Wow where did that storm come from today?!? The last few storms have had names… I heard no mention of this one coming…. So this was just wind! 💨💨💨😆
I think the difference is the last couple have been worst overnight while this one raged during the day. There was a good couple of gusts I really worried for the porta cabin! Thankfully I provided adequate ballast. 😆
Tried a new photo angle 😂😂
Scary!
I had a fab sleep last night, earplugs and eye mask, took my progesterone and paracetamol for a sore head, what a picture eh?!?!
I’ve still be a bit all over the place today but this is a prime example of how my FB feed works for me.
This next one… everything this last week has been resistance. Not living in the present moment. Not loving the present moment.
And this…. Oh yeah!
Anyway , I best dash, I’ve made dinner, eaten it, written this and am meeting the Crochet Hookers in 5 minutes in the pub next door! Gotta go hook!
I slept like a log last night but woke in a complete lather of perspiration…. Us ladies perspire obviously…. Oh come on I was sweating buckets 😂😂 the sheets were soaking again but at least I hadn’t realised and it didn’t keep me awake.
I’ve been antsy and irritable all day today. Completely self inflicted and all in my own head. I didn’t really relax. I wasn’t in the present moment. I was focussed on anything but the present moment.
I knew I had to fix it so headed down to the sea for sunset. It’s been a beautiful day today, albeit, really cold. The sun has shone for the first time in a while. It was lovely to see.
The sunset was spectacular… hereby follows a million photos of the setting sun, but to set the picture….. I was FREEZING… completely under dressed for the weather. Check this….
😂😂 I was being slapped in the face by the sand…. It was really quite sore on my freezing cold face. The phone was covered in sand which didn’t seem great so I didn’t stay too long. But it was so beautiful!!
It was so windy it was difficult to keep the phone straight…. Hence some wonky photos 😂😂
The birds were floating about on the thermals… it was lovely to watch. They kept sweeping on by.
A lovely sky…. And it did the trick.
Back home and the house was sooooo cold but definitely warmer than the beach!
I didn’t sleep well last night. I had night sweats and woke at 2.35 with a thumping head and soaking wet sheets. I’m very lucky that doesn’t happen to me often.
My 2.40am hunt for paracetamol was fruitless… I was sure they were in my handbag… but no, couldn’t find them. I should say here I have THE tiniest handbag…. The paracetamol were all present and correct when I checked the handbag at 7.15am before work… of course they were. 😆
I woke again at 4.30 and just before 6… too hot so out from under the downie, then freezing. The joys.
Thankfully the headache didn’t return…
Also Bhru had been quite badly sick after yesterday’s blog so I was pleased to see she had been fine overnight.
As I lay in bed I searched for that rotten feeling so I could be justified in staying off sick. I couldn’t face work. I hadn’t slept, I’d be shattered, I’d be grouchy, my head hurt, did I have stomach cramps…. Etc….
I gave myself a shake, got out of bed at the alarm and have been absolutely fine all day. Neither up nor down. If anything I’ve been good…. Check my reluctance at admitting to that.
Our ego is a funny thing. It wants to wallow in the sadness, the injustice of things but actually I seem to be able to see it now and shut her up. I’m smiling at that. It’s good to smile after the last few days.
A lovely sky tonight.
I’ve made us a nice dinner and I feel like I’m being watched….
So yeah, not the best of days today but I’ve still been for a dog jog AND a long dog walk so that’s gotta count for something…. AND I’ve tidied the house and gone to Tesco for a food shopping.
I’m gonna make this quick because I know this will pass. I’m not giving it power over me by writing about how I feel today. I will share some of my photos though…. Even though it’s been a very grey and windy day.
Calaidh and Freya have their jog on this morning 🏃🏻♀️🐕🦺🦮
When they start off they are actually running with excitement…. Woah woah woah woah woah puppers… mumma can’t keep up 😂
I’m wearing old trainers as my feet get so wet outdoors in my current trainers, yet these old ones make both knees hurt almost immediately. I limped the last stretch home.
Changed into my walking shoes for a long walk with Bhruic and had no pain AT ALL. This knee pain is so strange…. Since we started sleeping at the bottom of the bed (like crazy people!) I’ve had no real knee pain at night, I’m not even having to use the pillow for elevation. Who knows what’s happening there?!
Bhru and I walked a way I haven’t gone for ages. I wanted to spend some one on one time with her. We passed the trees I used to see on my way to counselling every week. I think of them as my therapy trees.
Bhru’s not impressed!
I let her off lead and work on recall. She’s really good.
She’s loving the freedom.
We walked to this wee burn and back. Not been here in so long. She wanted to go and run in the field but there are sheep in the back right field and I wasn’t convinced that it was secure enough… taking no chances.
This is the level we’re at today… I love the deep tyre treads a tractor makes.
I’m fascinated but the shapes…. Big circles on the top and hexagons, under the weight at the bottom.
I saw my first snowdrops of the year! So pretty.
I came home and ran about doing random housework and tidied up some things in the garden that had blown over in the wind.
I headed down to Tesco for a food shop and diesel ready for my 11 days of work ahead.
