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!!

Been a good day.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’ve been a busy bee today.

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 🫣😆

And finally….

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

And just like that it’s day 1901 already….

I’ve had a really lovely day today.

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!!!

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!

Happy Monday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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?!?!?!? 😆

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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!!

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.

Have a lovely Saturday!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

This is a very, very special place.

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 😆

Have a lovely Friday night.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

What a wonderful day.

It’s been hot all day.

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.

I am happy.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

I woke at 5.25am with the alarm and got the fright of my life!

It was time for our run…. I’d been awake a few times through the night so I felt shattered but I “jumped” out of bed and got ready.

Lynsey and I had a really lovely run. It was the perfect weather and I ran without stopping again. I feel like it’s getting a bit easier….

So yeah, today was my last day of work until Tuesday!

I’ve really needed a break but there were many reasons I couldn’t take time off until now… also the forecast looks great for the next 3 days.

I went to the charity shop on the way home to pick up a book to read and some wool to crochet.

I then went to Tesco and bought some food for my mini camping trip for the next few days. Saves me stopping tomorrow.

I’ve seen so many mirrored numbers or angel numbers today.

Craig phoned me at 11:11.

I know fine well that this is not random…. I’m not sure what it’s showing me but it’s made me smile all day.

When I read up on it, it says I’m processing towards my goal on my spiritual path.

I love that idea.

It’s 7.30 and I just had dinner so I’m going to sit for a bit and then get packing.

I’m quite looking forward to it… now that I have my book and my wool and I’m just waiting on the sunshine. 📖🧶☀️

I have the feeling of being watched.

No Hookers again tonight, which is probably just as well as I’d have missed it!!

Sunshine…. Where are you?!?!? 😆

Stay safe everyone 📖🧶☀️

Not much to say today as not much happened.

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.

Such a cutie. 😆

Have a lovely Tuesday evening!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

It’s 8pm…. Wheee did the day go.

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.

Honest. 😆

Stay safe everyone 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

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.

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.

So I’m gonna yawn my way to bedtime now. 😆

Hope you all had a Sunday.

Stay safe everyone ♥️🫶🏼♥️

The forecast was for torrential rain today.

I screenshot this last night.

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.

I feel very calm and relaxed today.

It’s a nice feeling.

There’s no overthinking or worry.

Just peace.

Hope you’re all having a great weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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!

Have a lovely weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I didn’t sleep well last night.

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.

Happy Thursday night.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

I have had a lovely day.

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!!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

What a lovely ring day 1888 has.

It’s no wonder I can’t seem to stop writing this blog as I can some sense of satisfaction watching the numbers click up.

I slept well but woke up at 5am.

I felt exhausted.

It’s a beautiful day and Donna Ashworth’s journalling prompt encouraged us to look for the magic.

I saw the lovely blue sky and the way the light was shining on the wall of the pub next door. The lush dark green ivy being all lit up…. It was beautiful.

It was a quiet day at work today…. And I honestly think that sometimes I might just have far too much time to be in my own head.

I didn’t know where to put myself today.

I was soooo tired.

I couldn’t think straight.

I couldn’t concentrate.

I tried to do so many tasks and kept hitting brick walls… all of them inside my own head.

My head felt really antsy.

I am full of tension.

I can’t sit still.

I am resisting something or fighting something that I can’t quite put my finger on.

I wish I was able to sit with uncomfortable feelings.

I am raging at them all the time.

What now?!?!

Honest to god I am hard work.

So…… I’m picking Gayle up in 10 minutes and we’re off to the beach.

Being kind to myself.

We went to Portencross. 🫶🏼 with the beautiful Isle of Arran in the distance.

Portencross Castle.

I love the old pier.

We saw this lovely wee deer 🦌 standing about in another field. That’s my second one this week!

We had a lovely walk and a good chat.

Just what the doctor ordered.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

It has rained on and off all day today… it’s pouring outside as I type.

I had another lovely 8 hours sleep and struggled to get out of bed when the alarm went off.

I decided to walk the dogs before work this morning.

I knew I wasn’t feeling that great this morning. I thought the walk would do me good.

