So that might explain the craziness… it’s full moon today. Watch out everyone!!
Back in the office today and all calm on the western front, thankfully.
No tears.
I did have a very painful stomach cramp just before lunch so didn’t eat much. don’t know why that was all about…
I’ve managed to squeeze some tears out tonight as we get ready to head down south for my goddaughter’s wedding this weekend, in Exmouth.
You know that old packing stress, what to take, what not to take, when to leave, where to park, need I go on?!?
I’m in bed now. It’s 9pm and I’m going to read my book and get up at 5am.
I never got dinner but I have hoovered the house for my lovely in-laws, who are kindly dog sitting for us.
Oh I did sign up for a 10k race in August.
No one is more shocked than me. 😱🤯
One by one the running girls signed up.
I had zero intention…..
Then felt I kinda had to so I just did it.
Plenty of time to get up to speed… or distance…. Plus there is a free Vanila Joe’s ice cream at the end of it. What’s not to love!! the 10k or running before it… 🤦🏻♀️😂
So sorry it’s brief and I sound as flat as a pancake. I’m just tired.
I did not excel myself as a Julie today… it’s another one of those days where the blog is hard to write. Hey, here I go.
It started with a 4.6K run with Lynsey at 5.45am. I’d slept like a log all night but felt really tired and groggy when I woke up. It took me the whole 15 minutes to concentrate on getting ready. I couldn’t think straight.
The run was hard but good. I was so pleased I did it. I was very red again by the end!
I walked straight into a cold shower. It’s not freezing but it’s on the cool wash instead or warm. It feels good against the heat of the run.
I got ready for work and took some photos of some of the flowers in the garden.
By the time I got to work I was in tears.
I just feel a bit run down, the cold is still lingering on, I’m shattered and I just feel really low.
It got so bad that I packed up my stuff and came home. I couldn’t sit there bubbling all day.
I sat at the dining room table and worked till 4.45pm. I was totally fine, spoke to loads of people on the phone, chatted away. Just couldn’t seem to do that in person this morning. I worked later than usual as I felt I’d wasted time faffing this morning.
I did call the doctor as these tears have been around for most of the weekend. She’s given me lots of advice on counselling and told me to be mindful of my own needs at the moment. To be kind to myself.
She didn’t prescribe anti depressants and I am actually really pleased at that. When you have suffered from anxiety and depression in the past, there’s always that fear that it’s “coming back”., that you can’t cope on your own.
She’s scheduled a call in a fortnight to check in with me. This was the doctor that really listened to me when I was ill. She has a lovely manner.
I am the healthiest I have ever been. I don’t drink, avoid caffeine, haven’t eaten meat for months, fast every day…. I enjoy all of that. It’s me taking some control over my own mental health. I need to control what I watch, who I spend time with, what I listen to, to ensure I control my anxieties.
You know what, sometimes that is all bloody hard work.
You can’t always do that and you sometimes feel your energy being drained.
I’m exhausted and I just need a rest from my head.
After the tearful drama of this morning, the quiet working day at home has been a welcome relief.
I’m so embarrassed by the tears that it only makes the anxiety worse.
So another line drawn under a healing day…. And a lovely dinner made.
And how mine looked either the obligatory Border Collie in the background…
A bit more soupy!!
It was lovely.
So I’m in my comfies, given my apologies to the Hookers and I’m going to watch Bridgerton and have an early night. Craig is banished to the dining room… he says he’s going to go in sit in the sunroom and look out the window all by himself…. Bless.
Have a lovely evening.
Keep smiling if you feel low as you know it will pass soon.
I’m writing this on Monday night on the bus on the way back to Glasgow. I cannot begin to explain the true extent of the beauty I have seen today. We got the West Coast of Scotland as its absolute best.
“I’m sailing up the west coast, through villages and towns” to quote Dignity by Deacon Blue!
More accurately, we sailed up the west coast taking in several beautiful islands.
We started off on The Clyde at the Glasgow Science Centre and sailed down the Clyde, under the Erskine Bridge, past Greenock and Port Glasgow and down to our first stop in Largs. We picked a good couple of hundred people up in Largs.
My friend Helen sent me the Waverley’s actual trip for the day. I was so chuffed.
We then headed over to Great Cumbrae and sailed north of Little Cumbrae and over to skirt the north coast of Arran…. With Bute in view most of the way.
We then headed across around the Mull of Kintyre and across to Islay and up the Sound of Islay with Jura visible on the right hand side. We sailed on to Colonsay and then back across towards the mainland via the Correyvreckan Whirlpool. Then down through the Slate Isles, past Easdale, Seil Island and Luing… before head into the sound of Kerrera, past Kerrera and into my favourite place on the world… Oban. In the scorching hot sunshine.
What is not to love.
I also met two other solo travellers, randomly both called Chris. One male, one female. We kept an eye out for each other’s bags while we were off away around the boat. I love that kind of connection with someone. We’ll not stay in touch and never see each other again but we shared the day.
I am shattered but I am so grateful that I had the chance to see all of this. I’m gutted I’m not carrying on further north in the Waverley but, given how much I was “bouncing” on dry land… it’s maybe just as well I’m on the bus home. 😂
So I’ll pick up where we left off… we were just about to enter the Correyvreckan Whirlpool.
Now, I’m not going to lie… this is a bucket list thing of mine and I had NO idea that we actually went through it on this cruise. Also, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was a bit like sailing through a bubbling cauldron… actually when has anyone EVER done that?!?
These photos WILL NOT do it justice.
If you have ever drive past the Falls of Lora in Connel, near Oban, the effect is very similar.
As the Waverley went into the Whirlpool she was doing 15 knots, by the time she came out she was up to 2/knots just with the force of the whirlpool…. About 10 minutes later, she was down to 11 knots as fighting against a flowing tide.
It’s now Tuesday afternoon and I’ve had the laziest day in the sun. It’s 4.30 already and all I’ve got to show for it is a varnished bench!!
I am quite pleased with it.
So back to yesterday. Leaving the Gulf of Correyvreckan was spectacular.
It was now an evening sunset cruise. After such a spectacular day.
