I slept really well but was rudely awakened by Khaleesi barking π€¦π»ββοΈ
Dog walks to start the day!
Then I met Gayle and we went to Gro Coffee.
There was a 45 minute wait so we went for a walk around the harbour.
The phoned us with half and hour and we headed into Gro.
Wait till you see this!!!!!
White chocolate pancakes with pistachio ice cream!!! We should have shared one. Far too much for one person π
I took a photo of the cakes before we left.
We had another wander around to burn off some calories.
I feel a bit flat today. Not sure why. A bit meh.
End of the weekend already and Iβm still shattered and feel like I havenβt achieved much but I haveβ¦ itβs Bank Holiday tomorrow and the weatherβs to be lovely and I want to be off!
Hey, tβs probably just the sugar crash.
Cuddles with Calaidh always help. Sheβs doing so well. Sheβs losing weight on her diet and honestly sheβs just the brightest pupper since her op. Itβs lovely to see.
Itβs 7.30pm and weβre all shattered so I think weβll all have an early night!! finally got the two injured dogs out for a half hour walk today. They both did well.
This field was full of young calves! They were so inquisitive.
Khaleei spouted a farm cat in the hedgerow!
Then back home to get Bhruic and Freya for a longer walk.
They had a play in the burn.
We had a run in this fieldβ¦ well they didβ¦. And this gate actually fell over as I climbed itβ¦. Note to selfβ¦ be more careful. Thankfully I got it back into position with a good bit of heavy humphing πππ
We may have just happened to go past Mocha Jaks for a quick bite of breakfastβ¦. ππ
I was bright in my sloth tshirt from Helen!!
Oh and I forgot to say Gayle gave me these beautiful roses last nightβ¦. Arenβt they stunning. She had loads of autumnal artificial flowers in the little gift shop at the moment!
Iβm shattered now and I yawned for the first few hours of the day!
It was really busy and passed quickly but it was much cooler today. Itβs a welcome relief but funny how 16Β°C can suddenly seem cold after a few days of mid 20βs.
Needless to say Iβm going to make this a quick one today.
Iβve done nothing on Her Travel Circle for the last week!!
I spend so much time taking photos and writing the blog I do wonder if I should be using all the photos etc for Her Travel Circle and keeping the blog to feelings for just nowβ¦
Itβs hard to know what to do for the best as no one makes me write the blog but I do it because I want to.
Quiet night to regroup. Craigβs working and then the football is on so I will catch up on some quick housework then sit and either watch tv or read a bookβ¦. Or think about a post for Her Travel Circle which is probably more likely!!
Iβve made some amazing memories over the last few days. I have never spent time sitting on a beach in Scotland like we did. Going in the sea so often was a real treat and the lack of jellyfishβ¦. Even better.
Another scorcher of a day though the temperature has dropped a wee bit. Itβs 7.36pm and Iβm sitting outside and itβs cool.
What an amazing summer we are having in Scotland this year.
We were so lucky to have such an amazing weekend. Imagine being used to down south temperatures, coming to Scotland and only wearing a jumper while out on a boat. you would never believe it possible!
Weβve packed in so much and been outside as much as we can. It feels like weβve been on a holiday abroad.
So a lie in today although he who shall remain nameless. Set his alarm for 7am!!
I stayed in bed until 8.30 but I was shattered and I still am.
We stayed local this morning and walked Bhruic and Freya before we headed out for the day.
It was super hot and we ended up not going too far with them.
We left the house around 12.30pm and The Emirates flight came in to land at Glasgow Airport.
This pic does not do it justiceβ¦.. thereβs a massive shadow cast over the sun, which gave us a frightβ¦.. then the noise and then the plan is visible and screams of βtake a photo!!β from me πππ
So today we went to Luss on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond⦠cue the song.
Despite the majority of my photos showing no people, Luss was HEAVING!!!!!
Take the High Road is a Scottish TV show that was filmed in Luss.
There are lots of selfies today!
The beach was packed and sadly there was a fair bit of rubbish lying around.
We settled here but only after Iβd moved a full bag up of rubbish up to the bins!
This was it nice and clean when we left.
Ben Lomond in the distance.
Of course I went for a paddle.
Under the pier!
And then I thought Iβd go in for a swim. I was tired and couldnβt be bothered getting wet but I knew Iβd regret it! So I did and it was lovely!!
I had a proper swim this time.
And thatβs us ready to head to the airportβ¦ hair upβ¦.
Hair back down!
On the end of the pier.
Itβs quieter now.
We got a huge gelato to end our lovely weekend!
