We have snow!!!! Ok so we had snow when we woke up and it’s all gone now.

I had no idea. It had started last night but I had the blinds shut so I missed most of it. It came as a surprise when I woke up.

It’s freezing but beautiful.

It looks really picturesque…. I can hear my gran saying picture-skew bless her.

I ran a doggy acrobatics class 🎾🎾🎾

They love a bit of jumping around. I’ve been really lazy this week and not done any exercise so it was nice to get outside in the fresh air and play about with them.

They’re not posing as much as they used to… reckon they’re sick of it. 😂

The sun was glorious!!

Check my heart log. ♥️🪵 I remember when we got these logs to burn and I was so excited to see this was a heart shape. I kept this as a garden ornament 😂 think we finally burned the rest!

I also got arty with the stones!

Even our big shed looked amazing in the snow. Everything looks so much more pretty, even our messy garden!!

Glorious sunshine. Really good for the soul!

So I was in The little gift shop early today as Gayle went to Lochwinnoch as she’s getting the new shop ready for opening. It’s exciting times and I can’t wait to see the new shop!

That means I was left on my own in Beith today and for the first time I actually did some rearranging…. Now that is TOTALLY out of my comfort zone and yet I loved every minute of it. I pootled around and tried to find new homes for things I was moving, to make way for the sunglasses, beach bags, summer bags and summer scarves. Of course it was on the day that it snowed… 🏖️🏝️👙☀️☃️☃️☃️

The new beach bags are lovely. I can’t decide which of these two I prefer.

Check the arty scarf design. 👍🏼😂

As soon as Gayle came back, I pointed it all out and said I wouldn’t be offended at all if she wanted to move it all!!!

Me of little faith…. And that’s not even the saying! 😂

I had a lovely wee day though missed my chats with Gayle!

By 4pm Abbie the Campervan was ready for collection…. At a mere £391 this time but she’s driving like a dream. It was the near side brake callipers that had seized. I also have the rear wheel bearing screaming…. But that was fixed in November so I’m going back to the garage that did that, to see if there’s a chance it’s covered under warranty. Here’s hoping. 🙏🏼

So yeah, I’ve had a great day. We have Mac n’cheese for dinner, with garlic bread so it’s cooking while the Scottish Dog Behaviourist makes enquiry calls. Love how I refer to him like that now… 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Looking forward to a sit down shortly…. happy Friday night to you all!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I had the best sleep!!! 8 and half hours. Almost straight through.

Somehow Calaidh snuck into our bedroom last night 😆 so she moved around a couple of times, I woke and went straight back to sleep.

It really is the best feeling.

So I’ve been thinking a lot today bout nutrition…. As you do.

I’ve been fasting now since 20th December. I don’t really feel like I’ve lost weight but I still feel so much better for it. I’ve found the thing that really works for me. I don’t feel bloated anymore. I enjoy it controlling my food intake.

However, I’m still not eating properly the rest of the time. I need to make more effort and get back to proper food shopping and cooking again.

Even as I write this I get the fear, how many times have I said it?! How many times have I not done it. But writing it puts it out there.

My friend Evelyn send me some lovely recipes today and this…..

She says this applies to the food. I am going to make that meal. 😂 maybe one day…. Soon. I will try. See what I’m doing here?!?

I’ve had a really good day again today. I smiled to myself this morning when I realised that I am so contented at work when everything goes my way. I had tasks that needed doing, I plodded through them. I tidied my paperwork, cleared my desk and then tackled all the samples and cleared through the storage area. I need everything sorted so I can concentrate.

I was in my element. I then started working through other jobs that need doing. All without interruption, without any stress, without anxiety.

Now life is not like that. It cannot be like that all the time. Life throws you curveballs. Hey my job revolves around interruptions…. They’re not even called interruptions!!!

So I chuckled to myself today when I realise how happy I was when everything was perfectly ticking all of my neat little tidy boxes. I think how crazy my head gets when it doesn’t. It’s lovely to have a day where I appreciate that.

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist is out at work tonight so I have the remote to myself. I’m watching a movie and will have a lovely early night.

Craig got some amazing testimonials from his new clients and put them up on his website. I’m so proud reading them. He’s doing so well.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I opened my eyes with the 5am alarm. Quick scan and zero headache. Phew.

