When I Woke Up This Morning...

Ah, no it wasnt snowing, but it might as well of been .... the winds were howling, the sun was peeping through the heaven leaden clouds, but there was no way that it was going to be a warm type of day (unless you are living in Cairns?).

I have to say that I am quite over winter (yes I know that we are only in the first month of it). Mother Nature has surely been giving us a large serve of artic fuel this time around and I cant say that Iam impressed at all! (Its very difficult trying to feed the horses with a doona wrapped around you!).

I guess it wouldnt be so bad if there was some rain involved in this cruel trick that she is playing with us, but as you know, there is not much of the wet stuff involved in her plan.

Bits and Pieces...

Miss Dirty Girl has had a trip away from Massie Lodge this week with a trip to Oakey Vet Hospital for a rescan of her near tendon. Needless to say there was a warm welcome back from Luke (her Warmblood boyfriend) on her arrival back (kisses and cuddles, so Evan tells me!).

CONGRATULATIONS... must go to return-resident Bob (Centenn) who ran third in the Murwillumbah Newmarket today.

MAZ - is doing well and will have another gallop on the grass on Tuesday. GOMAZ!

Pip (Epiphany) and Gossy-Girl (Local News) have settled in well and have been rugged from head to toe to protect their cargo from the arctic winter - not that they are impressed with the rugging bit either! Someone needs to tell me how a big mare with a big tummy can work her way out of a canvas combo with all the straps still done up left lying on the ground? Maybe Pip should be renamed "Houdini"?

Massie Lodge Canines. All canines are "coping" with winter the best way they can. Right in front of the fire - and not moving! Matilda has been wearing her coat during the day and thinks she is pretty special having a very stylish Dolce and Gabba rug; ah, not exactly! Still, her purple Weatherbeeta is just as good! Bessie Merle and Pikey manage to keep to a large radius around the heater. Spoiled? No, not at all!

Evan is still in shorts to go and feed up; I dont know how he does it. And me? Quite the picture of sartorial elegance in tracksuit pants, shirts, sloppyjoe, long socks, coat, beanie, scarf, gloves ... LOL (there is NO way that there is going to be a picture of that!).

The locals tell me that its "all good". Im sorry but I fail to see where the good is in this weather!

Time for me to go and push the dogs from in front of the fire and make me a warm posy for the rest of the afternoon....

Hooroo until next post!

GO MAZ!

A post from Evan:

I had a long chat to Phil Quinnell this morning and he is very pleased with the way Maz is coming along. He worked him on the main course proper this morning with Oscar (Tannerang Baluk) and he pulled up very well indeed.

Phil suggested we wait until he works on the course again next Tuesday and if all is well after that, we can name and register Maz and get him educated through the barriers.

Maz has only been with Phil for five weeks so there is still plenty of time. But the news and future looks good at this stage for our Maz.

GO MAZ!

BBBBrrrrr.........

YES! It's that time of year when your fingers and nose get soo cold that you can't feel them! We both love winter time. Hah! That's a lie. But the truth of the matter is that it is winter time at Massie Lodge and all the residents have grown long woolly coats to cope with the change in the weather. We have managed to have "bits" of rain, however, nothing drought breaking - just enough for the equines to have a nice roll and get covered in the stuff. (As they do!).

Life has been rolling along at 120kph, with me working 5 days and Evan doing the things that he does to keep the residents with a round belly and happy. Why is it that Saturday and Sunday seem to roll along at an even faster rate than during the week?

Where do I start after such a long break from posting?

Comings and Goings

Maz

Is going very well (going good?) with Phil Quinnell at Balina. Maz has been working out with Oscar (Tannerang Baluk) and the two have become fast friends. Oscar is due for a trial in the near future. But all the reports on Maz are encouraging.

Isabell, Lucy and the Dirty Girl

Are quite fat and happy thank you. The two young girls will miss Dirtiere when she goes for her scan at OVH this coming week. Dirty Girl's boyfriend, Luke (who is a Warmblood gelding) and lives next door to the girl, will be beside himself when she goes as the pair have become inseparable - it could even be love!

Shorts and Meggsie

Have become firm friends since Floss went to the Breakers. Shorts has grown into such a nice filly and it will soon be time for her to step up and take the next stage in her career. Meggsie is quiet and unasuming and just loves Evan. Both are a joy to look after.

Joie, Sweetie and Maddie

Our dry girls are down the back paddock, with long woolly coats. Joie had a bit of a hick up the other day when she didnt want her dinner. WHAT! (That's unheard of!) Well, it was straight out of the paddock for Joie and up to the house yards for observation and treatment if necessary. Whatever it was passed and Joie was champing at the bit to get back to her Sweetie and Mads.

Jimmy, Kennykinjite and Buddy

The youngsters are together and certainly are the "three amigos", which is really painful when you just want to do something to one of them! Kenny seems to like the older women next door (Southern and Queenie) and spends a lot of time down the back of the paddock hanging out with his women friends.

Voodoo

Is still at Paul Moodys and the reports are very encouraging. She should be back at Massie Lodge soon.

I have no excuses for not posting. Actually I do. Telstra stuffed us up in the most major way with our second line and that's why I havent been near the computer. Oh, and the fact that we have had a houseguest for the last week, and working five days.... etc etc. LOL.

You gotta love Telstra (and you know how much I do!) The only thing that I will say is that I hope that everyone scrutinises every line of their telephone bill; it's amazing what Telstra will change without telling you!

Well, enough rambling on. Evan has put the fire on in the living room and it's time to sit down on the lounge and just enjoy the evening.

Hooroo until next time!

Evan and Jimmy " Its nice to see you dad ... lifting up my feet... giving me a cuddle....."

" OOOO why are you playing with my mouth?"

"Yuk, phu... eeeew.... are you done yet?"

Young Kenny Kinjite - who is a really nice type


The very quiet Miss Meggsie who is off to the breakers at the end of August. (I think she likes Evan just a wee bit!)

Young Buddy, who has been back from Paul Moody's for a few weeks now.

The very beautiful hairy and muddy Miss Short Pants who will be venturing out into the big world later this year.

Welcome ....

And we thought we were going to have a very quiet and restful breeding season..... hah!

Welcome to Massie Lodge's newest residents, two pregnant mares both in foal to that handsome hunk, Conatus.

Introducing Epiphany (pictured above), who is a lovely Century mare out of a mare called Biscay Dancer. If the name Biscay Dancer rings a little bell, it could be because she is a sister to Nanutarra, a half sister to Marwong and Captain Piper. Biscay Dancer is also the dam of Bislotto and Bel Danoro (who is new to stud this year at Vinery).

"Pip" has also had a few winners herself; Harakka (by Brocco), Check or Bet (by Brief Truce) and Bubble or Nothing (by Bubble Gum Fellow). Pip is due early November.

Our other new resident that is owned by the Koch Family, is Local News. Local News is a lovely Semipalatinsk mare out of Never Tell Tales (who is the dam of Brave Hawk). "Gossips" foal is due in October.

Both mares are doing well and have settled in well.

Epiphany (or just Pippy)

Local News (or Gossips to her friends)