After weeks of excitement, I literally have nothing to say today.
I had an amazing 8.5 hour sleep.
I got up.
I went to work.
I went to Tesco.
I came home.
Had dinner.
Writing the blog.
Oh bought a book so will go to bed early and read that.
The end.
😆
Like I ever have that little to say.
This was a memory from 12 years ago….. I used to LOVE a Christmas night out. I used to LOVE this photo of me.
I think this pint belonged to the lovely Mr Andrew Gray. I seem to remember thinking I was so clever, drinking it while he wasn’t looking. Look into my eyes though. I think they look dead.
12 years later finding true happiness out living my life, rather than working every hour god sends and drinking to make it seem that little bit easier. (Also wouldn’t thank you for a boozy Christmas night out….)
Oh how times change.
And finally….some fun and games with the doggos last night. Poor Calaidh. 🫶🏼
Ayrshire seems to be giving Iceland and run for its money. It’s way colder here that it was for the last few days in Iceland.
There was an icy fog that didn’t lift at all today. The forecast was for blue skies but that never happened.
So back at it the best way I know how, these days,. Our for an icy 5km run with Lynsey this morning.
We managed exactly 5k on the nose.
Lynsey is running Marocthon all month, so she has to run for 25mins or 5k a a day. Her legs were so strong and I struggled to keep up with her. Most likely because I, on the other hand, have eaten my body weight over the last few days so I felt heavy.
Still, I got out of bed, when everything told me not to… got dressed for the cold and went outside!
As usual I’m so glad I did it.
Some good chats about Iceland as well. It was Lynsey who got us to Braud & Co for those amazing pastries! The pastries may be the reason I struggled to run this morning!!
Back home to defrost before shower and back to work.
I had loads to do but the morning dragged and then the afternoon flew in. The day past really quickly.
Just like that the holidays and over and reality is back.
I’ve made so many amazing memories these last few months. I’ve been so lucky to have been able to see what I’ve seen and do what I’ve done.
Still so many photos to share. Will get to that one day 😆
Off to crochet now, haven’t seen the ladies in weeks!
I barely slept a wink…. 🙄 I think I was wired on caffeine, either from the food or alcohol free beer, last night.
I had my earplugs in and I heard every single car that passed, every plane that took off from Reykjavik local airport, every street sweeper and every single noise that my husband made as he slept.
I was plugged into something all night.
The alarm was set for 2.30am and it went off all too soon.
I have been pre-sad for 11th December for a while now.
I have been so lucky to have so many amazing trips in the latter half of this year.
Today was my last trip of 2024.
All packed and ready to go.
The reception of hotel is an extension on the side of a traditional Icelandic building. Our hotel was great, very central and very comfy.
This beautiful blue tree outside our hotel.
We only had to walk around the corner to the aptly named, bus stop number 1. This is situated at Reykjavik City Hall.
The water around City Hall is now ice and the ice is breaking up and moving.
It’s even pushing the bricks up.
It’s about 3.20am.
I scooted round the side of City Hall to the big lake and the view was beautiful!
We got to the airport about 4.30am.
Thought Craig had found his twin 😆 he said it looked like me being really grumpy.
We had some food once we were through security and were boarding for 7am. It all went like clockwork to be honest.
I feel like you can learn a lot from someone’s personality, by their footwear. This pic was to show the legroom we had thanks to Craig being the tallest person ever.
But back to the shoes… Or boots.
I’m a worrier.
I need to be able to hike in them, have dry, warm feet and for them to still look good, despite all the functionality. I watched women get on the flight in trainers and uggs. I laughed at my reaction. How did they cope when it rained? When it was cold? When it was icy? When it was muddy? 😆😆😆 do they even consider these scenarios when making footwear decisions?!?
It started to rain as we left but it was still much milder than it was when we arrived.
I was freezing on the plane. I was right next to the emergency door and there was a draft… is that even a thing?!?! Well it was…. I was soooo cold!
Sunrise was beautiful!
As we reached Scotland, the mountains started to appear above the clouds… firs the Isle of Skye and then Glencoe.
Then further down towards Loch Lomond.
And here is beautiful Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond to the right. It was a stunning view.
As we came into Glasgow, the fog appeared.
Here are some tower blocks about the fog.
It was pea soup when we landed. I didn’t realise we would still land in fog that dense.
Apart from the cold this morning, we are really impressed with IcelandAir. We would highly recommend them and also to use a a layover for a trip to the States or Canada.
It took about 15 minutes to get off the plane. Either the fog affected things or it was like they weren’t expecting us.
It took about 10 minutes to get the steps up to the plane… then they had to grit them and grit the walkway into the terminal building.
We passed through passport control seamlessly.
Then we got to the baggage hall… and waited.
And waited….
20 minutes later, while we all wait at the Reykjavik baggage reclaim belt 3… watching it go round and round and round empty, they announce that actually it’s going round on number 1!!
Our lovely neighbour Jim had come up to collect us and he’d had to drive around in circles for the best part of an hour!
We are so grateful to our neighbour Louise for moving in while we’re away and to her mum, Holly, for walking them when she is at work!
Without them and our lovely in-laws, we wouldn’t be able to get away together.
I’ve been cleaning and unpacking since we got back until we sat down, by the light of the Christmas tree, to catch up on the shows we’ve been watching. We will crash soon!!
Iceland was every bit as good the second time, as it was, the first.
The hotel is so warm since the temperature increased!
We had the window open and I had ear plugs in…. Bliss. Out for the count until 6ish and then back to sleep until 8.15.
We’ve been really lucky as we expected torrential rain today, and yet it’s been dry almost all day.
We decided to head to Perlan today which is an Icelandic nature museum.
We walked 46 minutes from our hotel to get to it.
The lake is still frozen but it’s rained on the top of it and it’s melting so it looks like a mirror.
The view was so pretty.
You would never know the lake was still icy.
The cones are sitting on the ice to allow a digger out to the small island.
Pretty bridge.
Perlan is huge and it’s great for a rainy day.
Not gonna lie, it’s probably not my favourite thing to do in Reykjavik as I’d rather be outside seeing the actual things, rather than in a museum, looking at them. We thought it would be a good idea for a wet day.
They have an ice cave. Craig is sitting on an ice throne! 😆
The colours are so pretty in some places, white and clear in others.
It’s -10°C in the ice cave!
This was really pretty. There’s a mirror down the bottom here, designed to show the layers going on and on and on. The colour is amazing.
Ice cave selfie! 🤳
We headed upstairs to the coffee shop as we hadn’t eaten this morning.
As usual in Iceland, the cakes and the coffee are amazing. Honestly so so good.
I took the first photo over Reykjavik…. The next 3 photos are the same view as the clouds rolled in… we then realised that the view outside is slightly different, who knew it was a revolving restaurant on top of Perlan! It’s so slight that you don’t really notice!!
