Wow what is wrong with me, why am I so exhausted I just need to sleep…. Everything feels like an effort. I’m like a lead brick dragging myself along again today.

I woke up at 5.05am with a hand on my shoulder… the voice asking if my nose was blocked….. hmmmm yeah I guess….. wasn’t entirely certain of the answer the minute I opened my eyes….. but logic suggests the answer is expected to be yes.

Then of course I was wide awake. I went to blow my nose and take a hay fever tablet!

I came through to the sun room and sat on Grans chair to read for a bit. Must have fallen back asleep only to be woken up by a herd of Border Collie “elephants” at 6.54am…. 🐶 🐶 🐶

Maybe that’s why I’m tired…. It feels more than that but I was speaking to a good friend yesterday who had a very good point…. When you are healing from something there is a tendency to worry that a feeling is a step back to the dark days, rather than just what everyone else feels.

I’ve been lethargic all week. Sleep doesn’t satisfy the tiredness really, I just want more.

I’ve also done virtually nothing. I did try this morning, I’ve been pruning and weeding but I found it all a huge effort… maybe that’s because I felt I “should” do it rather than what I wanted to do.

Anyway, I’m moany today so I just need to be out this brain fog for work tomorrow otherwise it will be a long day! Ooh not to mention the 5am alarm for the gym…… I’m pre-dreading it!!

So I’m gonna stop moaning and mumping and focus on the good stuff. It’s warm today. Not super sunny but warm enough to be out in shorts and vest top. Craigs been a man on a mission since about 7am which is great! He’s weeded and pruned way more than I have. He pressure washed all the decking. It just needs to dry and then be stained later on in the week.

He’s also burned loads of old wood that was lying round our garden… along with all the weeds we picked.

So I’m sitting outside with my book… caring still on the move and can’t sit down. Maybe he borrowed my energy today and now has double?!

Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend and enjoy what’s left of it. I will mostly be reading or sleeping or eating. In the sunshine if I can!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🌞☀️

6.05am Calaidh puppa woke me with her barking damn her. Had a great sleep up until then. I say that but am blocked up with hay fever so one nostril was fully blocked…. There’s been something particularly irritating my nose and eyes in June.

Thank you Calaidh for waking me and allowing me to enjoy more of the day than yesterday…… 😳… nope… I’m not selling it am I?

In fact I’m pretty zonked and have been the last few days. It’s fine as Kinesiology on Tuesday cleared some issues that may leave you feeling a bit yucky for a few days and to be honest, this really is nothing. It’s just a deep seated tiredness. There’s a lot worse than that.

So here goes again…. I’m grateful that I have no pressing things to do today so I can just relax.

We’ve been looking at taking a fortnight in September and trying to plan some island hopping. Hoping to cover Arran, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Coll and Tiree in one fortnight!

The only issue seems to be that Colonsay may not allow Abbie to travel. Well we’ll see about that…. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆🤣 I have a number to call and I’ll be telling the lady just how lovely Abbie is and that we can’t come to Colonsay without her. 🙄😬

If that’s the case we miss Colonsay out. Their loss. Well ours too but hey…..

So I was off out at 9am on our daily plod. It’s a lovely day. It’s peaceful and calm. That’s all I need these days. Silence. Silence just to be. Yes I’m turning into a weirdo but I love it. Can’t be doing with noise and drama anymore.

There are lovely yellow Iris growing all over the place now.

Came home and did the obligatory poo pick…. It would appear it’s been a while since I did one…. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😳

Pottered around and tidied up a bit while trying to figure out what best to do with my lethargy….when Claire messaged about a walk to the Co-op. Not gonna lie she had to literally drag me but Calaidh and I went!

Got chatting to a lovely lady outside the Co while Calaidh and I waited on Claire. It’s lovely to chat to strangers and pass the time of day with them.

My first thistle!!!!!!!!!!!!

You better brace yourself as we are coming in to thistle season and they will soon be everywhere. I love them so much I can’t not take a photo….. thistles will be the new gates….. 😆😘

Honestly I have had the laziest afternoon.

Morrison’s delivered the shopping just before 3 and I’ve been napping with Freya ever since. She was all cuddled in.

I want to get out there and travel and see the world but today is spent recharging.

And that’s ok.

Stay safe everyone 😴🛌💤

Another lunch date today but this time with my lovely crochet hookers…. I’ll get to that!

The day started with the Fit Body Farm and oh my god, I felt like a lead brick this morning. At times my legs did not want to move but I still did it.

Before 7am I reckon I had done the following….

• Run 1600m
• Rowed 500m
• Ski-erg’d 500m
• 35 burpees
• 70 sit ups
• 60 x 4kg wall ball throws
• 50 forward lunges

But it was hard. It was a kind of single event today and I think I like it when I have someone to buddy up with as that spurs me on. Still…. I did it.

When we got back home we were shattered so back into bed and slept till just before 11am!!!!!! I was going out for lunch at 12.30 and had BIG plans for the morning clearing stuff out. It was not to be. Sleep was needed.

So the crochet hookers met for lunch today and it was so lovely to see everyone.

I had salt and chilli chicken pieces to start followed by peppered beef. It was sooooo good! My mouth was on fire by the end of it all! We had a great chat and there was not a crochet hook to be seen but I did come away with a ball of black wool! 🧶

Not one pic of the food either. Shocking!

As soon as I got home Claire messaged to say she was off work today and ready and waiting for a cuppa…. Be rude not to but I had a HUGE empire biscuit which was amazing!!!

