trip to iceland
3. Michael Kors trench coat
Moose drama
Yesterday, riding in the dark out in the forest. All was calm and quiet. All of a sudden, a moose bangs out in from of us, scaring Vasara half to death, making her do rodeo, me falling of and hurting my leg, Vasara galloping away in the dark, me calling Birgitta at ask her to catch Vasara at the stable, Nisse jumping in the car and driving out to pick me up.
I hate fucking mooses. Thanks god it didn't attack us.
Working weekend
Saturday: 7 AM. 20 horses: feed, change blankets and bring them out to the pasture. 9 AM; finished, take care of Vasara. 11 AM carry 2,5 kilo x 20 horses out to the pastures for lunch.
Sunday: go to Lunda and muck out and take care of 3 horses. Go to Berga and take care of my own.
2013, I salute you!
And thus yet another year has passed. An what a year it has been, filled so many turbulating changes and personal struggle and success.
Overall it has been a year filled with extremely hard work, both at work and with Vasara. It's hard to say if it's been an overall good or bad year.
When the year began in January, the year I left behind me had been a good one, and I had just started to seriously search for the right horse to buy. I was nervous, anxious, scared - and ready for it. I had prepared as much as I could, and was eager to start my horse life. I had worked at Kwintet for 3 months and was beginning to get into the job for real, and felt like I was at the right place. Also, I was practicing for my drivers license.
February came, and with it, great sadness and great joy. The horse I wanted to buy, Valle, didnt pass the inspection and I felt shattered. But then, I found Vasara. I looked into her eyes, and I fell in love straight away. When I rode her, it just clicked. I paied the reservation fee on the spot, and after signing the papers, I cried for 30 minutes because it was all so overwhelming, despite all the preparations. I then had to wait for what seemed forever until I could drive her home. Meanwhile, I took a trip to Denmark and passed my PRINCE2 certification.
March finally came. I got to bring Vasara home! March 2nd we drove down to Jönköping. I had been longing so much it actually hurt. The feeling when I loaded her into the trailer and we drove her to her new home is hard to explain. But already then, I loved her with all my heart. And thus began my horse life, and my life changed completely.
Me and Mathias also went to Vienna, to visit the Spannish riding school. It was my christmas gift from Mathias. The trip was amazing and Vienna really is a beautiful city.
Another success followed very soon, as I on the 19th passed my drivers test, on the first try. I had been a hard time, leaving home at 6 AM to go the the driving lesson, then straght to work and work until 5 without a lunch break, before getting on the bus and then walk 30 minutes to the stale in the snowstorm, before doing all the stable chores and coming home at 10 - 10:30 PM. Now I was able to drive to the stable, instead of taking the bus and walking in the pitch dark and snow storms.
April. Spent at the stables, forming a team with vasara. I was starting to get into my new life. This was also the month when Kwintet took me onboard, after 6 months as a consultant. I was so happy about this! I also worked for a few days in our German office in Osnabrück.
May. Spring had finally defeted the snow and ice and it was possible to start riding seriously in the paddock. Our dressage training went very well and I was so happy!
Mathias turned 26 and we spent our 2 year anniversary, which marked the best two years of my life. I also worked for a few days in our office in Epinal, France.
June was the month of traveling, as I went to work both in Oslo and Odense. Summer was beginning to arrive and me and Vasara was continuing to move forward in our dressage training.
July was the start of the worst period of the year, filled with worry and pain; Vasara was mysteriously injured in her back, probably due to her saddle. She also started limping badly. I had to stop riding and starting to walk with her one hour by hand everyday and pray to god it would be okay again.
This was also the month when I was starting to get sick from working to hard, I got burnt out and had to stay home for 2 weeks after collapsing at work several times.
August. As Vasaras injury did not get better, we had to go to the clinic. She was to eat medicine and keep walking for 4 weeks until our follow-up appointment. This month was just a painful prolonging of July.
This was the month I took my summer vacation, 4 weeks free from work, and me and Mathias went to Gotland and also spent a few days sailing on our boat.
September came, and with it my 26th birthday which was spent at our friends wedding. It was also time for the follow-up appiontment at the clinic, and I got an OK to start riding again, slowly to see where it would go.
October made it impossible for me to keep riding, as the conditions of my stable were too bad; the paddock was useless, no riding hall and only one road outside with was filled with blasted rocks. I decided to move, and started to look for another stable. I was very happy when I got a stall at Berga, a stable 10 minutes farther away than Lunda, which had everything I was looking for in a stable.
