What a rotten sleep…..

I coughed ALL night.

I didn’t.

But it felt like it.

I was up and down like a yo-yo!

I eventually got the dogs up at 5.30 and they were half asleep!

We all went back to bed until walkies with Holly and Leo at 8am.

It was beautiful morning. The sky was stunning…. Zoom in for the low cloud over the Garnock Valley.

I came home and made a few Dog Behaviour calls and got ready to meet my Auntie Jac.

She got the bus all the way to Beith!

We headed straight to The Little Coffee Caravan and had a lovely chat with Donna and Richard. I don’t get there often enough but Jac and I used to got lots when I was off sick.

We had a lovely coffee and I had a raspberry and white chocolate blondie…. Sooooo good.

The sun was shining.

We sat in the house and talked till the cows came home 😆 (at length!) and ended up in Mocha JaK’s for lunch.

We had a lovely bowl of lentil soup and brown bread.

We may have them shared a mint brownie and had another coffee!

It was a lovely wee day!

I found this picture of us both taken about 20 years ago…. I was the thinnest I have ever been.

I didn’t have time to go for a food shopping as I had another dog call to make when I got home…. So I raided the cupboards and had everything to make a Chickpea and Spinach Curry. Healthy Living James Recipe

Check me….

I am very proud!

Calaidh and Bhruic are shocked!

Now I have to be honest and burst this bubble a bit….. it didn’t taste of anything much and I wonder if my spices were maybe a bit past their sell by date 🫣😬

It’s still good, wholesome, if slightly off, food!!

Meanwhile my other half is having a wonderful time acclimatising, training dogs and exploring Doha in Qatar.

It’s stunning to see.

I am gutted I didn’t go but I’m equally pleased to be able to be with our pups and spend time with them.

I have no plans for the rest of the weekend except a run in the morning. Just how I like it.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

This is the longest Thursday ever in history…. And it’s still only 6.45pm!

I’m still going. I flagged about 11am with a few yawns but I’ve been fine since… she says yawning as I type the word yawn. 🥱

I didn’t sleep well.

I was in bed for the back of 8pm I think. I coughed and coughed and coughed and finally moved to the couch at 12.30am to let one of us get some sleep.

I hadn’t coughed much at all the night before… but hey…. I heard Craig come down our very creaky stairs at 2.44am followed by a herd of Border Collies.

Time to get up. 2.44am.

I felt hungover…. Which was obviously not possible.

I’d showered last night but I got my lunch ready, made a smoothie and got ready to go to work.

We left about 3.40am.

My eyes were all over the place, I couldn’t focus on the road I felt so tired.

And then, a mere 10 minutes into our trip my FUEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.

😤

Now being the organised lady that I am, one of the things to check would have been that the vehicle making the very early morning dash to the airport….. HAD ENOUGH FUEL IN IT?!?!?

I was not driving said vehicle in the week prior to the trip. I did ask if there was sufficient fuel….. I may not have been heard.

So we turn off the M8 just after Glasgow Airport and head to Essso on Renfrew Road…. Closed…. But don’t panic…. There’s another petrol station a few minutes away on Paisley Road.

You guessed it.

CLOSED.

You can imagine my internal reactions.

Outwardly I was WAY more calm than I would have been pre anti-depressant.

To access the 2nd closed Esso garage… I turned right across a dual carriageway and drove right over the central reservation!!!!!!

I still can’t believe I never saw it was a central reservation and to be fair, Craig didn’t seen it either until Bertie Beetle walloped down the other side of it.

I just hope no one saw me 🫣

So we get back on to the motorway after using up more precious fuel and settle for 24 hour Asda in Govan, where we watch an urban fox meander across the forecourt and into the bushes. Brave fox living there right next to the M8 motorway!

I am refuelled and back on the road a mere 15 minutes later than we would have been, but we have plenty of time.

The roads are surprisingly busy. I mean, not busy but enough that you do wonder where everyone else is going.

