To be fair, it’s a Monday and there’s never much happens on a Monday.
It’s been really muggy and cloudy today but it’s stayed dry. I keep thinking it’s threatening thunder.
I was up with the lark again this morning to start the two dog walks before work. I really quite like my new routine.
So up at 5.40 and out with Calaidh and Khaleesi.
This field was a quagmire the other day as the cows were all eating round a feeder. It’s amazing how quickly it’s drying out!
Beauty and the Beast tree again!
Posers.
Then picked up Bhruic and Freya.
Being stared at by a two headed cow!
Lovely flowers at the side of the road!
Work went really quickly again today. I ended up out about a few errands today and stopped to take a photo of this lovely Highland Cow!!
I’m tired tonight but I’m feeling good.
I feel so calm and in control and it’s such a lovely feeling after all the anxiety and fear of the last few months. I can’t tell you how good it feels to live without worrying about every single eventuality.
I feel capable.
I feel like I can instead of I can’t.
I’m proud of myself which isn’t something I say very often.
It’s a nice feeling.
Please remember to tell anyone you can about Her Travel Circle. I’d really appreciate it!
I woke at 5.30…. Well if we’re splitting hairs, someone woke me…. just saying.
I was running with Claire at 6.45 and we got absolutely soaked. This was us half way round. I had to ditch the glasses.
It only stopped raining the minute we turned into our street when we got home 🫣😆
It was a tough run for me.. heavy legs but I loved it at the same time.
Since I was already soaking wet, I snuck into Calaidh and Khaleesi’s room and took them out for a walk.
I thought this as really pretty… I spent the whole walk looking at the beauty of nature.
By the time I headed out with Bhruic And Freya, there was actually blue sky!
My clothes were all drying off….
Geilsland house looks even more spooky from this angle….. 👻
They then had a big ru around in the field… by this time I was already knackered. 😆😆
And then I spotted this beautiful solo thistle.
Nothing says Scotland t me more than these lovely thistles. There are so many more to grow!
Check the lovely weather when I got home!
I love when I see myself respond differently in situations, since I started the antidepressants.
We passed a really reactive dog and I’d normally totally panic and try to find any way of getting home that meant I did t have to pass them again. We passed each other and it was fine and then I forgot all about them until we met each other again on the loop but I knew I could handle it… rather than letting the FEAR take over.
I took some photos of the roses in the garden but they are already on the turn I think.
I had a shower then did all the housework before I sat down…. By the time I did sit down I was yawning my head off 🥱🥱🥱🥱😆
I was surrounded by puppers.
I did another Her Travel Circle reel and it took me ages. I really enjoy doing them though.
I’ve had a very productive and also energetic day today!
I’ve done 15,973 steps so far in 3 dog walks and I have spent the rest of the day working on Her Travel Circle (click the link to view the website!!
So….. I’ll tell you a bit more about that first and then some photos from today.
I have a dream that solo female travellers would be able to travel the world and stay with each other for free…. Making solo travel more affordable as you only have to pay for your transport. In the hope that solo travellers will agree to host other solo travellers but also use the community to find their own places to stay.
I love the power of female connection. I love to travel on my own but I feel so much better when someone local is expecting me.
The host and the traveller make the connection and they decide how the trip will go. They meet through our platform and then build a connection before agreeing to anything. Safety is paramount and if your gut tells you something is off, you trust your own gut.
You can choose to only have the bed for the night or if you get on really well, your host can show you around some of the time.
I want this to be a community of women supporting other women, making the world a smaller place.
We have used two platforms for build Her Travel Circle…. I say we…… “we” means Craig… Craig has built Her Travel Circle.
The website runs on a system called ShareTribe. When you subscribe as a founding member it will be £1 for the first year! The annual subscription will be £97/year once we have enough members. ShareTribe gives you all the information about the listings that are posted, the places you can go and stay and the members of the Community.
