Here she is with Evan (who I might add will not get rid of that bloody flanny shirt with the rip in it!!). Not quite 1 yet, but showing a lot of potential :-)
Monday, September 12, 2005
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Bessie Merle
once again follows me into the study and sits right down in front of the heater that has been turned on due to the coldness of the evening. I have to laugh at Lance, Bess and Millie because as soon as I get up, they will get up and move wherever I move to. Matilda at this point is sitting in the bathroom and has her nose turned into the space between the vanity and the wall, all because there is a storm about 20kms away with a bit of thunder.
Today has been an odd sort of day, chilly, overcast and with a few showers scattered throughout the day. We even saw about a minute of hail and that sent the horses right off! Sometimes its better not to look out and see exactly what they are doing.... I did notice that the preggie mares were standing 4 in a row with their backs to the storm. Why cant the youngsters take their lead from them?
Both Evan and I have taken this opportunity of inclement weather to sit back, watch some DVDs and just relax. I can assure you that there are not many of these sorts of days when both of us just want to sit still...today has been one of them, though when it has been more out of necessity as everyone needs to be able to do they're own thing. Actually it has been that sort of weekend as Susie didnt get a run as a third emergency, we really didnt need to do anything or go anywhere... so a quick trip into the local video store in Warwick, a quick check on supplies of alcohol and chocolate and we are ready to go!
Yesterday we spent some time with the yearlings - Lily, April, Shortpants, Lenny, Jakey and of course Miss Caramel. While Lenny was amusing himself with his soccer ball, Evan brought Jakey out for a walk around, some leading practice and a good groom to get rid of some of that hair! He is such a sweet boy away from Lenny (who is the instigator of all mischievous behaviour) and if I was to give him a name that represented how he looked now, I would call him Chicken McNugget!
LOL, no he's not that bad, he just has lots of bone to grow into, but dont get me wrong he is very strong in the hindquarters and is very much like a work-in-progress.
Its funny you know, they all seem to do their growing while Iam at work... and when I see them after 3 days at the office, crikeys, they all seem to have changed at a rate of knots. Lily is growing up quickly with her lengthening in the barrel and darkening up. April is just beautiful and is losing hair, hand over fist and is more of a young lady than a baby. Young Shortpants is currently up at the rump at the moment, and I have to keep remembering that she is the youngest of the yearlings.
I have calmed down just a wee bit since my last post about the stud on the Sunshine Coast, however, Havachat will be picked up tomorrow. Sorry, but sending a mare away to a stallion should not be like this, this is just crazy! I have a slight feeling that this will not be the end of this.
Bessie Merle has stretched, had a roll and is now standing with her nose over the keyboard. Lancey has just appeared and is standing on the other side of me with his nose resting on my arm. Millie has just moved so that she is now sitting under my chair with her paw on my foot. Do you ever get the feeling that they are trying to tell me something????
DINNER!!!!!! AAArgh!!
Who needs kids with these dogs?
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.
--An Irish blessing
Helen.
Today has been an odd sort of day, chilly, overcast and with a few showers scattered throughout the day. We even saw about a minute of hail and that sent the horses right off! Sometimes its better not to look out and see exactly what they are doing.... I did notice that the preggie mares were standing 4 in a row with their backs to the storm. Why cant the youngsters take their lead from them?
Both Evan and I have taken this opportunity of inclement weather to sit back, watch some DVDs and just relax. I can assure you that there are not many of these sorts of days when both of us just want to sit still...today has been one of them, though when it has been more out of necessity as everyone needs to be able to do they're own thing. Actually it has been that sort of weekend as Susie didnt get a run as a third emergency, we really didnt need to do anything or go anywhere... so a quick trip into the local video store in Warwick, a quick check on supplies of alcohol and chocolate and we are ready to go!
Yesterday we spent some time with the yearlings - Lily, April, Shortpants, Lenny, Jakey and of course Miss Caramel. While Lenny was amusing himself with his soccer ball, Evan brought Jakey out for a walk around, some leading practice and a good groom to get rid of some of that hair! He is such a sweet boy away from Lenny (who is the instigator of all mischievous behaviour) and if I was to give him a name that represented how he looked now, I would call him Chicken McNugget!