I drop the Scottish Dog Behaviourist off at Edinburgh Airport just before 5am. He’s off to Doha in Qatar at the request of a lovely Scottish girl who needs help with her dogs!

Bless him…. Despite avoiding each other for a week, I may have sent him away with my cold!

His case is full of dog toys and balls and chews and poo bags and all things doggy as they can’t get them out there so she sent them here!!

I pray he’s not stopped. 🫣

So of course, by this time Mrs Weak Bladder needs the loo.

I pull into the petrol station just outside Edinburgh Airport and order a soya latte and an almond croissant.

“I’m just nipping to the loo” I shout to the coffee guy.

“Sorry they’re out of order” he says.

GULP.

Bladder springs into action…….

So I have to drive to Harthill Service Station to find one. That’s half way across Scotland!!!

Very relived. Literally.

I got to work at 6.15am!!!

Thanks to my lovely neighbour Holly for not only letting the dogs out a few times today, she walked them twice AND left me my dinner in the fridge!!!!

How lovely is that?!?! So very kind.

So by the time I thought about checking Craig’s flight, he was already one of ten billion flights across Europe 🫣 spot the red plane.

He’s then over Turkey.

Then Baghdad!!!!

Heading to Basra!!!!

Before finally landing in Doha!

I am still working by this time and managed 15 minutes short of a 10 hour shift today!!!

I don’t know where the energy came from.

There was a lovely rainbow on the way home and I had to stop for photos….. a gate at the end of the rainbow 🌈 😆

There is a double rainbow but the second is very faint.

The big dark hump is my car!

I came home to Holly’s lovely dinner… Thai Green Curry and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Exactly what the doctor ordered.

Still not done, I have two Scottish Dog enquiry calls to make and then Andy the milkman comes to the door and then I sit to write this.

Freya doesn’t want me to write the blog tonight.

I’m under a puppy pile!

Oh should say Craig is very happy and settling in well and they’ve already had the dogs out for a walk to suss the surroundings.

It’s now 8pm. I’m finally flagging….

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

It’s 7.52pm and I am in bed.

Scottish Dog Behaviourist flies to Doha at 8am tomorrow morning from Edinburgh…. And I have to get him there. Think we’re leaving about 3.30am!

I slept like a log until 5.21am and the alarm was due to go off at 5.25!!

I had a coughing fit when I woke but the cold symptoms have been a lot less severe today…. Thankfully. Maybe finally turning the corner?!?

I ran with Claire, Lynsey and Rachel this morning and I managed it… once I managed to find a left and right sock.

This is Claire coming out of her house next door with her head torch on, reflecting on the village hall windows!

I cut out a bit of our normal run to make it shorter but I still ran over 5kms.

It was slow as my legs were heavy while strangely, my breathing was ok.

Then poor Rachel two doors door tripped up the kerb on the Beith Bypass and hit the ground.

We have made the decision to stop running over the bypass in the dark. It’s got so busy this last year. The traffic is fast and relentless with few gaps.

She’s ok but scraped her hands and knuckles as she reached out to catch herself. It could have been so much worse so lesson learned!!

I’m so glad I managed to e run, it was good to be back.

I did lots more sorting out at work today so was in my element. More to do tomorrow.

It was lovely and sunny and we sat out at lunch. lovely blue sky.

But now I need to sleep. Think of me when you wake up as I’ll have crossed Scotland twice! Call me if you can’t sleep!!

Wishing Craig the most amazing trip to Doha and hoping this becomes a regular thing for him. Scottish Dog Behaviourist goes global!!

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✈️🇶🇦

I woke at 3.30am after a great 6 hour sleep and then I started to cough.

I coughed and coughed and coughed…. I eventually got up and came down to the living room…..

I sat and read for a bit and had a Lemsip with honey and I actually fell back to sleep for another hour or so before the alarm.

I still feel wiped out but I’m waking up a bit more every day.

So work was fine, it poured with rain today, misty and smirry rain for most of the day.

I sound really down but I’m honestly not. It was just a day with little happening.

