It’s been a beautiful day all day today, albeit pretty cold to start off with.
I love this time of year when the car defrosts itself as the sun comes up.
I woke at 2.30am and again a few minutes before the 5.25 alarm.
Claire, Lynsey and I were running at 5.45.
This is me in the middle of the road waiting on Lynsey to drive around the bend, those are her headlights!!
As we ran through Beith our memorial bear 🐻, Woody, has been knocked down in an accident last week. I don’t think anyone was hurt thankfully…. Except for poor Woody knocked off his plinth.
The sunrise is so lovely.
It was fast and I ran out of steam towards the end!
Here we are, all done. I think this was my fastest 5k to date as it was 6:56/km and I’m usually way over 7:00.
I was pretty pleased with that but I look like I’m walking past this photo!!
So this is the last hair wash before I get my hair cut on Friday…. I thought I’d take a photo to remind me how long it was! I think my eyes look really tired and heavy. Ok… I have just run 5.4kms but I have no energy at all just now.
My words for the month are FAITH and TRUST… I like this next one.
We’ve not been able to do much on Her Travel Circle recently as Craig’s been really busy, which is great and I’ve been such a home bird since I came home. I’m sure it will come. I have to trust the journey.
Ellison and I sat outside for lunch today and it was actually quite nice.
We even got the Tartan Campers logo over our shoulders 😆
So yeah I am hanging at the moment. Just have no welly at all…. 😆 my get up and go has got up and went!!
I’m off to meet the Crochet Hookers in 10 and I have cancelled in my head so many times but I am going…. I have to finish my latest blanket!
I was asleep on the couch between 7 and 8.20pm when Craig came in from work. Up to bed after 9 and slept right through until 4.50am.
I should have just got up then but I went back to sleep and then felt drugged but the time the alarm went off. 😆
It was a beautiful morning with thick frost on the car. Thankfully it melted in the sunlight, before I had to scrape the windscreen. Only had to scrape the passenger window! Result!
The day passed quickly. It was warm then it was cold, I kept singing Katie Perry’s Hot N Cold. 😆
Oh how I amuse myself ☀️🥶
I’ve just put that on Spotify as I write this!
We still have no internet which basically means no TV….. this is ok…. I will survive.
I have another good book, which Mum got me for Christmas (not lunch… as I just typed and had to delete!!)
So that’s my reading again for tonight.
Oh I also got a Vinted delivery with another pair of Gazelle Bold trainers!! I got these for half price and they’ve never been worn.
These are my summery trainers. I just love the colours. 🩵🧡
So I am sorted for footwear this year. I need to sell some of the boots I’ve not been wearing this year…. It’s time to move them on. Although in hindsight, not the best time to sell boots 😆
I also treated myself to pair of Powder socks in the little gift shop this weekend…. As I knew the trainers were coming.
You’ll not miss me on a dark night in these…. I am the girl who bought every pair of shoes in black so they went with everything!!
Oh how times have changed. 🥳
So the fire is on, tunes are playing, I will light the candles…. And relax.
I have been really tired this last week. While, I know, the more I sleep, the more I want to sleep, but I must need it.
I’m running with the girls at 5.45 so will be a super early night tonight…. It’s getting earlier every night 😆 there is nothing better than getting the electric blanket on, in our cold bedroom and getting cooried in bed. Heaven.
I’m getting old 😆
Peace Compassion Love
So really when I think about it, I’ve been pretty clam these last few days, there’s no anxiety, just peace. Maybe that’s why I’m so tired, I’m finally letting myself just ‘be’.
Live a happy life
Huge happy birthday to my friend Lea. She’s the kind of friend every girl should have. 🫶🏼😘she’s been there through it all, always says the right things and is always there. She’s a keeper!!
I didn’t wake before 4am but it felt great not to have to get up until after 6pm.
I opened Donna Ashworth’s To the Women this morning at a random page. I love this. 🫶🏼
I’m staying back after work to write this tonight as we have no internet 🛜 at home just now as someone (most likely not Craig…) has nibbled the internet cable 😆😆😆
It would be awful not to be able to post the blog tonight as a result.
I did see a few red flashing lights this morning as I left the house, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Come to think of it… I hope it WAS a dog and not anything else 😆😆
So yeah, I don’t have much to say tonight.
I have a cheek to be tired after my relaxing day and great sleep, but I’m looking forward to reading a new book tonight…. Since I can’t watch tv. 😆
I have sat under my crochet blanket for 90% of the day so far.
I’ve been so cold this weekend, it’s just been so lovely to snuggle and be at peace.
We got up at 7 and got under our respective crochets asap with Khaleesi in between.
We realised how old and worn looking, Craig’s crochet blanket has become. It’s been requested I make him a new one. 😆
Other than walking the dogs, and eating, I have literally done nothing!!
It’s been really lovely to have a day to just read a book. I never really do that.
There are still photos… of course!
We took the dogs for a walk around 10.45am.
It hasn’t really got sunny here all day today. It’s been milder but I’ve still been freezing. today I was a vision in khaki and sage green.
We got back home just before the Glasgow old firm football match and I sat in the sunroom, with the fire on, under my crochet blanket and read My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult.
Wow. I cried at the end. Did not see that coming.
I have had many puppy cuddles through the day!
This face says give me your lunch Mumma but I know I’m not allowed to get too close where you’re eating….
