I was in work early for a customer visit today and havenāt stopped all day. Itās all good. I feel under control. Iām scared to admit that because when I do things seem to go wrong. Itās nice to have a good few days.
I felt a bit anxious this morning but I was very aware of it and managed to shift it.
It has not stopped raining all day! Torrential rain, stotting down all day⦠hammering on the roof of our portacabin at Tartan HQ. I
When I got home I put a washing on and then went upstairs to work on the Village hall year end accounts. I spent a couple of hours finalising everything and got them submitted to our accountant.
I am pretty chuffed with that since itās only 5th April. Last year I didnāt submit them until Decemberā¦.. this is how it should be! all is well with the world!
So itās 8pm before I sat down to write the blogā¦.
Iām listening to another good Happy Place podcast with Fearne Cotton interviewing Dr Rongan Chatterjee.
Itās such a good one, I highly recommend a listen.
He talks about how we should show compassion for others. If we disagree with someone or someone wrongs us, we should try to understand the position the other person is coming from. Understand why they think like they think, or why they have acted as they have.
I am very good at this I think! If I get angry at something I try to understand why. It belittles my anger quickly.
Now we canāt always be saints and there will be odd thing that sends us into orbit but for the most part this is how Iād like to live my life. Compassion for others.
Also to understand that we are the subject of our past, our generations and subsequently how we have been brought up. Rongan said his parents always expected more of him in exam results, if he got 90% they asked why not 91%?
This made him grow up thinking he was never good enough and had to perfect to gain their approval. Difficult to live up to.
He has recently discussed this with his mumā¦. Fearne cringed at that!
His parents came to the UK in 1962 when the UK asked for Indian doctors to support the workload here. His father worked a day job and another night job for 30 years. THIRTY YEARS with virtually no sleep, how is that even possible?
His mum said that they believed success was the most important factor in life and would ultimately bring them happiness.
However⦠she never saw her husband. The children never saw their dad but he was very successful and provided for them and gave them a better life than they may have had in India. His parents only wanted Rongan to succeed and be successful in life so pushed him to excel. With only the very best of intentions.
The two separate perspectives make complete sense when you actually take time to think about them.
Powerful. Rongan does his own podcast too so I might give that a listen again.
Love this next one⦠this is sooo me now!
Also thisā¦. Iāve made so many internet friendships in the last few years. So many people that have played a huge part in my recovery⦠and I have never met them.
We have connected because of our personalities and thatās very important to me. ā„ļø
I canāt believe that with all the COVID-19 drama over the last few weeks that I have missed the chance to celebrate my two year blogging anniversary!
We could say itās my Blogiversary!! Yeah ok⦠no⦠just noā¦ š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
I never for one minute believed I would still be here, writing every day, give or take, for two years. What started as an exciting experiment has become a huge part of my life⦠an integral part of my healing journey.
By the time I started we were 8 days into Lockdown in Scotland in 2020. I had just been made redundant 3 weeks before all the craziness began and instead of worrying about where the next job would come from, we were all in the same boat, worrying about some random deadly virus that had taken hold of our world.
I had been home sick for a year on and off before thenā¦. Suffering from anxiety and depression. Yet the rest of the world joined me in my new stay at home lifestyle.
In a way, lockdown was very good for me. As awful as it was for so many other people, I needed that extra time to recover. I had peeled back all my layers like a bad onion. (Not sure thatās the analogy I was reaching for?!)
I was a shadow of my former self⦠and yet⦠I was closer to the real me than I had been in a very long time.
I had become what everyone wanted me to be or what I thought they expected me to be. I had so many different masks that I wore so that I could hide what was breaking inside of me. I was set on self destruction but I didnāt even know it. I didnāt know how to be.
I put everyone first. Everyone was more important than me. I said yes to everyone. Didnāt want to hurt anyoneās feelings. I set about making everyoneās day better, to the detriment to my own.
Gradually I broke up. Fell apart. Couldnāt keep up the charade anymore. The effort it took to be everything to everyone was finally overwhelming. The tears brimmed almost all the time as more often than not, began to fall in the most awkward of moments.
I couldnāt do it anymore.
As lockdown started I should have been getting ready to head back into the world so I made a huge decision to volunteer with food deliveries to the local elderly. Even that was difficult for me.
In retrospect⦠I have been so lucky to have had the chance to build myself back up gradually. Through this blog Iāve been able to understand my thoughts, feelings and emotions through every step of the last two years.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to become so aware of the world around me. To have become aware of nature. Of calm and of stillness. I am able to sit in silence and be completely content with that.
I am aware of energy around me. My gut is NEVER wrong. I am empathetic of others and rather than get angry when someone upsets me or wrongs me, I try to think about why they may be as they are.
Most of all I love sharing my photos with you all. I love sharing the beauty that I see and I hope that one day Iām able to travel and show you more.
I should say today has been another good day and long may that continue.
So thank you to everyone who reads my blog. I do this for me but you all make it so much more worthwhile. Itās important to talk about mental health. If my blog helps at least one other person realise that itās ok to not be ok, then itās worth every hour spent on it.
Oor Craigie is finally COVID free! He tested negative for a second time so is good to go. Of course that doesnāt mean heās immediately better, heās been more breathless today.
Iām finally feeling better, like the cold has finally gone⦠as I type that, I cough! š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£ but I do feel a lot less bunged up.
Iāve had another productive day today. I had some anxiety about work again when I woke up but it went quickly when I got moving.
I sat outside this morning and Brassoād all the kitchen cupboard and drawer handles. I love that I made that into a verb! Brassoād!
Now I should say here that it was nowhere near as much fun as I expected it to be. It would appear that Brasso is great for polishing and not for removing years of built up dirt and lacquer.
I get very frustrated at that as I need it to be immediate. I want to to put all the handles back on right now⦠I donāt want to find other ways of cleaning them. I want the Brasso to work. Now. (Story of my life this eh?!)
So I turn a blind eye to them and get them fitted back on. They do look a damn sight better than they did. My hands are like sand paper today despite wearing rubber gloves.
The kitchen is still not finished but itās so much better than it was. Another day or work or so but that can wait.
I had a shower and ended up cleaning the bathroom, as you do.
I then went down to the Co-op to get some food for the week. Check me.
Iām watching the new series of Bridgerton as I write this. For someone who doesnāt like period drama, I sure do love Bridgerton.
So this weekend has been really good. Iāve not wanted to go out at all and have been happy staying at home and getting things done. It hasnāt really felt like a choreā¦. Except for the Brasso obviously!
I havenāt felt anxious like I usually do at weekends, trying to fill my days with a huge list of tasks. Iāve taken each moment at a time and it feels like itās been a really long weekend. In a good way. I feel refreshed and relaxed.
My diet is still lazy and pretty shocking but Iāve done 3 food shops in the last few days and itās not been the end of the worldā¦. I have survived. š
Who knows⦠maybe this week I might actually cook some of itā¦. Maybe.
This is our Sunday almost evening reminder that we can handle everything this week throws at us. I hope for a lot more calm as I love feeling like this and long may it continue.
Letās not speak too soon but I think I might be finally finished painting the kitchen cupboards.