LOL, no he's not that bad, he just has lots of bone to grow into, but dont get me wrong he is very strong in the hindquarters and is very much like a work-in-progress.
Its funny you know, they all seem to do their growing while Iam at work... and when I see them after 3 days at the office, crikeys, they all seem to have changed at a rate of knots. Lily is growing up quickly with her lengthening in the barrel and darkening up. April is just beautiful and is losing hair, hand over fist and is more of a young lady than a baby. Young Shortpants is currently up at the rump at the moment, and I have to keep remembering that she is the youngest of the yearlings.
I have calmed down just a wee bit since my last post about the stud on the Sunshine Coast, however, Havachat will be picked up tomorrow. Sorry, but sending a mare away to a stallion should not be like this, this is just crazy! I have a slight feeling that this will not be the end of this.
Bessie Merle has stretched, had a roll and is now standing with her nose over the keyboard. Lancey has just appeared and is standing on the other side of me with his nose resting on my arm. Millie has just moved so that she is now sitting under my chair with her paw on my foot. Do you ever get the feeling that they are trying to tell me something????
DINNER!!!!!! AAArgh!!
Who needs kids with these dogs?
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.
--An Irish blessing
Helen.
Friday, September 09, 2005
I'LL TAKE A DEEP BREATH...
and i'll forget about the bad bits... life is too short to be narcy!
It felt like summer today when I woke up... mind you it took all three dogs to get me moving this morning; not even Matilda and her bad breath woke me out of my exhaustion induced coma! However, I was very pleased to see my cup of tea there waiting for me... I reached out and it was drinkably warm.... which meant that Evan must of been up and out the back for about half an hour. Chris the vet from Warwick Vets was coming out this morning to microchip the last of the yearlings, to give Sunny a check up and to take out Nanna's caslick.
Sunny, it seems has a URTI (upper respiratory track infection) and the right thing for her was to be home getting over it. I have to say that I was in awe when I saw her... she looks terrific! The thing is though, her temperament is still as sweet as the day she was born. It was unfortunate to hear that one of our friends who had a colt running as well had to pull him out due to leg trouble, which is a whole lot more serious than our girls.
My answer is to see how they perform in their 3rd year. The chances will be that most of them are down with injury or requring surgery. Some have gone in the head and cant do it anymore. Is it the lure of the 2yo money that makes us push our little ones? This makes me think of Curly Coated Retrievers. They are large dogs and dont mature at least till they're 3 or 4 year olds (um, in saying that, my Jack was still a baby at 10!). Curlys are fully grown at 3 but their brains dont mature until they are 5, 6 .... or 10 as was in Jack's case.
Are the 2yo's being pushed to do something that their heads are not ready for? Certainly it seems their bones are not fully grown and stablised at the age of 2, so why are the racing entities (i.e. the clubs and the entities that put forward the bonus scheme money) pushing 2yos to race? All too often I hear of horses having troubled 3yo years after a full 2yo season. Not racing 2yos is something that Evan and I decided not to do a long time ago as we didnt feel it fair on the babies and we wanted them to have good, long racing careers if they had any ability. Stil its up to the individuals and Iam sure that people will turn their noses up at our philosophy for the horses born at Massie Lodge.
I digress slightly (as I always do!). Sunny was a perfect angel for Chris, so was the mishievous Miss Caramel. I had to laugh when Evan brough my Nanna (Splendid Feeling) up into the crush as she nearly didnt fit into it as her belly is humungous! As you will see from the photos, it was "business as usual" for Nanna in the crush.
Charliefarley. The news is good for young master Charlie. Charlie has been bought by a businessman in Hong Kong who would like to race him in Hong Kong. First off Charlie is to be broken in with Paul Mody then he will come back to Massie Lodge for a holiday. Then he will be off to Dale Sutton at Wadham Park for preparing so that he can take the MRA vet examination which requires them to be galloped, scoped and x-rayed. I will miss Charlie when he goes (as I do), but he has an exciting life ahead of him. We have since put in for his name to be registered as "Time Legend" as per his new owners request.