Claire had been at the hairdressers today and I actually blow dried my hair today (check me!) so wee selfie 🤳 as I was leaving.

Now we’re heading back into the pub for a few drinks as Craig is back in from work.

Was lovely to catch up with everyone and I’m now home for a Chinese takeaway…. Far too much involved today!!

Happy weekend to you all.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Another long lie today until 6.30am….. bliss…. ♥️ and I slept like a log. Always a good start to the day. Busy at work again! Don’t know where this week has gone but it’s flown by.

It’s my Friday again!!!!

So we decided to have a wee lunch out this today as Craig had a last minute free afternoon.

We went down to Gro Coffee in Irvine.

I was starving but I’m eating a lot less these days which is great. I don’t feel like I need it.

It was pouring with rain but the sea had a real turquoise look to it. It was lovely despite getting soaked taking the photo.

It’s lovely to see when the tide is in. It’s so much prettier. Irvine can be a little bit muddy sandbank when the tide is out.

So back to Gro…..I had the smoked salmon and prawn salad.

Now it was lovely but I could have made this at home…. Still….. it was a super healthy choice.

Craig had goats cheese with black pudding, thick cut ham and egg on bloomer.

This is where the healthiness ends….. wait till you see the cakes…. Strawberry tart for Craig and Caramac brownie for me!

I mean these look out of this world but I actually left a quarter of the brownie. 🤩😳😲

I mean seriously…. Who actually am I? What have I become? It was very sweet, fairly sickly, the Caramac chunks were to die for but other than that it was way too much!

I know…. Right?!?!? 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆 I had a lovely coconut milk latte with it.

We came home and popped into the village pub for a few drinks and caught up with village news. I’m still drinking the 0% Gordon’s Gin which is really lovely. Highly recommended for any drinkers who are driving on a night out!

That reminds me I just missed my 900 day anniversary!

I still can’t believe that I gave up the booze…. Honestly it was my go to, my answer to stress, work, holidays, you name it, I wanted to have wine to get through it, celebrate it.

As dramatic as it sounds, I know this is the right path for me. I don’t feel left out anymore. I don’t feel like the odd one out. I own my decision and it’s the choice I have made for my sanity. I wasn’t any worse than anyone else with the amount I drank, I just hated the way it affected me.

I’m facing up to everything without that crutch and I’m so proud to be coming out the other side still without it.

I got a lovely T-shirt from my mother-in-law today! Love it and it’s the perfect fit! Might wear it to everything for the next few weeks. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣🤣

So it was lovely to be out together today. I did wear my new T-shirt……. It was a wee change. Almost normal.

A lazy night planned in front of the tv before training in the rain tomorrow morning.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

My day in one blog title. I had a big nap. Ran out of time to compose my ramblings. The end.

🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆 when have I ever been that short for words?!?

Fit body farm was amazing this morning. It was pouring. Not just a wee bit of rain but pretty torrential. Coming down in stair rods. Stoating down. And we got thoroughly soaked.

But I loved almost every minute of it. There was a short time at the start when I thought I couldn’t be bothered but then some adrenaline kicked in and I was off! It was a 2 person workout called Pingu this morning. Was that why I loved it?!?

There’s something hysterical about being tied to another person by two resistance bands, while she does a sitting squat and you jog away from her and spring back when you get to the end of the elastic!!! I was chuckling away.

So onto work and was super busy today…. Was there till close on 3.30pm. My friend Aileen came to pick up one of the Tartan Campers.

We had two of the best hugs!!!!! Been too long.

So work was all good kept very busy and came home and had dinner at 4pm then hit a wall….. slept till 6.45 when Craig woke me for crochet… 🧶

I had the best sleep… musta needed it!

Off to the pub to meet with fellow Gateside hookers and had our usual great night putting the world to rights this time and not putting the works to tights like I said in a previous blog. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️💜

One of the ladies has lost a very good friend recently at and the following poem was read at her funeral….. I should say before I post it that the lady who passed away actually posted this on her own FB a year before she died. She lived life to the full and did so many things in her 69 years that most people wouldn’t manage in 100.

How poignant is that? ♥️

Honestly this lady has done way more than I ever have. It’s really eye opening. I’m seeing a lot of things like this just now. Signs that life is for living in the moment and not waiting. To stop putting things off until after….

So I am getting back up and no more putting things off to maybe another day.

So I ordered some lateral flow tests as this seems to have passed me by….. have never taken a test but heard that we should at least do one a week now?

Also we had an Overland Bound online chat tonight. Always great to catch up with the guys and hear everything that’s going on with the overland community. Members 13446 reporting for duty!

Anyway I am shattered now and it’s 21.48 it’s be a long but good day!

Remember to live life to the full.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

The sun is shining and there’s a pure blue sky, how much do I wish I was away this week?!?

Got a long lie this morning until 6.30am… I love a Tuesday morning! I also love that I get to wear shorts and T-shirt to work these days…. It’s a beautiful drive down to work. Dundonald can look so tropical in the sunshine 😆😂

I got home just before 2 pm and have been sitting outside in the sun this afternoon.

It’s lovely to sit and just chill and enjoy the sunshine.

So I had my Kinesiology session tonight. Really unusual for me to go in the evening…. It shows how much better my energy levels are. I’d never have managed and evening appointment before!

It was so lovely to see Shelagh and get two hugs! The online sessions are great but her hugs are the best. I feel so chilled and relaxed after my session… I could sleep!!