Itās like painting the Forth Rail Bridge⦠it just seems to go for ever and you no sooner finish one end than you have to start again at the other end.
No seriously, I think the cupboards are all done. There are no photos as the place is still a mess and we need to sand the wooden surfaces and put all the handles back on the doors and drawers. Hopefully though, the most difficult part is done.
I have my feet up outside on my new benchā¦. Donāt think I took any photos when we got it.
Phew that took a bit of orchestrating but it was worth it! Iām holding a giant bone to get them to sit like this š¤£
I managed to break the old bench last week when I was working from homeā¦. A slat broke underneath me š¤¦š»āāļø
So this one is highly recommended. It came from Robert Dyas on line and was only Ā£147 delivered. Itās pretty chunky so Iām really impressed with it.
Iām sitting on it now in the sunshine and Iāve just spent the last 5 minutes trying to get a photo of a bee š on the plant next to me.
I managed to get it hovering above the flower. My mum will laugh at this as Iāve always been terrified of bees and wasps since I was stung around the age of 4. Just the sound of a buzz was enough to send me running. Oh how things have changed.
The weather has been a game of two halves today. When the sun is out it almost feels hot. The minute it goes behind a cloudā¦. Freezing!
Every now and then I have to share my bench!
And she is very, very hairy right now. Weāre back to moulting season again.
So I had two dog walks this morning⦠started off sunny and ended up freezing!
Lovely sunshine like yesterday!
Out with Calaidh and Bhruic as Freya has a sore leg and needs to rest. Sheās limping quite badly and has been for a few days now.
They had lots of fun in the burn again.
Keek!
Then the clouds started to move in.
This next photo is taken in the same place as the first sunny photo. What a difference our weather makes.
I got home and took Freya out for a short walk on the lead. These daffies looked lovely.
Come on mum we can walk faster than this she saysā¦.
Itās no fun when I canāt get a run off the leadā¦
So the rest of the day has been spent painting. I am now covered in paint and dog hair. Attractive much.
So in other good news Mr A tested negative today! He told me it was positive first thing and then checked again a while later and it was actually negative. So finally things will return to normal.
In other good news this is the first weekend in a long time that I feel calm. I donāt feel anxious at all.
I did wake up worrying about work but that passed when I got up.
Iāve put no expectations on myself this weekend. Anything I did that wasnāt nothing was a bonus. Finishing the kitchen was a huge bonus!!
So another quiet night for us. Last night in covid jail for oor Craigie but to be fair itās always a quiet night these days.
This is another one of those days you donāt need to read the blog as itās all in the title. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
Itās another freezing cold day and I slept like a log last night. When the alarm went off I got a fright and I was not ready to get up at allā¦. I could do easily have turned overā¦. But I didnāt. I got up, the house was freezing but nothing prepared me for the icy blast outside. Wow.
We actually exercised out in that! I lay down on the frosty astroturf at 6.10am this morning when most folk were still in bed. The funny thing is I felt very lucky to be a part of it this morning rather than annoyed I was having to.
As the sun rose it really was beautiful.
So many power lines in my photosā¦ š¤¦š»āāļø
We get to workout in the loveliest of surroundings and before we even have time to think about it. I worked hard this morning, got some great feedback too.
We have another Hyrox event next weekend so hope I have done enough to improve my times.
So back home and straight out with the dogsā¦. Some really strange clouds over the village hall!
More importantly I have forgotten to discuss this during my ramblingā¦.. what the actual is this all about?!?
It would appear we are now living in an Avian Influenza Protection Zone. š³
I MEAN⦠WHAT NEXT?
Zombie apocalypse? Alien invasion?
I guess I should be grateful we are in the zone and not outside it⦠I mean those poor people who live outside the red road sign Iāve been driving past every night⦠are they not protected?!?!? Do they even need protecting?! Are they actually the lucky ones???
Anyway, back to the glorious dog walk in the freezing sun.
Iāve had lots of lovely comments on my daffodil photos so Iāve taken lots this morning just to show how abundant they are.
They are all growing wild but must have been planted by someone at some point.
These ones all look a bit sad as theyāve been caught by the frost.
More power lines in this next one tooā¦.
We went into a field that had been muck sprayed the other day but itās all frozen in. Frozen muck = no muck!! Spot the two white tails in the water.
The dogs had a great play about in the burn.
Itās so still.
Love the rainbow on this next one.
Heading back home now under said power lines š
Lots of white daffies here.
Bearing in mind itās now only 8.45am š¤£š¤£
I have a massage booked for 10am at Harmony in Beith. I popped into next door to check on their beautiful puss cats as they are getting some work done and the cats were feeling a bit unsettled. Just look at these handsome boys.
I love that they both looked away for this photoā¦. Shun the photographer!!
I got the wee one actually eating out of my hand!
So my massage was amazing. Back, neck and shouldersā¦. Bliss. I could have slept on the treatment bed! Norma worked wonders! I then popped into the little gift shop for a chat with my friend Gayle. Was lovely to see her too!
Covid boy had sent me a shopping list so off to the Co-op to stock up and finally back home. Heās still positive and feeling rotten.
Thenā¦.. poop scoop in the garden and hoovered the ground floor of the house. And then finally sat down. Itās 2pm! We sat outside at the fire pit for a bit but it got cold again so came in to watch a movieā¦.. AND fell asleep on the couch for 2 hours!!!
Check this size of this fire!
So Iām still feeling pretty rotten too. The cold is just not shifting but Iām still working out at the gym because I want to help improve my mood. Without it Iād just be sleeping and eating. š¬
Hope you all have a great weekend and Covid boy is hoping for a negative soon. š
It wasnāt much but considering we were in shorts the other day⦠this feels so cold. The next photo is from inside Abbie the Campervan.
The sunrise was promising.
But the daffodils were really sad todayā¦. They were so cold, the frost had got to them.
To be honest I have felt a little bit like these daffodils today.
I am so tired but we have been super busy again at work. It was a good day but I felt really rushed and Iāve walked out tonight for the weekend thinking I need to work tomorrow⦠but I canāt.
I just have to remember everything I still have to do, when I get in on Monday. My anxious brain doesnāt like that at allā¦. I need to leave with everything under control. I didnāt feel like I did that tonight.
Covid boy is still not feeling great but sat outside today with a campfire. At times today it was so warm and then at other it was either hailstones or snowing!
Iām going to have an early night again tonight. Whatās new eh? Covid has really word us out but everyone I speak to says they same thing.
It was sooooo cold today. As weāve become so used to the sun we take it ill out when it gets cold again.
It was a cold and frosty morning on the way to the Farm at 5.30am.
It was another great workout today. I managed it all which still surprises me as I do feel quite rotten with the cold. Itās all in my head and not into my chest which is good. I guess although Iām COVID negative, I still have the remnants of the virus. A lot of people have said they struggled with fatigue afterwards.
Cool sky when I left and the daffodils on the drive way are in full bloom.
I canāt believe that in between some sunny spells we have actually had snow flurries today. Itās snowing now at 8pm. Itās not lyingā¦
I was soooooooooooooo busy at work today. I never got a minute. We had customers in all day and I worked till 5.
