Healing mental health during COVID-19 times and beyond
Author: Julie
I’m 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 life… and travelling the world!
I slept really well but was rudely awakened by Khaleesi barking 🤦🏻♀️
Dog walks to start the day!
Then I met Gayle and we went to Gro Coffee.
There was a 45 minute wait so we went for a walk around the harbour.
The phoned us with half and hour and we headed into Gro.
Wait till you see this!!!!!
White chocolate pancakes with pistachio ice cream!!! We should have shared one. Far too much for one person 😆
I took a photo of the cakes before we left.
We had another wander around to burn off some calories.
I feel a bit flat today. Not sure why. A bit meh.
End of the weekend already and I’m still shattered and feel like I haven’t achieved much but I have… it’s Bank Holiday tomorrow and the weather’s to be lovely and I want to be off!
Hey, t’s probably just the sugar crash.
Cuddles with Calaidh always help. She’s doing so well. She’s losing weight on her diet and honestly she’s just the brightest pupper since her op. It’s lovely to see.
It’s 7.30pm and we’re all shattered so I think we’ll all have an early night!! finally got the two injured dogs out for a half hour walk today. They both did well.
This field was full of young calves! They were so inquisitive.
Khaleei spouted a farm cat in the hedgerow!
Then back home to get Bhruic and Freya for a longer walk.
They had a play in the burn.
We had a run in this field… well they did…. And this gate actually fell over as I climbed it…. Note to self… be more careful. Thankfully I got it back into position with a good bit of heavy humphing 😆😆😆
We may have just happened to go past Mocha Jaks for a quick bite of breakfast…. 😆😆
I was bright in my sloth tshirt from Helen!!
Oh and I forgot to say Gayle gave me these beautiful roses last night…. Aren’t they stunning. She had loads of autumnal artificial flowers in the little gift shop at the moment!
I’m shattered now and I yawned for the first few hours of the day!
It was really busy and passed quickly but it was much cooler today. It’s a welcome relief but funny how 16°C can suddenly seem cold after a few days of mid 20’s.
Needless to say I’m going to make this a quick one today.
I’ve done nothing on Her Travel Circle for the last week!!
I spend so much time taking photos and writing the blog I do wonder if I should be using all the photos etc for Her Travel Circle and keeping the blog to feelings for just now…
It’s hard to know what to do for the best as no one makes me write the blog but I do it because I want to.
Quiet night to regroup. Craig’s working and then the football is on so I will catch up on some quick housework then sit and either watch tv or read a book…. Or think about a post for Her Travel Circle which is probably more likely!!
I’ve made some amazing memories over the last few days. I have never spent time sitting on a beach in Scotland like we did. Going in the sea so often was a real treat and the lack of jellyfish…. Even better.
Another scorcher of a day though the temperature has dropped a wee bit. It’s 7.36pm and I’m sitting outside and it’s cool.
What an amazing summer we are having in Scotland this year.
We were so lucky to have such an amazing weekend. Imagine being used to down south temperatures, coming to Scotland and only wearing a jumper while out on a boat. you would never believe it possible!
We’ve packed in so much and been outside as much as we can. It feels like we’ve been on a holiday abroad.
So a lie in today although he who shall remain nameless. Set his alarm for 7am!!
I stayed in bed until 8.30 but I was shattered and I still am.
We stayed local this morning and walked Bhruic and Freya before we headed out for the day.
It was super hot and we ended up not going too far with them.
We left the house around 12.30pm and The Emirates flight came in to land at Glasgow Airport.
This pic does not do it justice….. there’s a massive shadow cast over the sun, which gave us a fright….. then the noise and then the plan is visible and screams of “take a photo!!” from me 😆😆😆
So today we went to Luss on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond… cue the song.
Despite the majority of my photos showing no people, Luss was HEAVING!!!!!
Take the High Road is a Scottish TV show that was filmed in Luss.
There are lots of selfies today!
The beach was packed and sadly there was a fair bit of rubbish lying around.
We settled here but only after I’d moved a full bag up of rubbish up to the bins!
This was it nice and clean when we left.
Ben Lomond in the distance.
Of course I went for a paddle.
Under the pier!
And then I thought I’d go in for a swim. I was tired and couldn’t be bothered getting wet but I knew I’d regret it! So I did and it was lovely!!
I had a proper swim this time.
And that’s us ready to head to the airport… hair up….