Maddie is now up here at the house stableyards where we can keep an eye on her. She is starting to bag up, so I figure it wont be long. Evan and I currently have a bet going as to when she will give birth.
Susie is third emergency in a 1300m maiden at Toowoomba tomorrow. I have no idea if she will start, I guess we will find out tomorrow morning. This race is more of a "lets see what she can do and where she is at" race. In saying that though, she drew barrier 9 and will have a jock on board I have never heard of.
While speaking of Susie I have to make mention of one of our friends, J Baxter, who has sorted out the case of the "missing colours". John has done a very selfless thing and ordered us a new set of colours and I was speechless when I heard what he had done. Its very rare these days for someone to take ownership of someon elses' problem and just sort it out. To you John, I give my heartfelt thanks - please take a bow!
My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.
--Indira Gandhi
Helen.
It felt like summer today when I woke up... mind you it took all three dogs to get me moving this morning; not even Matilda and her bad breath woke me out of my exhaustion induced coma! However, I was very pleased to see my cup of tea there waiting for me... I reached out and it was drinkably warm.... which meant that Evan must of been up and out the back for about half an hour. Chris the vet from Warwick Vets was coming out this morning to microchip the last of the yearlings, to give Sunny a check up and to take out Nanna's caslick.
Sunny, it seems has a URTI (upper respiratory track infection) and the right thing for her was to be home getting over it. I have to say that I was in awe when I saw her... she looks terrific! The thing is though, her temperament is still as sweet as the day she was born. It was unfortunate to hear that one of our friends who had a colt running as well had to pull him out due to leg trouble, which is a whole lot more serious than our girls.
My answer is to see how they perform in their 3rd year. The chances will be that most of them are down with injury or requring surgery. Some have gone in the head and cant do it anymore. Is it the lure of the 2yo money that makes us push our little ones? This makes me think of Curly Coated Retrievers. They are large dogs and dont mature at least till they're 3 or 4 year olds (um, in saying that, my Jack was still a baby at 10!). Curlys are fully grown at 3 but their brains dont mature until they are 5, 6 .... or 10 as was in Jack's case.
Are the 2yo's being pushed to do something that their heads are not ready for? Certainly it seems their bones are not fully grown and stablised at the age of 2, so why are the racing entities (i.e. the clubs and the entities that put forward the bonus scheme money) pushing 2yos to race? All too often I hear of horses having troubled 3yo years after a full 2yo season. Not racing 2yos is something that Evan and I decided not to do a long time ago as we didnt feel it fair on the babies and we wanted them to have good, long racing careers if they had any ability. Stil its up to the individuals and Iam sure that people will turn their noses up at our philosophy for the horses born at Massie Lodge.
I digress slightly (as I always do!). Sunny was a perfect angel for Chris, so was the mishievous Miss Caramel. I had to laugh when Evan brough my Nanna (Splendid Feeling) up into the crush as she nearly didnt fit into it as her belly is humungous! As you will see from the photos, it was "business as usual" for Nanna in the crush.
Charliefarley. The news is good for young master Charlie. Charlie has been bought by a businessman in Hong Kong who would like to race him in Hong Kong. First off Charlie is to be broken in with Paul Mody then he will come back to Massie Lodge for a holiday. Then he will be off to Dale Sutton at Wadham Park for preparing so that he can take the MRA vet examination which requires them to be galloped, scoped and x-rayed. I will miss Charlie when he goes (as I do), but he has an exciting life ahead of him. We have since put in for his name to be registered as "Time Legend" as per his new owners request.
Maddie is now up here at the house stableyards where we can keep an eye on her. She is starting to bag up, so I figure it wont be long. Evan and I currently have a bet going as to when she will give birth.
