Day 1464 new iPhone day!

I’ve upgraded my iPhone from an 11 Pro to a 15 Pro today and I’m excited to see what the new camera is going to bring. There’s a big difference in the camera functionality…. Watch this space.

Obviously I need a day where I have time to get out and take photos! Today was mostly spent in the Apple Store!

We were there for it opening at 10am.

Unfortunately due to me not remembering my Apple ID…. We had an hour to wait until we could unlock the phone. This is a new security feature which is great if your phone is stolen but not so great when you try to buy a new phone.

The bonus was a wee Starbucks breakfast!

Craig snuck this next shot….

Check the dreadful cheesy grin as I sit in the store doing the transfer…. Am I the only person who feels sad giving up the old phone?!?!?

I was sad letting it go…. It’s been in my hand for a long time now!! 😂

So that’s pretty much been my day… following up by some tidying up.

This weekend I have actually been the queen of doing nothing and I have had the loveliest of weekends.

We went to Elly’s 40th last night and what a lovely time we had.

The sun was shining. It had been a beautiful day.

Here are a few photos of our night. Craig looks like the tallest man in the world here!!

We thought we had to squat if we are the front of the photo, in case you couldn’t see the girls at the back… upshot is that I end up in a random squat in every group photo 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

The girls got a lovely light up headband and the guys had light up shades!

I pinched Craig’s shades!

It was so lovely of Elly to invite us.

So that’s all for this weekend. A very quiet one apart from the party. I feel calm, relaxed and refreshed and sooooo much better than I did last week.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1379 dog jog, dog walk and our nieces 16th birthday party! 🥳

Wide awake at 5am, got up and moved down to the couch to read. Subsequently felt shattered all day.

I got Calaidh and Bhru ready and out for 8.30am and we did the first dog jog in months…. It felt really good. It blew the cobwebs away and the poor puppers were wondering what on earth had happened all of a sudden. We were all breathless when we got back, though not sure they had done anything more than a fast walk 🙄😂 I forgot to take my phone so no pics.

Back home and changed into walking gear and took baby Freya down to the little gift shop to get a birthday card.

She was so good. I did some lead training with her on the way. She doesn’t go out on her own that often so it’s good for her to get some socialisation and go see her Auntie Gayle.

We talked for a wee bit too long and she actually lay down and almost nodded off.

Bless her.

Look at the poor gate on the way back home. It’s just hingin’ in there isn’t it?! I felt really sorry for it…. Empathy for an old gate. Whatever next?!

I lay down for an hour and read and tried to nap but didn’t. Got up and had a shower before Craig got home from work.

We have been up at my sis in laws for our niece’s 16th birthday party. How can she actually be 16 already?!?

We had some lovely party food and was great to catch up with everyone as we didn’t see them over Christmas.

I got a lovely Joma bracelet for my Christmas from them. It’s a gold acorn for strength.

It’s super shiny compared to the others I’ve worn every day.

We played a family quiz game and I always think I’m so rubbish at quizzes. My head just says nope, nope, nope when it’s under pressure and my brain leaves me alone. 😂 I did really well and came 4th or 3rd I think but I was just guessing to take the pressure off!! Obviously good guesses. 🙈😂

So just a quickie tonight as I’m soooo tired! Hope you all have a great Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1198 where is this week going?!?

I can’t believe how fast this week has been?! I’m so busy at work I just keep jumping from one thing to the next and never getting back to the thing I started. 😬

It’s good to be busy but 4pm comes and I can’t leave…. It takes me till 4.30 to finish up and even then, I think of so much that I haven’t done. I’m not even getting a chance to check my lists as they’re fairly inconclusive anyway!

It’s Craig’s birthday tomorrow so I have got all his pressies together and we’re going to have a birthday night tonight so he can play with all his new “toys” on his day off tomorrow! 😂 yup I hear myself…. 😂

I’m going to cook up lots of lovely nibbles I got on my extortionate food shop yesterday for him coming home from work tonight.

So yeah not much else from me today. It was lovely and sunny again but I didn’t see much of it. Least I get to wear my shorts to work!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1167 a lazy Sunday with a birthday party in the pub and a new FB page!! 📸

Another little woof awakening this morning at 6.30am…. They’ve become regular wee alarm clocks these days. I did try and go back to sleep but it was never going to happen.

