Day 1380 this too shall pass… ♥️

So yeah, not the best of days today but I’ve still been for a dog jog AND a long dog walk so that’s gotta count for something…. AND I’ve tidied the house and gone to Tesco for a food shopping.

I’m gonna make this quick because I know this will pass. I’m not giving it power over me by writing about how I feel today. I will share some of my photos though…. Even though it’s been a very grey and windy day.

Calaidh and Freya have their jog on this morning 🏃🏻‍♀️🐕‍🦺🦮

When they start off they are actually running with excitement…. Woah woah woah woah woah puppers… mumma can’t keep up 😂

I’m wearing old trainers as my feet get so wet outdoors in my current trainers, yet these old ones make both knees hurt almost immediately. I limped the last stretch home.

Changed into my walking shoes for a long walk with Bhruic and had no pain AT ALL. This knee pain is so strange…. Since we started sleeping at the bottom of the bed (like crazy people!) I’ve had no real knee pain at night, I’m not even having to use the pillow for elevation. Who knows what’s happening there?!

Bhru and I walked a way I haven’t gone for ages. I wanted to spend some one on one time with her. We passed the trees I used to see on my way to counselling every week. I think of them as my therapy trees.

Bhru’s not impressed!

I let her off lead and work on recall. She’s really good.

She’s loving the freedom.

We walked to this wee burn and back. Not been here in so long. She wanted to go and run in the field but there are sheep in the back right field and I wasn’t convinced that it was secure enough… taking no chances.

This is the level we’re at today… I love the deep tyre treads a tractor makes.

I’m fascinated but the shapes…. Big circles on the top and hexagons, under the weight at the bottom.

I saw my first snowdrops of the year! So pretty.

I came home and ran about doing random housework and tidied up some things in the garden that had blown over in the wind.

I headed down to Tesco for a food shop and diesel ready for my 11 days of work ahead.

So yeah, inwards and upwards as they say. (oh Freudian slip there!! I’m leaving that in)

It’s pretty dull outside so I have my new Sand + Paws candle burning. I got this from Craig’s sister along with my Joma bracelet.

I wuf you 🐾

The business was set up by girls in California to get rid of the smell of wet dog after being down at the beach. Just wet mud here today!

I’m at 21 hours fasting which I’m really pleased about. I can only do this at weekends… I can’t manage a long fast through the week. I never set out to do a long one, it just happens some times . Craig’s made his amazing rice pudding so I’ll be having some of that shortly 😋 then I’m gonna have a nap!

Here’s wishing you all a great week ahead.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1379 dog jog, dog walk and our nieces 16th birthday party! 🥳

Wide awake at 5am, got up and moved down to the couch to read. Subsequently felt shattered all day.

I got Calaidh and Bhru ready and out for 8.30am and we did the first dog jog in months…. It felt really good. It blew the cobwebs away and the poor puppers were wondering what on earth had happened all of a sudden. We were all breathless when we got back, though not sure they had done anything more than a fast walk 🙄😂 I forgot to take my phone so no pics.

Back home and changed into walking gear and took baby Freya down to the little gift shop to get a birthday card.

She was so good. I did some lead training with her on the way. She doesn’t go out on her own that often so it’s good for her to get some socialisation and go see her Auntie Gayle.

We talked for a wee bit too long and she actually lay down and almost nodded off.

Bless her.

Look at the poor gate on the way back home. It’s just hingin’ in there isn’t it?! I felt really sorry for it…. Empathy for an old gate. Whatever next?!

I lay down for an hour and read and tried to nap but didn’t. Got up and had a shower before Craig got home from work.

We have been up at my sis in laws for our niece’s 16th birthday party. How can she actually be 16 already?!?

We had some lovely party food and was great to catch up with everyone as we didn’t see them over Christmas.

I got a lovely Joma bracelet for my Christmas from them. It’s a gold acorn for strength.

It’s super shiny compared to the others I’ve worn every day.

We played a family quiz game and I always think I’m so rubbish at quizzes. My head just says nope, nope, nope when it’s under pressure and my brain leaves me alone. 😂 I did really well and came 4th or 3rd I think but I was just guessing to take the pressure off!! Obviously good guesses. 🙈😂

So just a quickie tonight as I’m soooo tired! Hope you all have a great Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1378 the day of 800* dog walks prone to exaggeration

It’s 5.15pm and I’m over 20k steps already…. Some days I can barely scrape 2k so that’s not bad going.

I had a great sleep and met Rachel two doors down at 8.20am for our weekly run. (Forgot to write about it last week but we have done it every week in January!)

We ran a bit further this week so I was really pleased. It’s “only” 2 miles but that’s 2 miles more than I did in the last 6 months!! how red do I look?!?

We had to take Craig’s car to the garage for its service and then I started walking the millions* of dogs we now own.

It was actually a lovely morning. Cold but dry and sunny.

First up Calaidh and Bhruic.

The burn’s quite full after all the rain.

Bhru is checking it out.

Back home and swapped them for Freya. Did a bit of recall training with her.

She’s really good when she’s on her own with no distractions.

Wee sweetie… she’s still my baby!

The low winter sun makes everything look lovely. Only downside is my big shadow in the photo.

Back home and swapped for Khaleesi.

She had a lovely walk.

We caught this lovely rainbow as the rain was heading over, thankfully I missed the shower!

The cloud was low hanging with only a little bit of blue on the horizon as it came over.

Still no rest for the wicked 😂 when I got home I tidied the kitchen, put on a washing and filled the dishwasher.

I found one of my favourite socks…… this is it on my hand with the culprit… showing her what she has done!! Mum can you darn it?!?!? 😂 that’s me asking my mum, not Calaidh asking me…. Standing joke some of the socks we’ve asked mum to darn!!

When Craig came home from work we picked his car back up and headed to Mocha Jak’s for lunch. I had the avocado stack!

