Healing mental health during COVID-19 times and beyond
Author: Julie
Iβm healing from anxiety and depression and exploring my way through a whole new lovely world with an abundance of awareness and a new love for lifeβ¦ and travelling the world!
Woop woop! What a difference a good nightsβ sleep makes. I woke at 4.06am and rolled back over to sleep again, until the alarm. Then I couldnβt move!!
I feel SO much better today. Iβm still loaded with the cold but something has definitely lifted. my head feels a lot less woolly!
Another busy day at Tartan HQ, itβs been a busy week. Despite the lurgy, weβve survived on skeleton staff and made good progress.
I work SO much better when Iβm in control. This may not come as a shock to you but I have decided I am actually a control freak!!!
Today I felt very in control. Things went as planned and it felt really good. I feel excited by work when everything is going right. I just need to master my reactions when itβs notβ¦.. π€¦π»ββοΈπ
I really need to work at letting go of controlβ¦ I shiver at the thought π€¦π»ββοΈπ
Anyhooβ¦. Itβs my weekend now and Iβm so grateful for the break.
We have Storm Babet heading our way but itβs pretty calm just now.
I did have a giggle with the giant ivy leaves when I came in tonightβ¦.. π€¦π»ββοΈππ
They look like giant dinosaur feet. π¦π¦πππ
Jeezβ¦ Iβm starting every blog with that these days.
My miracle Rocket Fuel doesnβt seem to be half as effective today.
I was in bed for 8pm last nightβ¦ up at 10.22pm, then 12.26am then 1.58am. I couldnβt breathe and my sinuses are booming. Iβm taking paracetamol today too.
I feel really dizzy and lightheaded as my ears really badly need to pop.
So once again Iβve got plenty work done but today has definitely been way more of a slog. Iβve got a head full of cotton wool, my muscles ache and I feel really stiff. Shoot me now!
So today is World Menopause Day 2023.
Menopause wise things are going ok. Iβm still perimenopausal and have another 12 months to wait to see if Iβm menopausal.
Iβve been on HRT for a year now. No follow up with the doctor, kind of feel they just leave you to get on with it. I definitely think Iβm better for it though. I would recommend it to anyone, Iβm definitely more in control of my emotions than I was. I know I still have bad days, but I donβt know that they are any worse than many other people.
Does seem a bit unfair that I feel so stiff at times when Iβm on HRT but hey, it is what it is.
World Menopause Day is to raise awareness but once again itβs not really had on any impact in n my day today.
The ivy had almost gone due to the wind thatβs picking up outside just now. Thereβs a storm due tonight but itβs not as windy as I expected it to be.
Wait until you see the size of the leaves.
Such beautiful colours.
Itβs so sad to see how quickly it goes. That will be it until next year now.
Time flies so quickly. I canβt believe itβs mid October 2023 already. π€¦π»ββοΈπ
Anyhoo, Iβm off to feel sorry for myself and have another early night.
Jeezo man. Amazing how fast this came on. I was up at 1.30am and couldnβt breathe through my nose at all. My sinuses are solid.
Thatβs nothing to our new Rocket Fuel!
Oh my actual word. The first time I tried this I managed one drop on my tongue and it blew my head off.
At 1.30am I took 7 drops and all of a sudden I could breathe. What a relief. Itβs great stuff. It would clear a blocked sink given half a chance. π
I took it again when I got up at 6.15am. It blasted my sinuses.
It was the first morning Iβve had to scrape the car too. It was a pretty heavy frost. Also a beautiful morning!
I forgot how long it took for a Beetle to clear itβs windscreen. The windscreen blower is no more than a puff. I scraped it clear and had to sit to wait for the demist.
I had to stop at the side of the road as the sky was stunning. This isnβt the best photo but it gives you the idea.
It was such a lovely drive to work. The sky was so red most of the way. By the time I got to Tartan, it was pink and purple. Boyed up by Rocket Fuel I had a good morning.
I didnβt take the Rocket Fuel to work with me though. By lunch I was all bunged up again so I ordered some comfort food for lunch instead of my salad. I had a cheese and ham panini and it was soooo good. (I did eat my salad for dinner so I didnβt waste itβ¦. Almost saint-like!)
One minute I want to curl up in a ball and the next minute Iβm getting loads done.
I ended up late getting away again as 3 customers phoned in a row, after 4pm! AND I had to go for diesel after workβ¦ isnβt that just the worst when you want to get home?!?
I got 514.2miles out of a Β£77 tank fill which is 15p a mileβ¦. It also limits trips to the fuel station, which is a very good thing!!
This time I put in Β£78 to fill the tank. The van would have been over Β£120. It still makes me very happy. I love having this car! I can drive into supermarket car parks and do all sorts without not dreading the driving. I will live with the pathetic windscreen blower π
So comfies on and missing Kinisi-flo tonight. If I bend down my nose runs. π€§π
I woke up with the cold this morning. Actually thatβs not entirely true as I woke up at 12.30 and about 5ish with the cold.
I was about to say I felt totally fine yesterday but then remembered that technically that wasnβt true. Least said about that the better. The minute I jumped in the shower yesterday, I felt better.
I had such a lovely drive over to Edinburgh. What a difference a Bertie Beetle makes. Iβve been meaning to talk about that for a whileβ¦ Craig must be sick of me saying it. π I LOVE driving again. Iβm able to pull away from junctions without being terrified. Iβm able to skip out in front of people rather than waiting for a completely clear road. I was driving at 70 miles an hour the whole way to Edinburgh and it felt like a dawdle. I am brave enough to move lanes again. Despite how awful I felt yesterday morning I had a really lovely drive over. I did have the car at 26Β°C to keep me cosy. maybe that was a sign?!?