Please gimme some…. I did move a bit closer
Whatcha eating?!? I pinched Calaidh’s place.
I just need cuddles Khaleesi says.
Now I need cuddles, Calaidh says…..
It’s been all go cuddling and tickling dogs while reading a book.
What a lovely relax. It’s just after 4pm and I could do with my bed for a nap!
Help me I’m falling off my perch….
We’ve just played Outsmarted which we thought was a board game. We did it all online on our phones. I actually quite enjoyed it.
I was indeed, outsmarted, but that was hardly up for debate although I did start off better than expected.
I can’t remember the exact date I started but it was around the end of March 2020…. About 8 days after we went in Covid-19 lockdown in Scotland.
I’ve not written on a handful of days due to no signal or very low mood and I’ve duplicated a couple of days until I realised how easy it was to check the day number the day before 😆
I always do a wee stats recap on the significant number days…. Just to let new readers know a bit about me.
2,263 days without alcohol since January 2019. I had begun to use alcohol as a crutch to cope with my anxiety snd depression. It didn’t help that I was threatened with the sack every other week at work, trying to please management and please my team was an impossible task. I woke up with the fear all the time, I was miserable and sad, I shouldn’t have been drinking on antidepressants anyway. I was never any worse than the next “man” but I felt full of shame and knew I had to stop. I was blacking out. It wasn’t good. I drank twice in lockdown, the day the pubs announced they were closing and the night before they reopened. I felt AWFUL the days after. I haven’t touched a drop since. This is one of the hardest things I have ever done (living next door to the village pub) but it’s only one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given myself.
1,671 days without antidepressants. This is HUGE…. I was on antidepressants for YEARS. Maybe 25 or more. I felt suicidal in the December of 2019 and as a result of the daily blog journalling and no alcohol to make it worse, I was able to come off antidepressants.
867 days since I started on HRT. I did a lot of investigation into HRT and I believe it’s right for me. I upped the dose recently only to feel exhausted and down so I’m back on my standard dose and feeling back to normal.
813 days ago I decided to start fasting for 16 hours a day. I started on 20th December…. Right before Christmas… and I’ve fasted every day since. I just love it. It’s not for everyone but it’s completely controlled my bloating. I was always puffy and bloated. Turns out being a little bit hungry really works for me.
So that’s a quick recap on my life choices these last few years.
Turns out I’m a control freak. I try to control everything to give me the best chance of a good mood.
I LOVE a hangover free early morning. That never gets old. I feel like I have so many more hours in my day rather than losing evenings left, right and centre.
It turns out I’m nowhere near as outgoing as I thought I was. Mrs extrovert obviously needed a few sweet sherbets to keep her going.
I would say now that I’m only extrovert around the right people.
I love nothing more than alone time either in the house or away travelling somewhere.
This is the bit that needs work on next…. I need to get back into the world and not worry that I don’t drink. It is hard though. I choose this but I do feel left out when others are drinking and I’m not.
If I’m honest I think it smells disgusting now so I suppose that’s something 😆
So back to my day today. It’s another beautiful day in west, central Scotland.
Claire and I ran for 6.7kms this morning and I hit my 2 mile personal best!
My average pace wasn’t my fastest but we set it hard and then I was knackered for the second half 😆
How pretty was Spiers Old School Grounds at 7.15am?!?
I love these mini daffies that grow every year.
It’s really cold and frosty but just so beautiful.
My favourite gate.
And we’re done. My headband is covered in mildew… that sounds so much nicer than sweat….
My new favourite view… again….
I took Calaidh, Bhruic and Freya into the field to play before our walk and Calaidh knew this branch was down on the ground, from the last time we’d been in. She went straight for it!
Look at Beith from up the hill. Wow.
And this is our wee Gateside.
Back down the hill to pick up Khaleesi and I took Calaidh back out again… she needs to lose a few pounds, bless her.
I’ve been running and walking for over 2 hours so I have a seat outside before my shower. Just throw the ball 🎾 Calaidh says…
I headed down to see Gayle in the little gift shop. She’s done a lovely renovation with new floor and she’s painted the walls a dark pink. It looks lovely. I didn’t take any photos dammit!
I ended up being there for an hour and half. I served a customer when she had a queue and had to clean dog poop from the front pavement 😆😆 as you do. I’m so used to that it doesn’t phase me.
Round the corner to Curiosity coffee shop and had an Oat Mint Latte with a lemon meringue blondie. Yum. Lots of lovely chat in there as usual.
Then I’m back home and scrubbed the kitchen from top to bottom…. Well from worktop to bottom, as the sun was shining in all the wrong places and showing up way too many dirty marks.
I’ve said before, you can’t live with 4 dogs and expect a clean house 😆 but it feels better now that I’ve done it!
I sat outside for a bit with lady Khaleesi on her bed. It’s really nice when the sun shines, but still too cold to sit out for any length of time.
So I’m back indoors, writing this and will crochet until Craig comes home.
He’s been away up north for a job today (did I say that already?!) it’s been a lovely day for the drive though.
It’s going to be a very big baby blanket…. I should have made two smaller ones but it is what it is!
I was in bed for 8pm last night and lights out at 8.30…. I did wake up when someone screamed at the tv as someone’s football team won and went through to the next round….. 😬😆
I woke again at 4am.