I then went down the little gift shop and spent about an hour chatting to Gayle. As you do. It’s looking soooo lovely just now.

Back home and into the pub and we’re both on alcohol free! Craig’s done so well with Dry January. He’s made it look so easy.

So home now…. I’ve been a bit antsy today. A lot of my day has felt like a chore and at times I’ve stopped myself and thought, be in the present moment and enjoy what you are doing right now. That’s really helped. I feel like I need “NOW” tattooed on my hand to remind me.

My knees have been great since last Friday. They’re ok ish today so will see how they are tonight after all those steps. They are not stopping me from doing anything which is the main thing!

So happy Friday night and enjoy your weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1377 reminiscing ♥️

I just realised that yesterday was the 20 year anniversary of my life changing trip to Australia.

I left Edinburgh airport, surrounded by family, and set off on an adventure of a lifetime all by myself.

Recently divorced and made redundant for the THIRD time in about 2 years due to factory relocation abroad, I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that this was my time to head to Australia and New Zealand… something I’d always regretted not doing straight from Uni. Yes I was terrified….. got Valium for the flight from the doctors but didn’t need it.

I was very lucky to have received ample redundancy money over the years so had plenty of money behind me to fund it. (Never did actually add up just how much it cost me and probably should never do!)

We have lovely family in Melbourne so I headed out there to use as a base. I ended up in Australia on and off for 15 months, bouncing around but always ending back up in Melbourne. Jeez I cringe at that actually, they must have been sick of the sight of me for all that time. 😂

I got a job in Melbourne and stayed there until June when I jumped on a Groovy Grape tour from Melbourne, through Adelaide, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and up to Darwin. I then flew across to Cairns and went up and down the east coast by bus.… first up to Port Douglas then to Townsville where I worked in a cafe on Magnetic Island for a month or so. Then onto Bargara, near Bundeberg, to stay with this lovely couple.

I knew Father Norman as he had come to stay in Penicuik and lead the ministry at St James the Less Church, while our Minister John Farrant, went out to his parish in Australia. Have no idea what age I would have been but we spent a lot of time with him. Sadly last night I joined the online feed for his funeral held in Christ Church in Bundaberg at 11.30pm. I went to bed after Crochet and slept until 11.25, then got my earphones in and lay and bed and watched the service. A lovely service for a lovely man. I’ve not seen him in 19 years but I felt I could hear him leading his own funeral service. I can also remember him serving me a cup of hazelnut tea and a cookie 🍪, in his jammies, every morning for the month that I lived with them. A very religious and very kind man.

Since I had left home in the January of 2004, Norman and Gwenn had been to Scotland to stay with mum and dad so it was lovely to stay with them and have that link to home.

I left them and headed south by overnight bus into Sydney, where I stayed for a while. Then on through Canberra and back to Melbourne to say hello.

I then flew out to Perth and worked as an outback barmaid in a town called Dowerin for a while before heading back to Melbourne for Christmas.

2005 saw the trip to New Zealand for 7 weeks as my Australian visa was up. I then flew back in for a few weeks before making my way through Thailand before heading home in April 2005. Just the most amazing trip.

I always knew I needed to come home to Scotland. I don’t remember feeling lonely as I travelled, I didn’t miss home too much but I always knew Scotland WAS home. My only regret was heading straight back into the rat race with the “big job”. I may have been clever enough to work my way up to a Senior Manager but honestly, it was never really in my make up. It was something I felt I had to do rather than wanted to do.

You shouldn’t live life with regrets.

My life lead me to Craig. ♥️

If I didn’t get sick through work I might never have found the peace that I have now.

Those 20 years have flown by in the blink of an eye.

It’s the first full moon of the year tonight. I have paid for a full moon calendar (it was only pennies) to remind me when the full moon is due. This is called the Wolf Moon.

I got a lovely photo of last nights moon as I left the hookers in the pub!

It’s also Rabbie Burns Day in Scotland so I’m having veggie haggis for dinner… the turnip had already gone off, dammit. Nae neeps for us 😂😂

I also had Terry’s Chocolate Orange which isn’t Scottish in the slightest!

Don’t worry…. She didn’t get it.

That’s my working week over so I’d best make the most of this weekend! Next weekend we’re at the Caravan z show in the SEC again ALL weekend…. 😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1376 there was an orange ball in the sky today!! ☀️☀️🥱🥱🥱

Wow what a stormy night. I think it was the worst weather so far… yet I managed to sleep right through! My earplugs totally drowned it out.

So you see the scary ghost-like clouds in the sky?! They were really spooky clouds when I was out with the dogs at 10pm.

They reminded me of the ghosts on Ghostbusters but I only videos them, so tried to snap these photos off the videos!

It was still really wild again this morning.

I had to go out into the garden at 7am and I shut both gates again and made sure everything was safe for the dogs.

It was a wild drive down to Tartan HQ. That’s really the worst it’s been since the storms started.

But…… guess what… there was actual sunshine appearing mid morning….

It was so lovely to see the sun and the wind had finally died down to a gentle breeze. I almost took a photo every time I went out. 😂

So not much else to report. The silence is deafening now that the wind has stopped raging.

I spent a bit of time in the back garden with the dogs, when I got home. It only got dark about 5pm!!

My friend Ruth sent me a surprise grift tonight. ♥️

So very kind and considerate of her and Calaidh is super interested too. I’m.looking forward to reading it and seeing what lessons I might take from it.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1375 just the weather again…. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 and some self reflection 🥰

Well it must have been calmer last night as “Julie with ear plugs” was out for the count…. In my actual bed. Check me.

What a great rejuvenating sleep. I felt so refreshed! (as I read that back it sounds like I woke up 20 years younger which was absolutely NOT the case 😂😂 )

Storm Jocelyn has been picking up throughout day.

It’s rained ALL day and the wind has been gusting on and off all afternoon but she really hits tonight.

