I’m on the train!! 🚆 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I’m heading over to Edinburgh to meet my Mum and Auntie Marion. We have afternoon tea booked at The Willow Tea Rooms today.

I have always wanted to go to the Willow Tea Rooms…. There’s always been one in Glasgow but the one in Edinburgh seems to be new. Well it is to me anyway. They are designed around the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I’ll hopefully have a bit more info once I’ve been.

Wide awake at 6am and out for a run with Rachel two doors down, at 7am.

It’s a beautiful morning but bitterly cold for this time of year!

Here’s my favourite gate… it’s been a while 😂

We went into Spiers Old School grounds and the lighting was lovely.

I found the run quite hard this morning, more my legs than the breathing.

We did it! About 2.5 miles this morning. I am very red!!

So back home and had to queue for the shower…. 😂 Craig had a really early job today.

What to wear on a day that’s freezing cold in the shade and warm in the sun?!?!

Here I am at Glengarnock in the sun!

Walking through Glasgow Central. This looks black and white but it’s taken in colour.

So I cross Glasgow to Queen Street, sit down on the train and read that my lovely FB friend passed away this morning as a result of her fight with cancer. I’m on a crowded train. I know it’s coming but it takes my breath away. Her lovely daughter messaged to tell me. So very kind of her.

I manage to hold it together for the whole trip.

Just to recap, I have never met this lady. I’m a joint admin on a FB group called After Dry January, where we share our sober journeys. I “met” June over 5 years ago and she has been an amazing support. She saw something in me that I couldn’t see anymore. She sent me gifts, cards and lots of positivity. I wasn’t the only one she supported. I hear stories from the other members, she did similar things for so many of us.

What a very special woman. I hope she can rest well knowing how much she was loved and what an impact she made on our lives.

I did a post for her a few week’s back, on our group, so people could express their gratitude while she was still with us, rather than waiting until she was gone. She got to hear what she meant to everyone.

We all need to be more June. ♥️

The sun is still shining as we pull into Edinburgh Waverley station. 🚉

I hop off the train and Mum can tell straight away that something is wrong. I finally let a few tears flow.

We grab a quick coffee in Cafe Nero and then head up to Princes Street.

The Willow Tea Rooms are on Princes Street directly opposite Edinburgh Castle. It’s only been open for 2 months but has been a in Glasgow for over 60 years.

I love that it says “ people might be able to enter and enjoy without relying on the inebriating effects of alcohol for entertainment” she sounds like my kinda gal!!

(You can get alcohol there now for those who are interested!!)

Hide the Primark bag!!!

It was quite quiet when we went in at 1pm but it filled up very quickly.

Mum took this arty shot.

My view.

The lovely art on the walls.

What a stunning view from the tea room, out to Edinburgh Castle.

Mum and Auntie Marion.

Keek! I actually ordered the vegan sandwiches. They were so good. Avocado with tomato, humous with chargrilled peppers and cucumber.

We also got a scone with cream and jam… not vegan obviously and a cake of our choice and we all went with the strawberry tart.

The teapots and cups are all willow design.

Here I am listening intently to Mum!

It was really lovely and cost us £22 each with the 5% service charge added in. Mum very kindly bought mine as a treat! She’s a keeper!!

It as still beautiful when we got out and a weeeeee bit warmer. The blossom is out in full force.

I felt like a tourist in my home city. I ooohed and aaahhhed over buildings like this in Rome yet fly past them here in Edinburgh, on my doorstep. This is the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.

Even walking into Waverley station looks really pretty in the bright sunlight.

I feel like I am seeing everything through rose tinted glasses today. The new iPhone photos are so vibrant.

Here’s my current view from the train!

It’s cloudy now I’ve got to Glasgow… all 17 stops later 😂😂

So I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I also hope we see some more sunshine. I also hope that it is warmer 😂😂 I don’t want much.

I also want everyone to be more June ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️