Satuday.
Saturday morning. Ate brunch at Sembawang Hill Estate coffeeshop. Finally a Saturday not awaking to the dread of Piano lesson. But it's on tuesday =/

Around 1+, dad drove over to Dan's SAFTI camp somewhere in Tuas. Had to lug along HIS luggage as well. Second time being in the campus and I think I'd summerise it as an highly underused condominium with top notch facilities. Hey, they have 2 swimming pools with diving boards, 2 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts (fenced), big canteen, covered walkways with tons and tons and tons of greenery and space. And the best thing was there was not a single soul using any of the facilities and they were still sparkling clean (except for the canteen).

I thought'd we'll get imprisoned for loitering around army camps (high security and a easy target for terrorists). Hmm, but apparently not. I'm still around.

Loitered around for about 1 1/2 hr. Finally came out. Drove over to JB, tried to book the 6pm lesson but all full. So we booked the 8am trail ride and 11am lesson the next day (today, lah)

Checked in.
THEY GAVE A FREE TY BEANIE HORSE AS A SOUVENIOR! *ANNOUCEMENT
It was just lying there on the bed with a sheet of paper and I was thinking, maybe some kid who stayed here previously left it behind or something... But then again, considering the cost of everything, that 9.90 was probably included inside x(

dinner.
what turkey??!
The 2 sets that cmae with the "thanksgiving day" turkey were included in the package. Not very turkeyish. Didnt resemble a turkey at all!!
I ordered Ala Carte, Fish&chips.

Slept. me, on the spare mattress.

Breakfast, farmhouse. Had trouble waking up *yawn

8am, we 3 assembled at the stables. Finally get to touch the horses =)
My favourite Mathilda was taken away by some evil eurasian girl *mutters.
HEH. I was assigned Kiwi at first but she was 'lame'? Not as in lame joke kind of lame but litterally lame. In the end I got Mr. Boots. Not exactly your favourite horse. He kept shaking his head and stomping his foot every 3 seconds! But the trainer said it was 'cause the flies and parasites were bothering him. Yeah true, but then how come the other horses dont need to?

But I think I sprained by hip or something trying to swing my leg over the other side of the horse =/

Took the usual oil palm trail... led by one of the workers there. Trotting was hell. Stirrup out of place. Shoe flying. Helmet coming off. Supposed to be in this order:

walk
trot
canter
gallop

imagine if i did canter. i would just die.

And the horses can get very violent if they want. Taquin kicked Mr.Boots just because boots got too close to his butt. Then, boots started eating the grass and I had to kick him hard to get him moving. [dont think this is being cruel..to ask the horse to move you have to kick the sides of it]

butt really sore after that. I think we were really rusty since the last time we came. So didnt really get the rhythm right.

Rode Katie for the lesson. Dan rode Impian [why didnt i get him instead??]
lesson was really helpful. Learnt to turn the horse, and trot properly. The trick is to use your legs. Legs have to be stuck close to the horse's body and heels pointing downwards. To trot, you have to stand up, sit down, stand up, according to a rhytmn so you dont get a sore butt and your legs dont come out of the stirrup.

=(( but i sucked at turning. And katie was super slow =/. Until the trainer said i had to use the whip to whip her. but it wasnt that bad. jsut a little tap. Then we took turns to lead and turn from point to point.

Played a few games of pool and then ate lunch.
I always thought horseriding was like some easy peasy thing; you just hop on the horse and go flying across the countryside. But you actually need to learn the technique and it's also very tiring. Came down from the horse and sprained my shoulder this time. ECH.

I didnt even get to see mathilda the whole trip. But I saw her stall and nameplate. HUR. some person snatched her away. hmm, but she is one of the nicest horses.

back home.
really want to take up riding lessons. I think it's darn fun. But it also costs the earth.

EM. your CDs aren't as GREAT as you [ THERE. YOUR MOMENT OF GLORY. ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS ]. they've conked out on me. i think there's some thing wrong with the file as i cant open it. FB =((

just when I'd thought you'll disappear from my life altogether, you appear