Now this hits the spot. My expectations are always so unrealistic and I’m loving loving a life with no really expectations of myself. Only to try to relax, keep calm and use the tools I have to handle every situation that life throws at me.

Living in the present is pretty damn good.

So tonight is one of the most important football games in Scotland’s history. If we win the game against Croatia we will go through to qualify as one of the 4 best 3rd place teams in the Euro 200 tournament.

This is not something we do regularly. The last time we did this was in 1988!

I’m not gonna hold off the blog to find out the score. We are 11.03 minutes in and looking good so far. We have fingers, toes and paws crossed…… 🙏🏻

COME ON SCOTLAND!!!!!!!

Stay safe everyone and cross everything for us!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Can anyone else believe it’s the 21st June and Summer Solstice already?!?! Where has this year gone??

I think maybe we’re more surprised up in a Scotland as we haven’t had our “summer” yet and we usually get that in April or May.

How can the nights be “fair drawing in” after today already?!?!

I woke up at 3.50am…. It’s incredibly wrong when the time starts with a 3….. I’m sitting here at 4.15pm wondering why I’m so tired. Answered!!

I hadn’t booked in for the gym and I’m not gonna lie but I considered skipping it to catch up on some sleep this morning. I hadn’t booked, purely because I’d forgotten so I considered it so much that I woke at 3.50 and stayed awake rather than just waiting for my 5am alarm or resetting for 6.30am. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

So I ended up getting up quite easily.

(Should just say here that I just had a wee 44 minute nap there as I was awfy tired writing all that 😆)

So back to the Fit Body Farm… managed the 5 minute warm up run without stopping this morning which lets me see how much my fitness is coming on. It was all about weights and muscle toning today. It was another good one and I’m so glad I went!

It was a beautiful morning and actually warm. For the first time we had midges!

Hmmmmm here’s hoping our weather followed the green midgie rule this year. To be honest midges never seem to be a consideration for us and yet I see people asking about them on Scottish travel pages all the time. Maybe we’ve just been lucky….

So work then home and tidied the kitchen, did a washing, emptied and filled the dishwasher, tidied the sunroom and walked the dogs.

I then had my wee nap….. broken by Calaidh barking at the delivery I was waiting for but forgot I was waiting for… of course.

I really want to stay up for sunset tonight since I saw the sunrise but we will see… there’s a good chance I’ll be in bed by 8.30pm 😆 all that sea air over the weekend!

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

My lovely friend Gayle owns the little gift shop in Beith and when I walked in the other day she said she’d found some Father’s Day card cards and thought of me when she bought them in…. They’re perfect!

ITS RAINING THIS MORNING!!

I woke before 7am and could hear if but it’s gradually got heavier as the morning went on. Obviously there’s no such thing as bad weather only that you’re not dressed appropriately 😬😆

It is going to be another wonderful day.

Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning in little poached egg ring shapes. If only I’d taken a photo eh?!

This whole weekend has been about taking a pause and resting.

It’s still very beautiful in the rain ☔️

So we set off at 10am with the first stop at Kilchurn Castle. A walk to the castle and then coffee in the van before then head Edinburgh way and I head to Glasgow.

So we then went back and had a cuppa in the van and I decided to head back down through Inveraray. It was 1 hour and 47 mins via Tyndrum and 1 hour 52 via Inveraray so I thought I’d go for the scenic route. Mum and Dad have to go through Tyndrum to Crianlarich and then over towards the east coast.

I had such a lovely drive but when you’re driving you obviously can’t take photos…. I almost stopped in Inveraray but the car park was full.

Then on past Loch Fyne and over the Rest and Be Thankful. It’s the A83 which suffered from bad landslides again recently and the Old Military Road needs to reopen to help keep traffic moving. There were roadworks not the hillside road.

So onwards through Arrochar and down to Tarbert where you join up with the other road I would have taken. This then heads down the side of Loch Lomond.

I stopped at Firkin Point by yon bonnie banks…. It was so atmospheric.

As I was leaving here there was a lady clearing leaves from under her wiper. She had just driven in to clear them…. As soon as she lifted the wiper to remove them and her husband/partner beeped the horn!!! Made me laugh out loud as Craig would have done that to me!!

Stopped in at Asda Dumbarton to do the weekly shop! Nice to stop somewhere different for a change.

Home to find Craig had painted the living room while I was away. Looks amazing! So fresh and such a clean up. Kitchen looks dreadful now….. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😬😆

So I’ve had the best weekend, really chilled and relaxed and I’ve enjoyed the drive. Most of all I’ve enjoyed the special time with mum and dad!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I woke at 4.14 and remembered where I was☺️ of course I jumped out of bed to look out the curtains. There wasn’t a ripple in the sea. The tide was in and when I opened my window, all I could hear was the hum of the engines of the two ships docked at the North Pier.

I went back to sleep until just before 8am.

Breakfast was at 8.45am and mum and I had pancakes with fruit and yoghurt. Beautiful!

We went and sat outside by the sea for a wee while after breakfast and then headed into town for a wee wander round the shops while Dad sat on a bench! As men do!

We’d been swithering about what to do with the day as there are so many things we could have gone to see but decided that mum and I would hit the shops for a bit and then Dad and I would take an Oban Seat Tours 2 hour trip out to the seal colony on Mull.

The trip took us up the Sound of Kerrera, out to Mull and along to Duart Castle then past the Lismore Lighthouse and Dunollie Castle and back into Oban.

It had been cloudy and fairly chilly but the sun came out! At some points it was actually pretty hot… at others the wind was blowing right down my hoody and out my sleeves it was that strong!

