The sun was rising as I got out of bed this morning!! Love it.
I walked out into the garden before I went to work.
It’s cold but I breathe in the sunlight…. The sky is so clear.
I love the reflection on the sunroom window.
It’s obviously been frosty overnight…. The sun is high enough in the sky that the windscreen has defrosted already. Win, win!!
It’s such a clear drive to work. I can see all the way over to Goat Fell on the aisle of Arran and Ailsa Craig off in the distance.
It’s lovely.
It’s been beautiful all day. Not as hot as Sunday but just so lovely to see the sun.
I stayed back after work and hoovered out the car and washed it! I was in such a rush to do it… I started hosing the car when the drivers door was still open 🥴🙄🫣😆
I drove home with the heater blasting 26°C 🥵
This was the sky on the way back home.
My head’s been a bit all over the place today.
I was actually quite sad and tired when I woke but then I saw a post from Seize Your Vision Life Coaching that said this……
I can constantly trying to fix myself when I feel I’m not good enough.
Constantly trying to explain myself when things feel off.
Constantly searching for some answer.
Rather than just being kind to myself…. It’s ok not to feel 100% bright and breezy all of the time…. Not everyone does.
So I did really try to let myself off the hook today.
And calm the f down…. Not to put too fine a point on it.
Stop panicking.
Breathe. 😆😆😆
So in other news… there’s a full moon on Thursday at 6.54am. My Almanac calls it the Plough Moon I’ve also seen it will be called the blood moon.
It’s 6.30pm and I’ve just inhaled some food….. I’m eating healthy but still cramming in the junk as an after dinner treat!!
Have to knock that on the head. 😆
I’ve nothing much to report today except that I did get up bright and early and did my Donna Ashworth, Words to Live By journal question for the day.
It felt good to be back on track.
I’ve done my counselling homewark too which was really interesting. It’s nothing new but just a reminder of things I already know.
I need to decide whether to continue with it or not. There are times when I think I might make quite a good counsellor as I do feel I’ve covered every eventuality. 🥴😆
I am wrapped up in comfies and my horrific pink candy floss coloured Oodie 😆 as it’s super cold in the house tonight. I don’t like the colour but I LOVE the warmth and coziness it brings….
Yesterday’s sunshine was short lived.
It’s back to being windy and cold today.
Work was busy and I got lots of deliveries sorted and tidied away today.
I figured that I’ve not been living in the present moment these last few weeks.
I’ve been catastrophizing and worrying about things that don’t matter and I choose to be grateful for each moment.
And relax.
Crochet and tv for me tonight while the SottishDog Behaviourist is working!
Maybe follow that with some reading before bed.
I love a lazy evening!
Of course I’ve had dinner and done the dishes and tidied them away and emptied the dishwasher…. 😆
I get up to go to the loo at 7.30am, late for me, and the light at the top of our dark stairs, is really welcoming.
This is the light through the window.
We don’t have curtains at our bedroom window, we sleep with eye masks, so it’s always a nice surprise to see what’s going on outside, especially at this time of year.
We decided to take the dogs up into the fields. There was a mist that came down but it made it really atmospheric!
This sis affectionately known as Julie’s bush by the Dug Walk group. 😬🥴😆
For about two weeks of the year, this beautiful Rhododendron bush flowers a beautiful pink in a sea of yellow gorse and browny/green grass.
Blink and you miss it. Someone told me it was blooming last weekend when I was in Rome so I headed up with Craig this morning.
So pretty and so different to everything else around it!
I just love it….. and I’m not even a fan of pink!
Khaleesi was on lead for most of the walk but the others were running around with sticks and stones, just living their best lives.
We don’t do this enough together.
You’ll see what I meant by atmospheric.
One man and his dogs!
It was so mean and moody!!
Heading home after a good run!!
Since we came back, I had tried very hard to relax in the sun.
I’ve hung the first washing outside this year. Craig’s cut the ivy back and I’ve directed traffic, he’s tarred a bit of the roof that might be leaking and I’ve run for odd bits and bobs for him.
I finally sat down with Donna Ashworth’s journal and have caught back up on all the days I have missed .
I made myself a lovely salad for lunch.
The dogs and I have been outside all day while poor Craig has to work inside… he can’t see the laptop outside.
I’ve dug some soil away from the fence to stop it rotting and I’ve sat back down to write this.
It is so lovely to be outside, soaking up the energy from the sun and getting random cuddles from puppies.
I needed this today.
It’s still only 3.12pm and the day is not yet done… I may do some crochet next.