We had a lovely family get together. I still seem to struggle with small talk. I know that I used to drink to cover that but not any more. I overthink things and canβt always think what to say. I hear myself and think βurgh why on earth did I say that?β. I cringe at some of the words that come out of my mouthβ¦. Yet I LOVE the real deep and meaningful meaty conversations.
My mumβs cousin Pam and her husband were over from Coloradoβ¦ we all met in Duddingston, Edinburgh at mumβs cousin Joyceβsβ¦. Thereβs a mouthful and a half.
Here we all are yesterday.
My brother set up this great timer photo and I seemed to pick the forefront and massive spot!!
So back to todayβ¦. I went into work early as we are skeleton Tartan this week, and I wanted to let the guys know what they were working onβ¦. As the day went on I just got more and more blocked up. I had chills shivering through me. I had the heating up on full in the portacabin!
Quite early on in the day I realised I had to stay until 5pm to receive a rental van back. The thought of it was awfulβ¦. The day dragged on and I felt so knackered. Actually I just focused on what needed doing and actually had a really good afternoon. The time passed quickly and I got lots done. I didnβt even feel like Iβd stayed late. I have literally talked to myself all day and itβs worked. There have been no tears.
I have this lovely gift, from Evelyn, hanging from my rear view mirror.
Stay true to yourself β₯οΈ
Oh and a little bit of mint choc chip ice cream makes you feel a bit better too.
Well the hormones have taken hold this morning for the first time in ages. I am so tearful. The tears are just streaming down my face and while they do stop, theyβre back about 10-15 minutes later. This is ridiculous.
Iβve always said I want to tell the truth with this blog, no matter how uncomfortable it is for me to do that.
Iβm so glad that Craig has been away this weekend as it wouldnβt have been any fun to be around. Letβs get one thing straight, itβs not being alone that has made me sadβ¦ I think itβs my expectations for the weekendβ¦. The amount I wanted to do it needed to be a three week weekend! I was rebuilding the house while catching up with friends and family on top of dealing with the dogs.
Iβve been so impatient with the dogs, not had the confidence to walk the three at once so had to do separate walks where I berate myself all the way round for not managing the three of themβ¦ there go the tears again. I met a man with a two dogs off lead and the adrenaline that flowed through me was enough to choke a horse. (Poor metaphor but it did make me smile). Of course it was fine.
Wow, even as I write this I really how difficult my head can be and I bring all of this on myself.
Every step with the dogs was a drudge. Bhru and Freya first, then back for Calaidh. Half way through Calaidhβs walk I felt a surge of positivity and energy which was nice. I smiled, looked around and appreciated the moment.
It didnβt lastβ¦. Poor Claire asked if she could borrow two eggsβ¦ is there a way to say todays not a good day to be borrowing eggs π€¦π»ββοΈπ she spotted it straight awayβ¦ more tears. Jeezβ¦.
I was planning to fast until I head over to Edinburgh this afternoon but I had a egg mayo bagel and it has helped. Iβd already done 16 hours fasting so I thought some food would help.
Iβm gonna put this out before I go. We have a family get together in Edinburgh this afternoon at mumβs cousin Joyceβs house. (Always call her mumβs cousin Joyce for some reasonβ¦ smiled again!)
I was have a lovely afternoon and at some point normal Julie will kick back in and no one will ever know. π€¦π»ββοΈππ
At some point I will feel completely calm and forget that this ever happenedβ¦. Except that I have written it all down. βΊοΈ
I saw rainbows everywhere this morning.
Heavy overnight frost!
Then I spotted these really cool clouds on the way back down the hill. They made me feel a bit dizzy through the lens. (lens?!? π iPhone!!)
So yeahβ¦ not the best morning. No real reasonβ¦ all hormonal and Iβm cringing like a cringey thing putting this out but if you met me on the walk Iβd have smiled and youβd have had no idea.
You meet people like me all over the place. Everywhere. You have no idea how someone is feeling. So please always be kind.
I say thatβ¦β¦ and donβt be too kind if you see me today as you might get tears π₯Ήπ₯Ήπ₯Ήπππ best just pretending none of this has happened ππ
So Iβm off to shower, get dressed, hair and make up done and Iβll be fine. Iβll have a lovely day catching up with family Iβve not seen since February. Iβve arranged for neighbours to pop in and let the dogs out.
I have a busy week at work while half of Tartan take holidays at the same timeβ¦. But it will all be fine and Iβll wonder what all the fuss was about. Again.
Life with crazy hormones can be tough.. but Iβm fighting it every step of the way.
Ooooh I am not in the best fettle todayβ¦ I slept much better than last night but did feel a fair bit of pain in my knees, the tablets didnβt seem to do much to ease it. Got up the loo at 12.30am and took some more.
Got a woof woof woof at 7.22am so that we me awake. I decided to up and out with the dogs as soon as I could both to βget it over withβ and to get me moving. I could so easily flop into a couch and not move this morning.
Turns out it will be at least another year before I can say Iβm menopausal. That wonderful time of the month has returned so thereβs the reason for my lower mood.
Everything I look at seems broken, messy, needs fixing, needs sold or given to charity and I canβt be bothered doing any of it. I feel overwhelmed with stuff and I just keep moving it from room to roomβ¦. Weβve been here a few times before havenβt we?!
Iβm very irritable, so Craig is lucky heβs out the way on his training course!