We then went outside on the 360° panoramic decking.
More beautiful views over Reykjavik.
Cloud inversion!
Looking down to Hallgrimskirkja.
We then went in to the Planetarium for the Aurora show…. These are my photos but only of the Aurora they show at the start for photos.
Our Aurora trip was cancelled due to cloud so we have to make do with this!
Early afternoon we walked back down into Reykjavik.
These are famous Icelandic felted soap bars… we love them but at £17 a pop we haven’t bought any…. 😆
Craig spotted this Christmas tree made out of felted sheep!
Back around past Hallgrimskirkja, on a much cloudier day than Saturday.
I never noticed before today but all the planters have these lovely flowers in them.
Back down Rainbow Road.
Looking back up to Hallgrimskirkja… Tiny spire at the top of the street.
Back into our favour Einstök Bar.
The sky was amazing when we came out. It seems even quieter today.
Some random photos as we walked through downtown Reykjavik.
My lovely alcohol free cocktail in Tipsy. (Can’t remember what was in it!)
Dinner was in Sæta Svinid tonight. It was probably the most expensive restaurant we’ve been to, about £65 for two courses and one beer… but Craig said his burger was the best he’s had.
I had the jackfruit burrito… don’t sure I chose the best option… it didn’t taste of much! Yeah I know… I hear you. 😬😆
This is the restaurant, so pretty.
Back at the hotel early tonight with an amazing Jeep parked outside!!
We are flying at 7.35am so leaving Reykjavik at 3am!!!
Bags are packed and get are up.
What an amazing adventure.
We love Iceland and are sure we will be back.
If you’ve never been, we can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s such an amazing place!
Thanks for all the likes and comments.
Here are still loads of videos etc to share but they will come!
We are on the bus for the Golden Circle tour. We just booked through Bus Iceland direct as we’d used Get Your Guide before.
We had to walk a half hour in Reykjavik, to get to the tour bus stop for 8am.
The weather has completely changed. The temperature has increased by about 10 degrees… at least… but it is wet and windy. The compacted snow everywhere has now all turned to the worst black ice!! It still feels very cold.
Here’s an overview of our trip.
Our first stop was Kerid Crater. I think we are very lucky to see this completely frozen. This is a volcano that erupted 6.000 years ago and the cone fell in leaving this lake that’s 7-15m deep. It’s usually a beautiful turquoise in the sunshine!! Here’s the website Kerid Volcano
It still feels really cold with the wind chill factor… or the gale-chill factor 😆😆 see what I did there?!?
I have so many clothes on that I can barely move 😆😆
The Columbia ski trousers I have on came from my Mum’s Oxfam shop for £18 and there’s not a mark on them! They’ve been amazing but with almost 9° today I was almost melting by the time the bus got back into Reykjavík!
I’ve taken a few photos of the road as we went… honestly we’ve not been able to see much today.
The Secret Lagoon doesn’t look like much from the outside… it was built in 1891 and is where many Icelanders learned to swim.
It is surrounded by hot springs and the water is between 38 to 40°C.
You head in to a mixed changing room and leave your boots and socks, then head to ladies and gents respectively.
You then have to shower naked and wash in a communal ladies of gents shower, before you put your swimming costume on.
I cringed a little bit at this but, to be honest, as the locals are all doing it, come the time to strip off, it actually seems like the most natural thing in the world. The youngsters on our bus all kept their bikini bottoms on. Us Brits are such a shy race when it comes to stuff like that. Is it a bit weird that I’m really proud of myself for embracing it?!? Also there’s a strong likelihood that my derrier is covered in black plaster patch marks from my HRT patches… 🙄😬 hey ho.
This is the view from the water.
I took some pics and then I went and out my phone back in the locker. The walk from the changing room to the warm water is bitter!!
My towel had landed in a puddle….. it was wringing wet. Rookie error not to leave it in the locker.
Here’s one of the springs at the side of the pool. They can get up to temps of 100°C or 212°F!!
I had to take my glasses off too as I was steaming up!
We then take a walk around the hot springs, once we are fully dressed obviously!
Our next stop was the Geysir region named after the famous Geysir which is the first geyser in Iceland to receive a name. It was once the most powerful shooting fountain in Iceland but it has now been dormant since 1916!! It only spouted once again in 1935 and never since!
Strokkur is the main erupting hot spring in the Haukadalur Valley of South Western Iceland now.
Yup I missed it…. I pressed record then stop recording pretty much in the same second!
Craig got a video of it!
This was the next stop…. Only 7 minutes up the road.
This was the best place all day. Gullfoss Waterfall. It was mind blowing, just out of this world.
I cannot tell you how spectacular this looks in real life. I will post some videos when I get a chance.
When your husband is 10feet tall!!
Such a special place despite the howling gales!I’m so glad we got to Gullfoss.
Our last and final stop was Thingvellir National Park. Here’s the link to the website Thingvellir National Park… these photos make it look lighter than it actually was.
The only downside to going in the winter is that it was almost dark already. We could hardly stand up on the ice in the strong wind and it was hard to take photos!! This is the gap between two tectonic plates…. Is my understanding… it was also the site of the annual parliament I. Iceland from the year 930 until 1798.
It was beyond wild here! We could hardly see anything. The pics turned out surprisingly well. This is us….😆
The bus headed straight back to Reykjavik from here and we were able to get off at the bus stop right next to our hotel woop woop! I was a tad warm as I was wearing 3 pairs of trousers!!!!!
We have a code for 10% off…. SUNNY10 for anyone who might want to use it!!
So out for dinner tonight….
Amazing other amazing meal. I am stuffed
Another great day. We are pre-sad we have to come home on Tuesday.
When we decided to come back to Iceland. We knew that there were a few places that we wanted to visit. The main thing for us was to spend a bit more time in Reykjavik. we looked a doing a 3 hour food tour… it was over £100 each!!
‘Scuse the French but, stuff that…. We thought we’d do our own one.
That we have done. It’s 2pm and I can confirm 3 strong caffeine coffees have been consumed… I am buzzing 😆😆
I slept really well. Woke at 6.30am. it’s still dark. Obviously.
We headed out around 9.30am… look how dark it is. We are staying at Hotel Reykjavik Centrum. We are in a great location. It’s so central… obviously, given its name 😆
Reykjavik is so quiet. I don’t know if everyone is away on day trips or still asleep?! This is a main road and it’s empty.
This is Tjôrnin, a lovely, almost frozen lake around the corner from the hotel. The sky is lovely and the Lutheran Free Church looks great all lit up.
We head back to Rainbow Road. Hardly anyone around again. It’s so pretty.
This was a recommendation for breakfast from Lynsey… Braud & Sons.
We bought 2 filer coffees and a cinnamon roll, a Parmesan and ham croissant and a caramel and pecan roll, for £21.
I cannot tell you how amazing all of these were. I’m not exaggerating!
