Day 1423 a crazy busy day with dog walk AND cooking 😂

A wonderful, wonderful sleep last night. I never heard Craig come up to bed, never heard a thing all night.

I’m using deep sleeps earplugs from Amazon. Snoring?!? I hear nothing but yeah rumour has it I am….. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😬 oops sorry…. I can’t hear a thing 🎧😂

I woke at 5.15am and snuggled back down for another hour. I felt so refreshed when I got up.

Once I’d had my shower I felt really stiff….. I haven’t walked the length of myself all weekend. Last weekend I walk 35 miles, this weekend less than 10,000 steps. I’m sure I feel more stiff when I exercise less.

I hobbled out to the car.

By the time I got to work I couldn’t walk properly. I couldn’t put any weight on my left leg. When I did I got an excruciating pain and my left gave way. I hobbled into the office. It was so painful.

I sat about for a bit but as sore as it was, I realised the more I walked, the more it eased off. I went for a jog around the car park… as you do at 8.10am. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. It totally eased it off and I’ve been fine for the rest of the day.

Work was beyond busy today.

Just another manic Monday! A throwback from my 80’s singsong in the car yesterday.

By the time I got lunch I had fasted for 22.5 hours. It was just the fastest day.

When I got home I literally dragged myself out in a dog walk. I know I need to keep moving and exercise more.

It would have been so easy to come in and sit down.

I took Freya and Calaidh and despite the meh weather, we had a good walk. Exercise is good for the soul.

Check Freya with her wee bunch of cut grass in her mouth 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂

If you zoom in she has a mouthful!!!

I got another food delivery, this time from Planthood…. Only because I got a voucher for money off.

I decided to have Crispy Mushroom Shawarma With Garlic Tahini Sauce, Pickled Radish & Fresh Mint In Soft Flatbread. Sounds awfy fancy eh?!?

Here are the ingredients.

It’s so easily packaged and easy to make. It took less than 20 minutes.

This is what it turned out like and I can honestly say it was out of this world.

I wrapped it and it tasted so good and I feel really full after it.

I’ve had at least 4 of my 5 a day today and that feels good.

It’s been a good day. life is for living…. Let’s do it!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1422 Happy Mother’s Day 2024!

I left the house at 8.15am this morning all set to surprise my Mum and go to church with my parents, this morning, for Mothering Sunday. 💕⛪️💕

And surprise her I did…. 🥰😂

I messaged just as I was leaving the house and told her to get the kettle on!

So actually timing wise I had to go straight to church as they were already there setting up. She had a black cup of decaf coffee waiting for me!

St James the Less Episcopal Church in Penicuik is a very beautiful church.

I have soooooo many memories in this church.

I grew up here.

I sang in the church choir until I was 18.

I attended Sunday night Youth Group and loved every minute of it.

I got married here the first time even although that was a big mistake. I wish Craig and I could have been married here.

Not a straight photo among them 😂😂

I remember all of the words to the prayers.

Today mum was one of the Lay Preachers and dad was on the keyboard… no organ for today’s family service.

So I’m sitting in the church…. I can’t explain the emotions I feel…. It transports me back to another time… it always has.

I was sitting on the left hand side in the church choir, when I was 12, for my very first Christmas Eve Midnight service… when we left we found out that my Grandad had died…. At 56.

I remember the first Christmas Eve that I sang a solo and had been at the Rugby Club all evening and felt a bit tipsy!!

I even made this kneeler back in 1996. It’s still going strong.

I turned round and saw this lovely face and we had a MASSIVE hug.

Hilary was in the year below me at school. It was so lovely to see her. I quickly moved back to sit with her and her mum.

I hope she doesn’t mind me saying, but she gave me this lovely card… with the loveliest words inside…

It meant a lot.

As the service goes on, I have waves of emotion….. my voice breaks occasionally singing the hymns. I really want to cry for a lost younger me but I swallow it back.

It keeps on coming through the service….. until I head up for communion and it’s Mum that’s standing there giving out the communion… and the emotion overflows, I can’t blink back the tears any faster.

I try to look everywhere other than let mum see the tears… but I think she spots them and has a well up too.

I don’t know why church does that to me. Listening to certain music gives me that big well up of emotion too.

