The winter is typically a time where professional eventers take some R&R time and get away. Well I’m no professional but I certainly loved the fact that I had the opportunity to get away from the wet and cold and enjoy some holiday time of my own on the other side of the Atlantic.
I was having an amazing time, eating and drinking far too much and experiencing some new countries, sights and cultures until the very last moment.
You often never know what’s around the corner. Equestrians probably understand this better than anyone as you can be on cloud 9 one moment with great things ahead to then go into the next day with your dreams shattered or put on hold due to often bad luck or even a daft moment thanks to our four legged friends!
But despite this the above can ever prepare you for a phone call that starts with “Your Mum and Aunty have been taken to hospital.”
A frantic few moments resulted in me deciding I needed to leave early alone. I could get back within 15hours via connections.
All was going fine until my final flight was cancelled as I was travelling over the ocean, I arrived in Paris tired and confused being told I had been put on the flight for the next day.
Managing to get on standby for later flights, exhaustion and reality hit and I broke down. My mobile wasn’t picking up a signal and I didn’t have any correct change on me to use a payphone and the foreign exchange desk was shut.
I couldn’t even tell you how many people walked by me as I sat there crying in Paris after a 10hr flight from Atlanta. I was in a place I’d never been in which could barely speak the language, with no reception to communicate back home with or at that point any clear communication/ plans in place as to whether or not I could catch that flight.
However, one man did stop, he asked if I was ok and I told my tale.
I didn’t know this man and still don’t, we both were strangers and still are. All I know is that his first name was Neil, despite him probably being tired himself he still sat there and listened and even offered to buy me a Eurostar ticket if I couldn’t get on the flight.
Somehow, during my rambling time passed by quickly and I got the good news I was hoping for and at that point Neil and myself parted ways.
For his time and his patience I am so grateful and truly wonder back now how I would have coped without him at that point.
I could go on about humanity, selfishness, wanting to avoid situations and the need to get on with your own life… I’m guilty of them all,
But
Sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone ask “Are you ok?”
Maybe we take it for granted, it may not always be well received but it’s nice to ask. Too often it too easy to get on with it especially with horses; but you never know when you might need help. It might only be for something small like to borrow a few plaiting bands but you never know how quickly circumstances can change where you find yourself needing to be asked “Are you ok?”
ETA Luckily my Mum and Aunty are both relatively fine, thank you for all the support we have received x
I was having an amazing time, eating and drinking far too much and experiencing some new countries, sights and cultures until the very last moment.
You often never know what’s around the corner. Equestrians probably understand this better than anyone as you can be on cloud 9 one moment with great things ahead to then go into the next day with your dreams shattered or put on hold due to often bad luck or even a daft moment thanks to our four legged friends!
But despite this the above can ever prepare you for a phone call that starts with “Your Mum and Aunty have been taken to hospital.”
A frantic few moments resulted in me deciding I needed to leave early alone. I could get back within 15hours via connections.
All was going fine until my final flight was cancelled as I was travelling over the ocean, I arrived in Paris tired and confused being told I had been put on the flight for the next day.
Managing to get on standby for later flights, exhaustion and reality hit and I broke down. My mobile wasn’t picking up a signal and I didn’t have any correct change on me to use a payphone and the foreign exchange desk was shut.
I couldn’t even tell you how many people walked by me as I sat there crying in Paris after a 10hr flight from Atlanta. I was in a place I’d never been in which could barely speak the language, with no reception to communicate back home with or at that point any clear communication/ plans in place as to whether or not I could catch that flight.
However, one man did stop, he asked if I was ok and I told my tale.
I didn’t know this man and still don’t, we both were strangers and still are. All I know is that his first name was Neil, despite him probably being tired himself he still sat there and listened and even offered to buy me a Eurostar ticket if I couldn’t get on the flight.
Somehow, during my rambling time passed by quickly and I got the good news I was hoping for and at that point Neil and myself parted ways.
For his time and his patience I am so grateful and truly wonder back now how I would have coped without him at that point.
I could go on about humanity, selfishness, wanting to avoid situations and the need to get on with your own life… I’m guilty of them all,
But
Sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone ask “Are you ok?”
Maybe we take it for granted, it may not always be well received but it’s nice to ask. Too often it too easy to get on with it especially with horses; but you never know when you might need help. It might only be for something small like to borrow a few plaiting bands but you never know how quickly circumstances can change where you find yourself needing to be asked “Are you ok?”
ETA Luckily my Mum and Aunty are both relatively fine, thank you for all the support we have received x
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