I want to do everything today but my head wants me to give in and do nothing. Like later yesterday, every foot forward is a chore. Everything I think of doing is an irritant.
So back to the dog walks. Bhru and Freya first and lots of photos of the lovely but freezing morning!
FROST!!!!!!!!
I did forget to say that I needed my fingerless gloves on Thursday and the car beeped to say it was less than 4Β°Cβ¦. This is the first frost Iβve seen this year.
Thought this was really prettyβ¦. Not often you see flowers at this time of year.
Rainbow at the end of the road!
Then turn into the lovely sun. Itβs really cold and I know the rain is coming.
So no pictures of the dogs but hey, youβve seen enoughβ¦.. I have Calaidh now and the rainbowβs still there. We head up the hill so I can let her off the lead.
At the end of the rainbow!
Itβs raining now but the sky is really dramatic.
So dark one way and so blue, the other.
Always loved these trees on the hill. The two tallest ones from the left were named by own dog walking group, Treesa and Twiggy but Oakley is now just a stumpβ¦ the 3 trees to the right look just as dramatic on the skylineβ¦. Looks like Twiggy is dead now too. Iβve watched Oakley die and be cut down since we lived here.
Stunning clouds.
So Iβm back home with the wood burning stove on and Iβm sat in a grump. The ivy is looking absolutely stunning in the now, bright blue sky. I had loads I wanted to do this morning but have sat and wallowed instead.
Some folk heading out to Turkey this morning, some out on the Waverley for her last sailings of the season and Iβm sitting trying to make myself feel bad. I want all of thatβ¦. And yet rarely compare myself to anyone any more.
Iβm giving in to my head. As I write that, the realisation dawns. Today is what I choose to make it. I have a lovely lunch planned with Evelyn after meeting her new puppy Betty! That will be lovely.
When itβs hard, you need to choose to give in and accept it or fight it and be proud of what you achieve. Iβve had enough wallowingβ¦. Upstairs to hoover the bedrooms and the stairs, shower, changed and out for lunch. Just do it!!!
I didβ¦
Itβs 17.35 and Iβve had a lovely rest of day. I headed round to Evelynβs to see her little Working Cocker puppy Betty. She is sooooo tiny!
What a little beauty!!
Sheβs in her crate as we are about to leave and it shows just how teeny tiny she isβ¦
Sheβs such a good girl though and has some speed when she runs already.
We headed to Mocha JaKβs and had a lovely lunch. I had chicken and rice soup and a cheese and pickle toastieβ¦. It was SO tasty!
We then had a wander around the Geilsland Craft Fayreβ¦.. and stopped for another coffee and Biscoff Rocky Road between us. That was even better!!
We had a great chat and she cheered my mardy face up.
I came home and finished off some cleaning before I sat down with come cheese and biscuits for dinner.
The day has turned right around. I feel brighter, my joints and muscles are less painful and Iβm more relaxed. I feel calm. The drama has gone.
I did not sleep well last nightβ¦.. the first day without full caffeine in weeks and I slept like I was still switched on. All night I tossed and turned like a tossy turney thing.
I felt pretty tired when I got up but wanted to head up to Braehead Shopping Centre early, to return clothes to M&S and exchange my Turkish Lira back.
For what itβs worth, my advice is not to take foreign cash abroad anymore. It cost a fortune to exchange and we hardly used any. The woman at the counter said to take English pounds as we all know our Scottish legal tender is not considered legal tender anywhere else in the UK. π€¦π»ββοΈπ that drives us Scots nutsβ¦.. but heyβ¦. I also reckon paying by card abroad is more than enough these days.
So I had a quick wander round Braehead before heading to Aldi for a quick food shop, though I had bought tonightβs dinner from M&S. Well seeing Craigβs away!
He left after lunch to head to Glenrothes for a dog training weekend with Jo-Rosie Haffendon, Khaleesiβs previous owner. Heβs taken Khal with him so she can see her.
So I headed off out on two walks⦠with hoddit and doddit first.
Itβs been like April showers today. I was lucky enough to get out in between them.
Saw this lovely rainbow as we walked round.
I have to say that I am not feeling full of sweetness and light today. Iβm not appreciating the present momentβ¦. Each step was a struggle. My knees are sore, my right ankle is sore and I just felt generally ugh. I was fighting it all the way. Iβm annoyed that I donβt drink, donβt smoke, take supplements and drink pretty much only water and the odd coffee and yet I still feel a bit rotten. How is that fair?!? I talked myself into accepting it was what it was and it wasnβt the end of the world. I managed to feel a bit of peace at that.
I came home to swap out for plodditβ¦
By the time I got back I have actually walked nearly 15K steps today so Iβve hardly sat down to it. Another positive.
I made my M&S stir fry for dinner.
Randomly with garlic and lemon prawns and feta to go with the pad Thai stir fry!
Then I had a wee 0% Guinnessβ¦ again randomlyβ¦ donβt have this very often and itβs really nice. A wee treat.
Finally look how pretty the ivy is out the back now.
Isnβt nature beautiful!
The moral for me today is to stop fighting how I feel. Acceptance is half the battle. I have my feet up writing this and Iβm going to do some stretches to try and loosen off my tight muscles.
Then Iβm going to get into a clean bed and have a lovely sleep.
Jeez I was out for the count last night. Iβd had lots of birthday cake and treats and caffeine and Nozeco (alcohol free)β¦. Yet I could barely wake up with the alarm.
I dragged myself out of bed and got into work early as Iβve been making up time as o had the dentist at 3.15 so needed to leave work at 2.30pm.
