Jeez Iāve just been the lady of leisure these last two daysā¦.. another huge nap this afternoon but it wasnāt the most relaxing.
Craigās been moving the office round which is right next for the bedroom so Iāve been snoozing next to a giant heard of wildebeestā¦ the dogs have been loving the noise too running round the house with equal gusto to the wildebeest. Ach Iām just a bit out of sorts today.
We have Tough Mudder next Saturday and here I am lounging around like Lazy McLazerson. Iāll do the hard work through the week at the Fit Body Farm. Iām trying not to think about the actual Tough Mudder itselfā¦. Iāll let it sneak up on me as that seems to be best way for me. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
The weatherās been pretty rotten today too. I couldnāt think of anything to do.
Iām bored. There it is. Bingo.
We did an online food shop and Iāve reorganised my woolā¦. Again. Iāve tidied up more of the upstairs office but then I just thoughtā¦ nahā¦.. I need a nap. So lethargic.
Sloths for smiles
My muscles have been really sore again today though I think they are slowly starting to ease off.
When Iāve been like this in the past it would always be made better by going to the pub for wineā¦.. donāt drink ā, eating chocolate or crispsā¦.. donāt have any ā, shopping or buying myself something niceā¦.. donāt need anything and trying to save all my pennies for diesel these days ā
Where is my positive head?! Actually it is still there and Iām smiling as I write thisā¦ I just seem to have needed rest this weekend and my mind is fighting it. Still.
So yeahā¦ just like that itās Sunday night already. The weatherās not looking great this week but itās up to 17C in time for Tough Mudder. That should help a bit.
So hereās to a great week for you all. Iāll shake my lethargic coat and get back to it in time for work tomorrow.
I didnāt sleep that well last night, 3 diet cokes before bed probably didnāt help. š we have no plans this weekend so the day was my oyster. If thatās even a thing?! š¤£
I can hardly move this morningā¦ my butt and legs are totally seized up. Not sure if itās the Fit Body Farm yesterday morning or the go-karting last nightā¦ maybe a bit of both.
Itās funny when you get up to move and have to try to swing into action.
So after the busiest day yesterday I had no plans this weekend. I set about some housework this morning, did two washings and got it it out to dry as itās so windy againā¦ clean bed tonight. My heart wasnāt in it todayā¦ā¦ by 11am the rain had stopped so I took the dogs out.
Check that cloud! Sunny spells but very windy all day
I took them into a freshly cut field for a good run.
Thought this looked really dramatic Calaidh loved eating this bit of grass!
When We got back I carried on with a bit of weedingā¦. A wee bit of work made a massive difference.
Before and after! (still way more to go!)
I realised Craig would be home from work in a hour so I thought Iād have a wee sit down and a restā¦.. I went and lay down on the bed and woke up at 3pm!!!!
Musta needed it!!! Out for the count.
Iām really dizzy just now and I have a bit of a sore throat so I did a covid test this afternoon but it was negative so all good.
Craigās on a night out tonight for the first time in like a hundred years it feels, so Iām on taxi dutyā¦.. Ā£40 I reckon it costs to Kilmarnock and back twice tonight. Used to think it was free when you got a lift but now it seems really expensive.
This photo of the dogs made me laughā¦ please donāt go out daddyā¦. Heās getting ready in front of Bhru and Calaidh!
Please donāt leave usā¦.. š„¹š¤£
So quiet night for me. Iām watching Spiderhead on Netflix and so far it seems really good.
I have to stay awake long enough to pick Craig back up againā¦. Volume on phone turned up high just in case.
The farm was great this morning! Itās a lovely start to the day. This is going to be our warmest day of the year so far I think.
Iām writing this lying here at 11amā¦.
When we got back for the Farm I got changed and started tackling the weeds in the garden. Theyāve grown so much over the last few months. Taken over.
BeforeBeforeBeforeAfterAfterAfter
It was hard work but I was on a roll. Itās lovely to work in the garden in the sun but now Iāve hit a wall and have finished my book and am having a wee lie down for an hour or so until I need to get ready to go out.
Iām heading to work with Craig as heās off to West Kilbride and I can have a wee wander down at the beach. Iām waiting to see how hot it is before I take the dogs with me.
It was a fair bit cooler so I took Freya and Bhruic down onto Seamill Beach, West Kilbride.
Howās this for a view?