Me, mom and Mathias also went to Iceland, a very nice trip.
November was spent basically just waiting for the move to Berga. I was a cold, dark, sad and hard time which was really wasted.
It was not only the horse-related things that were bad, I also had to go to the emergency room twice, once for loosing my sight on one eye, and once for having 35,6 degrees body temp and having such a migrane I thought I would die. Turns out both were related to stress; I was over worked. Again. I made a plan for how to change my attitude towards my work. And to cheer me up, me and Sophie went to Stockholm horse show which was great.
December Vet time again, as Vasara got her limping back. I only had time to ride her for 1 week before it happened. Luckliy it passed after 10 days and I could start riding again, with a strict plan for how to get her going.
Mom turned 65, and I celebrated my first month at Berga.
Bought Vasara
Hired at kwintet
Drivers license
Bad points this year:
Burnt out at work
Vasaras injuries
= Overall a hard year.
Overall it has been a year filled with extremely hard work, both at work and with Vasara. It's hard to say if it's been an overall good or bad year.
When the year began in January, the year I left behind me had been a good one, and I had just started to seriously search for the right horse to buy. I was nervous, anxious, scared - and ready for it. I had prepared as much as I could, and was eager to start my horse life. I had worked at Kwintet for 3 months and was beginning to get into the job for real, and felt like I was at the right place. Also, I was practicing for my drivers license.
February came, and with it, great sadness and great joy. The horse I wanted to buy, Valle, didnt pass the inspection and I felt shattered. But then, I found Vasara. I looked into her eyes, and I fell in love straight away. When I rode her, it just clicked. I paied the reservation fee on the spot, and after signing the papers, I cried for 30 minutes because it was all so overwhelming, despite all the preparations. I then had to wait for what seemed forever until I could drive her home. Meanwhile, I took a trip to Denmark and passed my PRINCE2 certification.
March finally came. I got to bring Vasara home! March 2nd we drove down to Jönköping. I had been longing so much it actually hurt. The feeling when I loaded her into the trailer and we drove her to her new home is hard to explain. But already then, I loved her with all my heart. And thus began my horse life, and my life changed completely.
Me and Mathias also went to Vienna, to visit the Spannish riding school. It was my christmas gift from Mathias. The trip was amazing and Vienna really is a beautiful city.
Another success followed very soon, as I on the 19th passed my drivers test, on the first try. I had been a hard time, leaving home at 6 AM to go the the driving lesson, then straght to work and work until 5 without a lunch break, before getting on the bus and then walk 30 minutes to the stale in the snowstorm, before doing all the stable chores and coming home at 10 - 10:30 PM. Now I was able to drive to the stable, instead of taking the bus and walking in the pitch dark and snow storms.
April. Spent at the stables, forming a team with vasara. I was starting to get into my new life. This was also the month when Kwintet took me onboard, after 6 months as a consultant. I was so happy about this! I also worked for a few days in our German office in Osnabrück.
May. Spring had finally defeted the snow and ice and it was possible to start riding seriously in the paddock. Our dressage training went very well and I was so happy!
Mathias turned 26 and we spent our 2 year anniversary, which marked the best two years of my life. I also worked for a few days in our office in Epinal, France.
June was the month of traveling, as I went to work both in Oslo and Odense. Summer was beginning to arrive and me and Vasara was continuing to move forward in our dressage training.
July was the start of the worst period of the year, filled with worry and pain; Vasara was mysteriously injured in her back, probably due to her saddle. She also started limping badly. I had to stop riding and starting to walk with her one hour by hand everyday and pray to god it would be okay again.
This was also the month when I was starting to get sick from working to hard, I got burnt out and had to stay home for 2 weeks after collapsing at work several times.
August. As Vasaras injury did not get better, we had to go to the clinic. She was to eat medicine and keep walking for 4 weeks until our follow-up appointment. This month was just a painful prolonging of July.
This was the month I took my summer vacation, 4 weeks free from work, and me and Mathias went to Gotland and also spent a few days sailing on our boat.
September came, and with it my 26th birthday which was spent at our friends wedding. It was also time for the follow-up appiontment at the clinic, and I got an OK to start riding again, slowly to see where it would go.
October made it impossible for me to keep riding, as the conditions of my stable were too bad; the paddock was useless, no riding hall and only one road outside with was filled with blasted rocks. I decided to move, and started to look for another stable. I was very happy when I got a stall at Berga, a stable 10 minutes farther away than Lunda, which had everything I was looking for in a stable.