The film crew that were on board were sailing alongside getting lots of shorts for the David Hayman documentary about the PS Waverley.
We are currently here.
The Slate Islands were beautiful. I was torn between watching out to the sun and capturing the green island of Luing and the coast south of Oban.
This is just at Seil island.
I almost missed it but I caught the bridge over the Atlantic!
The Oban lifeboat came out to see us!
The PS Waverley is a celebrity wherever she sails. It’s lovely to be a part of that. Even leaving Glasgow yesterday, folk were waving out of their Clydeside flats.
I’m back out the porthole in the ladies toilets again as we head down the Sound of Kerrera into Oban!
My favourite place on the west coast, Oban.
McCaig’s Tower up on the hill.
The low sun is beautiful!
Docked for the evening!
Taken from the bow of the Waverley.
I’m already off and so sad that the day is over. It was just so perfect.
We then had to jump straight on the bus to Glasgow Science Centre. I literally spend 10 minutes in Oban!
What a stunning night.
Even the bus trip down was stunning, I kept taking photos out the window.
All of these taken from a moving coach… this is the start of Loch Awe.
St Conan’s Kirk on the banks of Loch Awe.
Reflections of the railway bridge at Kilchurn Castle.
The moon is huge….
It’s finally almost dark so I try to sleep but nothing comes.
I got home around midnight after a few wrong turns in Glasgow. My mind wasn’t as fresh as it should have been.
What a truly wonderful day that will stay with me forever. There’ll be videos and more photos to come, I’m sure!
I’m too tired to proof read this tonight so fingered crossed it’s ok 👌
I’m back on board the Paddle Steamer Waverley with Waverley Excursions.
The red line is roughly the trip we’ll be taking.
Craig got me two sailing ticket for my birthday last year and this is the first one I’m using. I wanted to sail all week but I couldn’t find accommodation in some of the places she is docking for the night. I picked the best of the bunch and despite my low mood yesterday, I’m really looking forward to it.
Very early start with the alarm set for 4.55am!
I parked the Glasgow Science Centre at 6.30am and the Waverley sailed promptly at 7am.
I had wanted to be on a Waverley cruise for the whole week but I couldn’t get accommodation booked up north so had to settle for today’s trip which is the easiest to navigate from home.
Photobombed at the last second!
It’s much cooler this morning so I’m wrapped up. We’re expecting 18°C but in was so cold on my Ailsa Craig tour last year that I’m wrapped up well today. I am still fairly cold and regretting leaving the fur lined boots at home.
The Tall Ship
Heading under the Erskine Bridge.
Dumbarton RockThe recently launched Glen RosaThe Glen SannoxThe Norwegian DawnHurtigruten Expeditions From the back of the WaverleyThe famous funnels 🚢
Finally the sun is out. I’ve had a hot chocolate breaking my fast very early for warmth!!
Great Cumbrae to the right
Largs Ahoy!
A large ferry crossover behind the Waverley while we are docked in Largs.
Millport on Great Cumbrae.
The sun is out and while it’s hot the breeze keeps it cool. The sea is mostly calm.
They’re filming a documentary about the Waverley with David Hyman.the hope to release it this year as they’ve been filming it for years.
Sailing into Campbeltown at 12.30. I have taken two layers off. I’m still wearing 3!
Leaving Campbeltown.
Loved these cows on this tiny island. So very Scottish! 🏴
Davaar Island.
This is so similar to Ailsa Craig.
This next one is the view from the ladies toilet porthole!
This is Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. I loved the birds in low flying formation.
They did this a lot.
The Coastguard flew out from the Mull of Kintyre and did a fly around the ship. That was really cool!
Heading towards the Sound of Islay. We were meant to sail into Port Ellen on Islay but there was a grain tanker in our berth. We had to divert to Colonsay. This shows Islay to the left and Jura to the right.
The south coast of Jura.
The Paps of Jura.
Looking back over Jura.
Stopping in Colonsay.
Colonsay looks lovely. I’ve never been here.
As I write this we are currently heading for Correyvreckan whirlpool and then into Oban.
I don’t get home until about midnight tonight so I’m going to put this out now and write about the rest tomorrow.
All I can say is, I have had the best day. I’ve been sailing since 7am and it’s now 18.30. No sadness, no low mood, just total wonder at the beauty of the trip!
Where I feel so annoyed at myself for feeling down and for feeling sad when it’s scorching hot outside and I have zero plans. So many people would kill for a day like that.
Yet today was one of those days.
If you roll your eyes reading as I roll my eyes writing this, then just skip to a happier one tomorrow…. Although I have to say the mood swings for the better from about 4.30pm… if you’re looking at some light at the end of the tunnel.
I hate days where I have to write about the doom and gloom. My head tells me people lose interest as I get so much more from a happy day.
I can’t be bothered wiring what I have to write let alone you choosing to read it.
Yet I carry on…. In the hope that it maybe makes one of your down days feel a little less. I’m sure we are all the same, for some reason my head is determined to share it.
We sat outside with the fire pit until 9.30 last night, but I was shattered. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I slept like a log, still helped along by the progesterone. My alarm went off at 6.30am and I woke from a deep sleep. I felt really tired and sluggish.
Sunday run club met at 7am at Gillian’s house. My Strava app thinks I flew along as I forgot to switch it off for the drive home.
The mood is light when we set off. I’m a non runner with the runners today and maybe I let that get into my head…. But my legs feel like lead. My breathing is shot and my cold is still hanging around. We run for a good while before I have to stop to blow my nose. I’m already wobbling.
From there on I feel like I’m holding the girls back, I’m a hindrance,
I send them on ahead twice and twice they come back for me.
The second time the bloody tears have come again. Hence the completion photo!
When I get home, the house is still quiet so I smuggle Khaleesi out for a walk. I’m happy to not have to talk just yet.
I try to let the tears flow but nothing comes. My tears like to wait until they have watchers.
It’s a really misty morning. It’s really muggy though.
Khaleesi is happy.
I head back and Craig’s up by now. We sit and have a lemsip together, as you do, and I head out with Calaidh and Bhruic.
The sun is desperately trying to burn through.
They have a run in this freshly cut field.
