Ooooh I’ve had a lovely wee day today. I’ve done nothing much but I’ve not stopped. I’m doing what I like when I want to do it and not doing all the stuff I felt I “should” do.

The disappointment of the morning was that all the “almost dry” stuff we left outside last night in our garden laundry… was SOAKED…. overnight in the rain. Hey ho…. It’s all wet again but it’ll dry… sometime!

A selfie with some cows before 9am this morning while we took the dogs from a walk. These guys were too cute.

I also spent some time on my positive mental attitude…. I’ve got loads to share in the blog today. Sunday mornings are good for some positive reflections.

We’ve had the best holiday. It took a few nights to settle in but we did and feel refreshed and relaxed.

I’ve made a few calls today to catch up with people… I’ve blitzed the ground floor of Freya’s excess hair… oh my god it’s that season again, can hardly wait until Bhruic and Calaidh decide to join her. She’s moulting everywhere. It felt really good to hoover it all up… then she flounces through the room and it all fluffs everywhere again. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

And I have crocheted and crocheted and crocheted!! I can’t stop joining squares together and I love it. Wonder if I can do this all day at work tomorrow?!

I’m enjoying the completion of it rather than just crocheting squares . Seeing something coming together feels good.

So I’ve sat inside this afternoon as it’s not been as warm as was forecast. I’ve watched more Grace and Frankie as I’ve crocheted and I’ve enjoyed it. I feel so chilled I need a nap but I can’t stop crocheting 🧶 🤣🤣🤣

Thought we could all do with a wee Calaidh pic too. She’s been helping me crochet… getting stuck in the wool. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

My gym gear is ready.

My work clothes are ready…. (Jeans and T-shirt … 🤣🤣 hardly work clothes eh?!)

This is the first time I’ve gone back to work after a fortnights holiday in about hmmmm 4 years 🤣 Gotta be prepared.

But we had a blast!

This is your Sunday evening reminder that you can handle everything this week throws at you.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

What a lovely day compared to yesterday. It was warm when I got up and sat outside for coffee. The sun wasn’t out yet but it’s stopped raining which is something.

I had the best sleep… the kind I don’t ever want to wake up from but as soon as I opened my eyes I thought about the washing machine delivery so had to check my phone! Fatal… wide awake.

We were 8th for delivery so I spent the morning stalking the drivers on the AO tracking site. #stalker 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

I’m so impressed with the service. Honestly… I bought the washing machine about 26 hours before it was installed. I think that’s pretty good.

Out with the 747 jumbo jet take off washing machine and in with the “barely makes a sound you have to keep checking it’s on” new one!

Now the installation wasn’t the easiest…. As father in law and Craig will agree having plumbed in the old one when we moved in….. lots of hmmmmmm-ing, huffing and puffing and exclamations that it wouldn’t fit as it must be bigger, has a bigger back on it, can’t push in further without compromising the pipes, doors won’t close over….should have a longer drain tube…. I sensed a lot of haste… trying to do it all too quickly to get to the next job… as he kept telling me. Lo and behold… a bit of perseverance and it fits exactly as the last one did… with a few small dents at the bottom where he was trying to push it in with his feet.

He then asks for a 5/5 when the text comes through for proof of completion as it will help guarantee him more work.

Of course I give him a 5/5… to be fair he did get it in where we needed it to be despite his own protests!

I wasn’t sure what to do with myself as I had no one to stalk once the delivery guys had gone but the good news was there was hundreds of washing to do!

I went out to put the pop top up in the van to dry and swept out the floor and carpet… washed the floor rugs.

Claire then asked me in for a cuppa so I popped into hers for an hour or so. Good catch up after holidays!

Back home and cleaned the pop up toilet tent, did more washing, weeded the garden, cut back some hostas…. Not a fan of a hosta at all. cut back with pleasure.

There are hundreds of flies and wasps about just now…. All landing on me… either that or I’m getting tickled by my long hair or wool….. I’m jumping about every few seconds!!

I am crocheting again. I’ve been inspired by the crochet ladies changing it up this week and starting a blanket…. so I decided to start joining some of my squares together. Became a bit of a woman possessed!!

Just picking them randomly and joining them together as I go. This is going to be mums blanket though god knows when it will ever be finished!

It all looks a bit wonky now but that’s just because it’s different thicknesses of wool all needing stretched to be the same size! All the balls of wool said double knitting but they were not all the same. Dammit.

I’ve been sitting out in the sun since about 3pm and it’s been hot. Lovely.

There were loads of sightings of the Aurora Borealis last night so I downloaded an app as they said it was going to be a great few days even down in Ayrshire. The app is called the Glendale App and is found online rather than any App Store.

This was the detail from this morning and sadly tonight it’s back to level 0 meaning we spent see anything. Too much cloud cover.

Some of the photos from last night were stunning… greens, purples, pinks. Would be fascinating to see. it’s on my bucket list!

So our last night of holiday with a lie in the next day so we popped into the village pub for a couple of drinks. I had Tanquery 0% Gin with Schweppes Pink Soda. A nice wee change.

Oh and a lovely lady who was leaving the pub stopped to chat and asked if I was the Rambling Sloth….. it took me by surprise…. Quite embarrassed but a wee bit proud to say that I am. 🦥

Anyway crashing back to reality we came home for dinner and wait for this… we didn’t order takeaway but made Beetroot Pesto pasta…. It looks a bit unusual (pink!) but tasted so good.

It’s been a really long day but in a good way. I feel like I’ve achieved loads. Great when my head is in a better place.

Long may it continue.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

It’s not stopped raining all day. Kinda glad we came home yesterday so we could watch it all from the heat of the house!