I knew the lunar eclipse would be starting so I looked outside, saw cloud and decided to go back to bed. By 4.30 the moon brightened the sky and I figured I’d be raging if I missed it…
So up, dressed in all the warm clothes I laid out last night, made a flask up and headed out.
Not exactly certain of my final destination but I set off in pursuit of the moon.
It peeked out from behind a cloud so I pulled it a lay-by.
This would be the best moon shot I got. Period. 😆
I never saw it again.
Determined not to give up I drove out to Largs and went in to the marina.
Again I thought it might be busy.
Nope.
I used my SkyView Lite app to search for the moon.
It was still very cloudy.
The app told me the moon was here 😆
So I decided to drive down to Portencross.
There were two cars in the car park… again I’d thought it might be busier.
The sky is getting lighter on the horizon, to the East, behind me.
I went for a walk round to Portencross Castle.
I walked out onto the rocks and the sky was lightening behind me.
The moon was here….
Still nothing!
It was really lovely to be up and about so early. It’s been a really long day.
The Isle of Arran in the distance.
The Blood Moon and Lunar Eclipse should have been right in front of me.
One last look for the moon that has finally set… now that the sky is clear 😆
I headed home as the sun came up. It was a beautiful drive.
I took the 3 Borders straight out.
They were like a box of frogs this morning . Super excited and skittish.
Look at the sky and the view. Wow.
It is still very cold… I’m well wrapped up.
Gate!!
And the farmers’ beautiful daffies are fully in bloom. So pretty.
Once home, I sat outside for a bit as I did my Donna Ashworth journal but I had to head in as I got too cold.
At 9am….. yup all that and it’s only 9am… I had my third counselling session.
We spent some time talking about how it’s ok not to be ok. I talk about that a lot and yet….. I never really forgive myself when I’m not ok.
Revelation.
I get upset when I’m not perfect, when I make mistakes.
I catastrophize when things don’t go my way.
My mind never stops flitting from one thing to the next and to the next.
She says my self esteem is very low and I should work on that.
I spend my life controlling every situation so as to avoid confrontation. To avoid the uncomfortable. I write this blog so you will know when times are tough and you will cut me some slack.
I cannot control anyone other than myself. I can try really hard to but that’s where I get the biggest kick back down when one of my controlling tactics, doesn’t work, or backfires.
The big question today is… am I always as positive as I might come across in the blog or I am forcing the gratitude to try to make myself feel better.
Huge food for thought.
Speaking of food… check this Biscoff Millionaries Shortbread.
It is as big as it looks!!!
Craig and I headed to Mochas JaK’s after I’d gone to bed for an hour for a nap. I felt way better after that.
We had a lovely lunch and came home to sit outside.
I was cold. 😆
I’m now cosy in the living room, wrapped in several layers and covered in my crochet blanket, with Calaidh at my feet.
A lovely day but if I’m honest a sadness brought out in the counselling that needs some work.
There, that’s better, the actual truth 😬🥴😆
Have a lovely Friday night… this day is going on forever and ever!
Don’t laugh but I took the earlier as I went out to see where the moon set….
I am planning a possible early morning excursion to watch the Lunar Eclipse tomorrow morning.
This is the information local to me…. Stephen and the night sky is a great follow .
I have to think about it and plan it tonight. I can’t be waking all the dogs trying to get ready. I just need to plan an escape and be off.
If I am going…… I’m looking at the forecast now and it might be cloudy…. Dammit 😆
So this happened today….. FB have finally relaxed their “we will not recommend The Rambling Sloth” to anyone.
That feels like good news. I was working hard to grow the page myself but 530 followers in 5 years does feel a bit slow 😆😘
I’ve a new find…. Spectrum Sloth!
Spectrum Sloth on FB – Love it!!
I am shattered today but I’m putting that down to the large Cajun mac n’cheese and chips I had for lunch!
I did say to Ellison that I’m way more envious when other people order them than I actually enjoy them myself. That doesn’t seem to be English but you know what I mean 😆
Work when really fast, it’s been a fast week and here I am at the weekend again. I’m so grateful for the weekend with no plans.
Craig was home before me tonight, first time I’ve seen him this week! Poor love was sat out in the garden in the cloud… it clouded over just as I left work.
So we’re watching a movie while I crochet. I’ll get a photo of the crochet in the sunlight this weekend.
There’s football on later so I will be having a nice early night.
Kristen Butler
And finally….. it feels like everyone needs to see this these days.
I woke twice through the night…. The second time was 3.45am.
I tossed and turned until the alarm at 5.25am.
Not sure why… it felt like caffeine pumping through my veins but I wasn’t aware of having had any.
It was getting light as we set out for our run this morning!!
Coffee & Quotes 💛💛💛
The moon was just about to go down and was very bright. This is 2 days before the full moon.
Of course I had to stop for photos along the way!!
That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it 😆
This felt like a fast one today.
It was super cold so I struggled to breathe and keep up. It does make for some great photos though.
I didn’t think my head was in the game today but it’s much faster than I’ve run for months, so I’m pleased about that.
And thank goodness we are done. I was beetroot and the sweat was pouring down my face when I got in.
It was another lovely, clear sky all the way to work… I did have to defrost the car this morning.
This morning passed quickly and I had my outpatients appointment for my breast lump this afternoon.