Even the coffee was god although it was pretty cool by the time I got round to it.
It’s very cold. The forecast says it was down to -6°C but feels like -9°C.
This is the stunning Hallgrímskirkja, the Church of Hallgrímur. It’s beautiful against the twilight.
We walked around and got loads of photos.
The longer we stand, the colder it gets, again, obviously, but it’s so beautiful. I managed to get video of the bells chiming which I posted on insta and FB.
I thought sunrise was 10.30… which came and went without any sun. We decided to head into the church.
Wow. NOTHING like I am used to seeing in Rome. It is very beautiful but very plain inside.
Craig is thawing out near the alter.
The organ is spectacular.
The pews actually turn very easily to look towards the alter and back to the organ at the back of the church.
I really wanted to go up in the tower. I’m so glad that my vertigo didn’t click in at all.
This was soooooo worth it. Spectacular. Breath taking. A massive life memory made, never to be forgotten.
What a view.
These are the bells……. Turns out they ring while you are up there…… obviously. 🙄 😆
They are loud!!
We are up these for 11am!
The sun is due to rise at 11.02… it doesn’t. 😆
It’s so cold up there that there comes a point we just have to go back down the 32 steps behind the clock face. It’s so warm in there. I don’t think I have ever been that cold. I was chittering.
We headed back down and over the road to Café Loki, the yellow building.
And the sun rose at 11.28am… we watched from the warmth of this loveky café.
We had a Swiss Mocha each which was a total of £10.84. Doesn’t seem to expensive considering that amazing view.
Mine was oat milk… Craig had regular cow 😆
We had to walk back to the hotel to add another layer to the legs and body!
The sun has barely risen about the Lutheran Church.
Our next stop was Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur for 2 hotdogs for £8.79. This little shack is famous on insta and YouTube. Bill Clinton has been there for a hotdog.
The hotdogs were really good. Crispy onions and lots of sauces… not that you can see in my photo!
We then took a walk down to the Harpa, Icelandic Opera House. no photos dammit… but the view over the sea is just stunning.
We has 2 x cod and chips for £55.87. The batter is super crunchy and the fish is lovely.
I think we’ve done pretty well on our self made food and drink tour!
I managed to eat all of that in one day!
We’ve had a lovely day today. Memories made forever.
Back in the hotel now. We’ve a big day tomorrow as we’ve booked the Golden Circle Tour! I’ve been so looking forward to doing this since we were here last.
I think our weather is due to turn tomorrow and if it does I’m so grateful for the last few days of snowy cold.
Quick skip back to last night where I went to the Gateside Plant Centre to make a Christmas wreath under Elly’s expert supervision!
My creative juices were not flowing at all last night. I would go so far as to say I was not with it at all. I stopped my 2 weeks of HRT progesterone on Tuesday and I’m finding that I seem to be all over the place in the days afterwards. I couldn’t think straight at all. It felt a little bit of an out of body experience, like I was there but wasn’t really there.
I could not focus at all and undid my wreath twice! I felt a kind of panic that others were doing great and mine was going to be rubbish. I just couldn’t clear my head. Claire was great and understood straight away that something was off…. She even said I could head home and she’d finish mine for me 😆😘 maybe I’d just taken on too much in a short space of time?!
I managed a lovely wreath in the end, even if I convinced myself that mine was awful, the worst out of the bunch and that everyone else’s was beautiful. Our heads can be so nasty to us.
At one point I actually thought there might be tears… thankfully not.
This is me picking holes in my wreath from above 😆
Me hiding behind it… note I was going for Rudolph the red nose reindeer at the top 🦌♥️
With Claire.
I was in bed for 9 before Craig was even home from work. I woke at 5am with a thumping head which wouldn’t shift.
I had no words this morning. You know the way where the woman can’t formulate a sentence and the man’s incredulous that you don’t know the words….. it was one of those mornings….. I took the dogs out a walk, into the cold, fresh air and definitely felt better for it.
I have definitely stressed at the lack of time to prepare the house for leaving (it’s a woman thing) and getting ready to go but I’m incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to travel so much this month.
Our neighbour, Jim, kindly ran us to the airport. He’s just retired and I bet he had no idea he would become Jim’s taxi service so quickly!
The house to the airport and onto the Icelandair flight was seamless.
Claire’s sent me this again this morning! It makes me me laugh so hard!
😆😆😆😆😆
We’re up in the air now, somewhere over Barra and I’m waiting on an alcohol free Brío beer.
This was us over Largs area.
It’s a beautifully freezing cold day in Iceland. We land around 2.30pm and only catch the last of the sun.
The snowploughs are out in force at the airport.
I spotted the buses Craigie!
These next pics are taken from the aisle seat in a bus across the aisle and two other passengers.. so not the best. The black on the ground is the black lava from the latest eruption near Grindavik. We could see steam rising all the way along it.
The landscape is stunning. It’s so different from when we saw it in May 2023. The snow makes everything seem so much bigger. If you look to the left of the hill,797 will see the crescent of the moon. 🌙
Here it is zoomed in… from the bus, over the aisle… you get the picture. 😆
These were taken from half way back in the bus zoomed out the windscreen. Not that bad considering.
Rush hour traffic jam…..
This is our lovely Hotel Centrum. It much more central than the last one we stayed in.
We unpacked and headed straight out! We have never seen Reykjavik in the dark and it’s beautiful!!’ Especially at Christmas.
This is a famous Rainbow Street (Regnbogavegur) in Iceland. It was deserted. There are usual a million people trying to get this shot!
So at Dougie’s recommendation (he sent me some ideas last night…) we went to Fat Bastard for dinner!!
It may be expensive here but that meal was exquisite!!! Craig’s had the Fat Bastard burger with pulled pork on it and I had 3 soft tacos, one with spicy cauliflower, one with veggie mince and one with Icelandic smoked lamb.
Honestly just the best.
We then went to our favourite Einstok Bar. Such a lovely atmosphere in here.
Is 8.30pm and we’ve walked about Laugavegur the Main Street and it’s getting really cold…. The forecast is for -14°c at 11pm!!
So we are in the hotel just now but going to head down to the sea about 10pm to see if there’s any Aurora tonight. We’ve booked a tour for Sunday night but I think the weather will have turned by then.
There have been days I skipped when I felt really low and days where I couldn’t get enough signal on holiday, but I’m always writing it in my head anyway!
It helps me make sense of my life. My reactions, my responses, it helps me focus on how I am feeling on a daily basis. I take time out of my life and think. I guess writing the blog has probably helped me more than I realise.
I always like to recap on my stats on a milestone day. 😆 self indulgent, as if a daily blog isn’t usually self indulgent 😆
2,190 days since I walked out of the office in floods of tears and life, as I knew it at the time, fell apart.
I sat for 3 months in Gran’s chair in our sunroom and cried…. I managed to walk the dogs but even that was a huge struggle.