So yeah, inwards and upwards as they say. (oh Freudian slip there!! I’m leaving that in)
It’s pretty dull outside so I have my new Sand + Paws candle burning. I got this from Craig’s sister along with my Joma bracelet.
I wuf you 🐾
The business was set up by girls in California to get rid of the smell of wet dog after being down at the beach. Just wet mud here today!
I’m at 21 hours fasting which I’m really pleased about. I can only do this at weekends… I can’t manage a long fast through the week. I never set out to do a long one, it just happens some times . Craig’s made his amazing rice pudding so I’ll be having some of that shortly 😋 then I’m gonna have a nap!
Wide awake at 5am, got up and moved down to the couch to read. Subsequently felt shattered all day.
I got Calaidh and Bhru ready and out for 8.30am and we did the first dog jog in months…. It felt really good. It blew the cobwebs away and the poor puppers were wondering what on earth had happened all of a sudden. We were all breathless when we got back, though not sure they had done anything more than a fast walk 🙄😂 I forgot to take my phone so no pics.
Back home and changed into walking gear and took baby Freya down to the little gift shop to get a birthday card.
She was so good. I did some lead training with her on the way. She doesn’t go out on her own that often so it’s good for her to get some socialisation and go see her Auntie Gayle.
We talked for a wee bit too long and she actually lay down and almost nodded off.
Bless her.
Look at the poor gate on the way back home. It’s just hingin’ in there isn’t it?! I felt really sorry for it…. Empathy for an old gate. Whatever next?!
I lay down for an hour and read and tried to nap but didn’t. Got up and had a shower before Craig got home from work.
We have been up at my sis in laws for our niece’s 16th birthday party. How can she actually be 16 already?!?
We had some lovely party food and was great to catch up with everyone as we didn’t see them over Christmas.
I got a lovely Joma bracelet for my Christmas from them. It’s a gold acorn for strength.
It’s super shiny compared to the others I’ve worn every day.
We played a family quiz game and I always think I’m so rubbish at quizzes. My head just says nope, nope, nope when it’s under pressure and my brain leaves me alone. 😂 I did really well and came 4th or 3rd I think but I was just guessing to take the pressure off!! Obviously good guesses. 🙈😂
So just a quickie tonight as I’m soooo tired! Hope you all have a great Saturday night!
It’s 5.15pm and I’m over 20k steps already…. Some days I can barely scrape 2k so that’s not bad going.
I had a great sleep and met Rachel two doors down at 8.20am for our weekly run. (Forgot to write about it last week but we have done it every week in January!)
We ran a bit further this week so I was really pleased. It’s “only” 2 miles but that’s 2 miles more than I did in the last 6 months!! how red do I look?!?
We had to take Craig’s car to the garage for its service and then I started walking the millions* of dogs we now own.
It was actually a lovely morning. Cold but dry and sunny.
First up Calaidh and Bhruic.
The burn’s quite full after all the rain.
Bhru is checking it out.
Back home and swapped them for Freya. Did a bit of recall training with her.
She’s really good when she’s on her own with no distractions.
Wee sweetie… she’s still my baby!
The low winter sun makes everything look lovely. Only downside is my big shadow in the photo.
Back home and swapped for Khaleesi.
She had a lovely walk.
We caught this lovely rainbow as the rain was heading over, thankfully I missed the shower!
The cloud was low hanging with only a little bit of blue on the horizon as it came over.
Still no rest for the wicked 😂 when I got home I tidied the kitchen, put on a washing and filled the dishwasher.
I found one of my favourite socks…… this is it on my hand with the culprit… showing her what she has done!! Mum can you darn it?!?!? 😂 that’s me asking my mum, not Calaidh asking me…. Standing joke some of the socks we’ve asked mum to darn!!
When Craig came home from work we picked his car back up and headed to Mocha Jak’s for lunch. I had the avocado stack!
I then went down the little gift shop and spent about an hour chatting to Gayle. As you do. It’s looking soooo lovely just now.
Back home and into the pub and we’re both on alcohol free! Craig’s done so well with Dry January. He’s made it look so easy.
So home now…. I’ve been a bit antsy today. A lot of my day has felt like a chore and at times I’ve stopped myself and thought, be in the present moment and enjoy what you are doing right now. That’s really helped. I feel like I need “NOW” tattooed on my hand to remind me.
My knees have been great since last Friday. They’re ok ish today so will see how they are tonight after all those steps. They are not stopping me from doing anything which is the main thing!
I just realised that yesterday was the 20 year anniversary of my life changing trip to Australia.
I left Edinburgh airport, surrounded by family, and set off on an adventure of a lifetime all by myself.
Recently divorced and made redundant for the THIRD time in about 2 years due to factory relocation abroad, I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that this was my time to head to Australia and New Zealand… something I’d always regretted not doing straight from Uni. Yes I was terrified….. got Valium for the flight from the doctors but didn’t need it.
I was very lucky to have received ample redundancy money over the years so had plenty of money behind me to fund it. (Never did actually add up just how much it cost me and probably should never do!)