What a wonderful time weβve had.
I may have to sit in a dark room for two weeks now πππ and thatβs no slight on Helen at allβ¦ just my need for a dark room!!
Craigβs in Edinburgh today so I have to pick him up from somewhere later on. Not Edinburgh though!!
We have walked about 18k stepsβ¦. From Seamill beach down towards Ardrossan (got nowhere near π and back!)
Sat here for a bit!
Had lunch up on the grass by the car and used my new umbrella for the first time.
Then went for a long paddle along the beach and walked towards Portencross.
I love the sunlight on the water.
I love the ripples in the sand!
Itβs so shallow you can paddle far out.
We headed up into West Kilbride for some food so we can stay longer. We have the cool box with us!
So Helen and Mike have this thing that buying a box of 3 Magnums is cheaper than buying 2 single Magnumβs but you must give the 3 Magnum to some random passerby.
A lovely man in West Kilbride was the recipient of our 3rd Magnumβ¦. These Gold Caramel Magnums were AMAZING!!!
We headed back down to the beach and I went into the sea when the cloud came over!!
So far out and Helen still has shorts on.
And off I go!!!
Itβs surprisingly cold but I think itβs because weβve been so hot in the sun for most of the day!
I then played with the umbrella and arty shots!!!
Scotland flag!!!!! π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Iβve been back in the sea and met a lady who met her husband in the pub next door to my houseβ¦ 26 years ago!!
Small world.
Itβs been a gorgeous day. I feel so calm and relaxed.
Ok so today didnβt go quite as planned but Helen and I have had a lovely despite it being a different to plan .
Poor Khaleesiβs sore paw turned out to be a broken claw and her claw was still attached but upside down this morning. The slightest knock put blood everywhere.
She squealed a fair wee bit. It was obviously very sore.
Armour Vets were amazing and squeezed us in as soon as they could.
The back of the car!
Itβs all been cut off and we have it as a memento!
Sheβs back to the cone of shame and has to stop licking her paw. Bless her. Sheβs feeling all sorry for herself.
Calaidh had her first wee walk in ages. she was soooo happy.
Helen got kisses from Bhru.
We went to MochaJaks.
And had a wander around Beith.
We were so tired. We sat in the house for a bitβ¦.. and almost thought we wouldnβt go outβ¦.. but we did!! Down to Irvine Beach and walked for milesβ¦. 20.5k steps.
Bad hair Julesie!
Jellyfish!!!
More jellyfish⦠and a lot of them.
Strange sand pile!
Then Gro Coffee for dinner!
A really lovely day apart from poor Khaleesi but sheβs ok.
The forecast was for rain but there was no way we were getting rain.
I slept like a log again and woke a few minutes before the 5.25 alarm.
Claire and I were running this morning. π
Before sunriseβ¦.. itβs amazing to see how quickly the mornings are getting darker! I donβt like it! ππ
This was us before we set off!
The sky was lovely!
Finally sunrise half way through our run.
I thought sunrise over the wheelie bins was quite cool.
Running through Spiers Old School Grounds.
My favourite gate!
Claire waiting for me at the exit!
The village was lovely when we got back.
It was sooooo hot.
The sweat was pouring out of me!! 5.4k done!!
I sat outside with the dogs with my bare feet on the morning dew grass⦠to cool down.
And Freya thought it would be lovely to lick off all the sweat!!
So I finally got a chance to do my stock check at work.
What a difference being on antidepressants. I count something and add it into the spreadsheetβ¦. before antidepressants I would count it, forget the number by the time I got to the spreadsheet!!!
Today still took a while but not because of recountingβ¦. Itβs just been a few months since I did one so I took my time.
It felt really good to finally break the back of it.
I sat outside at lunchtime on my own and it was ROASTINGβ¦.. about 27Β°C. I sat in the weeds in the car park, next to my clean car!!
I was a hot frazzled mess ππ
So back to the stock check tomorrow and placing orders. Iβll feel better if I can do that before I have a day off on Monday.
Craigβs home tonight for the first night in ages.
Weβre sitting outside.
Iβve decided to leave last minute cleaning to tomorrow. Who knows what state the house could get into between tonight and tomorrow!!
Helen lands after 9 tomorrow and the. We have to plan our weekend in the sunshine!
Some pics of the lovely roses that are blooming just now.
Iβm missing crochet tonight as Iβll have a full on few days so Iβm taking a rest this eveningβ¦ in the sunshine. βοΈ
Up sharp straight after the alarm, dogs out, showered and dressed and in work for 7.20 and managed to wash the car and still start work early.