Circle is the second platform (by sheer coincidence!) and this is where all the chat and connection will happen.
I didn’t want to use FB as so many people aren’t on it… and I’ve been hacked before and they keep messing about with my Sloth page. It didn’t feel wise to build a business that relies on FB…. So Circle it is. Of course we have to pay for Circle… there’s that’s “we” again…. So it should be more reliable.
So we are currently starting marketing for people to join for £1. We need to build up enough hosts to make it worthwhile before we can ask anyone to pay £97!
So I have spent the day scheduling reels for Instagram, FB and TikTok for the next 2 weeks.
I’ve done a post on LinkedIn.
I’m really pleased with what I’ve achieved today and most of all, I’ve really enjoyed doing it.
I think I need to sit alone in a dark room tonight 😆😆
Don’t panic, I am joking…. Today has just been… A LOT…. But not in a bad way.
I slept all night…. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I felt soooo grateful after a few nights of really broken sleep.
The alarm went off at 5.40 am and I bounded quietly out of bed as Craig had been late home last night, and headed out with the 3 Amigos.
Once again it was pouring when I got up and we were so lucky that it hardly rained at all on the dog walks.
Freya says this is a big puddle.
I went to take a photo of the dogs and got a selfie by mistake! I just thought I’d scare you all 😆
They’re so good just plodding along and we never saw a soul.
They sniff so much in the mornings.
Dropped Calaidh in the house as she’s still got a sore leg and picked Khaleesi up… and we’re off again!
Love these roses in the Village Hall garden.
It’s very strange walking these 3 together. Actually don’t think I’ve ever done that.
The honeysuckle is still going strong.
I didn’t stop at work today. That actually sounds like I do stop most days. This was just busier than most.
I’ve washed vans, cleaned inside vans and handed two rental vans out to customers. We had a customer in to collect upholstery, the phone’s been ringing more than normal.
I didn’t get any of the day job done today.
I felt like I needed a nap after lunch!!
It has rained so heavily this morning that I t was lovely to get out in the sunshine with Ellison at lunch time.
Since I’d been on the go all day, I decided to stay back after work and hoover out and wash Bertie Beetle!!
As you do.
It took one hour. A half to hoover and a half to wash.
I was really chuffed I’d done it.
Back home and Craig’s out again tonight at a job…. Calaidh has systematically destroyed this dog toy in front of me. Freya’s not impressed!
Bhru wants me to stop writing the blog and pet her.
Khaleesi and Freya are standing guard.
Then Freya just went for it and jumped right up onto my lap for a cuddle.
And Bhru is a little put out!!
Look at the beautiful roses I have in the garden just now. They calm the mind after a busy day…. Just like cuddles with the dogs.
Just perfection!
So a good day but I’m very tired. Looking forward to an early night like every other night and it’s the weekend already!!
Oh I didn’t sleep well last night. I woke at 12.30pm, got up for the loo, was shattered and very comfy and yet tossed and turned for well over an hour and half. I toyed with the idea of reading but I was too tired. 😆
I felt exhausted when the alarm went off but actually got up surprisingly easily considering I was running with Claire and Lynsey this morning.
I had a great run. My speed is picking up over the last few weeks since I’ve started feeling a bit better.
I really enjoyed the run today. I found it hard but tried to keep going.
It was so mild this morning, the sweat poured out of my face when I got back in the house!
Really busy day at work today. Spent about 2 to 3 hours cleaning a campervan but gave it a proper deep clean…. Bet there are still bits I missed. I usually hate cleaning vans but I enjoyed it today. the day past quickly and I felt like I really achieved something.
So rushing off to meet the Crochet Hookers now… got to get on with Craig’s blanket!!
Up at 5.40 for one and half dog walks before work!
It was torrential rain when I woke up and it would have been so easy to roll over in bed…. But no… I promised myself more excercise.
The hardest part is committing to getting up.
Thankfully the rain was very light during our walks.
