A year in the life.

Olive.

You are a year old. (And one month.)



You are growing up so fast; this year, you got to meet your Grandad for the first time. He was so excited - it was hard for him to wait so long, but he's a teacher, and it's hard to get visas for Turkish people, like his wife and stepdaughter. They made it, and they loved you.

We had a hot summer; you and your mummy and daddy and Nacho moved house, and it's great. There's so much room to grow, and you have a garden to play in as you get bigger. Your parents are really happy and so are you.

Last month, we threw you a big party with all your friends and all the unicorns we could find. You had the best time and it was awesome to have everyone together. You got so many gifts; toys, clothes, books. You're so close to walking, now, so your mummy bought you a new pair of shoes - which you don't try to pull off your feet.


You're getting so smart; you can say Mama and Dada, cheese, doggy and 'iya! This week, I introduced you to Rainbow Brite, and you loved it. You recognised the horses and made 'clip clop' noises. I don't think your daddy was very happy with me showing it to you, though.

I can't get over your intelligence, your beauty and your bright little smile. Everyone is clamouring to see you all the time and you're still lighting up our lives. We're waiting for the moment you pick yourself up and strut across the living room; you're so nearly there and we're all excited.

Now it's Christmas all over again, and it's so hard not to spoil you, shower you with gifts and toys and clothes that you'll grow out of. But one thing you'll get a whole lot of is love and attention. I love you, baby.

Christmas.

Olive and Gaga.

 Olive, it's Christmas!

Your parents said no presents... well, we didn't listen. Everyone who loves you wants to spoil you for your first Christmas. You've had toys and clothes and cuddles. You've slept a bit and screamed a bit and smiled a lot. Your grandparents bought you a teddy that matches your mummy's... which is 30 years old.

We've taken you for a walk with the doggies; your best friend Nacho and Nacho's cousin Honey. It's warm today; the sky is white, but not with snow; just bright sunlight pressing against the clouds. We've all said it doesn't really feel like Christmas because the weather is weird, but it doesn't matter, because you're bringing all the magic.

In a few days, you'll take a trip to visit your grandparents' house in Upper Boddington for the first time ever! There, your parents will have a chance to relax and be taken care of; right now, they're putting all their energy into taking care of you.

Your grandad in Turkey and your Auntie in Australia miss you so much; they wish you a happy first Christmas and they hope to see you soon.

The world has changed. It all revolves around you, now. We are all so happy to have you here and we all want to hold you and rock you in our arms. You're the best Christmas gift and we're so grateful.

Love you, baby.

Olive.

07.12.16 - cuddles at mummy and daddy's.

Four weeks old. You! You little bundle of cuddles and big blue eyes and frowns, you're four weeks old.

Olive Bel, you've brought light to all our lives and we can't get enough of you. We know your mummy and daddy are tired and probably sick of us clamouring for photos and updates, but we can't help it. You're just so special.

In your short life, your mummy and daddy have taken you all over. You've met your big brother, best friend and fierce protector, Nacho the pug, you've made some friends and you've been out to see the Queen (at least, one of her houses). You've been to Costa coffee, the place I used to work and the place we all go to catch up and chat away while you snooze in our arms. You've been to baby sensory classes and you've been officially registered.

You've grown already, and you go through three baby-gros a day. That's okay, though, because we can't stop buying you clothes. Every time I see you, I fall more in love, and I can't wait until you have cousins to grow up with.

Olive, it's nearly Christmas! Last week, I bought you a decoration to hang on your tree for your first Christmas. It might not hang there in every year to come, but hopefully, it'll get tucked away in a little box of memories for you to go through when you have children of your own. Your mummy and daddy don't want us to spoil you for Christmas; you've got so many toys and clothes already. But there will be a bank account with your name on it, and we will build it for you as you grow, so one day, you can buy your own car, or go on your own adventure.

The day after you were born, I took pictures, real ones, and handed them out to your family. We carry you with us everywhere we go; you're our angel and the light of our lives, even when you wake mummy and daddy up, or won't drink all your milk, or won't go to sleep. Those big blue eyes - turning brown - are all we need to forget how tired we are and keep on loving you.

Keep being you, full of life and personality and curiosity and cuddles.

Your Auntie Emma.

Baby.

Baby. Today you have been born, at 6.35 pm. We don't know your name and we don't know how much you weigh, but you're here. You were quick, your mummy was brave and strong and your daddy was calm. We are all so excited.