We have lovely family in Melbourne so I headed out there to use as a base. I ended up in Australia on and off for 15 months, bouncing around but always ending back up in Melbourne. Jeez I cringe at that actually, they must have been sick of the sight of me for all that time. 😂
I got a job in Melbourne and stayed there until June when I jumped on a Groovy Grape tour from Melbourne, through Adelaide, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and up to Darwin. I then flew across to Cairns and went up and down the east coast by bus.… first up to Port Douglas then to Townsville where I worked in a cafe on Magnetic Island for a month or so. Then onto Bargara, near Bundeberg, to stay with this lovely couple.
I knew Father Norman as he had come to stay in Penicuik and lead the ministry at St James the Less Church, while our Minister John Farrant, went out to his parish in Australia. Have no idea what age I would have been but we spent a lot of time with him. Sadly last night I joined the online feed for his funeral held in Christ Church in Bundaberg at 11.30pm. I went to bed after Crochet and slept until 11.25, then got my earphones in and lay and bed and watched the service. A lovely service for a lovely man. I’ve not seen him in 19 years but I felt I could hear him leading his own funeral service. I can also remember him serving me a cup of hazelnut tea and a cookie 🍪, in his jammies, every morning for the month that I lived with them. A very religious and very kind man.
Since I had left home in the January of 2004, Norman and Gwenn had been to Scotland to stay with mum and dad so it was lovely to stay with them and have that link to home.
I left them and headed south by overnight bus into Sydney, where I stayed for a while. Then on through Canberra and back to Melbourne to say hello.
I then flew out to Perth and worked as an outback barmaid in a town called Dowerin for a while before heading back to Melbourne for Christmas.
2005 saw the trip to New Zealand for 7 weeks as my Australian visa was up. I then flew back in for a few weeks before making my way through Thailand before heading home in April 2005. Just the most amazing trip.
I always knew I needed to come home to Scotland. I don’t remember feeling lonely as I travelled, I didn’t miss home too much but I always knew Scotland WAS home. My only regret was heading straight back into the rat race with the “big job”. I may have been clever enough to work my way up to a Senior Manager but honestly, it was never really in my make up. It was something I felt I had to do rather than wanted to do.
You shouldn’t live life with regrets.
My life lead me to Craig. ♥️
If I didn’t get sick through work I might never have found the peace that I have now.
Those 20 years have flown by in the blink of an eye.
It’s the first full moon of the year tonight. I have paid for a full moon calendar (it was only pennies) to remind me when the full moon is due. This is called the Wolf Moon.
I got a lovely photo of last nights moon as I left the hookers in the pub!
It’s also Rabbie Burns Day in Scotland so I’m having veggie haggis for dinner… the turnip had already gone off, dammit. Nae neeps for us 😂😂
I also had Terry’s Chocolate Orange which isn’t Scottish in the slightest!
Don’t worry…. She didn’t get it.
That’s my working week over so I’d best make the most of this weekend! Next weekend we’re at the Caravan z show in the SEC again ALL weekend…. 😂
Wow what a stormy night. I think it was the worst weather so far… yet I managed to sleep right through! My earplugs totally drowned it out.
So you see the scary ghost-like clouds in the sky?! They were really spooky clouds when I was out with the dogs at 10pm.
They reminded me of the ghosts on Ghostbusters but I only videos them, so tried to snap these photos off the videos!
It was still really wild again this morning.
I had to go out into the garden at 7am and I shut both gates again and made sure everything was safe for the dogs.
It was a wild drive down to Tartan HQ. That’s really the worst it’s been since the storms started.
But…… guess what… there was actual sunshine appearing mid morning….
It was so lovely to see the sun and the wind had finally died down to a gentle breeze. I almost took a photo every time I went out. 😂
So not much else to report. The silence is deafening now that the wind has stopped raging.
I spent a bit of time in the back garden with the dogs, when I got home. It only got dark about 5pm!!
My friend Ruth sent me a surprise grift tonight. ♥️
So very kind and considerate of her and Calaidh is super interested too. I’m.looking forward to reading it and seeing what lessons I might take from it.
Well it must have been calmer last night as “Julie with ear plugs” was out for the count…. In my actual bed. Check me.
What a great rejuvenating sleep. I felt so refreshed! (as I read that back it sounds like I woke up 20 years younger which was absolutely NOT the case 😂😂 )
Storm Jocelyn has been picking up throughout day.
It’s rained ALL day and the wind has been gusting on and off all afternoon but she really hits tonight.
The Tartan portacabin has been buffeted about… I said thank goodness I was there for the ballast 😂😂😂
I was really lucky that the last deluge stopped about 5 minutes before I left work so my drive home wasn’t massively different from normal. Except for the tree down at the top of the road. This is not my photo so credit to Edward McWilliams.
Our house is literally just around that bend. I had to take the detour on the back roads and had a van follow me as he didn’t know where to go.
We have lost the top of our wood shed unfortunately. It’s done well mind you. It’s an old bus windscreen box from my old job.
The sky was stunning when I got home.
So once again I’ve watched myself have better reactions to previous triggers. When we try to finish a van there are always last minute parts required, for a variety of reasons.