So lots of hugs and catch ups later, we head back to mum and dad’s for lunch and I hang about waiting on my brother and his wife as they are coming over this afternoon.

Quick selfie with mum before I head home.

I am so glad I went over.

I was planning on a lazy day in the house. Then I thought about how awful it must be to have children, and they don’t go and see you on Mother’s Day… that must be pretty rotten. My lazy day can wait. Life is for living and making memories.

Mother’s Day is a difficult time for so many people.

Someone used a phrase today that I love… there are those of us who are childless through choice and those of us who are childless through circumstance. There are those of us who fell pregnant but couldn’t carry to full term. Those of us who have lost a child… unthinkable. Those of us who have lost our mum already or our mum’s are sick or who have a difficult relationship with them.

Being childless through circumstance, I think of all of these women today.

(thanks to the lovely lady for those words!)

I drove home blaring 80’s tunes… as you do when you are re-living your childhood.

I got stuck in a traffic jam on the Edinburgh City Bypass… instead of being stressed, I enjoyed the diversion… taking me on roads I haven’t been on for years.

Now I’m chatting with my P1 school buddy in Canada and we are reminiscing about everyone we went to school with. It’s just one of those reminiscing kinda days.

Here’s to a great week for you all.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1421 the little gift shop, housework and feet up

I am so tired. It’s 5.15pm and I could actually just go to bed now.

I slept like a log last night, first time in a good few nights and it felt great.

It’s also been a really good day.

I was in the little gift shop again and it was really busy! Lots of people buying for Mother’s Day, which is tomorrow in the UK.

Gayle has a new stock control system which I’m obsessed with!! You can track sales per item type…. I love it. Means you have to put card sales through as a card sale etc so a bit more concentration required at check out… but I loved the reports section. 😂😂

Gayle gave me a lovely card.

It made me a wee bit tearful!!

We spent a long time trying for kids. Nothing wrong with either of us… just one of those things and with hindsight I knew deep down that I never would have kids. I made peace with that a LONG time ago but sometimes I get a trigger that reminds me of how it all felt at the time. I was working in a very stressful environment… walking out of meetings at 12pm to inject my stomach and then returning to whatever stress I’d just left… it’s hardly any wonder it didn’t work!

Anyway, so lovely of Gayle and she also gave me a reed diffuser which is currently filling our hallway with vanilla and coconut, it’s lovely.

Claire came to visit after work and we had a good catch up…been too long!

Khaleesi cooried right in to her Auntie Claire!

It’s lovely to see how relaxed she was with her. Khaleesi that is… not Claire 😂😂

As soon as Claire left I got right into the housework… before I sat down! Hoovered everywhere. Shook out all the blankets and tried to remove as much dog hair as I could. Did a washing and hung it up.

I felt really tired and shaky once I finished hoovering so had some food and sat down… felt much better.

A quick FB memory of my hen night… 14 years ago!

Mum and Auntie Marion cocktail making.

Lea was my Maid of Honour! We all look so young!

Ahhhh life moves pretty fast….

Good old Ferris Bueller!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1420 Happy International Women’s Day ♥️

I have met so many wonderful women on my journey.

When I say met…. I have not even met them all. There are quite a few that I have only “met” on FB.

Inspirational women who have listened to every word I have said and have showed me love and compassion. They have sent me words of hope, words of concern and words of love. They have showed me that it was ok not to be ok. Nothing was ever too much trouble. They put up with my crazy ramblings … years of it… and still do.

We need to celebrate the power of women everywhere. ♥️♥️ Always there for each other….supporting each other and lifting each other up.

One day the difficult times that you live through will become your story to pass on other people.

I’ve always felt compelled to show people that my life isn’t as easy as it looks on the outside.

I have no idea why, but it’s my calling, for some reason.

I was in the little gift shop today and this is what my “Work Your Light” Oracle card said today… hits the nail on the head.

The shop was lovely today. All set up for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Gayle thinks the shop is empty as she’s been so busy! It is not empty in the slightest, it’s full of lovely things!!

It was great to a catch up with her!

It was lovely so many men shopping today, either with kids or on their own.