West Kilbride looked lovely with al the houses perched on the hill.
I have to be honest here and say I didnāt relax much on this walk. I was really anxious about letting the dogs off the lead so I walked with the on lead most of the time. It didnāt do them any harm as it was warm and it stopped them running about too much.
Off lead for a wee run
It clouded over a fair bit but looked really quite dramatic.
I loved the look of these flowers in the rocks.
Iām then off to my worksā Christmas night out!! We are heading to ScotKart in Camuslangā¦. Go-karting šš
Not my finest look
I went through a huge range of emotions this eveningā¦.. fear, anxiety, terror, thought of backing out at the start, what have I done, fear, absolute terrorā¦ā¦.. and by the second race I bloody loved it!!! Ok so I was always gonna be last but my fastest lap first time was 1minute and the second race my fastest was 51 seconds.
The second race was so much better, no more moving out the way for the boysā¦ Julieās racing line all the way! I was so chuffed it took them so long to lap me the second race. The first race they lapped me a million times!
So yeah, Iāve had a busy few daysā¦.. and Iām so pleased to say that The Rambling Sloth webpage is now fully functional. Click on the link to have a look!
Now donāt get too excitedā¦. If you read the blog then itās not really anything new but itās way more professional than itās been in the past. Previously if you looked up theramblingsloth.com you got Day 100 and could never see anything passed that. As lovely as Day 100 wasā¦. There was more to my blog than just that š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£
Soā¦. Long story but Iāll try to be briefā¦. Iāve had to temporarily find an alternative provider for my Health Kinesiology sessions due to ill health.
As devastated as I was by this and determined to āgo it aloneāā¦. things happened that meant I had to seek out a bit of help. None of these have been my story to tell but have impacted me enough that Iāve needed some support through them.
So anyway, new HK lady has web design experience so had helped me sort out the issues I had with the website. How lovely is that?!
She has an appointment that you can book with her for a half hour, called a Zoffeeā¦.. a āzoom coffeeā and she told me to book one and sheād use the time to work on the page.
So huge thank you to Angela Daye – Inner Pathways for this unexpected IT support!! Again there is a link to be clicked there to take you to her business page. She is highly recommended!
Kinesiology helps me to live from a place of abundance rather than lack. Itās the best treatment I have ever found. I will never be able to explain it but it works for me every time.
Soā¦.. in other newsā¦. Work has been good this week. Iāve felt calm and in control.
We sadly had a step incident at workā¦.
Someone killed the step to our portacabin yesterday so the boys had to build a step from palletsā¦. as you do!
Itās a very fancy set up that I was able to use as decking for a quick seat in the sun at lunchtime!!! I always wanted a job I would wear shorts too in the summerā¦ and here I am!
I also had a lovely massage at Harmony – Beith this afternoon after work. Norma worked her wonders as usual. I felt so relaxed when I left. šš»āāļøš§š»āāļø
Back home for a bite to eat and then Claire popped in to the garden for a cuppa.
Thatās the first time weāve caught up in weeks due to our holiday and then she caught a bad COVID-19 variant and had been really unwell. It was lovely to see her smiling face again and get a good natter!
So thatās all from me today I think. Have to get to bed for the 5am alarm for the Fit Body Farm.
Of course itās cloudy today and I had to put the lamp on as itās dark cloudā¦. But today is the longest daylight of the year. The first day of summer.
Itās been up to 16C today though so it seems warm (remember itās Scotland so thatās warm to us!) tomorrow will be hotter. šš»
Iāve just filled the van with diesel on the way homeā¦. only put Ā£70 in and just got over half a tankā¦ā¦ š³ I paid Ā£196.9 per litreā¦.. I remember when we went over Ā£1 and that was horrifying. Where will it stop?!?
Some good news though, I was renewing my van insurance which is a usually a task in itself. I like to pay in full rather than pay the monthly fee and pay money for nothing. They quoted me Ā£406 and I said that I couldnāt afford to pay thatā¦. Said I would have to do monthly amounts so they stood to get Ā£469 if I did thatā¦.. they came back and knocked it to Ā£298. I couldnāt believe they took so much off it. So just thought Iād mention this in case anyone else wants to haggle at insurance renewal time. It was so easy and better in my pocket than theirs. Same insurance. š¤·š»āāļø
Iāve been shattered this week, really lethargic and eating really badly which I know doesnāt helpā¦. Early night tonight š
Took this photo of Calaidh out in the garden after workā¦ sheās a cutie.