I did and I am…. It’s for a bit warmer now that the cool breeze has died down. It’s still on 12°C but that will do me nicely.
This cotton is crocheting up nicely.
Ahhhh this is so lovely. It’s been such a nice day… even if I do keep getting interrupted!!
When my head is into doing work around the house, I can’t stop until it’s done. Correct that, I don’t want to stop until it’s done.
“It” also has a way of growing arms and legs too…. But I’ve done a lot today, and I’m really pleased I’ve done it.
Now I am shattered!!
I woke up at 6.15am. I was running with the girls at 6.45.
Peace Compassion & Love 🥰
I’ve struggled with running since the doc changed my HRT and today I felt slow but my head was positive. That’s always a really good feeling.
We ran 6k in 44 minutes. It was faster than I’ve managed for the last few runs.
My face is beetroot and it was not the most flattering photo of me, but I am what I am…
I wanted to cancel so many times yesterday, but I’m really glad I didn’t.
It was so mild this morning we were all really hot.
I did my usual and just headed straight out with the dogs. I reckoned if I sat down, I wouldn’t move again.
Bhruic and Freya first. The sky is beautiful.
I soak up the energy of the sun.
I listen to the birds, the sounds of nature.
The odd passing plane flies over to land in Glasgow Airport.
I love these trees on the horizon.
Bhru does her usual and goes digging for a stone…. I held the phone upside down for this shot.
I can feel my energy lifting. I soak up the silence. There’s no breeze. The dogs have lots of fun then back down to the house.
My new favourite shot!
Now I’m back up the hill with Calaidh and Khaleesi.
Calaidh is off lead, Khaleesi on. I love when I call Calaidh back, Khaleesi thinks I want her back 😆 she only a couple of feet away, at the end of her lead but she comes bouncing back to me.
Gate! Not a particularly pretty one….
I checked for sheep, deer, cats and saw nothing, so let Khaleesi off the lead.
Look at her bounding as she ran past me.
She had a blast. It’s lovely to watch her off lead.
It’s clouding over a bit but the sky is spectacular. When I was a kid, I used to think this was god talking to people….
So dramatic looking.
Khaleesi back on and we set off home.
I really enjoyed the time out with them all today.
Since I came home from Italy, I’ve been really appreciating Craig and the dogs. I know you should always appreciate these things but it’s nice to be reminded.
At 9.30am I headed to the supermarket and did 2 big shops. Home Bargains for all the household things and Aldi for food.
I’ve not been shopping in a while so everything was running out.
I stocked up on healthy food and I couldn’t even bring myself to buy anything bad. I know my eating habits need to change. I enjoyed the food at the restaurant yesterday, so much, but that’s because it was all fresh, real food. Not junk.
I’m back on it.
I should say I fasted for 21 hours today. The fasting hasn’t stopped while the hormones have piled on the weight. Seems a tad unfair.
(Then I remember how many calories I crammed into the eating hours. 😆 it would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been fasting!!)
Back home and all the shopping away and it’s still only 11am.
I start the housework.
I’ve hoovered.
Changed the bed.
We have clean bed!!
You so know that I’ve been desperate to change the sheets since I came back. 100 dogs slept in my bed while I was away. 😆😆😆😆
I did 3 loads of washing and got some hung outside in the sunshine.
I even mopped the floors!
I have been annoyed at the state of the floors for weeks now. Took me 15 minutes or so to mop….
😆 I closed off the rest of the house while the floors dried. Craig is working so there’s no one to traipse all over the wet floors 🫣😆
Only then did I have a shower and put on clean jammies.
I had a wee Cherry Pepsi Max as a treat. I know how to have a good time.
So yeah… a very busy day but I feel good. Tired but good.
It’s been so lovely to see the sunshine. The weather’s been nicer than forecast.
Tomorrow is definitely a day of rest… as Craig said, I’ll be fast asleep on the couch as soon as he gets home tonight!
Lucy Claire Illustration
So thank you to every single one of the women who has lifted me up, inspired me, encouraged and supported me, raised me and celebrated me. I can be a tough crowd sometimes…. 😆
(Thanks to all the men too…. Just in case you feel left out 😆😘)
I woke at 4am. I’d had a nightmare. First time in as long as I can remember. It really freaked me out and I was scared of the dark when I got up to the loo 😆😆
I fell back asleep until 7.15am, which wasn’t bad.
Straight into the shower as I’m on the 9.12 train from Glengarnock to Glasgow to meet Mum, Auntie Marion, Mum’s cousin, Joyce and my sis in law Gill.
I have to be honest and say I’m not feeling sparkly today…. I’m a bit tired and flat but I’m ready for an adventure.
