I lay down in bed last night…. It had been a beautiful day…. Then I heard the rain drops…. Huge big rain drops. It was about 10.30pm and it did not stop until about 3pm today.

It was torrential…..

The roads on the way to work were so flooded. Rivers running down either side of the road.

I slept well and work was really busy.

You can tell today is a slow news day. 😆

So my weekend is here!! I have Friday off as usual but also Monday as Helen is coming up from Exmouth this weekend. She’s drastically delayed poor thing, so tomorrow might have to be a gentle day.

I’m so looking forward to our next adventure for the next 4 days.

Who knows what we will get up to…. Which is interesting because I am the one who should have planned it all…. 😆

I have lots of ideas but we will decide each day based on the weather. It’s been so changeable that we can’t risk being out on a long walk and getting drenched.

I love this next time one….

You all know me by now… my body talks to me all the time and tells me all sorts…. 😆😆

So leading nicely into my next news….. I have also booked a mini break for the end of October… to Milan.

It’s another solo travel but with a difference… I’m going to be meeting Melanie, who I met out in Rome. She’ll get a train up to meet me. so I travel out alone but am not alone when I’m there.

How exciting!

I booked my flights through Skyscanner and I’m flying with Ryanair. Their booking system is very hard work! It’s very negative and they desperately try to get you to spend more money on your flights.

If you don’t pay to select a seat…they assume that you are happy with “random seat selection”…. 🫣😆 then they try to scare you by suggesting it’s not a good idea.

“What you need to know about random seat selection…. “

You might be stuck in dreaded middle seat. 🫣

Also the wording for not picking their travel insurance…. “I don’t want to be insured”…. What about I already have my own travel insurance?!?

Do you want to compensate for you CO2 emmissons?! I felt a bit guilty about that.

They asked me on 4 separate occasions to update my bags… the fear factor that the size you have selected will just never be enough. 4 whole times!!

And finally the £2.99 to get text updates. Now I did pay that just because I’d rather be fully updated when I’m travelling on my own. They got me there 😆

So yeah, I found that all very interesting. Spend more money. Spend more money.

Eh no….

So only another 3.5 hours until Helen gets here… IF the delayed flight is on its new time. I have everything crossed for her.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

The sun has shone almost all day.

It’s so lovely to see after all the rain and wind.

I slept for almost 9 hours last night… it was the best sleep… ever.

I was so tired when I came home last night. I had no energy or oomph. The housework I did do, was done at a snails pace and probably half as good as to should have been…

I went up to bed just after 8pm. It was bliss.

My head decompressed as soon as I went upstairs to escape from the noise of the football.

I lay and read for a bit but could hardly keep my eyes open…. I switched the light out about 8.45pm and slept like a log.

Musta needed it 😆

Eleanor Brown with 2N’s hits it every time. She’s a great follow.

I didn’t set an alarm for a run this morning. I hadn’t asked if anyone was free, just in case they said they were! I decided if I woke up early I would run.

I woke up with the alarm at 6.10am.

Hence, I did not run!

I felt a wee bit bad about missing it this week but I was so grateful for the amazing sleep!

This was a quick snapshot as I crossed the street to get to the car.

And there’s barely been a cloud in the sky all day.

Ellison and I sat out at lunch. I had a very similar salad to yesterday, but I had raspberries instead of strawberries today…. Still with Franks hot sauce. Craig and I are slightly addicted to it.

That’s veggie pakora on top of it. I love my salads!

I still have to work on negativity when things don’t exactly go my way.

We had another busy day today. The boys were finishing vans as fast as the boss was landing new jobs and I was rushed off my feet at both ends. 😆

I love that buzz. The productivity. I had to stay a weeee bit late trying to get everyone sorted that was finished and let new customers know we were ready. All good though.

So I’m sitting in the garden, still in my thick tartan joggers but enjoying the sun, if a little overdressed for it. My current view…

It’s so lovely.

I have crochet tonight with the Hookers. In 20 minutes in fact, so I’d better get changed.

I may discuss the possibility of turning my rainbow granny squares …..

into a waistcoat, that I’m certain I would never be seen dead in… but stranger things have happened.

I hope you all got some sunshine in your day today. It’s been very lovely.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

I think I had a great sleep last night, but didn’t feel particularly rested.

We have Khaleesi in with us just now as my friend is staying over the weekend so we’re getting her used to a new room. She was in the downstairs bedroom, while she recovered from her operation. That’s all been gutted and repainted so she’s in with us for the next few days.

She’s still not weight bearing much on her injured leg. She’s to get more tablets from the vet to see if they will help with any infection she may have around the pin in her ankle. Some days she seems fine and other days a little tired with the hobbling. Bless her that’s been nearly 3 months since her accident. Pic just because….

It’s been a quick day at work today with lots of lovely customers in and out. That always keeps me busy!