The day flew in.
Craigβs away out for Hollyβs 50th birthday day at the races and I should have been there too. I got all mixed up with dates and thought this was the October school week where almost everyone takes the week off in Tartanβ¦β¦ and thereβs only 4 of us in and I got it wrongβ¦ thatβs next week!! So Iβve missed Hollyβs big day AND have that to look forward to next week π€¦π»ββοΈπ³π.
So itβs worked out for the best as Iβm Julie 5 dogs today. Iβll explain in a bitβ¦.
So, flew out of work just after 2.30pmβ¦. Forgot to take my toothbrush to work so hoped Iβd have time to get home, clean my teeth and back out but I had to go straight there. The dentist is across the road from the little gift shop. I stopped to say hi to Gayle for 5 minutes and then went in.
Check up β
Clean and polish β
Big gap between bottom teeth after plaque removal β
What is it about plaque removalβ¦ I now have a sore tongue as I canβt stop brushing it past the back of my bottom teeth.
I need to scrub less when I clean my teethβ¦. A hazard of a good teeth cleaner she said. It might help reduce sensitivity.
So back out and another quick chat with Gayle.
The Christmas stock is out now and at a quick glance, I have to say, the shop looked amazing. It is literally bursting with beautiful things. I say that, not to imply thereβs too much stock, it just took my breath away, it looks so lovely!
I had to dash up the road to get to my 5 dogsβ¦ ππΆπΆπΆπΆπΆ
I am looking after handsome Nacho puppy for Rachel two doors downβ¦. Sheβs with Craig at the Hollyβs race day. I say looking after, Iβm just popping in on him to walk him and let home out.
What a cutie Nacho is!!!
I took him and Calaidh out for a walk. there was lots of sniffing!
Nacho is such a good boy! I let him off the lead so they could play around for a bit. Tire them out.
Look at the skyβ¦.
Buddies heading home!
Back into our house and fed my 4 and played outside with the ball. Forgot to take photos but thatβs just as well as there would be millions.
Tidied the kitchen, did a poop scoop, fed myselfβ¦. I now have 4 sleeping dogsβ¦ so I popped back in for some Nacho cuddles and to let him out the back. Itβs so nice to spend some time with him. Heβs so good natured and loves his toys.
We canβt have dog cuddly toys here as we live with Calaidh the destroyerβ¦. She canβt annihilate a cuddly toy in about 3 minutes flat.
I told Nacho he wouldnβt be on his own for longβ¦ hate leaving any pupper Iβm looking after.
So finally sat downβ¦. House is a riot but that will have to wait. Guess what Iβm doing this weekend then?!? 3 weeks of housework. Thatβs what you get for galivanting the world.
Itβs the 10th October which means itβs World Mental Health Day.
Is also already 8pm and I wish Iβd prepared more for today, given the original reason for the Rambling Sloth.
These World Dayβs do raise awareness but my experience is that it hasnβt really changed anything. Mental Health, in my humble opinion, is still dreadfully misunderstood and underrated.
If I cast my mind back to World Mental Health Day 2018β¦.. I had been off sick from my senior management role for about 5 weeks. Iβd been crumbling for a very long time. World Mental Health Day 2018 passed by without any big bang. Nothing. I was hanging by a thread and my work were doing a whole week of promotion about mental health. Everyoneβs desktop had been changed to advertise it. I was in the house a broken wreck. It was still classed as an embarrassment. Shame. She couldnβt cope. Fell apart. People didnβt contact me or know what to say to me. Thatβs not fair, some did but what I meant is that it needs to be more than just a DAY and just a box ticking exercise. Businesses need to take this seriously. I took this selfie to remember one day, how badly I felt. My eyes are dead. I was so very sad, I could barely remember to clean my teeth.
There is a very good chance that what happened to me could have been due to peri-menopause. I will never truly know that.
It is what it is and I donβt have any anger left about it. I now see that I was very lucky to have experienced anxiety and depression as itβs shown me a new meaning to life. I have highs and lows but I genuinely appreciate life in the present moment. Thatβs huge given that I used to live my life in fear. No more.
When you are at your lowest ebb, your mind can play tricks on you. You feel so bad that you think life is pointless. You feel like you are a burden as you are sick of the thoughts inside your head. Despite wonderful family and friends, you feel like you have nowhere to turn. You canβt possibly tell them how bad you feel every time they ask. You begin to think the world would be better off without you in it. I felt like that in this photo.
You would never know. I took this photo so I could remind myself how I felt. I can actually feel a few tears welling up at the thought.
This is hard for me to revisit but I want every one to see these. (Iβve maybe shared this before) There is no obvious sign that anything is wrong. You have no idea how bad someone close to you may feel. People hide it very well. I couldnβt tell anyone for some time after as I realised how dreadful and dramatic and OTT it sounded but itβs genuinely how I felt. We took this photo an hour after. Even I think I look lovely but inside I was very depressed. I couldnβt imagine a future.
So please be kind to everyone you meet. You never know what they may be struggling with.
If you feel low just now, know that it will get better, life will improve, even if it feels hopeless right now. You have to fight for yourself. You have to find money to pay for any treatment you can get. Iβve had counselling, Health Kinesiology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Iβve spent thousands of pounds that we didnβt really have but I needed to. Iβve met some amazing people along the way. These people become your people.
Fight for yourself. Never give up fighting. You deserve to feel better. And you will. just take each day at a time and know that tomorrow is a new day.
Thankfully way more awake and switched on for the first day back at work. I could even remember some things from before my holidayβ¦. I mean, I was impressed!!