I feel like a weight has been lifted. I don’t know why but I’m so grateful that it has.

I did some positive scrolling before work this morning. I love this next one. We are conditioned it always focus on the negative. I used to love a negative. Thrived on it.

Now I love that I can say the opposite. I get dragged down but the negative but I really try to turn it around to the positive.

So it would appear today is International Women’s Day….. who knew?! I only found out on my scrolling.

This next post was the best one that I read. The Chaotic Scot is a lovely girl who travels Scotland and writes about all of the places she visits. Used to be my dream! I think she worded this very well and it’s a powerful message.

I couldn’t put that better myself.

So this is a quick tonight as I have the Crochet Hookers in the pub tonight. I’m rushing some dinner while writing this and I’ve just burnt the roof of my mouth 😂

I’ve felt so much better today. It’s a relief. It was a good day!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Ok so negative Nelly first. I’m still feeling rotten. My heads been thumping all day. I’ve felt dizzy and lightheaded. I’ve felt tired, grumpy and a little bit sad. Just an off day where everything seemed so unfair.

Yet actually it has been a beautiful day. Pure blue sky all day. Very, very cold in the shade but quite lovely in the sunshine. I actually got a bit of sunburn on my face as I was outside with customers for a lot of the morning.

It felt so good to feel the warmth of the sun… and take care not to slip on the ice in the shade. 😆🥵🥶

Of course, because I was working and not feeling great, I don’t have any real photos to show the beauty of the day. Except this one…. my view at lunch. Not the prettiest but great just to breathe in the fresh air.

I played with the dogs in the back garden before I left for work.

Abbie the Campervan was frozen this morning but the early sun helped defrost the windscreen. I was clever and remembered to put the windscreen protector on last night!

At lunch I saw this on FB so I did stop and take 3 deep breaths, relaxed my shoulder ms and took some water. Self Love Rainbow is another great follow.

You have to appreciate the good things on difficult days. I often feel the NEED to overanalyse what may be wrong with me. Why am I feeling so bad, how can I fix it? What am I doing wrong? It must be too much sugar? Not enough exercise? Not enough water? Blah, blah

Yet I know that I just need to accept what is. We all have off days.

Gratitude will help turn that around. Keep focussing on the positives.

It’s forecast to be -3°C overnight but another beautiful day. Abbie the Campervan is back in the garage tonight. Maybe the passenger front brake binding…. When I dropped it off the front brake disc was red hot. That might explain the smoke I saw billowing out on Sunday 😬😳🫢

More tennis balls with the dogs after work before the sun went down.

I love that I get to drive to and from work in the daylight now. it makes such a difference!

Quiet night for me. Just how I like it.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

It was a lovely night last night. The moon was huge. It lit up the whole garden!

I woke up at 4.10am with a headache and a tense jaw….. I was irritated and antsy.

I did manage to fall back asleep, eventually, but I had intense dreams and woke up feeling really tense.

This makes me laugh! I’ve tried to phone people from my calculator before now. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

So I’m not gonna sit here and moan about how I’ve felt rotten all day. I’m just putting it down to one of those days.

I had some lovely customers in and got some good chat!

I drove home in beautiful sunshine. It’s so lovely to see the lighter nights. It was meant to snow all day today but it didn’t start until about 6pm.

It didn’t come to much but it was lovely while it lasted.

I came straight home and got into my comfies. I’ve lit the candles and put the fire on and I ain’t moving from this couch. I’m yawning my head off.

Also could be this….. 😂😂😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’m so lucky that I got to fit in a wild sea swim, to my busy weekend!

The weather ended up changing at the last minute and the wind was much colder than we expected. A right chill. I arrived early and had to hide in the van.

I’m laughing at that photo, my crochet blanket in the background, I really have become THAT woman. 😂

When we walked into the sea I really did wonder what the hell we were playing at?!? It was sooooo cold. I couldn’t get the phone to work until the very last minute so we actually swam almost the whole time. The waves felt pretty high when you’re in there, yet really they were nothing.

By the time you warm up it is really exhilarating.

We ended up jumping in the waves. I got a fit of the giggles. Finally got a great video too which I’ve posted on my Instagram at theramblingsloth.