This is where I’ve travelled today.
I got into Glasgow. Central and raced across to Glasgow Queen Street, only to realist my second train left from Central!! So had to hare away back over there…. How funny. I made the 10.02 to Edinburgh with 3 minutes to spare.
When I got off the train, Joyce was waiting for me and I had a few wee tears. No reason, no big issue, no big deal, just emotions running a bit off. It was nice to see a friendly face.
She took me into a new shop I’d never heard of…. Sostrene Grene.
Look at this beautiful cotton wool!!!
I bought these as I thought they would make a lovely girl and boy baby blanket.
It’s more expensive than a blanket I would usually make, and way less chunky, but it’s very pretty so I’ll see how it crochets up. This was £2.48 a ball.
We went to Twenty Princes Street for lunch today…. Funnily enough, located at 20 Princes Street! I realised I’d been here before when I met my friends Helen & Mike years back.
It’s very lovely. This is the staircase in.
These are the toilets!! 🚽
There’s a lovely old map of Edinburgh on the wall outside the toilets.
This is the view from the window, over Sir Walter Scott’s monument to Edinburgh Castle!
Another pic of the staircase!
Here are the ladies at lunch.
The food was really, really good. I REALLY enjoyed it.
There was a £20 menu for two courses. I had the mushrooms to start.
The photos don’t do the food justice. This main course was vegetable shawarma and it was SO good. The flavours were amazing. The veg is very thinly sliced on the kebab skewer. If you zoom in you can see it better.
I opted for dessert for an additional £5…. Chocolate brownie sundae.
As I said, honestly one of the best meals ever.
I had to run for the train, and took this quick pic of the Scott Monument but it seems to be more of the guy behind me!!
Here’s my train coming into Edinburgh Waverley.
So that’s me been on the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central for an hour and half. The return train stops in places I only ever hear of when I’m on this train! 😆
I had been humming and hawing about going to Crochet last night and it actually did me the power of good. It was good to get out and concentrate on something, other than being tired. 😆
I was in bed for 8.30pm and the alarm woke me with a jolt at 6.10am!
I felt drugged but refreshed. My head has been a bit clearer all day.
This 4 day week gal could really get used to a 3 day week 😆😆😆
I am still eating junk like it’s going out of fashion, but I’m also accepting that I can’t do it all….. I will definitely get a healthy shop done this weekend as I need to turn that back around.
I had a second counselling session at 4pm.
I have to do it from the office, which is both ideal but hey…. Better Help is very different from any kind of therapy I’ve had before.
It seems a bit less personal… most things suggested, I am already aware of and have tried but I did get lots of homework and some good takeaways.
What are my triggers to overwhelm?
What leads me to snap?
What are the alternative responses in those situations?
Could I stop to listen more?
All strong possibilities.
I’m off to Edinburgh tomorrow… yup, travelling again…. I told Mum today that if I was honest, I could see it far enough, but I also know I’ll have a really good time. I love that she already knew that’s how I would be feeling!!
Oh jeez I was sluggish this morning…. It’s hardly surprising as I am shattered…. I’ve had a thumping head all day.
Lynsey and I still went for a run despite the weather. We were so lucky it stayed dry when we were out but it was super windy! I think we got the best of the weather all day.
So 5.4kms run before 6.30am. ✅
This is the wonderful Scottish forecast again today.
It was so lovely to have the sunshine in Rome on Monday.
It’s 6pm and I’ve eaten so much junk in an effort to give myself an energy boost, but I know that’s not what is best for me. 😆
I just need to find the energy to get a healthy food shop in and that will help…. Another day 😆
So if I’m really honest I’ve felt a little bit meh today… I’m still suffering from the after effects of the increase in HRT. I guess it just takes time to get out of my system.
I’ve also got my hospital appointment through for the breast clinic on Wednesday 13th March. I’m looking forward to getting checked out.
So I think that’s all from me tonight. Nothing that good rest won’t fix.
I’ll get an early night. 😆😆 I say that like I don’t get an early night, every night.
I landed in Edinburgh just before 12 midnight and was straight through UK Border Control…. which for some reason, at that time of the morning, made me smile…. It sounded very dramatic!
I got straight through and into the FastPark car park which I am very impressed with.
Scanned the bar code at the machine and it told me which box to take my key out of and which car parking space my car was in.
I felt very tired and a little bit daunted my the drive.
Like anything, once I got going, listened to My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast, I was right as rain.
I enjoyed the drive.