I’m going to run in the morning, this is not in my chest so I think I’ll manage.

The fresh air and the exercise will do me good. I’ve been so lethargic these last few days, I need to run.

I saw this the other day and thought it was a really good read!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Ok let’s get my moany stuff out the way first.

I still feel rotten.

If anything my cold is worse, but I went back to work because my head is actually more focussed… so that’s a bonus. My hacking cough is not a bonus… it hurts and I feel all sorry for myself.

But I’m fine…. It’s been a beautiful day today. A lovely sunrise, a warm, sunny day and a lovely sunset.

Check our two latest vans for sale at work!

Ellison and I sat out at lunch and it felt really hot.

I had a new apple that’s red inside. It still tastes like apple but it’s kinda cool.

I came home to a lovely dinner that Craig had made between jobs.

I then took the puppers out!

The hedges have all been cut so the road looks so different! There’s also lots of thorns on the road now.

The sky was lovely and it was still quite warm.

I came home and made 3 Scottish Dog Behaviourist calls for Craig.

And now I’ve sat down to eat some ice cream and someone wants some… I love her but I’m not sharing!!

Bless I love when you get the puppy dog eyes!

So all in all a lovely day. I am ok… just needing these germs to be gone. 🤧

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Lurgy still here.

Slept in Khaleesi’s room which brought a whole wave of sadness.

Was up for an hour and half at 12.30 and then again at 5am.

Slept until 9 though.

It’s rained ALL day. It’s been torrential at times an everything is wet and soggy and dark.

I have the wood stove burning and it’s a lovely orange glow.

I’ve had the dogs beside me all morning as they didn’t want to go out in the wet.

I’ve hoovered the downstairs of the house,

I’ve swept leaves from the decking… in the rain… in my jammies. It’s mild and it was refreshing.

We’re a bit flooded….

I’ve tried to sweep leaves off the grass…. It’s possible but not certain about my tactics.

I took the dogs for a walk in the rain which was actually really lovely.

I read my book….

I can confirm that at 12.30am there was no sign of the Aurora above North Ayrshire.

So now during this torrential rain I’m going to take you back to sunnier days. I’m taking me back to sunnier days when the blue sky made me smile.

Blue sky makes me smile.

I just love the colours…. life was so lovely when we were there. We had so many plans for life changes when we came home.

I need to remember what they were and get onto them as soon as I shift this cold.

Hope you’ve all had a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’m so disappointed… I felt a bit better by last night and agreed to run with the girls this morning.

I woke at 5am and there was no way I could run.

I’ve much more of a tickly cough today. I think it was my body’s way of telling me that I shouldn’t be running.

I just feel exhausted.

I’ve tried to do some Her travel Circle posts today so I feel a bit better about that. My heart wasn’t really in it but it’s a start.

I did my Donna Ashworth journalling and this was my random selection from her book Joy Chose You.

I took the dogs for a walk again and I actually saw some sunshine for the first time this week!

It felt lovely for the ten minutes it shone through the clouds.

I managed a couple of loads of washing and then Gayle picked me up and we went to the Boatyard in Lochwinnoch for hot chocolate and a scone with cream and jam.

It was so lovely to catch up with her. It feels like it’s been ages with our holiday, then Khaleesi and then the cold….

So yeah, I might sleep in the spare room tonight as the cough is driving me nuts…. It’s not bad, it’s not loud it’s just irritating.

I’m so grateful to have another day off to relax tomorrow.

Bring on the lemsip!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’m feeling a wee bit better today but still stayed in my jammies for most of the day.

Just taking it easy.

I sat outside with the pups for a bit. None of them looking at the camera!

That’s slightly better….

I turned the phone upside down again.

I put lots of things up for sale on Vinted today. I could just do it at my own pace and stop for coffees!

I’ve already sold one of Craig’s shirts!

I just have been at that for bout 3 or 4 hours.

I then had. Shower, got dressed and took the dogs up the hill. I felt a bit stronger today.