I’m so glad we did it. It would have been so easy for me to say I couldn’t be bothered this morning. Instead I’ve made some lovely memories!

I was absolutely freezing when I got home! Chilled right to the bone…. The Scottish Dog Behaviourist was in the shower!!! That guy gets about these days…. 😂

I had to sit and freeze until he was done! 😂

When I finally got in, I was in the shower for AGES….. it was sooooo warm. You have to wash all the wetsuit stuff in the shower too… bet the septic tank is not enjoying getting all this sand down the drain…… 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Then onto the village hall for a lovely Scottish Afternoon. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

We try to raise money for the hall throughout the year but this event was purely for a village get together. We still managed to make a £500 profit which is amazing!

I was meant to be organising it but Holly next door did it all without me. A group of us helped on the day but she is so good at organising these events.

We served Haggis, Neeps and Tatties to everyone, followed by melt in the mouth shortbread with tea and coffee. It was all go.

This is me getting mine in the house after the event… drizzled in whisky sauce!

It was lovely.

After lunch we called the raffle and then the village school choir sang some Scottish songs. There were only 8 of them but they did so well, from the traditional to the modern….. I only have one photo that Rachel two doors down took!

I totally forgot to take any pics!

Everyone’s in the pub now and I’m sitting in grans chair with a wee glass of Nozeco. I’m shattered! I spied two lovely ladies sharing a bottle of Rosé Nozeco over lunch and they gave me the last in the bottle, a prefect glass. So kind and considerate, it fair made my day. On days like today I do feel a bit sad that I don’t drink anymore. I am glad that I will wake up tomorrow without the dread or the regret and without the hangover so my wee glass of Nozeco is going down a treat.

The sky is lovely just now.

So still and calm, compared to this morning and also compared to the noise in the village hall! 😂 I’m decompressing nicely.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Awwww I had the best sleep again last night. Soooo good. Woke at 7.41am. 8 and a half hours!

I felt so fresh and rested when I woke up.

So off to The little gift shop for 9.30 and had another lovely morning. I was the pricing queen! Wait till you see the lovely selection of cards we have.

Look at those colours. I had to fan them all out just to get a photo!

I also bought this as we are having a Scottish afternoon in the Village Hall tomorrow and I thought this would be a great raffle prize.

Gayle put a lovely purple bow around it too after I took this photo.

So I finally have some time to do nothing and some time to myself…. And of course I have no idea what to do! I know that I don’t want to watch the football that’s on this afternoon 😂

Oh that reminds me… Craig has worked on his first video blog today so I’m sharing it here. Hope the link works.

Scottish Dog Behaviourist video blog

It’s one thing to start up your own business these days but it’s a completely different thing to step right out of your comfort zone and record yourself in front of a camera. Putting himself right out there but I believe it’s the way forward.

If you have a dog please give his page a follow. He’s sharing loads of great info on there and it would mean the world to us

It was still sunny when I got home so I popped out into the garden to play with the dogs for a bit.

I have to help set up the Hall at 7pm tonight but other than that the day is mine. I’m currently sitting in Gran’s chair in full recline. It’s been a while but it feels nice to be back.

The wood burning stove is on and I’m finally starting to heat up. Our house is always freezing as we keep the doors open for the dogs…. I’ve brought them in and closed the doors!

I may have a nap, I may crochet but most of all I am calm, relaxed and resting!

And it’s really lovely.

Happy Saturday evening to you all!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Slept like a log. Soooooo grateful for such a great sleep.

Craig and I are finally watching Line of Duty on BBC iPlayer so it means our evenings are lasting a bit longer…. also now that we don’t have the 5am gym start.

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist gets out of bed at 5am every morning to start work. He must be shattered as it was after 11 before we got to bed last night. I’ve said it before but I cannot tell you how proud I am of all the work he is doing to get this business off the ground.

He is learning so much, even from and IT perspective. He has built his website by himself and is learning the background coding to make it perform better in Google searches.

Once again we are so grateful for everyone that has shared his FB posts, to everyone who has recommended him. It’s so interesting to see how his new clients have found out about him! It’s a very small world. We could never have dreamed that his start up would go so well. The power of social media!