Susie is third emergency in a 1300m maiden at Toowoomba tomorrow. I have no idea if she will start, I guess we will find out tomorrow morning. This race is more of a "lets see what she can do and where she is at" race. In saying that though, she drew barrier 9 and will have a jock on board I have never heard of.
While speaking of Susie I have to make mention of one of our friends, J Baxter, who has sorted out the case of the "missing colours". John has done a very selfless thing and ordered us a new set of colours and I was speechless when I heard what he had done. Its very rare these days for someone to take ownership of someon elses' problem and just sort it out. To you John, I give my heartfelt thanks - please take a bow!
My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.
--Indira Gandhi
Helen.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Reflections..
I often sit and think what happens to the animals that we have had and where they have gone and what they are doing. I also hope that all of them are happy in their new homes with their new owners. Of course I dont let myself think anything more than that because otherwise I wouldnt be able to do what we do. Evan says that I think too much (which is probably true), but you cant but help wonder if they have found some sort of fullfillment in their new lives.
Today I was going through the Racenet form and nearly died of shock when I saw that Vicky (Vetiole) will be having her first race start tomorrow at Taree. Of course I knew it would happen (after all she had trialled twice and had run 2nd and 4th respectively) and I guess I will be like a cat on a hot tin roof to see how she goes. (Just quietly Iam hoping that she will prove her critics most decidly wrong!) and will do very well. I can see that we will have to go into town to watch this race!
I have heard that Pearl (a Rigoletto filly that we had sold as a yearling) has gone on to become a good polo horse. She has turned into a beautiful dark grey mare who can turn on a 10 cent piece.
Smisstique has gone on to be a stock horse. Now there was one strange horse who hated me and loved Evan (most of the time). Sorry, to me she was just a bitch that had a huge chip on her shoulder! There was no personality there for me to warm too, none whatsoever.
Ozzieman. My little fellow has been having a hard transition away from his friends, however, Iam sure that once he finds his feet he will be fine.
*sigh* I hope that somehow their life here with us at Massie Lodge has given them a good start now they are out and about in the world.
We are in countdown mode with Maddie as she is due on 24th September. However, after looking at the mums today (oh yeah, some good stomach watching time was spent this morning!!) I think that Nanna will not be far behind her. I have started putting my hand under their tummies and most of the ladies are obliging except of course for Sweetie who turned to me this morning and said, "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Isnt it bad enough that I have this gi-normous stomach that will not sit still.... AAAArgh!!!".
Still, a very necessary task for me to perform so that I can feel that all is right with bubs. April (who is the spit of her mother, Vera), often follows me down to the preggie girls (as they are next door) and stares at them (the curiosity of the young!). I have a feeling that the preggie girls will go boom-boom-boom come October. I can see me taking some time off work (yippee!!) to manage these mums-to-be. Trousers has started to grow around the girth (which is right as she is at her third trimester) and will now keep an eagle eye on her to make sure that bubs grows nice and big.
Is there anything worse than windsucking? Ah, no. In the dead of the night, nothing can be heard but Trousers latching on to the rail and breathing in....
Trousers is in fact a funny old chick (she is 19) and if she was a human female, I would envisage her to be a chain smoker with rollers in her hair and a scarf tied around it and her favourite expression would be, " Ohhh Daaaaaaarling" croaked in a husky voice LOL. I do have a very soft spot for her and we have become good mates in the time she has been here at Massie Lodge.
She has had 12 foals:-
1. Colt - by Dont Forget Me (in NZ)
2. Hey Sarah - by Sackford 29:4/4/4
Today I was going through the Racenet form and nearly died of shock when I saw that Vicky (Vetiole) will be having her first race start tomorrow at Taree. Of course I knew it would happen (after all she had trialled twice and had run 2nd and 4th respectively) and I guess I will be like a cat on a hot tin roof to see how she goes. (Just quietly Iam hoping that she will prove her critics most decidly wrong!) and will do very well. I can see that we will have to go into town to watch this race!
I have heard that Pearl (a Rigoletto filly that we had sold as a yearling) has gone on to become a good polo horse. She has turned into a beautiful dark grey mare who can turn on a 10 cent piece.