The Tartan portacabin has been buffeted about… I said thank goodness I was there for the ballast 😂😂😂

I was really lucky that the last deluge stopped about 5 minutes before I left work so my drive home wasn’t massively different from normal. Except for the tree down at the top of the road. This is not my photo so credit to Edward McWilliams.

Our house is literally just around that bend. I had to take the detour on the back roads and had a van follow me as he didn’t know where to go.

We have lost the top of our wood shed unfortunately. It’s done well mind you. It’s an old bus windscreen box from my old job.

The sky was stunning when I got home.

So once again I’ve watched myself have better reactions to previous triggers. When we try to finish a van there are always last minute parts required, for a variety of reasons.

My thought process was always as follows: immediate panic, defensive, high pitched whiny voice, why do you need that, why didn’t I know about it, did I buy the wrong thing, I’m sure I had that in stock, where do ok I get it, I’ve never bought one of them before, how do I even know where to look, how come we need it when I’ve never bought it before, will it get here in time, tears, panic, anxiety, anxiety, anxiety. You usually have to peel me off the ceiling when this happens.

The last time this happened I skyrocketed and came back down to earth pretty quickly, having seen my over-reaction from the outside looking in if that makes sense?

Today….

No problem.

Look part up.

Send screenshot… does this look ok?

Buy it.

Add to list of parts to buy in future.

Smile to myself.

That….. is how it should be done.

When you live with anxiety, you don’t just calmly stop and think. You catapult into the anxious oblivion.

Today I calmly thought and acted. No drama.

I love that I’m so aware of it too.

So that’s us both home safe tonight and hopefully by tomorrow the storm is over.

Hope you’re all safe and warm.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1374 Storm Isha to Storm Jocelyn

Who knew you could get two storms in a row?!?

That was something else last night.

I had ear plugs in, with my fingers in my ears on top of the ear plugs and I could still hear it.

It was like someone parked an artic truck outside the house and left it running. it was wild!!!

I moved down to the couch at 10.20pm as we’d been in bed so early. I didn’t sleep very well.

There are rumours of a trampoline being in the middle of Main Road spotted around half 11 last night and Craig and I slept through the call to help move it!! Least I slept at some point…

It’s been shocking weather all day. It’s been relentless.

So as Storm Isha moves away, Storm Jocelyn rolls right in…. Tomorrow night is another super windy night. To be fair, I don’t think tonight will be much better 😂😂

So other than yawning most of the day. I’ve been good.

I love when I’m proud of myself for a certain reaction to things… when I know I would have reacted differently in the past. I’ve been aware of that a few times today.

So a wee funny story …. One of our suppliers had a sale on and we laughed when we saw the nodding Coconut Tortoise…. I mean why? 😂😂

I messaged my supplier contact, who is the loveliest lady….. and we had a good laugh and she sent us not one but two!!! What a lovely thing to do. ♥️

They are the funniest things, carved out of a coconut with nodding heads!

I gave one to Ellison as took one to the office. She drew a smile on hers and I copied her. she called hers Tam. 😂

Simple things eh??

Anyway, needs must when there’s not much midweek content! 😂😂

Stay safe in the storms.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1373 Bhruic turns 8 and day out to Scotland’s Trade Fair with Gayle

A big happy 8th birthday to Bhruic!

Here’s the little munchkin at 3 weeks old.

Here she is under the chin (as the saying goes 😂😂)

You would think butter wouldn’t melt.

But it definitely did…. Here’s Craig rescuing her after she disappeared off the edge of a lookout point up near Oban.

Check her smile as he carries her 😂😂😂

She’s a beautiful girl 💕

So we’ve been trying to decide if need a new mattress or not…. We have a mattress with an inbuilt topper so we can’t turn it over, but it’s getting pretty saggy.

Instead of turning the mattress we slept the other way round in the bed last night to see if the mattress is worth turning 😂😂😂😂

It made me laugh as it felt really strange but I think it was better. Problem is we we turn it round, I get Craig’s side and he gets mine. I think I’m happier this way 😂😂

The wind (outside!) was so strong yesterday, that I woke on and off all night. Surprisingly no knee pain though! I found ear plugs which helped drown out the rain and wind so slept better the second half of the night. We’re due to get up to 71mph gusts tonight.

It’s pretty windy out there just now.

So Gayle and I went to the SEC today for Scotland’s Trade Fair.

We had a great day and I loved that we met some of the folk we met last year. Gayle got lots of new ideas and bought some new exciting stock for the shop.

I’m back home, hunkered down for the night, the hatches are battened and we hope our chimney doesn’t lose any more bits tonight. Hope everyone in the UK is safe.

Hope life is easy on you this week. Remember to take each moment as it comes. Just breathe.

I include myself in that 🙄😆

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1372 a day with no plans!

Didn’t sleep well until after 3am.

My knees were gowping again. So painful. Both of them. Doesn’t help that he weather was pretty awful through the night so I think my knees and the wind (the outside wind! 😂) keep waking me up.

I put Biofreeze on both legs at 2.30am and I think that helped relax my thigh muscles, which seems to take pressure off my knees.

I never got out of bed until after 8am.

Storm Isha is on its way.

The forecast keeps changing but a few days ago it showed this…..

I have NEVER seen those numbers on my weather app…. It now downgraded to….

But look at what’s coming….

We’ve already lost a wee bit of chimney roughcast. Craig’s heard something “fall” through the night and we found it on the road this morning.

It’s really windy right through until next weekend. I’ve been Mrs weather forecast for the last few days 😂😂

So back to today…. Housework. About time too. Been gallivanting too much recently 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I’ve changed the bed, done several washings, hung everything up to dry, hoovered everywhere and cleaned up all the muddy dog splashes on the walls and floor. The muddy dogs have only gone and covered my cleaning with muddy splatter but at least it was clean for 5 minutes. 🙄😂

I even cleaned the wood down the side of the stairs…. I couldn’t tell you the last time I cleaned that. 🤦🏻‍♀️ A job well done!