Iβve not been in the best frame of mind if Iβm honest but come on, who is first day back?!
The office was pretty spotless which was very impressive π
I worked till 5pm and didnβt make a dent in the work Iβve got to catch up on but Iβll get there.
Iβve been on a roll since I got home and made a lovely salad for dinner, emptied and filled the dishwasher, hung up a washing and taken Calaidh for a lovely evening walk. I left at half 6 and got chatting to our new lovely neighbours so it was dark by the time I got home!
I loved the walk in the almost dark (my friend Evelyn will get cross with meβ¦ππ) and Calaidh did too.
Hereβs she is hiding in the burn!
It actually looks pretty light in these photos!
Itβs felt good to do things in the evening. I was so lethargic yesterdayβ¦. I could barely think straight, it feels really good to be way more alert.
Oh wow I have just been shattered today. It was one of those days I knew I needed to do absolutely nothing⦠but I fought it for most of the morning.
I couldnβt wake up and eventually came downstairs for a coffee. This was still about 8.30 so still early. Iβm fighting the end of holiday blues. The weather is atrocious and I canβt believe Iβm back to work tomorrow. I could get used to the life where I wander about in hot countries. π
Itβs a lovely time of year to go away but it does seem extra cold when you return.
Acht Iβm just having one of those days.
We went for a food shopping late morning and spent Β£174β¦.. there are only 2 people in our house?!? How is that even possible?
By the time we came back and put it away, Craig was watching the football and I made a lovely cheese, meat and olive type snacky lunch. I was asleep from 1.30 until 3.30. I was freezing on the couch so Craig put an extra blanket over me. I woke with a thumping headache and a hot face!!
I have zero energy and I could just keep sleeping.
I need to stop fighting it and enjoy the relaxation. It is what it is and Iβm building my energy up for tomorrow. No more holidays for me until Christmasβ¦.. except for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Iβll do well to remember that!!
Thatβs a ridiculous statement as I look outside at 18.37 and see that it has actually stopped raining. What a day.
Itβs been so dark all day weβve needed the lights on. Itβs been so wet I got SOAKED on the dog walks.
There are floods everywhere, people have got stuck in their cars and the famous Rest and be Thankful A83 is closed AGAIN due to landslides. Theyβve spent millions on that road and it still slips every time there is heavy rain.
I took the pupsters out 2 by 2! (Anyone get that?!)
It was Bhru and Freya up first.
I was drenched and freezing cold after the first walk but no point in changing before the second. Thereβs no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothesβ¦. I really didnβt have the right clothes on today!
That said it was also lovely to be outside and see the extent of the rainβ¦. Everything is soooooo very green compared to Turkeyβ¦. Gosh I miss the sunshineβ¦. And blue skiesβ¦. And heat!
The Windsor Waffle, my blogger friend, said that Windsor was going to be 24Β°C this weekend! Definitely nowhere near that up here today!
Back to the house for the two Khal/Calβs π
Khaleesiβs in her jacket that they sent us from Spainβ¦. I couldnβt get it to sit right at the back so thereβs some clip Iβm missing.
I was SO cold that I had to turn the shower to cold as the heat was stinging my skin.
I sat for a bit with a coffee and put the heating on then realised I needed to head to the little gift shop to buy some cards. Was good to catch up with Gayle!
Since I got home Iβve read a book and watched a movie with Craig, when he came in from work, nothing else for it on such a miserable day.
I realised I still had wet hair which probably wasnβt helping how cold I was!
Iβm heading round to my friend Evelynβs tonight to look after their dog for a wee bit while they have a family party. Iβm looking forward to some Elsie cuddles and kisses!! My lot are still damp and soggy. π€¦π»ββοΈπ
Back to reality, auld claes and porridge as my Grandad would say!
We finally got home about 3.30am I think, forgot to check exactly as all FOUR dogs were hiding in my newly painted living room, to surprise me!!!
First of all wow to the living room, huge well done to Craig for keeping that a secret while I was away. Itβs still white but itβs too much of a feature room to have any other colour. It looks so fresh!!
One by one by one by one they came bounding out of the living room door and bombarded me with licks and cuddles!! Did I mention there were FOUR?!?!
They were SO excited!!! I had to fight my way through to get to Craig!
Also just noticed this morning how much the ivy has changed in the space of a week!
Also itβs a lot sunnier today than the day time I took a photo!
One day I will manage to take the same photo twice π€¦π»ββοΈπ
So last nightβs trip went really well. We sat out in the sun until 6pmβ¦. It had actually started to get quite chilly which I suppose is a fitting end to a holiday.
I really struggle to leave somewhere when I know I will never be back there and it was so lovely! The pool looked so pretty.
The bus arrived a full half hour before it was due. We left bang on time! The drivers are foot to the floor the whole way. They seem to flash their headlights a lot to let a car in front of them know they intend to passβ¦. We drove sooooo fast, there were a good few hair raising moments and we were FIRST in the queue for the Jet2 flight for Glasgow. That never happensβ¦. Well it just did but you know what I mean.
Security is pretty high in Turkey. You put all your bags through a scanner before you check in and hand your bag to the ground staffβ¦. You are also body searched as everyone beeps through the scanner. Next is a queue for passport control. Once through that itβs Duty Free. Bodrum was the most expensive duty free I have ever seenβ¦.. Gayle was looking for Turkish delight for her daughterβ¦. The only Turkish delight we saw was β¬49.60 for 4 boxes stuck togetherβ¦. Special price?!?!?!?! Nearly Β£50 for 4 normal sized boxes of Turkish delight?!?!? Then I saw Toffifee for β¬5.50 a box, we can get that for Β£1 here!