I’ve been in a funny mood today. Irritable I think. Maybe end of holiday blues? Maybe having to buy a new washing machine… and still having water back up issues…. In the house…. Not me personally 🤣🤣🤣

I think from the peace of living in a woodland for a week to home with responsibilities, dramas, things happening that you can’t control it was all just a bit much for positivity.

So we were awake sharp again this morning. Up, coffee and pottering about tidying up the camping stuff. It was one of those mornings where I found a clothes peg…. Went and put it away….. then found another clothes peg… put it away…… then found another clothes peg……. Must have done this about 5 or 6 times…. Good for the step count but not so much for productivity?!?

Ordered the new washing machine through AO… the same as the one we have obviously just a newer version. They will deliver it tomorrow….. I’m truly blown away by that… And they will disconnect the old one, reconnect the new one and take the old one away! All within 24 hours of ordering it…. There was also a code that popped up saying “do you want another £25 off?”…. If so copy this code…. Eh ok….. done.

We also went to our local butchers to buy some meat for our new found interest in cooking. I need it to last this time. I need to take control of my health and nutrition. I’ve been talking about it for long enough.

We have chicken for Tandoori Chicken Masala and Chicken Makhani and Pork fillet for pork Tacos.

We’ve written a list of all the things we need to do to the house to bring it back up to speed. I felt a bit overwhelmed by it all.

And then I went to bed. I actually watched tv in bed which is something I never do. A couple of episodes of Grace and Frankie which always makes me relax and laugh. Then the best nap ever.

I woke up at 5pm and Craig has tidied out the kitchen cupboards and the fridge and prepped everything for dinner. Mega brownie points Mr A!

I was going to say…. So a bit of a nothing day…. Now that I write this I realise we have done enough. I am enough. I need to help create peace rather than soak up drama. All while concentrating on health and nutrition. Easy. Boom.

A couple of holiday pics to end.

And relax….

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Hi honey…. I’m home!! Ok yeah so he came too so that’s pointless 🤣 he’s home too.

Knackered but home….. 5 and a half hours drive.

We could have stopped off somewhere but 5 nights off grid with no showers and toilets mean that today would have been all about the shower. What’s the point in paying for a campsite so you can get all cleaned up just to come home. May as well just come straight home dirty!

Mr A got first shower as he emptied Abbie the camper van while I went up to collect Bhruic and Freya.

They’ve been good girls and Lesley and John from Kookie Kennels said they were doing some singing (howling!) at a Tibetan Terrier next door 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

I’ve hear that wolf howl before…. That’s exactly what it sounds like…..when I don’t take them all out for a walk at once. It’s as if they are trying to tell us where they are so we don’t forget them…. As if…. here they are in case you were worried about them 😍 (‘scuse the mess in the background!)

My hair’s actually held up really well surprisingly. It’s not a “going out for the night in Glasgow” kinda hair do but it’s also not the worst either! It’s funny how I wouldn’t dream of leaving it for that long normally yet it is actually fine.

Actually after that photo maybe I need to wash my face 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

So I have to admit it was a wonderful shower. I was in there for ages!! My hair was super tuggy…. Maybe those dreadlocks I’ve been growing are not for me?!?

We’ve unpacked, put a washing on then soaked the kitchen floor as our washing machine poured the water right back out at us! We’ve definitely got a blockage somewhere in our water works… it’s causing water to back up so we need to get that sorted. At least we both got showers…. Can you imagine?!?

We’ve popped into the village pub to catch up on the news and now the fire’s on, the heating’s on and we’re home and cosy and the pups are all happy to be home.

Stay safe everyone 🐶🐶🐶

What a stunning sky last night. We lost the sun at 5pm but the light show on the hills behind us was beautiful.

Dinner was amazing. Chicken Tikka kebabs with peppers and onions.

With a campfire to follow.

We sat out until 10pm last night. It was peaceful and calm.

We woke up to this….

Breakfast consisted of Welsh Dragon sausages… pork, leak and chilli 🌶…. With Welsh bacon 🥓 and brioche toast all cooked on Doug’s Bush Pig which is a great Braai or BBQ.

After breakfast we decided to take Calaidh out for a walk and explore some more in the sunshine. It’s a beautiful day and I know we are lucky as I don’t think the rest of the country has this weather today. It makes foe some stunning photos!

We found a wee pond that says it’s a home for Otters… none of them came anywhere near Calaidh!

We walked the red line.

There’s a few single trees left which look really lonely!

Took this panorama…. If you click into you can see the full pic.

The walk then turned from forestry commission roads to a small woodland track. There’s no filter on my phone. These are all natural colours.

Now heading down to the side of the estuary but it’s only 11.30am and the tide is still out so it looks completely different from yesterday.

Yesterday we saw there were loads of geese nesting at the side of the estuary…. Every now and then they decide to fly and I got a picture of them today!

There’s another 6 photos of geese but to be fair none of them are very good!

Ok so you get the gist. The estuary is picturesque but it’s the weather that really makes it. It’s hot. We’re all in shorts and T-shirt. It’s the 15th September and that’s not bad going.

We went back to Calaidh’s pond on the way back to camp.

We came back up to the campsite… Calaidh found a high cliff…..

We headed past the main farm building.

So back home and made coffee and had some Galaxy choc chip cookies 🍪

Calaidh is having a proper nap now! Tiredy pupper.

I am… of course…. Lying here on a blanket next to her. The forecast says 16C but honestly it feels way hotter than that. We are so lucky to get some sun.

He plan is to relax for the rest of the day before rump steak 🥩 for dinner and another campfire. 🔥 This is our last night away. 😱

I’m honestly blown away by the scenery here. Every time I look up I see something different. I love to appreciate nature and I could quite get used to this simple living.

Travelling back to Scotland tomorrow… hoping this weather keeps up for the rest of the week!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Another great nights sleep last night. It rained again but didn’t start until about 9.30pm as we went to bed.

