Month: August 2024

Day 1576 to do list on hold… summer snuck up and surprised us today!

It’s summer in Ayrshire today.

Honestly it is just soooooo beautiful. There is no wind, only blue sky and sunshine. Such a welcome change from the winter of yesterday!!

Ahhhhh…. I’m sitting outside having just had dinner and it’s still hot.

My to do list went out the window as a result.

In Scotland, when the sun shines, we rush outside and everything else just has to wait. We never know when we might see the sunshine again.

I’m being dramatic but it’s absolutely true!

My to do list was completely housework related.

I have still been very productive though.

First of all I cleaned all the white upvc about the French doors in the spare bedroom. They look. amazing, that cleaner really brings out the white in them again.

I then jumped in the shower to scrub all the paint off…. I just found some on my toenail 😆

Gayle came to pick me up and we went to Mocha Jak’s for brunch.

It is a scorcher. We are both dressed in blue jeans, black T-shirts and have our hair tied back. Twinning!

We had a lemon meringue blonde and a double caramel brownie to share. Sooo good.

We are headed to Gayle’s wholesale supplier for some tissue paper.

I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop as I’ve never been to this wholesaler before.

We head back down the road via B&Q as Craig has made me stop for decking screws… which he hasn’t used today, I may add…

It was so lovely to get out and have a good natter!

She dropped me…. And the decking screws off before 1pm!

Craig had already got his new cold dip barrel all set up. He is very lucky to have friends that able to get one for him.

It’s on decking board that he got from another friend.

It has a step to get in but not one to get out. I can’t use it until then. 😆

We also have some more artificial grass that was going spare. It’s second hand, like our other grass, but that’s ok.

We had woodchip/bark down the back of our garden, which used to look lovely.

We had no idea we were just creating mud in the long run. It mulches together and becomes mud, which weeds thrive on.

Did you spot the guy in the orange T-shirt… please with is efforts but sporting a long hairdo?!!

So now we have a patchwork quilt of artificial grass but it’s much safer for the dogs.

None of our grass is the same colour but that is ok. It is also very, very heavy!!

We’ve very kindly been given it all…. For nothing… over the years. We have been so lucky!

Here is Mr proud of his days work.

And quite rightly so… Khaleesi is loving in too

The sun is shining and I’m matching the hydrangeas!

We are knackered but it has been a really good day and we’ve got so much done.

We’ve ended the day in with Claire and Graeme at their fire pit! A lovely end to a lovely day.

The housework will have to wait until tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1575 5k run then painting ALL day 😩

I am exhausted!!

I can hardly put one foot in front of the other 😆 I have been painting the spare bedroom all day and I didn’t enjoy one minute of it.

But it is done ✅

Almost…. Someone suggested my free hand cutting in on the feature wall to white wall, wasn’t the best…. He is absolutely right and lucky to still be alive, in equal measure.

I messaged the run chat last night, as I hadn’t heard from anyone.

Let’s be clear here, I don’t really want to run…. But I also don’t want to NOT run on a Saturday.

It took me all day yesterday and I finally asked if someone else could head out this morning.

Lynsey said she could!

I was awake about 5.30am and up just after 6, meeting Lynsey at 6.30am.

She arrived early, from the opposite way she would usually come…

Turns out she met up with other girls at 5am to do a 10k and THEN came to meet me at 6.30… as you do!

We managed to get our run in the dry this morning… before the rain.

She doesn’t even seem tired!!

It’s a lovely morning, though a bit windy.

I manage the first 3.5-4kms but hit a wall on the last one.

I felt really strong at the start but super tired at the end. I felt lethargic all day.

I’m quite glad that’s over!

Mrs 15k is away home for a well deserved nap, while I head into a very cold shower. For the first time, I was able to take the whole shower under the cold water. It felt amazing.

Got ready to walk the dogs as Craig was still in bed. The heavens opened again and it was torrential rain, so I sat back down and had a coffee and lit the fire.