Iβm so busy with being off at the course yesterday and having next Monday offβ¦. I have to admit to being a little panicked today.
By default I manifested the perfect stormβ¦. Lots of customers in, the phone never stopped, the emails never stopped coming and I just didnβt get a minute all day.
I need to do a stock check!!
Iβm putting out there as Iβve said that every day for the last two weeks but I have to stop everything else and do it tomorrow. Weβre running out of bits all over!! (again Iβm exaggerating, weβve ran out of a couple of things and I know itβs just going to get worse!!)
So yeahβ¦. I flitted about from thing to thing like I was caffeined to the max! I wasnβtβ¦.
When I left work the car said 30Β°Cβ¦.. you can imagine that I just melted until the aircon kicked in.
I got home and fed the dogs, brought the bins back round to the garden and picked my onions that Iβve been growing next door! They are not as good as Kennyβs onions but he grew hisβ¦. I just let mine get on with it and look after themselves π
I strung them up in the greenhouse.
I finalised our home insurance tonight.
Another massive tick off the list!
I then ate some ice cream. π¦
I think it was well deserved.
Hope youβre enjoying the sunshine where ever you are!
I had a restless night but Iβm fairly certain I still slept for about 8 and a half hoursβ¦. I really shouldnβt complain. π
Up and into work sharp today as I am on an Emergency First Aid at Work course.
I got into the office for just after 7.30 and managed to get as many rental enquiries answered as I could before I had to get ready to leave at 9am.
The course runs from 9.30 -4.30.
One thing Iβm very aware of is my lack of anxious preparationβ¦. On anti depressants I am way more calm and less likely to plan for every single eventuality.
Iβd printed out all the detail for the course, forgot to bring it and forgot a pad and a penβ¦. Sooooo not like me. Always preparedβ¦. But this time not in the slightest.
It must be at least 8 years since Iβve been on a training course. It feels very strange being back in the office environment and in a meeting roomβ¦.. it triggers so many memories of what work used to be like for me.
I had a great day!
I now know how to use a defibrillator! Iβm glad about that as we have one across the road from the house and I always felt I should know how it worked.
It was a good course. Really structured with plenty of breaks and practical CPR.
I had to go for a food shopping on the way home.
Craig made lasagne last night so I had day 2 lasagne for dinner! Was amazing!
Iβve been worried about how much I have to do this week with a day out of the office and a day off next Mondayβ¦.. so I typed up a list in my reminders app.
I emptied a refilled the dishwasher, did another washing and hung it up, made my lunch for tomorrow and put the bin out
Iβve also sorted out my car insurance for this yearβ¦. And almost finalised our home insuranceβ¦. If youβve been reading for a while now, youβll know how much insurance stresses me out.
Not so this year.
Jeez these antidepressants are good stuff.
Now I am tired so Iβve sat down and will no doubt be in bed within the house.
No one was running today so I didnβt set my alarm.
I woke with a text message at 6.35amβ¦. Thatβs a lie in for me. Not sure how the text message got through as my phoneβs usually on silentβ¦. There was no way I was running in that!! It was a mini monsoon!
It cleared up nicely and I decided to run by myself about 8.30am.
I ran my third fastest 5k which Iβm really chuffed about! I didnβt stop apart from to let cars pastβ¦. I chose a flat route and I kept going talking to myself.
Every time my head said I couldnβt, I told myself I can!
I am really chuffed with my times. I honestly donβt really know how I managed it!
It was very hot! What a difference an hour makes.
Khaleesiβs paw is better this morning.
Sheβs still limping occasionally but nothing like she was last night.
Calaidh is still doing well but neither can be walked.
So I walked Bhruic and Freya. It was a lovely way to cool down after my run.
The sides of the roads are lovelyβ¦.
Freya spotted a farm cat!!
I came home and made a smoothie and I sat in the sun to drink it.
Iβd found an Oat Machta Latte drink in Tesco that I wanted to tryβ¦.and Iβm not gonna lie itβs pretty rotten, it just tastes like drinking straight oat milk which Iβd never do. The only difference is that itβs greenβ¦.. anyway, I zizzed it with frozen raspberries.
It wasnβt bad. it was better.
I had to move back inside as it clouded over and got pretty cold.
I finished off cleaning the oven thatβs Iβd started yesterday.
Another thing today I am very proud of! Itβs not perfect but itβs looking really good.
Warning to anyone who may be using my oven in the next wee whileβ¦β¦ keep it clean!!!!