It’s about 6 weeks since my initial Doctor’s appointment.
I have to say the NHS outpatients appointment was a very well oiled machine.
You check in to reception and I sat in the waiting room for about 20 minutes.
I then got taken in to the Doctor who did a very thorough investigation and examination. He said that he was convinced there was nothing sinister and it was either lumpy breast tissue or one big cyst or a collection of smaller cysts. He drew pen around the worst of the lump.
I suspected as much as they are full of cysts, but it’s always a relief to hear.
I’ve no sooner sat back down in the waiting room, texted Craig and Mum, then I’m off again for Mammogram…. another round of quick fire questions.
The mammogram was sore. Guys this will be too much information but you also need to know what we go through!
It’s always uncomfortable… standing at a funny angle with your boob squashed flat between two plastic plates…. But try doing that when you’re pumped full of oestrogen due to the HRT increase and they’ve been sore for weeks anyway. It was always going to hurt. It would have been so much worse if I’d had it down about 4 weeks ago, so I took solace in that.
Sit back down in the waiting room only to be called again for Ultrasound!
So impressive.
Quick fire questions again in Ultrasound…..
Then she finds it and says what do you want me to do?!?
She says it’s only about 2cms big but she can aspirate….. she vests a huge big needle out and drains it right there and then. She gets just over a half a syringe full of fluid.
Bish. Bash. Bosh.
Done and dusted in about an hour and a half.
(I secretly hope I have gone down a bra size as a result…. 😆)
I’m sore just now but it’s just with all the poking and prodding. I’m very relieved that’s all there is to it.
So back at my desk by 2.45pm.
So many women don’t get that news. I felt very aware of that today. No one looks happy sitting in that waiting room, everyone looks a little tense. I hope everyone today got off as easily as I did.
I came home from work and made chickpea and tomato curry.
It was really tasty!!
So I’m just off to meet the Crochet Hookers now! Looking forward to carrying on with my baby blanket!
The sun was rising as I got out of bed this morning!! Love it.
I walked out into the garden before I went to work.
It’s cold but I breathe in the sunlight…. The sky is so clear.
I love the reflection on the sunroom window.
It’s obviously been frosty overnight…. The sun is high enough in the sky that the windscreen has defrosted already. Win, win!!
It’s such a clear drive to work. I can see all the way over to Goat Fell on the aisle of Arran and Ailsa Craig off in the distance.
It’s lovely.
It’s been beautiful all day. Not as hot as Sunday but just so lovely to see the sun.
I stayed back after work and hoovered out the car and washed it! I was in such a rush to do it… I started hosing the car when the drivers door was still open 🥴🙄🫣😆
I drove home with the heater blasting 26°C 🥵
This was the sky on the way back home.
My head’s been a bit all over the place today.
I was actually quite sad and tired when I woke but then I saw a post from Seize Your Vision Life Coaching that said this……
I can constantly trying to fix myself when I feel I’m not good enough.
Constantly trying to explain myself when things feel off.
Constantly searching for some answer.
Rather than just being kind to myself…. It’s ok not to feel 100% bright and breezy all of the time…. Not everyone does.
So I did really try to let myself off the hook today.
And calm the f down…. Not to put too fine a point on it.
Stop panicking.
Breathe. 😆😆😆
So in other news… there’s a full moon on Thursday at 6.54am. My Almanac calls it the Plough Moon I’ve also seen it will be called the blood moon.
It’s 6.30pm and I’ve just inhaled some food….. I’m eating healthy but still cramming in the junk as an after dinner treat!!
Have to knock that on the head. 😆
I’ve nothing much to report today except that I did get up bright and early and did my Donna Ashworth, Words to Live By journal question for the day.
It felt good to be back on track.
I’ve done my counselling homewark too which was really interesting. It’s nothing new but just a reminder of things I already know.
I need to decide whether to continue with it or not. There are times when I think I might make quite a good counsellor as I do feel I’ve covered every eventuality. 🥴😆
I am wrapped up in comfies and my horrific pink candy floss coloured Oodie 😆 as it’s super cold in the house tonight. I don’t like the colour but I LOVE the warmth and coziness it brings….
Yesterday’s sunshine was short lived.
It’s back to being windy and cold today.
Work was busy and I got lots of deliveries sorted and tidied away today.
I figured that I’ve not been living in the present moment these last few weeks.
I’ve been catastrophizing and worrying about things that don’t matter and I choose to be grateful for each moment.
And relax.
Crochet and tv for me tonight while the SottishDog Behaviourist is working!
Maybe follow that with some reading before bed.
I love a lazy evening!
Of course I’ve had dinner and done the dishes and tidied them away and emptied the dishwasher…. 😆
I get up to go to the loo at 7.30am, late for me, and the light at the top of our dark stairs, is really welcoming.
This is the light through the window.
We don’t have curtains at our bedroom window, we sleep with eye masks, so it’s always a nice surprise to see what’s going on outside, especially at this time of year.
We decided to take the dogs up into the fields. There was a mist that came down but it made it really atmospheric!
This sis affectionately known as Julie’s bush by the Dug Walk group. 😬🥴😆
For about two weeks of the year, this beautiful Rhododendron bush flowers a beautiful pink in a sea of yellow gorse and browny/green grass.
