Luscious luggage

I could never be a vegetarian. I could go without meat no doubt but the affection I feel for leather would make any dietary restrictions completely hypocritical.

It comes from being a horsemad little girl I think. The smell of glycerine saddle soap is still divine as far as I am concerned and carries subconscious memories of Saturday nights before Pony Club with horse gear strewn round the dining room and industrious labour with saddle soap and silvo to be neat and tidy for gear check the next day.

These days I mostly use a synthetic saddle so the saddle soap doesn't get as much use on equine related leather, but I would rather clean my leather handbag and wallet than do housework (and sometimes do).

Which leads to the large overnight bag. Mother in law had a large, wheeled, soft sided overnight type bag when she came to stay a year or two ago. Husband idly admired it so he got one for his birthday. He used it once for a business trip across the Tasman, I used it every time I went away for work - a reasonably regular event. The last time I unpacked it in a motel room I found I had literally worn it out - there was a patch on the base where you could see daylight. Now seriously it got some regular use but I hadn't used it THAT much - they don't make luggage like they used to you know.

Could have gone to the Red Shed and got another Made in China bag I suppose. Instead I had a wee look at the Flybuys statement. As it happened there were enough points for a new bag. And really what use are loyalty points unless they get you something you sort of want but can't really think of a good enough reason for spending real money on it.


So it arrived. Chocolate leather. More stuff to saddle soap. Isn't it pretty?

Minis at the beach

It was a toss up - take Ears the old girl for a ride and Tee the yearling for a walk or put three woolly minis in the float and take them for a walk. The minis won, the big guys can go next time.

Topaz the baby didn't get in the piccie as she was firmly attached to my leg like a nervous dog for most of the time. But she was very good for a baby who had never left home before, let alone seen all that wet moving stuff and scary horse eating birds that were in the wet moving stuff, and so many dogs. Little black Ebony had obviously never been to the beach before either - she took a bit of coaxing to keep moving when she first put her feet on the sand and there was no way she was getting near the water.

From the last post

Reciting poetry from childhood

MATILDA

by: Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953)

ATILDA told such Dreadful Lies,

It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes;

Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,

Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,

Attempted to Believe Matilda:

The effort very nearly killed her,

And would have done so, had not She

Discovered this Infirmity.

For once, towards the Close of Day,

Matilda, growing tired of play,

And finding she was left alone,

Went tiptoe to the Telephone

And summoned the Immediate Aid

Of London's Noble Fire-Brigade.

Within an hour the Gallant Band

Were pouring in on every hand,

From Putney, Hackney Downs, and Bow.

With Courage high and Hearts a-glow,

They galloped, roaring through the Town,

'Matilda's House is Burning Down!'

Inspired by British Cheers and Loud

Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,

They ran their ladders through a score

Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;

And took Peculiar Pains to Souse

The Pictures up and down the House,

Until Matilda's Aunt succeeded

In showing them they were not needed;

And even then she had to pay

To get the Men to go away!

It happened that a few Weeks later

Her Aunt was off to the Theatre

To see that Interesting Play

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.

She had refused to take her Niece

To hear this Entertaining Piece:

A Deprivation Just and Wise

To Punish her for Telling Lies.

That Night a Fire did break out--

You should have heard Matilda Shout!

You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,

And throw the window up and call

To People passing in the Street--

(The rapidly increasing Heat

Encouraging her to obtain

Their confidence) -- but all in vain!

For every time she shouted 'Fire!'

They only answered 'Little Liar!'

And therefore when her Aunt returned,

Matilda, and the House, were Burned.