Fire On The Mountain

 

Let's hear it for MTB and all you horsemen out there, not least Bud Munroe, Ronnie Storrs, Oswald Clarke, June Jordan, Phyllis Lewis and on. RIP. Speaking of which, I recall meeting Clarke for lunch at the Cav & Guards Club in London, back in the far off, misty days of the '90s.

We walked up the illustrious stairwell of the Club, overwatched by paintings of famous charges and I remarked, foolishly, "That must have been quite a thing." Clarke replied, "Of course, but not much use against tanks. We trained to do just that on the Downs in the '30s." And so he had.

After Beef Wellington at the bar, delicious, we retired to a quiet part of the Club because "they do bellow so." What a gentleman of the old school. He was, I understand, both surprised and pleased that I became a horseman in subsequent years and was, to his dying day, a stalwart defender of the Catholic Faith as received by Anglicanism. Rest in peace.

Riding now? There's been an hiatus since an incident with a mad Arab, but plans are afoot to visit the Clubs of the old Raj and put heel to stirrup.

Don't Fall Off,

LSP

PS. Apologies to WSF who's forgotten more about horsemanship than I will ever know.

Goodnight

 

Sleep Tight,

LSP

Fire

 

Remember the old line, "It's so hot the air might ignite, like a thermobaric munition"? Maybe you think that's hyperbole, think again punters. 

A friend's place caught fire yesterday afternoon while they were baling and it stopped, thank God, within 100 yards of their barn and house. In the meanwhile, some 300 acres burned; all it takes is a spark and massive failure to pay the Weather Tax. So be careful out there kids. 

On topic, learned people from the UK keep sending me Lit suggestions, books to read, and that's a very fine thing except for the fact it's hard to read here as paper tends to ignite.

Cheers,

LSP

Fire on the Mountain

 

Note awesome flute break.

Your Best Friend,

LSP

Sunday Sing Song

 

I used to do that until... I didn't.

Let's hear it for the beautiful and remarkable Emmylou.

Willy, you may be a nasty old hippy from Abbott, but we love this song. And thanks for fixing up the courthouse, good man.

Μακάριος,

LSP

Get Back on the Horse?

This catchy infovideo makes me want to go riding. It's a great feeling, running out under the big Texan sky and not bad by moonlight either. But you think twice after 3 screws in the upper femur, and when all the ready to hand horses are half-broke to ride.

OK, you can always go slow and safe and walk your ill-trained equine pal around a round pen for as long as you like until you get bored. Alright, nothing wrong with that, but I like to go fast, as fast as you like and then some.

That in mind, Wisdom says "don't get on the horse or you'll break another bone, you old fool." Adventure says "don't be a pathetic wimp, ride on and devil take the hindmost."

I'm inclined towards Adventure, with this caveat. Do some boring round pen work first, get the horse worked out and riding skills dusted off. Then go for the run. Does that make sense?

Ride on,

LSP