Me, mom and Mathias also went to Iceland, a very nice trip.
November was spent basically just waiting for the move to Berga. I was a cold, dark, sad and hard time which was really wasted.
It was not only the horse-related things that were bad, I also had to go to the emergency room twice, once for loosing my sight on one eye, and once for having 35,6 degrees body temp and having such a migrane I thought I would die. Turns out both were related to stress; I was over worked. Again. I made a plan for how to change my attitude towards my work. And to cheer me up, me and Sophie went to Stockholm horse show which was great.
December Vet time again, as Vasara got her limping back. I only had time to ride her for 1 week before it happened. Luckliy it passed after 10 days and I could start riding again, with a strict plan for how to get her going.
Mom turned 65, and I celebrated my first month at Berga.
So;
Good point this year:Bought Vasara
Hired at kwintet
Drivers license
Bad points this year:
Burnt out at work
Vasaras injuries
= Overall a hard year.
Drums! I hereby present....
I am happy to present the five themes that will now get their very own daily post!
Starting on Wednesday the 1st of January, here's the schedule:
Starting on Wednesday the 1st of January, here's the schedule:
Mondays: riding excersice of the week. To kick of a new week, on a not-so-inspiring Monday, some inspiration is served.
Tuesdays: riding gear want of the week. So much to want, so little time...
Wednesdays: horse video of the week. Halfway to weekend! Lets laugh, cry and marvel our way to Friday!
Thursdays: not-horse-related want of the week. It's easy to forget yourself when you have a horse.... Enough said.
Fridays: inspiring story of the week. Be it horse welfare in UK or a cool blind chick playing the piano, get inspired to change something in YOUR life!
Christmas
It's Christmas time again. Though it's been raining all day and not a single snowflake is in sight, I've been looking forward to this since last year.
I love Christmas. The lights, the gifts, the sweets...
This year it was time to visit Mathias patents, we have a every-second-year thing going on where we spend christmas with my mom (normally abroad) one year and Mathias parents the other year.
It was a nice evening with Mathias parents, his sister an her husband and 2 kids and his grand parents. The food was good, traditionally we ate way too much, the presents were opened very ecstatically (read overloaded) kids, the Santa was funny... It was overall a very nice evening.
Pricey
2500 SEK I will pay the vet for looking at Vasaras teeth and checking if she was limping.
Yum yum.
I've had enough of vet fees this year, around 15000 in total which could have been spent on so much else, like a new saddle or saving to travel.
Cleaning duty
Last week was my cleaning week - two areas of cleaning responsibility rotates in the stable and this week I was responsible for the kitchen and club-room-area, changing rooms and toilet.
The other area is tack room, food room and hay area.
Being the way I am, I have cleaned every day. Most people only do it once or twice a week.
First afternoon shift
Today is the first time I have the afternoon shift at Berga, which includes feeding 20 horses, bringing them in from the pasture and changing their blankets. Phew!
I have spent quite a lot of time preparing for this by trying to figure out which horse is which.... I think I've got it nailed down, I sure as hell hope so!
Lunch time
Working from home/ on-the-go today, so I'm on my way to have lunch and gift opening at Anna's. :)
Out and about
Today I finally got to ride again! It was pouring rain all 45 minutes but it was so worth it.
New year, new inspiration
The new year is quickly approaching. Inevitable as time is.
For me, the beginning of the New Year have always been very powerful in giving me a strong momentum for changes. New energy and inspiration. I think this is due to a very special New Year's Eve in Gisborne, New Zealand.
This will mean that I will get a kick to change this blog a bit. I used to have daily and weekly themes that generated A LOT of readers and so I will start it up again. It has been hard to find the inspiration to blog with an injured horse and with a job that has almost killed me, so let's turn it around!
My plan is to have five themes, each connected to one weekday. What these themes will be, I will reveal later on... :) but I will kick this off starting January 1st!
Sushi value
I had amazing sushi for lunch today, and eve though I ordered and paid for 11 bits I got 12.
Yummy in my tummy!
5 massages in 10 days
I have now completed my little project "spend all your welfare money before they expire at new year!'
I suddenly remembered that I have 2500 SEK to spend before the end of the year, when they would be lost and I would get new money. Such a waste, especially since I have so much trouble with my back and neck. So, what else to do than to book 5 massages in the 10 remaining days before the Christmas vacation? :)
I went to a clinic just 5 minutes from work, that serial people hav recommended. But this was not some kind of relaxation massage, oh no, I was there to make a change. So these five times I've been screaming, crying, whimpering etc as the incredible pain was overwhelming, but it has been worth it by far.