So it’s been a stay at home kind of day today except we popped into the pub at 3pm for our next door neighbour, Kenny’s birthday. We’ve managed to sit outside all afternoon, even under spots of rain and the ominous clouds! It was nice to see everyone and catch up! Didn’t even take a photo!’

I’ve done some housework and sorted out my clothes drawers but for most of the day I’ve been sat on my laptop… as you do on a Sunday…. Not!

I know that I want to do something more with my photography so I have downloaded the Lightroom app, along with Snapfish and Photobox. I need to start seeing what some of them look like printed out.

I’ve also set up a FB page today and decided to call it Just Jules Photography. Please click the link and give the page a like, she says, very nervously!!

It’s not about me, it’s not about the Rambling Sloth… it’s Just Jules.

I’m not certain what will come of it yet but it’s a start. I want to be able to share my photos and not just add them to the blog. It’s the one thing I feel very passionate about.

I love taking photos. I love looking for the next shot. Sometimes a “point and press” photo turns out to be stunning! I take photos when I walk and photos when I jog. I don’t currently spend hours setting them up. This may encourage me to spend a bit more time looking for that next subject.

You should have seen me this morning with the Lightroom app…… I was like a wee kid having tantrums…. There’s a reason I’ve not done anything like this before. It’s always been too much like hard work! I couldn’t understand half of the tutorial and had to rewatch sections countless times… but I got there and I now understand how the app works. There are a whole host of options that may be too much for my calm, relaxed brain these days…. But it’s a definite step up from where I was this morning.

I am really pleased that I actually got the ball rolling. Several people have told me I should do more with my photos…. I am listening, eventually! Gayle gave me one great big push earlier this weekend.

In an other much lighter note…. I had a wee photo shoot with my Vinted and Charity Shop dresses, last night. Craigie made a great photographer!

This outfit was from the British Heat Foundation in Largs.

Dress, £5.50, bolero cardigan £6.50 and fascinator £8 with a tag on it that said £40!! Whole outfit £20 and I do NOT do fuschia pink…. Ever!!

This next one also the British Heart Foundation.

Dress was £6.50 and is from Oasis.

This next one was from Vinted and was £3!!!!

Next one is a Shein dress from Vinted for £7.

And finally my least favourite…. From Vinted and £4…. It’s the tightest one that I got so I’ll probably sell it on.

I’m showing the one from behind as it was a bit of a tummy hugger. 😂

I honestly love that I’ve got such great deals for all of these dresses. I need to sell some more on Vinted again soon…. I still have quite a few dresses that I won’t wear anymore so someone else could make use of them. If I can eradicate the dog hair that is.

Well that was the weekend…. Only 6 more sleeps until our summer holiday so will be a busy week at Tartan trying to get all my ducks in a row 🦆🦆🦆🦆

What could possibly go wrong?!?

Stay safe everyone 🦆🦆🦆

Day 1160 ROADTRIP to Dundee with Gayle! 🚘☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

My fresh clean bed came at a cost last night…. Making the bed up, in a hot bedroom at 1am…. No one wants to do that do they?!?!

It seems there was a spectacular thunderstorm here last night, with torrential rain and we missed it all. There were only a few big spots up at my in-laws last night, about a 45 minute drive away.

It was such a lovely party yesterday. 🥳🎉🎊

Now… if you read the blog…. You will know that, for me, a large gathering of people is among my list of things to be slightly dreaded. Call it a party and I’m 😵‍💫

And yet, as with all things I think I will dread, I end up having a really lovely time.

Being alcohol free at my in-laws is actually very easy. They have always catered for my non alcoholic choices. After 4 and a half years, I finally feel proud and confident of my choices. I have chosen not to drink because it makes me a better person… I no longer feel jealous of other people who haven’t made that choice. It’s my decision and I’m happy it’s the right one for me.

I had a lovely time. I had great chats, felt completely at ease small talking and was so chuffed I got to meet Isobel who often comments on my ramblings and yet I’d never met her. She is definitely my kinda person ♥️

Fast forward to a little woof at 6am this morning!!! 5 hours…. 🥴 I let them out and then we all went back to sleep until 8.30am. That’s more bearable.

