Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
"I assume people say that so people learn responsibility before the child is born? Though, from having a dog as a child I can tell you it's not the same." Rox gave a small chuckle at that. "Yeah I bet, I've never had a dog but a cat is enough responsibility for me." She could only imagine the amount of work a child was, and whilst she'd given up on the idea of a family years ago, she'd at least been brave enough to pick up a cat. A dog wouldn't have a good enough life with her, she was always working, long hours that were too much to leave a dog on its own for. But a cat was independent, just needed feeding and love when they decided it. Perfect for her and her lifestyle. "I just have a cat though, my life doesn't allow for anything more." She gave a slight smile, answering his follow up about pets. Maybe one day when she was older and wiser and stepped back from work she'd get a dog for extra company, to get her out the house.
"Yikes. And why do you think everything is cynical then?" Rox smiled again to take the sting out of the words, she knew some people walked around a little bit all rainbows and sunny days, but that wasn't her style. She didn't see the negative in everything, not at all, but she did see things as they were, not necessarily that they were rose tinted. "Just the way the world works for me." It was a bit of a heavy topic to get into with a stranger she didn't know, on the beach. Now wasn't the time for optimist/pessimist kind of debates. "Then it would depend. Realistically, I'm usually at the Fire Station or I'd give them my phone number. Depends on the stage of friendship though." She nodded at that, "Understandable, She was used to giving out her business card more than her personal - her work phone burned through its battery at twice the speed of her own phone, which was generally much quieter. "Most of my friends are back home though as I haven't been here long enough to make a new group of friends." "I can't imagine it'll take you long, you seem nice enough to me." She admitted, having met plenty of both types in the town, enough to know when she was meeting one or the other.
"Not a early riser I take it? I'm not either, though with a baby and work, I've learned to be a light sleeper." Rox chuckled and shook her head, "I wish I could say I wasn't but alas work always calls." and then even when it didn't, her body clo l gave her an unwelcome nudge all the same. "I do promise we aren't all jerks. Just depends on who you meet unfortunately." Rox gave a light shrug at that. "I've heard the line before, but it's a nice one and I believe it." She joked a little, trying to prove she did have somewhat a sense of humour. "Everyone has their fair share though and as long as the victims get out alive, a house or building can be rebuilt." Her smile fell a little at that, she could only imagine how that felt to be a part of. "I bet that's incredibly rewarding. As you say, a house is one thing but a life is much more precious." She didn't know if she'd want that kind of responsibility, the job she had was plenty tough as it was.
"I do try to get her out to see things. I'm not sure how she learns best yet but experiencing things teaches a lot." Rox glanced to the child with a kindly smile, "Anything is better than nothing, it's all learning at the end of the day." She knew, despite not having a child, that having experiences was important. "Sounds interesting actually. Lots of pressure and intense meetings? Or is it not too bad?" Rox gave a small laugh at that, her mind immediately jumping to her over filled calendar and never ending list of high priority clients. "Yeah, it's quite a demanding job, can't deny that. I try not to get too stressed but sometimes that's wishful thinking." She gave another chuckle at that but the longer she'd been there, the better she'd gotten at setting her work aside for the day and not letting it ruin her outside working hours time.
“Yeah, I can imagine with your job you are super busy. At least you don’t have to walk a cat, right?” His mother was a pro rider, meaning she had access to a farm where their various dogs could run around and get plenty of exercise. “I’m thinking about getting a cat though, any suggestions on where to adopt one around here?” He had heard about the local pet store, though he wanted to do his research before he chose where.
Jamie nodded, his own optimism had gone downhill once his wife had died in an accident. Though being in the Navy really didn’t help either, people had been dying around him. “No, I get that. Honestly, to get through the tough calls I try my best to be optimistic, but I have seen things that make me think otherwise.” This was a trauma he didn’t want to discuss with a stranger, let alone his young daughter. When the topic moved to phone numbers, he nodded. “It’s not something I’m used to though. The first job being the Fire Chief, so I’ve always just given my personal number before this.” Jamie admitted the person who hired him had heard enough good things about him to trust him in this new role.