So now I think I will start going once a month, and not wait until I'm having problems walking...
I've been looking for freedom
I can hardly believe it, it's finally time for the Christmas Holliday! I won't be back at the office until 2nd January, and even though I'll work for 3 days until then, I'll be working from home, in my pajama, with goodies to eat and relaxing.
I feel like I really, reeeeally need this.
This past week have been weird, I've been so exhausted that I've hardly remembered my own name. But now it's time to rest, relax, ride in daylight and celebrate my favorite time of year - Christmas!
And the vet came with the best gift of all
The vet called, she was already at Berga when I left work, so I would never be able to make it out, luckily, she offered to lunge Vasara herself and said she'd call me when she was done, which I more than gladly accepted.
Then 20 minutes of very nervous waiting followed. When I lunged Vasara yesterday she looked fine to me, but then a vet always sees more. But then she called me back and said that the limping was gone and that I'm allowed to start riding gently again!!!!!! Yey!!!!
She is still a bit stiff, so I will start by just walking for two weeks, then one week with 5 minutes of trotting a day, then 10 minutes a day the week after that, and then 15 the day after that. If that works, I'm allowed to start cantering.
Yesterday I said to my mom that the only wish I have for Christmas is a healthy horse, and it seems like my wish came true.
Gift time
Today I got to hand out some early Christmas gifts, to my mom and to Tomas.
I have already given Marre her gift two weeks ago, she will get to see 4 plays of her choice at the Gothenburg city theatre.
But today was mom and Tomas turn. Tomas got a poster with photographs from the skate park he has built, quite an awesome place called Highvalley skate park. I got hold of a photographer who had lots of pics taken this summer and he kindly gave them to me for free. SHOU OUT to you Danne, Tomas was so happy!
My mom got 4 gifts: 1 jar of home made hard candy, 1 box of home made chocolate truffles, 1 calendar and iPhone5 case, both of which I've designed myself and then ordered. They both stared our cat, Nalle, and she was so moved that her eyes teared.
I also got to open some gifts, Tomas gave me a gift card for the cinema (I just spent the one he gave me last year on the hobbit, so maybe I'll save this one for the next hobbit? :)) and my mom gave me a 90 day public transportation card, that will save me a lot of money. Thanks a lot to both of you!!
Moonlight princess
I wanted to take a picture of how beautiful Vasara looked in the moonlight when we took a walk last night, but the picture doesn't really do her justice...
Amputation?
When I was driving to the stable yesterday suddenly my finger started to feel weird. I lost all feelings in it and it became stiff. When I arrived, I removed my glove and this was what I found.
A lady in stable saw it and asked if I had troubles with my back... And I said yes... Then she asked "is it here?" And touched a my back. And I said yes... Seems like this massaging is really stirring things up!
Emilia and Vanja <3
Emilia and Vanja came to Stockholm this Wednesday for a full day meeting, it was so great and I'm really grateful to have such sweet colleagues, whom I see as my friends.
Hobbit 2
Tomorrow me and Mathias will go to see the hobbit 2. So today we are watching the first movie, pep for tomorrow!
Day of rest
I slept until 10 (!) today and after going to the stable I played some computer games and almost took a nap. I really needed a calm day!
Nice visit
Bella is coming to Berga! She is training for Uffe this weekend, so I get to see her and show her how we're doing at Berga. I miss her a lot so it will be great!
I think I will watch her train tomorrow too :)
Dear colleagues
I couldn't ask for better people to have around me every day, I have made some home made truffles for you.
Hard candy
These jars of hard candy that I've made will be given to Mathias parents and his brother and sister on Christmas Eve.
No comment
The vet came out to look at her minor stiffness/limping yesterday. It's back, or it's something new due to her being chased in the pasture.
Anyway, it's time for 7 days of metacam again and walking her 2 x 20 minutes per day.
The vet will be back in 10 days.
The dentist
Both me and Vasara have now been to dentist, and we both have impeccable teeth.
For me, it was the first time at this new dentist (private, I would never go to the community dentist) and it was a very painful experience but wit a good result. I usually spend 15 minutes, but this time it was one hour! I think she was more accurate than my old dentist, and the clinic was really modern.
