Flossy is well known to many on the British Dressage Forum as a teller of interesting stories and perhaps the odd joke or two. We have selected a few tales for your pleasure.

Cultural habits

Every ethnic group has its own cultural habits, people belonging to one ethnic group may find the habits of others some what disagreeable or difficult to understand, for instance I find it difficult to cope with the German attitude that even when you do a German a personal favour you are still left with the feeling as if you were ordered to do so.
Once in a Frankfurt car park I signalled to German driver that I am about to vacated my space and he can have it, the grateful man said thank you and then added but “shnelle it up please”
The French obsession of consuming un cooked food caused me to loose KGs during a a riding course in Saumur . I could cope with the odd beef tarter once in a millennium but having to eat breakfast omelette of hardly cooked eggs or a dinner stake that only touched the pan for seconds once on each side, as is the custom in France , is an ethnic culture acceptable only by those that don't mind been French kissed with a mouth full of garlic flavour.
And why does those originating from the Indian sub continent think that they have to announce their presence to all by sending aromatic spicy fumes down the street even when the nearest Indian Restaurant is miles away. During 1974 I had a life changing experience of sharing a 3 bedroom house in the centre of Slough (the only available accommodation in the area.) with 4 Indians families (each with minimum of 9 persons) all of us using the same kitchen and other amenities, this competitive group of people did their best to out do each other by winning “ whose breakfast curry was the most aromatic”.
Not being racist by any means there are some British cultural habits which I find unpalatable as well.
The British customs of keeping warm at minimum costs give me shivers all the way from the top of my neck down my spine to the belt area, is it really cost saving to have 7 small chipolata size ankle bitters terriers sharing your bed on the excuse that they are cheaper then turning the central heating on. I remember my first night with a British girl friend with a similar arrangement, when I said I cant share a bed with all these pooches because of the smell, she replied “don't be so silly they are nor that fussy”.
Another habit that I draw the line on is wrapping one self in a horse blanket while sitting by the arena watching a lesson.
My dear wife a practical woman not over house proud does draw the line when it comes to work or riding clothes in the house, no one could be oblivious to her warning shouts “not on my sofa with your dirty breeches, BOOOOOTS “(not the chemist) the only one allowed in the house with his out side clothes is the cat, the house is free zone of any stable and horse odours, even the most fastidious city dweller would feel at home in our house.
She will risk her own wellbeing insuring that no horse smell will linger in the house. One freezing winter day after doing all my field chores she requested an urgent favour , the head ach pills “hurry darling (not sure about the darling) please I can feel it coming on” as I started towards the house I heard her voice following me “clothes” by the time I removed my wellingtons boots, extradited my self from the all in one arctic suit, removed the gloves the head cosy, breeches, thermal socks long jones and three vests, all reapplied in opposite order on the way out, it was not a head ach she was suffering from but a complete split up head .
I must admit I am not in totally disagreement with this attitude, and appreciate not announcing my arrival in the supermarket minutes before I am seen, with the checkout lady asking “ how are the horses today ?” with out even looking up from the till .
The British horsey fraternity obviously have their smelling habits compromised due to the constant wet muggy British weather.
The moment a follower of a British rider notices an un used or removed horse rug they feel compelled to wrap themselves in the lonely rug ,is it physical or psychological need , it not yet been determined.
The sweatier and smellier the horse been, more coveted the rug will be, I know of grown ups dressed in summer cloths in mid winter so they can justify wrapping themselves in horse blankets.
The other day during a show, I had my daughters horses blanket neatly folded hanging on the rails, next to me another father was standing , he politely said “as you are not using this rug do you mind if I do , my wife has taken ours” I gave him this look of disapproval learnt from the one that must be obeyed, he looked back in astonishment and replied “our house and furniture's are so old my wife given up worrying about them” , “It is not your house that I am concerned about ” I said “ it is the horse, I dont think the he will ever allow me to put it back on him once you had it on yourself”