His posts have been interesting and engaging. I’m dying to see what he comes out with next. 😂 which of my video clips or photos he uses 😂 I should ask for commission 😆

Anyway, I was up with the lark too and out for a jog with the puppers again. I spotted my first daffodil this year and went to take a photo….. NO PHONE 😱😱😱 so no evidence of said daffodil or said dog jog 😂 ooooh I should patent the dog jog 😂

I came back and did some housework until it was time for a shower. The house has been a bit neglected as we’re both so busy. It feels good to have given it a dust and hoover.

I was working a a bit earlier today but got lots of new things priced up while chatting to loads of lovely customers. One lady asked how my husband’s business was going and I didn’t realise she was talking to me at first. She said she’s been following his posts and really enjoying them. How lovely of her to say that. People are so very kind.

Gayle has loads of lovely new stock in the back shop, It’s so exciting when I head in on a Friday and see what’s new.

I was shattered by the time I finished today. I hit a wall about 3.30!

Came home and we made Tagliatelle Carbonara for dinner tonight as Craig got to the shops today. We had that with garlic bread and it was really lovely.

My lovely friend Isy tagged me in this today.

I think on days when I don’t have a lot to say, I do overthink things. I’m very self critical.

But anyway…. Moving on. Love these next two!

So that’s all from me. Comfies on, feet up. Early night I reckon.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I didn’t sleep well last night… Calaidh barked on and off a few times, not enough to fully wake me just enough to give me a restless sleep.

It was also the first night without progesterone for the next two weeks so I don’t always sleep as soundly without it.

I cannot complain after two weeks of amazing sleep!

Saw loads of lovely things on FB this morning when I couldn’t get back to sleep.

How lovely is that?!? If we spread a bit of love and kindness it really makes a difference to everyone else.

This next one is so true. Unfollow, hide, snooze, don’t read, don’t listen to anything that takes away your peace.

For a lot of today…. I’ve heard myself…. I feel I’ve been a bit cooky, a bit off the wall, a bit crazy, I’ve overthought every word that came out of my mouth, every action. Cringe.

Not sure why….

Yes, stop overthinking! 😂

Just as I was leaving work I decided to wash the van. It was filthy!! I was on a roll…. It’s great to see it clean again. I need to get the inside done.

I’ve gone from thinking I had to sell it to taking care of it. 😆

I ordered a towelling robe for wild sea swimming. It will help getting changed outside. I think I look like a giant tomato… could be worth something 😂🍅

It was only £14.99 and it’s huge. I’m pretty impressed with it. Can’t wait to try it.

I’ve just looked at the forecast and reckon it might be a wee while before we can get back into the sea. There’s a bunch of snow forecast for Monday and -6°C on Wednesday morning. 🥶💙

And finally….. do what’s right for you and “refuse to feel bad about this” ♥️

A bit of a mish mash today…

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Oooooh it was a cold one today. The forecast was beautiful this morning….

So that never happened!!

Don’t think I saw the sun all day as it ended up super cloudy. To be fair, I was too busy to be outside but I was hoping for a lovely sunshine swim tonight. Instead it was very similar conditions to yesterday.

That sounds negative, I don’t mean to be. It’s lovely and calm and lovely to have a swim. After a busy day.

On our way in, water up to the boobies 😳😂 took us a wee minute to get our shoulders under.

The phone didn’t work much today and sadly stopped the 20 minute timer as it just did it’s own thing 😳😂 I think we knew when it was too cold and had to get out.

The water felt colder than yesterday but it may have been because there was more of a breeze.

How many chins!!?! Actually sent this to mum when she messaged and we were out in the sea. That was the only thing that actually worked phone wise. 😂

As I say that…. I KNOW it’s not all about documenting it. It’s just so exciting for me to be out there that I want a record of it. I will learn to appreciate the moment without the millions of photos and video clips.

I actually had pretty bad stomach cramp today. Way more painful than yesterday. It took the ooomph out of me a bit. I picked a task that’s needed doing for ages and concentrated on that, so I could see progress and feel like I was achieving something without having to think too hard. I

The cramp has been bad the last few months but I notice way more benefits of HRT than this one negative. I’m still documenting all of my menopause symptoms in the Balance app every night. I used to have a HUGE list of symptoms the intensity of each of them has reduced. Except stomach cramp.

