reach up and touch the sky
We have been singing this song over and over and over again. When I got back from the Planning Control Committee meeting on the 27 Feb, we whooped and laughed, I told the kids and then went outside and told the horses and then we got very drunk and I played these songs over and over until really late .... When you Say Nothing At all, Alison Krauss; True Colours and Songbird, Eva Cassidy. These are now my "we got permission!" songs.
However, if I thought I was busy before we got planning permission, that aint nofink compared to how busy wot I am now. But, it has a lovely, exciting and positive feel to it and we are enjoying it.
We are:
- still in dispute with the parish Council (sigh)
- getting quotes for the stables and manege (one guy actually quoted me £250k (yes, I know, can you believe it) to build the stables - don't think he wanted the job ha ha
- pulling together the information for the council to meet the planning conditions (of which there are seven -arghh) including: plans for a wildlife corridor. Along the access track. Now, I thought I ought to get in an expert to do this for me, and she is actually v good, but the wildlife corridor she has suggested is in fact wildflower meadow seed. Even I could have thought of that, but still, its only money and money is no problem for us because it grows on trees round here. Another annoying condition is that rather than having a normal soak away type thingy like normal developments do, we have to have a "sustainable drainage system" e.g.a pond or swale. So, again at more cost, I am having to get in a "sustainable drainage systems" expert to do the plan for me
- I have ordered 25 turkey poults to continue with our Christmas Turkey business. Our breeding turks have started to lay eggs, so we are hopeful that we may be able to breed some here naturally too
- I am trying to concentrate a little more on my BHS training for the riding instructor qualification
Claudia on Thistle
Luke at the Feb half term pony Club Rally (left) and out on a hack (right)
Very exciting things are happening after we had our permission covered in both the local newspapers ...fame at last and lots of people have been phoning me up. A local branch of RDA has been over to see me to discuss keeping a pony with me for RDA carriage driving - something which I have no experience of but am very excited about. A number of people have called for riding for children with disabilities, which again is just great.
A new horse is coming on loan on Monday - an ex polo pony called Lexi (thoroughbred, 15.2hh, 20 years old and a school mistress (hopefully) and we can't wait to have her here.
My other horses are behaving and getting a little fitter.
I am also behaving and getting a little fitter :-) Although the excuse to "celebrate getting our permission" is being used fairly frequently.
xx