Today has been normal. I worked from home, I spoke to my colleagues and I avoided the news from America; I'm glad you were two days late, because you don't have to be known as the baby who was born the day Donald Trump became president. My mum, your Gaga, and me made the Christmas cake and listened to Christmas music. It's a tradition that you'll be a part of one day soon; it means Christmas is coming. You're not a Christmas baby, but you feel like one.

Your daddy is wonderful.

Today, your family is spread out across the world. You're lucky enough to have three Grampas; one is your mummy's dad and he's waiting to see you. One is mine and your daddy's dad, and he'll fly from Turkey to see you soon. One is your Auntie Emily's dad and he's in Milan until tomorrow; he'll meet you soon too.

Your great Auntie Kimmie and Uncle Ian are in Australia. When they meet you, you could be almost a year old, toddling around on your little feet, playing with your best friend, Nacho. But they love you and they'll see you as soon as they can.

You are so loved, little girl. You will be surrounded by love and light and you will bring us all so much joy. Your parents are so proud and so strong and brave. Remember, baby, to always love and appreciate them. From now, you are their world. You will grow and they will teach you everything you need to know about the world, and your big big family will be here to guide you. I'm driving to see you now, baby. I am so thrilled you are here. Be ever graceful and ever kind, and live your life with love.

Nothing compares to you.

10th October 2016.

Animal lovers: Vegetarianism and Cubbing.

This is our British wildlife. Why do we want to destroy it?

I'm sure it's no secret that the vegetarian/vegan movement is gaining momentum. I stayed out of it; I'm a fussy eater and I've tried going vegetarian before with little success, but I sympathise with the cause. I'm an animal lover, and although I'm not against human beings eating meat as a species (we're not herbivores), I am really against the farming industry as it currently stands. I'm not talking about independent, family run free range farms, who look after their animals and slaughter as humanely as possible. I'm talking about the market driven factory farms.
I'd like to point out that it's not the industry that's to blame for farming as it currently stands; it's us. We demand cheap meat and animal produce in such vast quantities that the only way to keep up is to factory farm. Let me make this clear: If the demand stops, so does the supply. Despite that, however, the industry are the ones with the power, and if they'd do away with their own greed, that would be a step in the right direction as well.

This brings me onto my main issue: Fox hunting. Today, I found a casual advert for a children's pony. It stated that this little pony would be a great first hunter for a child or teenager, and it was ready for cubbing now.

If you don't know what cubbing is, let me take a minute to explain. Cubbing takes place at the end of summer, through the beginning of autumn, before the main hunting season begins. It's used as a period to train young hounds to hunt, catch and kill. The target is fox cubs.


This is Danny. I loan him. We're against Fox Hunting.

Picture this: An experienced, mature hound, chasing a cunning, mature fox. The hound knows how to kill quickly and cleanly (even if it doesn't) and the fox knows how to evade capture and hide (even if it can't always do so). This is a normal hunt; sometimes the fox gets away. Sometimes the kill is quick and clean.
Now think about this: An excitable, young hound with no idea what he's doing except following a great scent to a frightened and confused baby fox. The kit is chased away from its mother, its sett and its litter. It doesn't know how to hide; it's never seen a dog in its life. All the dog knows is it's prey. This might be the first fox it's ever hunted, and that baby will get caught and that kill will not be clean. This is cubbing and it's wrong.

We eat meat because it sustains us and we're an omnivorous species. Eating meat serves a purpose, even if it's not strictly speaking necessary. Why do we hunt foxes? For sport. For pleasure. For fun. Tell me that's okay, or justifiable. Give me a good reason for this practise to continue.

I've been at war with myself today; as I mentioned above, I've tried to go vegetarian before, but I've found it difficult. Well I'm going to try again, not because I think one person will make a difference, but because I'm an animal lover, and if fox hunting is wrong, so is the cheap meat industry. I might not be a very good vegetarian; I might still eat fish and I might struggle not to eat meat. But I am against animal cruelty and that means I'll buy free range everything and dolphin friendly, line caught fish. I'll boycott the battery farm industry because I can't in good conscience use eggs from caged hens.

Animal cruelty has to stop being a thing. This goes for all the big game sport, and the pleasure hunts that happen in Africa. This goes for sport fishing, where you catch the biggest fish you can find and compete, and let it suffocate while you celebrate and brag to your friends. This goes for factory farming, where terrified animals are herded into the slaughter house, their senses assaulted by the sound and smell of their herd's blood and panic. This goes for battery hens, and baby cows and pigs who are ripped away from their mothers at barely an hour old and last of all, this goes for fox hunting.