This is me outside in a snow flurry! Just to prove it. Yesterday I sat out on a deckchair to eat lunch and todayā¦. Baltic!!
Iām honestly shattered tonight. I feel really wiped out.
Iāve had to skip the fun chat with the Crochet Hookers tonight as I donāt feel I should be mixing with too many people while Craig is still COVID positive.
Iām in my jammies on the couch with a huge fire going to keep us warm. I wonāt be late in bed.
A few of us were saying today that we could with another lockdown⦠weāre struggling to live life at the pace it seems to be at just now.
Maybe we all got used to it being slower and now itās picking up the pace as we get closer to reality.
So hereās a big hug to everyone whoās struggling with with something just now. Life can be hard at times and we get hit from left field when we least expect it.
So I have very little to report today. Iāve been at work all day and have felt pretty rotten, itās like the cold has come back.
Iāve had two lemsips through the day to try and help clear my blocked nose. They do help and make me feel a bit better.
I woke at 3am and felt like my heart was beating out my chestā¦. May have consumed some caffeine before I went to bed uh ohā¦. I had a can of alcohol free rum and Coke. It was really niceā¦. Note to self⦠you were totally right when you knew you shouldnāt have caffeine in the evening. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
I lay awake for about an hour and then fell into a deep sleep despite Mr Snorey McCovidson next to me. Jeezo manā¦. He said this morning he got a good sleep because I didnāt snore. Oh good thatās alright then. š³
So work was busy and I feel like I didnāt get a minute to regroup. I left with a big list of things still to do but Iāll get on it first thing.
So I was late leaving and when I got home I had to take the dogs out. I couldnāt cope with all 3 at once so did Calaidh and Freya first. Here are some photos!
Itās only 5.30pm and the sky is really dark. Weāve had nothing but blue sky now for weeksā¦.
I then went home to pick up Bhru⦠Iām so tired but I canāt leave her out.
We walked into the woods with the old limekilns.
She heard a noiseā¦. Did not spook me at all⦠nopeā¦. š³š±
I had one step to go to get in the front door and a huge rain drop hit me! Itās much cooler tonight. It was chilly on our walk.
Iām home now. Itās raining for the first time in weeks.
Craig had made a lovely pesto pasta while I was out. I have my feet up now and Iām not moving!
Heās feeling pretty rotten, has a bad cold and is breathless but he says heāll live.
We reckon that within a week we knew that we were meant to be together. Check how young he looks!!
Despite all the difficulties that marriage throws you, we know we are meant to be together and weāve survived this long without burying each other under the patio, so I think we will last.
You all know heās a good āunā¦.. heās the most generous and kind hearted person and heāll do anything for anyone.
He bought me this lovely silk bracelet with 2010 on the heart and a J & a C.
For the first time Iāve thought my skin looks really oldā¦. š± oh wellā¦.
About 11am today heās about to go out to a job when he realises he hasnāt checked his lateral flow test. Just as well he did as itās POSITIVE!!
To be fair heās been loaded with the cold for a few days now so it makes complete sense that he has it⦠just 3 days after I lose it!
Itās so much easier this time as I am apparently immune so he doesnāt have to distance from me. Iāll just have to be careful not to pass anything when Iām out.
Sunrise was beautiful at the Fit Body Farm this morning.
I am back.
It actually went surprisingly well. I managed more than I thought I would. Only had to take a minuteās breather during one of the exercises and other than that I was ok. Coach said I did good today. Teachers pet was very proud of that.
We actually did bleep tests today. The last time we did that I got to level 2.5 and this morning got up to level 4.8. Iām pretty proud of that. I am not a runner!
It was freezing at work this morning. I took a while to heat up and as soon as I was warmā¦. It was roasting. Another beautiful day but spent most of it in a portacabin instead of my outdoor office!
My concentration and focus was good. My anxiety was under control.
I have to say that today has been a pretty good day.
We danced and sang this to each other. Ahhh young love. š°š»āāļøš¤µš»š
We had no idea of the trials and tribulations we would face along the way. Weāve done what we said we would do⦠for better or worse and weāve fought through the worst. We can drive each other completely insane and round the bend. But we knew then. And we know now. And we still do.
We even got each other the same card!
Weāre sitting outside and starting to get eaten alive by midgesā¦. So weāre heading in now.
So yeah today is Mothers Day or Mothering Sunday in the UK. Mum and Dad were meant to be coming over for lunch in the village pub but my COVID week put paid to that. Holly is running a lovely 3 course spread with a glass of fizz for £17.95 I think and it will be enough food to feed us until next year.
We cancelled our 2pm table as we didnāt know when Iād be COVID free but Craig and I are going to go in for 4.30pm and have an early dinner tonight. She said she still had some space.
I didnāt even send her card as it seemed unfair to send a potential COVID card through the post. I may have overthought that… Weāll catch up next weekend instead⦠maybe in the snow this time?! š¤¦š»āāļøā„ļøš¤£ it is actually forecast for Wednesday here⦠this is why us Scots make the most of any ray of sunshine that could be potentially considered warm!
So back to the rest of the dayā¦.
Iāll be honest I didnāt want to wake up and face today as I know Iām back to reality tomorrow and my anxiety took off running with things that could go wrong when I get back out there. It felt safer to pretend I was still asleepā¦. Yes Iām pretending to myselfā¦. rather than see what time it was.
Of course the clocks went forward for us last night so British summer time begins today and once again the weather has kindly played ball. It is indeed a very summery summers day⦠in March⦠but it meant that I was of course, later than I expected it to be.
So Iāve done very little so far today. Iām still not feeling great and making the most of the sun in the garden. I wanted to do so much today⦠I āthoughtā I should do so much today⦠I see the sun and feel I should be out in itā¦. By the sea, living life, taking photos and seizing the day. But I am tired.
Just thisā¦. So often.
Itās no wonder weāre tired when we can overthink so much. āWorrying about the day we never sawā is what my Gran used to call it.
Iām drawn to a balancing crystal that I bought a while back. Now I know this is where I will lose some of you but hey⦠Iām saying it anyway. The Meridian Energy Balancing crystal has worked for me in the past. You pop it into your bra so youāre āwearingā it and it honestly takes the anxiety waves away almost immediately. It allows me to listen to my gut rather than the anxiety in my head which screams all the āwhat ifāsāā¦.. whether itās mumbo jumbo or not it works for me and thatās all that matters. I am calm.
We cut back some ivy earlierā¦.
The royal weā¦ā¦ 𤣠actually I did pull stuff out from the ground up!
I brought out a free standing bathroom shelf out and cleared that.
Mostly I have done absolutely nothing but sit in the sun as that is what I need today. Another day of recharging the batteries.
I love this array of daffies that have come through this week. On Monday they were still tight buds.
The dogs are loving the sun and in and out of the shade.
Calaidh showing off the wood shedThose eyesā¦.. Bhruic lounging in the sun
Had a wee nap lying on a blanket on the grass. The pub is busy and thereās lots of people in the beer garden so weāve moved down to the bottom of the garden and Iām now in the hammock just swinging around in the sun.
Relaxing under this beautiful tree.