Hair back down!
On the end of the pier.
It’s quieter now.
We got a huge gelato to end our lovely weekend!
What a wonderful time we’ve had.
I may have to sit in a dark room for two weeks now 😆😆😆 and that’s no slight on Helen at all… just my need for a dark room!!
Craig’s in Edinburgh today so I have to pick him up from somewhere later on. Not Edinburgh though!!
We have walked about 18k steps…. From Seamill beach down towards Ardrossan (got nowhere near 😆 and back!)
Sat here for a bit!
Had lunch up on the grass by the car and used my new umbrella for the first time.
Then went for a long paddle along the beach and walked towards Portencross.
I love the sunlight on the water.
I love the ripples in the sand!
It’s so shallow you can paddle far out.
We headed up into West Kilbride for some food so we can stay longer. We have the cool box with us!
So Helen and Mike have this thing that buying a box of 3 Magnums is cheaper than buying 2 single Magnum’s but you must give the 3 Magnum to some random passerby.
A lovely man in West Kilbride was the recipient of our 3rd Magnum…. These Gold Caramel Magnums were AMAZING!!!
We headed back down to the beach and I went into the sea when the cloud came over!!
So far out and Helen still has shorts on.
And off I go!!!
It’s surprisingly cold but I think it’s because we’ve been so hot in the sun for most of the day!
I then played with the umbrella and arty shots!!!
Scotland flag!!!!! 🏴
I’ve been back in the sea and met a lady who met her husband in the pub next door to my house… 26 years ago!!
Small world.
It’s been a gorgeous day. I feel so calm and relaxed.
Ok so today didn’t go quite as planned but Helen and I have had a lovely despite it being a different to plan .
Poor Khaleesi’s sore paw turned out to be a broken claw and her claw was still attached but upside down this morning. The slightest knock put blood everywhere.
She squealed a fair wee bit. It was obviously very sore.
Armour Vets were amazing and squeezed us in as soon as they could.
The back of the car!
It’s all been cut off and we have it as a memento!
She’s back to the cone of shame and has to stop licking her paw. Bless her. She’s feeling all sorry for herself.
Calaidh had her first wee walk in ages. she was soooo happy.
Helen got kisses from Bhru.
We went to MochaJaks.
And had a wander around Beith.
We were so tired. We sat in the house for a bit….. and almost thought we wouldn’t go out….. but we did!! Down to Irvine Beach and walked for miles…. 20.5k steps.
Bad hair Julesie!
Jellyfish!!!
More jellyfish… and a lot of them.
Strange sand pile!
Then Gro Coffee for dinner!
A really lovely day apart from poor Khaleesi but she’s ok.
The forecast was for rain but there was no way we were getting rain.
I slept like a log again and woke a few minutes before the 5.25 alarm.
Claire and I were running this morning. 🌅
Before sunrise….. it’s amazing to see how quickly the mornings are getting darker! I don’t like it! 😆😆
This was us before we set off!
The sky was lovely!
Finally sunrise half way through our run.
I thought sunrise over the wheelie bins was quite cool.
Running through Spiers Old School Grounds.
My favourite gate!
Claire waiting for me at the exit!
The village was lovely when we got back.
It was sooooo hot.
The sweat was pouring out of me!! 5.4k done!!
I sat outside with the dogs with my bare feet on the morning dew grass… to cool down.
And Freya thought it would be lovely to lick off all the sweat!!
So I finally got a chance to do my stock check at work.
What a difference being on antidepressants. I count something and add it into the spreadsheet…. before antidepressants I would count it, forget the number by the time I got to the spreadsheet!!!
Today still took a while but not because of recounting…. It’s just been a few months since I did one so I took my time.
It felt really good to finally break the back of it.
I sat outside at lunchtime on my own and it was ROASTING….. about 27°C. I sat in the weeds in the car park, next to my clean car!!
I was a hot frazzled mess 😆😆
So back to the stock check tomorrow and placing orders. I’ll feel better if I can do that before I have a day off on Monday.
Craig’s home tonight for the first night in ages.
We’re sitting outside.
I’ve decided to leave last minute cleaning to tomorrow. Who knows what state the house could get into between tonight and tomorrow!!
Helen lands after 9 tomorrow and the. We have to plan our weekend in the sunshine!
Some pics of the lovely roses that are blooming just now.