Now that I’ve been swimming, it’s so much more relaxed. Such a relief. At one point today I thought I might not manage the swim.

And finally…. This is the reason I write this blog…. So that everyone knows that you don’t always feel how you look on the outside.

I share all my gloriously flawed and messy wondrousness. 😆

I love it!!

Stay safe everyone 💙🏊🏼‍♀️♥️

I had a great sleep again but woke with stomach cramp. Paracetamol didn’t touch the sides. It’s been really sore all day and grumbling away sitting at my desk.

It was a really busy day at work! Didn’t even open my diary to see what I was meant to be doing today…. 🤦🏻‍♀️😆 but that’s ok.

Ellison and I went for our first sea swim by ourselves, just the two of us, I feel like we graduated to be allowed out😆 …. And we had a great swim. 🏊🏼‍♀️

We went to Irvine beach tonight. It was meant to be really sunny but there was quite a bit of cloud cover, so no dramatic sunset. The sea was really calm and peaceful and there were no other swimmers at all.

It felt like we had the sea to ourselves. I set the timer on my phone for 20 minutes so we didn’t stay in for too long. That’s our limit just now.

Not a breath!

Wee selfie before we head in.

It’s shallow really quite far out in Irvine.

Looking over to the Isle of Arran.

The camera didn’t work much again but it gave me a chance to enjoy the surroundings. It’s hard for me not to get snaps and video clips but it’s also good that it doesn’t work all the time.

It also takes pics and videos of its own accord at times 😂 think this next one was one…

Finally dressed and having a hot cuppa and a choccie biccie (or two!)

Not a hint of cramp since!!

Might do it all again tomorrow night. 🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️

The Aurora Borealis (Nothern Lights) were beautiful last night and they are forecast to be as good tonight. I was out in the garden in a dressing gown and furry boots (😂) last night but couldn’t see anything.

The cloud cover is pretty intense here until 1am but I’m not sure I’ll manage to stay awake for that!

I’ve seen so many stunning photos that people took from their houses…. Absolutely blew me away. Isn’t nature wonderful?!?

Stay safe everyone 🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️

I am not gonna lie…. Today has been anxiety central for me. Worrying about the day I never saw. I used to love driving Abbie the camper van but for some reason, recently, she seems 10 times the size and I am nervous driving her.

All the little things that have gone wrong in the last few years, have blown up out of all proportion in my head. Also, to be fair to me…. It’s that time of the month, all of a sudden, it seems like no time at all since I was on hands and knees on the couch with last months stomach cramp. I am still certain that HRT is the way forward but I’m not enjoying this part.

I’m meeting family at the Bridge Inn in Linlithgow at 1.30pm. It takes me 54 minutes to get there. I leave with 2 hours and 10 minutes to spare, just in case!!

Craig is home as Rangers and Celtic meet in the Cup Final today. He’d be a nightmare sitting through lunch wondering what was going on in the game! It wouldn’t matter so much to him if it wasn’t the two rivals playing.

I had a fear about the size of the car park and it would seem it was a well founded…. The car park is tiny compared to my monster sized van. I was able to get turned around and park based on it being way busier later on. I should be able to drive straight out of my space. It took a lot of too-ing and fro-ing to get into the space.

This is ridiculous. I really need to nip this in the bud as I can’t be nervous driving it otherwise I’ll never go anywhere.

Anyway…. The restaurant is beautiful.

That’s the positive to arriving super early. I can have a wander and get my anxious breath back.

I’m sitting outside in the beer garden, it’s cold but a nice warmth when the sun comes out. I was here an hour early but it’s now only 25 minutes. Time flies when your mind is full of worry.

And breathe.

The interior of the pub is just as nice as the outside. It’s so tastefully done. Really rustic. I love that word… 😂

There are 11 of us for dinner so we didn’t know in advance but it turns out there’s a set menu for groups of 10 or above. Who knew?!? I suppose it’s understandable and there were about 5 options for starter, Main and dessert… at £31.95 for three courses.

Now I’m used to the village pub next door that’s still not above £20 for 3 courses…. But that’s ok.

