Friendships

 A few days ago it was the birthday of a very dear friend of mine who now lives in New Zealand (has done all her adult life) but we were at school together, and part of a little group who were all horse-mad.   I sent a card, hoped to have a video link on the day but she had a nasty cough and could hardly speak, so we delayed it.  Last night we caught up and it was like we only spoke yesterday.  The deepest and best of friendships are like that.  No secrets from one another and you can tell each other anything.  Hell, after 60 years of friendship, that last is an absolute given.  Rosie only had to say "Ilya Kuryakin" and we were 14 again, drooling over this Man From Uncle and I wished I still had the poster of him I begged from the paper shop!  I could take it on Antiques Roadshow and been told it was worth keeping all these years!  I went to bed so happy, thinking of when we used to roam the countryside around where we lived, and knew EVERY pony in every field, or the gypsy cobs/ponies tethered on chains on patches of ground with never a bucket of water in sight.

Lulu taking the air this afternoon.  They think it's too hot to be outside for long.

A couple of days ago it was another of our group of 5, "Little" Lin (and yes, there was a "Big Lyn" too, done purely on height!  We don't speak very often, but keep in touch on the internet and both she and Rosie read this blog.  Once again, it was just like we last spoke a week or so ago, and we chatted for ages and when I put the phone down, I was thinking of happy memories of when we all had our ponies together at Mr Starke's field in Portsmouth Road.  We knew then we were all friends for life.  Sadly, my best friend Trish died early, in 2016, but cancer is brutal.

Lulu from above.  You can see her broad "dorsal stripe" - my Fahly-horse had one too, and donkey stripes on his legs!

Then another friendship ended after 20 years or more.  Sometimes you become distanced when you don't meet up very often, even if you chat online most days.  I wish her every happiness in the future though.

Both the girls up on the bank.  They love exploring (and disappearing!) up there.

I am going to have to go for a walk shortly, despite the pollen and although it is still quite warm.  The Dr took me off the blood pressure pills and as long as I walk most days, my levels are fine.  Of course, I've not been able to do much in the way of walking lately but I'll go down the Groe, where it is at least level, and have a walk before tea.

I went to Brecon today to get the 80 pouch box of Whiskas from B&M Bargains, along with a big bag of woodpellet cat litter, and a couple of plants may have just come home with me to replace eaten Cosmos seedlings and I couldn't resist a BIG bunch of Sweet Williams from Aldi).  I came home the same way as I went - despite intending to go back over the Eppynts, so I picked a layby with a view (and in the mirror too, of Table Mountain above Crickhowell) and sat down with my sandwiches and drink.  The barley is getting quite golden although the wind parting it showed a shadow of green still.  The Honeysuckle and Dogroses thread the hedgerows, and an array of wildflowers spangle the verges.  

Keep cool everyone.