Day 2043 seeing my lovely friend Lea and maybe my first panic attack?!?

Another pouring wet, dark and windy day today….. and cold. Our temperatures have dropped to 4°C which I have been feeling all day.

So, I’ve never told you that my lovely friend, Lea has been really ill these last few months.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that we almost lost her back in September when she had a perforated bowel and a very nasty infection.

The day we flew to Rhodes, I hadn’t heard from her in over a week and I was so worried but her lovely sister and friend kept me in the loop. About 10 minutes before we were due to take off, Lea messaged me and I can’t tell you how amazing that was… it was the beginning of a long recovery for her.

So tonight’s the first time I’ve seen her since then and I demanded every detail.

It was sooooooo lovely to see her and have a good hug. What a relief.

We had our usual Starbucks and I push for more. My first Toffee Nut Latte of the year!

I feel so desperate for her, so sorry for everything she had to go through…. My eyes start to swim…. My vision blurs, she’s talking but I can hardly hear. I’m telling myself I am healthy and I am safe.

My face breaks out on a cold sweat. I am suddenly roasting. I can hardly see.

I look to the floor as I turn to tell her I’m really sorry but I’m not feeling great and I think I need to lie down.

I don’t….. but I have to put my head down to stop it from spinning. I honestly thought I was going to faint.

I didn’t.

I hear her try to tell me to take my fleece off but can only manage half of it.

She gets me water and bring the Starbucks first aider with her.

I have pins and needles in my arms and my fingers are tingling.

I tell him that she’s the one who I should be looking after!!

I’m starting to feel better with some water and can lift my head but he’s concerned about the pins and needles in my hands.

They get the shopping centre first aid…. 3 of them come out.

By this time I’m better but the pins and needles carry on for about a half hour.

We all agree that it’s most likely an anxiety panic attack.

After everything she’s been through and I’m the one that almost passed out?!

I feel awful for everything she’s been through and I think I was so overwhelmed that she had to face all that.

I’m so glad that she’s on the mend!

She looks amazing!

So lovely to have seen her but just wish I hadn’t caused all that drama!

Cringe.

Oh and the Silverburn staff were so amazing.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2042 a 5k with Claire before work and Anne’s 70th birthday hookers afternoon tea!

This was the cosy scene last night…. Bhruic (Blue merle) has a ball that she is hiding from Calaidh…. She knows fine well what she is doing.

Calaidh’s eyes to me… “help me mum she has my ball” where Bhru pretends there is nothing to see here! It comical and it goes on for hours…

Another good sleep and I was up at 5.25am for a run with Claire.

Seems we missed an amazing Aurora last night. I think we were pretty cloudy and overcast. I am obsessed with the Aurora but not enough to sit out in then cold on the off chance. I’m not that committed. There was no sign of it at all as we ran.

We had a funny run today. We effectively ran the sign of a cross to avoid main roads, steep hills and a huge puddle across the road!

And we’re done!

It was nowhere near as wet as yesterday but it was really windy!

So tonight we have an Afternoon Tea for one of our crochet hookers… the lovely Anne is 70!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2041 boy did it pour with rain today…. 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

It was dry when I got up but this is the forecast for home and work.

The sky looked to be a beautiful sunrise but it didn’t really come to much.

But it was lovely playing outside with the 3 degrees, kicking balls for them.

This was the sky as I left.

I wore my crochet poppy today for Remembrance and had a minutes silence at 11am. you know, we think we have a hard life but when you stop and think what our grandparents and their parents went through, we really are very lucky to live in our generation.

We will remember them.

Ellison brought in her famous lentil soup for lunch…. I cannot tell you how good this is. I could stand my spoon up in it 😆😆 perfect for a cold, soggy day.

This is 4pm and the view from my car.

This is 4.30pm after a very wet drive home. The roads are quite badly flooded.

I can’t believe how miserable it’s been.

So we have candles lit and we’re all snuggled in the sunroom as Craig has a rare evening home. The wind is now picking up in time for Windy Wednesday… and Thursday is up to 47mph gusts… lovely Scottish weather!

Stay safe everyone ☔️☔️☔️

Day 2040 Vinted changes its sizing and sends the world spinning on its axis (I’m exaggerating!!)

So first thing this morning I see that Vinted has changed its women’s sizing overnight!!