“I appreciate it. Maybe there is a group of single parents that meet around here?” It would be a good way to start making friends, children often enjoyed playing together anyway. Rosa was a bit too young to be of much company, but it was worth a shot. “Do you work with companies who aren’t in the UK then?” It would explain why work would be calling that early, though he also had his fair share of morning shifts. He really didn’t mind them though, as that meant he got to spend the afternoons and early evenings with Rosa. “Yeah, be careful of other men who say that. They really are often slimy.” Jamie chuckled. He didn’t like to talk badly about people who were of the same gender, but he knew there were some idiots out there. “It really is, though it has its downfalls unfortunately. Though, we are starting to get more help when it comes to the traumatic calls.” Therapy was something that was becoming more available to them, sometimes they saw things that no one would want to wish upon anyone.
Jamie nodded, thankful that Cara was also doing some teaching with her too. “That’s what I’m hoping anyway. She just seems so curious that I don’t want to take that away from her.” There was so much for the young girl to learn - both good and bad. “I do hope you take time for yourself though. Do you ride horses like I hear a lot of others do around here?”
“Yeah, I can imagine with your job you are super busy. At least you don’t have to walk a cat, right? I’m thinking about getting a cat though, any suggestions on where to adopt one around here?” Rox nodded with a quick smile, "I can't lie, they're much lower maintenance than a dog but you get the same amount of company. They're so independent, you do your thing and they do theirs, and when you're home they're only too happy to come and spend time with you." She thought for a moment, back to when she'd adopted her kitten. "There's a local pet store which do actually take in rescues as well as new, so you can adopt rather than shop if that's more your style." She suggested, having had no issues with adopting hers from the store, plus it had been handy to pick everything up from the store whilst getting the animal.
“No, I get that. Honestly, to get through the tough calls I try my best to be optimistic, but I have seen things that make me think otherwise.” She smiled politely, seeing some internally struggle in him that made her wonder if this was not the best topic to be discussing. “It’s not something I’m used to though. The first job being the Fire Chief, so I’ve always just given my personal number before this.” She nodded, "Well, you clearly care a lot about your job, and that can really make or break a person." Rox knew that when you dedicated your life to something and really put everything into it, if you didn't care then it was never going to go well.
“I appreciate it. Maybe there is a group of single parents that meet around here?” Rox gave a little shrug and apologetic smile, "There's likely something, seems to be a lot of groups and such though I couldn't tell you about single parents." That one wasn't her expertise sadly, he'd have to do some digging on his own, but she had seen an awful lot of social things for all kinds of people in town - single parent's would be hot on the list for sure. “Do you work with companies who aren’t in the UK then?”"Sometimes I do, it's unusual to only be dealing with UK clients." She couldn't go too much into detail with confidentiality but she could give the basic answers about her work. “Yeah, be careful of other men who say that. They really are often slimy.” She raised a brow, "oh really, is that your top tip for dealing with men?" She joked, meaning no harm in it.
“It really is, though it has its downfalls unfortunately. Though, we are starting to get more help when it comes to the traumatic calls.” Rox nodded, "that's good, it's important to take care of yourself too." She agreed, knowing that some work places could do more to help with mental health of their employees. “That’s what I’m hoping anyway. She just seems so curious that I don’t want to take that away from her.” Rox smiled and looked the young woman's way again, "Curiosity is good, it just helps to learn from it too." She chuckled, knowing that it was impossible not to at times. “I do hope you take time for yourself though. Do you ride horses like I hear a lot of others do around here?” She shook her head with another laugh, "Time for yourself is always hard, you must find that. No, oddly enough I don't ride - I feel like one of the few in this town. Do you?"
“See, it would feel weird for me. My family had dogs growing up but with my job and having Rosa, I don’t have time for a dog.” Cats were okay being home on their own most of the day. “I assume by your high rating of cats that you have one yourself?” His only real experience with them was when his mom had some acting as barn cats to get rid of the mice. They were cute enough but they had a job to do as well.
He nodded, someone else had told him that the local pet store had adoptions. “That was going to be my plan. Surprise Rosa while she is at daycare. Though, I don’t think she’ll know about it until she is old enough to realize we have a new addition to the family.” He glanced down at his daughter, who was still comfortable in her stroller. Jamie raised his head and let out a sigh. Being a firefighter was more difficult than people realized. “Thanks, it’s not the easiest job, to be honest. There are lots of moving parts and different personalities to deal with. And of course, all the work politics fall on me too.” That was the part he hated the most. The higher-ups always wanted something different. It was hard for him to keep them all happy.