Dinner was an amazing spiced Lamb hotpot.

So dinner took 7 hours to cook yesterday but that’s the fun watching it’s progress. I read and crocheted throughout the day. Hard life eh?!

We spent the evening by the fire… as you do!

All packed up this morning and ready to go.

My first overlanding in the van to get out the field. To be fair…. It was nothing…. It was like driving out of a supermarket car park… I’m glad I woke up at 5am and worried about being able to get out of the field given the rain…. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

So this morning had coffee but skipped breakfast and headed down into Presteigne to go to the local butcher. The woman who runs it is Argentinian and she lived in Sourh Africa for years so Warren and Doug go their to pick up their meet for their Potjie (poy-kee) and Braai (our BBQ!) Warren is from South Africa 🇿🇦 and Doug from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼.

So Doug has agreed to join us for the next few days of our trip. We are headed to Cefn Coed in Dolgellau. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (I’m getting the use out of all my flag emojis today!)

It was a beautiful drive over. The sun is desperately trying to come out and when it does it’s very hot!

We stopped at Caffi Jo-Jo for breakfast about an hour and 15 into our journey.

They had a streamer but cute wee mini village in their front garden….

The roads are mostly double carriageway with single track in places more due to the high hedges but they were very up hill and down valley…. Lovely scenery though!

So the boys did prep for dinner while I went off in search of the sun….. out of the shade….to write the blog!

Tonight we are having chicken tikka, pepper and onion kebabs. I know I’ve said this before but the food has been a game changer for us as it’s encouraged us to look for different things to prep and make that a part of the holiday…. She says as she sits out in a field doing none of it 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

We decided to go for a quick explore as we are close to the Mawddach Estuary.

So good news to report is Calaidh hasn’t had a dodgy tum so we’ve been getting to sleep through the night. The sun is shining and is forecast for tomorrow too. Chicken Tikka is marinating so I’m looking forward to that.

Most of all I have been very calm. I’m doing all of the driving and it’s helping to build my confidence. I still have my moments (climbing a 20% incline today while Craig was asking me a question….. 😳😬🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😱)

I’m still thinking about work. I don’t have my work phone but still see chat on messenger and social media. It’s on my mind a fair bit and I guess that’s gonna take some work to stop thinking about it. I’m not worried about it which I guess is the main thing.

Sitting here in the sun right now I suddenly remind myself that I am almost exactly 31 days without anti depressants for the first time in almost as many years. I’ve driven from Ayrshire to Islay and back and down to Wales and will drive back.

I am pretty damn proud of everything I’m achieving.

And the sun’s finally gone behind the trees… enough rambling. Heading back into camp to see what’s for eating 🥘🔥😉🤣

Stay safe everyone 🔥🔥🔥

This is wild camping.

All I can hear is birds tweeting…. Goats bleeting 🐐…. Owls 🦉 doing whatever owls do, an occasional cow mooing 🐮 and of course the river flowing.

It’s so peaceful.

Now this is not for everyone. It’s basically a woodland that cows wander around… but other than our mate Warren there is no one else around. Doug and Steve are arriving this afternoon. sorry I forgot of course Calaidh is here… barking at sticks occasionally 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Warren took as for a drive round Nash Oakland in his truck as it’s 4X4. It’s a huge expanse where people can camp for a tenner a night and not see another soul the whole time. First we had to get through the river.

I said to Warren that I’d take loads of photos of him driving through…. He already has loads! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Then we went for a drive into Presteigne for supplies.

This is a lovely wee village and the guy in the shop was super friendly asking us where we were from and how long we were here.

Back at camp to chill and relax.

Doug and Steve arrived early to mid afternoon and started cooking dinner.

Doug and I went for a paddle in the river…. Oh my actual god. It is freeeeeezing and so painful but very, very refreshing!

So the guys are used to meeting up together and make poetjie (poy-kee) for dinner which is a like a stew which loads of ingredients and spices.

Tonight’s was Chicken Masala. Here is the prep!

Steve stirring the onions, garlic 🧄 and butter.

Almost ready to eat. We had it with naan bread and it was amazing!

So yeah no signal again…. So can’t post this….. It’s lovely to not be checking your phone every 5 minutes.

Stay safe everyone 🐐🦉🐮

I went to bed before 10 last night and left the guys round the fire. It was raining quite heavily last night from about 6.30pm but we retreated under our respective canopies with the campfire still burning in the middle! 🏕 🔥

So we both slept really well again and woke up about 8.30am which is the longest lie in on the holiday.

Breakfast was a breakfast for champions again made by Warren on the BBQ. I Tom Calaidh down to the river for a walk.

Steve left before lunch and Craig, Warren and Doug went back into the village for supplies. Tonight’s dinner is Spiced Lamb Pot!

I took Calaidh for a walk in the opposite direction from camp while the boys were out.

So the boys were back in camp in a heartbeat or so it seemed. I had just sat down with a book….. I kept on reading!

Warren packed up camp and headed home as he’s working tomorrow.

Doug then does the prep for dinner! Can you tell Craig and I are being very well looked after this holiday.

I went for a nap this afternoon too…. up in the top of the pop top.

Now I’m crocheting….

It’s a hard life this camping and lounging around malarkey 😆

I’m conscious I’m posting today’s blog before yesterday’s but hey…. I’m heading back into camp soon where there’s no signal.

Looking forward to dinner and an early night!

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

No signal at camp so posting a day late!

Wow what a day! Driving, driving, driving!!

So the puppers slept in with us last night…. Of course they did… given that two of them were off to the kennels today for their holidays. I went to sleep with Freya cradled in my arms. It was the sweetest thing…. She’s moulting like crazy so there was hair everywhere. In my mouth, eyes…. You get the gist!