Blink and you miss it. Someone told me it was blooming last weekend when I was in Rome so I headed up with Craig this morning.
So pretty and so different to everything else around it!
I just love it….. and I’m not even a fan of pink!
Khaleesi was on lead for most of the walk but the others were running around with sticks and stones, just living their best lives.
We don’t do this enough together.
You’ll see what I meant by atmospheric.
One man and his dogs!
It was so mean and moody!!
Heading home after a good run!!
Since we came back, I had tried very hard to relax in the sun.
I’ve hung the first washing outside this year. Craig’s cut the ivy back and I’ve directed traffic, he’s tarred a bit of the roof that might be leaking and I’ve run for odd bits and bobs for him.
I finally sat down with Donna Ashworth’s journal and have caught back up on all the days I have missed .
I made myself a lovely salad for lunch.
The dogs and I have been outside all day while poor Craig has to work inside… he can’t see the laptop outside.
I’ve dug some soil away from the fence to stop it rotting and I’ve sat back down to write this.
It is so lovely to be outside, soaking up the energy from the sun and getting random cuddles from puppies.
I needed this today.
It’s still only 3.12pm and the day is not yet done… I may do some crochet next.
I did and I am…. It’s for a bit warmer now that the cool breeze has died down. It’s still on 12°C but that will do me nicely.
This cotton is crocheting up nicely.
Ahhhh this is so lovely. It’s been such a nice day… even if I do keep getting interrupted!!
When my head is into doing work around the house, I can’t stop until it’s done. Correct that, I don’t want to stop until it’s done.
“It” also has a way of growing arms and legs too…. But I’ve done a lot today, and I’m really pleased I’ve done it.
Now I am shattered!!
I woke up at 6.15am. I was running with the girls at 6.45.
Peace Compassion & Love 🥰
I’ve struggled with running since the doc changed my HRT and today I felt slow but my head was positive. That’s always a really good feeling.
We ran 6k in 44 minutes. It was faster than I’ve managed for the last few runs.
My face is beetroot and it was not the most flattering photo of me, but I am what I am…
I wanted to cancel so many times yesterday, but I’m really glad I didn’t.
It was so mild this morning we were all really hot.
I did my usual and just headed straight out with the dogs. I reckoned if I sat down, I wouldn’t move again.
Bhruic and Freya first. The sky is beautiful.
I soak up the energy of the sun.
I listen to the birds, the sounds of nature.
The odd passing plane flies over to land in Glasgow Airport.
I love these trees on the horizon.
Bhru does her usual and goes digging for a stone…. I held the phone upside down for this shot.
I can feel my energy lifting. I soak up the silence. There’s no breeze. The dogs have lots of fun then back down to the house.
My new favourite shot!
Now I’m back up the hill with Calaidh and Khaleesi.
Calaidh is off lead, Khaleesi on. I love when I call Calaidh back, Khaleesi thinks I want her back 😆 she only a couple of feet away, at the end of her lead but she comes bouncing back to me.
Gate! Not a particularly pretty one….
I checked for sheep, deer, cats and saw nothing, so let Khaleesi off the lead.
Look at her bounding as she ran past me.
She had a blast. It’s lovely to watch her off lead.
It’s clouding over a bit but the sky is spectacular. When I was a kid, I used to think this was god talking to people….
So dramatic looking.
Khaleesi back on and we set off home.
I really enjoyed the time out with them all today.
Since I came home from Italy, I’ve been really appreciating Craig and the dogs. I know you should always appreciate these things but it’s nice to be reminded.
At 9.30am I headed to the supermarket and did 2 big shops. Home Bargains for all the household things and Aldi for food.
I’ve not been shopping in a while so everything was running out.
I stocked up on healthy food and I couldn’t even bring myself to buy anything bad. I know my eating habits need to change. I enjoyed the food at the restaurant yesterday, so much, but that’s because it was all fresh, real food. Not junk.
I’m back on it.
I should say I fasted for 21 hours today. The fasting hasn’t stopped while the hormones have piled on the weight. Seems a tad unfair.
(Then I remember how many calories I crammed into the eating hours. 😆 it would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been fasting!!)
Back home and all the shopping away and it’s still only 11am.
I start the housework.
I’ve hoovered.
Changed the bed.
We have clean bed!!
You so know that I’ve been desperate to change the sheets since I came back. 100 dogs slept in my bed while I was away. 😆😆😆😆
I did 3 loads of washing and got some hung outside in the sunshine.
I even mopped the floors!
I have been annoyed at the state of the floors for weeks now. Took me 15 minutes or so to mop….
😆 I closed off the rest of the house while the floors dried. Craig is working so there’s no one to traipse all over the wet floors 🫣😆
Only then did I have a shower and put on clean jammies.
I had a wee Cherry Pepsi Max as a treat. I know how to have a good time.
So yeah… a very busy day but I feel good. Tired but good.
It’s been so lovely to see the sunshine. The weather’s been nicer than forecast.
Tomorrow is definitely a day of rest… as Craig said, I’ll be fast asleep on the couch as soon as he gets home tonight!
Lucy Claire Illustration
So thank you to every single one of the women who has lifted me up, inspired me, encouraged and supported me, raised me and celebrated me. I can be a tough crowd sometimes…. 😆
(Thanks to all the men too…. Just in case you feel left out 😆😘)
I woke at 4am. I’d had a nightmare. First time in as long as I can remember. It really freaked me out and I was scared of the dark when I got up to the loo 😆😆
I fell back asleep until 7.15am, which wasn’t bad.
