Choosing Your Adventure: Your Fun Day!

This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 8. Today’s Challenge is all about choosing your adventure, having fun and relaxing. This is a tough one for me as, sadly, the adventures I had planned to have at the weekends have had to come to a stop for now.

My Usual Adventure

Until two weeks ago, I was a horse owner and Winston, my horse, and I would usually go out hacking at the weekend. We were just discovering his new surroundings in Portugal as I had moved him over with me. Unfortunately, he got tick fever and, due to complications, I had to have him put to sleep.

He was a brilliant, unique horse – too intelligent for his own good. He would undo stable doors, watch how you undid catches and let himself out. Winston was a true character with a big personality and I loved him to bits.  We had a genuine bond.

Riding Winston was always an adventure. He was a Lippizaner by breeding and could be quite spooky. Birds suddenly taking off would send him leaping half way across the riding school or road! My husband nicknamed him Zebedee, after the character in The Magic Roundabout, as he’d literally bounce up into the air.

He will be greatly missed but not forgotten.

 

My New Adventure

I won’t be giving up on horses! They have been an infatuation for far too long but it’s too soon to get back in the saddle at the moment.

Today though I’ve been investigating going to Cascais, just outside Lisbon, to have a couple of lessons and hack out at a riding school there. They have beautiful Lusitanos, the native Portuguese horse, and I really want to ride one! There are lots of things to do and places to visit in the area and so Geoff can come with me and we can have a short break. He can indulge in his passion for birdwatching while I’m riding.

Apart from planning that trip, I went for a swim in our condo swimming pool – it was lovely and warm. I sunbathed, relaxed reading a book and forgot about everything!

I feel so lucky to be here and be able to relax in such beautiful surroundings. My whole life is an adventure at the moment since we moved to Portugal just over two months ago. Learning the language, discovering new places to visit and great restaurants to eat in are all part of the adventure.

I’m off now to read my book again and sit on the balcony and look out over the harbour of Sagres.

Soon we’ll be opening a lovely bottle of Portuguese wine!