It’s so dark outside.

I’d made a list for this weekend… in case I forgot all the things I wanted to do.

All done apart from the dog walk. sorry puppers… they have been outside all day though.

I have not stopped….. It’s not been easy and I’ve found it really hard. A real drudge. I do not like decorating.

When you have 4 dogs, your house isn’t your own and does need a good clean from time to time…. I don’t do it often enough.

This room used to be Craig’s office so had lots of marks on the walls from all the white boards etc, that he had up.

So spare room gutted for my friend Helen coming to stay, next weekend.

Work in progress… feature wall from dark grey to Overtly Olive. We had lots left over from painting our kitchen cupboards.

I am really pleased with it. Impossible to get decent photos.

I could literally sleep sitting here typing this. 😆 but I need to feed the dogs!

Done ✅

The rest of the house is a mess but that can get dealt with tomorow. I’m not moving!!

Also my FB memories showed me it is 2 years ago since I took one of my favourite photos.

This is the sun setting through an old lamppost. I was staying in Ryan Bay holiday park in Abbie the campervan. That was a lovely weekend. I was really chuffed with this photo.

Hope you all had a great Saturday.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1574 pouring rain, lots of thoughts and Curiosity coffee’s first birthday!

I couldn’t wake up this morning, I felt dead to the world.

I coughed a fair bit through the night, unfortunately once was right in Craig’s face! 🫣

I’ve just got a dry and scratchy throat. I don’t feel ill. I just don’t feel great.

I read my book and finished it before I got up. It was a good one, thanks Evelyn for lending me it.

I got dressed to head out with the dogs and the heavens opened…. Again!!!

We got soaked but the dogs don’t care.

The sky looks so mean and moody.

The rain does start to clear. The weather’s a bit like April just now.

I spotted 3 deer in the field next to us… calmly called the dogs and pretended it was just time to head home… little did they know!! This is not the best photo! Two of them ran off.

Then the last one stared at me for ages!

The others were long gone!

This photo doesn’t do it justice, the sky was dark navy blue….

The sun felt hot when it came through.

And we are back home soaked…. Thought this angle of the garden looked lovely!

Poor Khaleesi still can’t get walked at the moment.

So, I didn’t feel great when I got home…. My head was starting to make the same noise it did when I was off on holiday with nothing to do.

I decided to put a stop to it.

I sat and wrote down how I was feeling.

Physically….. tired, weak, headache, dry and scratchy throat, jaw tight, teeth sore, tense, anxious, breathless, if I shut my eyes I could sleep.

But….. I have a day off.

How lucky am I to have a day off when I feel like this?!? Very!!

Then why do I feel so bad? Why is my head trying to fight it?

I have a huge list of things I think I should be doing. I need to sort my road tax, my car insurance, home insurance, food shopping, poo pick, paint the spare room, clean and tidy the whole house…..

It feels good to write it down.

Why does that give me physical pain?

Because it feels like a chore and I don’t want to do any of it.

What do I want to do instead?

Be out somewhere exploring in the sunshine.

I’ve looked for mini breaks and can’t nail one down. I think I’m scared that I feel nervous again…. Like I did when I was travelling to Rome. I can’t find a flight that is the right price, the right time, to the right place.

I yawn……. Big time. In kinesiology that is a sign of energy moving, of stress being released… for me, anyway.

All I want to do is rest…… the weather hasn’t been what we expect for our summer so maybe it’s ok that I just want to rest and relax. I’ve been like that for much of July and August.

So…. From that point on I feel a lot better. I sat with it, I wrote it out, I felt it.

I know it’s all a bit crazy but that is what goes on in my head at times.

I sat and picked up the home and car insurance… and tried to tax the car. I looked for mini breaks and narrowed it down. Potentially Milan at the end of October.

I had a productive few hours and it felt good.