Straight into the shower as I’m on the 9.12 train from Glengarnock to Glasgow to meet Mum, Auntie Marion, Mum’s cousin, Joyce and my sis in law Gill.
I have to be honest and say I’m not feeling sparkly today…. I’m a bit tired and flat but I’m ready for an adventure.
This is where I’ve travelled today.
I got into Glasgow. Central and raced across to Glasgow Queen Street, only to realist my second train left from Central!! So had to hare away back over there…. How funny. I made the 10.02 to Edinburgh with 3 minutes to spare.
When I got off the train, Joyce was waiting for me and I had a few wee tears. No reason, no big issue, no big deal, just emotions running a bit off. It was nice to see a friendly face.
She took me into a new shop I’d never heard of…. Sostrene Grene.
Look at this beautiful cotton wool!!!
I bought these as I thought they would make a lovely girl and boy baby blanket.
It’s more expensive than a blanket I would usually make, and way less chunky, but it’s very pretty so I’ll see how it crochets up. This was £2.48 a ball.
We went to Twenty Princes Street for lunch today…. Funnily enough, located at 20 Princes Street! I realised I’d been here before when I met my friends Helen & Mike years back.
It’s very lovely. This is the staircase in.
These are the toilets!! 🚽
There’s a lovely old map of Edinburgh on the wall outside the toilets.
This is the view from the window, over Sir Walter Scott’s monument to Edinburgh Castle!
Another pic of the staircase!
Here are the ladies at lunch.
The food was really, really good. I REALLY enjoyed it.
There was a £20 menu for two courses. I had the mushrooms to start.
The photos don’t do the food justice. This main course was vegetable shawarma and it was SO good. The flavours were amazing. The veg is very thinly sliced on the kebab skewer. If you zoom in you can see it better.
I opted for dessert for an additional £5…. Chocolate brownie sundae.
As I said, honestly one of the best meals ever.
I had to run for the train, and took this quick pic of the Scott Monument but it seems to be more of the guy behind me!!
Here’s my train coming into Edinburgh Waverley.
So that’s me been on the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central for an hour and half. The return train stops in places I only ever hear of when I’m on this train! 😆
I had been humming and hawing about going to Crochet last night and it actually did me the power of good. It was good to get out and concentrate on something, other than being tired. 😆
I was in bed for 8.30pm and the alarm woke me with a jolt at 6.10am!
I felt drugged but refreshed. My head has been a bit clearer all day.
This 4 day week gal could really get used to a 3 day week 😆😆😆
I am still eating junk like it’s going out of fashion, but I’m also accepting that I can’t do it all….. I will definitely get a healthy shop done this weekend as I need to turn that back around.
I had a second counselling session at 4pm.
I have to do it from the office, which is both ideal but hey…. Better Help is very different from any kind of therapy I’ve had before.
It seems a bit less personal… most things suggested, I am already aware of and have tried but I did get lots of homework and some good takeaways.
What are my triggers to overwhelm?
What leads me to snap?
What are the alternative responses in those situations?
Could I stop to listen more?
All strong possibilities.
I’m off to Edinburgh tomorrow… yup, travelling again…. I told Mum today that if I was honest, I could see it far enough, but I also know I’ll have a really good time. I love that she already knew that’s how I would be feeling!!
Oh jeez I was sluggish this morning…. It’s hardly surprising as I am shattered…. I’ve had a thumping head all day.
Lynsey and I still went for a run despite the weather. We were so lucky it stayed dry when we were out but it was super windy! I think we got the best of the weather all day.
So 5.4kms run before 6.30am. ✅
This is the wonderful Scottish forecast again today.
It was so lovely to have the sunshine in Rome on Monday.
It’s 6pm and I’ve eaten so much junk in an effort to give myself an energy boost, but I know that’s not what is best for me. 😆
I just need to find the energy to get a healthy food shop in and that will help…. Another day 😆
So if I’m really honest I’ve felt a little bit meh today… I’m still suffering from the after effects of the increase in HRT. I guess it just takes time to get out of my system.
I’ve also got my hospital appointment through for the breast clinic on Wednesday 13th March. I’m looking forward to getting checked out.
So I think that’s all from me tonight. Nothing that good rest won’t fix.
I’ll get an early night. 😆😆 I say that like I don’t get an early night, every night.
I landed in Edinburgh just before 12 midnight and was straight through UK Border Control…. which for some reason, at that time of the morning, made me smile…. It sounded very dramatic!
I got straight through and into the FastPark car park which I am very impressed with.
Scanned the bar code at the machine and it told me which box to take my key out of and which car parking space my car was in.
I felt very tired and a little bit daunted my the drive.
Like anything, once I got going, listened to My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast, I was right as rain.
I enjoyed the drive.
It was so lovely coming home…. The dogs were so sleepy but excited when I came in. It was actually so nice to have cuddles when I got home and was so tired.
I got to bed at 1.35am.
The alarm went off at 6.35am!
What a fright we both got!
Coffee & Quotes 😘🫶🏼
I jumped straight up and spotted a gorgeous colour coming in the window.
The sky was on fire! 🔥
I got dressed and took the dogs out the back and took a millions photos, before the sunrise faded.