I felt tired when I was out but ultimately, by the end of it I felt more alive than I had when I woke.
Oh first things first, check these two cuties who ended up on the same bed last night!!
Reflections in a big puddle!
It’s not even 6am…. Furtive glances over glasses!
Past the spooky house again!
They did soooo much sniffing this morning. It’s really good to allow dogs the time to sniff but I was on a schedule this morning!! it felt like we stopped at every blade of grass 😆
Dropped the 3 back off and took Freya back out for half a walk with Khaleesi.
All that before 7am!
Good for the soul and something nice about being out in the fine rain with no one else around.
One of the ladies in the Donna Ashworth group mentioned Positive News that she follows. We were talking about the drain that the news has on so many people and she told me she gets a weekly newsletter covering the main headlines so I’ve signed up. I’ve joined the Positive News Community!
Work flew by today. Two days worth to catch up on!
I came home and sat with Craig for a bit as he’s out tonight, did a poo pick in the garden (oh joy of joys) made dinner after I’d washed my hands, put a washing on, had a chat with mum and entered the world of TikTok….. I did a Her Travel Circle post and went to look for solo female traveller influencers!
Check me down with the kids.
If you’re on TikTok please give me a follow as I have 13 friends right now 🫣😆
I made a pact with myself that if it was pouring with rain then I would just go into work. (I had booked a holiday!)
I changed my mind….. 😆
It’s not been the best weather today but I took the day off anyway!
I had a lovely sleep. A nice wee lie in. Lovely coffee with Craig and the dogs and I worked on testing Her Travel Circle all morning.
I really enjoyed just working away at it.
I stopped to take the dogs out for a walk and it stayed dry!
The sky looks really mean and moody!
Then back for Khaleesi.
Calaidh has a sore leg just now so she didn’t get a second walk like I usually do.
I had a lovely salad lunch then headed down to pick Gayle up and we had a wee day trip to Largs!
It was sooooo windy!!
We had a good wander round the shops and went to Wetherspoons for a hot chocolate and shortbread…. That cost a whole £4.84!!!
Very cloudy skies!
It was a lovely wee trip and a good natter.
I have had a lovely holiday. I really needed the break. It’s been so good to stop, regroup, refresh and just relax.
The weather was so amazing. My wee camping spot was just heaven on earth. I couldn’t have asked for better. The people around me were so lovely and the fact that I swam for almost 2 hours every day, in just a swimming costume… I can’t even describe how wonderful that was. Bliss.
So yeah, back to work tomorrow all refreshed and ready for action!
I can never quite believe how long I’ve been writing this when a milestone day hits.
It’s nearly 7pm and I haven’t even thought about today’s blog yet 😆
I have thought about it in the last few days though…..
On a significant number day I always did a recap of how many days I was living my life without alcohol, antidepressants and fasting to maintain my weight.
In this last 6 weeks so much of that has changed….
I had a really bad start to the year. My mental health declined. I was working so hard at trying to be the best version of myself that I was exhausted…. And it didn’t seem to be working anymore.
I was in tears almost all the time.
If I wasn’t crying I was fighting the tears.
I felt like I had failed.
I was so disappointed in myself.
Why can’t I just be “normal” and hold it together?!?
I had to face reality back in mid May and realise that I needed a bit of help to lift my mood again.
Back onto anti depressants on 14th May and I’d stopped fasting the week before that as I was suffering from bad indigestion caused by fasting for too long.
Hmmmmmm….. but we live another day to tell the tale.
So now the only growing stat I have is that I have been 2,362 days without alcohol.
That’s is one of the hardest things I have ever done and yet probably the biggest gift I have given myself. I’ve freed myself from constantly thinking where the next glass of wine will come from.
I have so much more time in my days now…. I guess I fill it by writing this blog… right over the time I would have started pouring myself a drink.
So all change for me this year but I have to believe it’s for the best and it will help get me back to where I was.
