Day 9, Level 2.5: Homeward bound, Quiz and Eliza

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Still at Omaha ... and back to Auckland

An absolutely beautiful day today. I didn't get outside much, too busy working on laptop in between packing up. I've eked out this stay in Omaha as much as possible and been very productive, but it's time to go home. For a short while at least! 

Apart from physical meetings (few and far between recently and can be done via Zoom!) and weekly quiz on a Tuesday - which for me is a must-do-if-can-do but hasn't been an able-to-do recently - I can do just about everything else I need to do while based in Omaha. I'm a disciplined person and have probably worked more hours being in Omaha than I would have at home - no distractions etc. 

As long as I have purpose and task (which I've had most of my life) I'll be getting on with the job - scenery and lovely weather can wait. I'm all about productivity - tick tick tick, I've ticked so many things these past few weeks! I've also made several valuable and enjoyable connections in Omaha over recent weeks. What's not to love about that!? 

But today is Tuesday - it's quiz night. Time to go home!!!

Problem today was, Indi the cat didn't think so. She disappeared for most of the day and when she did return, she knew something was up. Every time I tried to coax her towards me, she ran away. Through the fence, off into yonder! 

For the past week she has been barely a metre from my side, loving our time together and in 7th heaven, purring and nuzzling almost constantly. Today, sensing the subtle clean-up pack-up scenario (although I don't have to pack up like I would a usual holiday home) she was scarpering. She loves it here too much and, like me, she didn't want to go home! Can't say I blame her.

I was happy to wait for her to return in a mood than was conducive to putting her in her travel cage, and I continued to work away on my laptop doing various projects (and started some new ones!) until she came back. But as I say, her two returns were fleeting and flight, and I empathise - I'm not an Auckland fan either, especially these days. It's a city that's lost its mojo and I'm not sure it will get it back in  my lifetime. Get me to the countryside! And, please let it be soon, get me to the world ...!! 

In the end, when she wasn't playing the ball game and I was cutting it fine to be able to get to quiz, I called upon our neighbours to see if they could feed her for a couple of days until I headed back up. Can do, so she'll be in the good hands of Uncle Peter next door and I'll be back to sort her on Thursday or Friday latest. 

Ellerslie races are on Saturday - but with the current restrictions no one can be on course. So instead of going to the races on Saturday, I'll be back at Omaha - nothing bad about that as I can watch the races from there on various apps and links. 

Arrived home, unloaded stuff, and headed straight to quiz in a jiffy - didn't want to be late! 

We had a great evening. We came second. Very happy. 

Sorry, no photos to denote today's doing (not exciting by any stretch of the imagination!)

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Race horses ...

I've mentioned my passion a few times in these posts. Here's the latest ...

I have a share in a horse called Saintly Way (stable name Ziggy, 5YO) and also a 2YO called Holy Sister (Eliza). They are trained by Frank Ritchie in Cambridge. Our wonderful syndicate of 10 have tried a few times to go down to Cambridge to have a group dinner, see the horses do their morning workouts, and connect with Frank - but Covid restrictions have put paid to it each time. We are now set to go on 18th/19th September - let's hope it can happen. 

Ziggy has been in work and is being set for Ellerslie races 26th Sept. Oh please let Owners, at the very least, be able to be on course by then. Eliza has been broken in and is learning the ropes of becoming a racehorse. Her sire Redwood has been producing a lot of fabulous winners recently - so let's hope Eliza has got that winning gene. They take time - and then they produce form. This is what an owner is after - sustainable winning form. It's the hardest thing in the game - and it's what we're all in it for! And if you get it - well, the joy is unquantifiable. If we get there, I'm sure I'll be able to quantify it for you, haha!

Racing is a game that brings up every emotion known to mankind - that's why the people in the game are so authentic - they've all been through the gamut of emotions, from elation, thrill and fist-pumping relief to frustration, heartbreak and even tragedy - which will immediately send all that "cracked it" smugness into oblivion. It can happen in a jiffy and you never known when why or how. 

There is no escape from emotion in the racing world, no matter how tough you may think you are. It shapes people, gives insight into life, brings emotions to the fore. That's why I love it and the people involved. 

Here's a photo of Eliza when she was a baby - with her mum Entirely Saintly - in 2018. She's now a 2YO. Let's hope we see that big forehead star pounding down to the finish line in the not too distant future! 

And let's hope like hell we can get to Cambridge to see her and Ziggy in work on 19th Sept.
Fingers crossed!



Eliza (Redwood) and her mum, Saintly Way 2018


Eliza 2019 - Racing name Holy Sister






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