The whiskies were astronomical. Nothing worth bringing home for Craig.
Gone are the days of cheap duty free. So I brought nothing back for anyone unfortunately.
We then went to the gate and I got bag & body searched again and swabbed for drugs never had that done before.
The plane comes in on perfect tie and we board in perfect timeβ¦. And the next news everβ¦. We have 3 seats to ourselves!!! Bliss.
We flew over Sofia in Bulgaria, Serbia, Budapest in Hungary. Vienna in Austria, Prague in Czech Republic, Germany, Amsterdam, over to Newcastle where we started our descent⦠then down over Lanark and up to Kirkintilloch before we landed in Glasgow. The pilot was very informative!!
He said the words βbattling headwinds all the wayββ¦.π± I never, ever need to know that. In all honestly, the flight was great, despite the space, I couldnβt get comfy AT ALL yet Iβm certain I slept most of the way. We cannot fault Jet2 at all. The flights were bang on both legs.
Glasgow Airport had other ideas.
Upon landing, Jet2 text to warn of delays at baggage reclaim. There were several flights landing at once. We all merged into passport control at the same time. We had a fair queue there. Jet2 staff met us in baggage reclaim and apologised and kept us fully up to date. Canβt say they didnβt try to make up for it.
Gayleβs son Robbie, picked us up and took us straight home. He didnβt leave the house until we saw the first of the bags come through. It was perfect timing apart from the delay.
So yeah, back to the FOUR dogsβ¦ they were still here this morning too. πΆπΆπΆπΆπ
I didnβt sleep in too late and Iβve been unpacking and cleaning all morning. I was on a roll.
We decided to head out to Gro Coffee in Irvine for a late lunchβ¦. We took Khaleesi.
Look at the lovely autumnal display at the fireplace. So pretty.
We sat in the outdoor area which is filled in at the sides when the weather cools down, with lovely, warm heaters and blankets.
I had the breakfast taco and Craig had spicy buttermilk chicken piecesβ¦. Turns out they were VERY spicy.
Khaleesi was great and was fascinated by 3 birds that were wandering around!
We may have brought some cakes home!!
I now feel tiredβ¦. And sick π we never had anything like this sweet in Turkey. My gums are recoiling from my teeth after eating that π
So yeah, no more sunshine, plenty of grey sky and rain and a horrific forecast for tomorrow.
Itβs always sad when a holiday is over but I have some amazing photos and some lovely memories of my trip with Gayle.
A quiet night in tonight before I crash out. I can feel my eyes drooping already.
For those of you who know me well, you will know that Iβm already pre-sad about having to head home tonight. Craig knows that I love him and knows that I am looking forward to seeing him, but I am so sad to be leaving this incessant sunshine. Wall to wall sun for 7 daysβ¦. Itβs been glorious.
I am truly in my element in the sunshine. Iβm vitamin Dβd up to the eyeballs.
I love the clothes Iβve brought to wear, Iβve felt comfortable in everything, in fact Iβll go so far as to say, Iβve felt great in everything.
I usually spend a holiday over indulging and I feel fat and frumpy in everything. Iβm bigger than I ever was on holiday, when I was younger, and I just do not care at all.
I love the sunshine, I thrive in the sunshine. I canβt get enough of the blue sky. I canβt get enough of the sea.
Iβm not a lover of the beach as suchβ¦ sand disturbs my need for cleanlinessβ¦. But I love the sea. A beach deck is my idea of heaven. Weβve been lucky enough to enjoy this beach deck for most of the week.
Yesterday was a lot. I chose it, I wanted it but even for me, it was a lot in one day. we had about 4 hours driving in Turkey before we even thought about the boat over the Greece. Iβm still glad we went but Iβm not sure Iβd commit to that big a trek on a future holidayβ¦. She says π I just wanted to use two country emojis ππΉπ·πβ΄οΈπ¬π·πΆπ½ββοΈπΆπ½ββοΈβ΄οΈπΉπ·
We have another 9 or 10 hours of travelling tonight, which seems a lot after yesterday. We get home at 2am Scottish time which will be 4am Turkish time. Least we should sleep on the plane.
Itβs lovely to be back on the beach deck today. Iβm not reading, Iβm not listening to music. Weβre chatting but other than that Iβm just listening to the sound of the sea under the deckβ¦. And obviously writing this.
Weβve got on great. No hassle, no stress, very similar likes and dislikes. I wouldnβt have said anything if we hadnβtβ¦ but itβs important for me to say that we did. Iβm not great in company 24/7β¦. I need my space. I think when you come in holiday with a husband or partner, you make assumptions about how they feel, what they like and dislike all the time. You put words in their mouths, you donβt always like to do the same thingsβ¦ weβve just settled into a way of life here that suits us both. We had no pre-conceived ideas. We just went with the flow and it seemed to click. Overall you are probably way more polite to another person that you are with your partner. No snappingβ¦. Note to self Julesie ππ
Being all inclusive was probably pointless but itβs allowed us to have what we want, when we wanted it and not had to think about paying as we go. It cost what it cost.
The hotel is beautiful. Big bungalow style rooms with a huge reception area, a shopping mall, 2 pools, flumes, huge restaurant (with outside balcony) and the one night a la carte.
