Sep 1, 2009, SEPTEMBER 2009

August - woosh, gone. It was quite full and eventful. First of all I got to travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas, a really delightful town. I was supposed to ride on the Saturday but the heavens opened and it absolutely sheeted down with fork lightening and thunder. Would not have been good to be on a horse in all that.

Then I went to Massachusetts where I sat on retreat for nine days - it was terrific to be with my teachers again, I actually hadn't seen them since just before I got ill. While there I celebrated 33 years of sobriety in delicious silence.

Last weekend I was in San Antonio, Texas - it was swelteringly hot but a great convention - the International will be there next July, should be fantastic, those Texans really know how to throw a party! While there I rode a Paso Fino - strange gait but a smooth ride.

The big news for me is that I've started jumping! Went over my first jump and felt quite confident. I have another lesson in a few days and I'll jump more. Getting ready for my first Hunter Pacer in October.

Yesterday marked the 12th anniversary of Princess Diana's death - I still feel so sad about her passing - the world was so upset, makes me wonder who walked among us that we didn't recognize!

That's all folks!