And… to ad to it all…. I woke up with a raging headache and stomach cramp. Just in time for 5 days wild camping in a wood with no toilets of showers. Naturally.

At 9.15am I had my last shower….. at 9.50am I too this photo.

Off on their holidays. We are both really struggling with this but the kennels were lovely. Lesley and a John both came out to meet me and Joh took Bhruic and Freya while Lesley distracted my attention by asking about their food. I glanced toward the dogs and she said nope don’t look…. Gulp. I had a little lip wobble but they made me feel at ease.

So back to the house and we left just after 11am. First stop was to my lovely in laws and they took all of our washing yesterday and by the time we had arrived my mother in law (Mawlaw!) had washed and….. IRONED…. everything!! Sooooo lovely of her…. Most of the stuff she ironed has never been ironed before. I am not an ironer!

So armed with freshly made chicken Mayo brioche rolls…. We set off on our journey.

After an hour and a half…. England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Then hours and hours and hours of driving and finally Wales.

So we’re staying at Nash Oakland near Presteigne in Wales. We are camping in a woodland next to a river. In the middle of nowhere. With no signal. It sooooo peaceful.

Calaidh is in her element. Playing in the water and with a stick.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’ve just sat down! It’s 20.55 and it’s been a busy day.

We left the campsite at 8am this morning. Bhru was great through the night and only asked to go out at 6.30am which was great. We both slept so well!

It was raining when we woke up but super foggy by the time we left.

At Port Ellen they asked me to park right at the entrance to the ferry (which wasn’t there yet!) more reversing into spaces on front of everyone and making sure I didn’t reverse over the edge of the pier….. 🤣

The ferry is still not here but the foghorn was getting closer. Not gonna lie it was kinda terrifying….. and very, very loud!!

This is how close we were!! check what was unloaded while we waited?!?! We reckon new stills for Caol Isla distillery maybe?

Poor Bhru didn’t like the fog horn…. Whe also doesn’t like the sound of the ramp deploying…. Wee soul.

We were first on!!

I’m surprised that CalMac were still running in that fog but they were and it was the Finlaggan this time. What a posh ship!

It’s not every day a pupper gets to do this!

They’re all settled… I can go exploring!

The fog is lifting a bit but we sail out with the fog horn still blowing.

There’s barely a ripple at sea…. So calm.

Spotted passing on the fog.

So we got into Kennacraig just before lunchtime. Our plan was to drive over to Claonaig and sail to Lochranza on Arran again. It’s 21.14 now and we would still not be home…. We would just be arriving back from Ardrossan.

We realised we hold make much better time by driving home from Kennacraig as it’s on the mainland.

This was the plan.

And this was what we actually did….

And saved ourselves about 6 hours!

So we got home at 3, had big cuddles with Calaidh and Freya. Calaidh ran out and jumped in the middle of the van as if to say never leave us alone again!!!

So we’re home for a night to sort everything out, repack and take Calaidh to Wales… or Welsh Wales as we call it 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣.

Bhruic and Freya are going to the lovely kennels we have found but having spent the week with Bhru on her own I feel very sad about doing leaving them. They will be well looked after but it’s still hard. it feels very selfish of us but they’ve been so unhappy travelling recently that it seems like the sensible thing to do.

We popped into the pub for a drink once we had cleaned out the van and then into Claire and Graeme’s next door to see their new fire pit!! Our other neighbours Jim and Fiona were there too so lovely to catch up!

It’s such a cool fire pit area and the lights are lovely.

So thanks so much to our in laws for moving in this week to look after Calaidh and Freya and to our neighbours for walking the dogs! We are very lucky to have such great support.

A long drive to Welsh Wales tomorrow but making the journey part of the holiday.

Stay safe everyone ⛴🌫🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Oh what a night….. 🎶 🎶🎶🎶 do do do do do…… yeah it wasn’t as much fun as that tune might suggest.

Bhruic the model pupper developed a dodgy tum around oooooh maybe 12.22am precisely!!! So the night went something like this….

• Lights out 10ish
• 12.22am first trip out for pooper pupper
• 1.21am back out again
• 1.56am 3rd time lucky
• 2.34am 4th 🤦🏻‍♀️
• Sometime later a plane ✈️ flew right overhead bound for Islay Airport
• 5.17am the neighbours start their engine and leave the site…. I spend the next few minutes trying to think why….. they’ll just be headed to Port Ellen for the 7am ferry…. I allow it.
• 5.45am 5th time and not much happening’ now…
• 6.30am my bloody phone alarm goes off 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣
• 6.40am it starts raining….
• 7.34am back out with Bhru for a sniff around
• 9.28am drop my toilet bag in the toilet 🚻 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️💥🥳🤣🤣🤣

I assure you I do not make this stuff up….

But you know the best of it…. I am smiling inside. I’m laughing at the craziness of it all. Isn’t it funny how our mind works. I’ve been a nightmare on and off since we got here. A day in the sun yesterday and suddenly I’m calm. It’s due to rain here today so we’re planning a lazy day and gonna walk to Bruichladdich as it’s the only distillery we haven’t been in to years. The shop that is…. 🤣

So back to the magical day yesterday. It was a stunning sunrise.

We were up early and on the road before 10am. The Islay/Jura ferry runs back and forward all day I think. I had a slight moment of terror driving on to the ferry…. Oh my actual god…left a bit, right a bit, forward, slow down, keep coming. As my wonderful husband will tell you these words are like triggers to my anxious mind. How does he know you wonder?!? 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️💥💥💥

Port Askaig is beautiful.

That hop across the water was a mere £25…. Captive market I guess.

This sign is at the harbour…. How very true is this?!

Jura has a long single track road with passing places and the first place you come to is called Craighouse. (Course it is!) it’s the most beautiful wee place with palm trees and is home to the Jura Distillery.