Yesterday I was an XL 14 and today I’m an XL 20/22 🫣😆

Actually that’s not true I’m not a M12/14!

All the clothes I have up for sale are now showing as a size 20/22 as is everything on my feed….

Now to be fair, a size 14 isn’t an XL anywhere else and Vinted got a lot of flack for it.

It needed to happen but the overnight seems really surprising. If you’re buying or selling women’s clothes, you’ll have to be really careful you actually get the size you want!

I’m sure not everyone will update the adverts they’ve had on for a while.

It’s funny the reaction it had this morning and yet actually, as I write this, it doesn’t actually matter. 😆😆

Anyway, then I got to work.

It’s been really cold today… and very dark.

Dark on the drive to work and dark on the way home! Not happy….. 😆

I stopped to pick up a parcel on the way home and the Smugglers Tavern has its Christmas lights out!

So back home and cuddles with the pups as I have dinner.

I love the looks on their faces!!

Hope you all have a great Monday!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2039 a lazy Sunday and the Rambling Sloth 2026 Calendar!!!!!!!!! (Who knew?!)

I woke at 6.30am which meant I’d had a good 8 and a half hour sleep!

I decided to get up… determined not to waste the day. I sometimes feel a lot worse if I stay in bed.

I ended up cleaning up the kitchen, putting on a washing and then spent some time on Donna Ashworth’s Words to Live By Journal.

When Craig got up we sat and had coffee and Freya cuddles.

So really randomly I decided this morning to finally get around to making The Rambling Sloth 2026 Calendar!!!!

I’ve wanted to do this for so many years and always found it too hard to do.

It wasn’t easy… but I got there in the end… poor Mr A seemed to take the brunt of my irritation at the website 😆😆😆

So here (drumroll… 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁is the link

The Rambling Sloth 2026 Calendar

I hope that it works… it might not be available until tomorrow but I’ll keep sharing. It’s not as cheap as I hoped it would be but it’s printed to order so guess that’s why.

Wow.

I’ve surprised myself.

We were going to go out for brunch today but in an effort to save money. Rush decided to make a soup with everything he found in the fridge!

It was so tasty and I have another bowl for lunch tomorrow.

It was torrential rain all morning and all of sudden it cleared into a lovely afternoon, so we headed out with the pups.

Lovely to watch the Glasgow to Dubai Emirates flight head off… it’s such a huge plane, it really hangs in the sky.

The sun feels so warm.

It really is so lovely to see.

Love this reflection in a puddle. Always think of my friend Helen as she loves reflections.

Graham from work came and fixed a leaky tap for us. It’s been so bad, so it’s such a relief that it’s stopped dripping!

I then cleared away all this ivy mess that I’d cut down yesterday. It was really heavy!

I then must have manifested Helen as we had a good long FaceTime call.

I’ve had pulled pork for dinner, still being good.

So yeah that’s all for my day.

I’ve been a bit bored this weekend. Something is still not sitting right with me, maybe I’m not giving in to the relaxing or maybe I’m just needing to plan more for my weekends instead of hiding in my comfort zone.

Lots of food for thought.

But for now a calendar!!! 🫣😆

Stay safe everyone 📆📆📆

Day 2038 5kms all by myself and a lovely Saturday!

How lovely is this…..

I had a lovely sleep… woke at 6am and was ip for 7.

I’m looking after my neighbours Chinchilla and Cat this weekend so I went to feed them.

This is Cilla the Chinchilla!

She lets me pet her very gently.

No sign of Neville the cat but I’ve been up this afternoon and he’s gone inside for some food, and a nap!!

So I had the car booked in the garage this morning as the tyre pressure warning light was on the dash, and my brakes were squealing.

I dropped the car at 7.30am and ran all the way home…. By myself! The girls were all busy today.

It wasn’t the fastest and I stopped to speak to all highland cows and any people who would talk to me, just to get my breath back.

Check these guys out!

Keek!!

This guy looks like a bruiser!!

Kisses!!! Check the eye!👁️

It was so lovely to actually get photos of these guys. Every time I drive past they are at the fence and usually when I walk past them, they are nowhere to be seen.

Today I was lucky 😅

I’m so glad I ran this morning. I would have been so easy not to do it. Craig was more than willing to run me home.

I ran the route in my head several times before running it….. 😆😆

It’s very autumnal but still very mild.

So after all that’s, it’s only 8.30am!

