, but not today.TL;DR: Apologies, but there will be no chapter this month. · 12:22pm Jan 16th, 2015
The long explanation:
Up until last week, I thought I'd make the deadline, but it didn't happen. A combination of Christmas and non Final Solution writing (completing the first draft on my other pony novel project) slowed me down, so I didn't get really into the chapter until two weeks ago. So, rather than release something in a rush, I decided to skip a month (also lets me get ahead; my current writing is influenced by future chapters).
Mostly, though, it comes down to horses.
I mentioned some time ago that I was learning to ride and, much to my surprise, this has not reached its logical conclusion (me, in hospital, covered with hoof-shaped bruises), so to really tempt fate, I'm buying a horse.
(In case you are curious, the front runner is a 5 year old, 15.1 hand, connemara-type gelding by the name of 'Bugsy'. He's dapple grey, good natured, calm, and goes like a rocket -- ie perfect.)
At the start I thought it would be like buying a pet cat or dog, but that was more than a little naive. It's actually like buying a used car -- you go out to trusted dealers, look at a few and take them for test rides -- only with the added stress of worrying if the car will take an instant dislike to you, or if the vehicle it gets parked with will decide bully it mercilessly.
What really brings it home is the horse passport. It's a little like living in a police state -- the horse must travel with its papers, which need to be presented within 3 hours -- and if you don't have the passport, or you buy/sell without one, or you fail to update the owner information, you are in line for a £5000 fine.
...because, in the eyes of UK law, I'm not buying a pet, but a farm animal (and to really make that apparent, in the passport is a little box marked 'intended for human consumption yes/no').
Anyway, the end result is I'll be spending more time at the stables, which will slow my writing down somewhat (although I still hope to post a chapter a month).
Eh, take all the time you need mate, we can wait
Take all the time you need.
Now we just need a Bugsy cameo, though maybe not in Final Solution, might be a bit morbid considering it's still up in the air as to what happens to all the other alicorns.
Oh, wow, that was fast. From rider to owner, huh? That is a big jump. Are you sure about this?
And, can I come visit if this goes through and after Bugsy's home?
Calm is a bad a nature for a Ponyta. As an unevolved Pokemon it's base attack is already low, no need to bring it down any further. A quick check on Smogon recommends that you run a Jolly nature for that extra speed.
On a more relevant note, take all the time you need. Good luck on purchasing a horse, and I hope the stress doesn't get you before the thousands of inevitable hoof shaped bruises do.
Post pics!
Very happy for you! I wish I could go riding again too, but I got a severy allergy at some point
…but it was always a lot of fun and I stil lhave many happy memories of it. I hope you get to live many happy hours in your new buddy's saddle! Do you ride English or Western?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhhh, well, just have to wait I guess. Good luck with the horse and hope you have a fun holiday.
Thanks for the support, folks!
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I wouldn't put anyone I liked into FS!
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Don't say that! I'm nervous enough as it is. In truth, it's not that bad. The horse will go into working livery at my riding school, so people who actually know what they are doing will take care of him. All I have to do is keep the money flowing! When he (fingers crossed) passes the veterinary checks and has settled in, I'll feel a lot happier. It's a lot to get used to for a horse; busy roads, park land full of joggers and deer, etc. If you are ever in the area, you'd be welcome, of course.
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Ah, that's a pity. I'm allergic to a few things, and that's not fun (I came up in blisters when one of the horses licked my arm, which gave me a nasty scare until I realised that it was the pollen in the hay, and not the horse saliva). English (I've just started jump training, which I don't think is really possible to do American), although it would be interesting to cross-train, just in case I'm ever in the US again.
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I seem to be unable to embed the image; here's a GDRIVE link: Bugsy
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You don't like Celestia and Luna?
2727275
Argh! Logic trap... someone call a semantician!
If there's one thing I've heard about real horses, it's that they're going to eat up a lot of your time and money. I hope they don't become too much of a toll on you.
No update this month? This is one of the saddest things I've heard all year! (All 18 days of it.)