The food itself was lovely, really tasty and well made but my main and my pud were both different to what the menu described. I was particularly disappointed at my berry crumble with ginger and lemon crumble…. Being apple crumble!!! Now this might be a very British thing, but we do not complain. We just moan our way through it and accept we deserve what we get. It’s too hard to complain.

It was great to get a good chat and catch up with everyone. I also made it back through Glasgow before the Cup Final was over and missed all the traffic!!

So there are positives in my day….. lovely to see everyone and see that beautiful restaurant. To face my fears driving over on such a beautiful day and to be sitting in front of the fire now with this bar of chocolate.

Since I took that photo… the chocolate has actually gone already 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 och I musta needed it! 😆

Back on the fast with a hot water bottle for the cramp 🤕

Stay safe everyone 🍫🍫🍫

Another wonderful sleep last night… I’ve been sleeping so well this week. It’s great. Long may it continue.

I got up early and took all 3 dogs out for a walk/run first thing and it was beautiful.

Running and taking photos and video clips. Multitasking at its best. I had a great run.

I did have a bit of a poop incident on this path…. Dog poop, obviously!

The poop bag burst….. in my hand…. I had nothing else I could use, except a second, equally split bag…. 🤦🏻‍♀️. I had to run with said burst bag of poop and 3 dogs until I got into the village to the nearest poop bin…. The lengths us dog owners go, to not be one of those dog owners who leave it lying on a path! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

What a way to start the day….

After hours of hand washing… I headed into The little gift shop.

We had a lovely wee day at work today. Got lots of new bags unpacked and out on the shelves and we were so busy working, I forgot to take photos.

Up the road for about 1.30pm, had a bite of lunch and then finally got back into the wetsuit ready for a swim at 3pm!

Look who I bumped into! Claire all set for a lovely day out looking all smart and me in my wetsuit and dryrobe… it needed a photo!

Now the camera did not play ball today. I only got a few photos and to be honest, I gave up and actually just enjoyed the view.

Should say we went to Seamill Beach today.

It was cold but way warmer than my last swim on 2nd January. It was really lovely out there today.

I love it!

This is West Kilbride.

It was sunny but cloudy so some photos look really mean and moody.

Eileen got her little campfire out again and we had toasted marshmallows and some lovely empire biscuits that one of the girls brought. All with hot peppermint tea in my flask.

Some lovely silhouettes as we stood.

Beautiful.

I’ve had a lovely day. I’m tired now. Had a hot shower and all wrapped up for a night of movies in front of the fire!

Happy Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone 🏃🏻‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️💩

Another wonderful sleep last night… I’ve been sleeping so well this week. It’s great. Long may it continue.

I got up early and took all 3 dogs out for a walk/run first thing and it was beautiful.

Running and taking photos and video clips. Multitasking at its best. I had a great run.

I did have a bit of a poop incident on this path…. Dog poop, obviously!

The poop bag burst….. in my hand…. I had nothing else I could use, except a second, equally split bag…. 🤦🏻‍♀️. I had to run with said burst bag of poop and 3 dogs until I got into the village to the nearest poop bin…. The lengths us dog owners go, to not be one of those dog owners who leave it lying on a path! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

What a way to start the day….

After hours of hand washing… I headed into The little gift shop.

We had a lovely wee day at work today. Got lots of new bags unpacked and out on the shelves and we were so busy working, I forgot to take photos.

Up the road for about 1.30pm, had a bite of lunch and then finally got back into the wetsuit ready for a swim at 3pm!

Look who I bumped into! Claire all set for a lovely day out looking all smart and me in my wetsuit and dryrobe… it needed a photo!

Now the camera did not play ball today. I only got a few photos and to be honest, I gave up and actually just enjoyed the view.

Should say we went to Seamill Beach today.

It was cold but way warmer than my last swim on 2nd January. It was really lovely out there today.

I love it!

This is West Kilbride.

It was sunny but cloudy so some photos look really mean and moody.

Eileen got her little campfire out again and we had toasted marshmallows and some lovely empire biscuits that one of the girls brought. All with hot peppermint tea in my flask.

Some lovely silhouettes as we stood.

Beautiful.

I’ve had a lovely day. I’m tired now. Had a hot shower and all wrapped up for a night of movies in front of the fire!