Jusā throw the ball!! š¾
Also took a photo of our rose bush at the back door, itās really beautiful if a bit scraggy.
A lot of foliage fell off it last year. Iād love it to bloom all up the wall.
Oh that reminds me (the word bloom is the trigger š) I won an online competition yesterday on FB – a page called Tiree Photgraphic.
I donāt win anything but itās so lovely to have one of my photos mentioned on the page. This was the lovely Balevullin Beach on Tiree on the most beautiful day.
I love the light nights that summer brings.
Tomorrow we will all be saying āaye the nights are fair drawinā inā¦ā¦ š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£ a wee Scottish jokeā¦ the first person that says that to me will get a slap. We canāt think of winter just yet. š¤£
So I finally issued my Staffa blog at 8am this morning but it seems to have bombed as hardly anyone has seen it. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£ it only took me about 7 days and 3 hours to write. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£
Anyway, itās a quickie today as Iāve been out since 9am on a day trip with some of my lovely neighbours to Edinburgh for the Lion King. š¦š
I donāt think Iāve been on a train since COVID though, so even that has been a wee adventure.
Weāve had a lovely day but itās 8.37pm and weāre on the train still closer to Edinburgh than we are to Glasgow!
Both our trains were cancelled today so we had to be inventive and weāve managed to get the train on different routes but way better than the bus.
Just arrived in Glasgow
Sent this next one to mum and dad sayingā¦ āwhereās Julie?!ā
Just arrived in Edinburgh Waverley!
They both guessed!
We went for pre-theatre drinks at a Festival bar on top of Edinburghās Waverley Market.
Itās actually been a lovely day weather wise too.
The Wallace Monument from the Festival Bar
I had to get this next photo as my in laws have two cool giraffes in their living room and I reckon they have escaped and been found in Edinburgh š¦š¦
The Lion King is in the Edinburgh Playhouse.
The show was amazing. Itās not the same as I remember from the last time I saw it, I think a few less special effects this time round but still amazing.
Show selfie š¤³
After the show we went to Guillianoās for dinner.
Check my pizzaā¦ it was amazing!!
Edinburgh is looking amazing in the evening sunā¦. a lovely end to a lovely day!!
You soooooo know I am freaking out about getting home late. My phone just told me I should be getting ready for bedā¦.. eh yeah!!!! I know thatā¦. We donāt get into Glasgow Queen Street until 9.30pm and we have to walk to Central Station. Rachel two doors down has just announced that there isnāt a train to Glengarnock after 7.40pm.
At this rate Iāll take a taxiā¦. šš¤£
To the boss manā¦ Iāll be the burst couch tomorrowā¦ least you know Iāll not be hungover š¤£š¤£š¤£
I started writing this on day 797 while sitting on the machair at the side of Gott Bay beach on the island of Tiree.
The internet connection was so bad that I decided to wait until I was home to write itā¦. Itās now day 808. š
So back to day 796ā¦. I went with Tiree Tours to Staffa leaving at 2pm.
Sadly about 20 minutes before we were due to departā¦ Bhruic had an explosive bout of diarrhoea. We could not take her on a boat trip after thatā¦.and sadly it meant that Craig had to miss out. (Incidentally she was fine for another 5 days until it happened again by thatās by the byā¦)
Here I am all vested up and ready to go
I would say that this trip is really not for dogsā¦.. this next pic is me making the descent onto the boat and not sure how we would have got Bhru down there at allā¦.
Making the descent down to the Rib
āWhere you going without us Mumma?ā
So we set off for what was around an hourās speedboat ride out to Staffa.
Staffa is situated about 6 miles off the coast of Mull and 33 miles west of Oban as the crow flies. Iāve wanted to visit Staffa and Fingalās Cave since my parents took me on a boat trip from Oban around Mull past Iona and Staffa and back to Oban. I guess I was around 10 or 12 years old.
The trip is not for the faint hearted. Itās a loud and fast ride but you soon settle into the noise and the movement. Itās not particularly bumpy as the Rib speeds over the swell but weāre out on a relatively calm day.
We pass the Dutchmanās cap on the way there and I have to tell you I have photos of it from every single angle š¤£š¤£š¤£
Speeding past!