I can feel them kicking in now.
There are times when I know I would have been angry and I am not.
I’ve only cried once since I started taking them.
Craig has been (forgive the phrase!) head down arse up 🙊 working in the background on Her Travel Circle and we are currently live testing the system…. Which is very exciting.
He’s worked so hard that soon it will be my turn. Soon we will be looking for people to join. Marketing, advertising, drumming up support and that’s where I come in.
If you don’t follow already have a look Her Travel Circle on FB or instagram. We will have a website and a system to go live just after testing.
Maybe I need the tablets to give me the strength to manage this.
I believe in it 100% but I would have just second guessed everything the state I was in.
Times are changing.
Incidentally, as an aside, I lost my work phone on Wednesday before I left work… couldn’t find it anywhere….. a customer had just unwrapped it in a porta potti jacket I rushed to post just before I left!!!
🤦🏻♀️
So who knows what the next 1900 days will bring!
Watch this space.
I’ve had a lovely day today.
A long sleep and I woke at 7.15am…. I got up to let the dogs out and fed them. I went back to bed until 9.20.
The forecast was for rain and wind today so I decided just to take the dogs out in it and prepare to get soaked.
I was out for two dog walks and the sun came out…. The heavens opened once I was home and in the shower….. sooooo lucky!!
So some photos…. As you would expect.
A spooky tree always makes me think of our friend Carole. She loved a spooky tree.
The sky is so heavy….
After the hot sunshine, every looks very green and overgrown.
Bhru checking to see what’s over the wall.
The stones that Calaidh is standing on say “treat everyone you meet as if they may be a friend” 🫶🏼
Gielsand House looking very spooky.
And finally off lead for a run around.
The weeds have been cleared from the side of the path making it much wider than it was.
Birdie!
Birdie in action 😆
I then took Khaleesi and Calaidh into the freshly cut field, over from the house.
Khaleesi was in her element finding the burn.
Cutie Calaidh.
So back home, shower, torrential rain, lunch and Her Travel Circle most of the afternoon.
I’m writing posts on the places I have been as information for others. They’ll be in the package when we launch it.
Craig honestly hasn’t stopped for the last few weeks and has literally had a half day off a week. He must be shattered and I can’t thank him enough for all that he is doing.
I can’t think of anything else on my 1900th day other than to thank everyone who follows my ramblings. Those who read every day to those who dip in and out to those who only see it occasionally. Your interactions mean more than you may know. From friend and family to those new friends who I have never met. 🫶🏼
Thank you for any interaction we’ve had.
I write this for my own sanity but I also write it in the hope that anyone reading, having a rough day, doesn’t feel alone.
As Ronan says, “life is a roller coaster, just gotta ride it”.
Oh and did I mention I just had THE best to nights away over summer solstice?!?!?!? 😆
Awwwwwww I’m home and it’s lovely to be home and see the puppers… and Craig…. But I will miss my lovely campsite and my evening swim.
I had such a lovely evening last night. I swam with another lady last night as my swim buddy, Sue, left during the day. Lynsey and I were in the sea for over an hour.
I love how women just get together for things like this and look out for each other.
It was cloudy but still hot and the sea was a bit colder than it had been the first night.
We stayed in for well over an hour.
It was absolutely glorious…. Not a single thing in the water, no jellyfish in sight just swimming and bobbing around and chatting.
Heaven.
I sat outside until 10.30pm. I was really enjoying being outside reading and crocheting.. not all at the same time. It was 8pm by the time I got out of the sea and I was starving.
This is sunrise taken at 5.30am… it’s the longest day today.
I slept really well… a dog barked at 4.30 and woke me though! Just like being home.
I had a huge dilemma as I was going to stay for one more night which was agreed with the campsite. The forecast was for rain overnight and in the morning when I would be packing up.
My tent isn’t really built for rain… I decided to head home as planned so I could pack up in the sunshine.
