It seems like forever since I have sat down at my computer (or my iPad) and written on this Blog.  To my regular readers I'm sorry.  To begin with I guess things just seemed to be sailing along so nicely that I almost forgot about writing.  Or at other times I think just keeping up with everything meant that I was wasn't devoting that 30 minutes or so most days to writing.   However in August it became apparent to me that all wasn't well with me.  For someone who's always been well, and the only 2 times I've been in hospital was for the birth of my two children, this came as a bit of a shock.  But then I guess "The Spanish Dancer", or "The Big C", or pure and simply cancer, is always going to be a shock.  I think it's one of life's real cruelties that a girl had to get cancer to get loads and loads of really beautiful and cool flowers. I won't go in to too many details here, but suffice to say that I have been extremely fortunate...

I sit this evening in a reflective mood.  We staggered in the door last night tired.  I was exhausted, but slept very badly.  As a result we were all slow to move this morning.  In all honesty I should have gotten to Caulfield for Race 2 today but due to our late arrival back home I felt it wasn't feasible.  I'd also promised Heath he could go shopping at KMart today, after making him wait patiently until we arrived home because the item he'd chosen was too big to carry on the plane, what with our many bags and the kitty. Today the news that I had been expecting was announced.  It's a Dundeel has been retired to stud and will commence stallion duties at the famed Arrowfield Stud in September 2014.  He will revert to his original registered name Dundeel (NZ) when he joins the roster at Arrowfield.  I quite like this change.   I've spent a great deal of time behind the scenes with this feisty bay stallion over the past 8 months an...

Today is my last day at Arrowfield Stud and in Scone.  It's not a tough day, with just tidying up of loose ends and trying to nail that final photograph, and I'll do some family photos at the end of the day too.  I slept terribly last night, and so am now wondering whether my planned very early assault tomorrow morning, involving a 4.30am start, is indeed wise, given I have the 8 hour return drive home to negotiate as well tomorrow.  I don't know what to do about that now, I want to do it, but given that I bolted awake in a panic at least 3 times last night, I'm not sure..  My neck is twinging again, and that pinched nerve is there nagging at me, saying "look, I'm nearly trapped, can you feel it??" .  The answer is yes, I absolutely can, and it is making me move cautiously and carefully. It's all over the news and on my friends' Facebook posts that this weekend is AFL Grand Final weekend.  I'm trying not to think about.  It's ironic th...

What a long day.  I am just in.  I've spent all day shooting and editing.  Had a lovely dinner with Vicky, Virginia and Amy...  Just finishing downloading, and putting everything on charge, and doing a little bit of overdue 'housekeeping'..... Alinghi.  Catching up with an old friend.  Her Snitzel foal is gorgeous Alinghi's new foal by Snitzel.

Yes.  I am back to that 'on the road' stage of the Spring.  On Thursday I drive out for Scone.  I have been watching the weather forecast/outlook all week.  Is it tempting fate to put it up here?  I'm not sure, but currently, this is what it looks like, and I have to say, that this looks more than ok.  Scone has also had some welcome rain, just like Canberra, over the past couple of days, and so I would hope this would bring out some greenness too. Scone Forecast updated at 9:49 am EST on Tuesday 17 September 2013. Detailed Scone Forecast Tue. 17 Sep Wed. 18 Sep Thu. 19 Sep Fri. 20 Sep Sat. 21 Sep Sun. 22 Sep Mon. 23 Sep Summary   A few showers.  Chance storm.   Mostly sunny.   Sunny.   Mostly sunny.   Sunny.   Partly cloudy.   Mostly sunny. Max. Temperature 21 °C 24 °C 23 °C 23 °C 25 °C 26 °C 27 °C Min. Temperature 8 °C 7 °C 5 °C 5 °C 6 °C 7 °C Without seeing Tuesday yet, which will ...