Then all of a sudden we start to slow down. There she blows!
Staffa has been uninhabited since 1800. Staffa is the same geology as the more famous Giants Causeway in Ireland. The island is of volcanic origin and is made up of an extraordinary pattern of predominantly hexagonal basalt columns.
In short, it is out of this world and so stunningly beautiful that this will be a very precious memory for me for many years to come.
We sail slowly up to the main attraction, Fingalās Cave which is 20m high and 75m long.
The rib slowly sails into the cave. The water is clear turquoise coloured and the roof is shimmering gold.
Itās breathtaking and awe-inspiring all at once. The colours are amazing.
The water is deep but you can see the rocks almost as clearly as the ones above the water.
The roof is just as stunning as the cave itself. Nature is an amazing thing.
Everywhere I look there is something else to see. Iām worried Iām taking too many photos and not enjoying the experience for what it is.
We back away back out and the sea looks dark green.
Now weāre heading round to the landing platform.
I was the first off the Rib and straight up onto the landing platform.
Even the water here is eye catching. So green with the moss on the stones.
Iām on my ownā¦ I wish Craig was here but I am more than happy exploring by myself. I donāt feel odd in this group of couples. I am off over the basalt columns like Heidi the mountain goat. šš
Again it isnāt for the faint hearted. You need to be pretty sure of your footing. In the 21st Century, itās probably the least safe thing Iāve visited but it is nice that thereās an element of common sense to your visit rather than being herded along a path with barriers all the way.
I stopped to look backwards and no one was following me. I was on my own and likely to get into Fingalās Cave alone.
And then you turn the bend to walk into Fingalās Cave. Wowā¦..
Iāve run out of adjectivesā¦. Iām scared at this bit as itās so precarious, yet determined to push into the cave. No one else is around.
Looking back out the way over to Iona and the Dutchmanās Cap is just visible on the horizon.
Then you reach the end of the pathā¦ just a small chain to stop you.
Zoomed in right to the back of the cave.
Donāt look down!!!
And so I stood here and I sang. All by myself. I just sang a couple of scales like I used to do in Higher Music when I was warming up for singing. The video clip I recorded did not do it justice. The echo was amazing. The clip sounds like Iām randomly singing for no reason. šš¤£
The Gaelic name for Fingalās Cave is An Uamh Bhin which means the melodious cave but it was subsequently renamed after the 3rd Century warrior Fionn MacCool.
The cave inspired Mendelssohnās Die Hebriden in 1832 when he visited and heard the acoustics. (Click on the link for a listen!)
After a good bit of signing, nervously at first, I was joined by two guys from the boat and I shut up straight away and let them have their time alone in the cave. I went down the rocks closer to the water.
The left and I was alone again so went back in again for a second visit!!
Then others finally arrived (no idea what kept them all ā¦so I headed back out and along the path Iād just come. Itās just as beautiful heading back to the landing area. Look at all the hexagons in this!!
This pile of basalt columns is called Am Buachaille or the Herdsman. It fascinated me.
Then Iām at the bottom of the stepsā¦ā¦ they are very steep!!
These steps are pretty vertical up the side of Staffa and onto the top. I should say here that a boat trip landed with lots of people with walking sticks (and I donāt mean walking polesā¦) you have to be pretty sure on your feet to tackle this tripā¦ I held on tight all the way up. Here is the trig point on the highest point of the island.
And the viewā¦.
Look at the columns of rock thereā¦
I should have said, we got an hour on the island so all to soon it was time to head back down those steps!!!
Holding on for dear life with one hand and taking photos all the wayā¦
Jeezo manā¦ what goes up must come down.
Tiree Tours are heading back in to pick us up. Theyāve been moored out at sea for the duration of our time on land.
And the steps keep on goingā¦
Love these sea pinks.
And guess who gets right up front for the journey back!
The trips stops several times on the way back. You raise your hand, as you canāt be heard over the noise of the engine, if you spot some wildlife other than seabirds. Again I have loads of photos but this is the best of a Minke Whale. The porpoise were too fast for me. š
As you could have guessed I highly recommend the trip to Staffa though itās closing down to visitors from August until March of 2023. I believe they are working on the access. Probably making it all Health and Safety compliant I guess.
I had the best afternoon and was back in Tiree by 5pm after my front row seat home.
Iāve been on a roll todayā¦ got loads of stuff up for sale on Vinted.