It poured with rain and we never got outside at lunchtime. I had a lovely salad today. Forgot to take a photo, who knew that strawberries and blueberries covered in hot sauce, could be a thing?!?

I came home and brought the wheelie bin round to the back of the house… they all know I was there… all 4 of them are looking at me through the glass!!

Khaleesi is just behind the joint of the 2 doors.

I’m tired tonight, there was no anxiety during the day at all. So different from yesterday but I’m shattered today.

Of course I ran the hoover around the house and got the spare room finished for the weekend and it’s all done.

The hairs that are cast over the next few days will just need to stay there. 😆

I’m so looking forward to a mini break this weekend. Albeit staying at home, but a chance to show Helen around. Please do a sun dance (if there is such a thing!) as we need dry days for walking if my plans are to come to fruition.

The forecast is half on my side!!

I love this…. It’s just so true.

When I stop fighting what is, and just be…. I am calm.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I guess after 1,577 days it’s acceptable not to be able to come up with a title every now and then…

Let’s start with last night… we had a lovely, impromptu evening with Claire and Graeme, next door, around their fire pit.

We sat outside until 10pm. Check me, staying up beyond 10pm on a Sunday night… a school night 😆

Claire has the prettiest lights in the back garden and how lovely is that hydrangea bush?!?

It’s magical.

These light bulbs are almost invisible but light up the bushes so well. It was just a lovely atmosphere!

This is the gateway to our garden…. it’s enchanting…

And our garden was pitch black as we didn’t gave any lights on 😆 I had fairy light envy!!

So…. I got up at 5.40am this morning, to catch up on some of the housework, that I didn’t get done yesterday.

I had a great wee morning and felt great on the way to work.

Sat at my desk and, boom, anxiety….. on and off all day.

Major overthinking.

I honestly felt like I’d drunk a few cups of coffee.

Jittery.

I can’t think of any real reason for it.

We were busy.

Maybe I was worried that I’d drop a ball with a lot of customers coming and going.

I really don’t know…. But you can bet your life I spent most of the day second guessing and trying to question why?!

What on earth is wrong with you now?

Why me?

It goes on…..

I ended up breaking my 16 hour fast early, in case it was just hunger.

It helped a bit, but didn’t really put an end to it.

It’s been a lovely day since lunchtime. Ellison and I sat outside at lunch.

So I came home and have been driven ever since.

I’ve tried to do as much housework as 3 Border Collies and a a Belgian Malinois will allow, in advance of my friend Helen coming to stay on Thursday.

I can’t wait until she gets here and we can plan our days…. All dependent on the weather, of course.

I’ve had a really good evening and not sat down until the back of 8. It still seems warm outside which is lovely.

So all is calm.

When you suffer from anxiety…. Sorry…. I won’t speak for everyone but because I have suffered from anxiety in the past, I always have a concern if I feel off.

I want to know what caused it and why it’s happening. I can’t seem to let it be, as I assume it’s telling me something.

Sometimes I’d like to be a little less in tune with my every waking thought. 😆

So it’s going down as a good day.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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

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

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

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

Lunch was very colourful!

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

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

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

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

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

We should all be more this…

And a funny to end….

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It made me laugh.

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

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

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

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

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

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Oh boy was that tough.

I am not an evening person.

I am a morning person.

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

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

No time to think.

Empty stomach.

Warm up exercises.

You start, you do it, it’s over.

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

So how does that translate into my lazy evenings?!

Not the best.

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

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

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

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

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

Oops forgot to do my warm up exercises.

My legs are like lead.

I feel heavy and sluggish.

I can feel food swilling around in my stomach.

There’s a headwind.

It’s muggy.

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

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

I did it.

It wasn’t my fastest.

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

I still did it.

A few actions shots of Claire!

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

And we are done.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

😆

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

That’s a pretty big number.

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

So true.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I think I have reached a certain level of peace… finally.

I slept like a log last night.

We’re sleeping with just a duvet cover rather than the 10.5 tog duvet in its cover and it’s much more comfortable

I’ve had a good day at work. There’s lots to catch up on and I’m enjoying getting everything back on track. It’s been sunny but not scorching but that’s definitely helped my mood.

Nothing beats a bit of invoice reconciliation on the system to plod away at! 😆 yeah I know, I hear myself…… #rollseyes

I still feel quite anxious driving…. Which is creeping up on me a bit these days. I have the fear at times but the noise in my head is at an acceptable level. Finally.

There have been no dramas. Just straightforward day to day.

I am going to spend a bit of time this weekend, thinking of things to fill some of my weekend’s off. I genuinely think I have too much time on my hands. When I try to think of things to do, my head just empties….. that’s what causes the stress and goes round and round in my head.

So for now I will take this new almost calm, and relish in it.