With this beautiful view.
We had a huge and amazing meal in the pub tonight. Was so nice to see people again.
I got a lovely card and flowers from the kids. Holly has done that every year for me and every year I forget and itās a lovely surprise!
We had crab and salmon to start, Smoked Haddock in a creamy cheese sauce for mains and millionaires cheesecake for dessert.
Then had a lovely FaceTime with mum and dad while weāre sitting out in the garden again. It will be light until 7.45 pm tonightā¦. Definitely feels like summer is coming!!
So⦠back to reality tomorrow. Everyone is saying to take it easy as the fatigue is the worst. Just have to see how it goes!
My second negative⦠finally free to go out into the big wide world! Of course I took the dogs for a walkā¦.
I can fully think I look better than I feel. Iām surprised to see just how shaky I am. I feel really lightheaded, a bit dizzy and my legs are like jelly but I take it really easy and let the puppers take the strain up the hill.
Itās only been a week but everything seems so different. The ground is really dry and the daffies are blooming everywhere. I donāt mean they are blooming everywhere but blooming⦠everywhere.
Itās such a beautiful day. Itās not even 9am and I would go so far as to say it was hot. Remember us Scotās have taps aff in the early teens centigrade as we think it might be summer and we might never see it again.
Good times to be had š¤š
Who knew there was a weather forecast at Taps-aff.co.uk š¤·š»āāļøš¤£š¤šāļøāļøāļø
The forecast today is apparently for taps-oan which I wholeheartedly disagree with. Today is most definitely taps aff.
I would agree with the T-shirt to be fair
Anyway back to my shaky walk. Itās beautiful.
We are so lucky to have all of this on our doorstep and even more so when we are actually allowed to step OUT over said doorstep!
Thereās not a cloud in the sky and only the lightest breeze occasionally.
Dragging me up the hill.
Knackered after a big run in the fields with Freya.
There was a huge wildfire on the side of Ben Lomond this week started by a discarded cigarette. I can now see why as the ground seems so dusty and dry even after such a wet February.
Despite COVID, March had come in like a lamb and is going out like a lamb so is my favourite month of the year so far.
So back home to drop off Bhruic and Freya and pick up Calaidh.
Weāre off to Mocha JaKs for breakfast this morningā¦. Standing joke in our family when I was weeā¦. āWell youāre obviously feeling better then?!ā Appetite, my dears, had never been an issue. Least I can taste most things again now.
We sat outside in Mocha JaKs and the first thing they do is bring Calaidh a bowl of water. She laps it up.
I have to fess up and say for the first time ever I ordered a Puppacinoā¦. Yipā¦.I succumbed to marketing⦠and Calaidh, whoās on a diet as sheās a bit too overweight⦠got a small cup of whipped cream and she was IN HER ELEMENT. She lapped it up.
I overindulged in Biscoff pancakes with a coconut milk latte.
I did remember to ask for Decaf and they didnāt have anyā¦.. caffeine it is. Iām sure I will survive!
The pancakes were beautiful and I only managed two. š„°
I took Calaidh for a run round Spiers School Ground on the way home. Everything looks so stunning on a sunny day. Iām tired but I just take it slowly and I think itās good to be getting some exercise.
The sun light is stunning through the woods.
The paths we walk so often seem so different today.
There are daffies all around the Schoolās war memorial.
This white daffie is looking downwards. It seems sad.
Calaidh is having a great sniff around.
These wee orange daffies were right out there!
The Japanese redwood has some kind of memorial Angel attached to it.
Itās such a lovely walk. My legs feel a bit stronger now. Maybe thatās the sugar rush from the pancakes?! š¤£
I thought this holly looked really lovely in the bright sunlight. We usually equate it to Christmas but this was sunshine holly instead!
Here she comes.
We saw a lovely new bench thatās been built at the side of the road. Itās in lovely bright colours. A great place for folk to stop and sit as they walk the Beith to Gateside loop. The old painted bench that was there has been removed.
I let her off lead again and into the burn so she could cool down. She just stands thereā¦.. as usual. She went to sit down at one point and stood straight back up again⦠guess it was too cold?!
I love that I could see right through the bridge.
Thereās a huge dandelion growing too. I used to discard them as weeds and now see the beauty in everything. This next photo is right behind me. Old dry reed grasses.
And across the roadā¦.
More daffies on the way home.
These next ones have still to bloom, sure it wonāt be long.
Think this is the tree my friend Evelyn has asked me about. She drives along the road looking for it. Made me think of her this morning.
So itās not even 12.25, Iām sitting in Grans chair in the back garden writing this and Iām going to read a book I started the other day. Iāve not read a book in what feels like a long time.
Fast forward to 3.30pm and I have literally sat here all afternoon reading. I couldnāt put it down.
Itās been hot all day and as much as I want to be out and about down at the coast, I know Iām tired so Iām just gonna take it easy with my feet up in the sun and an alcohol free Birra Moretti.
COVID wise that isā¦.. and mood wise I am finally more positive than negative. š„°
Not gonna lie Iāve been getting them all mixed up again today. Messaged a few people today to tell them I tested positive when actually I finally tested negative this morning.
Good to knowā¦. š¤š³
I came through from the bedroom for a big long hug! It felt soooo good. Free movement around the house is a game changer too. I can cope with not going out and being in isolation in the house but I really struggled with the restricted movement when I was positive and Craig still negative.
Iāve always craved isolation as crazy at that might sound. Some days just to chill and relax and do nothing. Yet the reality was so very different. Of course first of all youāre not feeling greatā¦
Try as I might I couldnāt get my head into a relaxed space. I was agitated, irritable, cranky and very tired. I was irked that there were rules that I had to follow rather than just accepting what was. My reaction was one of stressā¦.. in hindsight I needing grounding and brought back down to earth from the orbit I was existing in. You try to be so ridiculously careful with everything. I guess itās not ridiculous but itās unlike anything Iāve ever experienced before. Treating yourself as a risk to other people is a very strange feeling.
Iāll always caveat it all by saying that I continually thought about those who had it worse than me. The fear of a real COVID-19 illness and the solitude must have been terrifying. I think back to all those news reports we watched so avidly in the beginningā¦. Those poor people. All the doctors and nurses and key workers equally terrified but trying so hard not to catch it while keeping others alive.
Mine was nothing. A bad head cold which moved on way more quickly than a head cold usually would. An intermittent hacking cough which wasnāt even sore.
I was always worried about the vaccination and yet Iām so glad Iāve had them all. Iām so glad my friends and loved ones have.
Anywayā¦..
Another great sleep last night. To be fair I think I was in bed from the back of 4 yesterday afternoon. Clean sheets anā all that! Plus it was much cooler outside so I couldnāt sit outside.
I started watching Pieces of Me on Netflix which seems really good. Actually my thoughts now turn to our newly formed unity⦠when do I watch the rest of my show?! I know⦠I made myself smile with that one! š
I feel a new lease of life today. Iām still a bit lightheaded but Iāve cleaned the kitchen, both bathrooms and the living room already.
Iāve loaded the dishwasher and done a couple of washings. It feels so good just to catch up on it all. The negative head has gone replaced with Mrs positivityā¦. A can do attitude.