It was even more pretty than this in real life. As colourful as they are, the photos still don’t do it justice.
The reflection was such a lovely light.
Wow!!!
What a lovely welcome home.
I had a quick shower and made it to work with 4 minutes to spare.
The day has passed really quickly thought I’ve felt hungover all day!
Boss man took us out to lunch today which was really lovely. We went to the Gailes Hotel in Irvine for a lovely filled baguette and coffee.
I was too tired to think about taking a photo.
So I’m back home now, cuddled up in our sunroom turned snug with all 4 pups and my boy. I feel very lucky to be here.
I often spend so much time wanting to be away that it’s very lovely to be snuggled up and appreciating being home.
Up for a run at 5.45 tomorrow if I can wake up in time! 😆😘
It’s 7.44pm Italian time and I’m sitting in Rome Ciampino airport.
My legs are gowping!! (There’s a good Scottish word. 😆 )
I have walked over 15kms today!
I loved every minute of it… until maybe the last half a mile when my legs started to ache!
It was a beautiful day. I woke up early and tried to have a lie in…. I couldn’t decide what to do for the best today. Do I stay at Melanie’s and rest or make the most of my day…. I made the most of my day.
I have so many photos and videos to share but the highlight for me, is always the blue sky.
I cannot get enough of the blue sky. 💙💙💙
I walked for just under an hour before I reached Circus Maximus. This is where they held chariot races and under Julius Caesar, they built a wall around the arena. It’s massive!
I managed to get to the Colosseum again. The second time seeing it in pure blue sky. I realise I am very lucky.
While I was here I tried to do some Her Travel Circle videos 😆😆 I had a wee script to work from. It’s funny how dreadfully, cringeworthy it was to start off with and then I grew in confidence, realising that no one cared in the slightest!!
Unfortunately, they may never make the cut as co-founder and IT geek (Craig!) said they should be full length shots and not just head shots. Makes sense…. 😆
I then decided to head for Villa Borghese, which is a beautiful landscape garden to the north the of Rome. I stopped for lunch along the way.
Check the Colosseum behind me as I walk away! It always pays to look all around you in a beautiful city like Rome!
My criteria for picking a restaurant…. Does it serve pizza? Does it have space for one sitting somewhere private-ish… is there a seat in the sun.
Yes!!
Loved this stripey church.
The ancient and beautiful buildings are everywhere, along with the reminder that everyone who lives here, had to park somewhere!
And relax… Villa Borghese was everything I hoped it would be… and more. It was so beautiful. So peaceful. So calm.
I needed time away from the crowds and the noise. I get easily overwhelmed by noise and crowds. The park was just perfect.
I sat here for almost an hour. Soaking up the sun. Soaking up the sounds of the birds and the laughter from the boating pond.
As I sat, I realised there were no negative sounds at all…. Only calm and joy. No one goes to a park for stress or to argue. Everyone is there for the same reasons. It shows that being in nature is the best detox.
I needed the solitude. It was just perfect.
This wee guy sat like this for a good while… he looked like he was sunbathing!!
This is one of the entrances to the park!
I’ve never been this far north in Rome before. It’s equally as pretty as the rest.
I found Piazza del Popolo.
My next stop was All Saints Anglican Church as we know the minister and his wife. It was all kicked up sadly but I’m so pleased I’ve finally been able to see it, from the outside at least.
Then on to the busy Spanish Steps.
And the EVEN BUSIER Trevi Fountain.
It was heaving!!! They’ve changed the way it works again and are only allowing 400 people down to the water at any one time. I did not queue as I’ve seen it before so had to stand back with the masses!! Bearing in mind it’s a random Monday in March!!
Next stop was Rome Termini where I catch the Terravision bus out to Ciampino airport.
And here I sat for another hour….
A perfect end to a perfect day.
The bus left 20 minutes early and I’m through passport control waiting on the lounge. My flight is not for another hour yet.
I’m hoping I will sleep on the flight!!
So another Italian adventure at an end.
Thank you to Melanie for allowing me to stay with her and co-ordinating the trip to Florence. I can’t thank her enough.
I woke at 5am after a restless night…. Managed to fall back asleep until 7.30am then felt completely shattered. Funny how extra sleep does that?!
Neither Melanie nor I are feeling particularly great today. Whatever this bug is… it’s taking it out of us.
By the time we showered and had breakfast, we packed our bags and were ready to leave the hotel by 11am.
We took a last walk into the city. One last pic from the hotel room before we left. Highly recommend the C Hotel Ambasciatori. It’s right opposite the train station. A perfect location and a really nice hotel too.
We got a breakfast but also got a drink and buffet dinner for €8 which was really good! I’m missing that tonight actually 😆
It was windy today so the flag was flying high! 🇮🇹
We walked around into a Piazza that we had been looking for but couldn’t find yesterday.
And of course found of course, found ourselves back at the cathedral.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Di Fiore.
It was a bit too blowy for a hair down day!!
Back out to the Ponte Vecchio. I tho k it was even busier today. Melanie says that lots of people come into Florence for the day. There can be as many Italians as tourists.
We walked up the opposite side of the river and it was lovely to see where we had been yesterday.
It’s such a pretty bridge.
This one is not such a pretty bridge… 😆
The walk up to the lookout point is covered in pretty waterfalls.