I popped to the little gift shop this morning and had so many lovely chats with so many lovely people.

I picked the car up at 1.30pm with no fault found.

😬

So no cost but no explanation as to why I had the issues in the first place…. But I’ll take it and run!

I had my homemade lentil soup for lunch and it was so good. Think Craig’s had about 3 or 4 bowls already!!

I’ve also pulled lots of ivy back from the walls of the pub next door, as you do, because I had access to their roof. It was very slippy but I’m so pleased with what I got done, in my good clothes now a bit muddy….. 🫣

I’m sitting down now, it’s 3.45pm and I’m watching the birds on the bird table .

Ooh that was a good shot (ignore marks on the window, mostly caused by the birds!!!)

I already have Bolognaise made just awaiting spaghetti…. Check me. Positively domesticated.

Have a lovely evening.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2037 a lovely Friday off work

I woke at 6am after a great sleep.

I was meeting Holly at 7.45 for dog walk.

The burn is full with all the rain from the last few days.

We sat and waited on Holly and Leo as we were a bit early….

The sky was turning a lovely sunrise colour.

And then it started to rain and this lovely rainbow appeared. The photo doesn’t do it justice. It was vibrant 🌈

Then there were two!

It was a lovely walk. The dogs were shattered after it.

I had the doctor at 10.15 to discuss my overactive bladder, which is pretty bad since I went back on antidepressants. It’s almost like my whole body has relaxed. 😆

I’ve lived with an overactive bladder since 2003. I had hospital tests in 2007 to confirm what I already knew.

I manage it.

It’s become fairly unmanageable these days…. Although there could be a lot worse.

So options..

  • Medication – didn’t work the last time and had some nasty side effects
  • Refer to hospital to see if there are new options since I was last there.
  • Bladder exercises.

I opted for the third option.

My health is pretty good just how and I don’t want to rock this boat.

Speaking of boats… of ships.. I headed out to Largs for a quick wander around the charity shops.

Ther was a “new” CalMac ferry in Largs, the Loch Dunvegan. Not seen that one before.

It’s a lovely November day, if a bit mean and moody.

The tide is high.

I drove back for Reiki with the lovely Fiona at the Healing Hut.

What a lovely hour of deep rest and relaxation.

We discussed my recent anger and exhaustion. This really describes how I’ve been feeling.

I am determined to get more focussed on Her Travel Circle again.

Craig and I had a “meeting” about it tonight and have actions to take away!!

Love these next few shared by lovely Isy today.

My word for the month is currently light, which is a bit of a cheat as my word for the year is light, but I really felt I had to find light in other ways in the darker month.

I’ve made a pot of lentil soup to Ellison’s recipe.

I made bolognaise for tomorrow and I made fajitas for dinner.

I’ve lost half a stone now and I feel so much better for it.

Have a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2036 spring cleaning!!

I’ve been in some crazy, cleaning maniac mode today….

It’s been great to get a chance clean up the office. I didn’t get to do it all but my head feels so much clearer. I love knowing where everything is and clearing up mess. It makes my head feel clear and organised.

I need to get out more eh?!?

I’ve been really irritable today. I’ve overreacted a lot these last few days but I was way more angry than I needed to be. I haven’t been angry for a while so I’m trying to listen to what it’s telling me. I’m not sure yet.

The poor girls were terrified by last nights’ fireworks. Calaidh in particular just kept running from room to room, puffing and panting. It’s so hard to watch. I had the TV up loud and shut the door to the room, but we just have to get through it.

She was still panting until she went up to bed.

They are much calmer this morning thankfully.

Love this next one…..

It’s been so mild today I only had a T-shirt on… and the door to the portacabin open!

And just like that, it’s my weekend again!

Chilling with the pups!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2035 a mild November Wednesday with a 5k run before work

I woke at 4.30am.

Wide awake…. but lay until the 5.25am alarm.

It was so mild outside today.

The run with Lynsey and Rachel was really good.

Shame about my phone shadow on this photo…. Sure I could rub it out 😆

This morning was the full Beaver Moon at 8.18 but there was way too much cloud cover.

It’s a shame you can’t see it but this field was a field of eyes 👀 (actually if you zoom in, you can see some of them!)

Behind these cows standing there were loads of cows lying down, just their eyes shining in the dark!

I really enjoyed our run. I felt strong but on reflection, it wasn’t the fastest. My breathing was ok and my legs weren’t too heavy.