Smisstique has gone on to be a stock horse. Now there was one strange horse who hated me and loved Evan (most of the time). Sorry, to me she was just a bitch that had a huge chip on her shoulder! There was no personality there for me to warm too, none whatsoever.
Ozzieman. My little fellow has been having a hard transition away from his friends, however, Iam sure that once he finds his feet he will be fine.
*sigh* I hope that somehow their life here with us at Massie Lodge has given them a good start now they are out and about in the world.
We are in countdown mode with Maddie as she is due on 24th September. However, after looking at the mums today (oh yeah, some good stomach watching time was spent this morning!!) I think that Nanna will not be far behind her. I have started putting my hand under their tummies and most of the ladies are obliging except of course for Sweetie who turned to me this morning and said, "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Isnt it bad enough that I have this gi-normous stomach that will not sit still.... AAAArgh!!!".
Still, a very necessary task for me to perform so that I can feel that all is right with bubs. April (who is the spit of her mother, Vera), often follows me down to the preggie girls (as they are next door) and stares at them (the curiosity of the young!). I have a feeling that the preggie girls will go boom-boom-boom come October. I can see me taking some time off work (yippee!!) to manage these mums-to-be. Trousers has started to grow around the girth (which is right as she is at her third trimester) and will now keep an eagle eye on her to make sure that bubs grows nice and big.
Is there anything worse than windsucking? Ah, no. In the dead of the night, nothing can be heard but Trousers latching on to the rail and breathing in....
Trousers is in fact a funny old chick (she is 19) and if she was a human female, I would envisage her to be a chain smoker with rollers in her hair and a scarf tied around it and her favourite expression would be, " Ohhh Daaaaaaarling" croaked in a husky voice LOL. I do have a very soft spot for her and we have become good mates in the time she has been here at Massie Lodge.
She has had 12 foals:-
1. Colt - by Dont Forget Me (in NZ)
2. Hey Sarah - by Sackford 29:4/4/4
3. Repatriate - by Rory's Jester (died 3/5/95)
4. Frostfire - Mare by Kenmare 10:0/0/0. Frostfire has had 2 colts, one by The Rogers Four and one by Kauri (by Woodman out of a Marscay mare called Kincay). Neither have raced yet.
5. Rory's Harem - Mare by Rory's Jester. 6:0/0/0. Rory's Harem has one to race called Happy Swinger (by Bellotto) and another unamed filly by Bellotto.
6. Iterra - Mare by Military Plume. 14:0/0/2, which included 7 first fives.
7. Unamed colt - by Military Plume.
8. Green Genes - Mare by Celtic Swing. Who has had a colt by Langfhur (that was sent to NZ) and a filly by Wiganthorpe (Thatching/Lustrine - Viceregal).
9. Shen Star - Stallion by Clang who was exported to Malaysia
10. Persian Light - Gelding by Way of Light. Who has had 1 start as a 3yo.
11. A filly by Irish Royal that was sent to the Phillipines in 2004.
12. Shortpants. A filly by Irish Royal that is a yearling (and is here at Massie Lodge).
13. ???
Not bad for an old duck huh? Funny, out of all the mares that are here, she is one that I can speak to and Iam sure that she understands what iam saying because I never have to ask her twice to do anything that I want her to do. You call her and she answers back. I would bet that she has lived a very interesting and varied life during her 19 years on this earth and Iam sure she would have a very interesting story to tell if she could speak. Maybe its a blessing that she cant? LOLOL.
Gotta love the Trousers!
Helen.
4. Frostfire - Mare by Kenmare 10:0/0/0. Frostfire has had 2 colts, one by The Rogers Four and one by Kauri (by Woodman out of a Marscay mare called Kincay). Neither have raced yet.
5. Rory's Harem - Mare by Rory's Jester. 6:0/0/0. Rory's Harem has one to race called Happy Swinger (by Bellotto) and another unamed filly by Bellotto.