Of course we popped in to the distillery and Craig got a wee dram! Bhru got to come in too.

It’s a lovely wee shop. It was also scorching outside. Such a beautiful day.

And then we found the Corran Sands…. A pure white sandy beach with crystal clear water that stretches for miles.

It’s so shallow that you can walk out it it and you just have to brave the very cold moment as you walk in. We played with Bhru for ages. She had a blast. I was gutted I’d left my swimsuit back at camp…… dammit!!

Right I think that might be enough photos of the beach. You get the gist. Tropical with baltic water!

We jumped back in the van and headed back on the road again but found ourselves almost at a dead end and by that time I was kinda done with the drama of driving everywhere. We still had a long drive back to the ferry albeit it in stunning surroundings.

So what did we do…. Stopped back at the beach. Of course we did.

So back along to Craighouse and on to the ferry. Look how steep the ramp is!!!!

I actually had a wee gulp of tears once we got on and we’re sailing away and again when I drove off at Port Askaig. Just a wee overwhelm but I’m bloody chuffed at me doing all that…. Don’t know why as I would have expected Craig to do it in the past and I’m not sure I would have congratulated him for it!

So just when you think we are done… next stop is Bunnahabhain Distillery.

Should say here Caol Isla is closed for renovations… actually did mention that the other day. It’s up this same way but we couldn’t even drive up to see it.

Then finally we got dinner from Peatzeria in Bowmore on the way back.

We sat out until sunset at 8pm. It was still hot until then.

Until it got dark and pup monster started her poop fest. 🤦🏻‍♀️

So today we’ve had a much quieter day. No driving apart from moving the van on the campsite. We walked to Bruichladdich today a 5 mile round trip. It was meant to be torrential rain. Thankfully it’s hardly rained at all. We tried to come home a day early as today was meant to be so bad but we couldn’t move our booking as everything was full. I’m so glad we stayed. It’s been a lovely day to chill (after walking 5 miles of course!)

So that’s us caught back up. Tomorrow we’re travelling home in fog. Let’s see how that goes…. 🌫 🌫 🌫 ⛴ 🌫🌫🌫

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I’m afraid this blog is gonna be a bit of a swizz….. I’m tired after a long but lovely day out from Islay to Jura in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.

It’s been scorching hot today. We’re both brown as berries (burnt to a crisp is more like it but brown as berries more poetic!)

We’ve had a lovely day and I’ve managed to keep my anxiety at bay for the most part. (should say that negotiating your 5m camper van on and off a very small car ferry is something that would generate anxiety in almost anyone… not least the girl who looks for anxiety everywhere!!)

I have sooooo many photos that I’m gonna take the time to look through them properly and write about our adventures tomorrow.

Just a few to keep you going 🤷🏻‍♀️😆

It was such a lovely day.

Stay safe everyone 🚐⛴☀️

Another great nights sleep all cosied up in the van.

So we were up early this morning and there was evidence of some sunshine! This is the view from the campsite which is about the first time we’ve seen it.

Craig made Serrano ham, black pudding and tattie scones for breakfast.

Today’s travels…. Port Charlotte to Bruichladdich to Bridgend to Bowmore to Port Ellen to Lagavulin and back.

On our drive over this was the view across to Bowmore. I stopped in a lay-by!

First real stop of the day….

The photos don’t do it justice but it was so atmospheric. You can’t tell where the water stops and the mist begins.

First dram of the day for oor Craigie!

Now I realise I’m alcohol free and am growing to detest the stuff… it doesn’t stop my being over-awed by the brands. My dad loves a Laphroaig and it will always make me think of him. We walked into the shop and Toto by Africa was playing which always makes me think of him too…. Spooky.

A truly stunning location. It’s warm but damp. Just like the whisky.

Next stop….

The merch here is VERY expensive.

Sorry Dad… didn’t get you one of these….

They are also selling Caol Isla as that distillery is closed just now for renovations. it’s just as expensive.

Next stop….

More importantly check out the Ardbeg Airstream which is a wee cafe. Their coffee was amazing!!

Another dram for the boy! 🥃

I may have got a very early birthday present…. got a lovely jacket.

God knows what this is…… 🤣

Then finally the sun started to come out. I got some stunning photos after this.

So many photos of the same place but it was so lovely to see the sun and feel the warmth.

We didn’t go to it but here’s Port Ellen distillery.

All day I’ve been singing in my head “I wanna see the sunshine after the rain”…. 😆🤷🏻‍♀️🤣 and here it is!

Finally the last stop was Bowmore. Visits by appointment only…. We… of course…. did not have an appointment.

I’ve been in much better headspace today. Is it that I’m only a fair weather camper?!? I’m trying to think about my triggers as they happy and breathe before reacting. It hadn’t always worked but a damn sight more than yesterday.

It’s taken me ages to write this so I’m gonna stop here for now. Take Bhru to the beach for a bit.

Stay safe everyone 🥃🥃🥃

I fell asleep at 7.30pm last night….. out for the count until about 7am this morning. Musta needed it!

It stopped raining at some point through the night. The wind died down pretty early on which was good. Everything was still soaking this morning but much calmer.

I took Bhru down to the beach and it started to rain again so we went back to bed until 9.

Coffee and bacon toasties for breakfast and set off for a wee trip round the south west part of Islay from where we’re staying in Port Charlotte.

Portnahaven was beautiful…. Oh and there’s a house for sale!

So for a mere £70k this little beauty could be yours. We stood at the back and planned the garden. Such a quiet wee place.

The tide was crazy here. The flow past the islands was incredibly fast. If you’d fallen in you’d have ended up in Mull I reckon 🤣

So from here we headed up a proper single track road for miles with only grass verge passing places. to be fair we met about 6 cars and a hole lotta sheep!