I played with portrait mode on my phone.

Yup she went in the burn to get a stone out!

So yeah, I enjoyed the walk today.

Straight back into jammies when I got home and I have my feet up in front of the fire.

So yeah, nothing much else to report…

Ok if I’m honest I’m feeling dreadful I’ve not done anything for Her Travel Circle since Rhodes… I need to get the finger out and get back to it. That’s the only things that’s really eating away at me now… anyhoo…

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Not much to report today.

I am feeling a little bit better as the pain in my head and sinuses has eased but I still want to sleep for Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

That’s ok because I can. I have no plans for the weekend.

I did get up at 8am and sat out in the garden with the dogs for a half hour or so. The fresh air was lovely.

I went back to bed about 11 and slept until 2pm.

Just throw that ball 🥎

I had a nail appointment at 4.45pm that I remembered about when I woke up. So I had to have a shower and head out for that. I went for a nice autumnal colour.

I took the dogs for a slow walk up the hill while I was still dressed. The fresh air does me good.

I noticed these beautiful trees in the village hall as I walked back home. They were planted for the Queen’s Jubilee. They are beautiful.

And they match my toes and my toes match my jammies ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I put myself first and stayed home sick today.

I took a lemsip before bed and slept like a log until 2am. Then was wide awake… it’s funny that after a whole day of craving sleep.

I stayed in bed until 2pm and only got up because I was hungry I want to be able to sleep tonight.

The puppers have been looking after me.

I changed into the giant pink marshmallow Kuddly as it’s sooooo cosy…. despite being horrifically pink. I am not a pink person, I may have mentioned that before 😆

Kisses from Bhru…. either than or she’s washing me.

Freya’s checking me out.

Bhru might need fed 😆

Calaidh’s sitting on my knee!

It’s all in my head… physically, not literally.

My head is thumping, my sinuses are heavy and sore and I’m still shattered.

It’s been a heavy few weeks, maybe that has just taken its toll.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

What a day….. honestly I had felt every long minute of it.

I feel like I have endured today rather than lived it.

I am exhausted.

I dropped my salad all over the floor this morning before work.

I picked it up and put it back in the tub and took it to work….. 😬😆

I could have slept at my desk.

My head is foggy and thick (yes moreso than usual!)

My breathing is deep.

My throat needs clearing a lot.

My head has had flashes of pain then nothing at all.

My legs feel weak

My eyes are heavy.

I didn’t put this face on… it just was 😆

I slept for hours last night but I didn’t feel rested when I woke.

By 8.08am I was already thinking are we there yet? Is it time to go home?

I dreamed of leaving at lunchtime to head to bed.

By lunchtime I thankfully thought the hairy dog salad through and ordered lentil soup and a roll from the local shop.

I was ok this afternoon and even trying some “Eye of the Tiger” style boxing moves in the toilet, to try to wake me up 😆 (if the spider from yesterday was watching it’s no wonder he stayed hidden this time 🫣😆).

I came straight home and did a Scottish Dog call for Craig. I should say I’ve done 5 calls for him and booked 4 so I’m pretty chuffed with that. The fifth was only a half hour ago so they might still book.

I played with the dogs out the back as I couldn’t muster enough energy to walk them.

I lit a fire and out my jammies on and I intend to snuggle with the Borders until Craig gets home.

I may just take the three of them up to bed with me after I’ve eaten my fish and chips and roasted broccoli 🥦

Last night I felt so tired I had crisps, peanuts and ice cream for dinner. At least I have something in the oven…. Mainly because there are no crisps, peanuts and ice cream left if I’m honest. 🫣😆

Imagine thinking of eating a salad that fell on the floor in a house full of dogs?!?!

Whatever next?

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I had no idea if spiders can hear or see but this morning I swear I scared a huge spider as much as if scared me!!

It was MASSIVE!!!!

I screamed and did that spider leg and arm style, heebie jeebie jump that you did when you see a beastie you didn’t expect and I swear it did the same…. Just silently! 😆

So… busy day at work then to the post office to drop off a parcel and a shop to pick up a parcel.

