It has been crazy hectic around here, but now that I’ve managed to sit down and take in a deep breathe, I can’t remember what made things hectic in the first place.

The riding season is over for me again, and it’s ok. Even if I’m not sure when would be a good time to return, it’s alright. We’ve accomplished so much this past season and got to ride so many different horses – it’s brilliant. There have been plenty of days that made me return in near tears, but we’ve had wonderful lessons most of the time. The mare that I was planning to lease was sold… and I’m not comfortable leasing from a perfect stranger. Here are the highlights of the past season:

• Can keep my stirrups


• Can regain my stirrups if I lose them


• Increased my stamina at the canter


• Stubbornly refuse to be bucked off


• Get back on when I am actually bucked off


• Flying Changes


• Jumped at both the trot and canter


• Jumped without stirrup


• Learned to use legs more effectively so that even the slower schoolies understand

What to work on if I ever return?

• More riding with contact


• Keep going after a jump (think about the jump less and more about what comes after)


• More flying changes


• Hopefully bareback riding like last year

We recently saw some episodes of Pushing Daisies, and the musical Hairspray. I really enjoyed both. I actually like musicals if there are things I can sing along to (yes, I know I can’t sing, can we move on now?). Is there a reason or a story behind John Travolta playing a woman? It was cute and funny but I do wonder if there is a story or something.

I’m officially getting tired of The World Ends With You. I’ve already finished it but I’m working on the secret reports at the moment and it is kind of boring, but I want to be done with that before starting something else and getting obsessedwith it.

More travel pictures, not a lot are left so stay put!

That horse is a percheron as far as I know, and s/he stood there quietly and calmly as people pet and showered him/her with attention

Luggage at the Disneyland station

Taking things for granted. Throughout my little Eurotrip and for a while after returning, my sense of smell has been nonexistant and with it my ability to breathe through my nose. Somewhere along the lines, that got better and my cold has mostly dissolved… but where was I when it happened? I didn’t even realize it. I got so used to being unable to differentiate between scents and being totally oblivious to them that it became natural. Now that it’s back, it doesn’t feel like anything has changed.

It’s like when you have a terrible headache, or a migrane of some sort and all you could think of is how it felt like when it wasn’t as if several hammers of different sizes were banging on your head. When the headache is finally releaved, everything goes by normally. You don’t really celebrate, you just expect it to happen. As if you completely block out the terrors of such headaches. But what if this headache never goes away?

It was fun going out with the girls today. We tried on make up and clothes and suggested things to each other. I came home with a bag full of floral printed shirts and a pair of pink skinny jeans. Then I found that some games I ordered have finally arrived. I’ll post about them when I have the time to try them… my legs hurt from walking around all day right now. For now there are some more Disneyland and France pictures for me to share.

Even though I was very young the last time we went to Disneyland, this soap box in the hotel bath made me very nostalgic

There were always these little girls that walked around the park in Disney character dresses, when I was 7… I was one of them, I still wore my Minnie Mouse dress, ears and gloves back home and sometimes even my Cinderella dress and I’m sure there are some funny stories that my family could share – one including me going to a bakery with my parents dressed like Minnie Mouse

A shame I wasn’t able to get any decent pictures of La Tour Eiffel

Since it seems like I’m the only person with time on my hands, I figured I’ll start going through the pictures I took on the second part of my trip. It still feels so surreal. I think back and wonder, did this really happen? Were we really there? Did we see and do all these things? Why does it feel like a dream? A dream that one wishes s/he can prolong and desperately keep their eyes shut so that they can continue seeing it. When awoken from that dream, it doesn’t feel like they have been interrupted, but more like understanding that that was that, and this is now. A dream that warms your insides and makes your outsides tingle.

A summary of the train trip.

The station

It was much more relaxing and comfortable than I ever imagined. We got off the Eurostar, then on a coach that took us straight to our hotel, Hotel New York, where people were friendly and helpful. After putting our luggage aside and quickly changing into more comfortable clothing, we set off to explore.

I’m glad I at least got one picture without the crowds of people going in and out, this castle brings joy and smiles to everyone around it even when they are not physically there

Space Mountain, although the queues for these thrill rides tend to take forever and a half, I actually managed to get on this one before opening hours (available to guests of the Disneyland hotels) and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen

The Adventures of Pinocchio ride, the first we’ve been on since getting there, we queued for about 40 minutes but it was worth it

The Studios

The Tower of Terror, a thrill ride some of us really wanted to try but the queue for it was at least an hour, we stood for about 10 minutes and decided our time would probably be spent better if we did something the whole group would enjoy, but at least now I have a good reason to want to return someday – to have a go at this ride

Being in the Disney Studios, the flying carpet ride had to, of course, have a theme of actually being in a studio. When you’re in the queue, you see props and such laying around everywhere, it was very cool

When in England, I used to hope that Orange would “catch” my phone but it never did…

Back at the hotel – does this remind anyone of The Shining?

So much has happened today, Bunbun gave me the scare of a lifetime just as I returned from the dentist. He seems relaxed now, so I calmed down a little.

Browsing the Juicy Couture website earlier made me realize that I saw this bracelet a while ago, before going on vacation, but decided to wait before ordering it. I hoped I would see it in person at saks today but they didn’t have it. What do you guys think of it?

So now I have time to post pictures for the meme that betsuni suggested I do. If anyone that reads this would like to do it too, go ahead! It’s fun! So here’s the meme: Take two pictures of your bag. One of it from the outside and the other of its contents. Don’t take any of its contents out, we want to see everything! You only need two pictures but I used more because I sometimes carry several bags inside my purse (as you can see here).

Mini Lin Croisette

Camera bag, cosmetic bag, ds lite bag, phone (note the camel charm!), rose shocking kelly wallet, heart shaped coin purse with keys, pink ipod nano video, shades, gum, baby wipes (for my purse if it needs it), some sniffs, pocket organiser for business cards, agenda, pen

Miss milkie vanilla lotion, lipgloss, powder sun protection, lip balm, solid perfume (cherry blossom scented), inhaler, sephora hand cleaner, pain killer, gum, compact mirror

DS lite, Namco Musuem, My French Coach, Gyakuden Saiban 3, Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice, not shown: light green stylus & The World Ends With You

These days I find myself slightly annoyed at how my PS2 gets taken over all the time. I want to play, too! On another note, I decided that it’s time to go back to using charms again, my little collection of Juicy Couture charms are getting dusty just sitting around in my wardrobe. I can’t decide if I should put three charms on a bracelet or just one on a necklace. The one bracelet that I have already has a heart hanging at the side, and I used to attach three more charms to it. But is that too much? Juicy Couture’s accessories, although pretty, kind of give me the feel of being “defasha” sometimes.

I’m probably going to do the handbag meme from Rory when I get back. I did take pictures yesterday evening, but they’re not on my PC yet.

Have you ever seen a sky so blue?

Obviously, horses have passed here!

An expression you can’t resist

It’s time for me to declare that my relationship, and infatuation, with printed tee shirts has ended. This is, of course, subject to change if something new shows up and wows the brains out of me! I also find myself less interested in jeans as well. I can’t wear my converse sneakers anymore, either. I’m scared. What’s happening? Am I getting old?

I’ve decided to end my relationship with Right Bite also. It has been pleasant, but I’ve had enough. I will leave you with a video and some more pictures from my trip. There are too many pictures for me to do it all in one go.