They were such enthusiastic guides, so knowledgeable about the local area and really made the trip well worthwhile.

We saw loads of seals 🦭 and 2 Golden Eagles 🦅 we also saw a sea eagle nest but it looked like the Sea Eagles were out today 😆

It was lovely to have some time with Dad as it’s been a whole lotta years since we did that. It’s usually only mum and I that meet up.

We’re now sitting outside our wee hotel on comfy chairs watching the ships coming in and going out again.

This is why I love Oban. There is always something coming and going in the bay. It’s a transient town, the promise of adventure and onwards travels.

We’re eating in Ee-usk Seafood Restaurant on the North Pier tonight. it’s been a very sea themed kind of day.

We had the loveliest meal.

We went for drinks and then a big long walk along the front. It’s so calm and clear and just stunning. Not a sound… apart from the disco beat from a boat!!!

I said yesterday too that it’s been so lovely to spend time with mum and dad. I honestly can’t think of the last time we did this. Special memories being made.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Had the best sleep again last night. Yay!!

So before I set off to Oban we had a Fit Body Farm killer today. It’s a stunning morning!

So I had my challenge weigh in this morning and while I haven’t achieved the full results I have still lost a stone and 4% body fat. The 4% went in the first 3 weeks so the last 3 have been building muscle.

I know I haven’t been able to follow the meal plan especially these last 3 weeks as I have been so overwhelmed by food prep…. Basically I can’t be bothered thinking about it let alone cooking. I haven’t had a proper meal this week at all while Craig had been working every evening.

But….. I have still lost a stone in 6 weeks!

So this weekend I have decided to drive to Oban to surprise Dad for Father’s Day which is on Sunday. They have been in Iona for a week and are spending this weekend in Oban. So home quick shower and ready foe the off. Just me, myself and I as Craig’s staying for a 50th birthday where they are watching Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 play England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 in the UEFA Euro 2000 championship.

I set off just after 9am and stopped at the little coffee Caravan for a roll and sausage and a coconut latte!

The drive takes me across the Erskine Bridge, through Dumbarton and up the side of Loch Lomond.

It is stunning this morning. That drive takes my breath away. Everything is in bloom, there are purple rhododendron everywhere. The water is soooo calm, barely a ripple though there is a fresh breeze.

I stopped at the side of Loch Lomond for some really rubbish photos! 😆 I’d planned to stop at Iveruglas visitor centre but there were two coach loads in so I drove past.

Then drove up past Crianlarich, through Tyndrum and took the left fork at the Green Welly!! I stopped again to sort the music as I was playing out “Good Scottish Stuff” playlist but the sound disappeared. I took some photos of Glen Orchy.

I feel so patriotic driving through Scotland on such a beautiful day! We are so lucky to live here. All of this is less than 2 hours from our house.

Now I don’t know what it is about Oban but I have such an affinity with the place. I absolutely love it and have always felt so calm and relaxed when I’m here. Strangely it’s always sunny when we’re in Oban too which I’m sure isn’t that normal!

So I’m very early to meet mum and dad so thought I’d go for a wander. Don’t know if I said but mum knows I’m here but dad doesn’t.

Now I must give you a laugh here. I found a lovely spot to sit by the sea…..

Not gonna lie I get soooooo excited and horse it round to the harbour taking millions of pics of the Clansman….. not their ship!!!! They are on the Isle of Mull…… doh!

Dad messaged our family chat to say they are just leaving Craignure!!

So the next laugh…. Best laid plans and all that… they are not foot passengers! So they drove off the ferry and I ended up walking past them in the street…. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😬😆 while they were driving past me!!

We’re all set up in our lovely hotel, Kilchrenan House.

We’ve had the loveliest day. We had a wander round and then went to the Correyvreckan pub where we found a table in the sun.

We went to Piazza for dinner and had pizza for the first time in ages!!! Also like a wee kid out with mum and dad, I had an ice cream cone. With tablet ice cream!

It’s only half 9 and we’re back to the hotel as we’re exhausted.

I’ve had the best day today. Obviously we’re missing Craig and wish he was here but I’ve had a lovely time with mum and dad and these are the things that matter in life. ♥️

There are of course another million pics to add to the collection too…… 😬🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

What a beautiful day it ended up being. Kind of unexpectedly.

I had the best sleep, out for the count! Felt so good to wake up with the alarm at 6.30am. The “off sick” me is aware of the irony of that statement. I couldn’t move out of bed until at least 8 and more likely 9am and even then it was straight to another chair!

So I had a doctors appointment today. Post covid, a doctors appointment consists of a phone call between two hours and you have to be ready and waiting to answer it. Not easy when you are at work and of course the first time they called I was on a call. You have to phone back and go through the whole telephone triage thing, then they put you back on the list for a doctor call back. Anyway, we got there in the end.

So…… drum roll please….. and a wee bit of crossed fingers and toes….. I am to reduce my meds by half for the next two months with a view to finally stopping them mid August!

He was very pleased with my progress though very reluctant to discuss the menopause AT ALL…. But hey…. This is pretty huge for me. I’ve been on some form of anti depressant since 2006. I’m fairly certain that there’s been no break since then. I am a wee teensy tiny bit nervous about that but actually more chuffed that there’s finally and end in sight.

I discussed my mini meltdown a few weeks back but he said most “normal” people have a meltdown once in a while. Obviously I know that but it was hard not to see that as a step back into the dark days.