But first things first…. Photos and another 50 minute swim!!
Lovely Coffee & Quotes !!
The sea was cold but lovely and you soon get used to it.
I only take my phone in at the very end. We swam really far this morning and I loved every minute of it. I feel so alive in the sea.
It took a wee minute to heat back up and 2 decaf coffees!
I sat with my crochet blanket over my feet for a bit.
There were two jet skis on the campsite. They both went out last night. This is one of them heading out this morning.
So I sat in the morning heat and over the space of 4 hours I gradually packed myself away.
I was so sad to be leaving as you all know I’d had the best time. It was everything I needed it to be.
It passed so quickly but I feel very refreshed and will really miss my evening swim tonight!
I decided to come home a different way and make a day of it….. yet at the last minute I picked a shortcut…… 30 miles of the National Cycle Route through the Galloway Forest.
Single track road.
Concentration much!!
The scenery was stunning but I could only get two photos from this lay-by.
I ended up home for 2.30pm which gave me time to get all the camping stuff away and to get out in the garden with the gang.
Temperatures have hit 25°C today.
It’s good to me with more very precious memories in the bank.
The only negative to this whole trip is that I don’t have any shade.
Who would ever think that would be an issue in Scotland?!?
I am slathered in factor 50 but it’s very hot so I have to keep moving around.
I woke at 5.15 and the tide was right in. I read for an hour and then woke again at 8.15 and went straight in for a swim with my next door neighbour. (She’s left now so I’ll have to find a new swimming buddy for tonight!)
It was much colder than last night but honestly just beautiful. We were in for about 30 minutes. What a way to start the morning.
If you look close enough you’ll see Bertie Beetle!
I went for a walk back up to the farm house to take my rubbish up to the bins. It’s about a mile, It clouded over a bit but was super hot. I was very sweaty 😆
Farmhouse behind me.
And then I spotted some thistles!!! Many photos later, these are the best.
I came back and sat and read for a bit then decided to go on a walk out into the bay. This shows how far out you can walk.
I thought this looked like one of Khaleesi’s dragons from Game of Thrones.
It’s so beautiful out here and there doesn’t seem to be another person for miles.
Love the reflections.
Didn’t realise until I looked at these photos there was a halo around the sun.
Sand for miles…..
Lots of seagulls.
I had the loveliest walk. I felt shattered after it but that’s just the heat. I took a gazillion photos.
Please don’t think I’m complaining but there was no respite from it. I tried to lie in the tent for a bit but that was very hot. I put a tshirt on which helped cover me up. A couple next to me let me go and sit under their awning for a bit and that really helped.
I’ve read and I’ve crocheted and will be doing more of the same all evening…. When I’m not in the sea that is!!
Honestly this place is just beautiful. I’ve fallen in love and want Craig and I to move here. That’s assuming it’s scorching all the time… obviously 😆
Roughly 21°C which is hot for Scotland and I’ve been watching the weather all week.
I am staying in Newton Campsite and my tent is literally a stones throw from the beach.
I’ve had my eye on this campsite for a while. I’m sure I met someone who camped here all summer with her kids…. It’s very close to where Craig was a few weekends ago.
The campsite is literally just a field at the beach.
It’s stunning.
It’s also very peaceful.
This is the view from my tent!
This is my set up! There are no toilets or showers on this campsite so I have my own toilet tent!
As soon as I was set up I headed down to the beach for a walk.
I paddled right out into the sea. It’s very shallow and it took forever for the tide to come in.
There are lots of sand banks. Some of the sand is very soft and white, some is course and sharp and some is very muddy!
Lovely reflections for my friend Helen!
Stunning landscape.
Lots of shells under the water in some places.
This is how close I am to the beach!!
And relax. A wee sit down and some crochet.
I watched lots of women head into the sea and I felt safe enough to join them. I was desperate to go in but didn’t want to do it on my own.
Off in I go!
2 border collies playing around. One of them is called Broch!
