My Little Pony

This poor chap is brought down to a field by the road every winter and he stays here for about three months. He has no shelter, not a lot to eat, mostly scrubby grass, and until recently no water. His hooves are long and in danger of curling up, his mane matted with burrs and he's all on his own. I try and stop at least every other day and bring him a carrot or an apple and have a quick conversation (perfectly interesting if a bit short and one sided). The other day another car came up - it was friend of mine, who arrived with a huge container of water and a bucket which she tied onto the gate. She has horses herself and has been keeping an eye on him, so he has two friends at least. I was then mortified for she told me he was fat and ought not to get any carrots, or at least only half a one, as they're full of sugar. Poor chap - can he have nothing to look forward to??? He recognises my car now and whinnies and I swear when I drove past the other day and didn't stop he gave me such a reproachful look that I had to come home, get (half) a carrot and return. Soft touch hearted - moi??

It's a foul day - dark, mizzly, windy but warm. Tonight is the school play - I think it must be the first time in about 100 years that I haven't been involved in one - bliss, but I am missing the glitter - I mean that literally not metaphorically; once the glitter was out you just had to surrender to the full Christmas onslaught. I shall go, be entertained, then beat a hasty retreat. Perfect.