Nothing Like Simply Messing Around In Boats

Hello everyone and tonight its Motoko blogging, just as well as Jenny is fast asleep and her arm is somewhat sore at the moment. Her arm been ok for a while but in the last few days it has been a bit sore and keeping her awake at night. We had a big problem at work and Jenny come on the yard (She is still off work at the moment) to give us a hand and well I think that her working set date back on her arm to heal. But she is a brave strong girl and I am sure she will be better in no time. As always with the blogs that I and Jenny do below is the forecast for our area of Cumbria.

Yes the weather is very Cumbrian indeed and to tell you the honest truth it has been this wet all week here. I spent most of the time at work in either Ocean Waterproofs or 66N waterproofs, which kept me dry and warm though they are not breathable so got a little to warm then had to remove my waterproofs clothing to cool down. Then I had to gear up fast again as the next rain shower showed up.

Tomorrow I, Jenny and our fantastic daughter Amanda are going to spend a few days on mine and Jenny’s Beneteau First 35, which is a fantastic little sailing boat. We have had it for years but the time has come for us to think about getting a new boat. We already have friends who would like to buy it and so this is our last small trip we shall have in our great little sea going craft. Our friends are keen sailing girls as well and I know that Sam Mia and her wife Moria would look after the boat well. Spending time on our boat for the lat time will be a soggy and rainy one going by the weather forecast but it shall be a fantastic few days away. We not going to go far when we sail and we shall always return to the marina at night. Thinking about it now we may only go for a day’s sailing and then spend rest of the time in the marina. This is because we are all sleepy and a bit worn out from work very hard at the moment and secondly we need to clear the boat out and take all our things with us once we finished our short holiday.

This month is the month that the Southampton Boat Show is going on and is from the Friday 16th September to Sunday 25th September, and I, Jenny and our daughter Amanda are all going to drop in and check out all the boats and stands as we always do. Amanda is really looking forward to it as she has never been to any of the UK boat shows. It’s always a great time and so many great deals at the stands and we always come away with fantastic deals on many great brands and products. . Also coming with us is a very close friend of ours and Sam Mia and Moria.

But another reason of us going is that we are heading for the Beneteau stand and with full views to buying another Beneteau. We are either going to get a Beneteau First 30, which is smaller than the one we got now but still is a fantastic craft and would suit every need we need as a family. Yes it is smaller but its stylish, low cost, fantastic stats and because it is smaller it will be easier and cheaper to keep it at a marina. Our second option is going for a Beneteau Oceanis 37 which is bigger than the one we have at the moment and it is really very nicely designed and thought out indeed. It has plenty of mod-cons and is well styled and has room for friends and guests as well. But it would cost more to keep it at a marina, these are just a few of the things we have to think about. Each has its own set of pros and cons.

At the moment we are all thinking we should get a Beneteau First 30, and down scale and get something that is every bit as stylish as bigger Beneteau’s and the cost of things are going up so running a small boat would be a very wise idea. There would be a cabin for Amanda and then one for me and Jenny. The sofas in the boat can become a bed if need be and so that could be for guests.

The Beneteau Oceanis 37 has much more storage and is well appointed with plenty of things that me and Jenny would find useful that the Beneteau First 30 doesn’t have. But we could fit it with a few of the things that the Beneteau Oceanis 37 has to offer. The Beneteau Oceanis 37 also has three cabins so the guests we have onboard would have more of a privet sleeping area. It is within our cost and it really would suit us down to the ground but at the same time because it is bigger it would mean more to keep and run so as I said we have a lot to think about and so think we shall.

So for now we shall enjoy the boat we have just one last time and then after the show if we buy a new boat our friends can buy our old boat of us and we hope that it will bring them as much pleasure as it has given me and Jenny over the years.

That is all about it for the blog tonight but We shall blog again real soon, so take care!

Click the banner to learn about our wonderful paradise in England, which Is Cumbria.

As always we are supporting the RNLI, click the banner below to find out what the RNLI is all about and what do can do to help and support them.

Motoko & Jenny Carterr

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A Blog About Horsey Things *Swishes Tail And Eats Apple*

Heya one and all it’s me Jenny blogging today, that’s right me Jenny. It’s been a rather long time I have been blogging isn’t it. Fact it Motoko has been bugging me to do a blog and I really wanted to then she goes and starts typing a blog and so I let her. But today I am blogging and it’s a blog about fun horsey stuff as me and Motoko haven’t blogged about horsey stuff really before have we!

But like always in our blogs it’s a custom to post a little Cumbrian weather forecast for the next few days and so here it is, you can see it below.