It was perfection….. warm on top, cold underneath.
Went out so far and got chatting to the lovely ladies.
It’s stunning with the tide in.
I’ve shown the lady in the next van, how to crochet a granny square after we swam together. The Hookers will be so proud.
So I’m picking the crochet back up now.
I have had the loveliest day.
My head is so calm.
I am excited about sleeping in my cute, cosy tent.
I love this.
I must look a right weirdo sitting here on my own crocheting but I don’t care.
The main thing is I’ve had a good day and got lots done at work.
I think Tuesday might be my productive day! My brain is way more switched on that it seems to be in a Monday.
We got to sit outside for lunch today and it was surprisingly warm considering how the weather had been the rest of the day.
It’s sunny now but very windy.
We have a heatwave coming and I’ve booked a wee solo camping trip again, leaving on Thursday. It’s going to be a really hot weekend.
The dogs made me laugh this morning…. They were super excited and it was only 6am…. They didn’t give me peace in the bathroom.
Tennis ball in the bath.
They get so excited when you switch the shower on…. I even got a tennis ball in my pyjama bottoms while I was sitting on the loo. They really made me giggle. It’s nice for me to hear myself laugh.
Calaidh is obsessed with the water.
Then back to the ball!!
Bhru and I are sitting watching a bit of TV before I start getting my camping stuff ready.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m sitting up in bed writing this.
I’ve been on the go since I got home from work, Craig’s at work and I thought this was the comfiest place to go. I have Freya the cutie pie lying right next to me giving me cutesie eyes!
I’ve been ok today but I haven’t felt a million dollars and full of the joys of spring.
I’ve felt a bit lethargic and sleepy. A bit lost and bit anxious at times. No real reason I can pinpoint. Just a small impending sense of doom…. 😆 hey I’m nothing if I’m not a bit dramatic at times.
I slept well, by that I mean I didn’t get up to the loo so I just have been asleep, but it felt restless. I couldn’t get yesterday’s “man overboard in the Clyde” news out of my head. Every time I tossed and turned, I thought of it.
I felt so deeply for everyone involved. The ferry workers just going about their day….. no one ever expecting to scour the sea for 7 hours looking for the poor 64 year old man who went overboard. The search was called off just before 9pm.
Of course then today, Craig sails across the very same bit of water to get to a job in Kilcreggan. 🫣
Funny how something hits you and you can’t let it go. I want everyone to know that I feel so sorry for everything they went through yesterday. So many lives affected.
Now you know why I don’t watch the news. I know there are worse disasters recently that I’m trying to stay away from….
Anyway, work was fine, no sitting out for lunch today as it was too cold and I came home to Craigie’s day 2 slow cooked, braised beef lasagne. Beautiful. Best of it is, there’s enough for tomorrow too.
Headed up the hill with the puppers after dinner…. The photos aren’t very inspiring as the sun went behind a huge cloud and disappeared… but you know me, I’ll share a few!
Then I went into Craig’s office and worked through some Her Travel Circle stuff…. We almost have a website good to go….. watch this space.
I am shattered now. Sorry I sound really moany tonight, I’m really not.
I didn’t expect rain all day today but it has and it did.
As Gran would have said “it’s that fine rain that soaks you!”
I had the best sleep.
A full 8 hours without moving. I dozed on and off for a bit but really my mind was whirring about work for some reason. I don’t do that very often these days. But it was.
The lovely Coffee & Quotes
I jumped on Scottish Dog Behaviourist and did a FB post to surprise Craig.
We had a lovely breakfast together and then took the Fabulous Four out for a walk…. Just as the rain came on again!
I mentioned to Craig here that I have giggled a fair few times this morning. It’s been nice to laugh. I haven’t done enough of that for the last few months.
I know the antidepressants are flattening my reactions…. I know that there are times when I would usually react that are just passing as they don’t seem that big a deal. It’s refreshing.