The sun peaks through!
When I get home I head out to Tesco to get myself some snacks for my big Waverley trip tomorrow. (Sailing from Glasgow to Oban).
I got home and put it all away and headed up to bed at 12.30pm and I slept for 2 hours until Craig came up to open the window.
I still felt tired and tearful but I’ve had a good rest.
I sanded down our garden bench.
Just realised I haven’t taken an after photo. 🤦🏻♀️ I haven’t stained it yet… that might be a Tuesday job.
I had a good chat with Craig about how I’m feeling and it really helped. I haven’t wanted to talk to anyone, I know I’ve retreated into a shell just now. I’m fed up feeling how I’m feeling and don’t want to burden anyone else with it. I’m fighting the need for change as I can see how to do it.
I need to have some patience that it will come.
At Kinesiology on Wednesday, we did an emotional cleanse. I thought that would be a good thing but maybe it’s brought all of my emotion out to cleanse it.
Today has been my lowest mood in some time… but it has lifted thankfully.
I have so much to be grateful for. Some days I just get caught in the humdrum and sludge of it all.
Hope
You all have a lovely sunny weekend!
This could be Scotland’s summer so we’re making the most of it with another fire pit tonight. I also need to pack for my big trip tomorrow. I need to be at the Glasgow Science centre for a 7am sailing. I won’t be home until after midnight. A day on the water!
So if you’re feeling low today. Big hugs. This too shall pass.
The forecast says it’s been 21°C but it feels hotter than that!
What a beautiful day.
We’ve had a very productive day despite the heat. I randomly spent the morning clearing out all of my clothes, tidying the drawers and wardrobes. I did some washing and got it hung out to dry. It really helped my head which wasn’t the best when I woke up.
Last night was amazing but mentally a lot more tough than I could have imagined.
I went to The Realignment Project with 3 of the girls I’ve been running with…. Gillian, Lynsey and Rachel two doors down. It was held on Luss Beach on the banks of Loch Lomond….Which was looking particularly pretty last night, after a beautiful day.
Here I am sitting on my yoga mat waiting for it to start.
The Realignment Project is run by two guys, James and Kenny. They run “outdoor coaching focussed workshops, helping you to realign and find your f****** awesomeness!”
It started at 7.30pm. They have great banter!
James asked us to write down something that we thought was holding us back and think about how we could change that negative feeling. There’s a lot more to it than that but that’s the gist.
We then did some yoga and settled down with our blankets over us for 20 minutes of breath work.
The breath work terrified me for some reason. I’m fine just breathing away but being told to focus on my breath induces a mild panic.
James leads the breath work and tells us we are safe, we are just breathing and he talks as we breathe to the rhythm he has set.
My fingers are tingling, I feel slightly dizzy, again this is all normal.
I start to cry. The tears start pouring down the sides of my face onto my yoga mat. I’m trying to hold it back, biting my lip trying to focus, I can’t let anyone see. To be fair we are all lying on our backs, on the beach, looking up to the beech tree overhead.
His words are really searching and they are stirring up emotions inside of me. I am not 100% content at the moment and there are things that need to change. He’s empowering us to make that change, step out of our comfort zone and go for it. The old “life is too short” thing. At least that’s what I hear.
I’m trying so hard to hold back the tears as we all slowly sit up. I can’t look at anyone and focus on getting into my cold water socks and gloves. Gillian is next to me and she spots me first. She gives me a big hug and says it’s ok as lots of people get upset during the breath work.
We start to do some warm up exercise pre cold water dip.
I swallow the tears as we head to the water…. This was the bit I was scared of but now my focus is to not start sobbing in front of everyone. 🤦🏻♀️😬
The girls I am with, and two others we went with, hold hands and walk into the water. It feels amazing. This is why I am here. I want to be able to go into the sea without the whole wetsuit palaver.
He talks us through our steps and tells us to stop. We stand still…. He asks us to think about our proudest moment in life. Feel that feeling.
We then all dunk under at the same time. Head under the water and back up. It feels amazing. The bottom lip is still wobbling away. I’m so bloody proud of myself for doing this but I hate that there always have to be tears. I am overwhelmed by emotion. I just need to have a bloody good cry.
I get a lovely hug from Lynsey and Rachel. I don’t want to bother anyone.
We “sit” with our shoulders under the water. I start to shiver uncontrollably. I start to breathe through it and the shakes pass. I look around and everyone is experiencing similar shivers.
I love being in the water. To be fair, it’s 11°C which is a lot warmer than any cold water I’ve been in recently.
We head out to the beach but I’m reluctant to leave and drag everyone back in. We need some photos of this!
There was no memo about wearing a black swimming costume 🩱 😂
I love that 3 of us are staring at the bottom…. 😂
Considering how emotional I actually feel at the moment…. Look at my eyes and that smile. That says it all.
The emotion doesn’t leave me. It wells up and I keep swallowing it.
We stopped at Starbucks on the way home for drive through hot chocolate. It was lovely!
I’m so grateful to the girls for asking me to go with them.
So yeah…. I felt really wiped out and drained when I woke up this morning. It was a lot to process but also the most wonderful thing to do.
I’m still feeling the effects of the cold too.
Back to today…. We pressure washed the main grass this afternoon.
Look at the difference!
The dogs ran out when we were finished and all 4 of them wee’d within a few seconds!!
Bhru is stalking Claire next door as she pressure washes too!
It’s lovely to sit in a “clean” garden. There’s still loads to do but a pressure wash makes it feel like a new garden.
It’s now 7pm and we have a fire started, planning to stay outside this evening. It’s not often we have a chance to do this.
The sky is bright blue and the grass and trees are very green, in their spring like state.
I have Bhruic and Freya. In a vest top and body warmer I’m already overdressed!
I’m not in the best fettle this morning. A bit too hot headed and irritable…. Yes… again…. I managed to turn it around.
When you appreciate the beauty around you, it’s hard to stay grumpy.
Love the high level clouds.
Every time my head slips into a negative, and I caught myself, I would take a deep breath and focus on the walk.
It really works.
The trick is being able to see it.
What’s through this gap, they say?!?