So as you can see from the weather forecast it’s going to be nice tomorrow (Friday) and then Cumbria reverts back to its famous weather we all know and love, that famous Cumbrain weather being rain. But we are not put off by rain and life carries on as normal, just have to grab our waterproofs and wellies and we are all set for the working day or a relaxing dog walk.

Now then horsey stuff time *has a nice rolls and shakes* sorry about that people I had an itch! Our yard at this time last year was busy with our own little events for children and adults a like, horse trailers and lorries rolling in and out. But alas at the moment with all the building work going on we have not held any small events this year or indeed this summer as of yet. For one there are a few builders’ porter cabins in the car park and not to mention a trench in our cross country field, trench is there for new water pipes and so on to go down, which I am glad to say is almost finished.

This didn’t mean that me and Motoko didn’t get out there and event, no far from it, this year me and Motoko despite being busy have done a few day events around England this year. There is nothing like loading up the horses and getting to the vent feeling full of energy and enthusiastic. For both of us we take part not for the winning or to show off like some of the equine world, we take part as we enjoy it and we both find it great fun. After all we don’t call ourselves team vixen for nothing you know!

When it comes to dressing we always have a cream pair of jodhpurs and a pair of white jodhpurs as you can never go wrong with them. We don’t really have a favourite brand and indeed we tend to go for something that looks semi casual and not to costly. Brand names on the lower end of the well known scale can be fantastic and fairly good price as well, but the more well known brands charge you full price for something that may not be as good.

We all have feet and feet need boots when riding, we all know this, so me and Motoko wear leather riding boots for when ever we got to an event. They are just more supple and stronger if they are polished and conditioned with leather feeder. Rubber riding boots can really look smart and are great for people who are starting out or not wanting to pay much for boots. But leather ones can last you years and years if you treat them with respect. For normal riding I really got into loving rubber riding boots because I can wear them on the yard for work as well. Motoko wears rubber riding boots but not keen on them. Riding in hunter wellies also something we do rather a lot of, as like rubber riding boots you can wear them for yard work too.

Motoko and I take personal protection when riding in events, riding in the school or even just for a hack around the local lanes. Horses can always catch you off guard and can get you off, remember now matter how well you know your horse it can be sometimes unpredictable. This is why we have brought the best body protector on the market, we use Woof Wear Exo Body Protector. It has an Exo cage to help you roll when you fall off and helps protect you if the horse may happen to roll on top of you. It is hinged and once in it you close a clasp on either side of the body protector, and once in you get a great feeling that you really are protected. I and Motoko like it so much we have brought our staff members one each for when they will lead treks out when we start back up again. We always use this for when we are doing jumping of any kind and we fully recommend it. Please remember that you need to tell the event runners that you are using this body protector and give them one of the allen keys to get you out of the body protector should they need to remove it from you if you fall off. Remember body protectors are at their best when they are level three, you can tell this by a purple label on the body protector and it has printed that it is level three. A very good friend of ours also has this body protector and he recommends it too.

Hats are good things, keep your head from being knocked, bumped and cracked. I have never owned a costly hat and nor has my good wife Motoko and they are not something to ride out without. I can’t understand when you see people riding on a hack or even in the school without a hat, its madness. Events will not let you ride without a hat so make sure you got one that fits and is really snug. A loose hat is no good to anyone. Again cheaper lesser brands are just as good as top price ranged brands. When you put your hat on clip it up you know your time is close to the event, that is when you start to get the adrenaline rush and then you get excitable.

We wear coveralls and hunter wellies and rubber riding boots a lot. Our wardrobe is really full of work uniform and one dress each, if that. Mostly old t-shirts and jeans I must admit, and I and Motoko are not one to really shop for clothing. We live in the deep Cumbrain wilderness so we dress practically! But horsey events *whinnies* is an exception to the rule. We love riding out into the dressage arena or show jumping arena and looking super smart, freshly washed jacket, and jodhpurs. Boots polished so bright you can see the clouds in them. Buttons on jacket sparkling in the sun and the horses tack looking just as fantastic. It’s the only time that we both love looking smart. I know that I am looking my best for the event in question when I come out of horse lorry wearing my smart showing kit and Motoko says “you look stunning”.

You and your horse are charging around the course, you both see the jump and you and the horses mind become one. Yu focused on the last jump and you know it’s going to decide the outcome whether you win the round or you lose it! The jump is upon and your trusted horse takes the jump, the horse and you in perfect balance. As you land you know you have done it and you give a cry of happiness. We all get moments like this, and as with all these things we all win and lose some. But As I said it’s the taking part that counts, whether it’s first, second or third placing or just happy with what you have done. It’s the riding that is important. But lets face it, winning is a good feeling as well as the joy of taking part.