Not such pretty photos today.
We then went to Tesco for a food shop and came home and had a lovely lunch.
I had a lovely FaceTime with Mum and Dad while Dad opened his very meagre Father’s Day gift… 🫣
This pic is from our last day trip to Britannia!
I’ve done bits and bobs of housework today but nothing significant… just moved things back to where they are meant to be. The house was spotless last weekend before someone returned from camping….. just saying…. 😆
Craig is in the process of making a braised beef lasagne for dinner.
Now his lasagne is amazing at the best of times so I’m really looking forward to this.
I came upstairs to read my book and then had the loveliest nap. Freya has been beside me the whole time.
Khaleesi joined us when I woke up!
I saw that, really sadly, someone has fallen from one of the Western Ferries this afternoon, into the Clyde. I’ve been watching the ships on the Marine Traffic app. Craig was on one of these ships to Dunoon just on Friday. 3 of the Western Ferries were out with the lifeboat, pilot boat and the search and rescue helicopter. I hope they are ok….. 🫶🏼
I finally got out of bed and moved back downstairs.
All the mental health stuff says not to have a nap in the middle of the day but that was lovely and sometimes you just need one.
We were running at 6.45am and I had 4 dogs to walk before 9.15am.
I honestly thought we’d all be washed away in this deluge.
So, in true Julie planning and thinking ahead to the nth degree, I walked the dogs last night at 8pm.
This was to get them the exercise in case I couldn’t get them out in the morning.
I had two beautiful walks.
It did me the power of good and made me wonder why I don’t do that more often in the evening.
I took a million photos.
Of course I did.
Now I should say here for anyone with a cow phobia… there are a lot of cows in this blog 😆
Mid poop?
Then I spotted another sun dog.
I’ve seen them a few times recently but only ever on the right side of the sun at sunset.
The dogs were loving this wee run around too. Bhru is very happy!
They’re all playing away oblivious to the lovely sky above them!
This cow was staring straight at us! The rest didn’t care.
It was lovely and mild…. I love Scotland’s late night sunshine.
There is beautiful colour everywhere. 💛
And then………………
Oh my actual god. 🐂 😱
Now this is not the biggest bull we’ve had in the fields near us… but this is definitely the closest I have ever had to pass one.
Look at those eyes.👀
All I could think of was that Calaidh had a red lead on 😆😆😆
We passed by unscathed.
If not a little bit shaky 😆
Then I looked back at the sunset!
So pretty.
Kind of ugly but dramatic!
So I dropped the 3 Borders home and took Khaleesi out for a short walk. More cows!!
And more sunset….
It was very good for the soul. 🌅
As I woke this morning it was raining quietly but steadily and Lynsey and I ran in it anyway.
Check the nick of my glasses 🫣😆
It was lovely. Warm but really fresh and I didn’t stop once. (That’s because Lynsey kindly ran at my pace rather than me being super speedy, although I was faster than my last few runs!!)
It was a lovely run. I’m so glad we went despite the weather.
My lovely peonies are wilting in the rain.
Look at the lovely Khaleesi… bless her. I have her on the lead in the garden so she doesn’t run about too much first thing.
We’re walking about taking photos of flowers. 😆
I was soaked to the skin anyway so I walked her up to the fields again.
She’s always on the alert.
Beautiful flowers, even in the rain.
Drookit!!
Check her investigating this cow. 😆
So it’s only 8am….. 😆
The rain never really came to anything, nothing like was forecast thankfully.
I was down at the little gift shop this morning. Had lots of lovely chats with Gayle.
I got home after 1pm and it’s already 3.20pm…. I’ve done some housework, had lunch and sat writing this, time flies when you have a millions photos to look through.
We’ve been watching Dept Q on Netflix so I never got to bed until 11pm last night. It’s a great show, highly recommend it!
I woke at 5am….. course I did. 🫣
I felt hungover when I got up!