I’m missing crochet tonight as I’ll have a full on few days so I’m taking a rest this evening… in the sunshine. ☀️
Up sharp straight after the alarm, dogs out, showered and dressed and in work for 7.20 and managed to wash the car and still start work early.
I’m so busy with being off at the course yesterday and having next Monday off…. I have to admit to being a little panicked today.
By default I manifested the perfect storm…. Lots of customers in, the phone never stopped, the emails never stopped coming and I just didn’t get a minute all day.
I need to do a stock check!!
I’m putting out there as I’ve said that every day for the last two weeks but I have to stop everything else and do it tomorrow. We’re running out of bits all over!! (again I’m exaggerating, we’ve ran out of a couple of things and I know it’s just going to get worse!!)
So yeah…. I flitted about from thing to thing like I was caffeined to the max! I wasn’t….
When I left work the car said 30°C….. you can imagine that I just melted until the aircon kicked in.
I got home and fed the dogs, brought the bins back round to the garden and picked my onions that I’ve been growing next door! They are not as good as Kenny’s onions but he grew his…. I just let mine get on with it and look after themselves 😆
I strung them up in the greenhouse.
I finalised our home insurance tonight.
Another massive tick off the list!
I then ate some ice cream. 🍦
I think it was well deserved.
Hope you’re enjoying the sunshine where ever you are!
I had a restless night but I’m fairly certain I still slept for about 8 and a half hours…. I really shouldn’t complain. 😆
Up and into work sharp today as I am on an Emergency First Aid at Work course.
I got into the office for just after 7.30 and managed to get as many rental enquiries answered as I could before I had to get ready to leave at 9am.
The course runs from 9.30 -4.30.
One thing I’m very aware of is my lack of anxious preparation…. On anti depressants I am way more calm and less likely to plan for every single eventuality.
I’d printed out all the detail for the course, forgot to bring it and forgot a pad and a pen…. Sooooo not like me. Always prepared…. But this time not in the slightest.
It must be at least 8 years since I’ve been on a training course. It feels very strange being back in the office environment and in a meeting room….. it triggers so many memories of what work used to be like for me.
I had a great day!
I now know how to use a defibrillator! I’m glad about that as we have one across the road from the house and I always felt I should know how it worked.
It was a good course. Really structured with plenty of breaks and practical CPR.
I had to go for a food shopping on the way home.
Craig made lasagne last night so I had day 2 lasagne for dinner! Was amazing!
I’ve been worried about how much I have to do this week with a day out of the office and a day off next Monday….. so I typed up a list in my reminders app.
I emptied a refilled the dishwasher, did another washing and hung it up, made my lunch for tomorrow and put the bin out
I’ve also sorted out my car insurance for this year…. And almost finalised our home insurance…. If you’ve been reading for a while now, you’ll know how much insurance stresses me out.
Not so this year.
Jeez these antidepressants are good stuff.
Now I am tired so I’ve sat down and will no doubt be in bed within the house.
No one was running today so I didn’t set my alarm.
I woke with a text message at 6.35am…. That’s a lie in for me. Not sure how the text message got through as my phone’s usually on silent…. There was no way I was running in that!! It was a mini monsoon!
It cleared up nicely and I decided to run by myself about 8.30am.
I ran my third fastest 5k which I’m really chuffed about! I didn’t stop apart from to let cars past…. I chose a flat route and I kept going talking to myself.
Every time my head said I couldn’t, I told myself I can!
I am really chuffed with my times. I honestly don’t really know how I managed it!
It was very hot! What a difference an hour makes.
Khaleesi’s paw is better this morning.
She’s still limping occasionally but nothing like she was last night.
Calaidh is still doing well but neither can be walked.
So I walked Bhruic and Freya. It was a lovely way to cool down after my run.
The sides of the roads are lovely….
Freya spotted a farm cat!!
I came home and made a smoothie and I sat in the sun to drink it.
I’d found an Oat Machta Latte drink in Tesco that I wanted to try….and I’m not gonna lie it’s pretty rotten, it just tastes like drinking straight oat milk which I’d never do. The only difference is that it’s green….. anyway, I zizzed it with frozen raspberries.
It wasn’t bad. it was better.
I had to move back inside as it clouded over and got pretty cold.
I finished off cleaning the oven that’s I’d started yesterday.
Another thing today I am very proud of! It’s not perfect but it’s looking really good.