I loved this tree. I walk past it often and yet today it looked really pretty.
Can never get enough of the blue! 💙
Back home for a double pupper swap and off our with Calaidh and Khaleesi.
They had a great run in the field.
Someone’s coming to get me! Calaidh just doesn’t move 😂😂
Looking over to the Isle of Arran.
Pretty clouds.
Another of my often photographed gates.
I had a quick shower…. Went to get some trainer socks out the drawer upstairs, got my phone cable caught between two toes on my right foot and walloped left knee first into my desk!
Felt really dizzy so lay for a few minutes. I have the tiniest of bruises but a bit of a lump! it hurts!!
I drove to Silverburn Shopping Centre to meet my friend Lea today. It’s the first time I have seen her since her lovely mum died.
It was so lovely to spend some time with her and get a good catch up. I was so upset I missed the funeral as I had a stomach bug.
We went to our usual Starbucks haunt then sat outside in the sun for a while.
Back home and straight out into the garden.
It’s just so beautiful today.
The Borders in the shade… Bhru has Thor’s hammer and Calaidh wants it. 😂
Khaleesi is loving the shade too. She must have acclimatised to our Scottish weather, if she thinks this is hot. It’s way cooler than Spain!!
She’s back out into the sun!
So tonight’s group of us are heading to The Realignment Project in Luss, on the Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
We’ll be doing breath work, yoga, exercise and cold water therapy in Loch Lomond from 7.15 till 9pm.
The girls have gone to this a few times and have always fancied trying it. I was so pleased when Rachel two doors down asked me to go, I booked instantly!
I want to be able to go into the cold water without the faff of a wetsuit. I want to be at peace with it and not feel the freezing cold pain. Rachel says she’s a squealer (😂) and she managed it fine! (She’ll love me for that! 🤦🏻♀️😂) so here’s hoping I’m the same tonight.
Hope you have a great sunshine filled weekend. Hold your loved ones close as you never know when you might not be able to anymore. Lea’s mum was one of the lovely ones.
I still felt rotten but this morning I decided to go out for a run with Lynsey at 5.45am.
Why?
I’ve hardly walked the length of myself these last few days and I need to get moving again.
I always remember Gavin, at the Fit Body Farm, saying if the cold is in your head you can still work out… not if it’s in your chest. This is all still in my head…. Not in that way, I am not making it up obviously. 🙄
So I set my alarm for 5.30am. Or did I?!??
Craig nudged me awake at 5.40am as the alarm hadn’t gone off, with a “did you not say you were going running?!” and I was out that front door in 5 minutes flat and probably running 6 minutes after I woke up!
I really enjoyed it and as hard as it was, I only walked 3 times to stop to blow my nose!
I was soooooo red when we finished. It doesn’t show up in the photo but I was beetroot.
The minute I got in the house the sweat absolutely poured out of me for ages. I had a cold shower and I was still beetroot when I left for work.
It felt really good to have been for a run though and I’m so proud of myself for doing it. Obviously, Lynsey and all the girls I run with keep me going, which is a huge help. I don’t think I’d do it on my own.
It’s been a really busy day at work as I’m finishing up for a few days holiday. It flew by… I got a bit panicked trying to tidy stuff up before I left at 4. I like to have everything just so before a holiday but I didn’t plan on being sick this week. I’m not sure anything was “just so” when I left but hey….
I’m not back in the office until Wednesday morning and looking forward to a wee break.
I’m sitting waiting to get my toenails done and the sun is shining…. And it’s warm!!
Toenails done (orange for the wedding we are going to next weekend) and home and it’s really hot now. Popped in to see Claire and then sat in the garden with Craig and our neighbour Kenny. Oh the banter….🙄😬🤦🏻♀️
We’ve moved down to the back decking that Craig pressure washed last weekend. We rarely get the sun here now but it’s lovely for the dying embers. It’s 20.20 now and the sun is just about to go.
I had zero intentions of going back to work today. I felt awful last night. I had no energy, was so listless and kept focussing on how “sick” I felt.
I wrote in the blog about how we should change our terminology. I told anyone who messaged that I was “healing” instead.
I had a rotten nights’ sleep, was coughing for Scotland but did manage to sleep in between. When I opened my eyes I realised my head felt a bit brighter and I couldn’t face the thought of wallowing about all day. The thought of lounging about for hours just didn’t appeal to me at all.
At 6.30am, I got up and decided I was just going to go back to work.
The instant I made the decision, I doubted it but I jumped in the shower and got moving.
Not gonna lie I have felt pretty rotten for a large part of the day, and have probably spread my germs around to anyone who got near me, but I’m so glad I went back and got on with it.
Ellison and I sat outside at lunch and I had a lovely salad. I could have done with a nap just after lunch, but that was not to be. 😂
One of my suppliers told me to go home and have a lie down 😂 and I reminded him I didn’t own the company like he did!!
I made another Planthood dinner when I came home.
Mine looks like this….
With my second favourite bush as a backdrop. 😂
It was really tasty. Minty fresh. I loved it.
I sat out in the garden to eat dinner. It’s not sunny but there’s a warmth in the air. The fresh air does me good.
I have kinesiology tonight. I will never be able to explain how this works but I just love it. I love the calm it brings me.
So I’m in my comfies, on the couch, I’m sparing the Crochet Hookers my cold.
Onwards and upwards!
A few good things to end with.
So true….
It takes so much strength to do this. ♥️
This…. ♥️
And this is what I fight all the time… the resistance to things that arise that I think shouldn’t… keep calm and stay in the present moment.
Both progesterone induced and Cold & Flu night capsules 💊 (which are exactly the colour of that emoji) they knocked me out for the count. It’s so lovely to be able to breathe.
It’s 3.30pm and I just got out of bed for a change of scenery. I’ve slept on and off all day. I started to read a bit but my eyes were too sore.
My nose has finally stopped running but it’s now all stuffed in my sinuses.
Therein lies the question, can a woman catch man flu if the man had it first? 😂😂
I slept really well but when I got up I felt pretty rotten. I took cold and flu tablets and it all dried up in time for work.