Then home…. And walked the Borders. It’s so misty and damp today. I thought our weather was going to be great this week but it was surprisingly cold.

There are about 6 geese in the background that didn’t move as the dogs ran around… and the dogs didn’t notice them either! I kept waiting on them all to register each other!

So misty!

This wee cat just sat there pretending to be a cow!

There were a lot of mooing cows…. They were so vocal!

I came home and made some Scottish Dog Behaviourist calls for Craig. Called two booked two! Boom… drops mic 🎤 😆

So I’m now going to watch some more cheesy Sullivan’s Crossing and eat some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!

And relax….. 🧘🏻‍♀️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

We sat this morning watching YouTube.

Watching other people build houses in the wilderness.

Loving their homes.

We looked at each other and decided we should spend a bit more time loving our house.

It’s very old and there’s always lots needing done.

So today Craig pressure washed the garden, I weeded, swept.

Not perfect but MUCH better!

I moved stones, I replaced the stones once the grass was washed.

I was expecting lovely weather today. It’s been cloudy all day but we’ve been out in T-shirts.

I’ve done 4 loads of washing.

Stripped the bed.

Changed the towels.

It’s been a lovely weekend, I’ve enjoyed doing things around the house.

My whole body aches. 😆

I did a pupper photo shoot 😆 it’s been a while.

Still thinking of Khaleesi.

So that’s the weekend. Looks like it’s going to be nice weather here this week. Not hot but dry with some sunshine.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Deacon Blue were great last night.

There were lots of songs I didn’t know but loads of the old faithfuls.

Dignity was the highlight! Actually Real Gone Kid was pretty good too!

It was a last minute chance to go and I wasn’t nervous at all, felt comfortable in what I was wearing and didn’t feel dizzy high up in the Glasgow Hydro either. Mrs antidepressants can do gigs no problem now! ✅

Glasgow looked lovely last night.

The Hydro.

We had great visibility seats.

Caryn, me and Rachel two doors down!

I really enjoyed it!

The road was closed for roadworks on the way hom, and Rachel knew all the shortcuts, but the sky looked ghostly.

We got to bed at midnight and were up running with Claire at 6.45am.

It was actually a good run despite being shattered when I woke up. 😆 5.4kms in the bag!

Then off out with the doggos while I was still hot and sweaty!

I came back home, showered and dressed and headed out for a food shop.

My lovely clean car that I washed on Thursday after work, has been dive bombed by birds 🫣

Once I got the shopping away, I cleared out all of our clothes and reorganised the wardrobe… not just my clothes but Craig’s too.

I really am in a clear out mood just now and I love it.

I sat down after 3 and wrote in my Donna Ashworth journal Words to Live By.

I then looked for 3 random poems from 3 of Donna’s books.

I’m shattered now and can’t stop yawning 😆😘

Hope you’re all having a lovely day!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

These photos say it all.

September 2018 to September 2025.

I had a lovely husband, 3 dogs, soon to be 4 and a lovely cottage in Scotland… but I was so dreadfully unhappy.

I’d built myself a life around what everyone else wanted.

I liked what you liked, I encouraged you to talk even when I got a really bad energy from you, I tried to get you onside, I tried to make you like me by loving everything you did and said.

I made you feel special so that you would be nice to me.

I constantly sought out your appraisal, wanted to know that you liked me, wanted to justify that I was ok if you thought I was.

I worked all the hours god sent.

I tried to be the best version of myself but if I’m honest it was the version of me that I thought you expected.

Obviously the YOU here is everyone who was more important than me. I thought everyone as more important than me.

I had zero self worth and I was so very tired of being me.

In August 2019 I just wanted peace from the pain and noise inside my head and that lasted until well into 2020.

The second photo again in September 2025. What a difference!!

I am finally just being me.

I have boundaries.

I do what I want, when I want.