6. Iterra - Mare by Military Plume. 14:0/0/2, which included 7 first fives.
7. Unamed colt - by Military Plume.
8. Green Genes - Mare by Celtic Swing. Who has had a colt by Langfhur (that was sent to NZ) and a filly by Wiganthorpe (Thatching/Lustrine - Viceregal).
9. Shen Star - Stallion by Clang who was exported to Malaysia
10. Persian Light - Gelding by Way of Light. Who has had 1 start as a 3yo.
11. A filly by Irish Royal that was sent to the Phillipines in 2004.
12. Shortpants. A filly by Irish Royal that is a yearling (and is here at Massie Lodge).
13. ???
Not bad for an old duck huh? Funny, out of all the mares that are here, she is one that I can speak to and Iam sure that she understands what iam saying because I never have to ask her twice to do anything that I want her to do. You call her and she answers back. I would bet that she has lived a very interesting and varied life during her 19 years on this earth and Iam sure she would have a very interesting story to tell if she could speak. Maybe its a blessing that she cant? LOLOL.
Gotta love the Trousers!
Helen.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
The Road...
is long;
with many a winding turn that leads you to who know's where
who knows when...
But im strong; strong enough to carry him
But im strong; strong enough to carry him
He Aint Heavy, he's my brother.
The Hollies
Hmm I have no idea why that song was in my head... perhaps it reminds me of some of the things that have happened over the past week? Im not sure, but my subconscious thought it was important for me to remember it. Maybe I should be thinking of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" as we were blessed with 8mls last night, which is the first rain that we have had in over a month. It feels like there could be some more today.... hmmm keep your fingers crossed!
Sunny
Is coming home from Fred Adams and will be withdrawn from the sale. Its not because she lacks ability, its because she has developed a cold and needs to have a week off and there will not be enough time for Fred to get her properly ready for the ready to runs. Poor wee baby... she will come home for some love and attention until we decide what to do with her. Fred was quite happy with what she was doing and had nothing but praise for her.
Susie
Is looking a million dollars and Paul is quite happy with her. Actually a race start next weekend is on the cards. We had a long chat with Paul today and we decided to start her at 1200m and Paul is of the opinion that she will need a few races to find her feet. Which is fine with us. Due to the fact that Susie's last trainer has lost her colours (hmmmm) she will be racing in Paul's alternate set (Purple with a lime green sash!). Susie galloped with an 800m sprinting speedster on Thursday and kept up with him, so, that was none too shabby for a girl who should see out 1600m.
Lenny and Jake
Have been moved up the top paddock to get them away from the mares due to the fact their hormones have kicked in and they want to get on top of any mare that moves!
April, Shortie and Lily
Will be moved to Rosie's paddock (a big 5 acre paddock) in the next few days, where there is some pick in there for them.
Its funny with the yearlings because when I had my back turned (or, when I have been working at Telstra!), they have all grown and become young horses rather than babies.
Caramel
Was visited by the Magic Millions on Thursday to see if she was suitable for the January sale. I guess we will find out about that.
Vera
Has been good over the last week and hasnt been lying down as much and has been getting into her food with the vigour of old. Still, its just a day at a time thing with her.
It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't
--Martin Van Buren
Helen.
The Hollies
Hmm I have no idea why that song was in my head... perhaps it reminds me of some of the things that have happened over the past week? Im not sure, but my subconscious thought it was important for me to remember it. Maybe I should be thinking of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" as we were blessed with 8mls last night, which is the first rain that we have had in over a month. It feels like there could be some more today.... hmmm keep your fingers crossed!
Sunny
Is coming home from Fred Adams and will be withdrawn from the sale. Its not because she lacks ability, its because she has developed a cold and needs to have a week off and there will not be enough time for Fred to get her properly ready for the ready to runs. Poor wee baby... she will come home for some love and attention until we decide what to do with her. Fred was quite happy with what she was doing and had nothing but praise for her.