I wish that men were able to talk about mental health as much as women do.

It’s still not socially acceptable for men to admit anything less than being strong and that has to change.

I know it will change in time.

I hope that the men that read this get something from it to.

It is ok to not be ok.

I got made redundant from the big job and yet we can still pay the mortgage.

I would never have believed that was possible. That’s why I didn’t leave the job I hated. (Strong word but very true!)

Things have a way of changing so that everything works out.

So thank you to all the wonderful women in my life.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1419 work, toenails 💅🏼and pub alcohol restocking!

Well there’s a title and a half eh?!?

I am SO tired today. I didn’t get to bed until at least 11.30pm last night…. On a school night too.

The Hookers on Tour (crochet hookers obvs!) went to see An Officer and a Gentleman in the King Theatre in Glasgow last night. It was SO good. We had great seats in the back row of the Grand Circle…. No one behind us and the grand circle is not too high up and it’s not too busy either. Just perfect…. I’m like Goldilocks wanting everything to be just so…. I’m not a fan of big crowds, or being up in the gods (upper circle) or driving into Glasgow and parking in tight spaces car parks…. So I got to go to the theatre without any of that!! Thanks to Evelyn for driving and taking the strain for us all. She booked the best seats.

The show was just amazing. The music is all big 80’s tunes, just my kind of thing! I couldn’t believe how amazing the hits were and they just kept coming.

In the meantime the village filming of Lockerbie TV drama, went on all evening.

Here are the extras lined up outside our house.

The pub was covered up to keep it dark for filming.

The window in our back garden was blacked out too.

We had stage light in unique living room shining out the window.

There were huge lights lighting up the street.

We had a Ford Sierra parked outside our house… hiding the fact that the lamp post has a fake base. It was plugged into our electricity!!

This was the lamp post when I came home, about three minutes before Craig switched it off for good.

I quite liked it.

No one was allowed to film the controlled explosion to simulate the plane crashing. It’s going to be so interesting to watch the first episode and see how it all comes together.

I got 6 hours sleep.

I took this through the pub window this morning. I loved these wee tables!

The White Horse one last time as I head to work.

It was a beautiful morning and the road was still closed.

If only it could stay like this.

All of our cars were parked in The Gateside Plant Centre.

It was super frosty….. beautiful patterns on the windscreen.

I had to go to Screwfix on the way to work.

The Tartan vans were all frosty too.

So it was a good day at work and it passed quickly and all of a sudden it’s my weekend again! Woo hoo!

I got my toes painted a lovely dark red on the way home, got my eyebrows done and then got back to the village. The road is back open and the pub is being put back together.

The pub now has no name as they wait for a sign writer.

The old sign was too badly damaged on removal.

I’ve been in to help Holly put the pub back to normal. Here it is all empty!

All of the pub stock was in our house so it’s now back in the right place!

It’s 7.45pm and I’m finally sitting down, I could just shut my eyes right now but I’ll give it another hour.

I’m so happy I got to go to the show last night, something really different and there’s a real buzz about the village after the TV crew have been here.

And it’s Thursday night! Woo hoo.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1418 work, filming in our village and Hookers on Tour to the theatre! 🎭

Forgot to say yesterday I got a wee “borrow box” from Gemma at work. She has a friend who does “Oriflame Sweden” and the borrow box allows you to test out samples at home.

What a lovely idea.

So after my 7 hour and 50 minutes sleep… I had a wee pamper this morning. I used lotions and potions that I’d never normally use, I’m more a “rinse my face in the shower” kinda girl. I may have a few two many oils and primers on in one go but hey… I enjoyed it. Will place a wee order which is the point of it all I guess.

So yeah, good sleep last night. Woke for a half hour at 1 with my mind running but got back to sleep until the alarm.

There was a security guard walking the street this morning as today is the day that shooting will begin in the Gateside Inn. I said “morning, are you still awake?” And he smiled and laughed and said morning back. He directed me out onto the road this morning and it made me smile to have my own traffic co-ordinator. It was funnier as there was only one truck coming but it made me smile. How will I manage next week once he has moved on with his filming crew?