I jumped in the shower and even washed my hair. On a day off…. Check me.

I headed down to Curiosity coffee shop in Beith as it celebrates its first birthday today!!

Here are the girls with their celebratory Prosecco while I ate my mint aero brownie and drank my mint, oat milk, decaf latte!

I had such a lovely time chatting. It’s just food for the soul…. I love chatting!

I ended up staying for ANOTHER coffee and cake…. How shocking is that?!?

One wasn’t enough but two was definitely too much 😆😘

It was lovely though.

I then went for the food shopping!

A few chores done and it didn’t feel bad doing it.

Craig and I then nipped into the pub next door for one.

I’ve actually had a really good day.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1573 a very rainy Thursday! 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

I feel like it has not stopped raining all day…. It’s been torrential this afternoon… just like Sunday on the Waverley!

I woke at 4.30am this morning, so I am tired. I’m lucky that doesn’t happen too often but my mind was whirring thinking about things to do at work. my throat is still sore and I’m coughing, but I don’t feel ill. It sounds worse than it is.

I have my car back… yay…. I listen to My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast on the way into work, as I’ve missed this weeks’ episodes. I may have said, this isn’t for everyone, but if make me laugh, it’s lighthearted and fun… fairly crude though.. mum, you wouldn’t like it 😆😘

So not much to report today. Work was good, busy and went very fast. It’s always busy when we have smaller jobs on the go and I try to coordinate the ins and outs.

Lunch was very colourful!

I got my toenails painted after work, nice and bright orange again, just in case the summer that never was, finally comes. 😆

So that’s my weekend again. I have ZERO plans as it stands and only a teensy bit of fear at that thought.

I have Helen coming to stay next weekend so I do have to blitz the house, so it’s just as well it is pouring all weekend, I guess.

And this…. I’ve had to work on this today. My ego lets me down at times and wants to shout about things it thinks are unfair.

I just need to shut it down and ignore it and create some peace in my head, even when I think things seem unfair. They are not.. my ego just doesn’t like it.

We should all be more this…

And a funny to end….

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1572 a busy day at work

I slept like a log last night…. I went to bed about 8.30 and read for a while and lights out about half 9. I slept right through until 6.35am which is a lie in for me!

I’ve not been feeling great since the weekend… I thought it might be the start of “pneumonia”😆from being soaking wet, on the Waverley, at the weekend but it would appear not… 🫣😆😂 as Craig doesn’t feel great either and he wasn’t soaking wet, or on the Waverley, at the weekend 🫣😆

I just have to keep clearing my throat and have the odd cough.

So anyway, work was great today. Super busy and didn’t stop! Lots of customers in and lots of great chat. The day passed quickly.

Craig’s car is fixed at last so I got Bertie Beetle back! A mere £650 and new alternator for him… where does it end eh?!

This is my view when I get in MY car that he’s been driving!! I am almost in the back seat and can’t see out the windscreen 😆

That’s what happens when you’re a good foot shorter than your husband.

It made me laugh.

So nothing else to report… off to meet the Crochet Hookers tonight in the pub. May even do a bit of crochet and then an early night with my book.

Excuse the mess round the room but this is what happens when you eat pizza in our house. They are all pretending they are not there 😆😆

The dogs are funny when I write the blog…. Always try to get my attention.

Anyway, I’m rambling now. Better get changed for crochet.

My head is good just now. Maybe you can tell 😆😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1571 my first evening 5k

Oh boy was that tough.

I am not an evening person.

I am a morning person.

In the mornings I carry no weight, I am light and free and full of joy for the new day. I am surprised by the exercise I do. I don’t have to think about it, at all, other than setting the alarm at night.

Then get up, get dressed and I’m out the door in about 15 minutes.

No time to think.

Empty stomach.

Warm up exercises.

You start, you do it, it’s over.

The shower is the best part as I feel amazing and I get on with my day with vigour. (ok, most of the time!)