My thought process was always as follows: immediate panic, defensive, high pitched whiny voice, why do you need that, why didn’t I know about it, did I buy the wrong thing, I’m sure I had that in stock, where do ok I get it, I’ve never bought one of them before, how do I even know where to look, how come we need it when I’ve never bought it before, will it get here in time, tears, panic, anxiety, anxiety, anxiety. You usually have to peel me off the ceiling when this happens.
The last time this happened I skyrocketed and came back down to earth pretty quickly, having seen my over-reaction from the outside looking in if that makes sense?
Today….
No problem.
Look part up.
Send screenshot… does this look ok?
Buy it.
Add to list of parts to buy in future.
Smile to myself.
That….. is how it should be done.
When you live with anxiety, you don’t just calmly stop and think. You catapult into the anxious oblivion.
Today I calmly thought and acted. No drama.
I love that I’m so aware of it too.
So that’s us both home safe tonight and hopefully by tomorrow the storm is over.
I had ear plugs in, with my fingers in my ears on top of the ear plugs and I could still hear it.
It was like someone parked an artic truck outside the house and left it running. it was wild!!!
I moved down to the couch at 10.20pm as we’d been in bed so early. I didn’t sleep very well.
There are rumours of a trampoline being in the middle of Main Road spotted around half 11 last night and Craig and I slept through the call to help move it!! Least I slept at some point…
It’s been shocking weather all day. It’s been relentless.
So as Storm Isha moves away, Storm Jocelyn rolls right in…. Tomorrow night is another super windy night. To be fair, I don’t think tonight will be much better 😂😂
So other than yawning most of the day. I’ve been good.
I love when I’m proud of myself for a certain reaction to things… when I know I would have reacted differently in the past. I’ve been aware of that a few times today.
So a wee funny story …. One of our suppliers had a sale on and we laughed when we saw the nodding Coconut Tortoise…. I mean why? 😂😂
I messaged my supplier contact, who is the loveliest lady….. and we had a good laugh and she sent us not one but two!!! What a lovely thing to do. ♥️
They are the funniest things, carved out of a coconut with nodding heads!
I gave one to Ellison as took one to the office. She drew a smile on hers and I copied her. she called hers Tam. 😂
Simple things eh??
Anyway, needs must when there’s not much midweek content! 😂😂
Here she is under the chin (as the saying goes 😂😂)
You would think butter wouldn’t melt.
But it definitely did…. Here’s Craig rescuing her after she disappeared off the edge of a lookout point up near Oban.
Check her smile as he carries her 😂😂😂
She’s a beautiful girl 💕
So we’ve been trying to decide if need a new mattress or not…. We have a mattress with an inbuilt topper so we can’t turn it over, but it’s getting pretty saggy.
Instead of turning the mattress we slept the other way round in the bed last night to see if the mattress is worth turning 😂😂😂😂
It made me laugh as it felt really strange but I think it was better. Problem is we we turn it round, I get Craig’s side and he gets mine. I think I’m happier this way 😂😂
The wind (outside!) was so strong yesterday, that I woke on and off all night. Surprisingly no knee pain though! I found ear plugs which helped drown out the rain and wind so slept better the second half of the night. We’re due to get up to 71mph gusts tonight.
It’s pretty windy out there just now.
So Gayle and I went to the SEC today for Scotland’s Trade Fair.
We had a great day and I loved that we met some of the folk we met last year. Gayle got lots of new ideas and bought some new exciting stock for the shop.
I’m back home, hunkered down for the night, the hatches are battened and we hope our chimney doesn’t lose any more bits tonight. Hope everyone in the UK is safe.
Hope life is easy on you this week. Remember to take each moment as it comes. Just breathe.
My knees were gowping again. So painful. Both of them. Doesn’t help that he weather was pretty awful through the night so I think my knees and the wind (the outside wind! 😂) keep waking me up.
I put Biofreeze on both legs at 2.30am and I think that helped relax my thigh muscles, which seems to take pressure off my knees.
I never got out of bed until after 8am.
Storm Isha is on its way.
The forecast keeps changing but a few days ago it showed this…..
I have NEVER seen those numbers on my weather app…. It now downgraded to….
But look at what’s coming….
We’ve already lost a wee bit of chimney roughcast. Craig’s heard something “fall” through the night and we found it on the road this morning.
It’s really windy right through until next weekend. I’ve been Mrs weather forecast for the last few days 😂😂
So back to today…. Housework. About time too. Been gallivanting too much recently 🤦🏻♀️😂
I’ve changed the bed, done several washings, hung everything up to dry, hoovered everywhere and cleaned up all the muddy dog splashes on the walls and floor. The muddy dogs have only gone and covered my cleaning with muddy splatter but at least it was clean for 5 minutes. 🙄😂
I even cleaned the wood down the side of the stairs…. I couldn’t tell you the last time I cleaned that. 🤦🏻♀️ A job well done!
My right wrist and elbow are pretty sore too with tendinitis. I’m not letting it stop me though.
Craig and I then went to Curiosity coffee shop… his first time there and I had my mint oat milk latte. Loved it.