Skip my working day because that was just work….. the village is soooooo exciting tonight! I had to get through the road closure sign and the guy was really rude guesturing up and down to the sign as if I couldn’t see the ROAD CLOSED… I wound down my window and very politely said that I lived next door to the pub… change of heart. 😂 while I was waiting for him to radio through a guy drove out of the village, swearing like a trouper about the road closure. Apparently he’s driven right past the sign and refused to stop…. Hence the attitude I got when I tried the same a few minutes later. There is no reason to be that rude to the poor road closure guy! I’ve realised these days that road closed signs are taken as a challenge…. Getting through no matter what.

So as I drive in to the village it’s full of lorries and location trucks. It’s super exciting. Nothing exciting as this has happened since we all used to meet outside in COVID times. It’s so lovely to have the road closed too. No through traffic!

Calaidh posing next to a 1988 style police car.

I got excited when I saw this 1988 style fire engine…. And yet it turns out it’s a real 2024 one 😂😂😂 how daft did I feel?!?

This is in our back garden to house big lights for the pub.

We have a new “old” lamp post attached to our houses.

It’s on…. Using our electricity!!!

So yeah… it’s all good, we are sitting in darkness and trying to peak out the windows and get photos!! Torn between desperate to get that shot and embarrassment!!

So I’m going out with the Hookers on Tour in 15 minutes. We are going the see An Officer and a Gentleman at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow… I NEVER go out at night… so will have to rely on Craig being the Rambling Sloth TV filming correspondent!

Stay safe everyone 🎬📺🎬

Day 1417 work then visiting a TV set, as you do! 🎬📺

The weather was atrocious leaving Bristol last night and I worked myself into a wee lather before take off.

The plane literally got blown to the left just before it took off. The adrenaline washed through me. By the time we levelled out in the sky I realised I was clenching every muscle sooo tight and had to really force myself to relax. The weather was so much better in Glasgow.

I think Khaleesi missed me… she out her wee paw on my leg and lay there for ages!

I had the rubbishist sleep last night and no, that is not a word, but I’m making it one.

I lay in bed with my eyes wide open until 11.30pm… came downstairs and tried the couch instead. That’s where I got my 5 hours.

Here’s my view as I dried my hair…

I’ve been surprisingly awake and alert today. It’s amazing what a wee mini break does to freshen your head.

Work passed quickly as I was so busy.

So the big news in our village today…. Is that’s the Gateside Inn will be used in a Netflix drama about the Lockerbie disaster and they are filming tomorrow. Here’s the link to the stars involved.

Lockerbie

Here’s the pub during COVID.

Here’s the pub today.

Criag and I got to go in after my work today to have a look around. It will be the pub in Lockerbie on the night of the disaster.

If you zoom in, it’s all set up for Christmas in 1988.

Everything looks so old. It made me feel really old as I thought some of it looked really old fashioned 😂😂 seems I was alive and 16 when these things WERE in fashion. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

The dart board wall is all for the set. You usually see right through to the back of the restaurant.

There’s a cigarette machine….to me this looks 1950’s 😂😂 and cigarettes are £1.35!!!

There’s a juke box…

And a radio like my Grandpa had.

It’s all very surreal. I’m working tomorrow and out at night so won’t see any of the filming!

So that’s our excitement… our house will be in the Netflix Lockerbie show! We is famous. 😂😂

A good Tuesday. It’s not all been easy but I’ve handled everything well and I can’t ask for more.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1416 from Bournemouth to Swanage and back then onto Bristol Airport ✈️ P

Putting this out without a proof read as no time…. 🙄😬😂😘

You cannot accuse us girls of hanging around. We have not stopped!!

According to my Fitbit we have walked 34.44 miles this weekend!!!!

34.44 miles 🤯😁🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️?!?!

Randomly Helen’s Fitbit says she’s done 39 miles but I can assure you I was with her for them all and she did not squeeze in 5 extra that I wasn’t a part of 😂😂😂

So, up and out for 2.5K steps before we got the open top bus to Swanage, across on the Sandbanks Ferry we were watching last night.

It’s not as sunny and the forecast wasn’t great for today but it is dry.

The rising sun at Bournemouth pier.

Here we are on the open top bus on the Starbanks Ferry. ⛴️

Taken out the back of the ferry when a wee fishing boat passed.