And here we are up the hill again. It’s so pretty up here, you see different buildings everything you look. It’s such a beautiful view. You just drink it in.
I wore the scarf and gloves today. I’m so glad I have worn everything I brought with me! (Although I say that… it would have been nice if it had been HOT!! 😆😆)
This is the Synagogue.
I think a lot of these photos are the same but I can’t decide which I like the best.
So input them all in!!
I remembered my Her Travel Circle stress globe!! Melanie reminded me… more like!
We went for lunch to the restaurant next door to the hotel. It’s called Trattoria Dalloste… I had mushroom risotto and it was really nice.
This is a photo of the hotel just as we were leaving.
And here I am at the Frecciarossa train to take us back to Rome Tiburtina.
I’m now back in Melanie’s apartment and we are both shattered. I feel better and she feels a bit worse. She’s off to bed and I won’t be far behind.
This is Momo, she’s helping me write the blog!!
It’s my last day tomorrow and she’s away back to work (if she feels well enough) so I need to see where my travels take me tomorrow. I think I’ll do a fair bit of walking.
My flight is the usually, 21.30 back into Edinburgh. It’s a thought right now….. It never seems a bad as it sounds though.
I’m looking forward to a day exploring Rome in the sunshine!! ☀️
I can honestly say I am feeling so much better than I did yesterday, but, unfortunately, poor Melanie has had “it” today… whatever it is…this is the view from our room in the C-Hotels Ambasciatori, Florence.
We had breakfast in the hotel and set off out about 9am.
I can honestly say (again!) that I gasped as we rounded the corner and saw the beautiful Firenze Duomo, the Florence Cathedral. It is jaw droppingly beautiful.
There are so many photos of it!
We then took a walk around the city heading towards the river. This row of shops is particularly stunning.
Along the way we found this replica of Michelangelo’s David. We didn’t pay to go in and see the original.
We walked though the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery.
Once we walked through the arch we spotted the famous Ponte Vecchio.
It’s stunningly beautiful and all the shops on the bridge are jewellers.
You would never know we were on a bridge!
In the middle!
I really want to find some symbol for Her Travel Circle that I can take photos of, in random places. I thought the stress ball globe was a great idea… unfortunately only remembered it here!! Forgot all about it yesterday in Pisa since I felt so rotten. 😆
We stopped for lunch beside the River Arno.
He sun came out and I got a mini tan. 😆 I had a lovely Greek salad… randomly, in Italy.
We did some leather shopping after and then stopped for cake!! A very important stop!
The chocolate torte.
It rained for a few minutes while we ate cake. We came back to the hotel to put on an extra layer as the wind turned chilly and we were heading up to Piazelle Michelangelo for the sunset over the city.
We got the number 13 bus as it’s about 3kms from our hotel.
There was no sunset tonight but it was a stunning view.
We sat and had a drink as we watched the sky darken. I’m just having water everywhere as there’s no alcohol free… and I really am ok with that.
The big wheel lighting up in the distance. even I was cold up here!!
Zoomed in on Ponte Vecchio and the colourful wheel!
Firenze Duomo.
Ponte Vecchio.
Florence skyline.
Melanie treated me to this really lovely leather bag today because I wouldn’t buy myself one!! She got a beautiful, red leather rucksack! I’m now gonna have to stash money around her apartment when I get there tomorrow night 😆😆
I am freezing!!!
We walked back to the hotel and are now sat in the bar as I write this.
What a beautiful sky in Rome when we woke up this morning.
I didn’t feel great when I woke this morning. A bit dizzy and squeamish, so for the first time since September, I took my Vertigo medication.
Unfortunately, I have felt pretty awful all day, until about 4pm. I’m still shaky but I feel so much better than I did. I haven’t been sick but I think that’s been on my mind all day. I’ve had waves of dizziness and feeling faint.
So now that’s out the way, we’ve had a pretty amazing day. One that I was very excited about although, maybe I haven’t appreciated it fully, at the time.
We walked to Roma Trastavere train station (which is coincidentally pronounced Trast-Avery which makes me giggle every time!) and caught the train to Rome Tiburtina.
We had an hours’ layover where we got coffee and a pastry.
We shared the pastry for obvious, aforementioned reasons. 😆
We then caught the train at 10.45 which got us into Florence, of Firenze, by 12.30. All the following pics are taken out of a moving train.
Florence train station!
Another half hour and we’d changed trains again and were on the way to Pisa!!
Unfortunately this is where I really went to ground. I had to shut my eyes for the whole journey. I have never breathed as deeply as I did on that train. It was a tough hour. There are no photos!
We arrived into Pisa Centrale.
Melanie got us a taxi to the leaning tower.
Piazza dei Miracoli is so beautiful.
The colour of the stone is so pure looking.
It wasn’t actually that busy but there are lots of people trying to get the traditional photos!
We decided we should really try and eat but had something really plain.
Melanie had also brought raw ginger with her so I had some of that.
By this time the sun had come out and I started to feel so much better.
The train back to Florence, at 4.30 is so much better.
And THIS is the view from our hotel window!!
It’s right across from the train station which is great.
Sorry for the photo dump and not many words at the moment.
Hoping normal service will be resumed tomorrow. Very glad to be in our hotel now and off down for a drink shortly. I may just have water 😆
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 