So how does that translate into my lazy evenings?!

Not the best.

I ate too much for lunch because I was so hungry.

I think about it all day and dread the thought of it.

I have to sit, and wait, for about 45 minutes waiting until our arranged time.

I can’t eat as we’re about to exercise, so not quick dinner and early start on my fast.

I twiddle my thumbs and finally it’s 5.30… yay!

Oops forgot to do my warm up exercises.

My legs are like lead.

I feel heavy and sluggish.

I can feel food swilling around in my stomach.

There’s a headwind.

It’s muggy.

I keep apologising for being slow but I can’t seem to get my rhythm.

Buy you know what?!? (Yup don’t start a sentence with “but”…. 😆)

I did it.

It wasn’t my fastest.

Huge thanks to Claire for coping with my pace. Just the two of us tonight.

I still did it.

A few actions shots of Claire!

I think she’s saying here that she won’t make me do the big downhill and hence uphill… bless her… 💜

And we are done.

I dragged these legs of mine every step of the way.

I’m equally out of sorts for the rest of the evening. I have a cold shower but I can’t take the freezing cold, only the lukewarm water.

My lethargic, but exercised, body is half raring to go and half desperate to stop.

I don’t fancy pizza for dinner but need salad, which I had… but it’s a late dinner.

Then there’s football on… I was secretly hoping to have the tv to myself tonight.

My head is not a fan of the sound of a football match. It puts me on edge.

I’ve come up to bed, have the electric blanket on and can finally be “bothered” to write the blog. I’m usually desperate to get into it as soon as I get home.

So yeah, fair to say I am not a fan of an evening run. I have a 10kms “race” on 21st August that’s at 7pm…. So I have to do that and then I’ll be sticking to my mornings from then on.

😆

In other news I got this today from WordPress, where I actually write the blog.

That’s a pretty big number.

Thanks again to everyone who takes the time to read whether you follow every day or dip in and out. It means a lot.

So true.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1570 reflections on my Waverley trip yesterday

I’ve finally stopping a-rocking and a-rolling.

I was sooooooo grateful to get back onto dry land last night, albeit Largs was soaking wet too.

We finally docked at 9pm which was 50 minutes later than planned. Given how bad the weather was, I don’t think that was as bad as it could have been.

So yeah, lesson learned. That is not the kind of forecast that brings me any massive enjoyment out of the trip, but equally, I’m so glad I didn’t get off in Brodick otherwise I would never have experienced the true extent of the trip…. It was WILD!!!

I was scared at a few points along the way. That kind of sailing isn’t something you experience every day, especially not alone. At the worst point, I met Betty. She was just as scared as me. We laughed and rolled with the boast and kept each other calm.

I don’t even remember mentioning the blog but I must have told her as she messaged to thank me for calming her nerves! How lovely is that?! She had no idea how much she helped calm mine while I was alone and a wee bit scared!!

I knew that we were safe, otherwise we wouldn’t be out there. It still had its rough moments. Literally. A character building trip.

The sail back from Brodick to Largs via Millport was nothing like it had been on the way out, thankfully. It was still choppy but I was able to sit indoors and not get any wetter at least.

It was torrential rain.

I was very lucky that I didn’t feel seasick at all.

We had to wait for CalMac to tie up their two ships for overnight in Largs, before we could dock, but it was only a short delay.

Most people got off in Largs.

Julie 2 jackets!!

I had a pac in mac over my anorak… I do need to rethink my waterproof clothes though…

The water at Largs pier looked so inviting. I love this photo, I feel like I could get lost in it.

Also love how the 2 ships merge into one in this next photo. One is behind the pier and one is in front.

How many ships?!? 😆

Largs was like a ghost town as everyone was keeping out of the rain.

I loved this next one. Would you believe I took this through my wet car window?!

I wanted to wait for her to sail away but it was SO wet that I headed back to the car. Then pulled over to get this!