The beach out to Old Harry Rocks.

All of these spare chains for the ferry are lined along the side of the road on the way to the toll both.

When we got into Swanage we went straight to the Beavers Coffee Shop for breakfast. I randomly had a mushroom toastie which was really lovely.

Then off out for a wander… the wind is picking up by now.

We walked out into Swanage Pier, it’s beautiful, so ornate and you can imagine the Victorians sitting out there in their big dresses and parasols!

Helen suggested I try some of these in black and white…. It definitely works!

This is all that’s left of the old pier built in 1859.

We then walked away along the front and got battered by the wind!

We then headed out of town to catch the bus back.

We got off the bus at Branksome Chine and walked all the way back down the beach back to the Prom Café for a bite of lunch.

All the ones that lead to the beach are called chines. Not a word I’ve heard before.

All the picnic tables are covered with sand over the winter… to be fair most of the beach benches are too!

And then we came to new beach huts under the east cliff… coloured hut central!

How cool are they?!?! They are by far my favourite beach huts.

We cloned the East Cliff and got the most amazing view, albeit a bit cloudy.

The lovely memorial is in memory of the red arrow airman that died in the Bournemouth air show accident. It was designed by kids at the local school. I thought it was very poignant. It’s had to be moved from its original place as some of the East Cliff collapsed. Thankfully it was able to be moved and cleaned and reinstated.

Then we came across the famous Bournemouth goats…. Who knew that was even a thing?!?!? They live on the cliffs to control the vegetation. this guy was giving us a high five!

Interesting that the live on the cliff and all 5 of them were on the flat strip of land right up the very top, by the fence!!

This is the view the goats have 😂 not bad eh?!?

We went back into the Prom Café for lunch, we were there yesterday lunchtime and I took this photo in the hazy sun this morning.

Helen then had the HUGE drive to get me back to Bristol.

We were so lucky to miss the rain we knew was coming but it rained most of the 2.5 hour drive.

So what can I say…. Thank you so much to Helen for organising THE best weekend. I have loved every minute of it. She lets me be me. I’ve not fasted as much as I would normally but I’ve not eaten meat which I just didn’t fancy. We’ve laughed and giggled most of the time. We’ve both forgotten words mid sentence. we’ve had deep life chats and frivolous chats. We’ve made up village names and I still can’t believe that Splinterbottom is not a village in England. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 it soooooo should be.

We’ve made the best memories and for me, that is all the life is about now… and the 34 or 39 miles we have walked!!

I look forward to her Scottish visit in August and no pressure on me to come up with a great weekend?!?!?!

Flight’s in less than an hour. 47 mile and hour winds forecast.

Stay safe everyone… including my plane! ✈️

Day 1415 Exmouth to Bournemouth for the night!

Such a lovely surprise, an overnight trip to Bournemouth. Despite the forecast it’s been another beautiful day!

Helen and Anna made pancakes for breakfast and we set off on our magical, mystery tour after 9am.

Here we are in Lyme Regis. our stop along the way.

As you can see the sun has been splitting the skies all weekend. It’s been cold but beautiful.

Looking down to Lyme Regis sandy beach. This is artificially filled with sand and the right hand side, the rest of the beach is stony.

Down at he little harbour looking back up to where we were. Loved the little red boats.

This lifeboat heading out with a bouquet of red roses. Maybe laying a memorial at sea. It was called the Spirit of Loch Fyne. How funny?!?

Loved this yellow fishing boat. 🚤

Seagull on the horizon.

We climbed these very wonky steps to get up on the cobb which is the harbour wall.

I got new trousers in a charity shop yesterday and new snow boats for Iceland in December…. They were reduced from £120 to £49 and they are fully lined with fur, exactly what I’ve been looking for.

Loved all the beach huts down here.

Love the wee peachy pink thatched cottage.

We jumped back in the car and headed along the coast and I still had no idea where we were going…. As we got closer it was either Poole or Bournemouth and I knew we talked about Bournemouth before… and here we are. It was a bit cloudy when we arrived. This is the pier.

And view from it.

That big dark cloud hung around for a half hour or so.

Then we set off on a big walk to the Sandbanks Ferry.