I’m always so proud of running before work. I don’t always look forward to it but I’m so chided I’ve done it.

The tops of my legs felt a bit chafed when I got home…. Upon investigation, I found that I’d rubbed a hole in my leggings!!

I can’t tell you how much it stung when I got in the shower. 🫣

Agony for about 10 seconds.

It’s actually a small burn!

Who knew that was possible?

Anyway work was fine and I’m now getting ready to head in to meet the Crochet Hookers.

Happy Wednesday!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2034 a brighter Tuesday!

I don’t think that it actually rained today.

I can’t be 100% certain but I reckon it stayed dry… and surprisingly mild.

I had a good day at work today.

I’m selling off excess stock on eBay and I really enjoyed getting stuff up for sale.

I get such a dopamine hit when I sell something that’s been lying around in stock for a while!!

I’ve already made about £600. Better in the bank than sitting in our stock.

I actually saw some sunshine today too which was really lovely.

The sky was lovely when I got home. Love the reflections in this big puddle.

I’m being very diligent keeping the house clean this week. Making sure I get things tidied up before I sit down…. And it feels really good to do that.

I’m still following My Fitness Pal and counting calories. I have to say, today was hard and I really, really, really wanted the macaroni cheese and chips that one of the guys had at lunchtime!!!

😆

But I didn’t. I ate my chicken salad instead…. And enjoyed it.

So, nothing much else to report.

I’m feeling no half bad this week. I’m not saying “good” as every time I do that something bites me in the backside.

It’s no half bad 😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2033 rainy days and Mondays… ☔️🌧️☔️

I slept like a log but woke with a thumping head.

I also appear to have put on 2lbs overnight.

The diet fairy giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.

I’m still so pleased getting all those things done in the house this weekend. Using things we already had, not spending any money but looking after the things that we own.

This is how my mornings roll these days.

Bless them.

I used to get so stressed by the lack of personal space. Since we lost Khaleesi I’m inviting them in everywhere 😆

Notice Calaidh can’t take her eyes off the stream of water…. Until you actually try to wash them, that is. 😆

Calaidh and Bhru are staring at the shower, willing me to spray them… which of course, I will not…. I would soak my lovely bathroom 🫣😆

It’s been rotten weather today. Torrential rain and the odd gust of wind.

I got a nice wee bit of praise from the My Fitness Pal app today. I’ll take all the praise I can get.

You have to click the “I’m on fire” button to get back to the food log diary. A nice wee touch.

And finally some lovely words from Happy Breeze.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2032 Sunday 5.8k run, housework & food shop!

I’ve had a really lovely day.

We put the kitchen back in order and have left as little out of it as we can.

I’ve thrown things out.

The kitchen is as clean as it’s been I a while and that feels so good.

If we had all the money in the world the kitchen would be ripped out and rebuilt…. But for now, I’m really pleased with how it looks!

I’d already oiled the breadboards before Rachel and I went for our 5kms run.

Look how lovely Spiers School Grounds were this morning.

If a bit flooded after all this rain we’ve been having.

We ran 5.58kms. I felt really slow today but I enjoyed it. It’s nice to get a run on the daylight instead of darkness all the time.

After my shower we sat and had coffee together.

Then we got on with moving and sorting and washing and tidying and it all felt really good.

Last weekend I was climbing the walls with boredom hit couldn’t bring myself to do anything.. except eat and drink.

I’ve managed to lose 4lbs this week on my new healthy eating and I’m so pleased. I feel so much better for it.

I went to Tesco for a food shop and instead of buying all the junk and snacks under the sun, I bought healthy, fresh food for the most part.

I still want to be veggie but it’s too hard just now so I’m back to cooking and eating meat. I’m not over the moon with it but it’s simple and it’s working.

I’ve made curried mince for dinner tonight and it’s super tasty!

So long may this continue. I’m enjoying it, it’s not a chore and I’m savouring my food instead of devouring it.

Hope you all had a great weekend and have a rest week ahead!

Be chill like Calaidh.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2031 a really lovely day with a surprise roadtrip to cheer some amazing runners over the finish line!

A really good day today.

Pouring wet dog walk…. torrential….

It’s really dark this morning.

I went down to see Gayle in the little gift shop.

It looks amazing and so lovely and Christmassy…. I can’t believe it’s the 1st November already!