My right wrist and elbow are pretty sore too with tendinitis. I’m not letting it stop me though.

Craig and I then went to Curiosity coffee shop… his first time there and I had my mint oat milk latte. Loved it.

We then drove to Kilmarnock as Craig had a Specsavers appointment…. OR DID HE?!?!

Nope…. It would appear he did not 😂😂😂

His appointment is next Saturday… 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄😂 I’ll be dining out on that one for a while.

So we drove ALL the way home again. Popped into the pub with Khaleesi, for a quick alcohol free drink for two, Craig is making his Dry January look easy. He had and Erdinger 0% and I had 0% pink gin and slimline tonic. Leesi sat by the fire!

Nice to have a day to catch up on everything and bonus that Craig was here for the day too.

Have a great Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1371 ladies wot lunch in Edinburgh 🚆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌨️❄️

I’m on the train to Edinburgh again.

I love the train!! 🚆

We’re having a family ladies lunch today with Mum’s side so I’m meeting Mum, Auntie Marion, mum’s cousin Joyce (who is always called mum’s cousin Joyce!) and my sister in law, Gill.

I had another great sleep and woke up at 6am. It has snowed again over night. By the time I got up, the rain was pouring over the snow and creating black ice 🧊

I got a notification from the Trainline app to say that there was potential disruption on the route for today so I left early, to make sure I got there in time. Here comes the train!

The platform is super icy. They always say “please mind the gap when alighting from the train”… please mind the ice as you try to board the train would be more appropriate!

I don’t get any decent photos from the train as it’s raining and misty most of the way in.

Here’s Glasgow in the rain though.

Me with my hood up. My hair was nice and straight when I left the house… maybe not so much by the time I get to Edinburgh 😂

I got the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh and we were only held up for a bit outside Polmont station. They said there was a technical fault that they were currently fixing.

I met a lovely American family on the train on their first visit to Scotland. Their daughter is starting Glasgow Caledonian University. I of course became the tour guide on the train whether they wanted it if not. I was buzzing for them to see Edinburgh for the first time 😂

Joyce met me in Edinburgh Waverley. The Americans went off to find their Mary Queen of Scots tour…. Who knew that was a thing?!?

We were booked into The Botanist in Edinburgh.

It’s through the new St James’ Quarter.

What a beautiful place.

It’s so pretty inside. It’s such a lovely atmosphere. It’s in the centre of Edinburgh but it’s like sitting in the middle of a jungle.

It feels very natural.

The food was exceptional too. It’s a really good menu.

Joyce and I shared the Red Thai Prawn Kebab and the Grilled Halloumi Kebab.

We got one with coconut rice and one with chips.

It was so good honestly, super tasty, really good quality food. Only cost is £22.62 a head as well which I thought was really good.

Here’s the seabass.

And the sweet potato Katsu curry.

Even the oat milk DECAF! latte was really good.

I really loved it, I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s great to catch up with all the family ladies too and hear everyone’s news.

It’s been a lovely, cold day in Edinburgh.

I took a few shots before I headed back down into Waverley station.

I literally missed the Glasgow Queen Street train by two minutes. They wouldn’t let me through the barrier as the doors were just closing. Dammit…. 😂 I headed round for the Glasgow Central train which stops at hundreds of stations but gets me into Glasgow only 7 minutes later than the Queen St train so I figured it would do me just fine. I’m also seeing a hundred Scottish stations, most of which I didn’t even know existed!!! Who knew 😂

Still an hour of travelling to go but that is fine. It was a lovely day and yet another mini adventure and new experience!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ❄️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚆

Day 1370 a lovely wee coffee with Lea!

I cannot believe that I was causing those headaches myself. 3 days of headache… gone. All because I was resisting every day life… I was fighting my reality as I wanted to be somewhere else…. I didn’t want to have to deal with the dogs and I didn’t want to have to be in the office. I resented all of that as I wanted to be off out enjoying myself. I physically made myself tense.

At the time I had no idea I was doing it. I only knew there was something wrong when tablets didn’t touch the headache.

That got me thinking.

Reading that Eckhart Tolle post really made me stop, think and completely relax.

I created all of that as a problem in my head.

It isn’t a problem. It’s my reality. It’s here so that I can enjoy doing the things I want to do when I can have the time to enjoy them.

I bloody love this soul searching stuff….

I’ve had a much better day. I’ve had lots of ideas for improvements at work and have started working on them.

I’ve chosen to let my anger go and it’s actually gone (no one is more surprised than me!)

I’m off into Silverburn Shopping Centre to meet Lea for a good catch up!!

Starbucks for a cuppa as usual.

Lots of great chat as usual. We’re making a habit of catching up more and it’s good!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1369 a mindful trip to the sea 🌅🌊

I’m finding the blog a chore when I don’t feel 100%.

I’m fairly certain I’m not sick, but I’m creating some kind of weird tension in my body because I’m unsettled, out of balance.

I’ve learned to be very in tune with how I feel. I guess I overanalyse everything too.

I’ve had a headache for 3 days now and nothing is taking it away. Even typing that is giving it power over me. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen. I’m making such a big drama out of something that’s actually nothing.

All because I feel a bit low.

At lunch I saw this:

I read this over and over and felt the headache ease off. I realised that my jaw was clenched as it slowly started to relax, my shoulders relaxed down from my ears.

Is it that simple? Am I creating it all? And I think the answer is yes.

I’ve had an amazing January so far… I wanted to keep my head up the whole month and for some reason it’s slumped a bit. I feel restless, antsy, looking for direction. My mind screams that life is short and I should travel, travel, travel….. 🙄😆

So I went to the sea and it helped a bit because it was beautiful. I couldn’t stay long as it was bitterly cold and I didn’t have the warmest gear on.

The sky was absolutely stunning.