I had washed all the cushion covers so I put them all back on and covered up the couches with the clean blankets, stripped and washed the bed. Another day putting everything back to the way I want it.
I sat and had a cheese salad wrap for lunch.
Poor Calaidh is on a dietβ¦. Sheβs even considering my salad!
I managed to catch the dogs watching Craig coming home from work. Bless them.
I had a shower and went to pick Gayle up to head out to Largs. It was beautiful when we got there and I never took any photos until it stared to rain!! Lovely flowers though.
As we went back to the car I thought weβd take a selfie!!! It was wild.
We had a lovely hot chocolate and 2 fingers of shortbread in Wetherspoons for a total of Β£4.54! Cheap date.
Ok Helenβ¦.. the house is clean right now so you have to stop work and get up here straight away before that changes. πππ
I have Helen coming to stay this coming weekend and Melanie coming to stay at the end of August so I am spending some of this weekend really cleaning the house.
Not just my usual superficial quick wheech around.
I have scrubbed and cleaned and washed and dusted and sprayed and wiped and brushed and hoovered andβ¦.. Iβve run out of words.
Iβm sore and exhaustedβ¦. Everything aches again.
Butβ¦β¦ it feels so good that the house is clean.
I breathe more freely.
Everything feels lighterβ¦. Except my joints and my muscles!
Iβm not finished yet!
Bertie Beetle was in the garage for MOT and Service and it passed!!!!!!!! Only needed the rear brakes loosened as they were binding.
Now thereβs a turn up for the books.
Calaidh is still doing well but poor Khaleesi has hurt her paw todayβ¦. Think she cut it as it was bleeding but sheβs limping pretty badly.
Another really busy day today and Calaidh came to work as we had the vet at 3pm.
Sheβs such a good girl! She roams about then goes for a wee lie down.
So drumrollβ¦.. the good news is that the lump was benign!!
I had built myself up to hear the worst. I wasnβt scared. I wasnβt anxious. I knew what would be would be. But I have to admit being so relieved when the lovely vet said it was benign!!
She has to rest up a bit as too much movement is causing swelling around the scar.
Here she is poised for the ballβ¦. Which of course I am not throwing!
Just throw it mumβ¦.. nope!
So a quiet night for me. Iβm shattered after a really busy week and all the vet excitement.
Thereβs no food in the house but I coped!
MOT & service tomorrow YAYβ¦β¦ and then I have to scrub the house from top to bottom as I have Helen coming to stay the following weekend. Perfect time for it as I wonβt have a car!
Itβs 5.15pm and Iβm sitting on in our back garden being pestered by 3 Border Collies for their dinnerβ¦. Which is defrosting as we speak!
Iβm now covered in Freya hair!
Youβre fair game when you sit at their level. Every now and then Khaleesi comes over to join in too!
Thereβs a real heat to that lovely sun.
It was a really muggy run this morning but itβs been cool on and off all day. Ellison and I sat out at lunch but I needed my fleece on.
The run was really good this morning. I felt good and felt strong. Note large βbeadβ of sweat on my top lip there!
This one is a bit blurry but Claire and Lynsey are up ahead somewhere!
A wide eyed Julie!
When I left for work the sky was lovely.
Iβve had another good day at work. I feel very calm just now, even when difficult things come my way, I feel like I handle them much better than I have in the last 6 months
Iβm so grateful for the peace in my head.
Iβm waiting on the doctor calling meβ¦. Iβve an update appointment on my antidepressants and then, a small Hooker club are heading to Gro Coffee tonight as thereβs only 3 of usβ¦ we thought weβd have a mini adventure!
I was pouring with rain when I got out of bed at 5.30am⦠thankfully the walk with Bhru, Freya and Khaleesi was a lot less wet than yesterday! There was even some sunshine.
Iβve had another good day today.
Busy at work. I went in early but the day still ran away!
I popped into the little gift shop on the way home to get a baby present and a a wee congratulations bracelet for my next door neighbour who passed all her exams today!!
Iβve had to stop for major puppy cuddles!
I used to get annoyed at the dogs for interrupting me when I was writing the blog. Now I love the love. I appreciate that they want to be with me and on meβ¦ itβs so sweet.
A giant Border Collie blob!
So Iβll leave you with some photos from this morning.
Khaleesi spotted a deer!
Lots of leaf debris from yesterdays stormβ
Khaleesi always wants to see over the wall!!
I put their dog robes on when I got home β¦. Cuties!
Have a lovely night, Iβll be in bed in a half hour!! ππ
The Rambling Sloth π¦₯ 