So yes I will keep my face towards the sunshine from now on.

Home from work and saw Craig for the first time this week almost. We had a coffee in the sun. We actually both had a huge sigh of relief when the sun went behind a cloud! It’s that hot!!

I then had to take Calaidh puppa all the way to Bearsden to the vet. She has a lump on her rear end under carriage…. But the vet says they’ve never seen anything like it before. She was such a good girl. She lay up on my knee with her legs akimbo….. she even got an internal examination god love her and hardly even jumped. I told her I knew what she was going through as I’d had my smear test this week 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😬🙄😆🤣🤣

So £42 later we’ve just to keep an eye on it. Oh and she’s out on weight so we have to try and cut down her food a bit.

Back home, through fairly busy traffic and was so glad I don’t need to deal with that anymore and popped into Claire’s for a quick cuppa while she ate her dinner in the garden.

I then had an hour to tidy the kitchen and pack my bag as I’m away on a secret trip tomorrow…. All will be revealed.

I had a zoom call at 7 with a group of lovely ladies run by Shelagh Cumming my Health Kinesiologist.

She talked about how we alter our mood with negative self talk and the ways that we can change this. For me it’s all about writing this blog. Understanding my reactions to certain things that happen in my day and learning from that.

Today has been a good day. ♥️ made better by the fact that Calaidh is ok.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

I couldn’t get to sleep last night. I was wide awake until after 1pm. I even got up and paced the house for a change of scenery.

Now I had a nap yesterday afternoon which lasted just over 2 hours and I had the Memorial Hall Committee Meeting at 8pm which is way past my bedtime! So maybe I slept too much during the day (seriously doubtful….) or I was just alert from having been at a meeting until 9.30pm? (More likely!)

I was literally staring at the inside of my sleep mask. 🎭 There was not much to see… 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆

So when the 5am alarm went off and Craig’s didn’t….. he is super tired and decided to have a morning off, I honestly wanted to cry, scream, make him feel guilty… anything to make my getting up easier. He knew he was tired and knew he needed a rest though which was the right thing to do.

Now it was also raining. Not just a wee bit rain but torrential raining….

It was actually amazing to be working outside in the rain. I even ran the warm up run with an energy I’ve not felt before and kept up with one of the girls that usually whizzes past me! It’s cold and wet but actually quite amazing as I’ve NEVER done anything like that before. Strangely invigorating!

I had to dry my hair under a hand dryer in the toilets today…. I resembled a burst couch by the time I left for work….. the mane needed taming.

After work I went to meet Auntie Jac at her friend Anne’s house. Had a lovely lunch and much banter!! Great to catch up and have a good blether.

I was home by 4 and Claire and walked the dogs. I’m fast running out of that additional energy I had earlier….. the sun has come out (of course it has) and it was a lovely walk but I’m sleepy now. 😴

So at crochet tonight we are playing with the squares for my new blanket. I’ve not taken pics of them altogether for ages!

Just need to decide which order to put them in and which colour I’m joining them with and how.

Will be like pieces of a jigsaw that we keep moving around!!

I have had 26 squares left to do for my big blanket. Not long to go now.

Loving the crochet hookers chat as usual!!

Stay safe everyone 🧶🧶🧶

I am so grateful for that amazing sleep last night. Until Calaidh barked at 5.50am I was dead to the world. Of course I couldn’t get back to sleep after her bark reminded me of every little tiny thing there was to think about…. And then some….Thanks pup…. 😬😆

I’ve been asked to reflect on my 6 week challenge at the Fit Body Farm and thought I may as well do it as part of my daily ramblings. Hey it gives me ready made content!

I bloody love it. I’m doing things that the “depressed me” would have never thought possible.

I’m lifting weights I wouldn’t have ever thought of and running loops of the farm garden without really thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy but I’m doing it and achieving most of it!

I love that it’s over before 7am and I have no time to even think about what I’m about to do. I love that it gives me the best start in a day, that amazing high of having worked out before you actually start your day.

I feel a difference in my clothes, I have way more energy and a positivity that only you get from working out. I know I can do this. I love that I am doing it.

I have changed my diet. Gone are all the processed cereal bars I used to eat. Gone are all the low fat options that I thought were the right choice. But the food is where I feel I have let myself down a bit.

I’m disappointed that I have not followed the 6 week plan with my usually high level of perfectionism. I feel guilty for the things I didn’t do properly. The stories I tell myself that justify my less than perfect actions.

I still can’t be bothered properly planning my meals. I can’t be bothered writing down or recording what I’ve eaten. It makes some inner child have a paddywhack inside me because I don’t want to have to do it. I have enough to do and I’m tired. I just want to eat and be done with it.

I am, however, making way healthier choices. I am eating way more fruit and veg. I just think I could have been more meticulous about it.

The food part is 70% of the weight loss programme. The exercise is just 30% of it and I’ve got that covered but I can’t stop huffing about the food part.

The biggest story I tell myself is that I’m too tired. That the 4.45am start 3 times a week is enough for me to handle.

I’ve had huge change in my life recently. I’ve gone from couch potato to gym at 6am, with a part time job and still putting these ramblings out on a daily basis.

I tell myself that it’s enough right now and for me I know that it is.

However if I want to make that big difference and lose more fat than I need to tackle the food part.

So I’ll see at the final weigh in what I’ve managed to achieve officially.

Why is it that after everything I’ve learned in the last few years, I still beat myself up for what I should have done rather than be very proud of what I actually did do?!?