I can't call myself an animal lover and yet turn a blind eye to these practises. This is my pledge to try and make it stop. Please help.

Emma.

Australia

There is so much I want to say about Australia, and sitting here in the airport, waiting to leave, I am genuinely trying hard not to cry.

I feel like I am part of this country now, and I'm leaving before I'm ready. I have had such an incredible time (keep your eyes peeled for my last blog post which I forgot to upload, concerning my last trip to Queensland) and I have spent seven amazing months with wonderful people. 

Since I've been here, a lot of things have changed back home, and I'm anxious to get back and work out what I'm going to do with my life, but looking out the window at this great big Australian sky, there's nowhere I'd rather be. The feeling of Australia, as many travellers will tell you, is contagious. There are so many beautiful things and fantastic people and amazing places that even after seven months, I feel like I haven't done enough.

The past few weeks, since I've somewhat run out of money, I haven't been doing more than hanging out with my favourite people (and horses), but even that has left me content and happy. Leaving here is breaking my heart.

From here, I'll be travelling to Singapore, and will undoubtedly have a wonderful couple of weeks seeing the sights with Tom, so for that reason, I am staying positive. I am also looking forward to getting home to my family - seven months is a long time!

Still, it was so hard saying goodbye to Courtney and her gorgeous dog, Diesel, my lovely friend Lauren, and of course, my aunt and uncle, who have put up with me all this time. On top of that, Thursday was my last day riding, which meant I had to say a difficult goodbye to my wonderful riding teacher, the lovely people I've been riding with, and last but definitely not least, the beautiful quarter horse, Bailey, who I have fallen completely in love with.

In a way, this was my hardest goodbye. Bailey and I spent several weeks working together, fixing each other's problems. She is an underworked, naughty young mare, and she spent at least half her time trying to buck me off. But she never had me off, and leaving her, knowing she's for sale for far too much money was a real worry for me. I'm not sure where she'll end up, and while I know I can always come back to my friends and family here, Bailey probably won't be around when I get back.

So, in short, although I'm excited for the adventures ahead of me, I'd still like to stay a little longer and spend some more time with the lovely friends I've made. I'm not ready to say goodbye.

Hello Autumn



Last day at St Kilda with Tom.

 

Hello Everyone,

Things have quietened down here, as my time in Australia is drawing to a close. I've been feeling a little down, and the weather is starting to feel the same. The temperature is dropping and we've had a bit of rain. It still looks beautiful here, and I think we'll be in for a very colourful autumn.

Since Tom went home to Singapore a few weeks ago, I haven't really been up to much, since I'm trying to preserve the rest of my money for when I join him there in a month or so. I've still been keeping pretty active though; I've been helping out at school, which means spending lots of time with my favourite Carpet Python, Boston, as well as all the wonderful kids.

I'm sure most of you have noticed the various cancer awareness campaigns flying around, one of which is The Great Shave. One of our kids, Scout, got involved and raised over $2000 dollars shaving all her beautiful blond hair off! She's a great kid, and also a great barista, considering she's only thirteen years old. I love spending time at school with all of the kids - I don't know how I'll cope when it's time to go home.

The rest of the time, I've just spent catching up with my great friend Courtney, who managed to hurt herself on Wednesday pretty badly. She's possibly torn a muscle, so she's been getting around on crutches. I've been helping her get around, feed the horses and the dogs, and make sure she's relaxing as well.

On Thursday, I went riding at Melton for the first time in a few months, which was great. I'm still sore today, but that just means I got a good workout! I rode a palomino pony called Bailey, and fell in love with her, even though she spent most of the ride bucking. She was a lovely horse, and I genuinely didn't feel afraid on her, even when I was half way round her neck! She didn't seem like she was trying to buck me off. Maybe she was just seeing what she could get away with, or maybe she was a bit sore, but either way, by the end of the ride, we had a good partnership. I'm looking forward to riding her again, anyway.

Lauren and I catching up
over Max Brenner

Last weekend, I caught up with my lovely Lauren, who I haven't seen since before Christmas, and we've got plans to spend some time together next week as well.

So, not much has been happening here, but I'm still enjoying myself, and mostly just looking forward to our trip to the Gold Coast in a couple of weeks. I'll be keeping busy until then, and I'll update everyone after that.

Thanks for reading my slightly boring update, and I hope you British folk have enjoyed your few days of sun.

Take care, all,

Em