The local βtownβ is not my favourite. Itβs just full of shops with knock off sports gear. One is called English Primark, one of called TK Max and one is called JDe Sports to name a few. We donβt feel we need to buy anything as the world is smaller now and we can get things just as cheaply at home. I wouldnβt rush back to this area. We both saw what Bodrum has to offer, as we left the boat yesterday and Gayle reckons, any resort that has cruise ships is likely to have much better facilities. The restaurants were everywhere in Bodrum, with fantastic shopping scattered through them.
This hotel has done everything we needed it to doβ¦ gave us a chance for a relaxed week away in the sunshine. Iβm so grateful to have been able to do this. Iβm very lucky that Craig doesnβt fancy Turkey and allows me to come away with my friend.
We had to be out of our room by 12 and turns out our neighbours had organised a golf buggy for their luggage so we hopped on that!!
Iβm pre-sad weβre about to go for our last lunch but Iβm looking forward to a lovely salad.
And now we have precisely 4 hours left in the sunshine. Current view!
Iβve been in the sea and need to go in one last time!! I totally count everything down by βthe last timeββ¦. Torturing myself ππ
The last pirate ship paradeβ¦.
Itβs 3.15pm now and I feel I should put this out rather continue the countdown. I am looking forward to being back home. Once the sun goes down Iβll get over the fact that this might be the last heat I feel on my skin until March or April π±π±π±
Turkey you have been everything I needed and more. Thanks to Gayle for coming with me as Iβm absolutely certain I wouldnβt have enjoyed it anywhere near as much on my own.
Itβs 5.30 when the alarm goes off but we were both awake earlierβ¦.. we have to be in reception for 6.15 as weβre taking a day trip to Kos, Greece π¬π·
Itβs very early when youβve not surfaced much before 8am but my sense of adventure is tingling. Iβm excited about my day. Through tired eyes! π
A picture of a massive lake we pad on the way there taken through the busβ very dirty windows.
The bus journey is almost 2 hours from our hotel to Bodrum. Thatβs why we left at 6.15am.
Bodrum is beautiful. Would really have loved some time to spent some time here. There is A lot of money in the harbour⦠some very expensive boats.
Craigβs says Iβve to bring this wee guy home!
He sat on my foot. π
Check the size of the Virgin Atlantic cruise ship in the background.
Kos. π¬π·
So the only negative of the trip was it took us about 1 hour 45 minutes between docking in Kos and actually getting out into Kos Town. I think we sat on the boat for about an hour before we got off as they said passport control had reached capacity. Itβs a long day with a 4 hour bus journey, to be stuck for that length of time getting into the country.
That said, Kos Town is beautiful and Iβm really glad I got to see it.
We stopped for lunch straight away as we hadnβt eaten much. We were in a lovely, leafy, roadside cafe bar.
Check the sign Iβm pointing to!
We went for a walk around the old town. Itβs really pretty with quaint wee shopping streets.
We wandered round to check the beachβ¦. Itβs tiny pebbles but really clear water.
Passport control was so much faster when we left. Only took about 10-15 minutes to clear. We were on the boat about an hour early as a result.
Our Turkish boat leaving Greece π¬π·
The blue dot shows where we are in relation to home!
Sailing back into Bodrum.
That Virgin Atlantic cruise ship is enormous!
After cleaning passport control in Turkey in about 20 minutes, we are finally on our way back to the hotel. Donβt think weβll be there much before 9pm. A long day. Iβm glad we got to see Kos but with hindsight it really was a bit too much of a trek in one day. Iβd love to go back and visit sometime.
Thanks so much to Gayle for indulging me on this trip.
Iβm too tired to spellcheck so sorry for any errors ππ
I had the best sleep!!! The neighbours still came back in at 2.30am and put the tv on but I went straight back to sleep. It was soooo good.
There was another lovely sunset last night.
We had a lovely Chinese meal at the pre booked a la carte restaurant last night. The food was amazing.
I tried to get this selfie standing on a hill but I look tiny next to Gayle, it would have been a lovely photo if we could have been at the same height! π
We were lucky enough to have this stunning view from our table.
The restaurant was lovely too.
And the food was just so good.
Chinese prawn crackers, Indian popadoms and several dipsChicken in hot sauce with fried riceDeep fried ice cream and fruit
We both really enjoyed itβ¦ it was much cooler last night and we could have done with a jumper. I think the summer season is ending now as it was much cooler this morning tooβ¦.. yet back to scorching as I lie here on my sunbed writing this.
Here I am this morning in my lemon loungewearβ¦. π€¦π»ββοΈπππ sweatshirt needed outside this morning.
We had a slightly later breakfast⦠this is the spectacular view.
and a pirate ship from a different location πππ
So we had a different morning today where we sat by the pool. Itβs a completely different dynamic and a new view!
The pool was FREEZING. I didnβt expect it to be so cold. I had a good swim round it though.
We had lunch in the snack bar today but headed back down to the beach for Gayleβs favourite waffles and my favourite chocolate wrap thingβ¦. Here is the lovely lady who makes them for us every day.
Her face lights up when she sees us. I would like her to be my Turkish granβ¦. So rude of me to believe she is old enough. On the first day we ordered way too much and we all laughed and she zipper her lips as if to say, telling no-one. π
View from the beach snack bar.
I had a lovely float in the sea after that. Itβs so lovely in there. Then some woman went and fed the fish and I had to keep treading water until she was finished. Didnβt want to swim right though a fish feeding frenzy!!
Then there was a wee bit of drama as clouds of smelly, black smoke billowed out of the kitchens.
It went on for a wee while and was really smelly. So lucky it didnβt get any worse than that. Everyone was watching, even those in the sea.
Itβs half 5 Turkish time so itβs a bit cooler now.. I may not have applied the sun tan lotion as liberally as other days oopsie. The sun is beautiful.