And it did.

It was raining and the sky was very grey and yet everything was still very green.

It was very quiet. Just how I like it.

Being out in the fresh air was definitely helping to clear my head.

The roadside verges are so pretty and overgrown at this time of year.

The burn is really low and hardly moving.

We’re on a mission!

You notice the dogs are never in the same order… They swap about all the time!

The look like they’re chattering away to each other.

I love the old gates that are along the main road. There are 3 of them.

The rust is eating it away.

None of them are functional gates anymore, which is just as well. Don’t think they’d hold anything in anymore.

And on we plod.

I really had to push myself to do it and I was glad I did.

I still felt a bit weird at work first thing….. I had a fear. A sense of impending doom.

I did a quick 3 minute breathing exercise with the Silver Cloud CBT app. That helped a bit.

I had an awful feeling that something was wrong.

My heart rate was up.

I never got to the bottom of why.

It just was.

The rest of the day went fine and Craig made a lovely dinner when I got home.

We’ve got our feet up and watching Dept Q on Netflix. It’s set in Edinburgh and even features Mortonhall Crematorium!

Hope you all had a lovely Monday.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I slept for 9.5 hours without waking up….. well apart from Calaidh barking at 11.30pm… I was out for the count.

Even then I couldn’t wake up. I dozed on and off in bed until nearly 9am.

I seem to be really tired come Sunday.

I woke up with bad hay fever. Nose blocked, eyes itchy and sneezing like a mad thing.

I don’t feel great.

I think the CBT app hits the nail on the head when it says you need some routine or structure to your days… that you should get up at the same time every day and try not to oversleep.

I think I feel worse after an afternoon of rest and a long sleep.

I noticed Craig hadn’t messaged yet so I checked the Find My Friends app to see where he was……… already half way home!

SURPRISE!! 🫣😆

I got ready straight away and took the dogs for a lovely long walk.

We went a different way… they were really confused 😆

It looks like they’re talking to each other 😆

Calaidh and Freya off lead. I still don’t have the same level of trust with Khaleesi and who knows what lies around the corner.

She’s munching away at the grass.

The track is beautiful at this time of year.

I sit on Tom Marshall’s bench to “rest a while and enjoy the view”

The view is well worth the walk.

Calaidh’s happy to have a rest.

Khaleesi never stops looking around her.

We cross into the next field and I let Khaleesi off lead. They have loads of fun running around as Khaleesi tries to inhale cow pats….. disgusting 🤮

Posing in front of a very old gate!

Back to the bench on the way back down.

Beautiful colours in the early morning sun.

Even the long grass is pretty.

Everything is so green but it’s not muddy at all… this walk can get very muddy at times.

This farm outbuilding always makes me feel like I’m abroad somewhere.

Calaidh having a shake!

Pretty flowers.

Look who’s home by the time we get back!

They were so pleased to see him.

So I had no idea what to do today and have ended up sitting reading a book. I’m reading The Dream Home by TM Logan and I can’t put it down.

Bhru is enjoying being home too…. Don’t think they had the best nights’ sleep last night with it being so windy.

They were all playing in the garden and I thought this photo was hilarious!!

So that’s me, I’ve had a lovely weekend. I do think I start to feel better, I need to build in a bit less rest and a bit more structure as too much rest is making me feel a bit lazy rather than being needed, if that makes sense.

We’re going to watch a movie together now, if I can put my book down for long enough 😆😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I woke about 5.45am after a fairly good sleep.

Freya slept on the bed last night and I never heard her move at all.

Craig and Bhruic are still down in Port William on the south coast of Scotland.

I got up and let the dogs out the back before getting really to head to Lynsey’s for a run.

It’s perfect running weather this morning. very still, calm and cool.

The sun is lovely.

There are so many hills when we run from Lynsey’s house but absolutely stunning scenery.

The reservoir is so calm, the reflections were amazing.

Selfie with a view.

We got some shots when we got back to Lynsey’s….

Turns out I hit quite a few best efforts…. I’m assuming this was on the way back…. Downhill!! I’m really pleased with that.