So since then I’ve sat in the garden, writing this, I’ve done an Asda food shop for delivery and I’ve tried to fix the battery life on my iPhone…. Having a lovely wee morning to myself in the cloudy sun.

Gayle is picking me up in an hour for a visit to a supplier in Dundee today so I best go and get ready!!!

It turns out we were actually heading to Fowlis which was just outside of Dundee.

We had a lovely wee ROADTRIP and got to see some lovely new stock for Gayle’s shop. Isn’t funny how my phone always screams ROADTRIP in capital letters theses days?!?

It was great to be able to see the new stock for autumn/winter and of course have a wee fashion show!

I wonder if there’s a job for a hat and scarf model going?!? I seem to have the same selfie grin every time 😂 not very versatile.

The stock is all on show in the rep’s front room. It was a beautiful house!! We had tea, coffee and biscuits while we browsed and I helped Gayle to spend her money. 😂

The sun was back out for our drive back. It’s hot again today but it feels very hot for us. Like rain and thunder might not be far away.

The country roads on the way back to the motorway were lovely.

Crossing over the River Tay. All I could think about was the procession when the Queen’s body left Balmoral for the final time and driver over this bridge. Very poignant.

We passed Stirling Castle which looked very splendid on top of its hill.

The only traffic we hit was coming back into Glasgow of course. Caught this plane flying right overhead on approach to Glasgow Airport.

I’ve had the best wee day doing something completely different. I’m back in shorts and vest top, our in the garden with an alcohol free San Miguel which is very lovely. It’s sweaty hot but I’m persevering. The house is a state but, when you live in Scotland. You have to make the most of any minute of sunshine… we never know when the next sun might shine!

Also just realised we only have two weeks of work left before our summer holiday… please, please, please let this sunshine last!!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

Day 1159 a walk to & from the little gift shop & birthday party at the in-laws 🥳🎉🎁

It’s another beautiful day. There’s still a breeze which, at some points, seemed like a howling gale in the back garden 😂

We were up with a woof at 6.30am, goodness only knows what disturbed them this morning. To be fair, I do love the early mornings so I’m not complaining.

We sat outside right a coffee… DECAF of course 😂😂😂 I am far too quick to take Craig’s suggestion that he’ll ask the dogs. 2 days in a row now that I’ve wanted to go out with them but give up in a heartbeat, as I’m so grateful that I don’t have to.

Think I may be shunned by Calaidh as a result 😂

So I decided instead to walk to work…. That’s how I can explain it to myself but in all honesty, there a another reason….. it’s the Beith Gala day today and I am…. Wait for it… worried that I might not get the van out of the car park as it might be too busy when I leave. Seriously. It’s amazing what I can make up in my own head. So instead let’s pretend it’s all about the exercise. 🥴

To be fair, I did really enjoy the walk. It’s calm and peaceful. I did get stopped by one of our lovely neighbours, to see if I wanted a lift, but I was striding it out and enjoying it. also taking photos… naturally!

It is a beautiful walk and the same again home only this time, more gates AND pretty damn hot! The breeze is suddenly working in my favour!

I stopped by the community garden on the recommendation of one our customers.

Then off up the road!

So many very old gates on this road.

They are all hanging by a thread!

It is scorching hot today. 25°C is about as hot as it gets here. I’m sitting in the garden for a wee while before we get ready to go out to the in-laws for my father in law’s birthday party. I am so hot I may not be able to move.

The dogs won’t leave me alone either so there’s not much sunbathing being do’e!

My life 🐶🐶🐶🎾🎾🎾😂😂

I’m at the party now and just realised I haven’t put this out!!! It’s also been raining….. 😱 Having cake and Nozeco so all good and I’ve met Isobel!

Here’s hoping I get home before 3am.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1155 a 17th birthday party!!

Slept like a log!! I’ve been up since 5.30 dog jog, supermarket shop before work!!

The sun didn’t come through until at least 3.30pm today…. Shocker!

Now I’m at a 17th birthday party for my next door neighbour! I’ve had such a lovely meal. I’ve eaten more than I’ve eaten all week. it’s 8.30pm so it’s just a quickie! Been jumping back home to let the dogs out. Better get back to them soon!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️