This is the full route the Waverley took yesterday. Thanks to my friend Mike for sending me this.

So it was so good to get home and get a hot shower. My water resistant trousers were full of water. My socks were soaking and my boots appear not to be waterproof either. 😆 I mentioned the pants already 😆

I got into bed with the electric blanket on and it was amazing. It won’t be long before I’m back in my electric blanket bed tonight!

I have so much to do but I’m shattered after the day at work. It’s not stopped raining, all day, again, so I’m just going to have a night in comfies in front of the tv.

I’m tempted to light the candles. 😆

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1569 PS Waverley battles the huge swell, strong winds and pouring rain to circumnavigate Arran

Wow,

What a day.

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like this.

It is as rough as…

Today has taught me a lesson… if I’m sailing and I see a forecast like this… just cancel!!!

I’ve been watching the forecast all week, and been slightly concerned about the wind and rain.

Every time I have sailed on the PS Waverley it has been scorching. Pure blue sky…

Not today….. cloudy, winds up to 35mph and torrential rain.

It has not been my usual experience at all but I can still take the positives. The ship is empty compared to what I’m used to and I’ve been able to get some different photos from different angles.

The negatives. Despite 5 layers on top… I am wet through to my pants.

Sodding.

My feet are soaked through too.

My fingers are so wet it’s like I’ve sat in the bath all day.

I’m ok but it’s been a massive solo learning experience.

I’ve been exhilarated and scared, excited and worried, I’ve loved it and wanted to get off in equal measure.

My hands are so cold and wet I’ll make this short and just send post some photos… don’t expect much scenery 😆 it’s been covered in mist!

Here I am sporting my new Waverley hoodie.

Craig’s the only person who’s seen it…. It’s been under two jackets all day!

I get to Largs and realise just how windy it actually is.. the sea is very choppy.

But here she comes. I love this ship.

She’s such a beauty.

She took a while to moor at Largs. The swell seemed to pull her away from the quay.

And we’re off…..

It’s wild… getting soaked up the front but the huge waves.

This is our first stop at Millport.

CalMac’s Isle of Arran. (I think….)

Alfred leaving Brodick.

It’s been a very windy crossing… but at least it’s dry… until we get to Brodick.

This shows how few people are actually on board… I feel like they know something I don’t…. 🫣

For the first time ever on this ship, I moved to sit on the upper deck.

What an amazing view….

Then the heavens opened.

There aren’t many photos from here on in.

It was so torrential and such a bad southerly swell that I only took video. Try to pop on my insta or FB to see them.

I’ve honestly hardly seen any of Arran!

I sat upstairs but was too scared to move so just stayed there and rode the swell and got very, very wet. About 5 waves really took my breath away….

We’re now heading back from Brodick, running about an hour late. I’m wet and cold but I’ve found a seat in the observation lounge so I am finally warming a bit.

I hope there’s only another hour to hour and half before I can get off.

I have, as usual, met some lovely people and had a laugh… there is camaraderie in the fear at sea 😆

Get the electric blanket on Craigie!!!

Stay safe everyone, believe the forecast before you jump on a boat trip! ♥️🚢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Day 1568 I just ran 10.33kms 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

At 8.15am I finished my first 10k run…. ever.

Wow.

I am shattered but I’m so chuffed that I’ve actually done it. Thanks to Gillian who agreed to do it with me and run at my pace. when you read on you’ll realise she didn’t really agree to anything up front! She’s a good runner and I just kept on going 😆😘

I didn’t have the best sleep so when I got up at 6.20am, I didn’t feel like running at all.

That’s the best part about running with other people, you don’t want to let them down. I knew Gillian was meeting me at 6.45am so I got ready and headed outside. It’s a beautiful morning.

After last nights heavy rain, everything seemed fresh. You can see the dew glistening on the leaves.

The sun is so low in the sky and looks much bigger than the photo shows, in real life.