Now I read that and realise I do have way more positivity than I used to have as I know there is opportunity in everything.

Wow, I love that last one. Really, really love it. It explains how I feel down to a tee.

So on the menopause front, sorry guys…. I did watch the Davina McCall documentary last night, Sex, Lies and the Menopause. It was amazing. So many people have told me to watch it and I “yeah, yeah, yeah’d” but the nurse says and I jump to it.

Davina was told she shouldn’t make this documentary as it would age her. People would look at her differently. How shocking is that?!? She said it goes to show that the menopause is hush, hush, not discussed, a dirty subject yet half of the worlds population go through it.

She tells us not to be scared of it as there is so much these days that will help you every step of the way.

The nurse also suggested I download the Balance app which I have done and there are loads of articles to read up on. It tracks your progress and makes suggestions.

So after work today I went to Subway for a ham salad sub and between there and the car wash I covered myself in sweet chilli sauce. Jeans, T-shirt , steering wheel and the seat. All over…. Sticky sweet chilli. The van is now clean…. On the outside and sticky as hell inside!

Then I had a massage at Harmony in Beith at 2.30pm so popped into my favourite gift shop beforehand. Lovely to see Gayle again and have a wee wander and buy some wee things!!

My massage was sooooo good. I almost fell asleep as it was so relaxing.

I’ve come back up the road and am in bed writing this. I have a Gateside Memorial Hall committee meeting at 8pm and I need a sleep before I go otherwise I’ll be nodding off by about 8.30!!

Nana nap here we come and I have two dogs with me already.

Now this next one stopped me in my tracks. This is so me and quite a few other people I know. We are very quick to apologise for ourselves. Wow. Know your worth.

Sending you all some love and make sure you all hear it.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Boy I had the worst sleep last night…… my mind never stopped all night. I’m sure I slept but I woke up with the grumpiest grumpiness ever.

To be fair at 4.45am it’s hard to be happy about anything but I really could have cried.

I had to do my weigh in and measurements this morning and I had nae patience for it. Craig said if I didn’t sort my attitude I could do it myself. He read all that from my body language. I never said a word. He was right of course. He often is, I just don’t let him think that.

Just as well I had the Fit Body Farm to help lift my mood.

All the exercises involved an exercise sand bag type thing which we grew to hate by the end of the session. Mine was 20kg and Craigs was 50kg. We were Team Avery again and actually won two of the 4 challenges. Methinks the female half of Team Avery needs to work on her exercising and counting at the same time. 😬🙄 Craig with the heaviest weight and me the newest member of the 6am crew…. We’re not likely to have the highest score!

So for the first time in 23 years Scotland have taken part in the finals of a football tournament. It’s a big day for Scottish football and work actually finished up work early to watch it. That certainly wouldn’t have happened in my previous life. 😬

Apparently Glasgow City Centre joined in the National anthem, out in the streets. There’s footage of it and it’s the most amazing sound after everything we’ve all gone through this last year.

And yet again we lost 0-2…. It’s tough being a Scotland fan and constantly having to rally after the losses. But hey we had loads of missed opportunities today which is something…..

Read the link……. Why “Yes sir, I can boogie” is the anthem

The football finishes and I have an appointment with a nurse for that thing that women all hate…. The smear test. These were all put on hold through COVID-19 so appointments have just been filtering through for those due this year and overdue from last year.

Always a pleasure she lied….. 😩 but it’s very important that we all go for the screening offered to us in life.

I also got taken through the virtues of reading up on being peri-menopausal as I am “coming of age”….. The nurse wanted me to meet with friends for coffee and talk about the menopause. Get it out there. HRT is not something to be feared, it has great positives. So my homework is to read up as much as I can.

I did tell her I could do one better and I could write about it in my blog…. The guys will love all this stuff but you need to know what the women in your life have ahead of them. You need to know when to read the signs and run for cover 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆♥️

I did tell her I’m just coming out of the anxiety and depression times and the last thing I need is something else that makes me crazy but she says the more clued up I am, the easier it will be and we should embrace it.

Ok….. will try to do so. 🥰 BRING. IT. ON…

Back home and took the pups for a walk with Claire on the very smirry rain. I am very tired and having the earliest night and lie in tomorrow and I am so excited about it!

Stay safe everyone 💜💗💜

It is windy mcwinderson here today. It’s lovely and sunny but that breeze is a stiff gale at times! Not the best day to be throwing weeds around the garden 🪴

#coveredinsoil

So I woke at 6.30 again but fell back to sleep until just after 9. It was a much better sleep and no thumping pulse of a headache thankfully. I decided to get back to the weeds this morning. In between coffees and crochet!

Now personally I think this looks beautiful. Yes overgrown, but a bit like my mind it’s a bit all over the place!

It’s such a hard job… and one that I don’t really want to do, if I’m honest. While I love, love, love a field of buttercups, it seems I don’t love them in my own garden. They are a nightmare to pull out.

Also the one take away from this should be…. Never try to pull nettles up whilst wearing a vest top. Doesn’t matter how careful you are they have a way of springing back on you and stinging!!

So I swear I have soil everywhere…. everything I pull out is blowing in the wind. Throwing weeds on to the grass and they would slap me in the face. It’s not fun. I find strong wind very stressful as the noise is incessant and I have enough going on in my head without that too!

It was almost a welcome relief when Craig asked me to help him fit the bee roof rack on the roof of his car….

And we managed it without arguing…..