Next stop Bruichladdich Distillery…. Which was closed. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

So from here onto Kilchoman distillery. It was closed…. But we saw the sign!

Onto Machir Bay which is just stunningly beautiful. The photos don’t do it justice but it goes on for miles!

Then back down to the beautiful Port Charlotte for a wander and a trip to the local Spar….. now I would love to live in Port Charlotte!

So……. The honesty of my blog…. I’ve been a total nark all day. I can hear myself ringing in my ears and I hate it…..

I feel after all the hard work I’ve done to change to my new positive outlook, I’m still walloped back into reality at warp speed by things that are nothing, can be fixed and like the weather can change instantly. I’m so disappointed in myself. I don’t want to be this person and only I can change it. Knowing it is one thing and not allowing things to bother me is another.

Craig made pasta with red pesto, black pudding and chorizo for dinner tonight. We had a early dinner and the dishes are all done.

It was super tasty.

I think I might crochet for the rest of the evening. Instil some sense of calm in me. Big day tomorrow. Hoping to catch some distilleries which are open… 🤣😆🤣

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I got up to head to the toilet blocks at 6am…. Thought then the sky looked stunning.

Sunrise did not disappoint. Absolutely stunning.

Oh my actual word. So glad I suggested we take Bhru down to the beach before we left.

Forgot to post this route map yesterday but yesterday was home to A-B-C and this morning we did C-D-E all before 8.30am!!

It was a lovely drive! There’s been a tiny smattering of rain so far and more is due later.

We’re sitting her now waiting on the CalaMac Catriona to sail from Lochranza on Arran back to the mainland.

Abbie before Ferrari 🤣🤣🤣

I went to buy us all tickets as Ewan was on crutches and I got stuck in a huge queue. Then the didn’t take cash…. I had to get back to the van and try to rescue my bag… no mean feat as there’s no space to move on these ferries…. Let alone the fact that Abbie is pretty full…..

You can imagine “Mrs I Need To Take Photos” was spitting chips at being stuck indoors on a half hour ferry trip…. But I came out to this….

Absolutely stunning and rugged looking. We like Arran a lot.

No approaching Claonaig back on the mainland.

Back to the map we’ve just done E-F-G!

This is the previous Islay ferry which has just left and we have 2.5 hours to wait on the next one…. But we knew that. The first ferry from Lochranza doesn’t get you in on time!

Here comes the CalMac Hebridean Isles.

It would appear the swans are fed first by a chef from a higher deck then another CalMac guy from one of the windows on the lower deck. These swans no exactly what they are doing!!!

We had to wait a few hours for the next ferry and it was nice just to hang around for a while.

How stunning is this. Not a breath!

The cafeteria guys were having a bet on who could sell the most Captain CalMac teddies and in walks “Mrs Never Can Resist a Teddy and Wanted One for Years”….. 🧑🏻‍✈️🧸⛴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes mum….. I will be 50 soon… I know!

Passing the Isle of Gigha.

Bhru’s settled down a bit now. She’s not sure of this ferry malarkey….

One of the Paps of Jura.

A lighthouse on Islay.

Sailing into Port Askaig….

And this is where the fairytale takes a turn…… just as we arrive into Port Charlotte, a half hour from Port Askaig… PC is lovely by the way. The heavens open. We’ve had 4 weeks of wall to wall sunshine and the minute we get our tent out next to the van it’s lashing down.

Now we’re already really tired and hungry and that’s not the best time to start pitching camp at the best of times. The wind has picked up and the rain is bouncing off the ground. the tent is blowing in all directions. What was a very easy assemble is now a nightmare.

The awning connector for the tent doesn’t fit in my new fancy smancy awning rail…which means that we don’t have a dry connection from the van to the tent. The diesel heater has an error code (trying to work through that now…) we didn’t get to a supermarket and I was way to hangry to cook. AND I CANT EVEN HAVE A DRINK!!!!

So we did get takeaway from the campsite which we are very lucky as not many sites have a lovely restaurant on them…. Now we’ve eaten and I guess we are proper tired.

It’s really hard to be positive at times like this but it’s just weather, these are just minor issues, just sent to test our patience.

AND THEY ARE TESTING MINE!!!!!!!!

I made myself fake smile there and it feels so much nicer to smile than to be angry.

Don’t panic. Craig and I are still married. ♥️😆😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️🌧♥️

Todays the day we go on holiday! Yay! Poor Craigs still at work. Pretty much the minute he finishes we are off…. I’m still cleaning, tidying, weeding all those essentials that need doing before a holiday????!! 🤣🤣

I currently have Abbie hooked back up for aircon re-gas as it ran out last week. Just give us a wee cool if it’s super hot. Here’s hoping!

I feel like I need this machine in my life….

So this is the first holiday that we have sadly had to be a bit selective with the puppers. The last few trips away they’ve not been well so we are tying one at a time. Don’t panic we’re not leaving the others home alone but my lovely in-laws are coming to look after them. Took a pic of them together last night.

So Bhruic is the lucky one today. Calaidh and Freya will love getting lots of cuddles from Gran and Gramps!

Home and took Calaidh out and then Bhru and Freya.

So an eventful morning among all of that, had to deal with our saniflow toilet. We live in the country humans have a septic tank and one of our toilets is a saniflow….Now not gonna lie we’ve had issues with it recently in that it it sounds like it’s grinding away trying to churn away fluids…. It’s been doing this on and off for months…. And it’s always been a bit “foosty” shall we say.

I had a shower and then this happened.

Anyway…. We finally got away at 3.23pm precisely. I feel angry and irritated at the amount of things that get thrown in at the last minute. but once we get to Ardrossan harbour I’m smiling.