These pics were taken just outside the most scenic toilet Iβve ever been to πππ
We were in bed early last night with a plan to go for a long walk this morning. I couldnβt get to sleep for the Turkish women chattering next door ππ (we actually think they might be German!Β£ then got woken at 2.10am by the folk coming back on the other side! Then wide awake reading at 5.30am. Just as well I could sleep all day if I had to. π I then heard the 6am Islamic call to prayer! The hotel is really quiet to be honest and Iβve slept through every other night. π could have been the late Turkish coffee π
We were in breakfast earlier than usual. a lovely view from our table.
Now that weβve found out you can sit outside, our meals have a much nicer ambience than sitting in the huge, bright canteen style restaurant. I managed some food snaps!
I didnβt eat breakfast but had some lovely Turkish coffee.
We sent off into Didim Altinkum for our walk. It was still nice and cool to start off with. Itβs lovely to walk to where we have been looking over from our beach deck out in the sea.
The flag is MASSIVE!!
None of the shops were really open and the cafe bars were just starting to open up. There were gardeners out ripping all the marigold flowers out of all the flower displays all the way along the front. They obviously think the summer season is over! There were Turkish people walking with handfuls of marigolds as they could see they were all being pulled up.
The end of the street still has some flowers.
Hereβs the very marbley hotel reception!
Then we went for a seocndlate breakfast as by this time I was STARVING!
Itβs been lovely to do something a wee bit different this morning. Weβre back in our usual spot on the beach deck for the rest of the day.
We did have ice cream and booked a wee trip for Wednesday!
The temperatures at this time of the year are just perfect for me. It said 23Β°C when we came up from the beach just now. I donβt need much hotter than that to be honest!
Oh just remembered that I saw the strangest thing on our walk last nightβ¦.. a row of stars that seemed to be following each other and gradually one by one disappeared. It was the strangest thing! I looked it up when we got back to the room.
Who knew?!?!
Iβm still loving the no stress, no worry, no drama, just relaxationβ¦.. and of course, the beautiful blue sky and sunshine. Missing my boy and the puppers though. π§π»ββοΈπΆπΆπΆπΆ
Itβs been another beautiful day in the life of a sunbather. Nothing else for it but to lie by the sea, watch the Didim/Altinkum pirate ships sails by and read.
Itβs been a bit more cloudy and windy today but itβs still scorching. Factor 30 is doing a great job and despite 2.5 days out in the sun, neither of us have burned.
We caught a lovely sunset by the pool last night.
We went out for a walk into Didim Altinkum last night. The hotel looks lovely.
The streets are pretty quiet to be honest. It must be the season, suits me obviously but even I notice it was quiet.
I think this is us looking back to the lights of the hotel and the beach deck! Lovely moon too.
We had breakfast on the Panorama terrace and headed back down to the beach deck for the day. This was our home for the day!
We had a fancy bed decoration when we got back to our room!
Coffee (not decaf! π) and chocolate for a pre dinner snack, showered and back down for sunset. We literally made it with about a minute to spare. The photos donβt do it justice at all. It was absolutely stunning.
The sun was actually a giant, blood red ball in the sky.
Just had dinner and went for a walkβ¦another lovely end to a lovely day!!
Itβs so good to have nothing to think about, nothing to worry about, Iβm still fasting, Iβm eating plenty and having the best relaxing timeβ¦. With a very lovely friendβ¦.. While talking the hind legs off a donkey. π
I slept like a log last nightβ¦. My head hit the pillow about 10.30 and didnβt waken until the incessant Turkish chatter kicked in from next door at 8am. ππ Iβd love to see how long I would actually have slept, if I hadnβt been woken up! The women next door obviously want to be first for breakfast π they are very loud first thing in the morning!
This is my current view.
Dinner last night was in the Panoramic restaurant which is MASSIVE. Unfortunately they have created the image of a large university refectory which wasnβt the most intimate of surroundings. It was Turkish night and there was a huge selection of food!
The main pool looks lovely at night.
We were going to head into town but in true Julie fashion, headed back to our room as we were shattered from the day.
Itβs been a scorcher all day today. We went for breakfast and I had Turkish coffee which was really lovely. I thought it might be a bit strong but it really hit the spot. I donβt eat anywhere near as much as I used to so I was still full from dinner last night. I managed a 16 hour fast. I know Iβm on holiday and wonβt an age that every day but Iβll do it when I can. The view from breakfast is beautiful.
The restaurant is a little bit nicer during the day. A little less stark and bright white.
On our way down to the beach deck.
This is how we get in and out the sea. Now interestingly enough, the tide does not seem to come in our out here. Iβm not sure how thatβs possible but the sea is at the same level every time we go in?!?
We sat here for the morning, our on the beach deck. Itβs very sheltered.
The pirate ships all head past just before 11am. They must leave Altinkum at 10 or 10.30.
I am that sad that I counted 11 of them heading out this morning.
There are loads of wee fish in the sea! Iβm writing this in the sunshine so not sure if this photo shows them or not!
Very random arty shot trying to catch the stunning view from the mirror passing the gents toilets ππ then realised Iβm actually in it π€¦π»ββοΈπ
Current view watching the pirate ships heading back in. We had a lovely chocolate waffle lunch in the beach cafe. We swim, chatted, read, chatted, more chat ππ it really is the perfect chance to relax.
Loving the windswept photoshoot!
A perfect end to a sunbathing day. Back now to get ready for dinner!
The Rambling Sloth π¦₯ 