We then drove to Kilmarnock as Craig had a Specsavers appointment…. OR DID HE?!?!
Nope…. It would appear he did not 😂😂😂
His appointment is next Saturday… 🤦🏻♀️🙄😂 I’ll be dining out on that one for a while.
So we drove ALL the way home again. Popped into the pub with Khaleesi, for a quick alcohol free drink for two, Craig is making his Dry January look easy. He had and Erdinger 0% and I had 0% pink gin and slimline tonic. Leesi sat by the fire!
Nice to have a day to catch up on everything and bonus that Craig was here for the day too.
We’re having a family ladies lunch today with Mum’s side so I’m meeting Mum, Auntie Marion, mum’s cousin Joyce (who is always called mum’s cousin Joyce!) and my sister in law, Gill.
I had another great sleep and woke up at 6am. It has snowed again over night. By the time I got up, the rain was pouring over the snow and creating black ice 🧊
I got a notification from the Trainline app to say that there was potential disruption on the route for today so I left early, to make sure I got there in time. Here comes the train!
The platform is super icy. They always say “please mind the gap when alighting from the train”… please mind the ice as you try to board the train would be more appropriate!
I don’t get any decent photos from the train as it’s raining and misty most of the way in.
Here’s Glasgow in the rain though.
Me with my hood up. My hair was nice and straight when I left the house… maybe not so much by the time I get to Edinburgh 😂
I got the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh and we were only held up for a bit outside Polmont station. They said there was a technical fault that they were currently fixing.
I met a lovely American family on the train on their first visit to Scotland. Their daughter is starting Glasgow Caledonian University. I of course became the tour guide on the train whether they wanted it if not. I was buzzing for them to see Edinburgh for the first time 😂
Joyce met me in Edinburgh Waverley. The Americans went off to find their Mary Queen of Scots tour…. Who knew that was a thing?!?
It’s so pretty inside. It’s such a lovely atmosphere. It’s in the centre of Edinburgh but it’s like sitting in the middle of a jungle.
It feels very natural.
The food was exceptional too. It’s a really good menu.
Joyce and I shared the Red Thai Prawn Kebab and the Grilled Halloumi Kebab.
We got one with coconut rice and one with chips.
It was so good honestly, super tasty, really good quality food. Only cost is £22.62 a head as well which I thought was really good.
Here’s the seabass.
And the sweet potato Katsu curry.
Even the oat milk DECAF! latte was really good.
I really loved it, I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s great to catch up with all the family ladies too and hear everyone’s news.
It’s been a lovely, cold day in Edinburgh.
I took a few shots before I headed back down into Waverley station.
I literally missed the Glasgow Queen Street train by two minutes. They wouldn’t let me through the barrier as the doors were just closing. Dammit…. 😂 I headed round for the Glasgow Central train which stops at hundreds of stations but gets me into Glasgow only 7 minutes later than the Queen St train so I figured it would do me just fine. I’m also seeing a hundred Scottish stations, most of which I didn’t even know existed!!! Who knew 😂
Still an hour of travelling to go but that is fine. It was a lovely day and yet another mini adventure and new experience!
I cannot believe that I was causing those headaches myself. 3 days of headache… gone. All because I was resisting every day life… I was fighting my reality as I wanted to be somewhere else…. I didn’t want to have to deal with the dogs and I didn’t want to have to be in the office. I resented all of that as I wanted to be off out enjoying myself. I physically made myself tense.
At the time I had no idea I was doing it. I only knew there was something wrong when tablets didn’t touch the headache.
That got me thinking.
Reading that Eckhart Tolle post really made me stop, think and completely relax.
I created all of that as a problem in my head.
It isn’t a problem. It’s my reality. It’s here so that I can enjoy doing the things I want to do when I can have the time to enjoy them.
I bloody love this soul searching stuff….
I’ve had a much better day. I’ve had lots of ideas for improvements at work and have started working on them.
I’ve chosen to let my anger go and it’s actually gone (no one is more surprised than me!)
I’m off into Silverburn Shopping Centre to meet Lea for a good catch up!!
Starbucks for a cuppa as usual.
Lots of great chat as usual. We’re making a habit of catching up more and it’s good!!
I’m finding the blog a chore when I don’t feel 100%.
I’m fairly certain I’m not sick, but I’m creating some kind of weird tension in my body because I’m unsettled, out of balance.
I’ve learned to be very in tune with how I feel. I guess I overanalyse everything too.
I’ve had a headache for 3 days now and nothing is taking it away. Even typing that is giving it power over me. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen. I’m making such a big drama out of something that’s actually nothing.
All because I feel a bit low.
At lunch I saw this:
I read this over and over and felt the headache ease off. I realised that my jaw was clenched as it slowly started to relax, my shoulders relaxed down from my ears.
Is it that simple? Am I creating it all? And I think the answer is yes.
I’ve had an amazing January so far… I wanted to keep my head up the whole month and for some reason it’s slumped a bit. I feel restless, antsy, looking for direction. My mind screams that life is short and I should travel, travel, travel….. 🙄😆
So I went to the sea and it helped a bit because it was beautiful. I couldn’t stay long as it was bitterly cold and I didn’t have the warmest gear on.