Also this….. this was my view as I dried my hair this morning 🐶🐶🐶🐶

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I slept like a log considering it was my first day back at work today. Usually that has me awake all night, filled with dread that the holiday is over. Instead I was filled with gratitude that I had something to do today.

Yeah I hear myself, how ridiculous does that sound?!?

Anyway, regardless… maybe this was a test to allow me to truly appreciate the day to day…

I got up early to take the dogs for a walk before work, as Craig had to get Khaleesi back to the Vet Hospital in Stirling, for 9am.

Today was meant to be a scorcher… I wore my shorts.

IT ACTUALLY RAINED!

That was not forecast!

I didn’t want to get up early but I made myself do it and I felt so much better for the walk.

My head is still sore and still full of noise but I am looking forward to the routine.

I feel really calm about work, I’m not worried about it at all.

I do still feel pretty rotten but I end up taking paracetamol after lunch and it actually helps. I kinda wish I’d done that earlier. 😆

Craig had Khaleesi back at the vets today for her final X-rays.

The vet is pleased with her progress and said the bone has fused very well so far, but disappointed to see she’s not putting more weight on it yet. He thinks there may be an infection around the pin. So we are the proud owners of 21 tablets that cost us £60!!!! A whopping 35 pence a tablet. Craig looked them up on the website he used to buy her doggy tramadol and they are £16. I appreciate their expertise but that’s one area where I find the cost incredibly difficult to justify.

She’ll be on them for a week. I recognise them as ones she had for the first 10 days after the operation. If that doesn’t make any difference we’ve to call back on Monday and he may prescribe something else…. Then if that doesn’t work, she may need the pin removed once the bone has fully healed, maybe around December time.

She’s a wee sorry soul tonight, still a bit drugged up. Here she is proudly showing her leg off!

Of course as I take this one, her lord and master walks into the room and takes all the attention.

So we’re really pleased that she’s healing well.

In other news, my Grandpa would have been 100 today…. He was a handsome man!

He always used to say “don’t be cheeky to Charlie” and then tickle us for ages.

Here we are with Gran and Gramps at a wedding down in the south of England. The Scottish contingent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

He suffered ill health towards the end of his life and I was amazed at his funeral to hear he had been ill for 16 years. I can still see him sitting in his chair as he got me to try and help him fix a phone line round to his side of the on. He got so cross that I didn’t do exactly what he asked me to do. I told him I’d be doing none of it if he didn’t start being a bit nicer to me. 😆

I suppose after 16 years of being sick he had a right to be a bit grumpy.

Don’t be cheeky to Charlie!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

It’s 1.33pm and I’m sitting out in the sunshine. The sun finally broke through the clouds and it’s lovely. I might actually have a wee snooze.

I was in tears when I woke up this morning as I felt really down. It was about 4.40am and I didn’t get back to sleep.

I didn’t want to go out for a run with the girls. I went to message them to tell them several times…… but I did actually go. It wasn’t my fastest run but I felt good.

It’s funny when you expect it to be tough, it’s a lot easier than you think. I’m really glad I went.

Here we all are! Just the 3 of us this morning. Elly, Gillian and I.

I came home and got showered and decided to take the 3 Borders out for a big walk.

It’s really mild but still no sunshine.

This poor old gate is now redundant and replaced with the modern fence at the whisky bond.

I loved the shape of the clouds.

They were desperate to get into this field for some reason. Little did I realise that the rain was about to hit.

The heavens opened.

We got soaked!!

It was really lovely just plodding about in the rain.

It was really dark and dramatic.

That big cloud just hung in the air for a while.

I tried to be arty with this next shot but ended up with a bit too much road and not enough sky.

This one is much better, being less arty. 😆

The clouds were so heavy.

These were my therapy trees when I used to drive round this way to my counsellor when I was off work sick. They always made me smile, upon the hill.

The blue sky is coming.

We passed lots of cows.

I then got dive bombed by a huge flock of birds we disturbed…. Their poo came like pellet fire! Actually only two bits hit my hoodie.

There were loads of them.

The pups were knackered when we got home. 😆 they kept looking back at me, as we walked, wondering what on earth was going on but I told them the exercise would do us all good!

I then headed out to Lidl in Dalry to get a food shop. I’ve been eating rubbish all week and I don’t think that’s helping at all.

The sun came out when I got down there and folks were at the shop in shorts! I think we’ve maybe been under a cloud back home. Oh the irony.

I’ve had a lazy afternoon. We were meant to be out at a 40th tonight but I’ve apologised and declined. When you feel like this, you assume you’ll be no fun… when actually the night out would do me good…. But I’m going have a quiet one. The “I’ll be no fun” has won.

Craig’s been working today and is adding another bit of fence on to the bottom of the garden. He’s being very industrious!

I’m gonna read a book for the rest of the day and jump only when called for spirit levels and the likes 😆😘

Have a great Saturday night and rest of weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️