I spent thousands of pounds on counselling and kinesiology to help me make sense of it all.
I went back to work for 5 months and then just couldn’t go back…. I was subsequently made redundant in February 2020. Right before the world closed down and joined my crazy, new stay at home life.
2,171 days without alcohol, this is my biggest achievement to date.
That’s 5 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 2 days! I am finally in control of who I want to be. I can wake up the next morning with absolute clarity and nothing has changed since I went to bed. I know exactly what I have said and done the night before. That is the most powerful gift I have given myself.
It’s also been the hardest thing I have ever done. I used to be “one of the gang” and now I feel like I’m on the outside of society a bit. Maybe I need to try and make some peace with that and realise that I’m not… it’s just a different place from where I used to be. We live in alcohol fuelled society and if you don’t drink, you are considered weird. That said, my family and friends have been supportive and the only-for-drinking buddies are long gone. In years gone by, the drinking me hassled a work colleague once or twice, to try and get him to have a drink at a night out. I was 3 sheets to the wind and I couldn’t understand why anyone would not want to drink….. it didn’t make any sense to me?!? I was incredibly uncomfortable about my own drinking and social events made me feel better as we all had a drink and had a laugh. We’re still in touch, as he’s a member of the no drinking group that I’m an admin on, After Dry January. I’ve apologised so many times G 😆😘
I often wonder if I will ever drink again? To be honest, I don’t even like the smell of it now let alone think about tasting it. I’m sure I could control my drinking as I am no longer drowning my sorrows. I’m facing them head on with a clear head. I’m a bit too scared to try, if I’m honest.
I never drank any more than the next “man”. It just didn’t work for me.
1,571 days without anti depressants. I have to sit with that number every 100 days when I talk about my stats.
I lived my life for years on antidepressants and they got me through so much. I have always been a people pleaser, who put everyone’s needs before my own. I slowly learned how to live my life for me, without the need for the pills. I would never have imagined this possible. Huge respect to anyone who goes on an antidepressant as you are putting yourself first.
767 days on HRT…. This I have a bit less to say on…. I’m not sure whether it’s done anything or not. I didn’t see a massive change in my life before HRT vs after. I’m going to stick with it for now. I’ve done a lot of reading on it and I believe that these extra hormones are good for my body. Many disagree. Hey the world would be very boring if we were all the same.
713 days fasting… my latest “fad”.
I bloody love fasting. This one really makes me smile. I have spent my life fighting with my weight and feeling disgusted with myself. I decided to randomly start fasting on 20th December 2022. What a time to start.😆 I have never looked back. I pretty much eat what I want I just don’t eat between dinner and lunch. I was never a big fan of breakfast anyway. I have WAY more energy and I always feel great in my clothes, I never feel bloated and overweight. I have been 2 sizes smaller than I am just now but I think I’ve found my ideal size. Again, this is another one that people don’t get. They tell me it can’t be good for me. As with HRT, I’ve read a lot about it and I believe it is the right thing for my body. It works for me. No more yo-yo dieting. I just don’t eat all the time.
I feel so much better as a result of the non drinking and the fasting. It’s a way of life now. It isn’t hard work. It’s easy and it makes me happy.
On 1st January 2024, I sat in the Gateside Inn with my lovely neighbour Rachel two doors down. We decided we should start running one a week round, what we call, the Gateside loop…. It’s about 3kms… and so we did…. Every weekend in January.
Come February we were both busy and a couple of weekend’s fell by the wayside… but any chance we could we ran.
She then suggested we join the “runners” one morning. I freaked. The “runners” had been meeting for a while now but they were leagues above any kind of running I was doing.
The best decision ever. Thank you Rachel for making me do it!
Then we open up a whole group of girls in our village who can run, want to run, want to think about wanting to run and off we go. We meet at least twice a week right outside my front door…. And I love it.
Some days I don’t even realise I’m running. 😆
I always feel better after a run. Even if it was a tough one. It’s hard to put a number of days on this but let’s say 340 days since I made the decision to introduce running in my life.
In August we (most of us) did our first 10k “race” in atrocious weather conditions but we did it!
It’s not all been plain sailing. I still have days where I feel very out of sorts. Very off. I would say that my spidey sense literally tingles to quote Spider-Man. My head doesn’t let anything go that it’s not happy with. It eats away at me until I blurt something out. I
f I speak my truth I will be calm.
This was my new mantra learned in cognitive behavioural therapy all those years ago.
I am grateful that I haven’t felt too bad recently.
An argument, a cross word, or something at work can send me off on an irritable grump. my fight or flight instinct kicks in immediately. I would like to be more aware of this when it happens rather than after the event.
So I guess my life can look like hard work when you read all of this but actually I seem to have found my mojo….. and long may it continue.
There was a lovely sky this morning.
Now I’m off out to the Gateside Plant Centre for a wreath making class with the lovely Elly and all the Memorial Hall Committee.
It will be a lovely evening. I think I’m not that creative but I fair get in the swing of it!!
Once again thank you to everyone who reads this, whether you make yourself known or you’re a secret reader.
Every like, comment or share means the world to me. I honestly do this for me but I love that it may help other people realise there is life after depression. AND you can live life with anxiety.
So, tomorrow, Craig and I are off to Iceland for a few days. Cannot wait to head back and this time in winter… AND with Christmas lights. I have been very lucky with my travel this last few months!
Oooh I’m a rat bag tonight. The last few days have finally caught up with me and I feel so tired after the day at work.
It’s wild outside too. A storm is passing through and it’s super windy and the rain came at me like the start of a Star Wars movie on the way home.
Of course I knew that coming back from Rome, early on the Tuesday and heading off to Iceland on the Friday was going to be tough. I didn’t pass up the chance for Rome though just because of that. It was too good a chance to miss and Iceland has been booked for a long time.
I also have a wreath making class at the Gateside Plant Centre tomorrow night so I’ve restricted my organising time even more. That said, I am really looking forward to that!! This is last year’s effort!!
I just feel so overwhelmed by mess and stuff. Trying to unpack for one and repack for the other. I’ve not done housework over the weekend either and I’d usually have the place all clean and tidy for our lovely dog sitter coming to stay…. Hey I can’t do it all.
Craig was super busy working over the weekend and this week too before we go. My standards need to lessen.
I’m sitting here writing this calming down as I realise how ridiculous it all is to be irritated by all this. Mess seems to mess with my mind.
I just can’t think straight as my head is all fuzzy. I don’t do my best thinking in the evening…. Except to write the blog of course.
I’m just tired.
Of course I was up at 5.30 for a run with Claire and Lynsey this morning. I’m sure I was awake long before 5 so maybe I’ll sleep better tonight.
We ran the usual 5.4kms and I ran my fastest ever kilometre.
It was a good run.