The sky was absolutely stunning.
Spot the tanker perfectly positioned on the horizon. If I’d got away from work bang on time he’d have been right in front of the setting sun.
I suddenly noticed a squall moving down the Isle of Arran.
It was really dramatic. I took loads of photos but I think these were some of the best.
I’ve also never walked on frosty sand before. It was hard going as it was quite solid and we expect sand to give way when we walk over it. Very pretty though.
So I’ve given myself a shake, a dust down. Blew some cobwebs away at the beach and have blurted it all out.
We can’t always feel on top of our game.
Life isn’t always perfect and doesn’t always go our way.
We can set off with the best of interiors and have a million things disrupt our path.
The key is how we respond and I hope I’m back on track with that.
And this…… oh yes, this. Way too much drama being created this week.
And relax.
And go meet the crochet hookers!!
I’ve 4 minutes to get changed, pick up my crochet and head into the pub next door.
Ok so I called out the snow this morning with yesterday’s forecast, but it needed up being nothing like the forecast!
Went to bed sooooo early. Was in bed for about 8 and slept right through until 7.10am. I had a lie in as I had the Phlebotomist for blood tests, this morning! (I LOVE that word!)
I opened my eyes about 6ish… no snow, back to sleep, 7.10…. Now snow, back to sleep until 7.50am and still no snow.
I set foot out of the house at 8.30am. It started to snow.
The doctors surgery is a 5 minute drive.
Still snowing.
Walked in the door…. “Julie?!?!” ….. yes…. Straight in to the phlebotomist 😂
First arm no vein.
Second arm no vein.
“Have you drunk any water this morning?” Yes loads… “strange as that should help your veins….”
Finally got a vein in my right hand.
Drew bloods for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and something else which I missed.
All in all 5 minutes.
Over her shoulder, outside the window looked very white.
Yup full dusting of snow when I walked out the door and it was still snowing.
I didn’t seem enough to work from home, and really it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop me having a scary drive!
Some roads didn’t even have tracks in the snow. I drove down a hill near our local whisky bond and a truck turned the bend and came towards me. I pulled into the side and tapped the brakes….
Nothing. 😱
My anxiety went through the roof.
Every what if scenario considered.
I just slid on down that hill. Kept it straight thankfully and the truck got past me ok but I had the wobbles after that.
I often think it’s good to have a wee wobble on a first snow driving day as it makes you concentrate more.
By the time I got to work there was nothing.
Criag took this pic for me back home.
So that was me today.
I’m still not feeling great but not sure why. I’ve had a headache for two days. Nothing is shifting it. Seems like a tension headache. I was really emotional last night and kept wanting to cry. I’m tired and foggy headed. it’s not that time of the month and I’m still on the HRt.
I did a food shop after work tonight and tried to buy healthy. I’m thinking I’m having too much sugar in between fasts just now.
I had a veggie stir fry for dinner tonight but I didn’t enjoy it at all… least I made the effort to make it.
I’m gonna get back up and make my salad for lunch tomorrow, load the dishwasher and out some washing away then I’m going to sit down and read until Craig comes home.
Oh I should say that Craig’s Scottish Dog Behaviourist FB page reached 1,000 followers yesterday, which is incredible in his first year out own his own. He’s worked so hard to increase his followers, as have many of you, and for that I am so grateful. His business will go from straight to strength the more social media presence it has. If you haven’t links it yet, here’s the link to the page.
Oh I don’t know where to put myself tonight…. My head has been sore since after lunch. It feels like a tension headache. My jaw is tight too.
I actually felt fine this morning, slept ok so no excuse there.
It was soooo frozen this morning I couldn’t get into the car!
Claire had been super lovely and scraped my car for me this morning as a wee Monday surprise! how kind…. But by the time I got out I still couldn’t get into the doors. The Beetle has those coupé style windows that drop down as you unlock the door… in the ice there’s no dropping down, hence door not opening.
I finally managed to get into the passenger door and climbed over to get the engine started. It all defrosted in the end but the windows sat kind of open all the way to work. It’s a real flaw.
I got on fine today, felt fine but mid afternoon I lost all focus, I kept having to look things up two and three times.
So… I could just be tired after all the excitement of the last few days!
I really wanted to go for a run after work to try and clear my head but it’s freezing. It’s that bitterly cold that takes your breath away a bit. Tomorrow we have snow forecast!
Probably means we’ll get none but I brought my laptop home just in case. Us anxious folks are always prepared for every eventuality. 😆
There was a lovely sky as the sun set.
Pic doesn’t do it justice. It was almost pink and grey striped, like wallpaper I had as a wee girl.
So yeah, I’m missing my “Heidi the Mountain Goat” tourist attitude of the last few days. Meanwhile I have this sleeping beauty next to me. She looks a bit like a kangaroo!
Currently sitting on the 12.11 from Oban to Glasgow Queen Street… only typing when we go through a high banked section of the track. I’m not missing a minute.