Craigās off work today and has pressure washed our artificial grass. The garden looks amazing.
Man at work!
Having 3 Border Collies meant our natural grass was always in quagmire status but the artificial grass does need washing down.
It looks soooo clean without bits of wood, tree or dog toys all over it!
Bhruās gonna shake this dog toy all over the placeā¦..
Calaidhās always ready with the ball ā½ļø
And Freya found a bone in the great garden clean up!
Weāre all outside in the fresh air. itās beautiful here today.
The weather has been amazing all week and Iāve been so lucky to be outside in it.
I had another amazing sleepā¦. From sometime after 8pm last night right through until 5.30am this morning and then snoozed until after 7.
Iām coughing in my sleep but thatās all, I roll over and back to sleep.
I tested positive again today⦠not gonna lie, I burst into tears dramatically at that. I really expected to be negative today. My symptoms have passed quickly, I still have a cold but itās nowhere near as bad as it was at the start of the week.
Mildly amusing that this looks like a rat after yesterdays shenanigans š¤¦š»āāļøš¤š¤£
So once again Iām feeling really sorry for myself instead of focusing on the upsides. (Trying to stay away from the positives and negatives š¤£) I feel completely wiped out yet Iām annoyed by it. I want to shake it off, clear the fog and yet I canāt seem to.
I took some photos of the lovely daffodils growing in the garden today.
They are just so perfect. š¼
My brother sent me photos of some Highland Cows he saw this morning on his walk. They made me smile.
Iāve been working again today. Still mostly outside though I did have to move into the bedroom before lunch today as it got cold.
Itās been hard to focus and to concentrate and almost impossible to remember anything!!
It seems my body really tells me when itās not happy with what Iām doing. Iāve been so antsy and irritable all day. My skin has literally crawled with irritation and Iāve been having tantrums in my head all day.
Craig suggested I wash the bedding today and clean round the room so I had a fresh room to head into tonight and I have to say it was a great idea.
Iāve clean sheets on, Iāve dusted and polished and Iām now in bed with the electric blanket on.
And finally I am calm.
Iām am doing what I want to do and what I need to do. Restingā¦. Doing nothing. Just being.
I slept really well again last night, that sleep of the exhausted. I had Calaidh and Freya in with me and Freya snored something shocking at times. š¤£
Must have been all the excitement from yesterday. I caught her guarding a dead rat in the garden yesterdayā¦.. I canāt believe I forgot to mention it.
My lāil puppy baby may have killed a ratā¦.. breaks my heart!
Something caught my eye at her paws and I couldnāt place what it wasā¦.. you can imagine the dance I did when I realisedā¦. The heebie jeebie dance.
It would appear it takes a dead rat to give me the heebie jeebies. Even just typing these words I feel it all over again!
So I call my neighbour Holly who kept rats as a kid apparently. She has no fear. She suggested I got it onto a shovel and into a bin bag.
Ok just give me a minuteā¦ā¦ to compose myself.
Her daughter watched me through their window and gave them all a running commentary on the disposal⦠happy to provide the humour. š¤·š»āāļøš¤£
I am not gonna lieā¦. It was horrific. Honestly just everything you can imagine⦠but I did it all by myself and I didnāt even scream⦠I just shivered and danced from foot to foot on several occasions.
By the time I was done my heart rate was up at 80 and I was so breathless.
I had to have a seat. š¤£
So, I tested positive again this morning.
Weāre back to the throat and nose swabs again today and it almost made me sick. not sure why North Ayrshire only have a stock of the throat ones? The nose ones are way les offensive!!
I then messaged work, mum & dad, in-laws etc and told them I was still negative! š¤š„“š
I told work I was feeling a bit better and the reply was āthatās positiveāā¦.. yeah I thought it was a step in the right direction tooā¦.
Then I clicked. The test is positiveā¦. Not āstill negativeāā¦. Yup do not take my word for anything much today. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
Craig and I had breakfast in the garden againā¦. Garlic mushrooms on toast a la Craigie before 7.30am. The sky was lovely. so were the garlic mushrooms!
Itās milder today too. There was no frost on the grass.
Iāve had the desk and laptop set up outside as I canāt bring myself to work in that dark, stuffy bedroom. I add jumpers and blankets when Iām cold and remove them when the sun comes out.
I reach a point where I just need to shut my eyes and lie down. I did it this morning and again this afternoon but Iāve managed more than I did yesterday so every day is an improvement.
I do have a real lethargy today. Iām tired and want to sleep but Iām bored of feeling tired but too tired to bother doing anything. The struggle is real.
I will look back on this and think of all the things I could have done instead of sit here whinging about being tired.
I think Iāll shake it up a bit tomorrow and try a bit less of the self pity and lethargy⦠but for now Iām sitting in the sun with my blanket wrapped round me, drinking alcohol free gin and tonic.
I wrote most of this last night which is just as well as I feel Iāve been wiped out todayā¦..
On Friday 20th March 2020 the UK Government announced that all pubs, restaurants, gyms and other social venues were to close and here in Scotland we entered our first COVID-19 lockdown.
None of us knew what to expect, none of us knew what was coming. We were all pretty apprehensive but I also remember being caught up in the drama of something that big happening in our crazy, busy world.
I had just been made redundant on 28th February 2020ā¦. Or indeed my position was made redundant, certainly not helped by the fact I had been off sick with anxiety and depression since Monday 3rd September 2018⦠(5 months of that spent back at work trying to get back into it but thatās another story).
What are the chances I test positive for COVID exactly 2 years to that date?!? I have just figured that out! Two years spent taking so many precautions, masks, hand gel, hand washing and avoiding it like the plague. (At least thatās saying makes relevant sense in our lifetime!)
Iām so caught up in the actual catching it part that I hadnāt realised the significance of the date.
2 years ago our local Beith Townhouse asked people to keep a record of our lives during covid timesā¦. I also knew the benefits of journaling for mental health and I was keen to put āpenā to āpaperāā¦. not sure that saying stands the rest of time. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
So here I amā¦. Iāve written this blog almost every day now for almost 2 years. Iāve been on the most amazing journey through some extreme sadness but also some of the happiest times finding me again.
But this is mostly me todayā¦.
My version of COVID seems to be nothing compared to so many millions of people in the world. Itās a bad head cold with loss of taste and smell.
The cold is even moving on today. I have tiny snippets of taste and smell. Iām just shattered.
Craig bought me real velvety tissues yesterday⦠luxury and some Vicks Vaporub. I couldnāt even remotely smell it yet this morning I got a teeny glimpse of a whiff! (Is that even English?!)
Today has gone soooooo fast. It feels like seconds ago since I woke up.
I slept really well last night, I woke a few times but rolled straight back over. I feel an exhaustion that is difficult to wake up from.
I met Craigie out in the garden for coffee and bacon rolls, could smell the bacon cooking but couldnāt taste it. Our lovely morning rendezvous. I canāt believe how much I miss him. Never happy some folks eh?!