There was an incident on the road with a red car…. It stuck in my mind. It pulled out slowly from a junction to the right of me. I had to slow down as a result. My ego bent out of shape, how dare they…. How dangerous, did they not see me….. Blah blah blah.
I quickly caught that thought and as I watched them go from so very slow… foot to the floor and careering off down the road, obviously feeling bad for pulling out in front of me.
These are the irritations that we need to move past.
They can ruin our day, change our mood, enrage us for no reason.
You are lucky there wasn’t an accident, lucky it slowed you down if maybe you were driving too fast. How bad did they feel haring off like that. How unsafe was that?!?
I always love to look on the other side of things and try hard to think the best instead of the worst. It makes life so much easier.
I’ve been really busy at work, with customer visits which has passed the day. Just as well as my head was like thinking through cotton wool.
So yeah, comfies on, crackers and cheese for dinner…. And I’ve now gone deaf 😂 my ears have popped and won’t unpop…. Definitely man flu 🤦🏻♀️😂😘
Sorry it’s a quickie, I’m off to wallow in self pity 😂😂
I woke up at 5am and felt like I was swallowing glass…. My throat was all scratchy and sore.
I got up and had a big drink of water and it seemed to help as I fell asleep until 8.30am, unheard of for me!
I stayed up for the Aurora again last night so I was shattered. I ended up joining Claire, next door in her back garden and we lay on the seats at her fire pit, holding phones up to the sky. Nothing was happening. I can’t remember when we came in… I think just before midnight.
Still got some moody shots… love that I’ve caught out 14 year old neighbours purple lights in her bedroom!!
The sky was much brighter than it had been the day before.
I triggered our security light down the back coming back in from Claire’s…. Blinded me!!
Just nothing happening in the sky.
My friend Michelle did get some Aurora shots from about half a mile away… I was in bed by then and couldn’t muster up the strength to head back out.
So back to this morning, I lay in bed for a bit, reading some positive quotes to lift my spirits.
Once I got moving I decided to head to Home Bargains and Aldi for a cheap toiletries, house cleaning stuff and food shop. All done by 10.30am. We’ve had no tin foil, extra virgin olive oil, bin bags or Fairy Liquid for a good few days…. I never run out of things like that…. This time I ran out of everything!
I feel really lethargic. Everything is an effort but I hoovered the house as it needed doing.
The 4 x moulting dogs have taken their toll! I’ve been picking it up on the daily, but nothing beats hoovering it up. Incidentally we have the Shark Anti hair wrap hoover…
Which does not do what it says on the tin…. No wonder it struggles to pick up at times.
It felt good to get it done even if I needed a wee sit down after each room!
I’m not really sure where the afternoon disappeared to.
It got really sticky and hot so I sat in the sun. Craig pressure washed the back artificial grass and decking and it looks lovely.
We just need to deal with my meadow garden (far left) which turned into a horrific weed-fest when I planted my meadow flowers… I may never hear the end of that!
Incidentally we have artificial grass because of the dogs. We lived one summer with three dogs and this is what it looked like.
After one winter…
Every time the dogs came in they were filthy. The artificial grass has been a godsend.
So we have to pressure wash it from time to time to freshen it up. “We”….. 😂
The bit Craig has just washed is away down behind the big black shed. We have a huge, beautiful garden but it’s a lot of work to stay on top of all the weeds, washing grass and staining all the decking and fencing.
We had a thunderstorm around 4pm… it got quite loud and heavy rain so I went for a shower. The heavens opened and Craig said the main road was running like a river.
The skies cleared and it’s been sunny again ever since. We’re sitting outside enjoying the birdsong.
My second favourite bush has started to flower.
I just love these colours.
The forest flame have both been reduced to a white hot heat now… see what I did there?! 😂
So not much else to report…oh I did made another Planthood dinner.
Craig had some too. It was a really good one… and I have some left over for lunch tomorrow.
So I’m just sitting here having some quality cuddle time with Freya. Pup #3.
Bless her wee socks. It’s lovely in the early evening sun.
So… remember that we can take whatever this week throws at us. We can choose how we respond to situations outwith our control.
I will try to remind myself of this 🤦🏻♀️😂🫶🏼
There’s a good chance of Aurora again tonight but the experts are saying that it won’t be the same as Friday night. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They say we can expect to see it again maybe in the next 23 years.
I’m undecided as to whether I’ll stay up or not. It’s hard to decide to miss out just in case “they” are wrong! One final pic as a reminder of how special Friday night was.
Oh my word. (Polite terminology for blog purposes….)
I actually want to scream with excitement!!!
What a wonderful night to be alive.
The Aurora Borealis slammed earth last night, I follow several FB pages and Aurora Hunters UK & Iceland said there were 5 enormous solar flares all sandwiched together and expected to be a direct hit on earth. He said direct hits are rare but to have 2 M class flares and 3 X class flares, together in one massive hit, is totally unheard of.
We may never see these stats again at least for the next 7 years.
That is the reason I was not going away this weekend.
I was meant to be at home.
I sat out on a seat in the back of the garden after it got dark. Letting my eyes adjust. There was nothing….. except Craig about to get into bed.
I’m in my Auntie Jac’s Christmas onesie and Ugg boots to keep warm. I do look ridiculous!
Some of the running girls can see the Aurora before I can…. It turns out I’m looking the wrong way. Despite being told to look North, this one was distinctly in the south easterly direction!
It started like this….
To the naked eye it looked like wispy clouds but through the phone camera you could see the start of the colours.
I took a lot of photos but the south easterly view from our garden is all trees covering the sky….. I bravely stepped out the front door in Auntie Jac’s Christmas onesie…. I lost count of the amount of cars that saw me. 🤦🏻♀️😂
Faintly at first, it was like a giant rainbow over our village.
At this time, the colours were only visible through the iPhone camera and not visible to the eye.
I’m up the lane over from our house. I should say… that is not our house but a very photogenic subject!
Our lovely village. the colours start to become visible.
It’s moving all the time. I tried to video it but the light is not the same.
It was just breathtaking. I managed to get Craig out of bed so he could see it. Just as well really as I still don’t like the dark much. 😂
The light was changing all the time.