It was so lovely coming home…. The dogs were so sleepy but excited when I came in. It was actually so nice to have cuddles when I got home and was so tired.
I got to bed at 1.35am.
The alarm went off at 6.35am!
What a fright we both got!
Coffee & Quotes 😘🫶🏼
I jumped straight up and spotted a gorgeous colour coming in the window.
The sky was on fire! 🔥
I got dressed and took the dogs out the back and took a millions photos, before the sunrise faded.
It was even more pretty than this in real life. As colourful as they are, the photos still don’t do it justice.
The reflection was such a lovely light.
Wow!!!
What a lovely welcome home.
I had a quick shower and made it to work with 4 minutes to spare.
The day has passed really quickly thought I’ve felt hungover all day!
Boss man took us out to lunch today which was really lovely. We went to the Gailes Hotel in Irvine for a lovely filled baguette and coffee.
I was too tired to think about taking a photo.
So I’m back home now, cuddled up in our sunroom turned snug with all 4 pups and my boy. I feel very lucky to be here.
I often spend so much time wanting to be away that it’s very lovely to be snuggled up and appreciating being home.
Up for a run at 5.45 tomorrow if I can wake up in time! 😆😘
It’s 7.44pm Italian time and I’m sitting in Rome Ciampino airport.
My legs are gowping!! (There’s a good Scottish word. 😆 )
I have walked over 15kms today!
I loved every minute of it… until maybe the last half a mile when my legs started to ache!
It was a beautiful day. I woke up early and tried to have a lie in…. I couldn’t decide what to do for the best today. Do I stay at Melanie’s and rest or make the most of my day…. I made the most of my day.
I have so many photos and videos to share but the highlight for me, is always the blue sky.
I cannot get enough of the blue sky. 💙💙💙
I walked for just under an hour before I reached Circus Maximus. This is where they held chariot races and under Julius Caesar, they built a wall around the arena. It’s massive!
I managed to get to the Colosseum again. The second time seeing it in pure blue sky. I realise I am very lucky.
While I was here I tried to do some Her Travel Circle videos 😆😆 I had a wee script to work from. It’s funny how dreadfully, cringeworthy it was to start off with and then I grew in confidence, realising that no one cared in the slightest!!
Unfortunately, they may never make the cut as co-founder and IT geek (Craig!) said they should be full length shots and not just head shots. Makes sense…. 😆
I then decided to head for Villa Borghese, which is a beautiful landscape garden to the north the of Rome. I stopped for lunch along the way.
Check the Colosseum behind me as I walk away! It always pays to look all around you in a beautiful city like Rome!
My criteria for picking a restaurant…. Does it serve pizza? Does it have space for one sitting somewhere private-ish… is there a seat in the sun.
Yes!!
Loved this stripey church.
The ancient and beautiful buildings are everywhere, along with the reminder that everyone who lives here, had to park somewhere!
And relax… Villa Borghese was everything I hoped it would be… and more. It was so beautiful. So peaceful. So calm.
I needed time away from the crowds and the noise. I get easily overwhelmed by noise and crowds. The park was just perfect.
I sat here for almost an hour. Soaking up the sun. Soaking up the sounds of the birds and the laughter from the boating pond.
As I sat, I realised there were no negative sounds at all…. Only calm and joy. No one goes to a park for stress or to argue. Everyone is there for the same reasons. It shows that being in nature is the best detox.
I needed the solitude. It was just perfect.
This wee guy sat like this for a good while… he looked like he was sunbathing!!
This is one of the entrances to the park!
I’ve never been this far north in Rome before. It’s equally as pretty as the rest.
I found Piazza del Popolo.
My next stop was All Saints Anglican Church as we know the minister and his wife. It was all kicked up sadly but I’m so pleased I’ve finally been able to see it, from the outside at least.
Then on to the busy Spanish Steps.
And the EVEN BUSIER Trevi Fountain.
It was heaving!!! They’ve changed the way it works again and are only allowing 400 people down to the water at any one time. I did not queue as I’ve seen it before so had to stand back with the masses!! Bearing in mind it’s a random Monday in March!!
Next stop was Rome Termini where I catch the Terravision bus out to Ciampino airport.
And here I sat for another hour….
A perfect end to a perfect day.
The bus left 20 minutes early and I’m through passport control waiting on the lounge. My flight is not for another hour yet.
I’m hoping I will sleep on the flight!!
So another Italian adventure at an end.
Thank you to Melanie for allowing me to stay with her and co-ordinating the trip to Florence. I can’t thank her enough.
I woke at 5am after a restless night…. Managed to fall back asleep until 7.30am then felt completely shattered. Funny how extra sleep does that?!