We stopped for Fish and Chips at Hooked and Cooked at the ferry terminal. Sadly there were not the best but we ate them with this view…… in Lamlash!

I here we are set up at Seal Shore campsite on the south of Arran. It is a beautiful site.

We are right on the beach!

We have an early start in the morning so enjoying sitting outside in the silence tonight… it’s lovely.

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Jeez I’m tired today…. I woke at 6 and was annoyed I hadn’t gone to the Fit Body Farm as I was wide awake despite being so tired. I got up and was out with the dogs just after 7am.

It’s a bit of a misty morning…. Almost a bit damp in the air.

My anxiety was all over the place…. I was overthinking so many things this morning and making myself feel awful. The chatter was rambling on in my head about how I’m the dog behaviourists wife that can’t control her dogs… blah blah…. Real negative self chatter.

I’ve been listening to Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey’s podcast on Eckhart’s book a New Earth 🌍 and he says to focus on the now. The chatter comes from the past which I cannot change and the future which I cannot predict. All we have is the now.

I realised that the negative talk was running away and stopped to look at a wildflower. Right… let’s be clear here, I know you might think I’m nuttier than a fruitcake but it really worked. Concentration on the flower stopped the ramblings…

He says to “be with the negative emotion”… to “sit with it” …. I stood with it instead and tried to understand where it was coming from.

In truth I think I’m just tired. I have a lot to do today but I’m tired. And that is ok.

Home, coffee, cheese on toast and a list written and I feel better.

So the morning cleaning the bedroom and sorting through camping stuff until Auntie Jac arrived about 11.30! We went to Mocha Hal’s for lunch…. And ate too much!

Tried to get another selfie with Auntie Jac taking it but she launched my phone up into the air and onto the floor so we just stuck with this pic 🙈🤣

Had a lovely wee catch up. Been too long! ♥️

Back to the cleaning after she left. Hoovered the stairs, the dogs room and the upstairs bedroom and the did Gateside Memorial Hall accounts.

It’s 16.45 and and I shattered now so a wee Nana nap until Craig gets home I think!

I got a whole hour!!!! Bliss.

I’ve actually put the heating on tonight which is not the best idea given that we are sleeping outside for the next 10-14 nights….. should be acclimatising not turning the heat up.

Craigs home, the vans packed and we are the most organised we have been in ages…. I think it’s because I had Shelagh work her wonders in Kinesiology this week….. stress?! Camping?!? moi?!? Not any more…. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣♥️

Last nights sleep in our own bed.

Please pray for some sunshine…. 🌅☀️😎

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Maybe the adrenaline stopped pumping a wee bit today. Last day at work until 20th September and I was a bit antsy all day trying to get finished up and just constantly finding more to do.

Of course it was all in my head as I could have had the day off today. I’ve done quite a few extra hours and when I’m told I can take it back as a day or be paid I hear myself saying “well I’m really busy up until the holidays so I’ll try to finish up earlier but I need to make sure that I get everything done”.

As I hear that back in my head it’s almost with a posh voice.

What I actually think to myself is very different to what I say… “I’ll take Thursday off then and finish up a day earlier”. Then I get annoyed that no-one knew that and I feel like I have to be in….

I think I should give all the hours because I’m grateful for the job. It’s a trigger from the olden days where I’d never have been offered the time back because it was expected. Also justifying my position as I’m waaaaaaaaay too busy to consider an extra day off….. 😬

What a riot eh?!? So I had to go in to do a handover. The day drew out and I thought I’d go at lunch, then set 2pm and finally left at 2.53pm after hours of moaning that I just needed to get away.

For the men reading this have pity on your other halves as honestly we got the overthinking raw deal. Big time.

So…. I’m on holiday now. Out of office is on and the phone is switched off. Check me.

I did get a Fiamma awning fitted to the van today.

Should say that I managed to squeeze a kinesiology session yesterday before I go on holiday. I was perfectly balanced when I went in which I’m always really chuffed with….

Shelagh worked her magic as usual . We did work on anger and irritability. I’m looking forward to not screaming at Craig when I can’t find something when we’re away. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆

So back to today and I got home from work and took Calaidh for a walk and talked to the kennels we are using next week. It’s a beautiful afternoon and actually quite hot.

Back home….. still on the phone to the kennels and took Bhru and Freya for a walk….. it was a long call but we filled in all the paperwork that was needed…. As I walked!

For the locals…. the field on the left next to “Margaret’s field” has now been ploughed….. I’ve never seen that ploughed. Countryside changes… how will we get to the golf course now?!? 😱

Then Claire asked me if I’d like to go for dinner which was so nice of her. We had spaghetti bolognese (Claire’s speciality… with pasta Craig, before you ask…🤣) and garlic bread. It was so tasty and we sat out in the sun to enjoy it.

I was back in for 6.30 and decided to use the evening to break the back of the housework. What a great idea rather than leaving it till the morning. It feels like a huge achievement. It’s been bothering me as the house had got pretty bad. I had to empty the hoover 4 times.

I should say here I have the Shark for animals. Don’t waste your money if you are considering it. It’s obviously made for people who are hoovering up after 3 hamsters 🐹 🐹🐹 worth considering if you only have 3 hamsters mind you.

I still have 3 rooms to do but that’s way better than them all!

I’m sitting out here now. Apparently the sunset was mega tonight. I missed it but I’m enjoying the twilight.

It’s pretty cool in the evenings now… have to take warm stuff for holiday! Packing commences tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Wow how did that happen?!? Is anyone with me and still stuck in January 2020?!?!?

I have so much to talk about tonight but it’s already 18.40 and I need to chill at some point so I’ll keep the ramblings short and sweet (here comes war and peace….)

I had the best night last night. A trip out to Edinburgh…. On a school night too!!