Spot the tanker perfectly positioned on the horizon. If I’d got away from work bang on time he’d have been right in front of the setting sun.

I suddenly noticed a squall moving down the Isle of Arran.

It was really dramatic. I took loads of photos but I think these were some of the best.

I’ve also never walked on frosty sand before. It was hard going as it was quite solid and we expect sand to give way when we walk over it. Very pretty though.

So I’ve given myself a shake, a dust down. Blew some cobwebs away at the beach and have blurted it all out.

We can’t always feel on top of our game.

Life isn’t always perfect and doesn’t always go our way.

We can set off with the best of interiors and have a million things disrupt our path.

The key is how we respond and I hope I’m back on track with that.

And this…… oh yes, this. Way too much drama being created this week.

And relax.

And go meet the crochet hookers!!

I’ve 4 minutes to get changed, pick up my crochet and head into the pub next door.

Stay safe everyone 🧶🧶🧶

Day 1368 blood tests and snow!

Ok so I called out the snow this morning with yesterday’s forecast, but it needed up being nothing like the forecast!

Went to bed sooooo early. Was in bed for about 8 and slept right through until 7.10am. I had a lie in as I had the Phlebotomist for blood tests, this morning! (I LOVE that word!)

I opened my eyes about 6ish… no snow, back to sleep, 7.10…. Now snow, back to sleep until 7.50am and still no snow.

I set foot out of the house at 8.30am. It started to snow.

The doctors surgery is a 5 minute drive.

Still snowing.

Walked in the door…. “Julie?!?!” ….. yes…. Straight in to the phlebotomist 😂

First arm no vein.

Second arm no vein.

“Have you drunk any water this morning?” Yes loads… “strange as that should help your veins….”

Finally got a vein in my right hand.

Drew bloods for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and something else which I missed.

All in all 5 minutes.

Over her shoulder, outside the window looked very white.

Yup full dusting of snow when I walked out the door and it was still snowing.

I didn’t seem enough to work from home, and really it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop me having a scary drive!

Some roads didn’t even have tracks in the snow. I drove down a hill near our local whisky bond and a truck turned the bend and came towards me. I pulled into the side and tapped the brakes….

Nothing. 😱

My anxiety went through the roof.

Every what if scenario considered.

I just slid on down that hill. Kept it straight thankfully and the truck got past me ok but I had the wobbles after that.

I often think it’s good to have a wee wobble on a first snow driving day as it makes you concentrate more.

By the time I got to work there was nothing.

Criag took this pic for me back home.

So that was me today.

I’m still not feeling great but not sure why. I’ve had a headache for two days. Nothing is shifting it. Seems like a tension headache. I was really emotional last night and kept wanting to cry. I’m tired and foggy headed. it’s not that time of the month and I’m still on the HRt.

I did a food shop after work tonight and tried to buy healthy. I’m thinking I’m having too much sugar in between fasts just now.

I had a veggie stir fry for dinner tonight but I didn’t enjoy it at all… least I made the effort to make it.

I’m gonna get back up and make my salad for lunch tomorrow, load the dishwasher and out some washing away then I’m going to sit down and read until Craig comes home.

Oh I should say that Craig’s Scottish Dog Behaviourist FB page reached 1,000 followers yesterday, which is incredible in his first year out own his own. He’s worked so hard to increase his followers, as have many of you, and for that I am so grateful. His business will go from straight to strength the more social media presence it has. If you haven’t links it yet, here’s the link to the page.

SDB Facebook page

Thanks all!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1367 back to reality!

Oh I don’t know where to put myself tonight…. My head has been sore since after lunch. It feels like a tension headache. My jaw is tight too.

I actually felt fine this morning, slept ok so no excuse there.

It was soooo frozen this morning I couldn’t get into the car!

Claire had been super lovely and scraped my car for me this morning as a wee Monday surprise! how kind…. But by the time I got out I still couldn’t get into the doors. The Beetle has those coupé style windows that drop down as you unlock the door… in the ice there’s no dropping down, hence door not opening.

I finally managed to get into the passenger door and climbed over to get the engine started. It all defrosted in the end but the windows sat kind of open all the way to work. It’s a real flaw.

I got on fine today, felt fine but mid afternoon I lost all focus, I kept having to look things up two and three times.

So… I could just be tired after all the excitement of the last few days!

I really wanted to go for a run after work to try and clear my head but it’s freezing. It’s that bitterly cold that takes your breath away a bit. Tomorrow we have snow forecast!

Probably means we’ll get none but I brought my laptop home just in case. Us anxious folks are always prepared for every eventuality. 😆

There was a lovely sky as the sun set.

Pic doesn’t do it justice. It was almost pink and grey striped, like wallpaper I had as a wee girl.

So yeah, I’m missing my “Heidi the Mountain Goat” tourist attitude of the last few days. Meanwhile I have this sleeping beauty next to me. She looks a bit like a kangaroo!

I am considering a super early night tonight.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1366 rail trip from Oban through Glasgow to Glengarnock 🚉

And relax.

The best wee overnight break.

Currently sitting on the 12.11 from Oban to Glasgow Queen Street… only typing when we go through a high banked section of the track. I’m not missing a minute.

I had a lovely sleep in my wee single bed. My knee was agony and woke me at 11.22pm. I’d been asleep since 9ish… but after that it really settled and has been fine ever since.

You’ll be pleased to know I’ve done my exercises twice and they really help strengthen my leg. Why is it though when we have exercises to do it seems like such a chore?!? A real “ugh” moment….They are designed to help the pain. Get over it Julesie.

I couldn’t decide exactly what to do this morning and was keen to get the ferry over to Mull and straight back but I was waiting to see if the conditions were right.

Do I stay in the hotel until 10am checkout? Do I get the ferry and risk missing the 12.11? Do I plan for the 16.11? So many decisions.

