Pony Rides and Friendships

A few months ago my daughter was invited to go horse riding with her best friend, it was a rainy and muddy day but that didn't put them off. My daughter was all covered up in her Helly gear, which is perfect for such occasions as this.

The first task when we got to the stables was to find a suitable helmet, it took a while as my daughter has a rather tiny head but eventually we found one befitting of her petit size and off we went to find her a horse. A rather beautiful specimen named Smudge, a very proud little lady took him down to the training paddock.

For someone so little, it was hard for her hold the reigns and keep her feet in the stirrups but she worked hard and got the horse moving around the paddock. Her little face lit up as the horse trotted round the paddock, as her confidence built up and with the help of the riding school staff the trotting turned to galloping.

As she turned the horse through the cones, her new found confidence grew and the look of joy on her face was just fantastic. Isn't it just amazing what children can do and what they can learn in such a short space of time.

As they trotted off into the muddy forest, I was amazed at the spirit of both girls, they didn't even look back, just off they went into almost knee high mud, doing something they'd never even attempted before. Not afraid and just happy to be on a horse, getting to play real life horse riding Barbie.

These two little friends are just inseparable anyway and for them to be able to have this first lesson together was just fantastic, so big thanks to her lovely mum for inviting us.

Life is full of adventures and this was just one of them, I can't wait to see what life holds for my little lady, to see where life takes her and what else she gets to try.

Sign of the times, does anyone care any more?

I love technology don't get me wrong, but I cant help feel that with it has come a lack of caring, or maybe it is just the people who send me these texts in particular.

I know text messages can cost money and sometimes they are more convenient but why can't people put, 'Hi hope your ok....'

Recently I have been sent messages that consist of:

'Hey, What are you wearing tonight?' This from someone I haven't seen in several weeks and whilst being really ill! Do you care that little that you can't ask how I am?

Another was: 'Is X going to be 4 this year?' No hello, hope your all OK!

What the hell is wrong with these people, how difficult is it to ask how I am? You can shorten it to how r u if it's space you are worried about!

Unless it's to someone I see every day I always start it off with a 'Hey hun, how are you' it's just politeness and I can't help feel saddened by it. Even if you don't care, just ask it might be the difference between someone having a crap day or not!

It's kind of like smiling at strangers, sometimes it can make your day if someone smiles at you instead of heads down as if you don't exist!

Ok, ok so I sound like an old person, but don't you just think it would be nice if we could all just show a little courtesy to others like in the olden days!?!

Rant over, as you were!

A cake called Herman!

Ok so this sounds like I have gone completely mental, but for the least few weeks I have been looking after Herman.

He is a friendship cake my mum gave me that she was given by a friend at work, where it came from before that I don't know.

I think I remember my mum doing one of these years ago, they are really easy to start off and have travelled the world apparently, with people sneaking them through customs to pass onto friends in other countries.

He is very easy to start and is the cake equivalent of a chain letter, I started doing some searching on the internet and found a few sites with how to start him off so here goes...


Ingredients:

• 460g flour
• 500ml milk
• 230g sugar
• 90ml warm water
• 2 tbsp active dry yeast

1. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar over the warm water
2. Sprinkle the yeast over this and leave in a warm place for about 10 minutes to double in size
3. Mix the milk, sugar, flour and yeast mixture in a large bowl, stir using a wooden spoon
4. Cover loosely
5. Place in a warm place and stir every day as per instructions, starting at day one.

The following is the instructions that you give each of your four recipients of the cake mixture but first you need to go through the following process before parting with the little Hermans.

This is how it looked when I received it

Herman the Friendship Cake

If you would like to spread a little friendship follow through instructions below and at end of 10 days you will have a cake to eat and four starter kits to pass on.

If you cannot wait to have your cake and eat it, go straight to day 10, but you will forego the opportunity to pass on some friendship.

* Leave me on the worktop NOT in the fridge - if i'm not bubbling....i'm dead!
* Cover pot/container loosely - I need to breath


Day 1 - Stir well
Day 2 - Stir well
Day 3 - Stir well
Day 4 - feed...add

• 100g plain flour
• 200g sugar
• 8oz milk (room temp)

Each day it should puff up several times it's original size

Day 5 - Stir well
Day 6 - Stir well
Day 7 - Stir well
Day 8 - Stir well
Day 9 - Feed...same as Day 4, then split into 5 equal portions and give 4 away.
Day 10 - Feed...

• 200g plain flour
• 200g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 7floz cooking oil
• 2tsp vanilla extract
• 2tsp baking powder
• 2tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 diced apples
• 1/2 cup of nuts (I use flaked almonds)
• 1 cup of sultanas or rasins

* Mix into a sloppy dough
* Bake at 180c for 45 minutes in a greased baking tin (I use a loaf but a round one is fine too)
* Leave to cool in the tin

Optional... sprinkle with sugar and melted butter before cooking

Gorgeous! You just have to leave in the tin to cool down!

This gorgeous and moist cake smells and tastes lovely!

Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee!