Today is 28 August 2013.  It is the 50th Anniversary of the very famous speech given by civil rights leader Martin Luther King, on 28 August 1963.   King's " I Have a Dream " was a public speech he delivered to more than 250,000 civil rights supporters on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  The speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963   I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon of hope to millions of slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night ...

I seem to have lost the will to write a little bit over the past few days.  I'm not sure that I can explain why. I find myself continually checking my email inbox lately because there's some things I'm waiting on just a little bit that still haven't arrived.  However my trip was a success.  The images are lovely. Dan got me there and back safely. So I really don't have cause to be feeling a little flat.   Perhaps I'm still tired.  I was so tired yesterday that after the kids got home from school I curled up on the bed with Maxie and had a sleep until my friend Rick interrupted me with a phone call to tell me the date of an unveiling that he needs me to attend.  It's going to be on the morning of Thursday 24th October, just before the Cox Plate, which has me trying to recall whether the flights I've already booked get me there in time, or whether they will need changing. I had a very lovely birthday yesterday.  And some of my friends were ...

I feel like I'm wading upstream. I'm 2/3rds of the way home. I'm on my 3rd coffee. My shoulder is swollen and neck my neck is sore. And I'm desperately tired. My eyes want to close. It's been a good weekend but it is a long drive home and a very full day yesterday on top of the 8 hour drive to Scone. I was touched by all the people who came and said hello. I hope nobody took it personally if I couldn't recall their names. I can be a bit hopeless with names. I had a little play with Exceed and Excel in his paddock this morning. It's why I'm extra tired because I had to get up early to do it. These Famous Ponies though... I just can't help myself. They are all so special and I can't resist any chance I get to capture candid moments with them. Home Dan.... In theory we are on the downhill run now. Oh dear. I realise now I didn't check your oil, water of tyres before leaving Scone. And I am too tired now, so I will revert to my usual hab...

I drove into Scone about 5.25pm.  My trip taking a tick over 8 hours, which is about par for the course.  I'm staying where I stayed last time I was here for Arrowfield in December, at Portman House.  They are lovely little apartments.  Last time it was summer, and I had much on my mind.  This trip is probably no different, but it is much cooler! I'm tired, and am sitting quietly, and just ate something easy here.  I am not one who is comfortable going out eating on my own.  It's just never been my strongest suit.  But that's ok.  It's Friday.  I had some tidying up to do and I also need to have all my things ready for the morning.   I start about 7.30am at Arrowfield tomorrow, and I'll meet my "New Boy", Animal Kingdom then. I'm excited to meet him.  He has tremendous presence apparently and a hankering for peppermints apparently.  I have some carrots in my fridge as well, and am looking forward to bonding with ...

I'm in Cessnock.  My 'setting out' post has only just been posted because I didn't press the final "publish" button. A friend said to tackle it town by town, which is how I've always coped with long drives. I wouldn't say I am a natural long distance driver. I get tired. And I don't like driving at night so I time my trips carefully to avoid the dark. Part of Sunday's drive will be in the dark, which I will hate. My eyes don't cope well and I find it extra fatiguing. It's the price I have to pay for wanting to wake up on my birthday on Monday with my kids. And surely a girl deserves to see the horse she's falling in love with on her birthday too?? So I hope to work Snips on Monday as well. Tomorrow morning I will meet my new "New Boy", the mighty champion Animal Kingdom. I'm a bit breathless about meeting him. Cessnock has a lot more security bars on the shop windows than I remember. I wonder if they are...

I am grabbing a coffee before embarking on the long drive to Scone. I will be in the car for about 8 hours. I dreamt about Dan running out of steam up the hills. Dan's oil was low. So was his water. Just as well I checked them? Tyres were ok. Having my favourite morning travelling meal to eat while I drive. There is an old man in here with a woolen beany and stony gaze that reminds me of Rueben in Doctor Who's Fang Rock. I wonder if Heath would agree? I will miss my kids while I'm away, but the show must go on.. Good boy Dan. Good boy...

I rode Snips this evening after work.  Originally I thought I wouldn't have time.  But the way the last couple of days have panned out, I ended up thinking 'darn it, I simply have to ride him', just for me.  Emma sent me a text message last night, saying it would be ok to work him in the indoor with the lesson that was going (not really joining in because they are kids) but because it would be good for him to work with lots of other horses, and also be under the lights again.   Snips greeted me enthusiastically, but he was actually in a bad mood.  I guessed it was because he is usually tucked up in bed eating his dinner, (which had been taken away from him!) and he was cross because he was tied up, with a saddle on and loads of ponies and horses going past his stable in the lesson.  He alternated between laying his ears back at the horses then me while I tightened his girth.  He usually doesn't bat an eyelid, but will turn gently around askin...