So yeah. I will tell the negative committee that sits in my head to shut the hell up.
I am so lucky to be able to go on two holidays in one week. This is my dream. Suck it up buttercup and get packing!
(I posted a couple of Rome videos on my Instagram, The Rambling Sloth and they also post over onto FB if you haven’t seen them already.).
It’s 6.30pm and I’m sitting with an alcohol free red wine by the light of the Christmas tree.
I saw it for the first time when I got home last night at 1.40am! It’s a real tree from the Gateside Plant Centre. It smells lovely.
I honestly had a great trip home, despite it taking a very long time.
I left Melanie at 3.30pm and took the Metro 3 stops to Rome Termini station. I stood for an hour to wait on my bus to Rome Ciampino Airport. I was on the bus for 45 minutes. The sky was lovely as I left Rome.
I spent 4 hours in the airport before a 3 hour flight. I took this on the plane. I look shattered. 😆
I landed back in Edinburgh at 12am which was really 1am my time.
I then got a bus to the car park…. Walked straight to my car and drove straight out the car park without even having to show the ticket. (Oh me of little faith thinking that I’d get stuck in the car park!)
I then had the best drive back home to Ayrshire.
The sky was so clear, the moon was bright.
The roads were clear until a closure at Glasgow Airport, which took me a diversion through Paisley.
It was a long time but it was the perfect trip.
Every step of it went perfectly. So smoothly.
I walked in to the dogs slowly waking up, one by one, realising that I’d finally come home!!
The Christmas tree is up and there are lights out front too. it was a lovely welcome.
I was in bed by 2am which was really 3am to me.
I finally fell asleep but it didn’t come easily after being so alert for so long!!
I woke with Craig’s alarm at 7am so headed into work.
I yawned a bit just before lunch but otherwise I’ve felt great.
I’m still absolutely buzzing from my trip!!
It’s not all been plain sailing today…. As soon as I’m in the house I see a huge list of things that need done. I get to work and see all the things that need doing. My ego has tried to rage at some of it and tried to wind me up. I’ve fought it a few times today.
I have made the most amazing memories this weekend.
I have experienced things I may never experience again and I’m so very grateful for it.
Now I have to focus on the reality which helps me be able to make those experiences.
It’s taken me so long to write this tonight so I know that I’m tiring…. But I thought I’d do a wee photo shoots with the puppets now that we have the tree up!
Check Khaleesi’s tongue! She was just at the end of a yawn 😆
It’s a shame it’s a bit dark in that corner!.
I have loads of videos still to share from Rome but I suspect Iceland might take over before I get to them!
I’ve been watching the movie “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” in the background…. It’s a lovely watch.
Ok… that’s all for tonight…. Off to bed shortly!
Thanks for all your amazing comments and support over the weekend. It means and lot!!
I slept like a log again. No wonder after all those steps yesterday!
Some people have said they could never go and stay with someone they don’t know, let alone share a bed but honestly, it’s not a problem at all. I am so fast asleep I don’t even know there is anyone else there 😆😘 (ok reading that back that could be a bad thing 😆)
It’s another beautiful morning, cold in the shade but hot in the sun. Craig always laughs when I say that… like yeah, obviously!!
I have been so many places today, with Melanie, that I honestly won’t remember them all so I hope she sends me a list before I put this out. (she did!)
I had been so lovely of her to invite me, to allow me to stay and to show me around her stunning city… pointing me in the right direction, when she was not with me.
Today she was.
First we took the bus and walked to Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura!
It has the most beautiful cloisters. it’s quiet as there are hardly any tourists.
I cannot tell you vast and jaw dropping St Paul’s Basillca is. The main part completely empty and it was so quiet. It was very peaceful.
Very ornate and highly decorated.
We then walked to the metro and took it to Melanie’s work which is FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
How incredibly lucky am I to be security cleared to enter a UN building (after an airport style security check!) ?!
This is we are headed…. Of course for the view from the 8th floor.
The vista……… incredible on such a clear day.
I’ll be loading videos up when I get a chance.
Palatine Hill… not… Palpatine 😆
The white building is the back of the one I visited in Piazza Navona yesterday.
The Colleseum.
St Peter’s Basicalla, Vatican City.
Think the Colosseum is in this one.
With Melanie and Claudia. Claudia was at Thanksgiving on Saturday and looked after my suitcase, in FAO, while we went out exploring.
Thermal baths of Caracalla or Terme di Caracalla.
I found the UK flag inside the UN building.
We set off past Circus Maximus.
To the Bocco della Verita – the Mouth of Truth – which is an ancient Roman marvel mask. Legend has it, it used to eat the arm of those who told lies. I am pleased to report I escaped unscathed. 😆
Then we went inside Adrian’s Crypt. This was very old and rustic looking. The floor is beautiful.
We walked into the Ghetto Ebraico the Jewish Ghetto which is beautiful area of Rome.
So much of the area seems to be build around ruins.
This is the Teatro Marcella. Very like the Colosseum.
Everywhere you walk there seems to be a building more stunning than the one you have just seen.
This is just someone’s courtyard.
We went to Sora Margarita for lunch.
Here I am modelling the Jewish delicacy fried artichoke.
Main course was Fettucine with Ricotta and Parmigiana. It’s was amazing.
These gold plaques are frequently found on the pavements in Italy. They signify the Jewish residents of that home that were rounded up and transported to Auschwitz or other death camps. Very sobering.
This is the Portica d’Ottavia.
This little square was where all the Jews were gathered before they were taken away from the Ghetto. Such a sad place to imagine the terror on 16th October 1943.
We then walked up the hill to the Campidoglio – the Town Hall.
And round the corner to this amazing view of the Roman Forum. I visited this in April. Who knew you could see it for free!!
I’m so tired I’ve lost track of where this might have been but I think it’s taken from the Terrazza Caffarelli. It was an unassuming set of stairs, in a building that lead to a cafe and this stunning view.
Photobombed at the perfect time!
This is a modern statue. It is massive!!! Statua colossale di Costantino. I am in there 😆😆
Then off to Aventine hill: Giardino degli Aranci – the next stunning view of the day.
Melanie has taken her winter coat off! It must be warm. I told her I don’t even have a coat that heavy for Scotland 😆😘
Next was The Keyhole outside of the Order of Malta.
Credit to What a Life Tours. This was a beautiful view through the keyhole but I couldn’t get a photo to work at all.
Here I am looking!!
And finally another view point garden and my last view of St Peter’s Basillica in the distance. As it has been for so many of today’s photos.
Back to FAO so Melanie could pick up my case.
My last warm sun for a while…. Waiting on Melanie.
We said our goodbyes….. 😢
I took the metro to Rome Termini which is a MASSIVE transport hub. Metro, trains, trams and buses. The sheer scale of it is immense. I was an hour early for the airport bus but the time passed quickly.