I take a few photos as we run.

I found the first part really tough, my breathing was laboured and my legs felt heavy. As we turned the corner onto this road I started to relax a bit. I knew I wanted to do more than the 8k we ran a couple of weeks back. I hadn’t told anyone as didn’t want to commit and as I started off feeling rough, I didn’t think it might be possible.

But we kept going.

Gillian is a fast runner and while I hate holding anyone back it’s great that she could run at my pace. It certainly won’t have been her fastest run. So while so many of the photos show her in front of me, we did run together.

I always want to take photos of this tree on the way to work in the morning but there’s nowhere to stop the car.

I see this in all seasons, with sunrise behind it and it always makes me smile.

Sorry for all 3 😆 I’m not sure which is my favourite.

This one’s a bit blurry 😆 I am running my third kilometre at the time!

Then we come to THE HILL…. That’s the only downside to this run.

Gillian is a hill machine and I tell her to go and she goes!!

I took a selfie to show me still smiling AND I didn’t stop on the hill at all, unlike two weeks ago, where I walked the worst of it.

I kept going.

I only stopped for a few seconds at the top and got my breath back as we ran.

I knew I wanted to keep going.

The light was lovely again as we headed into Spiers Old School Grounds.

Just glorious… it’s still before 8am though.

And still we go…. Down to the Beith bypass and up through the housing estate.

And back along towards Gateside.

We have to do a wee round robin towards the end to get Gillian over the 6 mile mark… it feels never ending but we do it!

What an achievement. I first started running with Claire, couch to 5k back when I was off sick…. I found it so hard. I remember the second or third run being awful and look at me today. I’m not the fastest but I’ve been steady with the training and I try not to miss a week.

So proud.

I then went to Tesco for a mini shopping and have also walked the dogs this morning too.

We met this big guy!

They had a great run.

I love that they all watch for me. To make sure I’m still walking… only just 😂

This cow knew I was talking to it!

So all showered and ready to head to my brothers in South Queensferry for a family get together.

We’ve sat outside all afternoon and had a lovely buffet and I’ve had lots of lovely alcohol free!

It’s been lovely to all get together.

Have a lovely rest of Saturday.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1567 a lovely evening at Portencross last night & a day in a house today

I’m at home today as the Scottish Dog Behaviourist needs wheels to get to work. His car broke down last night and had to be recovered to the garage. He’s off in Bertie the Beetle…. Having to sit in the back seat to drive as he’s so tall! 😆

I quickly realised that I meant I would have to stay home today. I had a mild panic, so soon after a week in the house when I was climbing the walls.

My head is different today. Very different, thankfully.

I picked Craig up at the garage last night.

Then decided to pop down to Portencross last night for sunset, while I could.

As I drove towards the coast, the cloud came over…

I had thankfully taken a jumper and a hoodie and I needed them both. It had been scorching when I left the house.

It was very atmospheric.

And the sky was lovely…

I took lots of photos with the Isle of Arran in the background.

My friend Anne is there… I messaged her to say hi…. And she messaged back to say she could see me… 😆 #jokes she was driving behind Holy Isle so I took this photo to show her it from my side.

The sky is starting to turn colour but this is as good as I got, sunset wise.

So dark….

Honestly I love it here. It’s just such a quiet place.

The lovely smell of the sea….

The rocks are lovely here.

So dramatic.

The tide is really high.

I took a walk to the beach.

You have to walk through the field to get there. There are loads of photographic opportunities… for foreground in front of Arran.

The tide is right in on Portencross beach. It’s not often I see the tide that far in.

These thistles are on their last legs but still look very pretty.

The colours kept changing… I’ve not filtered any of these.

I loved the tall grass.

And this whispy grass.

Arran is such a great subject!

Sorry for so many photos of the same thing!

I loved having a quiet wander around.

The car park was quite busy but there weren’t many people around.

