The alarm went off and I had to think what day it was?!? It’s Friday, why is there an alarm….. oh wow it’s 4.30 and I’m swimming with Elly this morning.

I actually felt great and got out of bed no bother.

Sometimes you lie awake waiting for the alarm…. Not last night! It’s such a great feeling.

So out of bed, swimsuit and wetsuit on to the waist and I walked up to meet Elly. She was coming to pick me up but I was ready a bit early and I thought we’d wake less people if I walked to her house… I’m very considerate that way… sometimes too much!

The road was so quiet apart from seeing Lynsey who was off to run a 10k. She’s a machine!

We drove to Irvine beach where the tide was still really high.

The sunrise clouds were so pretty.

You can see the Isle of Arran so clearly as the sunrise hits Goat Fell.

The colours are lovely.

It’s calm, there no breeze and although it’s not warm, it’s. It that cold either. Ailsa Craig there off to the left.

Here we are, 5am!

We’re on our way in….. the water is cold this morning.

I love that the water is so clear. You know what you get on Irvine Beach as it’s so flat for miles out.

It’s just so atmospheric.

Elly is going for the no hands approach for as long as possible.

Check out my FB live from in the sea!

I snapshot this photo from it… it’s the best of a bad bunch 😆

There’s a fair swell in the sea despite it feeling calm.

The clouds are dark blue.

I took a million photos to try and catch these birds which were low flying over the water.

The birds are still here if you can see them?

Birds still going strong!

It’s a shame they didn’t fly in the blue sky space between the land and the clouds.

We’re on our way back out after 20 minutes.

The tide’s on its way out but there are still waves coming in too.

So dark and moody….

There’s hardly anyone on the beach. One girl away for a walk and one guy with a dog. I love this time of day… but you know that by now….it’s not yet 6am….

You can almost make out the cloud inversion in the distance.

The tides gone out a fair bit already.

Can’t get enough photos of Arran.

I think the weather looks better over there!

Last few….

I can’t get enough of this view!

Pano!!

Really enjoyed it and Elly is such lovely, calming company.

Back home and had a warm shower, then off out with hoddit, doddit and ploddit.

It’s 8.30am and the clouds are still lovely.

The sun is trying to burn through.

Very pretty roadside weeds today.

I met a guy that I used to see all the time on dog walks. He had 2 border collie type dogs…. Then he only had one and recently I’ve driven past him and he was walking alone 😢

I stopped to talk to him and said how sorry I was to see him on his own. I asked what had happened, sadly just old age… and I introduced him to our 3 and he never got much of a chance to say hello in the past. We chatted for a good wee while… he introduced himself. I felt really sad for him but I hope I cheered him up by speaking to him about his lovely girl.

Then I spotted these beauties. There are for my friend Anne! 💜💜💜 she sends me pics when she finds them too. To be fair I think we send the same thistles to each other as these are very close to her house!!

Back home and washings on and out to dry and more weeding…. Before….

After…..

Before….

After….

I sat down just after 1pm and started this… it’s 2.36 already… and I wonder where my day goes eh?!?

I’m sitting outside in the sun. Shorts and vest top on. It’s a high of 19°C today. Got to catch it while we can.

Thanks to Elly for a special morning.

Meeting Gayle tonight so might head to Largs… it’s been a while!

Hope you all have a lovely Friday and rest of weekend!

Stay safe everyone 💜💜💜