Life is still hard, there are ups and downs,

Not every day is easy but I look for the glimmers of joy in every single day.

This is life.

Right here.

Right now.

And tonight I’m very excited to be going to see Deacon Blue at the last minute!

Someone can’t go so I got the chance of a ticket…. And I’m so excited!!

I’ve spent the day clearing out our huge shed and I’ve loved doing it…. Just as much as I loved clearing the stock at work.

Before and after in big pics.

I haven’t thrown anything out yet, I’ve just found a place for all things the same and put them together so we can go through them and clear out. I can’t wait. I hate clutter!!

Oh and I got the loveliest gift from my lovely friend Lea.

Awwww how lovely is that?!?

Still missing our lovely girl. 🫶🏼

Lea also sent me this today.

These three are getting SOOOOO much love.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

What a surprisingly lovely day. ☀️☀️☀️

It was only 13°C when I drove home but it felt lovely in the sun, especially after all the rain as wind that we’ve had.

I carried on with my stock check and stock tidy up. It’s been a great week sorting through everything.

I had a lovely night out with the Hookers. We headed to the Boatyard in Lochwinnoch. I can’t believe I’ve never been before.

We had deluxe hot chocolate and meringues and peppermint slices and I was so excited I only took the photo of the hot chocolate!

It was exceptional!!

So were the cakes.

It was a lovely wee chat night and no crochet.

I’ve been getting the dogs up really early every morning just so I can spend time with them before I go to work.

Oh shame this is a bit blurry. I got them to pose!

Calaidh had destroyed her toy today and it’s made me laugh…. Look at the eyes 👀 😆😆😆

So I don’t think I have much else to say. It’s 7pm and it’s almost dark.

I’m still not ready 😆😆

The weather looks ok for this weekend so it will be nice to spend some time outside after the torrential rain of last weekend.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

I’ve had a great day at work today.

I am reorganising our stock and I am in reorganisational heaven.

It makes my head so happy.

In Donna Ashworth’s journalling FB pages today, we’ve been talking about beating ourselves up.

I wrote a post where I said we have to listen to our gut and go with the decision that feels right.

Someone said….Make the decision that I can make peace with….. that hits the nail on the head.

Making the wrong choice because we feel we “should” causes resistance, and resistance causes us stress and ultimately pain.

Let’s stop beating ourselves up for some of the decisions we make. If we book tickets for something and don’t want to go, that is ok. If we promise to do something and change our minds, then that is ok too.

I’m rambling… as I do. 😆

My random poem today.

A week after we lost Khalessi I still can’t stop cuddling with the pups!

I’m out out with the Hookers tonight. The pub is closed for filming of the show Counsels so we’re off for coffee (decaf!) and cake!!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I was exhausted last night and just couldn’t put “pen”to “paper”.

We’ve got so much going on with the sale of Craigs house in Kilmarnock.

We have the best holiday ever.

We lose our lovely Khaleesi.

We get told the house is going to a closing date.

The mortgage company screw things up.

Life is a massive rollercoaster and I think I need to get off for a rest. (Again)

I thought our holiday was a rest from what we’d gone through this year.

Actually I wonder if it was to prepare us for what was to come.

I try to live a positive life these days which is MILES from the person I used to be.

Deep down I know I need to be in this place for everything to work out. This is exactly the path I’m meant to be on. Wow I feel calm actually typing that.

I decided to open Donna Ashworth Joy Chode You… a random page.

My word for October is LOVE. Once again the book knows…. 🫶🏼♥️ WOW!

I’m going to read that a few times and take it all in.

Donna also says…. If there is a secret to u locking a wonderful life it is to be fearless enough to take pleasure from every simple day.

Wow.

I’ve seen 12:12 and 13:13 and 14:14 up until 19:19 so far today.

I swear I don’t look for them. I randomly glance at my phone and there is is. It makes me smile so much.

That’s a pleasure for me in the simple every day while I’m rolling that rollercoaster wandering what it might throw at me next. (That’s a whole lot of metaphors that didn’t quite go together. But that made me smile too!

