Tag: beauty

Day 1637 a very early and tired Rambling Sloth today – that once in a lifetime Aurora came back!!

Since I stopped drinking I have found a zest for life, that crops up at times, that feels a high way beyond what alcohol could give me. Wow.

Now I should say here, I am actually working at Tartan today. I haven’t worked a Friday in a long time but I’m full time this week to give me a Monday off for my trip to Milan at the end of the month.

I knew the Aurora was a very strong possibility last night. I kept getting alerts on my phone and then Rachel two doors down was the best alert ever….. “it’s here!” so I call Claire next door and drag her out the back and we “meet” in our respective gardens.

I then tell her that I’m now dragging her out the front and slightly up the hill so we can get the best views. 😆

We walked out the front door and met Emma, another of our running girls, wondering the streets 😆 and the 3 of us set off.

It’s not visible to the naked eye, but I still pretty impressed given that the 10th May showing was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

There are a lot of electric lines up here that spoil my shots so I use them. 😆

It was so beautiful… I stay out longer than the others as I keep taking photos and never know when to walk away, in case it gets better.

This is the village hall.

Back in the garden.

I am so chuffed and tired. It’s 10.20 by the time I get into bed which is late for me! Craig remarks when I come in that I just look SO happy….. this is what makes me tick. Capturing and sharing beautiful things. It may not pay the bills but the buzz I get off this is incredible.

I’m fast asleep when Craig comes up to bed at 12.30 and I get up for the loo…. My brother has posted some very vibrant shots above his house, on our family chat so I head out into the back garden and it’s there above our house and all over the sky, visible to the naked eye. Red.

I get dressed up and head out the front. Purple from this angle.

I head across the road and up the hill again.

I have no fear at all…. Even when I hear a cow munching in the field beside me!

That once in a lifetime opportunity is back and it’s brighter than it was on 10th May.

I am close to tears.

I cannot explain how this makes me feel. I am so glad to be alive, to witness this. So grateful for my courage letting me walk out in the dark and not be scared for once.

I should also say that I’ve put none of those through my photo filter yet. This is just an iPhone 15 pro and holding it in my hand.

♥️💚

💥 ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💥

The stars are so vibrant too behind the colour.

There’s a car coming from the bottom left. Zoom in on those stars. ✨

Same car lights dull the Aurora but brightens the stars a bit.

Unfortunately Craig’s car was right outside our house.

The village hall again. The streetlights are stopping the real beauty but that’s kind of what you can see with your eyes without the phone camera.

And I am just blown away with gratitude for life. If Craig hadn’t come up to bed late I would have missed it.

He woke me in that high peak.

My alarm didn’t go off this morning because it’s not set for Tartan starting…. Oops… but thankfully I wake at 6 randomly with a pain in my right big toe joint….. 🥴😆 I went straight back out.

It’s cloudy and raining but very atmospheric.

What an amazing night.

Now I have to get a shimmy on or I will be tired and late for work!

And sending positive Aurora vibes for my Canadian bestie Tracey who’s off out to chase them in Vancouver now. It’s just starting for her!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️💜💚

Day 1428 a wee day trip to Loch Katrine!

Oooh I did not sleep well… Fitbit decreed it was a “FAIR” sleep… I agreed.

It was lovely and sunny when I finally got up, though super frosty. It’s one of those mornings where the sun defrosts the car before you go outside…. Love that!

So I set off just after 8am, in the glorious sunshine, headed for Loch Katrine.

The first part of the journey from home to Glasgow Airport, was through thick fog. Thankfully the fog cleared and there was pure blue sky. My head wasn’t the best this morning but this was just the tonic.

It was a stunning drive.

The morning sunlight made everything stand out. The colours were very autumnal. The mountains were very brown as the heather isn’t growing yet, the ferns were a beautiful rusty red/brown and any water I passed was like glass. It honestly took my breath away.

Yes I was a bit anxious on some of the roads, when someone got stuck behind me but I was there just after 9am.

Could that be any prettier?!?

It’s the blue that gets me every time. I took similar photos after the boat trip and they look really different. I was so lucky to be able to see this.

This is the Sit Walter Scott Steamship. She doesn’t sail during winter but is ready for her first outing of the season, next Friday.

If you look at the photo above, she has canopies front and rear but on my photo below she has a fixed cabin area on the front.

I had about two hours before the boat trip sailed, so I set the timer on my phone for 45 minutes to walk alongside the loch. I had plenty time to get back if I turned with the timer. I’ve marked the walk with a thin red line out to Brenachoile Point.

It only worked out at just over 4 miles.

You can see the wind is starting to pick up and that’s the last of the still reflection shots.

The road alongside the loch is slightly wider than single track but an old style waterworks road with rusty old railings, very pretty in itself.

This moss was so vibrant.

I may have disturbed these geese….

Brenachoile Point has views all around the lock.

It also has a beautiful little shingle beach with crystal clear water.

As I said, I was so lucky to get here but the timer went off and I had to turn back. It made a lovely wee picnic area.

Sir Walter Scott wrote his poem The Lady of the Lake about this area of Loch Katrine.

I made it back for 11am. Quick drink of water and changed into my winter coat.

As I booked on line the ticket inspector radioed to say he had the Avery Party….. cringe… Avery party of one….. 😬. We headed out in Rob Roy III…. As I listened to a guy telling his parents that the Rob Roy I and II had sunk…. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

The boat trip was full. There were about 30 of us on it. I think honestly, it wasn’t the best part of my trip. The diesel fumes at the back were pretty strong and honestly, it was just freezing out there. I had an Argentian couple sitting one in front of me, knees touching and one so close beside me on the other side, I guess it was just a bit uncomfortable and I did feel a bit SOLO traveller.

The winter cruise sails out into the loch for a half hour and back.

I was fascinated but the colour of the wake bit if you look closely enough, I think it’s the diesel fumes floating above it that create the effect.

The commentary was a little quiet but really good. I had no idea, or most likely, had forgotten, that Loch Katrine supplies much of Glasgow with fresh water. So all the water used in Irn Bru and Tennants Lager, to name a few, will come from Loch Katrine.

The Victorians needed a fresh water supply as much of Glasgow only had access to dirty water… there were some complaints this the newly piped-in Loch Katrine water had no taste and no texture!!! 🤢

The loch is 13 miles long.

The cruise is over in no time. It only cost £15 for the hours round trip. It took me an hour and 19 minutes to get there from home so it’s not far from Glasgow.

I’d taken some lunch with me so I rushed to the car to heat up and get my lunch after 20 hours of fasting… I’ve lost 3lbs this week!

I spotted this wee guy on the drive home!! He was kind enough to do all his scratching right opposite a lay-by!

He’s super cute.

The drive home was equally pretty… Dukes Pass is a very windy but stunning drive.

I pulled into St Mocha in Carbeth, a drive through coffee shop. I walked in though as I’ve been wanting to go there for a while. My kinda place. Very highly recommended!

So a lovely wee day but I am exhausted now!

Feet up making reels for FB. Go check them out on my page The Rambling Sloth. I really enjoy doing them.!

Hope you’re all having a great weekend.

Stay safe everyone 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