So 3 of our running girls were running the Glen Ogle 33 mile Ultra Marathon today.

Rachel two doors down and I decided to drive up and catch them at the finish line. I really wanted to be there for them and so did Rachel.

I am SO glad we went. It’s an hour and 45 minute drive for us, to Killin.

This is Ben Lomond.

We had to try and guess when they would finish and we literally made it up with about 10-15 minutes before they ran into the park in Killin.

Our first glimpse of the Falls of Dochart in Killin, taken from the car. they are amazing after all the rain. More pics after the girls finish the Ultra.

This was the finish line.

And just like that we see them head into the park.

I felt so very proud of them.

They had no idea we were there.

As soon as they came round the bend, we started screaming.

They had no idea why there were people screaming for them at the finish line…. And the realisation crossed their faces at the same time.

I know I’ve maybe said it…. But I’m SO glad we went. It was so lovely to see that look on their faces and hug them so hard.

They are in inspiration to us all.

I will not be following in their footsteps however!!

They should be so proud of everything they have achieved. What a thing to have done.

I do have my handbag on my back under my dryrobe. 😆😆

We chatted to them for 10-15 minutes and let them go and get ready while Rachel and I went to explore the Falls of Dochart again.

I have stood in the middle of this river when it was much lower.

We leave Killin and head down the banks of Loch Lomond again.

We stop at the Falls of Falloch.

The noise was incredible!

Our last stop was at the famous Drover’s Inn, built in 1705… another huge waterfall up behind it.

I’ve lived i. Scotland all my life and never been in.

It’s all set up for Halloween.

The heading for home.

What a really lovely day. Thanks so much to Rachel for driving!

Huge well done to two other running girls, Claire who did a sponsored 5 gym classes in a row and Michelle who ran a 5k over the Forth Bridge.

Rachel and I will do our 5k tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

Day 2030 a lovely day with torrential rain!

I’ve had a lovely day.

My energy levels are up as I’ve been watching my food intake this week.

I’m not just stuffing my face full of food and not tasting it.

I’ve cooked and made salads and tried not to eat junk.

So… I slept like a log but woke at 5.30.

I lay and wasted time…. For a while.

We had coffee and Craig made bagels with steak strips and horseradish, for breakfast… lovely.

I took the dogs up the hill and saw an injured deer 🦌 in the field.

It was hardly able to walk. I felt awful for it and didn’t know what to do so I called our local wildlife centre and they came out straight away. They are just around the corner thankfully.

I have to say I felt pretty old when the two girls that turned up looked late teens. I’m sure they weren’t!! I don’t know if they will have been able to find it as they didn’t want me to go back up the hill with them.

I then tackled the oak worktops in the kitchen that have been driving me mad for ages…..

I’m sooooo chuffed with my progress, still another 25 hours and 2 more coats of Danish Oil to go.

Then I had a shower to de-dust and have sat working on my Donna Ashworth journal and Her Travel Circle post about the PS Waverley.

What next… oh clean bed!!!! Yay! Hoovering and cleaning up all my sanding dust.

I am hungry tonight but I feel so much better for eating a wee bit better and a wee bit less.

Salmon and broccoli tonight…. Check me.

I’ll give it a few days 🫣😆

Oh and it has rained so much today.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2029 waking up at 2.43am to the first frost of the year!

I did t sleep well waking at 10.30pm, 12.30pm and finally 2.43am 🫣 I didn’t actually have to get up until about 4.30 but of course I couldn’t get back to sleep.

My mind was racing.

I got up and let the dogs out the back…. They barked…… it wasn’t even 4.30!!! 🫣

Quick shower changed and out the door to realise the car was frozen! It’s our first frost of 2025. I could have taken a photo of the car but I went into “fastest way to defrost mode!”

Of course you are never ready for the first frost.

Goodness knows where my de-icer is?

I hadn’t had any thought to put the frost cover on.

So I used the best method my neighbour Helen gave me…. Fill a sandwich bag full of hot water and seal it. Then rub it across the windows.

Perfect.

I was only -0.5°C so it wasn’t cold enough for the melted frost to freeze again, so that was a bonus. 😆

I set off for Edinburgh Aiport.

There was freezing fog.

Just at Glasgow Airport a van seemed to almost blow up and the smoke that belched out the back of his van actually made me almost stop. I couldn’t see a thing. There were huge clouds of thick smoke!