There came a point where it started to fade ever so slightly and we were both shattered…. We decided to head home.
Also so I could show other passing motorists my onesie 🤦🏻♀️😂
It’s right over the house. Just beautiful.
So yeah… 12.30pm I got to bed and 5.30 I woke up… still so full of excitement from the night before. Run club was on at 6.45am and there were 7 of us this morning!
My throat was sore when I woke up so I found it pretty hard this morning… but I still ran my fastest 5k ever thanks to Claire for coming back for me at one point and Michelle for dragging me over the last 20 steps.
I was not buzzing and loving life by the end but I’m very proud of myself for doing it. We ran 5.47k at a 7.54 pace. By comparison the subsequent dog walks were about 15 km/ hr pace.
It is a beautiful hot day. It’s been 18-19°C here today. My blogger friend the Windsor waffle laughs at the Scottish definition of hot! 😂
Bhru and Calaidh first…. I’m coming for you mumma!!
Then Freya and Khaleesi. It was nice and shaded here.
Spotted my neighbour’s beautiful clematis this morning, so lovely against the blue sky.
Craig was working this morning, popped home then was heading out to meet friends in Glasgow.
So I dropped him at the train station and decided to treat myself to a Mocha Jaks strawberry milkshake!!
Sooooo good! I may have had a salad too but this was the best!
It’s the first time I have solo dined anywhere locally…. I did feel a bit odd… but I’m so glad I went as that was my treat for the day.
Mochas was also surprisingly quiet. They suited me… I sat outside.
Since I got home I’ve been lying out in the garden dozing on and off. I had a blanket over me.
When the sun when in, it got a wee bit cooler. When the sun comes out I deblanket if that’s even a word?!? I know it’s not.
I’ve done another 3 washing loads. All the dog blankets are washed now. My machine has been going all weekend 😂
There’s a good Aurora forecast for tonight but it might be cloudy here so we’ll have to wait and see. They’re predicting 10.30pm through to 2.30am. Remember to look at the sky through your phone camera. Look all round tonight as it might not necessarily be north.
Ahhhh some real heat…. I say that and it’s been at 17-18°C here today and for Scotland that’s a pretty good day.
I’ve been in shorts and vest top all day apart from the dog walks. I’ve been very lucky not to be working.
I had another great, progesterone-induced sleep but woke with a sore throat and the start of a chesty cough. I’ve been so lethargic all day.
It’s definitely been the first day of the year that you could be out in the garden all day without feeling cold… yet I’ve not appreciated it for what it was. Instead I’ve been tired and a bit grumpy.
It was 8am before I started the dog walks this morning. Bhru and Freya first!
The grass has sprouted this week!
Love the colours of the farm.
Look how muddy Bhru got digging for a stone in the burn.
I am not throwing that stone!
This tree has lots of new leaves, there must be a beech hedge growing up the trunk too.
Then back home…. Chattering to Craig only to realise he was on a work call….. 😬😂 I sat outside in the garden for a bit before I took Calaidh and Khaleesi out.
Everything is so green.
Dry stane dyke.
I kept Khaleesi on lead so she didn’t run about too much. It was a slightly longer walk for her.
I got chatting to a lovely lady with a Malinois-cross. She was asking all about Khaleesi. We got chatting through a whole range of subjects! I lovely having random chats with someone I’ve never met. It’s good to connect with people.
My favourite gate!
The rhododendrons are out in full force.
A herd of coos…
A very random shot but I thought I’d try something different!
Calaidh’s laughing at me!
So back home and I sat out in the sun with my sunscreen on…. I was so tired I just sat with my eyes shut for a while. It felt nice.
I had no idea what to do with myself and started getting annoyed.
I guess my issue is that I want to be away and doing something this weekend, but I can’t.
My head actually has temper tantrums because I want to be doing something different. I’m not very good at relaxing and doing nothing.
When I’m in the house I’m surrounded by things that need cleaned and things that need repaired. I don’t want to be stuck inside doing housework on a warm day. I just want to head out and explore.
The thing is we can’t always get to do what we want to do all of the time and I don’t know how to make peace with that…. Instead I fight it and look for places that I could go. Rather than enjoying the moment, I’m searching for ways to make it better.
I decided to bring a camping table out and clear through my jewellery box.
Honestly that was not my best move. It seemed to open up a whole catalogue of negative thoughts as the jewellery reminded me of different times in my life and where had all that time gone?! I’ve 6 watches sitting doing nothing… what a waste of money. I saw the negative in it all….
I didn’t achieve much by doing it, I threw out a small handful of broken things but that was all. I couldn’t bring myself to part with most of it. As expensive as it all was at the time, it’s virtually worthless now. I looked up selling some of it but it seems like you get very little back.
I gave that job up after a few hours and started cleaning out the camping stuff from last weekend. I put the tent up and cleaned the floor. I put some things away in the shed.
Once I started doing something with purpose I felt much better.
I’ve done 6 loads of washing today and it’s almost all dry. I put most of it away.
Finally I was at peace. About time too!
The aurora might be really strong tonight around midnight if anyone’s interested . I read that it might be seen as far south as Spain!
I can’t believe I’ve been such a grump on such a lovely day.
Poor Craig won’t be home from work until about 8. He’s still recovering from his flu. He’ll be wiped out working that late on a Friday.
I’m off for a shower ready to make his dinner with a smile on my face 😬😂
It’s 6.30pm and I’m sitting outside in shorts and a vest top….. finally. It feels so good to feel the sun on my skin!
I know I had sunshine in Rome, but it’s been a cold start to the year in Scotland. Anyone who’s here on holiday now is soooooo lucky!!
You can imagine I’m like a caged lion… where can I go, what can I do this weekend?!?!
Unfortunately Craig is working all day tomorrow and is out all day on Saturday so I really need to puppy sit my own dogs. 🐶🐶🐶🐶
I have looked at campsites for Saturday night but not sure if there’s much point in setting up camp again for one night. Hmmmm decisions…. Right now I’m very happy sitting out on the decking and feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.
This is my current view!
I had a lovely wee night out in Largs, last night, with the Crochet Hookers.