So after lots of examinations and work, and pain, the verdict was: I have really good teeth.
I felt really bad for Vasara, as they always need to be subdued, and their mouths opened with a big metal contraption, but she was so very very good and her teeth was also really good, which was great to hear. I also got to look into her mouth, and man that's a lot of teeth 50 centimeters into her skull!
I had her head supported on my shoulder during the procedures, which was very heavy but also cozy.
Aaaaah not the dentist!
Today is doomsday: I'm going to the dentist. Well, only to the hygienist actually since my teeth are so good, but still, I'm terrified each time (every other year, don't have to go every year). What if I have gotten a hole!? Just the thought of a drill makes me feel sick.
Dear god I hope I will get good news.
Vet Wednesday
The vet will come to visit on Wednesday - it's time to have a look at her teeth!
We are like a family full of "tandtroll"; cavity creeps, as Mathias went to the dentist last week, I'm going today and Vasara tomorrow.
The vet will also check her stiffness in the left hind leg and hopefully recommend a chiropractor.
Fairy farrier
Mathias was babysitting Vasara last night due to the interview, and hence had to tak care of the farrier too.
It went really smooth, and he came with good news: the infection in one of her frogs was just tiny and he could cut it away, and I will stop it from coming back by using regular hoof tar.
One less worry!
Almost free spree
Before last nights interview, I went on a small shopping spree. As I never have time to go shopping (I have to go to the stable :)) it was nice to browse the shops. But it got old really quickly due to all the late Christmas shoppers.
I bought one more gift for Mathias, one gift for myself (a kimono) which I paid with my checks from the music interview: I only had to pay 25 SEK over that.
Then I went to H&M and bought socks, after paying with a bonus check I only had to pay 20 SEK.
Then I went to Scorett and bought silicon pads for my high heels and after paying with a bonus check I only paid 10 SEK.
Finally I went to Twilfit and bought cozy Christmas socks and after paying with a bonus check I only paid 10 SEK.
Now I have spent all my club bonus checks (which would expire in the beginning of 2014 - I've had them in my bag for a year lol) and gotten stuff without paying anything!
500 check
Last night it was time for another interview, this time a focus group about make up, ordered by Lumene.
It was great fun, us 8 girls got along great and we had a really great time.
For the trouble I got 500 SEK.
Farrier
The farrier called to say he was on his way out. Unfortunately I was busy with all the candy so I didn't hear my phone, so he turned around... Crap! But he promised to come out tomorrow instead, let's hope he keeps that promise, since I've been chasing him for two weeks....
She's lost on shoe and I think one hoof has gotten an infection.
New blanket
I've bought a new blanket, from Biltema (yes you read correctly).
I figured I had to try out their new equestrian collection and see if it's any good, it's so cheap! So I'm gonna put the quality to the test.
Traditions
All day had been spent at Anna's place, making home made chocolate truffles and hard candy.
Marre came up from Gothenburg and brought her lovely friend Isabell with her, it was SO great to see her and meet Isabell, she was so sweet and all of us had such a nice time together!
Pasture troubles
Vasara was getting beat up in the pasture so I had to move her to a mini-pasture for sick horses.... I called Birgitta and she will move the horses around a bit so hopefully we can find a nice friend for her.
Dermalogica
Time to try new facial products. After using Biotherm for something like 6 years it's time for a change. After several recommendations I've decided to try Dermalogica.
I bought a starter kit today, containing a cleanser, a AHA scrub, toning lotion, day and night cream and eye cream. Will be very exciting to try!
I know it takes a few weeks for the skin to get used to changes like this so I will try not to panic when I get outbursts and stuff, I know it's supposed to happen.
Congratulations mom!
On your 65th birthday!!
We went out to have dinner at Ulla Winbladh and of course she got the Blanket!
Heaven
I haven't really reported anything about Berga, where we've been for almost a week now. Well, all I can say is this: hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!
It's a completely different league compared to Lunda. And the riding hall.... Omg.... Everything is just... Perfect.
4 letters, starts with an S
Yes that's right, it's snow time!!
My colleagues in Borås couldn't open their doors this morning, they were snowed in. And apparently the storm is coming my way.
I love snow!!!! But not if it's stoping me from getting to Vasara :)
Christmas lunch @ the office
I love you dear colleagues, I couldn't ask for better people to spend my days with!
L
Rain and snow
And rain! And snow! And rain! And snow!
First snow of the year, mixed with rain.
Vasara will be wet tonight :)
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