I decide to head back up to McCaigs Folly (Tower) for first light so that I could see sunrise…. As you do.

Up at 7 showered, packed up and ready for the off. Back up that huge hill almost in the dark!

As you can see I stood there for ages! It was bitterly cold and one guy came up during a run, said hi, stretched, said goodbye and ran off…. I had the place to myself.

Ok so… next decision… the ferry. Headed down to the terminal to ask their advice….

It appears that this ferry… the departing one…. was my only hope of a sail to Mull at back before 12.

That’s my decision made then. I’ll no be doing that! 🙄😆 I must have got it completely wrong when I looked up the ferry times this week. To be fair it was pretty choppy and the Loch Frisa doesn’t look like there is too much outer deck so it may not have done what I was hoping it would do.

As I walked aimlessly through the harbour, I met Luana, the Brazilian girl I’d met yesterday. She was heading for the bus to Fort William but suggested Pulpit Hill. I remembered mum and dad had climbed it before.

Now I should say here that Tracey, my Canadian (insomniac 😆) friend, was fully involved in my morning again. She obviously never sleeps! She told me it was a 23 minute walk… so off I go.

It’s a hike but what a view… looking directly over to McCaig’s Folly that I just left!

Looking over to Kerrera, with Mull in the distance to the left and Lismore in the distance to the right.

Zoomed in on the harbour and train station. The train is in already.

Then I met a lovely local couple walking their blind spaniel… which basically means, she who has not spoken much this weekend, chewed their ear off with chat! It was lovely to make them laugh. In that 10 minutes of chat, we really connected.

They suggested Hinba Coffee Shop… so off down the hill I go.

At the same time Tracey has already recommended Hinba, as it gets the best reviews online 😂😂😂 Tracey has also come up with another walk to Oban Hydropathic Santorium ruins 😂😂 but I need a heat up.

It’s lovely!! I have a Guatemalan coffee and a slice of Tiffan cake.

I chill, warm and charge my phone. Then order a decaf gingerbread latte. Heaven.

I still have time to kill so wander around taking even more photos before my crazy kind gets me first in the queue for the twins so I can pick my seat on the left side, get a window and a charger. I know, I know…. But it pays off. I’m first on the train 🚆 😂

Tracey must finally be asleep!

I’m on the other side on the way down so I can catch everything I missed on the way up! It’s also freezing… all the way!!

These next photos are all out the window of the train!

First glimpses of Loch Lomond.

Inveruglas power station.

Tarbert and Loch Lomond.

Think this river is in Dumbarton.

I have honestly had the best time.

I’m shattered but so grateful that Craig doesn’t mind me doing this. He had to work yesterday and he’s had some quality doggo time. I know I’ll go back to bed full of dog hair.

I get to do all the crazy things I want to do, I don’t have to worry about anyone else, I can just do my thing.

It’s 3.10pm and I’m still on the train, about 20 minutes out from Glasgow Queen Street station. I should be home for 5 at the latest.

What a lovely weekend.

This…my Sundays always used to be this… gut-wrenching stress…. Not any more ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1365 rail trip to Oban!! 🚆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I could sit about all weekend.

I could have had a lie in.

I could do the hoovering.

I could get out in the garden…

Or I could rail trip!!

I only decided this yesterday though I’d been thinking about it all week.

The alarm went off at 5.40am but I was awake a fair bit before that.

My train is at 7.10am from Glengarnock to Glasgow Central, walk from Glasgow Central to Queens Street then train to Oban.

Why?!?

I’m determined not to be bored like I was in the Christmas holidays. I want to get out and about and I have always wanted to travel to Oban by train just to see where the line goes.

It’s dark when we leave the house, Craig drops me at Glengarnock train station. 🚉

My friend Tracey in Canada 🇨🇦 is with me the whole way 😂 albeit in FB messenger. She is as excited as I am!!

The first train is only a half hour and then I have to walk across Glasgow. It’s almost sunrise.

The colours are lovely against the sky and the wet on the ground.

Tracey is online, in Vancouver, trying to look up what platform my train is going from!! It was lovely to have someone following my every move from such a difference. It made me even more excited!!

I break all the rules and head through for the train before the platform is announced. 😂😂 The Trainline app has already told me it’s platform 2 and there’s a queue forming.

Which side of the train to sit on?!? Oh my god they are putting seat tickets on the seats, folk have booked seats, who knew, why didn’t I do that?!? 😂

I get on the train and pick the left hand side of the carriage. I get a table, an electric socket and a window seat! Absolutely no need for the extra thinking a minute ago.

What you do forget on your solo relaxation trip is that there are lots of other people involved in your journey. I should have brought my headphones!

This is a breathtaking train journey. I’m already so very glad that I got the train. None of my photos will do it justice. I can highly recommend it.

This is the sunrise over the Clyde. Remember all of these are taken from a moving train so not the best.

The train leaves Glasgow and out through Dalmuir, Dumbarton. Helensburgh, Garelochhead and out towards Arrochar.

This is the Cobbler which rises above Arrochar.

This was the bit of the journey I was least familiar with.

The main road to Oban takes you up the side of Loch Lomond and the train goes up the side of the loch further west.

It was beautiful to see that countryside from so high up. The railway on the side of the hill.

Looking down into Arrochar.

Spotted in Ardlui… a train with a Heilan’ coo!!

The train is formed of 4 carriages. The front two split off in Crianlarich and head to Oban. The back 2 will head up to Fort William and onto Mallaig arriving 13.28. Must do that one day too.

This is Kilchurn cancel on the backs of Loch Awe.

Passing over the railway bridge beside Kilchurn.

The railway then runs right along the banks of Loch Awe. It’s really beautiful and especially on such a sunny day.

It’s done exactly what I wanted it to do, it’s let me see Scotland from a different angle. Places that I’ve driven through for years look very different from the track half way up the mountain!

I got into Oban and 11.25 and this is my hotel.