Back home, fed the dogs and off out with them!

The sun is still desperately trying to break through!

Love all these cows lying together in this field.

The deer I saw yesterday was still lying in the field…. In a different spot but it seems so strange it just lying there like that.

The field is so pretty just now.

Everything is growing.

Loved this foxglove growing by itself.

With this white one nearby.

And a lovely rose in the Memorial Hall garden.

Think the focus is on one of the dead flowers here but you get the gist…. All very pretty this morning.

It’s still only 9am!!!

I spent the rest of the day in the house.

I did housework until lunchtime. Gave everything a good clean. Then remembered I have a husband and dog returning from camping tomorrow….. 🥴😬🫣😆

I had washed Craig’s woollen cardigan for the first time… lots of dye coming out of that.

Then rolled it up in a towel to dry.

Very domesticated!

I spent the afternoon crocheting and watching The Survivors on Netflix. It was really good. Set in Tasmania.

Khaleesi makes me look tiny in this photo. I think she’s really missing Craig. I’m not as much fun as he is. 😆

Love this wool that Evelyn gave me. Baby blanket finished.

I did some modules on the Silver Cloud CBT app which was really good. It says when you feel low you should schedule activities and make sure you do them as it will really help. I always waited until I felt like doing things but it suggests pushing yourself, which makes a lot of sense.

So that’s all from me. Feet up under a blanket, in the sun room about to plan my evenings viewing.

I am recharging being alone this weekend. It’s filling me back up. It’s been lovely. It doesn’t mean I don’t miss them. It just means it’s been lovely to have the space at home to breathe.

Craig likes noise, I like silence.

The silence is bliss.

Love you Craig. You’re still allowed to come home. 😆😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’m having a lovely day and it’s only 12.48!!

I woke at 6.30 after a full 9 hours straight sleep with no interruptions…. Bliss.

I got up about 7.30 and pottered around the house.

Craig and Bhruic are going camping this weekend and I’m staying home to watch Calaidh, Freya and Khaleesi.

I sat in the garden with this while the sun shone. That let Craig take all his gear out do the front of the house. He’s only camping as he has a job down the south of Scotland tomorrow.

Crazy Bhru!

Calaidh’s still got what it takes… even at 10 years old!

Bless them watching us both sitting out on the bench.

Lovely cuddles with Freya.

She really gives the best puppy love.

When I took Calaidh, Freya and Khaleesi for a walk this morning there was a deer sitting in the field.

It never moved as I got close. I had to put the dogs on the lead to make sure they didn’t run after it. I wondered if it was injured? It eventually got up and wandered quietly to the other side of the field!

On our way home.

So I decided to head out to Largs, rather than tackling the housework. I parked at the marina so I could walk in past the Pencil. It takes about 30 minutes to get into the town centre.

The Pencil!

I tried a few arty shots today and I’m pleased with how they turned out. I’m on my own and it feels good to have a wander in the sun.

Just walking around, pointing and pressing, doing what I do best.

Rain looks like it’s heading towards us but it never comes!

It’s quite breezy.

Love the coloured benches in Largs.

Lots of huge jellyfish 🪼 stranded on the beach.

Two spires!

I went to Perk Largs. It’s just the best. There’s a range of vegan and veggie food but they also do meat and fish. I had a coconut milk decaf iced latte with vanilla.

I then had avocado loaded fries! They were amazing. The flavours were out of this world. I really enjoyed it.

Highly recommended.

Spotted a thistle on the beach. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The clouds are fair rolling in now. It’s still warm enough for a tshirt.

Of course I hit the charity shops and got a pair of jeans for £4.50 and a pair of black denim shorts for £2.

I walked back along the beach.

It really is that big!!! 🪼

The Largs Pencil.

I had a lovely time.

On the way back I went to Tesco for some provisions for my weekend. They have a newly resurfaced car park…. 😆

Think Khaleesi wants fed…. It’s now 5.20pm….

She’ll be missing Craig. I’m sloppy seconds. 😆

I’ve felt some bubbles of excitement today which has been really lovely. Long may that continue.

Have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ☀️⛅️☁️