I emptied the van and re-filled everything. I have lost a pair of flip flops, some crochet squares and a tape measure. Random, huh?!? Not had them since we were in Loch Ness and I have this thought they are all in one bag. They are not in the van. 🩴🩴

Came back in and had a shower to get rid of all the garden I was wearing! Then we went to the pub for lunch.

So there are two washings on the line but I have to keep picking them off the grass… 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😆💨💨💨

I now have my feet up in the sun room with the door shut so I can’t hear the howling gale. I feel a nap coming on. I’ve had a lovely weekend just pottering and having time off. I appreciate it more now that I’m working through the week.

Embracing my inner peace…. 💜

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

We woke up at 6.30am and I have a stonking headache. I didn’t take tablets as I thought I’ll try and sleep it off. Not getting up at 6.30 on a Saturday!

Craigs alarm went off at 7.30, mine at 8 (honest to god, what a joke!) and then we finally woke at 10, head still thumping and we both seemed to have the most random dreams. Strangely they both involved camping….. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Honestly my head has a heartbeat. Always seems unfair when I’m not drinking alcohol!! So gave in and took the paracetamol.

Head is now better. Go figure.

I had my shorts and vest too on today. Nope it was not that kinda weather…. I had to go and change into jeans pretty sharpish.

As my neighbour runs round like a wummin possessed today painting the house and cutting the grass…. I adopt a more “meh” approach to the day.

So the plan today was to take all the clear out stuff to the charity shop. Many of you may remember we had a big Boxing Day clear out and it’s been sitting in the house all bagged up since then.

So a full Craigie car boot load down to Irvine Cancer Research Superstore. I can’t ever shop there again as it will be full of my stuff….. took 2 of us 3 trips back and forth to the car. After the last load we scarpered out before anyone noticed.

I don’t know why I’m embarrassed dropping that much stuff. We filled all their bins!!

Then on to Tesco for a food shop as we were down to the last Hello Fresh.

You’ll be pleased to know I finally cancelled it. I handed Claire my phone and asked her to deal with it as I couldn’t. Job done ✅

We decided to treat ourselves to a new set of plates, side plates, bowls and pasta dishes. Up until now we have been the house of mismatch everything. Our cupboards were full of plates and mugs that were quite frankly, ready for the bin.

We now have uniformity and a much less cluttered space. That makes me smile.

Now what to do with everything that came out?!?! Just cleared for charity now starting to collect already?!? 😆

Craig made me a lovely ham salad for lunch.

So I’m now in my weeding gear (if there is such a thing?!) and starting to slowly work my way round the weeds that are overwhelming us. As you may remember I love a weed but husband does not. So instead of disagreeing about weeds for the rest of the summer I have succumbed to weeding.

So I spent the rest of the afternoon weeding like the mad wummin next door!

Craig did a bonfire and I added the weeds to the fire!

The weather got warmer as the day went on thankfully. It’s quite nice out there now.

Rachel, two doors down, popped in to say she’d got me a wee gift at the shops today!

A stress sloth!!!! It is soooo cool, I love it!!🦥

And then we got a life lesson we never saw coming. Craig was watching Euro 2020 football when one of the Danish players, Christian Eriksen, stumbled and fell to the ground on camera. His eyes were wide open but he wasn’t moving at all and the referee saw that he needed urgent medical assistance.

We watched as the players shielded around him and eventually the medical team started to resuscitate him. They worked on him for about 6 or 7 minutes and it was the most awful thing we’ve ever watched and yet we couldn’t stop watching. The players were crying, the Danish fans in the stadium were crying, Eriksen’s girlfriend was down on the pitch being comforted by players. Everyone was questioning how fragile life is. One minute he’s aiming at goal, the next minute fighting for his life.

They took him off the pitch on a stretcher surrounded by large white sheets and cut back to the studio as the game was stopped. Gary Lineker and the other commentators were so shocked.

The female commentator, Alex Scott, said she’d just text her mum to tell her she loved her. Another guy, Cesc Fabregas, said that he’d gone home many nights after a bad day and taken it out on his family. This made him realise we had to live life to the fullest, be happy and remember football is just a game.

We were both really emotional, I was crying. Life can be taken away just like that… and we had watched it happen.

Craig said let’s go into the pub for a couple and we were both a bit numb going in. The guys in there had heard it too.

Then…… we hear he is alive. He is in hospital and he is stable.

Wow.

I never thought that would be possible and don’t think anyone in that stadium did either.

Everyone who watched that will have been really affected by it and that can only be a good thing.

A reminder to live life to the full.

Life every day as if it’s your last.

Tell people that you love them.

Please stay safe everyone as you are all important to me. ♥️♥️♥️

Oh you learn to love that 4.45am alarm…. NOT!!! I did not want to move this morning after that luxury of the 3 hour long lie yesterday. But I did. And boy was the Fit Body Farm a killer this morning?!?

Team Avery worked together in a challenge. 100m each on the Ski-erg machine, heavy sled 🛷 pushes and pulls and a whole lot of burpees followed by broad jumps.

The burpee is evil.

So back home, quick coffee and then snuck up on some of the housework. Bathrooms 🚽 🚽✅ stairs ✅ upstairs bedroom ✅ hallway ✅ and Craig did the living room, kitchen and sunroom. Every time we do this, I do say how much I love a clean house. Just in time for the weekend. By this time it’s only 10am and I took the dogs for a walk.

Now the Rambling Sloth has a newly appointed plant consultant, I messaged my neighbour Helen this morning to ask what the white hedgerow bushes were. She said they are Hawthorn blossoms. When she was a child she was told that an abundance of blossoms meant there was a hard winter to come. If this auld wives tale is to be believed then this winter is going to be shocking methinks…. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😬😆

Winter is coming!