I am SHATTERED. I’m sitting in Ciampino Airport about 45 minutes from Rome and my flight is in 2.5 hours. I am landing in Edinburgh!!! (For those who don’t know, I have to get a bus to the car park, potentially scrape ice from the car as I believe it’s turning that cold, THEN drive for an hour and half back home). I should be home by 2am.
I am working at 8 😱
Thankfully I have a very understanding boss… I told him that I would be in as soon as I can! 🫣😬😆
I have had THE best weekend.
I have truly lived my best life.
I have done things I never imagined I would be able to do on my own… and calmly.
There have been slight nerves at the thought of the flight out and this morning at the thought of the flight home…. But that is all.
I have celebrated my first ever Thanksgiving.
I have been inside a United Nations building.
I have seen jaw dropping beauty every step of the way.
I have met some amazing women.
I am so grateful to Melanie for giving me the opportunity.
I have 3 days at work before Craig and I head off to Iceland! 🇮🇸
Coffee and Quotes made me smile this morning…. As the page does every day!
We started the day in an Italian supermarket! I love stuff like that!
The produce is out of this world and I honestly believe it’s way better than we see in the UK these days, since Brexit.
These peppers are as big as they look.
The shelves seem so well stocked… check me… supermarket geek!
These cannoli look amazing.
I’m currently on 8BUS heading into Rome to Piazza Venezia. I never saw this the last time I was here… and wow! The Palazzo Venezia.
Look at that smile. I am beaming 😆
This was literally around the next corner!!
Then I spotted the Colosseum in the distance!!
This was a beautiful fountain.
I then walked round to the Trevi Fountain. It’s under repair for the Rome Centenary next year so it’s not running and they built a walkway over where the water would be. I’m queuing to get onto the walkway. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to the architecture.
Then I carried on round to the Spanish Steps. It was heaving there today. It’s a beautiful day after all and much warmer than I expected. Not sure you can even see the steps?!
They’re behind me!!
These are the Christmas decorations at the Fendi store. So pretty!
I walked along the Tiber River and spotted the dome of St Peter’s in the Vatican.
Then the Castel Sant’Angelo. I climbed to the top of this in April. It’s lovely to see it from over the river.
The bridges are all really pretty as I walk.
And finally I need to take the jacket off. It’s hot in the sun and chilly in the shade!
The trees are still very autumnal.
Once again St Peter’s Basillica.
I’m back on 8BUS heading into Monteverde Nuovo.
Honestly with the CityMapper app you never need to worry about getting lost. It will find you and it will take you “home”. You can wander anywhere with a mobile signal and maybe a battery charger just in case, and you know exactly where you are. I can’t explain the buzz I feel inside as I wander around on my own. It’s feels so powerful. Sometimes I chatter away to myself (🫣😬). I must look like a crazy wummin 😆
Back to Melanie’s for Turkey Pot Pie. 🥧
If possible this was even better than her food yesterday, and that’s saying something.
I’m back on my travels again. Melanie is having a rest after a busy morning. I don’t want you thinking I didn’t help her clear up because as I write this it sounds like I just keep leaving her to clean…. 😬 I’m just desperate to see the city!
I’m wailing through Giancolo Belevedere .
Headed to the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica.
It’s beautiful!
Amazing views up here!
It’s a lot quieter at St Peter’s Square than it was in April this year but it’s still busy.
The sun sets….
I have had the most amazing day. Honestly out of this world. Melanie has messaged to say she’s on the train on her way here!!
This was the best hot chocolate I have ever had in the whole world. It is literally liquid chocolate!!
It was exquisite.
Melanie and I have walked through Rome in the dark and it has been amazing.
When my travel friend Melanie asked me to come stay with her in Rome, and be a part of her Thanksgiving meal on Saturday 30th November, I jumped at the chance. I managed to get a flight for £74 which is cheaper than trying to get a train from Glasgow to Inverness.
That said, I did then add on a suitcase a month or so later, then chose my seats so I could have the window… that added up but hey…. I am paying for memories.
I have never celebrated an American Thanksgiving 🇺🇸. Melanie has been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for around 30 years and it is a big deal to be invited to her table.
She said she decided that, this year, she would invite strong women. I was proud but, you know me, I inwardly cringed because I can big a “big girl’s blouse” as we say in Scotland and I can “worry about the day we never saw” as my Gran would say.
I think it’s about time I actually realise what I do actually do. While I internally panic and flap and catastrophize at times, I still actually go and do the thing I want to do. Again the reason for writing the blog is to help others see the reality of life rather than just the FB glorified version of my life.
I am in my element out exploring the world. I feel a sense of peace and of excitement that I don’t get from the day to day existence of trying to make enough money to cover the bills. Does that sound awful? Should I be more grateful for the day to day… yes I should, and I’m working on that. I also think that I finally work to live rather than living to work. I had it all wrong in the past.
I’ve had a very peaceful November. I’ve spent it relaxing and resting and preparing for this adventure.
The bird is in the oven!!
Mrs veggie/vegan is being parked for the day. We had a long talk about this as I didn’t want Melanie to change anything for me. She told me last night that even the salad has meat in it. 😆
We wake at 6am but have slept from 9pm so that’s pretty good I think. It’s a beautiful but cold morning.
I’m off out to walk to the local park to see Belvedere Lake. You would never believe this was in the centre of Rome.
and then you stumble on some ancient architecture.
Wow!
Zoom in on this amazing fountain… it’s CarPlay growing!
I had a really good walk and then went back to Melanie’s lovely apartment!
Here I am all showered and ready for my first ever Thanksgiving.
And Melanie’s wonderful food…..
And the wonderful table. Full of wonderfully strong women!
Left to right, Claudia, Melanie, Antonella, me, Wadzi, Samantha & Rosana
And my meal! It was just as good as it looks!!
And boy did we talk. Strangers around a table and yet we talked and talked and talked!!!
What a wonderful noise we created!!
I love meeting people I don’t know. I’ve sat in an apartment with 11 Italians, one Zimbabwean, 1 Polish Italian and 2 American Italians…. When would I ever be able to do that?!? I loved getting to know everyone. it really is a small world.
(Did I say, Melanie’s son also had a table of 8 in the other room! She cooked for 15 of us!)
Then we got stuck in to the dishes before moving on to Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie and Cheesecake…. I loved my first ever pumpkin pie and of course I had to have a bit of all 3.
As the sun started to set, the starlings flew across the skyline. It was fascinating to watch so many of them.
The sky looked lovely at sunset.
Pic with Wadzi!
Pic with Antonella!
More chats, more washing up and then it is over. We are sitting on the couch. We have our feet up.
What a wonderful day with so many wonderful people.
Melanie is so kind to invite all of us to her special day. What an effort to go to, she’s been preparing since Tuesday….
Once again I appear unable to sleep on a flight. I am exhausted but there’s too much else going on and it’s freezing. I should have remembered from my flights to Milan. if I’m cold the Italians on this flight must be freezing.