Susie
Is looking a million dollars and Paul is quite happy with her. Actually a race start next weekend is on the cards. We had a long chat with Paul today and we decided to start her at 1200m and Paul is of the opinion that she will need a few races to find her feet. Which is fine with us. Due to the fact that Susie's last trainer has lost her colours (hmmmm) she will be racing in Paul's alternate set (Purple with a lime green sash!). Susie galloped with an 800m sprinting speedster on Thursday and kept up with him, so, that was none too shabby for a girl who should see out 1600m.
Lenny and Jake
Have been moved up the top paddock to get them away from the mares due to the fact their hormones have kicked in and they want to get on top of any mare that moves!
April, Shortie and Lily
Will be moved to Rosie's paddock (a big 5 acre paddock) in the next few days, where there is some pick in there for them.
Its funny with the yearlings because when I had my back turned (or, when I have been working at Telstra!), they have all grown and become young horses rather than babies.
Caramel
Was visited by the Magic Millions on Thursday to see if she was suitable for the January sale. I guess we will find out about that.
Vera
Has been good over the last week and hasnt been lying down as much and has been getting into her food with the vigour of old. Still, its just a day at a time thing with her.
It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't
--Martin Van Buren
Helen.
GUEST POST....
Katrina Partridge (Athlone & Associates) guest stars in today's blog. One comment I would like to make is that for a friend, you would do anything to bring a smile to their face.
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I just wanted to drop a line to the Massie Lodge blog about its owner "Ms Hels".
I don't live in Australia but I do have a strong involvement with the racing industry. I also (for my sins) publish a blog (just quietly, I can claim that its existence was one of the reasons Massie Lodge made the decision to start theirs!!) but of late I haven't had any time to update it courtesy of a run of 90 hour work weeks.
Today, 11am, downtown Hong Kong, polluted skyline, onto my 5th cup of caffeine ... phone rings. There's a courier in reception.
The (rather startling - and very LARGE) box that shortly thereafter appeared on my desk was covered in images of Winnie the Pooh/Tigger/Eeyore; redolent of days that weren't filled with billable time sheets. Inside was a stash of "comfort food" that would, no doubt, have made any number of soldiers during either World War trade all number of privileges to get their hands on it. We're not talking just one or 2 chocolate bars either ...
A thoughtful note also provided instructions on what amount of chocolate needed to be eaten to absolve stress.
The sender - none other than Helen McDonald.
I wanted to (publicly - because not enough of this happens) pass on a huge thank you to Helen and Massie Lodge for bringing a smile to a very pressured expat Australian's face today. The racing industry never ceases to amaze me with the wonderful people I have been fortunate enough to cross path's with. When you can also count some of these people as friends it's an even more treasured gift.
Helen - you are an absolute star!
Katrina Partridge, Hong Kong
www.AthloneAssociates.com
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I just wanted to drop a line to the Massie Lodge blog about its owner "Ms Hels".
I don't live in Australia but I do have a strong involvement with the racing industry. I also (for my sins) publish a blog (just quietly, I can claim that its existence was one of the reasons Massie Lodge made the decision to start theirs!!) but of late I haven't had any time to update it courtesy of a run of 90 hour work weeks.
Today, 11am, downtown Hong Kong, polluted skyline, onto my 5th cup of caffeine ... phone rings. There's a courier in reception.
The (rather startling - and very LARGE) box that shortly thereafter appeared on my desk was covered in images of Winnie the Pooh/Tigger/Eeyore; redolent of days that weren't filled with billable time sheets. Inside was a stash of "comfort food" that would, no doubt, have made any number of soldiers during either World War trade all number of privileges to get their hands on it. We're not talking just one or 2 chocolate bars either ...
A thoughtful note also provided instructions on what amount of chocolate needed to be eaten to absolve stress.
The sender - none other than Helen McDonald.
I wanted to (publicly - because not enough of this happens) pass on a huge thank you to Helen and Massie Lodge for bringing a smile to a very pressured expat Australian's face today. The racing industry never ceases to amaze me with the wonderful people I have been fortunate enough to cross path's with. When you can also count some of these people as friends it's an even more treasured gift.
Helen - you are an absolute star!
Katrina Partridge, Hong Kong
www.AthloneAssociates.com
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