Coming to the end of the blog, as I started this before our take-away arrived and resumed after I had ate it all up! So now I shall end the blog as I have a warm mug of tea and a muffin that I want to enjoy while watching a DVD of MacGyver with my wife, daughter and our friend Esumi.

So we shall blog again very soon, so take care everyone.

Click the banner to learn about our wonderful paradise in England, which Is Cumbria.

As always we are supporting the RNLI, click the banner below to find out what the RNLI is all about and what do can do to help and support them.

Motoko & Jenny Carterr

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Cumbria can be sunny too, somtimes

Evening one and all and for once it’s me Jenny posting something! But before we get onto the matter at hard lets check out that important Cumbrian weather forecast.

Summer really has (for the moment) hit the Cumbrian landscape and bathed everything in a nice warm embracing glow. It’s fantastic but Cumbria is the wettest place in England so in a way the weather is letting the side down a bit really isn’t it. The sunny weather means that we can have a few meals and parties outside and the long summer evenings are perfect for a nice lazy evening and not having to worry about the evenings getting dark.

But this weather has made work a lot harder and for some reason although constant rain floods our home and can play havoc with our yard, working in the sun can really wear you out and working in it all day makes you really dozy. By the time you get in from work all you want to do is shower, have dinner and then get on up to bed.

We have though find time to relax during the week and have had a BBQ, which we all enjoy but Motoko hates cooking on gas BBQs but we had no option to as re ran out of charcoal. Also found that cooking with a hotplate onto of a gas BBQ grill cooks what ever your cooking far better than just having it on the normal grill. To prove this fact below is a film that we filmed, it’s a short random video. Enjoy.

Tomorrow is a momentous day tomorrow as it’s our daughter’s birthday so we have taken the day off work tomorrow in aid of this. Sadly Amanda is unwell at the moment but recovering fast, but we didn’t want to work on her first birthday with us and being ill as well on your birthday is never fun.

That’s about all I am going to blog today, and sorry it’s just a short update but work was a long hot day and I want to get dinner underway and then relax with my family.

Click the banner to learn about our wonderful paradise in England, which Is Cumbria.

As always we are supporting the RNLI, click the banner below to find out what the RNLI is all about and what do can do to help and support them.

Motoko & Jenny Carterr

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Happy Easter 2011 Everyone

Hello everyone it’s Motoko blogging here this afternoon!

Well it’s Easter which is always a fantastic time of the year, as it means I can get away with eating too much chocolate and my wife can’t stop me. Well she can and normally does but it’s always worth a darn good try I think.

Before the blog starts lets check out the forecast for my little part of Cumbria.

Well isn’t this shocking, Cumbria looks like its having a heat wave with tropical temperatures, this I know will not last but me and my family really are making the best of it. I did say tropical temperatures didn’t I, well the temperatures are tropical for Cumbria I assure you. Our part of Cumbria is mostly overcast and damp, with plenty of rain so you can see why I am really happy that it’s dry and warm for once.

Me and the family (me, Jenny and our daughter Amanda) just been touring kayaking Friday and Saturday and we just got back now, we really are making the best of the great weather while it lasts. Breathable waterproofs are a must when it comes to kayaking in this weather, but we did have a heavy thundery downpour last night as you paddled to where we were going to set up camp for the night. Below is my trusty helmet I use for white water kayaking, kayaking in general and white water rafting. I has seen better days but it still works and still provides protection. It’s resting on some Icelandic 66N rainwear we use for work when leading a trek out.

So it is Easter, and me and a few of my friends planned a fun Easter picture for you all. I took the photograph, my wife Jenny modelled for us. Moria designed the shot and Sam Mia provided the cuddly rabbit. It really was fun to do and it was a joint effort, Jenny is wearing a rubber catsuit form honour, and this may be mature for some viewers but there is no adult theme or anything rude so it is safe to view. The picture is below, we think it turned out well and it makes us smile which is good.

Well that is it for now everyone, we shall blog again soon. I am off to sort things out for the Easter BBQ we have going. We have Moria and Sam Mia around for it; they have brought drinks and some fantastic farm shop food to go with the BBQ.

Take care, everyone.

Click the banner to learn about our wonderful paradise in England, which Is Cumbria.

As always we are supporting the RNLI, click the banner below to find out what the RNLI is all about and what do can do to help and support them.

Jenny and Motoko Carter

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