I had a lovely sleep in my wee single bed. My knee was agony and woke me at 11.22pm. I’d been asleep since 9ish… but after that it really settled and has been fine ever since.
You’ll be pleased to know I’ve done my exercises twice and they really help strengthen my leg. Why is it though when we have exercises to do it seems like such a chore?!? A real “ugh” moment….They are designed to help the pain. Get over it Julesie.
I couldn’t decide exactly what to do this morning and was keen to get the ferry over to Mull and straight back but I was waiting to see if the conditions were right.
Do I stay in the hotel until 10am checkout? Do I get the ferry and risk missing the 12.11? Do I plan for the 16.11? So many decisions.
I decide to head back up to McCaigs Folly (Tower) for first light so that I could see sunrise…. As you do.
Up at 7 showered, packed up and ready for the off. Back up that huge hill almost in the dark!
As you can see I stood there for ages! It was bitterly cold and one guy came up during a run, said hi, stretched, said goodbye and ran off…. I had the place to myself.
Ok so… next decision… the ferry. Headed down to the terminal to ask their advice….
It appears that this ferry… the departing one…. was my only hope of a sail to Mull at back before 12.
That’s my decision made then. I’ll no be doing that! 🙄😆 I must have got it completely wrong when I looked up the ferry times this week. To be fair it was pretty choppy and the Loch Frisa doesn’t look like there is too much outer deck so it may not have done what I was hoping it would do.
As I walked aimlessly through the harbour, I met Luana, the Brazilian girl I’d met yesterday. She was heading for the bus to Fort William but suggested Pulpit Hill. I remembered mum and dad had climbed it before.
Now I should say here that Tracey, my Canadian (insomniac 😆) friend, was fully involved in my morning again. She obviously never sleeps! She told me it was a 23 minute walk… so off I go.
It’s a hike but what a view… looking directly over to McCaig’s Folly that I just left!
Looking over to Kerrera, with Mull in the distance to the left and Lismore in the distance to the right.
Zoomed in on the harbour and train station. The train is in already.
Then I met a lovely local couple walking their blind spaniel… which basically means, she who has not spoken much this weekend, chewed their ear off with chat! It was lovely to make them laugh. In that 10 minutes of chat, we really connected.
They suggested Hinba Coffee Shop… so off down the hill I go.
At the same time Tracey has already recommended Hinba, as it gets the best reviews online 😂😂😂 Tracey has also come up with another walk to Oban Hydropathic Santorium ruins 😂😂 but I need a heat up.
It’s lovely!! I have a Guatemalan coffee and a slice of Tiffan cake.
I chill, warm and charge my phone. Then order a decaf gingerbread latte. Heaven.
I still have time to kill so wander around taking even more photos before my crazy kind gets me first in the queue for the twins so I can pick my seat on the left side, get a window and a charger. I know, I know…. But it pays off. I’m first on the train 🚆 😂
Tracey must finally be asleep!
I’m on the other side on the way down so I can catch everything I missed on the way up! It’s also freezing… all the way!!
These next photos are all out the window of the train!
First glimpses of Loch Lomond.
Inveruglas power station.
Tarbert and Loch Lomond.
Think this river is in Dumbarton.
I have honestly had the best time.
I’m shattered but so grateful that Craig doesn’t mind me doing this. He had to work yesterday and he’s had some quality doggo time. I know I’ll go back to bed full of dog hair.
I get to do all the crazy things I want to do, I don’t have to worry about anyone else, I can just do my thing.
It’s 3.10pm and I’m still on the train, about 20 minutes out from Glasgow Queen Street station. I should be home for 5 at the latest.
What a lovely weekend.
This…my Sundays always used to be this… gut-wrenching stress…. Not any more ♥️
I only decided this yesterday though I’d been thinking about it all week.
The alarm went off at 5.40am but I was awake a fair bit before that.
My train is at 7.10am from Glengarnock to Glasgow Central, walk from Glasgow Central to Queens Street then train to Oban.
Why?!?
I’m determined not to be bored like I was in the Christmas holidays. I want to get out and about and I have always wanted to travel to Oban by train just to see where the line goes.
It’s dark when we leave the house, Craig drops me at Glengarnock train station. 🚉
My friend Tracey in Canada 🇨🇦 is with me the whole way 😂 albeit in FB messenger. She is as excited as I am!!
The first train is only a half hour and then I have to walk across Glasgow. It’s almost sunrise.
The colours are lovely against the sky and the wet on the ground.
Tracey is online, in Vancouver, trying to look up what platform my train is going from!! It was lovely to have someone following my every move from such a difference. It made me even more excited!!
I break all the rules and head through for the train before the platform is announced. 😂😂 The Trainline app has already told me it’s platform 2 and there’s a queue forming.
Which side of the train to sit on?!? Oh my god they are putting seat tickets on the seats, folk have booked seats, who knew, why didn’t I do that?!? 😂
I get on the train and pick the left hand side of the carriage. I get a table, an electric socket and a window seat! Absolutely no need for the extra thinking a minute ago.
What you do forget on your solo relaxation trip is that there are lots of other people involved in your journey. I should have brought my headphones!