Weāre conducting this strange merry dance around the house just now. We sat out until 8pm last night when he came home from work just so we could have some company. I was wrapped in a big blanket to keep me warm. We both got cold and had to say Goodnight and scurry back into our respective ācellsā⦠and please as I write about this, donāt think for one minute that I donāt know how lucky we are and how much worse it could be. Thatās on my mind all the time when Iām feeling sad about it.
Iām struggling being confined to one room and the garden. Iām tearful, sad and feel extremely vulnerable. Iām almost disappointed when he tests negative again this morning as we have to continue with this isolation. Thatās awful isnāt it.
I had my first shower today and had to clean the bathroom behind me. It felt so good to be fresh and clean but I was knackered after that.
So today my work ran my laptop and phone up to the house. It didnāt arrive until about 10.30 and Iāve been trying to focus on work ever since. I feel confused in my thoughts and struggle to think straight but heyā¦. This is our busiest week of the year so far and they need my help. I canāt remember anything about last week at all at the moment let alone what weāre trying to achieve this week.
Iām trying to balance the laptop on my knee in Granās recliner chair while the dogs bound about and bark when Iām on calls, then the door goes and I canāt answer that but the dogs doā¦. Then the phones ringing. By 3.30pm I had to lie down for a sleep.
Yesterday I made myself way too many rulesā¦. I was only allowing myself to go from the bedroom to the toilet and out the office door to the garden.
It meant I didnāt really eat much yesterday so that was a bit daft. Today Iāve just had to use the shower, the kitchen and it is what it is.
So thatās another day in the life. I get to test in the morning and if Iām negative tomorrow and Thursday I can go back to the office Thursday. My father in law called on his way home from work and said his sister tested positive for 15 daysā¦ā¦ 15 ?!? I must have the patience of a gnat as Iāve only been in isolation for 2 and a bit and Iām climbing the walls.
This makes me giggle as it totally sums up how I feel but⦠it could be so, so, so much worse.
Mum and Dad just suggested using Abbie the Campervan as a makeshift office⦠hmmm they might be on to something for tomorrow.
Itās 2.23 am and Iāve been awake for an hour. I went to bed at 8pm and slept right through until 1.23am. To be fair I think it was Calaidh who woke me as she is still in the room with me.
I woke in a sweat, the bed is soaking but that can happen to me on a normal day. The joys of my age š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£.
I canāt breathe through my nose at all. My Lemsip Max Cold & Flu tablets arenāt touching it.
Auntie Jac recommended the old bowl of steaming hot water and a towel over my head. I tried this just before bed last night.
And yesā¦. I even tried a selfie 𤳠š¤£
I donāt feel like any of it got through but Iām sure I wonāt have any blackheads as jeez that was a baptism of hot steam.
Iām ramming a big tube of Deep Heat up my nose and nothingā¦.. not even the faintest whiff of what is one of the strongest smells.
So all that said I think the steam sniffing is the reason I got a good 5 hours sleep.
Itās hard not to overthink in the wee small hours. My symptoms might not be very pleasant right now but what about all those people that couldnāt breathe and were completely alone, totally isolated from their loved ones. The ones who died alone and the ones who couldnāt be with them when they died. Itās horrific to even imagine that world and yet so many people went through it. COVID-19 has forced a separation on us all that up until now I thought I enjoyed but when you stop and think, itās so very sad.
Now regular readers will know that I crave solitude. I love me some quiet alone time. Hell Iāve even wished for an isolation period so that I can just take some steps back and rest.
And here I am, starting a paragraph with āandāā¦.. itās not as much fun as it sounds. It feels a bit scary, I feel very vulnerable, I feel very alone with my thoughts.
Itās not even been 24 hours yet and I actually miss Craig. I normally love a night he may have fallen asleep on the couch and I get the bed to myself. Tonight it just feels quite lonely.
I sat outside until after 6pm yesterday. I had messaged the pub next door and for dinner delivered. The Chicken Enchilada is super spicy and I could only tell that by the sensation on my lips and in my throat. The taste buds in my mouth give me nothing at all.
I have zero sense of taste or smell so far. My sinuses are sore and not shifting, my eyes were sore but have benefited from some sleep and my cough is sore but, thankfully, only sporadic. Itās not like a normal cold and flu cough. Itās chesty and deep but thereās a croak at the end of it that seems to take away the satisfaction of a good (mucus moving) cough. Sorry mucus should never be used in a sentence.
Calaidh staying clear last night! š¤£
Iāve been writing for 20 minutes now so Iāll try to get some more sleep now.
I went back to sleep just before 3am and of course was woken by the Fit Body Farm 5am alarm and then the 5.10am snoozeā¦. š¤¦š»āāļø but I slept right through until 7 which is fine by me.
Craig and I met for coffee at opposite sides of the garden. He says Iām shut out the house. š¦ š·
The fresh air is a welcome relief. I opened the window in the bedroom too.
So for everyone whoās had this, Iām preaching to the converted but itās the hardest thing in the world to figure out how to manage everything. Iāve just been presented with my own bin bag, Iām wearing a buff as I walk to the bathroom, I have my own hand sanitiser and a mini Fabulosa disinfectant. All of these things thought of this morning and Iāve probably infected the rest of the house already.
Craig is testing negative again this morning so we have to keep up this strange new way of living.
I went back to bed after 9 and slept until 11.30am with the electric blanket and fleecy jammies on so was super cosy. Iām back outside in Granās recliner chair. Iām much more tired today. Wabbit.
Iām not hungry (which is no bad thing) and just want to sleep.
The sun feels lovely on my suntan lotioned skin. That was an effort in itself but it feels so much nicer to be outside that cooped up in the bedroom.
Iām now carrying around a plastic bag around with me. It has the toilet roll for my nose because of course, we have run out of tissues, my hand sanitiser, my mini disinfectant, my water, my bin bag, my book and my cold and flu tablets. Means nothing is left lying loose for Craig I know Iām maybe overthinking it but it lets me move around and Iām happier that way.
He got my beanie hat and my chapstick from the van and those two items are a game changer to my day. Simple things eh?!
Itās hazy today but that makes it feel a bit warmer in my sun trap.
So since then it clouded right over so Iāve come inside to the sun room, Iām wrapped up and have all the doors wide open but itās getting cooler. Iāve honestly done nothing to do but sleep and stare into space really. š¤Øš„“ Iām shattered and that is ok.
So at 3.35pm Iām back in bed. The blanketās on so Iām heatng back up. Another wee nap I think.
Iāve added in this paragraph to let you know as you are readingā¦. I started this blog with Day 720 and no heading as sometimes that comes to me later on the day⦠I am oblivious to the fact I have COVID as I write⦠until I eat a late breakfastā¦
Wide awake at 5.30am. To be fair I canāt breathe with the cold. Iām propped up on 2 large pillows which helps but not enough to sleep all night. The cold and flu tablets arenāt touching it todayā¦. Just so blocked up.
Iām still buzzing from all the workout yesterday. Its another beautiful day but itās a cold morning. Despite my best efforts it is not yet flip flop weatherā¦. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£
I spend some time on the Cleanup App deleting photos off my phone. A while back I got down from 54,000 to about 44,000 and itās crept back up to 47kā¦. No small wonder when I take as many as I do in one day.