Neither Melanie nor I are feeling particularly great today. Whatever this bug is… it’s taking it out of us.
By the time we showered and had breakfast, we packed our bags and were ready to leave the hotel by 11am.
We took a last walk into the city. One last pic from the hotel room before we left. Highly recommend the C Hotel Ambasciatori. It’s right opposite the train station. A perfect location and a really nice hotel too.
We got a breakfast but also got a drink and buffet dinner for €8 which was really good! I’m missing that tonight actually 😆
It was windy today so the flag was flying high! 🇮🇹
We walked around into a Piazza that we had been looking for but couldn’t find yesterday.
And of course found of course, found ourselves back at the cathedral.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Di Fiore.
It was a bit too blowy for a hair down day!!
Back out to the Ponte Vecchio. I tho k it was even busier today. Melanie says that lots of people come into Florence for the day. There can be as many Italians as tourists.
We walked up the opposite side of the river and it was lovely to see where we had been yesterday.
It’s such a pretty bridge.
This one is not such a pretty bridge… 😆
The walk up to the lookout point is covered in pretty waterfalls.
And here we are up the hill again. It’s so pretty up here, you see different buildings everything you look. It’s such a beautiful view. You just drink it in.
I wore the scarf and gloves today. I’m so glad I have worn everything I brought with me! (Although I say that… it would have been nice if it had been HOT!! 😆😆)
This is the Synagogue.
I think a lot of these photos are the same but I can’t decide which I like the best.
So input them all in!!
I remembered my Her Travel Circle stress globe!! Melanie reminded me… more like!
We went for lunch to the restaurant next door to the hotel. It’s called Trattoria Dalloste… I had mushroom risotto and it was really nice.
This is a photo of the hotel just as we were leaving.
And here I am at the Frecciarossa train to take us back to Rome Tiburtina.
I’m now back in Melanie’s apartment and we are both shattered. I feel better and she feels a bit worse. She’s off to bed and I won’t be far behind.
This is Momo, she’s helping me write the blog!!
It’s my last day tomorrow and she’s away back to work (if she feels well enough) so I need to see where my travels take me tomorrow. I think I’ll do a fair bit of walking.
My flight is the usually, 21.30 back into Edinburgh. It’s a thought right now….. It never seems a bad as it sounds though.
I’m looking forward to a day exploring Rome in the sunshine!! ☀️
I can honestly say I am feeling so much better than I did yesterday, but, unfortunately, poor Melanie has had “it” today… whatever it is…this is the view from our room in the C-Hotels Ambasciatori, Florence.
We had breakfast in the hotel and set off out about 9am.
I can honestly say (again!) that I gasped as we rounded the corner and saw the beautiful Firenze Duomo, the Florence Cathedral. It is jaw droppingly beautiful.
There are so many photos of it!
We then took a walk around the city heading towards the river. This row of shops is particularly stunning.
Along the way we found this replica of Michelangelo’s David. We didn’t pay to go in and see the original.
We walked though the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery.
Once we walked through the arch we spotted the famous Ponte Vecchio.
It’s stunningly beautiful and all the shops on the bridge are jewellers.
You would never know we were on a bridge!
In the middle!
I really want to find some symbol for Her Travel Circle that I can take photos of, in random places. I thought the stress ball globe was a great idea… unfortunately only remembered it here!! Forgot all about it yesterday in Pisa since I felt so rotten. 😆
We stopped for lunch beside the River Arno.
He sun came out and I got a mini tan. 😆 I had a lovely Greek salad… randomly, in Italy.
We did some leather shopping after and then stopped for cake!! A very important stop!
The chocolate torte.
It rained for a few minutes while we ate cake. We came back to the hotel to put on an extra layer as the wind turned chilly and we were heading up to Piazelle Michelangelo for the sunset over the city.
We got the number 13 bus as it’s about 3kms from our hotel.
There was no sunset tonight but it was a stunning view.
We sat and had a drink as we watched the sky darken. I’m just having water everywhere as there’s no alcohol free… and I really am ok with that.
The big wheel lighting up in the distance. even I was cold up here!!
Zoomed in on Ponte Vecchio and the colourful wheel!
Firenze Duomo.
Ponte Vecchio.
Florence skyline.
Melanie treated me to this really lovely leather bag today because I wouldn’t buy myself one!! She got a beautiful, red leather rucksack! I’m now gonna have to stash money around her apartment when I get there tomorrow night 😆😆
I am freezing!!!
We walked back to the hotel and are now sat in the bar as I write this.
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 