This is a breathtaking train journey. I’m already so very glad that I got the train. None of my photos will do it justice. I can highly recommend it.
This is the sunrise over the Clyde. Remember all of these are taken from a moving train so not the best.
The train leaves Glasgow and out through Dalmuir, Dumbarton. Helensburgh, Garelochhead and out towards Arrochar.
This is the Cobbler which rises above Arrochar.
This was the bit of the journey I was least familiar with.
The main road to Oban takes you up the side of Loch Lomond and the train goes up the side of the loch further west.
It was beautiful to see that countryside from so high up. The railway on the side of the hill.
Looking down into Arrochar.
Spotted in Ardlui… a train with a Heilan’ coo!!
The train is formed of 4 carriages. The front two split off in Crianlarich and head to Oban. The back 2 will head up to Fort William and onto Mallaig arriving 13.28. Must do that one day too.
This is Kilchurn cancel on the backs of Loch Awe.
Passing over the railway bridge beside Kilchurn.
The railway then runs right along the banks of Loch Awe. It’s really beautiful and especially on such a sunny day.
It’s done exactly what I wanted it to do, it’s let me see Scotland from a different angle. Places that I’ve driven through for years look very different from the track half way up the mountain!
I got into Oban and 11.25 and this is my hotel.
It’s only £39.60 for a single room and yes, you get what you pay for. Sadly it’s a bit run down but the room is clean and it has a wee single bed!
The skyline shows McCaig’s Tower or McCaig’s Folly as it’s known…. I head up there later. I had a good wander round all the shops, got checked in early and got a sea view room at no extra cost… then walked out to Dunollie. Love this bench!
Sat here for a while and spoke to Craigie.
Headed along back into Oban and up the very steep hill to the Tower.
Caledonian McBrayne’s Lord of the Isles is heading into dock.
I spend a good hour in and around the tower.
Once the group of tourists leave… it’s just me and silence…. And this….
I took a selfie and unbeknown to me I would get chatting to the girl who just walked in and we went shopping together with another girl she’d just met. The joys of solo travel, you hook up with like minded people. She’s staying in the Youth Hostel for £20 a night.
We put the world to rights! She headed off to the cinema while I went to pick up Fish and Chips to take back to the hotel. Heading back now.
The sky is amazing.
I’ve had a lovely day. I love it when the silence is deafening in my head. I’ve been singing random songs to myself all day.
Oban is my happy place. I’m loving the wee mini adventure.
Craig will be enjoying watching all the football news without me nagging!
Oops sorry baby…… reads for a bit and back to sleep. out for the count.
Me 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
I didn’t sleep great last night as my knee was uncomfortable when I turned but I was FAST ASLEEP at 5am. Course I was.
You’ll be pleased to know I finally did my knee physio exercises at 6.30am. My leg has no power at all and it shakes doing these simple exercises! That’s good though as it’s building strength.
I went for another run with Rachel two doors down. My legs are stiff, my knees are sore but it’s not excruciating. It’s not as sore as it can be in bed.
We ran for 1.58 miles and knocked a minute off our time from Sunday. I don’t notice it when we plod in line and chat.
We then took the dogs up the hill for a walk. I took Calaidh. It’s meant to be wall to wall sunshine this morning. Not so…..
I then went back down the hill and took Bhruic up….
Look at the stick she ended up playing with… dogs should never play with sticks but I caught this crazy photo of her throwing it up in the air. (Could have been very dangerous…. 🙊)
Then she jumped in a burn and came out with the muddiest nose!
I finally saw something that might resemble blue sky but it never came to anything.
So by 10am I had done a run, 2 dog walks, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen and fed the dogs!
I’m not sure where the rest of the day went 😂 (just remembered and will end with that!)
I cleared out my wardrobe and drawers again. I seem to do that a lot these days but it feels good. I had a shower and got ready and we went out for lunch to Auchengree farm shop near us. Check these cute goats they have running around!
They’re tiny!
I’d fasted for 19 hours and 22 minutes and I don’t think I made the best choice… I had chicken tempura and pulled pork loaded fries. I should have ordered the salad after all my healthy exercise! It sounds great but I just wanted to sleep afterward…. That remind me I was awake at 5am.
Guess where I had been sitting…. Right on the middle of the mob of dogs 😂
So yeah…. I am randomly heading off tomorrow, on a wee solo trip to Oban for the night. Literally booked this morning.
You might think it would be easier if I still had the van, but I am getting the train up leaving here at 7.10am tomorrow morning. In all the trips I’ve had to Oban I have never gone on the train and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I will see bits of Scotland I’ve never seen before. I am SO excited and I don’t have to drive, I can relax and be chauffeured!
I got a single room in a basic hotel for £39.60… only £9.60 more than I’d spend on a campsite and I get my own bathroom! It’s right on the sea front but I will most likely not have a sea view for that price.
So that’s me for the next few days. Craig’s working and watching football tomorrow afternoon so won’t even notice I’m gone 😂 he says it’s ok… he’ll watch the dogs. I said thank you 🙏🏼😂🙄
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 