We went to the Wetherspoon’s Paddle Steamer for dinner. It was really busy when we got in but the food is so cheap. The whole evening only cost less than £15 a head. I had vegan pizza which was surprisingly lovely, with hot chocolate and shortbread for afters. The hot chocolate was £1.76 and free refills. The shortbread was 71p!!!!
We did get a right good natter though. It was lovely to have a change of scenery.
It rained when we left so I couldn’t get any decent photos!
I actually really like this next one after I said that.
It was 9.30pm…. Way past my bedtime.
I set my alarm for the 5.45am run club, fully intending to be too tired and to roll over in bed, instead of going.
Last night was the first night of HRT progesterone for 2 weeks….. I was completely out for the count. I slept like a log all night. The alarm went off, I got up and had one of the best runs with Elly and Lynsey. Lynsey was photographer today!
Not sure I like my rear in this pic but I’m going to embrace it and then buy black leggings….
Lynsey has it ingrained in us that we have to touch the white line at the end of the road in Gielsand Estate!! We do it even when she’s not there.
I love this next one she took of Elly and I! It captures the sunrise run mood perfectly!
We did 5k exactly and I loved every minute of it.
It was so much easier than yesterday. I ran straight into a very cool shower again!
As I washed I really stopped to think about how far I’ve come and it brought some tears of gratitude.
I’ve come such a long way from the days where I could barely put one foot in front of the other even to walk the dogs.
I love the friendship of the run club girls. I appreciate their support and their encouragement. I love that I run so much further with them, than I would do on my own. I love the feeling of accomplishment. I love getting up early and running before everyone gets up.
I felt so alive this morning.
Fast forward to the half shut knife I am now… struggling to stay awake!! 😂😂
It’s been a good week at work too. It’s gone quickly and I’ve enjoyed it.
I made another lovely Planthood meal tonight….
This was one of the best I’ve had, if a little bit spicy! It tasted soooo good!
This is my latest view….. throwing a tennis ball as I type.
Will be an early night for me tonight I think. Hopefully a blissful progesterone induced sleep!
It’s 6.12pm and I’m running out of time. Evelyn my Hooker friend is picking me up in 13 minutes.
Crochet Hookers are on tour once again.
We’re off to Largs for oor tea!! Actually we’re just off out for dinner… don’t know why I have to be all Scottish about it.
I had the worst sleep. Craigie came up to bed last night and he gave my ear plugs a run for their money!!! It wasn’t bad enough for me to move downstairs but it woke me 3 times… then I needed the loo… and then it woke me early.
I felt hungover when I got up at 5.30am to run with the Run Club girls. There were only two of us this morning. Elly and I.
All of a sudden my big toe joint is sore again and my knees have been sore. My bunion was agony in the middle of the night too… actually maybe that’s to blame and not Craig!!
I still got up and went for a run.
It wasn’t sore but I did tire quickly. Elly was great and pulled me around.
The smell of wild garlic was so strong. It’s everywhere.
I love these wee paths…
I look happy and actually I am…. I’m so proud that I didn’t call off because of how I felt.
We ran around 4.6k. I was struggling by the end of it!
Work was quick, busy and just kept going.
So yeah off out to Largs with the girls for a wee change.
I’m sitting outside in the sunshine writing this… I need to go and walk the dogs.
I was up really early this morning to head to the supermarket before work so Craig had food in for today. He said he didn’t need anything last night but when I got home he literally had nothing…. He’s been under a duvet all day again. Still feeling rotten and still lashing in sweat. Wee soul.
It’s a lovely sunny evening. It wasn’t even warm enough to sit out at lunchtime today but it’s so calm and sunny now.
I have the sick boy duvet airing on the line at the moment.
The birds are twittering away… I could sit here for hours listening to them…. That’s obviously… mainly because I have to walk the dogs!!
I made another Planthood meal for dinner tonight but it was my least favourite.
Everything was fried so it seemed really heavy… not the usual fresh nutrition. Mine looked ok…
Just didn’t taste the best and that’s probably because I saw how much oil went into making it!
I will feel so much better when I just get off my backside and go walk el doggos.
I did it… I’m not gonna lie, as beautiful as it was, I felt I grudged every step. I’m so tired!
It was worth it for some beautiful photos.
Look at the colours!
There’s a warmth in the sun but I’m only in any shirt and it might not be that warm!
I took some photos of some dandelions… my friend Linda calls these wishes and I sent her a photo tonight. The new iPhone captured them really well.
These are weeds to some but so pretty to others.
I love that I can see beauty in so many places these days, things would have walked past before.
This isn’t the best photo but it shows the ferns starting to unfurl.
Follow the sunshine.
Zoomed in for this one.
I noticed these two planes in the sky, behind the power lines. They look like they are heading towards each other.
Then all of a sudden one of the banks quickly to the right.
I’m sure they were nowhere near each other really but it was fascinating to watch.
Calaidh looking pretty in the green field.
I love the way the light is shining at the end of the tunnel.
Passed these guys on the way home. They came over to say hi!
So I’m home, I’ve filled the dishwasher, put away clean washing and hung a wet washing up.
For those of us who work a bank holiday…. It always feels a bit unfair that everyone else seems to be asleep when you leave for work… that said, the traffic is amazing. I have a cheek as my commute is nothing these days but there were less cars on my roads!
Poor Craigie is feeling really rough. He fell asleep on the couch last night, woke to eat some dinner and fell straight asleep again. I could barely wake up when I went up to bed. He was dripping in sweat.
I woke at 4.30 and went down to check on me…. Still fast asleep…. When I went in again at 6.15 he was awake. He was literally zonked all night.
He’s slept most of the day… which is just as well really, as we had no electricity for most of the day. Power cuts, low water pressure and no mobile phone signal…. It’s been some day for him, he’d be as well sleeping. Strange goings on in our village.
My ego feels really hard done to having to work a bank holiday…. It feels so unfair, why is everyone else off, why do I have to work, why…. And on and on…. But you know what, it can shut right up as we’ve had a great day at work. We got loads done, delivered a good few vans and it was so worthwhile being open.
Sometimes our minds just want to moan….. Want us to feel hard done to and as a result we feel bad for the day.