It’s only £39.60 for a single room and yes, you get what you pay for. Sadly it’s a bit run down but the room is clean and it has a wee single bed!

The skyline shows McCaig’s Tower or McCaig’s Folly as it’s known…. I head up there later. I had a good wander round all the shops, got checked in early and got a sea view room at no extra cost… then walked out to Dunollie. Love this bench!

Sat here for a while and spoke to Craigie.

Headed along back into Oban and up the very steep hill to the Tower.

Caledonian McBrayne’s Lord of the Isles is heading into dock.

I spend a good hour in and around the tower.

Once the group of tourists leave… it’s just me and silence…. And this….

I took a selfie and unbeknown to me I would get chatting to the girl who just walked in and we went shopping together with another girl she’d just met. The joys of solo travel, you hook up with like minded people. She’s staying in the Youth Hostel for £20 a night.

We put the world to rights! She headed off to the cinema while I went to pick up Fish and Chips to take back to the hotel. Heading back now.

The sky is amazing.

I’ve had a lovely day. I love it when the silence is deafening in my head. I’ve been singing random songs to myself all day.

Oban is my happy place. I’m loving the wee mini adventure.

Craig will be enjoying watching all the football news without me nagging!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1364 a lovely Friday off work

5am.

I repeat… 5am.

On my day off.

His alarm goes off at 5am.

Oops sorry baby…… reads for a bit and back to sleep. out for the count.

Me 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

I didn’t sleep great last night as my knee was uncomfortable when I turned but I was FAST ASLEEP at 5am. Course I was.

You’ll be pleased to know I finally did my knee physio exercises at 6.30am. My leg has no power at all and it shakes doing these simple exercises! That’s good though as it’s building strength.

I went for another run with Rachel two doors down. My legs are stiff, my knees are sore but it’s not excruciating. It’s not as sore as it can be in bed.

We ran for 1.58 miles and knocked a minute off our time from Sunday. I don’t notice it when we plod in line and chat.

We then took the dogs up the hill for a walk. I took Calaidh. It’s meant to be wall to wall sunshine this morning. Not so…..

I then went back down the hill and took Bhruic up….

Look at the stick she ended up playing with… dogs should never play with sticks but I caught this crazy photo of her throwing it up in the air. (Could have been very dangerous…. 🙊)

Then she jumped in a burn and came out with the muddiest nose!

I finally saw something that might resemble blue sky but it never came to anything.

So by 10am I had done a run, 2 dog walks, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen and fed the dogs!

I’m not sure where the rest of the day went 😂 (just remembered and will end with that!)

I cleared out my wardrobe and drawers again. I seem to do that a lot these days but it feels good. I had a shower and got ready and we went out for lunch to Auchengree farm shop near us. Check these cute goats they have running around!

They’re tiny!

I’d fasted for 19 hours and 22 minutes and I don’t think I made the best choice… I had chicken tempura and pulled pork loaded fries. I should have ordered the salad after all my healthy exercise! It sounds great but I just wanted to sleep afterward…. That remind me I was awake at 5am.

Guess where I had been sitting…. Right on the middle of the mob of dogs 😂

So yeah…. I am randomly heading off tomorrow, on a wee solo trip to Oban for the night. Literally booked this morning.

You might think it would be easier if I still had the van, but I am getting the train up leaving here at 7.10am tomorrow morning. In all the trips I’ve had to Oban I have never gone on the train and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I will see bits of Scotland I’ve never seen before. I am SO excited and I don’t have to drive, I can relax and be chauffeured!

I got a single room in a basic hotel for £39.60… only £9.60 more than I’d spend on a campsite and I get my own bathroom! It’s right on the sea front but I will most likely not have a sea view for that price.

So that’s me for the next few days. Craig’s working and watching football tomorrow afternoon so won’t even notice I’m gone 😂 he says it’s ok… he’ll watch the dogs. I said thank you 🙏🏼😂🙄

Have a great Friday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1363 feeling calm except for 3 pit-banger moments 🤦🏻‍♀️

I could not settle last night. Someone was a bit snorey but honestly I can sleep through that some nights, just not last night. I moved down to the couch about 1.30am.

My arms were jittery after crochet, I was just restless. I’m still recommending the pillow under the knee through the night. That’s made a huge difference.

I was working early this morning, making up time in advance as I’ll be late in on a Tuesday as I have blood tests for my knee at 8.50am. So that’s an hour and 15 minutes down already.

So up off my couch at 5.45am and was showered and in the car by 6.15am.

Setting up my stereo to play a podcast… and I CALLED MY DAD!!!! At 6.15am…. Panic ensues and much frantic pressing of buttons later I cancel my call to Dad, only to CALL MUM!!!! By this time I’m actually laughing… I’ve already had to wake Craig by popping back upstairs for my glasses…

If you’re reading this and I didn’t try to wake you this morning… I think you should be pretty grateful. I was trying to wake the world.

I’m at my desk for 6.45am and there’s no internet…… NO…….. I switch it all off…. And a witch it back on again and go wash the mountain of mugs that have , only one of which is mine obviously 🙄 . By the time I get back, the internet is back. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

My ego would have dined out on that in the past….. imagine going in early and the internet is down, I’d stress, get angry, be incensed that it wasn’t going my way. Today, initial jeezo man then nothing… only resolution.

I felt calm today yet two things early on sent me up on my pit banger (I don’t even know what that is or why I use that analogy but I hit orbit and come straight back down!). One thing I had been super prepared for, but not bought from the correct supplier so my smugness was wasted and the second I’d bought parts for something that hadn’t been used and different parts were needed instead.

This is my job. It’s that simple. I buy things.. among lots of other things. 😂

Both of these things mean that I need to do something else fast to allow production to keep going. No one is angry at me…. No one is even annoyed at me. Output is not stopped.