I had a lovely chat with my 80 year old friend as I walked around. 💜

I’m not sure where the rest of the day went?! I got Abbie the camper van back from the garage. The part was £3.01 and the labour was £240 😱😳🤷🏻‍♀️. Let’s hope it’s the last time that turbo is out for a few years at least.

So I’ve barely left the house and it’s been an expensive weekend and it’s only Friday!!

I’m very tired now, I needed a nap this afternoon and didn’t get one so will need to get an early night or I’ll be really grumpy.

If I warn Craig through the blog then he’ll know 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😬😂🥰

Spending the evening in the village pub with some neighbours catching up on the week’s news. I will get that nap tomorrow…. Or there will be trouble. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😬😆

Have a good weekend y’all.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Wow wow and wow! We got up at 7.45am and that’s a whole 3 hours of a lie in…. uh-mAz-in……

Abbie is booked back in to Van Hospital (I like the way WordPress made those capital letters like that’s a thing!) today so I’m working from home and there’s no Fit Body Farm to bound out of bed for on a Thursday.

Dropped the van off for 8.15am and have spent the morning working away back in the bedroom office just like the days of dog behaviour calls. This room sure needs a tidy and a freshen up. It’s been neglected for the last few weeks as it’s been abandoned for Tartan HQ!

There was a solar eclipse this morning…. don’t say I don’t keep you up to speed…. my pic below!

So the afternoon was also spreadsheet based and I finally got the Village hall accounts to balance. I was so ahead of the game all year then the job things happened and the Assistant Treasurer bit went out the window….. so pleased to say an afternoon well spent. It’s all submitted only 2 and half months after it’s due although I was told I had until December really so I was ok.

I’ve also done the accounts for this year so far so I’m feeling like I’m on a roll again!

I also taxed the van…. 10 days too late whoops and renewed my insurance. Those are tasks that just feel like too much adulting don’t they?!? I spent £760 today on what seems like nothing…. all the while she’s incurring high labour costs at the garage!! 😳😱

Took the puppers out for a walk when Claire finished work. Everything seems to be in full bloom just now…. especially the buttercups. 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

So a good day, lots achieved after the best lie in ever.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Was a wee bit groggy when the alarm went off at 4.45am but I soon got up and moving. The Farm was great again this morning but I had a pain in my right leg/knee during the warm up run so had to do some massage with a foam roller to try to ease the muscle.

The foam roller was sore but hit the spot and I managed to do the rest of the class.

The shower was cold again this morning but it was actually amazing. I really needed a cold shower after the amount of work we had done. 🚿 I was sweating buckets or perspiring profusely as us ladies do…. 🤦🏻‍♀️😬😆

I had big plans for work today and loads of things cropped up that needed attention instead. Best laid plans and all that…. 😆 I stayed till about 2.30 today as I had a massage booked in Dalry for 3.05pm and I went straight there…. I say straight there… avoiding all roadworks on the A71 in Irvine. The sat nav sent me to the coast and back in to Dalry…. was soooo close to the beach but just not close enough to be there.

So I’d had a call from the osteopath yesterday asking me if I would be interested in going for a deep tissue massage as there was a new lady starting at his therapy room.

Me?!? Interested in a massage?! Like hullo, have you met me, introductory offer 50% off eh yeah…. don’t have to ask me that twice! I did ask if the woman had a spare few hours to spare?!?!

So I booked for today and had a full hour of VERY deep tissue massage. Now I like a firm massage but this was super firm. It was amazing if not a bit eye opening at times.

By the end of it my muscles were actually buzzing. What a great feeling!! I walked out on air as if she’d just loosened everything up.

Of course after all that exertion I now need a nana nap.

So I am not getting a nap. I have the Gateside Hookers is less than 50 minutes. The crochet group that puts the world to tights in 2 hours every Wednesday night!

I did read somewhere that a nap should either be an hour and a half or just twenty minutes otherwise you wake up feeling awful. Could try for a wee 20 minuter?!?

So sorry it’s a short one today.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Wow I had the best sleep ever…. I was in bed for about 8.30pm last night and finally fell asleep about 9.30pm.

Got a long lie until 6.30am…. Wow!! Love a morning when I don’t get up for the gym.

So a completely different Julie woke up today. Fresh and clear headed, ready to take on the world. I even washed and blow dried my hair before work and that like almost never happens.

I was working till 4pm today as there’s loads to do and Abbie the camper van is back in the garage on Thursday so I can’t get to work.

It means the day passes in a blur but it was another good day. Loads done. Mind fixed. 😁

When I got back home I took el doggos out for a walk and dragged Claire with me. I actually didn’t need to drag her…. Calaidh did that!

The field we spent most of lockdown 1.0 in has been closed over with barbed wire since the end of summer last year. It’s a sad day when your life is made because a field is open…… I’m getting old!

We thought about picking some cowslip but a quick google search says it’s toxic…. hmmm rethink that idea!

I made a hello fresh dinner tonight and it didn’t take me a hundred hours to do… check me!

It was really lovely and there are plenty left overs for lunch tomorrow. It’s probably more calories than I should have at the moment but hey… I can’t do it all…. 😆😁

Now this next one is something we should all take on board. How many people actually make time for themselves and do something they really want to do. Every single day? I bet a small handful. Something for us all to think about.

Stay safe everyone 💜💜💜