He pulled over eventually and was still at the side of the motorway when Craig and I came home.

My drive was uneventful after that. A message came through from Craig as I passed Harthill Service Station!

He pretty much sailed through immigration and baggage reclaim and was out 30 minutes after landing. I think that’s pretty good for an international flight.

I went to the petrol station at Newbridge and filled up.

I sat in a car parking space for a few minutes until he called to tell me he was out.

The early morning sunrise sky was beautiful!

So huge big hug in the drop off and pick up zone and off we go back to home… via the supermarket for a quick shop… as you do!

Work flew by and now we’re in the village pub. One of our lovely neighbours is back from Australia and it’s so good to see her!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2028 early morning run with the girls!

Claire was my dog walking angel this morning and walked the girls to allow me to run.

We ran at 5.45 as usual and she took the dogs out while I showered.

My other next door neighbour, Holly, walked them this afternoon! Holly has been such a support this week, letting them out and walking them every day.

So very kind of them both.

Here we are after our 5k run. I didn’t record it properly on my Strava dammit.

Work was wet, windy, cold and sunny just a typical Scottish weather day.

I did drive home under a beautiful rainbow 🌈 for the second night in a row.

Some pics of sunset out the back tonight.

So Craigie is finally home tomorrow so picking him up early in the morning. He lands at 6am! In Edinburgh obviously.

Be great to have him back!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2027 a very wet, windy and dark dog walk before work!

What a wild morning!

I don’t watch the news to protect my peace but I have seen lots of photos of the hurricane over Jamaica right now 🇯🇲🫶🏼

We complain about our weather but we are so lucky not to ever face anything like that.

It must be terrifying.

This morning was very dark, wet and windy.

My alarm was set for 5.30am but I woke just before 5.

I had a nice chat with Craig out in sunny Doha to start the day.

I got showered and dressed ready for work and took the dogs out about 6.15am.

I had to walk through that huge big puddle!

I’ve got my headtorch on.

I love the way the clouds follow the shape of the road.

My headtorch died right about now!!

A lovely light coming back into our village.

It’s much calmer tonight, it’s rained on and off all day but the wind has settled for a bit. I thought this nighttime photo of the tree from our garden looks so like the morning one above.

I had dog calls to do tonight as well.

I’m shattered.

The dogs are calm and sleeping.

I might just have to do that too.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2026 a busy Monday!

What a lovely morning it was.

This is what a shower looks like, when you leave the door open, in a house with 3 Border Collies.

I went outside to play with the dogs for a while.

They are knackered after running about with tennis balls.

Work was really busy and passed quickly.

I feel a bit off today and I can’t put my finger on it.

I’m antsy.

I’m tired.

I’m bored being tired.

I have lots I want to do but I literally can’t be bothered doing any of it… yet I’m annoyed by my lethargy…. Yet never happier in my big comfy blanket and jammies.

I took the dogs for a walk as soon as I got home. This next pic showed lovely red sky but it’s not showing up as it looked.

Mild panic on the way back down the hill as there was a loose cow on the road. I slowly walked behind it…I started to message the village chat to suggest I may need rescued 😆😆😆

This photo is dark but the cow turned right into the farm entrance and up to the sheds.

Thank god 😆

She was a big one!!!

We walk back home relieved

So sit down for this next bit…. I actually cooked two chicken breasts, made 2 homemade burgers from 5% mince…. And then I made some spicy bolognaise with the rest of the mine.

I mean, come on. So much batch cooking… she who doesn’t cook anything much… so many meals in one day.

I then had a Scottish Dog Behaviourist enquiry call to make.

And finally I sat down on comfies to eat and watch the rest of Celebrity Traitors.

This is blurry but Calaidh is watching me eat my dinner.

Craig’s still having a blast out in Doha. What an opportunity of a lifetime!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 2025 the clocks have gone back and this has been the longest day with the most amazing sunrise 🌅

I was in bed early, so naturally, woke early and not a cough in sight!!! Thank goodness.

I still feel exhausted but I’m not hacking my lungs up anymore.

I saw a strange light on the bedroom wall and I jumped up, got changed, grabbed the dogs and ran out to experience this.

The sky was stunning. I think Claire and Rachel met out in their respective back gardens, and the sky was purple and orange before I got out.

I was literally running to try to get to the best view point before sunrise.