It feels good to clear photos.
Now itās 8am, weāve had coffee and Iām off up the hill with Calaidh. Got her to pose with the daffies!
They are so beautiful. These ones grown a the base of the wall of the milkmanās farmā¦
You can see them in the next photo. They are beautiful every year.
The sun is finally warming up as we walk. Calaidhās in her element and Iām writing this as I go. Talk about multi tasking!
How about a gateā¦. Itās been a while.
Thought Iād try an arty shot of this dirt road. Everything is so much more appealing in the sunlight. Itās a good day to be alive.
This is the dry stane dyke I got stuck on a few years back when a group of us had gone up to the old golf course for a prosecco dog walk. (When I was still drinking).
I still remember lying here in hysterics unable to negotiate the stones and the two sets of barbed wire.
Itās just as difficult today as I take photos and try to breathe through my blocked up noseš¤¦š»āāļø without being sozzled.
As we walk I spot about 10 deer in the distance. I shout to Calaidh so that they hear us and she doesnāt scare them⦠yeah I know so I scare them instead but If I were a deer Iād rather know someone was coming than have a Border Collie hard on my hooves⦠if you zoom in you can see 2 of them that I caught on camera.
Calaidh is oblivious thankfully as 3 of them are late to twig we are there and finally head off after the rest. Love the white bums!
The gorse is out in full bloom. Itās so stunning against the blue sky.
And thisā¦.. is my favourite bush. (Stop it!) itās situated up on the Old Beith Golf Course and you have to hunt to find it. Itās a beautiful pink Rhododendron in the middle of a whole load of gorse bushes.
Itās such a beautiful plant.
So delicate.
Calaidh is pleased that we finally start walking again⦠sheās bored with all the photos and I head up to the viewpoint out over Lochwinnoch. Itās so clear you can see for miles.
As I look across to the Bigholm Hill I realise Iāve never been over to visit the new cairn built there so we head across⦠negotiating the very old and new gates.
Calaidhās unsure of how to get through the old turnstile. The path is dry but donāt imagine it would be great in the rain!
It was worth the walk. Wow!
This is the original site of the Beith and District War Memorial which was first dedicated in November 1920 (guess thatās when the gate was built tooā¦). It was moved to its existing location in Janefield Place in Beith in 1946.
The cairn was erected to commemorate the original location.
There are crocheted or knitted poppies inserted into the rocks attached to sticks. Itās such a beautiful space. So atmospheric and this is the view.
Thereās a wee bench where I sit now to write most of this.
As we head down a plane is on approach to Glasgow Airport.
Zoom in!
I realise how pretty all of our single track roads are in the sunshine. The old dry stane dykes have been around for a long time and many are encrusted in such thick moss.
Our lovely village from up the hill.
Craig phoned to find out where we were as weād been away for so long!
So I come home and we have a coffee outside and I start hanging washing. I realise Iām hungry and randomly have a bowl of crunch nut cornflakes.
I CANāT TASTE A THING.
REALLY OBVIOUSLY NOTHING.
Craig squirts some Nandoās spicy mayonnaise onto a teaspoon⦠despite me turning up my nose and questioning why I would want spicy Mayo in the middle of a bowl of cornflakes⦠heās right⦠I need to know if I can taste it.
NOTHINGā¦. Until I swallow and I feel the back of my throat.
I take a test and within seconds the line against the T line is visible.
I scream āIāM POSITIVE, OH MY GOD, IāM POSITIVEā¦.ā
Nothing⦠I donāt even know if heās in the house. I run to find him shouting āIām positiveā⦠whilst staying far enough away⦠heās heard me the first timeā¦. Heās just thinking everything through being self employedā¦. And staying well out of my way.
I wait the 15 minutes and the lines are brighter than Iāve ever seen them.
Itās the strangest feeling. I donāt feel any different from how I did this morning . Just really stuffy and bunged up. I realise now why cold and flu tablets might not be working.
Now I have a label. I scan around my body searching to other signsā¦. Do I feel the diseaseā¦. The COVIDā¦. Nope still nothing, itās ok, I can relax.
Iāve stopped following the COVID guidelines as they are changing by the minute at the moment so I have no idea whatās expected of me. I start to look that up and find itās pretty confusing.
Scotland have different rules to England and a Google search in the UK often returns English resultsā¦. I start down that route and realise Iām Scottishā¦. Wrong rules.
So I have to self isolate for 10 days from when my symptoms first showed. Mum informs me this was Friday when I announced āI dot the toldā in my nasally voice.
I messaged everyone Iāve seen and logged the positive test online after a fair Google search to find out how to do it.
Then the test and protect text messages start pinging through.
So thatās not at all how I expected today to go. Craigās still fine⦠did I say that already?
Iāll take the bedroom as Iāve slept in all of those sheets already and heās cleaned a bathroom down. Thereās no way not to have contact with each other really we just have to try and minimise it as best we can.
He caught Norovirus off me in January so I donāt fancy his chances. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
I humphed Grans recliner chair outside into the sun. I refuse to lock myself indoors on a day like this.
Iāve put some sun cream on as FaceTime with mum and dad revealed that I am burningā¦.. Iām nearly 50 and theyāre both telling me to get sunscreen on! ā„ļøā„ļø
Dad announces Iām the first person heās ever āseenā with COVID-19.
I am happy to obligeā¦.. notā¦..
Also there is worse weather and there are worse views⦠Iāll be outside as much as I can for fresh air in the hope it blasts this to kingdom come.
To kingdom comeā¦ā¦What does that saying even mean?!?
Iām getting new diesel heater fitted in Abbie the camper van and Graham at work has kindly agreed to fit it in a Saturday for me.
I was awake at 6am and down to Tartan HQ just before 8.
Iām walking Bhru to start getting the mileage up as weāre taking part in the Wolf Pack 100 today with the Fit Body Farm. In our teams we have to achieve 100kms over this weekend.
Itās a beautiful morning!
Bhru is living her best life!
We did a lovely walk which doesnāt look very exciting on the app but Iām already 5.5K into my day.
We walked towards Dundonald Castle⦠looking particularly splendid on its perch on the hill in the sunshine.
The flag is barely moving as thereās no breeze.
Some beautiful daffies! Iām so glad I got a photo of them as some years I miss the daffies altogether.
We then walked down onto the Smugglers Trail in Dundonald.
Itās a beautiful walk on a beautiful day.
Now Bhruic and I did a minuscule tiny bit of this today but it was lovely so Iād highly recommend it. So atmospheric!
The Dundonald Burn was really noisy in the still of the morning.
The landscape is enchanting. All the rocks covered in thick green moss.
We turned off the path to get back to Tartan and Bhru had a big run in this field.
Itās warm in the sun already.
A flock of geese noisily fly over⦠a sign that spring is definitely on the way.
I wish Iād recorded them as the noise was incredible. Back to Tartan HQ to catch Abbie on the ramps!
So I sat outside for a wee bit and tried to stretch off my knee as itās been really sore on that walk.
The rest has done it good. Iām gonna be too late back to get to the Farm on time so Craig is going on his own and Iāll get him there.
Of course there are kisses from Bhru!