I saw my wee brother for the first time since 2019.

I met my lovely friend, Helen for the first time since 28th November 2010.

I met her partner Mike for the first time and he was very lovely so passed the test and is a very acceptable partner for her! 😬😆

I was on a train for the first time since 2019. 🚝💺

I was in Edinburgh for the first time since 2019.

I ate a meal in a restaurant that wasn’t the pub next door for the first time since 2019.

I saw the Forth Road x 2 and Rail Bridges for the first time since 2019.

I had a night out after a full day at work and enjoyed every minute of it for the first time since maybe 2012….. I guess that is the bit to be proud of.

So Helen and I grew up together and became good friends at our church Youth Group. She can correct me but that would have been around 1986 or so I guess?

It was sooooooooo lovely to catch up last night. We’ve left it way too long as usual but I had the best time and was over-awed by everything….. my brothers new back garden, the train, Edinburgh, the dinner and most of all the company and chat.

Should say here that the drive over was quite overwhelming. I was tired, worried about the late night and a bit freaked out about the traffic. I needn’t have worried. I breathed through any anxiety and got past it.

The food was delicious.

We then went to Helen and Mike’s Hotel and she and I had virgin Mojito’s. Poor Kenny caught in the pic!!

So she who is in bed by 10 at the latest most nights left Edinburgh on a train at 9.48pm and did not turn into a pumpkin.

I had a quick chat with my lovely sis-in-law and they came out to see Abz. Gill said the loveliest thing to me that she thought my story was a bit like a fairytale where I got the van converted and then landed my ideal job and she really hit the nail on the head.

I’m at so lucky to have been on this journey to get to where I am today. To have a job that doesn’t feel like work….to be able to stay out late and not freak out about work the next morning…

I left at 10.30pm to drive the hour and 10 home but couldn’t resist a quick stop past the Forth Bridges.

It was sooooo calm. So quiet and so beautiful and so 10.40 at night!!

So then back in Abz and headed for home. Tiptoed into bed at midnight. Check me.

I bound out of bed at 6.30am still running on some kind of adrenaline. I stopped to take photos on the way to work…. I mean honestly?!?!

I pass this river every morning and decided to stop as it was so beautiful this morning.

Work was busy and it was a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky all day. And hot. Bliss though sadly in jeans and a big black T-shirt!

The sad news to report in the Abz lost air con power on the way to Dalry tonight….. she was only gassed on Saturday so there must be a leak. I popped in to the gassing shop and he say he thinks I should get a new compressor but won’t manage in time for holiday. I’ve to pop in on Saturday morning and he’ll gas it up again to give us something for the start of the holiday.

So I’m home. As I said! Writing the blog when Claire hollers from the garden next door…. “Julie!!!!! Are you there?!?” I shout I’m up the back and we meet half way….. she says I’m allowed to say no but would I like to go to Largs for ice cream….. errrr yeah!!!

We went for a walk up the esplanade past the bouncing shows which I saw on Saturday.

So I am super proud of everything I’ve done in this last few days. I am still wide awake and enjoying every minute of everything I’m doing. I’m managing a busy job, I’m organised, in control, I make mistakes but that’s ok. I am just appreciating everything in the moment. Learn to appreciate the present moment and not be stuck in my past or worried about our future.

It’s 9.44pm now and I guess I really should get to bed.

Stay safe everyone 🌅🌅🌅

At least I can laugh at myself. You want to have seen the meal I made of filling up with diesel this morning…. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ I would like to try and pass this off as some kind of menopausal brain melt but I may be pushing it…. 🙄😬

So I leave early as we are really busy at work and decide to stop at Sainsbury’s for fuel along the way. Here is the catalogue of errors that followed…..

• Faff about trying to scan club card under the slot for the bank card
• Find the scanner and scan but then try to fit the bank card in above it… nope that’s not where it goes
• Find the payment card slot… put it in upside down
• Have to do it all again…. Much faster second time round
• Take the pump out and stand pressing like a loony….. how can the girls at the counter not see I’m trying to refuel… cursing them under my bresth
• Turn back to the machine which shows its back to the start telling me to pay at the kiosk
• FORGOT TO ENTER PIN DETAILS BEFORE TRYING TO FILL
• BACK TO THE START… do it all again and then card declined
• Drive forward to the other pump and do it all again…. This time in the right order and finally I can start to re-fuel
• Pump clicks every 10 seconds hinting the tank it’s full…. I know it’s not
• Finally a full tank of fuel

Now is it just me or do you all have these moments?! That was totally on me. No one else just me not concentrating one iota!!!

So I’m no earlier for work as I lost the extra 15 minutes detouring and messing up refuelling!!

So other than that I’ve had the best Monday in ages. I’ve been in control, working through lists, getting stuff done. Not like me on a Monday…..

One thing that does surprise me is that my ability to make small talk seems to have left me. I feel there’s more to life than small talk but given a huge part of my job will require it I better get used to it again. 😬🤫🙄🤣

So I didn’t get away until 5.30 tonight so I’m super tired, on the couch with two bagels and chocolate watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix. Poor Craig is working until 9.30 so I’ll be long gone by then!

I’m also meeting my brother and friends for dinner in Edinburgh tomorrow so given than I will work 8-4 then drive to South Queensferry until 5.30 then train into Edinburgh for dinner at 6.15 then back to the train station out to South Queensferry then drive back home….. there is a fair certainty that there will be no blog tomorrow night. I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

Oh and I deleted soooooo many photos from my phone yesterday’s I can highly recommend the Cleanup app.

I still have 44,000 pics to sort through but that’s way more bearable that 56,000.

‘Scuse language…… but this next one….. wow!

Have to end with a nice one ❤️🧡💛💜

Stay safe everyone 🧡💛💜