There was almost a red rainbow 🌈 but I was in too much of a hurry to stop… 😆😆

We are heading towards sunrise.

The sky is burning 🔥

This guy cycled past me and gave me a fright!! I took a photo of him cycling off into the sunrise.

(I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve typed sunset instead of sunrise!

Isn’t it stunning?

These lovely trees on the sunrise horizon… these used to be the trees I drove past when I first went to counselling when I was off sick… my counselling trees.

There is a thick band of cloud over the rest of the sky so the sun is only visible for minutes.

And there it goes already.

It was raining by the time we headed home and it’s rained all day.

This little robin flew across the road in front of us so many times.

There could have been many robins but I like to think it was Khaleesi, joining us on our walk. 🫶🏼 Bless her.

I went for a healthy food shopping in our local Tesco.

Tesco has been completely revamped and it felt very strange being in it. I’ve obviously not been for a while. 😆

When I got home I felt completely exhausted.

I got changed into clean jammies and sat down with puppy Calaidh. It was only 11.50am and I was done for the day. I was yawning my head off.

I felt much calmer when I made the decision to relax and stop trying to do housework etc

Toe beans 🫘 🐾

So I’ve done nothing really in the house this weekend… and that’s ok.

I decided to watch Cekebrity Traitors on BBC iPlayer.

Then Gayle messaged to ask if I fancied a trip to IKEA.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

And yes please!!

I jumped up and showered and got changed and was ready to go.

I spent £1.50 on this mat for the dog’s water bowls, it matches the kitchen perfectly!!

And so I’m back home after a lovely wee afternoon out.

I’m back in jammies and I’ve had more chickpea curry.

I’m relaxing with the pups and it’s soooo dark outside.

Craig’s still having a great time, training and exploring Doha. I am fairly certain there’s going to be a trip for me on the horizon.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✈️🇶🇦

Day 2024 a quiet day that ended up being really busy!!

I am completely wiped out. (I wrote this at 4pm)

I could sleep…. I’ve dragged myself around half the day stressing about feeling tired, fighting it, trying not to fight it….. but I do think it could be a wee teensy, weensy bit of loneliness….. she who seeks out silence at every opportunity, really wishes she was in Doha too!!!

Gayle has just messaged and asked if I want to go to Largs and I have instantly perked up…. I don’t feel tired anymore, how funny.

I woke at 4.44am…..

The good news is that I didn’t cough once… ALL NIGHT.

How is it possible you can cough all night one night and not at all the next?!?

I got the dogs up and brought them through with me and we snuggled.

I got slapped with various paws in the face.

I had claws dig in my skin but I loved chattering away to them.

I finally got up about 7, fed the dogs and headed out in the dark for a walk with them.

I took lots of photos of spooky trees this morning. They still remind me of my inlaws neighbour Carole. She loved a spooky tree.

The light is coming…..

Huge clouds on the horizon.

The girls are having fun.

It’s cold and a wee bit windy but it’s lovely.

At 8.30 I meet Rachel for our 5k… just the two of us today.

I found it soooooooo hard. Honestly my legs were like lead weights, so heavy and I really struggled to keep moving.

This is the same road as the earlier photo, the sun is now up!

I am so happy it was over! Rachel was dressed for summer and I was dressed for a cold run!

We’d had a good chat about diet and I came home and made an omelette for breakfast and I really enjoyed it.

I had 3 Scottish Dog Behaviourist calls to make today. One at 11, one at 12 and one at 1pm.

No answer at 11 and the other two went well. I did some housework and some Her Travel Circle work in between.

Then just like that it was 2pm!!

I’ve moved some logs in the garden, done some more tidying but literally humphed myself around the house complaining about being so tired!!

So yeah, I’m really looking forward to meeting Gayle tonight and won’t post this yet in case I get some photos!!!

We went to Largs and there are photos!!

We ended up going to Nardinis in Largs as Wetherspoons was heaving.

Death by sugar…. We need to find something to do in the winter that doesn’t involve so many calories!

Gayle’s car looks amazing under the lights on Largs prom.

That was good for the soul. A great natter!

Craig is still having a great time out in Doha and I really do wish I had gone out took maybe one day. The place he is staying is lovely!!

Really randomly my brother, sis in law and nephew are in Doha for 3 hours layover tonight. Such a shame they can’t meet up!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️