I am RAGING…. For those 30 seconds to a minute about each issue. My ego wallops straight back down to earth and it kind of furtively looks around to see if anyone noticed…. Of course they did. For a few seconds I was in orbit moaning on and on about the injustice of it all….

Overreaction much…. The injustice that you have to cancel one order and buy more parts which took me all of about 4 minutes. Hardly a problem.

I had a previous job that was a massive blame culture. People actively fought to point the blame away from them. I wore that blame like a badge when it was actually my fault and told EVERYBODY how it had come about. I thought if I could explain it fully then there would be less aggression pointed in my direction, at me and my team. I would tell anyone who was willing to listen… and even those who weren’t!

Holding up production is a huge trigger for me.

There was something else later on that was worse. I’d misunderstood something and given the wrong direction to Upholstery. again launches with the “it’s my fault” and I’m trying to explain why I did what I did and why…… expecting the aggression that used to come. Pit banger up to the ceiling, tears because I thought I was being misunderstood. Come straight back down to earth, apologise profusely and spend of the rest of the day in some calm but uncomfortable cringe.

I’d like to stop that volcanic eruption or rocket launch 🚀 as it’s unnecessary . When I think back I used to manage a team and be constantly kicking off left, right and centre, how did I ever manage?!? I am grateful that I’m not that person anymore, she just rests her ugly head at times, she’s my go-to defence mechanism.

How apt that this pops up on my feed tonight…. “The mental resistance to things which arise, and the assumption that they should not”…. Exactly what happened today.

I’m glad when home time comes. (😂 that reminds me of school!)

Toenail appointment at 5pm which was lovely… and I have nice summery, salmony orange toes, gone is the red Christmas sparkle that no-one saw anyway!

The world is full of sadness at the moment. There is so much death, illness, and so many accidents locally just now. I do feel very grateful to be alive. I still feel very positive and upbeat but those 3 events surprised me today. I won’t dwell on them though as I can’t change them, I can only learn from them.

So once again I feel so much better after writing this down….

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist is working late again tonight so I’m going to work on my self care Clever Fox journal (or Foxy journal as the Windsor Waffle calls it! 🦊) and I’m going to have an early night and do my knee exercises before I go to sleep.

After I hang up the washing.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1362 stuck for a title 😂 another calm day 🫶🏼

😂😂 midweek blog titles are sometimes difficult when life seems a bit like Groundhog Day.

I have to say that I’ve had another good day. My head is very calm just now, my mind is focussed and I’m tackling spreadsheets like there is no tomorrow. I’m in my spreadsheet element… if there is such a thing.

I had THE best sleep last night.

No knee pain at all… no waking up that I can remember… until 6.04am… 6 minutes before the alarm. I love that. I’m so grateful for a good sleep.

I was up and at it today as it’s hair wash day. I had to get the dogs up and outside before I left as they were in bed early last night…. Only because I was. 😆

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist didn’t get home until 10.40pm…. A real late one for him and I was long gone, out for the count.

I’ve found lots of motivational quotes tonight…

I feel really different since the Christmas break and I don’t know why but I love it. I feel lots of hope and dare I say excitement for each day at the moment, even if they are spent at work. I know so many people are going through some really difficult things and it makes me extra grateful of my own peace of mind.

I had a lovely salad for lunch in my new Brabantia salad bowl.

Didn’t I just go and leave my lunch bag at work though… dammit.

Last night I said I promised I would go and look out my knee exercises…. I forgot by the end of the blog. Of course I did.

I remembered today…. Got them out my handbag and realised most of them have to be done lying in bed. Of course they do. So I couldn’t do them before I started work like I thought.

I put them in my sandwich bag………… 😂

Won’t be doing any exercises until I retrieve said sandwich bag and hit my bed tomorrow night now. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

It’s the return of the Crochet Hookers tonight so I’m off next door to the pub to get my hook on. And my alcohol free gin and slim.

Stay safe everyone 🧶🧶🧶

Day 1361 normal service of day numbering has been resumed 😆

So yesterday I randomly called the blog day 1400 because of course that follows from day 1359 🤦🏻‍♀️😆 NOT….. hey I’ve done this every night for 1361 days so sometimes the concentration might slip 😂 that’s my excuse anyway.

Thanks to an anonymous person on WordPress, for pointing it out. I laughed out loud when I read his comment. 😂

So back to day 1361 (I just typed 2361 there… one of those days!)

I had a more broken sleep last night. 7 hours 29 looks good but I felt like I was awake from 3am. My knee wasn’t agony but it kept twinging and waking me up.

As I write that I realise I STILL haven’t even opened the physio exercises yet?!? How hard is it to read a bit of paper?! I’m meant to be doing them 3 times a day.

Will do them after this. Promise.

Yesterday a dandelion wish flew out of a drawer I was clearing and floated up into the air. I thought how pretty it was and how random to see it in the middle of the office, in January…. Then my friend Isy posted this…

I messaged to tell her. Then this morning she gets this on her FB feed… I love it when there is synchronicity like this.

I also typed the name of a supplier today and before I’d finished they were calling me! I love it!

So I’ve been in a good mood today. I’ve been working on pricing spreadsheets all day so I’m a bit square eyed but I enjoyed it. Compiling data. My fav.

I’m tired tonight. Craig’s working and I was planning to get lots done but actually I’m quite comfy sitting in on the couch relaxing…. Which is all I ever do on these winter nights. It’s hard to break that habit as I enjoy the chill out time after a working day.

I love this next one.

And this is so true….

So thankfully I release just about everything that goes on in my mind these days. No chance of me suppressing anything much. 😂

Nothing much else to report. There was a lovely sky when I left work at 4… such a shame the view is from an industrial estate!

It was light all the way home, which is lovely and the first time I’ve really noticed it. There was a lovely sun setting sky from the back garden too.

The pups are asleep and I have my feet up. Early night for me I think. Mrs spreadsheet head!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️