“I do enjoy the rescuing people part. Not that I’m always the hero, but we work together as a team to ensure that as many people as possible can be saved.” He didn’t need anything to pump his ego - work did that more than he could handle. “I should consider joining social media to see if there is one here. I’m far too old for groups that go clubbing or something.” However, a night out sounded amazing. It was the problem having a young child - he did love Rosa a lot though. “Oh, so you get to travel for work then? That does sound fun.” Granted, he was allowed to drive around in the Fire truck, which was only entertaining to young children.
He laughed at her joke, shaking his head. “I know it’s an obvious one but, some men can be real gems. Not that I’m Mr. Perfect. Everyone has their flaws.” Jamie dealt with a variety of citizens in Hickstead during work. Admittedly, most of them were respectful. “I hope you do too. Sounds like you work too much.” He was one to talk though. Friends of his were pointing out that he also had a daughter at home to raise, but she was doing fine being with Cara during his shifts. “I think she’ll have a wild imagination. Her daycare is right at one of the barns, so she may want a pony before I know it.” It would be a problem he would have to face in a few years.
“I do actually. I think I need to make myself some time for myself. Get a babysitter and go do something, you know. I don’t ride either. My mother does but she lives back in the States. Have you thought about trying it out?”
“See, it would feel weird for me. My family had dogs growing up but with my job and having Rosa, I don’t have time for a dog.” Rox smiled in understanding, "It's a lot of responsibility," She agreed, knowing that you needed to be there just that little bit more with a dog than a cat. “I assume by your high rating of cats that you have one yourself?” Rox smiled, unable to help it when she thought of her own little one, "yes I do," she nodded, "I have a ragdoll called Nala, she's still young but she's lovely company." Rox had found it was the easiest way to have company when she came home at night from a long day of work, without needing to worry about the cat being without her. As long as there was food, water and plenty of toys, Nala kept herself very well entertained. It was always relaxing coming home to the happy meow of the Ragdoll, making sure she was fed her dinner and then playing with her before they settled down for the night to watch TV.
“That was going to be my plan. Surprise Rosa while she is at daycare. Though, I don’t think she’ll know about it until she is old enough to realize we have a new addition to the family.” She smiled at that, "I'm sure she'd be delighted with the surprise." Not that she knew kids, but most of them seemed to like that kind of thing from what she'd seen. Especially if it was a surprise of the furry sort. “Thanks, it’s not the easiest job, to be honest. There are lots of moving parts and different personalities to deal with. And of course, all the work politics fall on me too.” Rox gave an understanding nod, "ah work politics, unfortunately not something you can avoid no matter where you go," She said, people might call them office politics but an office had nothing to do with it - sure, she felt they were probably more blatant in the office, but you got them in any job. You just had to know how to handle them - Rox had certainly learned.
“I do enjoy the rescuing people part. Not that I’m always the hero, but we work together as a team to ensure that as many people as possible can be saved.” Rox gave a small smile, "So you don't have a hero complex?" she joked,knowing most men usually did. They couldn't help it, it was in their nature to want to save, especially if it was a female that needed saving. “I should consider joining social media to see if there is one here. I’m far too old for groups that go clubbing or something.”"I don't think you can say that until you're on mushy food and zimmerframes." She joked, knowing the sort of crowds that tended to go out were older than you thought. She wasn't a clubber, but she still liked a drink and good music. What happened after that was another matter entirely. “Oh, so you get to travel for work then? That does sound fun.” Rox smiled and nodded, "yeah, sometimes it's very inconvenient, other times it's nice, but it's not all as glamorous as it sounds - lots of meetings in tall buildings." Often with middle aged bald men trying to tell her how to do her job.
She chuckled a little with his laugh. “I know it’s an obvious one but, some men can be real gems. Not that I’m Mr. Perfect. Everyone has their flaws.” Rox gave him a bit of a look at that but it was in jest - she knew some guys were great, but it was rather tough to find one that wasn't an asshole at some point. “I hope you do too. Sounds like you work too much.” Rox shrugged, "it can't be helped," because the place would fall apart without her, and she'd been working this way so long now, she didn't know how else to do it. “I think she’ll have a wild imagination. Her daycare is right at one of the barns, so she may want a pony before I know it.” She chuckled, "nothing wrong with a great imagination, it'll take her places," as long as the world didn't drag her down with it. “I do actually. I think I need to make myself some time for myself. Get a babysitter and go do something, you know. I don’t ride either. My mother does but she lives back in the States. Have you thought about trying it out?” Rox shuddered slightly, "no, horses definitely aren't for me," too out of control for her. "but you should definitely take some time for yourself, it's healthy." Pot, kettle, black Roxanne.