So everything went well again so far!
Bed at 7.30, woke just after 9pm and again a few times and up with the alarm at 2am.
I was showered, hair washed and ready to to go so only had to get changed and close up my bags. Craig got up with me, bless him, it was lovely to have the company.
I left the house about 2.35am and drove over to Edinburgh Airport. That took about an hour at 10 minutes at that time of day. I thought the roads were surprisingly busy.
The only hiccup is that I think I may be in an NCP car park that’s payable on departure. I’ve pre-paid but they made me take a ticket and my gut tells me I’m in the wrong one. It might be fine. Guess I’ll find out on Tuesday morning after midnight when I land 😆
I chose a seat on the LHS of the plane so I could get to see sunrise.
I am soooo tired. I’m going to try and sleep again.
Claire sent me this after I’d gone to bed last night… I sent her this a while back and it still makes me laugh out loud!
Assume this is us over the Alps
So I landed just before 10am and managed to get on the bus to Rome Termini at 10.30.
This got me into Rome at 11.30 and it took me about 20 minutes to find the bus stop I needed.
Not surprisingly everything is in Italian and the local buses don’t have English at all.
I got out the City Mapper app to try to plan my journey.
It’s a strike in Rome today and everyone said the bus might not come.
So I got a bit frustrated trying to find the bus but actually it was all good. I just need to trust that I can find my way and I’m fine. Breathe through when I think I might start to get anxious. Someone will speak English eventually!
This is where I’ve travelled today.
Once you’ve done it once… it’s so much easier. Once you get into the routine of transport abroad, it’s just like public transport back home. You just have to trust that it will work out.
Melanie met me at the bus stop near her apartment and took me to her home.
It’s beautiful and so special for me to be saying in an Italian home.
She had made a lovely pot of homemade soup. We had lunch and a coffee. It’s great to catch up but I am tired.
It took everything in me to get back up and head back out. My body is screaming for sleep but I can’t waste a second now that I’m here.
I’m here for Melanie’s Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow so I’m currently on the number 8 bus heading back into Rome. I’m multitasking as I’m standing on a bus AND writing this AND trying to stay on top of my stops 😆
Now that I’m out, I’m so glad I have done it. It would have been so easy to stay in the house and sleep. Life is too short.
I’m passing through Trasstevere which seems to be pronounced Trast-avery which makes me smile every time they say it!!
I’m headed for Piazza Navona.
The fountain is being refurbished for Rome 2025. There is a lot of work underway for Rome’s Centenary celebrations. I went to look at the other foundation in Piazza Navona instead.
This city is full of history! I love it!
I then made my way round to the Pantheon.
It was too busy the last time I was here… but today I’m going in!
It’s only €5 entry and you have to wait in a big queue until they let you in.
It is breathtaking. I’m so glad I got to come in here. I’m writing this real time so I’m sitting right here just now.
This is the fountain outside the Pantheon.
I decided to walk back to Melanie’s… it was just starting to get dark.
I spotted the Vatican off in the distance.
I have had the best day. I’m so proud of myself for going out again this afternoon. I feel like I have this solo thing back under control after a couple of wobbles.
It was a very cold morning again… -4°C. It looked lovely out in the back garden. Everything was thick white with frost.
The sun is starting to rise by the time I leave for work.
Craig got me a fancy windscreen cover and I have to say that it absolutely did the trick. The windscreen was clear and I only had to scrape the side windows.
I stopped on the way to work as the sky was just so clear and so stunning.
What a lovely start to the day.
The Tartan Campervans looked picturesque in the sunrise too.
I have to give you a laugh. The one in the foreground was parked a bit further forward than the others and had been for a few weeks. I had to move it back towards the fence, the other day. as it was ruining all my van photos 🫣😆
It’s a longer van anyway so will always stick out a bit.
The sun was a huge ball in the sky early on but the temperature didn’t seem to get past 4°C all day. Much colder than yesterday.
So this time tomorrow I will be in Rome.
The alarm is set for 2am.
I book these flights thinking they’re a great use of the day but actually it’s quite daunting setting off at that time by yourself.
I’ve been great this week.
I’m very calm.
I felt a bit anxious about 15 minutes before I left work but that’s nothing compared to what I felt when I went to Milan.
Ryanair have messaged about a delay in security in Rome but the flight seems to be on time.
By the time you wake up in the morning I should have left Ayrshire. Driven for a hour and half to Edinburgh Airport. Parked the car and got a bus to the airport. Been through security, sat for a few hours, boarded and taken off. 🏴✈️🇮🇹
See you on the Rome side Melanie!
Oh and finally…. I’m very pleased to say that Mum and Dad are doing well after their ordeal yesterday. So grateful for that.
I woke just before 5am and got up at 5.15 as I was running with Claire and Lynsey this morning. Another PB!
I got a few best efforts this morning.
It’s good because I am slightly improving with each run and it’s always nice to see a gold medal on Strava.
It was a good run this morning but I had to walk a couple of times to catch my breath!
It was a cold but beautiful day. Ellison and I sat outside in the sun at lunchtime. It was so warm on my face. It felt like my skin was burning and I have SPF30 in my moisturiser!
It was so bright I couldn’t open my eyes.
At 13.25 I got a very strange sound from my Apple Watch and iPhone. A dropped pin 📍 with Dad written under it.
The text message said my dad had “phoned the emergency services from this approximate location“ . It said I was “receiving this message because” Dad had listed me as an emergency contact.
It took me a minute before I realised what it really said.
I phoned Dad…. Straight to voicemail.
I phoned Mum and she answered straight away.
I say “Mum, are you with Dad?” She sounds fine, says yes that she is with Dad and they’re both ok…. I think she’s going on to tell me that Dad’s pressed the wrong button on his phone. She sounds bright and cheery but a bit flustered… I relax…. She repeats that they are ok but…. they have just had a bit of an accident…..
😱
Now the main thing is they absolutely are both alright but it seems either a spring has broken or the rear suspension collapsed but it all sounds terrifying. The car is not so good but Mum and Dad are good.
I wanted to share the importance of setting up emergency contacts on your phone. Who knew that the phone would tell Dad it looked liked he’d been in an accident and did he want to call emergency services? Who knew my brother and I would both be notified the minute Dad agreed to contact them.
I can only assume that something similar would happen if Dad didn’t respond to the phone at all.
It’s very scary but I think it’s good to know.
They were both really cold too so we all need to have a winter emergency pack in the car with warm clothes, blankets, hats and gloves. Anything that will help if you are stuck at the side of the road in cold temperatures.
Here endeth….
I’ve finalised my packing for Rome and just had a big long chat with Dad.
I finish every blog the same way but somehow it means a bit more to me tonight.
I get moments of respite when I open my eyes wide and contort my face into crazy positions. Moments of respite when I stretch my neck and try to release some of the tension.