Here we are having a seat watching the Sandbanks Chain Ferry.

With this view when it’s over the other side. Absolutely stunning.

We got the bus back into town. It’s been the most amazing day. Just perfect!! I’m gonna have to pull the cat out the bag when Helen comes up to stay with me in August! No pressure!

We’ve just been out to a Greek Restaurant called The Real Green. The food was amazing…

The walk back to the hotel was lovely too. I’ve done 24,999 steps.

I’m gonna take a shower and collapse into bed. It’s 8.42pm.

Shattered but still buzzing from the experience!

Off on the bus to Swanage tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1414 Exmouth to Sidmouth by Stagecoach bus!

Slept like a log from 9am until 5am and then was awake on and off until sleeping beauty finally awoke at 8.33pm… that’s my friend Helen, not Craig 😂

We went on a bus trip from Exmouth to Sidmouth today.

This was like a step back in time…. In a previous life I wrote the spec for these buses and checked them all through build.

This bus one was one of my contracts.

Stagecoach selfie!

So yeah… off to Sidmouth.

It’s now 8.23pm and I am shattered. A mere 15,724 steps so far, a lovely lunch out, hot chocolate and cake out and a chippy tea with Helen’s mum and daughter Anna. I’ve had the loveliest day but I’m a bit too tired for words…. I am in my element exploring, walking and taking lovely photos in the sun. Here are a few.

Here we are at the mouth of the River Sid. We walked right up the river through the Byes.

The ford was closed as it was too fast flowing.

We are the two shadows on the left 😂😂

When we got back down to the beach there was a storm rolling by. It was really dramatic.

Models own T-shirt…. Pres from Craigie for my trip!

Helen’s mum picked us up and took us to Budleigh Salterton where we caught this lovely sunset.

Off a a wee overnight secret adventure tomorrow that definitely involves Lyme Regis! Exciting!

All of this is what makes me tick.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1413 a lovely walk from Exmouth to Topsham for lunch

As suspected the flight was absolutely fine and all anxiety was gone by the time I landed.

It was such a clear night. This is us over Bristol.

I slept like a log! We got to bed about 11.30pm last night after Helen met me in Bristol and we drove back down to Exmouth.

Woke at 6.33am and back to sleep until 8.33am (what is it with the 33’s?!?!)…. When someone called me and woke me up… now who would do such a thing?!? Surely not Craig 😂😂😂

Anyway, it was worth it as it got me up and moving!

By the time we showered and had hot cross buns for breakfast if was after 11am before we got out.

This was the planned walk today from Exmouth to Topsham.

If you follow the black railway, that’s exactly what we did… I took this at the “you are here” sign.

The tide was in, in the estuary for the whole walk.

Here we are setting off.

We’ve done nearly 26k steps today!!

This bench was a memorial to Joanna O’Toole. Here’s the link to the FB Joanna O’Toole Foundation. She dedicated her life to saving animals around the world and died on Ethiopan Ailrines Flight ET302 on 10th March 2019. She was only 37 years old. So sad…. A beautiful bench modelled by Helen!

It was lovely weather with a few rain showers along the way. Much better than forecast.

TRAIN!!!

Lympstone Village is almost half way and is really beautiful with tiny streets. Don’t know how you would get your weekly shop to your front door!!!

We walked along the beach.

And saw this lovely boat. I love the colours.

Someone lives here!!!

Train AND rainbow.

Thatched roof, so very typically English.

The sea on the estuary is all churned up just now, full of sand.

We had a wee seat on a wee bench. I seem to be rocking a combe over 😂😘

The clouds came over just in time for lunch!

Topsham was lovely too. Lots of money in those houses too!! again… with the parking?!? I couldn’t live here 😂😂

But it was very beautiful!

Met this wee guy!

Then we went to The Café in Topsham and had avocado toast.

AND clotted cream scones.

We got the train back to Exmouth. I was too full to walk anywhere!

The tide is out in the estuary but the reflections are lovely. All of these are taken from the train window!

We then went to visit Helen’s eldest daughter and her grandson before he went to his first school disco. He was all dressed up as Spider-Man bless him, such a cutie.

We then went for another walk down the harbour.