Happy Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone 🏃🏻‍♀️🏊🏼‍♀️💩

Ok so I had a pretty rotten end of day yesterday and felt really low. I fell asleep on the couch before 8pm, woke up at 10 and straight through to bed, slept till 6.30am. Out for the count.

Musta needed it! I feel so much better for a decent rest.

I looked out the window this morning and saw a lovely red sky. I jumped out of bed and pulled my running gear on and went up the hill with Calaidh.

I didn’t feel much like doing anything but since then I’ve gone out a second run with Bhruic and I feel much more energetic!

Our wee village looks lovely this morning.

I love the bank of clouds that are just above the hills…. They looked like they were all around the coast.

This next gate is very proud of its Scottish roots!!

So I did run as much as I could and just walked to get my breath back a bit. Obviously I stopped to take photos. I mean I would t be me, if I didn’t take photos….

From now on I’m out with Bhru…. Not that that really matters.

Loads of planes flying over the village this morning.

So I sat outside with my Slothee Coffee mug from the Crochet girls, had a black coffee and wrote this and then decided there was still enough in the tank to take Freya out. My 3rd run/walk before 9.30am. I’m at 10,456 steps before work! I’m going to post this next one again…..

I have made a concerted effort to enjoy life and appreciate the magic of it all, today. My circumstances haven’t changed, only my reaction to them.

The sun’s much higher in the sky by the time I get out with Freya.

Dog walks ✅ ✅✅

I have also joined the Gate Appreciation Society on FB….. I just did my first post. 😂

I’ve been at The little gift shop today and been loving pricing up all the lovely new things Gayle has in. I took a quick photo of the window.

As usual we get a great chat and catch up as we work and the day flew in. I hit a wall about 3.30pm and I’m now sat on the couch with my feet up…. Knackered!

It’s been a beautiful day and it’s been lovely to chat to everyone about the sunshine. We have such lovely customers…. You know me, as much as I need to be own my own and crave silence, I love me a good bit of chat!

Craig has been is the office all day today working on Scottish Dog Behaviourist stuff. He’s been up since 5 and is still sitting there just now and it’s nearly 5pm. I’ll need to break him away from it!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

It’s been one of the those days where wee things have got to me and I’ve allowed them to spoil my mood.

I feel like a grumpy child having a tantrum inside my head because I can’t get my way.

It’s funny how “she who was floating on air” yesterday, is nowhere to be seen today. It was a beautiful morning first thing…. We were back up to the garage this morning so there were two campervans outside today.

Claire had sprayed de-icer all over Ailsa the tartan camper’s windows before she got to work, how considerate of her!

I thought I’d be clever and start up the diesel heater in Abbie, so she would be all defrosted and super toasty by the time I got back home…. An hour later she still has frosty windows and the error is back on the heater. Grump. Instead of driving to work in the beautiful sunshine and appreciating the view, I drove super grumpy and didn’t realise I’d got there until I was there. I’ve spent the day thinking I’ll just sell the van…. Get a wee run around with zero road tax and decent mpg….. overreaction much.

We had the pop top up at work today showing a customer…. Couldn’t resist a photo.

There is a very good chance that the hormones are raging at the moment.

I actually went through to the bedroom and punched the bed like a punch bag. I almost allowed myself to smile. That felt good.

I’m tired and feeling a bit sorry for myself… that’s all. I have a super busy weekend again and I just need some time to do nothing….. tonight I made dinner, did a washing and hung it up, washed the dinner dishes. I work hard when I’m grumpy!

I have chosen to just exist today and that’s not good. More effort required tomorrow.

Tonight I’m just gonna sit in whatever this is…. And feel it.

I also had some chocolate cake. 😆

Stay safe everyone and outta my way!! 🤦🏻‍♀️😆😘

What a beautiful day. What a difference the sunshine makes to our everyday lives. I’m just as busy, just as tired but that blue sky 💙💙💙

I’m currently standing here as I write this, it’s not hot but there was a real warmth to the sun when I sat outside at lunchtime.

I never miss a chance to get outside!

It’s been a busy day but a bit more exciting today as I had to run Craig to the garage in Paisley this morning and collect Ailsa the Tartan Camper that’s been in for MOT and service before the season starts. (That was the longest sentence ever and also laughable I find that exciting!!)