And breathe.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I was going to call this the perfect Sunday and then I remembered…

But you know what, in the grand scheme of things… so far this has been the perfect Sunday except for the obvious.

Awwww that made me smile. I woke at 5 for an hour and fell back until 8.31am.

Caryn and Rachel were running at 8.30 and I thought I had missed it but I was determined not to set an alarm this morning. They needed up not running until 9.30am so I joined them.

I spent that hour looking at lots of motivational post all non FB…. As usual with the synchronicity, there’s lots about love and self love and that’s my word for the month.

I was also used as a puppy trampoline.

I’m really chuffed I’ve run almost 10kms this weekend and enjoyed it.

We were overtaken at one point but one of the guys in the village who stormed past us… he said it was because he was running down hill.

So were we!!!!!!!! 😆

We also stopped to speak to this beautiful horse.

Look at the colour of me!!!

We went for a food shop, the first since we got back from holiday.

Craig picked up 4 cans of sardines for the dogs and had to put one back. 🥺

Shopping put away, jammies on, fire on and so many cuddles with the pups.

I’m watching Sullivan’s Crossing on Netflix… cheesy tv but it’s exactly what I need.

Then I opened a random Donna Ashworth Joy Chose You page again….

Then this!!!!

My Sunday has been a gift.

So I hope you all had a lovely weekend and have a great week ahead.

We have to look for the joy despite what this week may throw at us.

Khaleesi has the ball 🥎

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I woke at 6am. I’d been awake a few times through the night but my amazing ear plugs meant I never heard any of the storm.

It was WILD when we went to bed!

I had the alarm set for 6.25 and we were making a call about this mornings run… we said we weren’t running at 6am as a few of us were awake.

Then at 6.30am we said we would. 😆

It was dry until we got soaked!! Claire and I ran 4.5kms.

There were twigs everywhere.

So I decided to walk the dogs while I was still soaking but we’re not going that way….. flood!

So we went this way instead and we had to walk through this!!

The burn was really high but looked like it may have been higher through the night.

Then what did I do?!?!

I got my wellies on, picked up my trusty trowel and went back to the first flood and cleared it!!!

It was really deep, 3/4 the way up my wellies at its worst and I had so much fun.

I have found my vocation in life.

It was so satisfying.

At one point the water actually gurgled exactly like it would do draining down the plug hole. Even writing this makes me want to go back out and do it again. 😆

I’m not sure the trowel did me any good though 😆

When I finally got home after Craig was wondering what happened to me.. he said, I need to tell you something I wasn’t going to tell you.

I’d just finished saying that Khaleesi has taught me to appreciate every single minute with the dogs and to love them and cuddle them etc….

“Calaidh chewed your sock… do you still love them as much now?! ” he says….

Yes I do. I will hunt the socks down and buy another pair as they are my absolute favourite.

Normally I’d be RAGING…. Calaidh is known for a good chew of things left around…. But today I accept blame for leaving it where she could get to it and go to the little gift shop and buy myself another pair!

I had a lovely chat with Gayle and she gave us a lovely card and gift.

I then popped in to Curiosity to get Craig some of his favourite coffee beans and some carrot cake. I may have had a cake and coffee in there myself as I laughed at the chat.

My friend’s grandson served me, or at least pressed the buttons on the till and he made me smile so much. He’s just such a gorgeous wee boy. “Have a nice day!” 🫶🏼

I then came home and filled out my Donna Ashworth journal and looked for a random poem again. This was today’s… just after I’d read someone telling me i should look in the mirror and say i love you, to practise self love.

Wow.

I’m fully invested in this next one from the lovely Lisa at Coffee & Quotes.

We also got a lovely photo in a frame from Claire…

and a lovely bunch of flowers from Evelyn! (Not the best photo with the light behind them!)

Tonight saw the last of Melanie’s lovely Italian pasta sauce from the freezer…. A big serving!

And lots of cuddles with the pups.

Have a lovely Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