When this happens, and you recognise is for what it is, you are taking back control of your thoughts. The ego doesn’t like that and tries to win…. And I often still let it.
But not today.
I had a lovely walk with Claire after work. It was quite warm. We took Calaidh and Bhruic.
The sky is really dark against the green of the fresh growth.
It’s really dramatic.
We are lucky we don’t get wet.
The rain doesn’t come for a good hour and half afterwards.
I went to order the only veggie option on the menu, when the waiter asked if I was vegetarian….. I went bright red and said eh yes kind of…. When he produced a whole other menu.
The food was amazing. I highly recommend it!!
I had fiery cauliflower bites to start.
Followed by Tagliatelle Napoli.
And finally Salted Caramel Brownie and the most amazing ice cream…. It is under there, honestly!
We went for a walk after dinner and heard the bagpipes playing, carried over the water. It was so lovely, so surreal.
I love the lights in the houses as it gets dark. There’s not a breath over the water.
Reflections!
I stood here and listened as the piper played. I’ll share a reel later. It was just so lovely. There was a ceilidh on in the village hall so I think this piper was rehearsing before he went into the hall.
It was a lovely walk as it got dark.
I had the best sleep in my tent. I went in to bed about 10.30 and woke at 4.30. I seemed to fall back a sleep until 6am when Bhruic literally tried to get into my closed tent… she tried to get through the outer door then found she could get under it to the inner door then just kept on trying to get in. There’s no punctuation in that sentence 😂😂 I shouted Crai, who was just outside and he opened up the tent so she could jump all over me!!!
Craig and Bhru had tested out his new sleeping area in the back of his car. I believe it went well! He is loaded with the cold though and trying to make the best of it.
Lindsay and I went off out for a run at 6.15am… we ran from our campsite in Tayvallich (which I’ve only just realised, had two ll’s and not one. 😂) to Carsaig beach and back. It wasn’t a long run but about 3.5k.
This beach was beautiful but it would have been even better in the sunshine. The sand is white and the water would have been turquoise in the sun. 🩵
It’s still a lovely day. There’s no sun and it’s misty but it was so mild and atmospheric.
My legs were heavy this morning but I’m still so pleased we did that.
We went back to the campsite for a coffee then got into our kayaking gear… which means I borrowed all of Lindsay’s.
Euan and Lindsay are so good to us. They let us use all of their kit and give us free tuition too! They could charge a fortune!!
Check Bhru in her wee life vest.
And we are off.
Sadly Bhru wasn’t a massive fan… she did really well but it wasn’t her favourite pastime.
She wanted to see if she would walk on water.
I pulled alongside Craig so she could see me…
That made her so happy that she climbed out Craig’s canoe and had all 4 paws on my kayak!!! There are no photos as safety mode kicked in and she was swiftly removed back into the safety of her canoe!
Craig decided that it was all a bit too much for her so he’d head back in and let her play in the water and practice getting her in and out the canoe. Euan stayed with Craig.
Lindsay and I decided we’d head on her planned trip for the day… she sent me her Strava route. We paddled 10kms.
I love love love love loved it.
I am so proud that I can keep up with her… actually she will paddle at my pace obviously… but I love the peaceful calm of being out on the water.
It was so misty and grey that my photos aren’t great but it was the most beautiful scenery… the water was very dark green along the coast line.
The rock faces plunged vertically into the water in places.
The trees are all different colours as they start to bud at different times. The dark sea is teeming with baby jellyfish. It’s flat calm, mill pond like in places.
There are small waves and splashes in others.
There are geese nesting on the back of small islands for shelter. There were seals lying basking on the rocks in calm inlets, while the geese watched on.
In all the hustle and bustle of life. This beautiful place has just stopped. There was no bluster, no noise apart from birds, no stress, no people…. Just the two of us chattering away as we paddled and explored.
I loved it.
If I’m really honest the amount of effort involved in prep and cleaning up would put me off if we didn’t have such great friends to do it with. There is a lot of work involved to do this safely.
Thank you so much Lindsay for the planning and the time you take with me when we’re out. Thanks to Euan too for allowing us to use all of your boats… and especially the new paddle! Which floats apparently… thankfully…
I’ve always wanted to sea kayak.
While we were doing all of this, poor Craig was feeling really rotten as the cold he tried to fight through, really took hold. He had no energy at all.
As Lindsay and I headed back into Tayvallich for lunch we decided to call it a day on the paddling, as I felt I should stay with Craig. We had a picnic lunch by the sea but ultimately decided we should head home.
Euan tied all the boats together and brought them over to a cleaner part of the beach… as you do Mr I can paddle 4 boats!!
Poor sick boy is on the couch in a duvet while I’m hiding in the dining room having made dinner and writing this.
The Gateside Run Club met at 7am this morning and there were 6 of us this time.
We ran nearly 5k and only stopped to cross roads. It’s the fastest I think we have run with least stopping. It felt great. Claire came today and was resident photographer!
She got some great action shots!
Lynsey, Emma and I with Elly and Michelle
My sports bra is literally singing by a thread and I’ve not bought a new one yet so need to prioritise that. It’s done some hard work over the years… I’m ashamed to say I only have one!!
It’s hard but I love it, it really gets me going. So much so that…. For the first time in ages, I actually took all 3 borders out at once…. AND ended up running!!
I ran into Lynsey who had carried on and was doing a 10k… so I ran back with her.
I was literally buzzing after it…. And beetroot!
I then got Khaleesi and headed off with her. We ran for a few minutes until I realised that it would do me good to walk to cool down and her poor legs probably didn’t need to be running too much.
All of this before 9am!!
I haven’t quite figured out how to read my run distance yet, they are stored on the Apple Watch ⌚️ but seem to have disappeared for now…. 😂 check the watch novice.
I’ve spent the last two hours, packing and getting ready for our overnight to Tayvalich.
This is where we will go today.
We’ll be leaving before 12… let’s see if that happens?! 😂😘
It almost did… 12.30… that’s not bad for us.
We had a great drive up. this is going to be a blog in pictures as I don’t have time to write as we have no signal so I’m pinching WiFi!!
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 