Everything up for sale for free and the buyer pays the postage to Vinted. Once they take delivery of my stuff, Vinted will transfer payment to me. A small risk, I guess but Iām not selling anything extortionate.
So if it sits still long enoughā¦ a selling is considered.
Now for those of us in Scotland I want you to consider how hot it has been in England recently. Everything we see on FB is about high temperatures, donāt walk your dogs on tarmac or middayā¦.. looks out window š³š¤Øš„¶ā¦. āanother hot one todayā¦.ā Looks out windowā¦.. š³š¤Øš„¶
Well, the Windsor Waffle, my good blogging friend needed her aircon on in the house ( š²sorry āWWā I read your blog but havenāt had a chance to comment yetā¦. ) I love that she has aircon as for those of you not in the Uk, thatās quite unusual for us and would only ever been necessary in the South of England. We are busy freezing to death and being blown into next week with our current version of summer!! Isnāt it funny how if can be such a north/south divide at times. We got the raw deal this timeā¦. Actually I say that and am very grateful I donāt have 30C heatā¦. I would just like a shade warmer than winter. Not asking much š„¶š
So weather rant over, itās been a quick day. Itās our neighbourās birthday today so might have a few wee drinks in the village pub in a bit. Iām off to see The Lion King in Edinburgh tomorrow so looking forward to that! š¦š
Hope youāre all having a lovely weekendā¦. Hot or cold and May our summer come sometime soonā¦.. please šš»
I didnāt plan to go to the Farm this morning as I was so tiredā¦. Of course I woke at 5am and tried so hard to go back to sleep. I should have just gone to the gymā¦. I gave myself all the excuses under the sunā¦. Even thinking Iād save money in fuel by not going. How ridiculous is that?
Iāve put my day to great useā¦. Iāve not sat down (she says writing this as sheās sitting downā¦. š)
Iāve blitzed the housework and honestly had to empty the hoover 4 timesā¦.. FOURā¦. So either the house was disgustingly unclean, which it actually wasnāt, or the Shark hoover really is soooo small that it honestly canāt be made to hoover up after animals. Itās a nightmare!
Anyway, itās all sparkling nowā¦. With dog hair glitter and water splashes from when they shake the rain offā¦. šš¤£š¤£
It has been pouring todayā¦. Honestly it was torrential this morning, the dogs were soaking wet after a few minutes outside. I had to wait till this afternoon to walk them.
The skies have cleared.
Itās the first time Iāve been round this way for ages and the roadsides are so overgrown. Thereās nowhere to stop when cars go past. The 4 of us had to bury ourselves in the grass! One van came flying along at some speed and had to slam on his brakesā¦.
So Iāve been busy putting some things up for sale today. I have generated way to much clutter and things need to go to make some space ā¦ a tidy house is a tidy mind.
I sold one thing as soon as I put it up for sale! Now Iām not making a fortune but itās money for things that are taking up space in the house.
Just sold a second thing too!! Kind of glad I didnāt rush to post the first parcelā¦ š
Iāve not managed a nap today so I hope I get a good sleep tonight. Lazy evening for us which is kinda he we roll these days. Just the way I like it!
Itās the first time Iāve said it in a long time but I feel wiped out tonightā¦. I woke at 5am and couldnāt get back to sleep so ended up in work for just after 7am. Was determined to get away 4pm and finally made it at half past. š¤Ø. I could hardly keep my eyes open driving home!
Itās quite hot here today so it might just be that. When the sun shines itās meant to be 18Cā¦ then it rains and feels a lot cooler. Obviouslyā¦.
Being busy and working late is a real āwineā trigger for me.
Iām tired, walked in the door and saw Craig with a glass of white and my heart sankā¦. I wanted to have the ahhhh moment that we all think that drink brings.
He quickly poured me an alcohol free wine (which to be honest are still fairly rotten) but honestly it did the trick. Iām now halfway through a bottle of red, without the after effects.
How funny that I saw that sober school post on Fb today. I swear sometimes I actually manifest this blog. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£š¤£
So not much else to report tonight other than itās suddenly my weekend again. š„³š„³
Itās been such a quick week. Tiree seems a distant memory already. I hope to get a chance to do my Staffa post this weekend before I actually forget about it. š
Think itāll be an early night for me š¬š„±š“š
The Rambling Sloth š¦„ 