We were there for 8am. Then had to pick I some stock from a supplier at 9. On the day back we went over the Glennifer Braes from Paisley back to Gateside.

I pulled in to get some great photos of Ailsa with the view but the light was not our friend this morning!

You can see as far as Ben Lomond from here but none of that is visible in the shots.

So into work for 10 and a very busy, crazy day until the back of 4. I had caffeine this morning. I is buzzin….. 😂😂

It was so nice to feel the sun on my skin at lunchtime. Ellison had brought me lentil soup and a buttered roll again. It was sooo good.

I decided to head down to Irvine Beach Park after work to catch the sunset. Wow. I’ve really missed this.

I had to climb this first!!

The dunes here are stunning.

By the time I got up the hill to the dragon there was a family climbing all over it…. Dammit. My pics are cutting them all out.

Of course when I get back over the hill they are gone!

This is Ailsa Craig, where the rock for all the worlds curling stones comes from 🥌

And breathe.

Craig’s new business is going so well. He’s booking jobs in and creating lots of online content. It’s so exciting.

This wouldn’t happen without everyone continually sharing his posts. Very are so very grateful!

Not gonna lie. My hands are frozen stiff. The decision is a difficult one. To stay and wait for sunset or to head home and get dinner before crochet?!?

The tide has gone out fast.

I cannot tell you how good this makes me feel. Fresh air and blue sky. Heaven.

I’m moving before I freeze to the spot!!

What a wonderful day to be alive.

If I come back tomorrow I’ll have warmer clothes!!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1050 eh?!? The days are just racking up 😂

You know I love me a little stat and I have precious little to say tonight….. at the risk of sounding completely repetitive and boring myself…. It was another crazy busy day at work today. Not enough time to swing a cat. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I had a great sleep until someone’s alarm went off at 5am. Someone fell back to sleep while I lay and did some work in my head. 🤔🤦🏻‍♀️

Back to the stats eh….

• 1631 days since I walked out of the office in floods of tears no longer able to function
• 1510 days since I gave up self medicating with alcohol
• 1050 days of writing this almost daily blog…. I know I duplicated days at the start so it’s actually been more than this but I’m just splitting hairs 😂
• 951 days since I last touched a drop of alcohol
• 694 days since I started work with Tartan HQ
• 556 days since I stopped taking anti-depressants
• 151 days since I started working at The little gift shop
• 117 days since I went on HRT
• 63 days since I started daily fasting
• 3 days since Craig launched the Scottish Dog Behaviourist and started the next chapter of our lives
• 1 day since I said I was busy at work and tired!

So yeah…. That’s the best way to sum up today, on a big positive.

I even went food shopping after work for the first time, in what feels like, forever. I bought lots of veg and came home and ate a cheese roll and crisps. 😂

Can’t win ‘em all.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’ve written the opening paragraph 3 times already and I sound like a right grump…. So I’ve deleted it!

It’s been smirry rain all day but that’s also not the end of the world. It’s that fine rain that soaks you, as my Gran would say!

There’s nothing wrong with me, I’m just tired.

I had the best sleep… this was the first Monday with no Farm so I actually got a good 7 hours and 51 minutes…. Bliss.

We’ve just had another really busy day at work and the day has flown in. I find it hard to write the same thing every day….

It’s been a good day. My head’s been good but after 19.5 hours of fasting, I did know that I needed to eat to clear my head. It got a bit fuzzy just before lunchtime.

Craig’s Scottish Dog Behaviourist FB page membership has been growing well. The sharing of his FB post over a Saturday and Sunday, hit 7.5K people. Isn’t that amazing and we are so very grateful to everyone that shared it. He already has one booking and five more calls to make. It’s super exciting and lovely to see him so passionate about his work.

I’ve become really addicted to checking the number of his followers. I’m also super proud that he’s using many of my videos and photos!

(I have to say that I take these scarves out the drawer now and I feel like the puppers head for the hills 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 not that again… she wants more photos?!? 😆)

So I could have been really negative today. About the weather, the being super busy… blah blah… but actually I have so much to be grateful for, I’ve managed to turn it around writing this.

Always knew there was a reason I wrote this! 😆😘

Now I’m off to latibulate 😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️