The alarm was set for 6.15am so I could walk the dogs before my 8.30am dentist appointment.
It was raining!!
Everything is so green!
They are all sniffing the same bit of this tree today! I looked up at it and it’s actually a dead tree, which I should have known really, very sad, there are no leaves up top.
Dropped them off and back out with Khaleesi for a shorter walk.
Then home, showered and off to the dentist!
I got a clean bill of health. They took back teeth X-rays and I got a scale and clean. All this before 8.45am!
I noticed this as I waited to go in… shame there wasn’t a pigeon on each chimney pot 😆
I got in the car and drove to Livingston to meet Mum at the back of 10.
I bumped into Graham that I used to work with. Was so good to see him, we’ve been talking about catching up for a coffee but I don’t have enough time today. It was great to have a quick chat and hopefully catch up sometime soon!
So Mum and I had a lovely wander around the shops and then stopped in M&S Café for lunch.
I’ve been tired today so I headed home after 1pm but I’m still really glad that I went. It was good to have some time together.
Craig’s home now too so a quiet night in front of the telly for us… looking for a new show that’s as good as Dept Q!
I woke at 10pm (yes I was asleep before that!) then again at 2.30am and finally at 5am.
I blame the 5pm can of Pepsi Max!
I could literally feel the caffeine coursing through my veins. I just couldn’t settle at all.
I’d planned to get up early anyway so it gave me more time to walk the Borders before work.
It’s really mild but the sky is dark.
Love the light coming through the clouds.
The hedgerows are so pretty.
I stopped to take this photo and someone ran by me… cringe…. I was in one of those weird positions holding on to 3 dogs, which must have looked ridiculous. 😆
I love the silence of an early morning… apart from the runner… obviously…. There was no one around.
I love that this wee plant it growing inside this very old tree.
I did a cheesy grin in the morning sunlight as I was so proud of myself for being out.
I had to tie my jacket around my waist as I was so warm.
It’s been hot and cloudy all day.
We went into the school playing fields.
Goal 🥅!!
Walking back home in the early morning sunlight.
Just lovely. A great way to set myself up for the day.
Work passed really quickly again as now it’s my weekend.
Lots of cuddles with Freya!
And love from Bhruic!
I’ve had an ok day today, which I’m very grateful for.
I am so surprised as I didn’t want to get up this morning and yet I did…. To run with the girls. Rachel two doors down was back from injury… finally, so there were 4 of us today.
It was a beautiful morning and a lovely run.
Some mornings, if I’m honest, I can’t even bring myself to be cheery enough to want to talk and yet this morning, once we got going, I felt ok.
It’s been a lovely, calm and warm day.
All done! Thanks to Claire, Lynsey and Rachel for a great run and chat.
Work was really good, I was kept busy all day. I could focus more on the work I was doing and I really enjoyed it.
I got home at 4.30 as Craig had been out for a while so needed to get back for the dogs….. I was only in for a half hour before I had to go all the way back to work as I’d forgotten to leave something for someone picking up….. totally my fault. I wanted to be raging as it was so hot in the garden… but my antidepressants won’t allow me to be raging. It was quite a nice experience just to resign myself to the fact I had to go back and it was just an hour out of my night.
I took dinner in the car. 😆
When I got back I started the first of two dog walks in the glorious sunshine.
Love the metalwork of this old gate against the modern pylon.
And off we plod.
I can see the beauty everywhere. Obviously the sunshine helps.
They have a great run about in the field.
Then we’re on our way back.
We get chatting a couple of times along the way.
Then back up the hill again with Calaidh (again) and Khaleesi.
Khaleesi looks like a deer!!
Then I start getting arty with the long grass.
She’s had a great wee run, she’s all out of puff…. So am I!
Beautiful buttercups.
It’s 8.20pm and I’m now yawning my head off!
It’s the Full Strawberry Moon tonight but the chances of me seeing it are slim. I’ll be out for the count before then!!
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 