While I sat here, Lea sent me a photo of her sunset from holiday…. wow!

So back to today… I woke up when someone’s alarm went off…. Or I could still be sleeping 😆

I got the Borders ready for a walk.

We had a good walk.

It’s 18°C so quite muggy… but no sunshine.

I love it when a Calaidh gets into the water and stares expectantly.

We had a great run around the field and then back in the burn to cool off.

I did all the housework this morning so I can relax in a tidy house. Gonna state the very obvious here but it’s so much easier to do when it’s recently been done…. And when the dogs aren’t in moulting season.

I love a tidy house.

I sat down at lunch and watched the end of a film I’d been watching. I hate a lovely sweet potato pakora wrap for lunch.

I’m eating the same things all the time just now but variety doesn’t appeal to me. 😆 I’m a lazy chef.

I spent the rest of the afternoon on adulting… updating my budget. Setting MOT reminders so for the car. I renewed my home insurance and have the car to do in the next few weeks so set a reminder.

I also looked for mini breaks…. That’s fun but I’m quite specific in my search. I want something that leaves central belt Scotland on a Thursday night or Friday morning arriving back on a Sunday. I seem to be going in circles so I’ve taken a break for now 😆

So yeah, all in all I’ve had a lovely day… and now the heavens have opened and it’s pouring rain.

We have the candles lit and pizza in the oven… a coorie-in night for us I think.

Just how my Friday nights roll…. And I love it.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1566 welcome to August… wait, what happened to spring?! I’m still waiting… 😬

I had the best sleep. That’s me back on HRT progesterone for a fortnight and it knocked me for six last night.

I woke up with the alarm… so much for taking the dogs out before work, if I woke early…. I did not wake early!

It’s raining this morning too. Boooooo. 9.5°C, so much warmer than yesterday but very cloudy.

Have a look at Coffee & Quotes on FB for a great follow!

Can you believe it’s August already?!? I mean honestly, we didn’t even get a run of sunshine this year. These last 4 days have probably been the hottest and, even then…. Not a summer.

At least I got to wear my shorts to work for one week of the year. I’ve not worn sandals yet. Still in my trainers. Seems crazy keeping all these summer clothes we can’t ever wear. Yeah I know, that’s a ridiculous statement!!

I spotted our lovely roses, as I kicked a ball about, for the dogs, before work.

I just love this one. It’s so pretty.

There was one bud a few weeks ago but the petals fell off in heavy rain. I’m so pleased it flowered again.

I also love our bright hydrangea bush.

Work was good again and passed quickly.

So that’s me at my weekend already! The 4 day week passed very quickly.

I have a few things planned to keep this weekend busy, though nothing tomorrow so will try to keep my noisy head in check.

I’m currently sitting outside in the heat of the sun while poor Craig has broken down on his way to a client. He had a battery light come on last night and he trickle charged the car overnight. It’s just completely died while he was on the phone to me just before 5pm. He’s 5 minutes from the clients house but has to wait for the car to be recovered. While you could say rubbish timing, he managed to to limp it into a side road, so he’s safe, which is definitely the main thing.

I also found out tonight that I’ve become a printed photographer!!!

I sent my neighbour an aurora photo of her house, back on 10th May, when we had the beautiful Aurora. She currently has this one displayed on her wall at the top of the stairs.

She didn’t tell me but called me in to look at it, so it was a surprise!

I am so proud.

It looks lovely and you can even see the stars in the sky.. .

I knew she was awake, as the living room light was on. I thought her house made the shot.

I think the weather is due to break tonight but this has been a really lovely spell. there was a brief aurora last night too.

My head’s had a chance to re balance this week, which has been lovely and much more comfortable, than the noise I had spinning around in it, last week.

Long may that continue.

The recovery truck is on its way to the garage so I’ve to go and get Craig in half an hour. Claire just phoned about a walk…. Such a shame but can’t be helped. Got to rescue the boy!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️