Warning to anyone who may be using my oven in the next wee while…… keep it clean!!!!
I had washed all the cushion covers so I put them all back on and covered up the couches with the clean blankets, stripped and washed the bed. Another day putting everything back to the way I want it.
I sat and had a cheese salad wrap for lunch.
Poor Calaidh is on a diet…. She’s even considering my salad!
I managed to catch the dogs watching Craig coming home from work. Bless them.
I had a shower and went to pick Gayle up to head out to Largs. It was beautiful when we got there and I never took any photos until it stared to rain!! Lovely flowers though.
As we went back to the car I thought we’d take a selfie!!! It was wild.
We had a lovely hot chocolate and 2 fingers of shortbread in Wetherspoons for a total of £4.54! Cheap date.
Ok Helen….. the house is clean right now so you have to stop work and get up here straight away before that changes. 😆😆😆
I have Helen coming to stay this coming weekend and Melanie coming to stay at the end of August so I am spending some of this weekend really cleaning the house.
Not just my usual superficial quick wheech around.
I have scrubbed and cleaned and washed and dusted and sprayed and wiped and brushed and hoovered and….. I’ve run out of words.
I’m sore and exhausted…. Everything aches again.
But…… it feels so good that the house is clean.
I breathe more freely.
Everything feels lighter…. Except my joints and my muscles!
I’m not finished yet!
Bertie Beetle was in the garage for MOT and Service and it passed!!!!!!!! Only needed the rear brakes loosened as they were binding.
Now there’s a turn up for the books.
Calaidh is still doing well but poor Khaleesi has hurt her paw today…. Think she cut it as it was bleeding but she’s limping pretty badly.
Another really busy day today and Calaidh came to work as we had the vet at 3pm.
She’s such a good girl! She roams about then goes for a wee lie down.
So drumroll….. the good news is that the lump was benign!!
I had built myself up to hear the worst. I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t anxious. I knew what would be would be. But I have to admit being so relieved when the lovely vet said it was benign!!
She has to rest up a bit as too much movement is causing swelling around the scar.
Here she is poised for the ball…. Which of course I am not throwing!
Just throw it mum….. nope!
So a quiet night for me. I’m shattered after a really busy week and all the vet excitement.
There’s no food in the house but I coped!
MOT & service tomorrow YAY…… and then I have to scrub the house from top to bottom as I have Helen coming to stay the following weekend. Perfect time for it as I won’t have a car!
It’s 5.15pm and I’m sitting on in our back garden being pestered by 3 Border Collies for their dinner…. Which is defrosting as we speak!
I’m now covered in Freya hair!
You’re fair game when you sit at their level. Every now and then Khaleesi comes over to join in too!
There’s a real heat to that lovely sun.
It was a really muggy run this morning but it’s been cool on and off all day. Ellison and I sat out at lunch but I needed my fleece on.
The run was really good this morning. I felt good and felt strong. Note large “bead” of sweat on my top lip there!
This one is a bit blurry but Claire and Lynsey are up ahead somewhere!
A wide eyed Julie!
When I left for work the sky was lovely.
I’ve had another good day at work. I feel very calm just now, even when difficult things come my way, I feel like I handle them much better than I have in the last 6 months
I’m so grateful for the peace in my head.
I’m waiting on the doctor calling me…. I’ve an update appointment on my antidepressants and then, a small Hooker club are heading to Gro Coffee tonight as there’s only 3 of us… we thought we’d have a mini adventure!
I was pouring with rain when I got out of bed at 5.30am… thankfully the walk with Bhru, Freya and Khaleesi was a lot less wet than yesterday! There was even some sunshine.
I’ve had another good day today.
Busy at work. I went in early but the day still ran away!
I popped into the little gift shop on the way home to get a baby present and a a wee congratulations bracelet for my next door neighbour who passed all her exams today!!
I’ve had to stop for major puppy cuddles!
I used to get annoyed at the dogs for interrupting me when I was writing the blog. Now I love the love. I appreciate that they want to be with me and on me… it’s so sweet.
A giant Border Collie blob!
So I’ll leave you with some photos from this morning.
Khaleesi spotted a deer!
Lots of leaf debris from yesterdays storm’
Khaleesi always wants to see over the wall!!
I put their dog robes on when I got home …. Cuties!
Have a lovely night, I’ll be in bed in a half hour!! 😆😆
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 