I felt awful that it took the poor guy 4 hours of his own time to put a new diesel heater in. I ended up being late to the Wolf Pack 100 but thatās ok. Plans can be changed.
I was back home for 12.30 and out to the Fit Body Farm for just after 1pm. Thankfully Iād already done my 5.5km.
Craigie in Team Courage action on the Ski-erg putting in some kmās.
Team Avery on the rowing machines⦠I love that I am blurry. my photographer was in portrait mode!
Looking over the Arran while watching guys on the assault course.
Craig was out catching go-pro footage of the guys in action. I just have photos of him and none of the guys doing the obstacle course race! š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļøš¤£
Heading off on another 4 laps of the garden!
Action shots⦠it always amazes me how lovely the Farm is. We are so lucky to be able to workout here in such stunning surroundings.
Then onto the ski-erg.
So Iāve managed 10k todayā¦. 5.5K walking, 3k running, 1k on the rowing machine and 1k on the ski-erg.
It turns out we only needed to do 7.5km each for Team Courage but I wanted to do 10km and Iām glad I did!
Itās been a good day. I do have the cold now but my headās in a great place so thatās good.
Sunshine, exercise and a diesel heater. Whatās not to love! šā„ļøS
Itās now 4.50am and I need to plan the Farm shower so be as well getting up now since I have work today.
Always chose kindness. ā„ļø
Oh and this next one is what I need work onā¦. Mastering things I cannot control instead of erupting. Hmmmmā¦
And now a giggleā¦. Sadly still so very true š¤£š¤£
Yet I need to be this.
Perfectly imperfect but 100% dedicated to trying to accept me for who I am.
I guess the key here is not to try to surrender but just to surrender. Yeah I knowā¦.. I need to remember this when something doesnāt go to the law according to Julie. š¤¦š»āāļøš¤£
Check the moon at 5.30am and itās almost light on the drive to the Farm!
The Farm was great again this morning. It was hard work! We worked together in Team Avery and Iām sore already. Always makes me laugh when we do a thing called Sled Pull which is kinda exactly as it sounds⦠we pull a heavy sled down the gym and push it back upā¦.. Craig is sooooo fast at it. His sled goes fleeing past mine every time and itās got almost double the weight!!
I could hardly breathe and heās wheeching his up and down the gym!
It was lovely when I left.
Check this wee guy that watched me getting into the van⦠the colours are amazing. I love that I assume itās male?!? š¤¦š»āāļøš¤·š»āāļø
So work was busy again today but it was a beautiful day! Blue sky and sunshine all day. The portacabin got a wee bit too hot. I feel much better organised after working another day this week. I didnāt leave the place in a mess like I would have yesterday.
Itās such a lovely evening when I leave work that I think of heading to the sea⦠but Iām not feeling great. First of all there was the 4am start so I am tired but Iāve just done a COVID test and itās negative.
I have a really husky throat and my ears feel sore. To be fair I work next to a girl whoās had tonsillitis and an ear infection but sheās tested negative throughout so guess it might just be that.
Claire popped up at the fence in the garden and asked if I fancied doing something but Iām really feeling too tired. Itās such a shame as it would have been nice and we would have had a lovely time.
Weāve also got a big event at the Farm tomorrow so I need to get some energy back before them.
Itās going to be 16C up here tomorrowā¦. I mean come on⦠thatās like our summer!
It also a lovely evening though cold now the sun is going down.
My headās been good today thankfully.
Jammies on, waiting on dinner cooking and a quiet evening.
First of all the sky was amazing last night when I let the dogs out before bed. So clear and Orionās Belt was beaming out the sky!
Which meant I shouldnāt have been surprised that Abbie the camper van was super frosty this morning. I had to leave her running for a good bit but it gave a lovely sunrise, frosty windscreen photo!
Morning on St Patrickās Day āļø
This makes me laugh every yearā¦. Weāre still Scottish!
Oh wow now if only I was waking up to that sunshine and beachā¦. Now that would be nice!
Anyhow, back to realityā¦
I was in work for 7.15am to meet with a customer at 7.30ā¦. I was frozen to the bone after weād spoken for an hour. I couldnāt get my hands to work to write the notes!! I was still wearing a woolly buff and fingerless gloves at 10am!
We had good day at work and we got through everything as planned. There were a few hiccups which made me wobble a bit.
By huiccups I mean things that didnāt go according to the law of Julie of course. And that is some lawā¦ā¦ š¤¦š»āāļø
Now one thing I want to talk about was raised by a fellow blogger recently and Iāve not had time to reply to her blog⦠since something similar happened to me today itās made me really think about it.
Why is it that people can cut you with their words. She had a blog reply that belittled the issue she discussed. Shocking and I can only say that comes from a very negative person that wallows in her own self pity and doesnāt support others. Keep your blogging chin up Bossy Babe ā„ļø
I received an email from a supplier that I can only describe as a ānippy sweetieā.
Most definitely the 2nd definitionā¦.
You call to place an order and you get told you have to email it⦠fair enough but in a very sharp-tongued/peevish way.
I email and then get a reply that says they canāt get it to us until Monday or Tuesday next week (usually deliver same day) and by the way, despite my (her) explanation on the call, we paid the wrong account recently, transferred payment to the wrong account that is. She gives me the correct bank details and says ensure you use these in the future. All fine despite her sharp tongue which came across in her email.
I grit my teeth and reply saying apologies for getting the wrong account but the emails I receive have the following (incorrect) account details on and thatās what I paid. Could she arrange to send me the correct invoice requests directly to me and I would ensure it was right moving forward.
Her reply was that my boss knows what to do and has done it right in the past so just do it right the next time!!!!
Except Mrs Nippy McNipperson⦠that we just paid it into the wrong account and you just gave me a row for it!!!!!
Now as I read all that back the sting is all gone and I realise itās nothing but I am incensed when people just canāt be nice. Sheās customer facing and yet everything is too much trouble for her.
She was stroppy on the phone about payment then we got it wrong so I try to rectify it and she basically says it doesnāt need fixing coz we know how to do it????
So my anxiety starts to build. My mind keeps coming back to her, I type several replies and delete them. I decide Iām going to call herā¦.. I decide I probably shouldnāt.
Meanwhile itās 3pm⦠Iām finishing in a hour and I have a huge workload to complete before 4pm. I canāt just walk away and ātake a day off tomorrowāā¦
Iām so annoyed that I havenāt planned it better and yet as I type that I know that I have never stopped. There are so many customers in that just been a busy week.
I really struggle to type this but I did burst into tears when someone asked came to say goodbye as they were leaving. Iām so embarrassed by that. Iām angry at myself for letting it get to me that much. I hoped that girl had gone with the last job. She was a nightmare for a long time in the last one and cried at something every day. Is she back? Is this what Iāve become again? (Maybe talking about myself in the third person, Iām trying to distance myself from it).
Anyway, once I get over it and make the decision Iām working tomorrow I calm down. As quickly as that.
I can only describe what happened as an eruption of anxiety.
So Iām feeling ok this evening but I am beginning to question my progress. There seem to be a whole lot of tears these days over things that are not worthy of them.