I feel ok other than tbat.
I’m not worried about travelling this weekend. I’m quite organised and in control so it’s not that… unless my body thinks otherwise!!?
I do make such a drama of it though.
I hate that… but I let it take over everything and instead of just letting it be a sore head, I’m constantly searching for reasons and answers. Annoyed with myself for letting it bother me.
Actually as I write that down, I realise why my tension headache doesn’t go as I’m building up tension just by constantly questioning it.
I don’t want to be this person. Making a huge drama out of nothing.
So comfies on and relaxing and will get a super early night.
We’re running in the morning and I’m hoping it blasts this out of the water.
It was a lovely evening when I got home. The snow and wind and rain has gone. It’s been such a calm day.
I love the colours in the next photo. The sky is lovely. There’s a very bright light in the sky underneath the cable. I thought it might be a plane but it didn’t move so maybe a star?!
I’ve drunk soooo much water today… it’s been a good flush out!
The wind and rain has not stopped all day. It’s been incessant. I think that’s the end of Storm Bert tonight and I’m looking forward some sunshine tomorrow!
I never heard a thing all night though as I was in a progesterone induced coma. Dead to the world until 5.45am.
I woke with a sore head. I think everything was tense when I woke.
I mentally feel ok… I’m not worrying about Rome (yet!) but I haven’t felt great today.
It was one of those days I’d have much rather just stayed in bed. We all have them.
The rain poured and the wind howled and my head thumped!
I have lists for this week…. Only so that I don’t forget anything.
Other than work obviously, today was about getting my Vinted parcels posted! I had a parcel to pick up from M&S and had to get diesel.
I usually hate having things to do after work. Today was just about getting them done and ticking them off, and it felt good.
I may have popped into the charity shop beside M&S and picked up a lovely teal GAP hoodie for £4 and a wine coloured fleece Oodie type thing. Also £4. It’s sooooo cosy….
So then….. I headed into Tesco and treated myself to another pair or my new favourite jammies!! Obviously in a different colour but they are literally like a hug in clothing. I’m so pleased I got more!
I’m done for today. I’m even too tired to write this…. It’s taken me about and hour and half 😆
I’ve started watching the Whitney Houston movie, I Wanna Dance with Somebody… which seems really good so far.
But I am tired.
I’ve had paracetamol and the head is still thumping.
I’ve drank lots of water and that won’t shift it either.
I tried to have a lie in this morning as it might be my last lie in for about 3 weeks… check me Mrs Dramatic. It’s kind of true!
I woke at 2.38am with the high winds from Storm Bert battering the house. I shut our window and lay for a while… I woke again just after 7am…. Which isn’t bad for me, I guess.
So straight out with the dogs. You’ll notice the snow has gone already. It’s still really windy.
This is not a great photo but if you zoom in just above Freya’s back… there is a brown/red blur on the grass 😆. It’s tiny…. You’ll probably not even see it!
As we walked along the road, a wee robin sat right in front of the dogs. They sodnt spot it but stopped and sniffed about for ages and still it sat there. Until I took the camera out and it moved into that bush. 😆
It wasn’t scared at all.
The sun was trying to come out.
I dropped the 3 of them off and took Khaleesi up the hill.
When I came back I spent a bit of time in the garden.
Winter poo picks are less fun (I am not for one second, suggesting any other season is fun…) but you only get daylight at the weekends so harder to stay on top of it.
I cut all the heads off the Hydrangea. would you believe it’s only just lost the last of the pink colour. Must have been the frost and snow.
It looks very sorry for itself now.
I then started parcelling up everything I sold yesterday! When you sell that much you have to be careful you put the right thing in the right bag…. 😆 one girl bought 3 things and I definitely don’t have a bag that big!!
I had to keep an eye on the time as Gayle had a ViP event on the shop today. So into the shower, hair wash and ready and back down to the shop for 1.30pm.
This is an awful picture of me but it shows I had on the most Christmassy jumper I own 😆 it’s not even that Christmassy 😆
We didn’t even get a photo together, let alone a photo of us in our Santa hats. 🧑🏼🎄🧑🏼🎄😆
So I’m not gonna lie, I am tired now.
I’m back in the November blog spot, favourite new jammies on…. I’m gonna need a spare pair of these 😆 Can’t believe it’s a week since I got them from Claire and mum and dad were here for my birthday. It’s been a quick week!
So not much else to report. Hope you all had a great weekend.
This must be serious as today’s weather has a name! Storm Bert hits Scotland this weekend.
Most of that blue rain this morning turned to snow!
Here’s what happened outside our front door this morning over the space of an hour or so!
And the other way….
It was heavy rain when we got up and it turned to snow pretty quickly.
These photos look black and white…. It was so grey!
Craig drove me to the little gift shop as his first job cancelled and I was too scared to drive!! When did I become this big girls’ blouse?!?!
The roads were dreadful! As usual with snow in Scotland, our infrastructure grinds to a halt and it’s seems to catch everyone by surprise!
We’ve not seen a snowplough at all today… just gritters that aren’t gritting.
We made it!!
We did a little gift shop FB post to let people know we were open and we were so grateful to the people who saw the post and ventured out!
#supportlocalbusiness
The snow turned to rain and this is what the road looked like when I left. Better buts it’s so wet and slushy.
Craig’s 2nd job cancelled too so he could come and pick me up.
We were meant to be going up to see my in-laws this afternoon and we had to cancel as they live in the snowiest place ever!! This was their garden really early on.
I had been quite stressed about this weekend as we were so busy and now I’ve had the afternoon to do some things I didn’t expect to do.
Wait for it……
I WROTE SOME CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!!
I know… I hate myself for saying it as I am not that person… oh wait… this year it would appear that I am. 😬
I’m away the next two weekends so I may as well write the ones I got today and get them posted 😆 I doubt I’ve ever written a Christmas card in November before.
I should say I’ve thought nothing about presents AT ALL…. If that makes you feel a bit better?!?
We went next door to drop a birthday present in for our neighbour…. Had a lovely coffee and a bit of (to die for) chocolate torte!!
I then do some more packing for Rome… and then decided to put some more stuff up for sale on Vinted.
I have made £52.50 this afternoon!!!!
Things were selling the minute I put them up. One person bought three things and another bought 2! I couldn’t believe it.
I’ve had a really good day.
We had to go and buy dinner as right now we should have been eating my mother in laws lovely food… so we have pizza in the oven. Yum!
So we are due to get about 10°C overnight tonight, randomly…. The snow will surely all melt and it will be positively tropical… we’ll be the throwing off the duvet after the few weeks of minus temperatures. 😆
This is Bhru last night when she’s meant to go into her room to bed 😆😆😆
She’s a cheeky pupper.
So last night I said have a lovely Saturday night… tonight is the right time to say that! 😆
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 