Day 1470 what a beautiful morning to be alive! ☀️🏃🏻‍♀️☀️🐕‍🦺☀️

We’re still being blasted by the arctic air so it was frosty overnight again but it’s a beautiful morning. ☀️☀️☀️

I’m sitting outside on a bench in the garden, pretending it’s warmer than it actually is… it’s 11.08am and I’ve already run 3 miles with Run Club, walked Bhru and Freya and then had a big field walk with Calaidh.

I’m contemplating how to top that 😂😂 actually I’m so tired after all that I may just sit here all day with my suntan lotion on!

It’s been pure blue skies with white fluffy clouds and I am determined to live my best life for June who sadly passed away yesterday. I want to make every moment count, even if it is just sitting around relaxing. As long as I’m present in the moment then that’s all that matters.

It’s 7am.

I cannot get over the colour of the sky… 💙

I must take more photos of the trees now than I do of the dogs 😂

Love the early morning sun creating these long shadows… 4 members of run club in action!

Spiers school grounds looking lovely in the early morning sun!

Old Geilsland House.

This morning’s run club, Lynsey, Elly, Rachel two doors down and my bright red face!!

More trees.

All done! I’m definitely the reddest!!!

I love how much we are all smiling.

Back home and straight back out with Bhruic and Freya. Never met a soul…. Just how I like it!

More shadows!

Then back for a half hour with Craig before Calaidh and I headed out with Rachel and Nacho, Jim and Muck!

We walked right up to the top of the old golf course. Views right over to Lochwinnoch and Castle Simple Loch.

The gorse is as yellow as the sky is blue.

Looking over to Beith Parish Church.

The final shadow pic of the day… it’s not even 10am. There could be more….. Jim couldn’t resist! Rachel looks scarily tall!

And yes I actually did put this stick above my head to make it look like antlers… 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

All the dogs had a blast.

I have to admit after all of that I have had the laziest of days.

I’ve done housework, pottered, hung washing out to dry but I’ve been shattered. I spent a large part of the afternoon on the couch under Craig’s crochet blanket dozing on and off. I’m so tired.

To be fair I have done 22k steps today and most of them all before 10am!!

I am very calm and it feels really good.

On our After Dry January FB group we’ve done tributes for June today. A lovely lady Sally posted this and this says it all.

Happy Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1469 train trip to Edinburgh to The Willow Tea Rooms ☕️🧁

I’m on the train!! 🚆 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I’m heading over to Edinburgh to meet my Mum and Auntie Marion. We have afternoon tea booked at The Willow Tea Rooms today.

I have always wanted to go to the Willow Tea Rooms…. There’s always been one in Glasgow but the one in Edinburgh seems to be new. Well it is to me anyway. They are designed around the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I’ll hopefully have a bit more info once I’ve been.

Wide awake at 6am and out for a run with Rachel two doors down, at 7am.

It’s a beautiful morning but bitterly cold for this time of year!

Here’s my favourite gate… it’s been a while 😂

We went into Spiers Old School grounds and the lighting was lovely.

I found the run quite hard this morning, more my legs than the breathing.

We did it! About 2.5 miles this morning. I am very red!!

So back home and had to queue for the shower…. 😂 Craig had a really early job today.

What to wear on a day that’s freezing cold in the shade and warm in the sun?!?!

Here I am at Glengarnock in the sun!

Walking through Glasgow Central. This looks black and white but it’s taken in colour.

So I cross Glasgow to Queen Street, sit down on the train and read that my lovely FB friend passed away this morning as a result of her fight with cancer. I’m on a crowded train. I know it’s coming but it takes my breath away. Her lovely daughter messaged to tell me. So very kind of her.

I manage to hold it together for the whole trip.

Just to recap, I have never met this lady. I’m a joint admin on a FB group called After Dry January, where we share our sober journeys. I “met” June over 5 years ago and she has been an amazing support. She saw something in me that I couldn’t see anymore. She sent me gifts, cards and lots of positivity. I wasn’t the only one she supported. I hear stories from the other members, she did similar things for so many of us.

What a very special woman. I hope she can rest well knowing how much she was loved and what an impact she made on our lives.

I did a post for her a few week’s back, on our group, so people could express their gratitude while she was still with us, rather than waiting until she was gone. She got to hear what she meant to everyone.

We all need to be more June. ♥️

The sun is still shining as we pull into Edinburgh Waverley station. 🚉

I hop off the train and Mum can tell straight away that something is wrong. I finally let a few tears flow.

We grab a quick coffee in Cafe Nero and then head up to Princes Street.

Looking over Princes Street Gardens to Edinburgh Castle

The Willow Tea Rooms are on Princes Street directly opposite Edinburgh Castle. It’s only been open for 2 months but has been a in Glasgow for over 60 years.

I love that it says “ people might be able to enter and enjoy without relying on the inebriating effects of alcohol for entertainment” she sounds like my kinda gal!!

(You can get alcohol there now for those who are interested!!)

Hide the Primark bag!!!

It was quite quiet when we went in at 1pm but it filled up very quickly.

Mum took this arty shot.

My view.

The lovely art on the walls.

What a stunning view from the tea room, out to Edinburgh Castle.

Mum and Auntie Marion.

Keek! I actually ordered the vegan sandwiches. They were so good. Avocado with tomato, humous with chargrilled peppers and cucumber.

We also got a scone with cream and jam… not vegan obviously and a cake of our choice and we all went with the strawberry tart.

The teapots and cups are all willow design.

Here I am listening intently to Mum!

It was really lovely and cost us £22 each with the 5% service charge added in. Mum very kindly bought mine as a treat! She’s a keeper!!

It as still beautiful when we got out and a weeeeee bit warmer. The blossom is out in full force.

I felt like a tourist in my home city. I ooohed and aaahhhed over buildings like this in Rome yet fly past them here in Edinburgh, on my doorstep. This is the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.

Even walking into Waverley station looks really pretty in the bright sunlight.

I feel like I am seeing everything through rose tinted glasses today. The new iPhone photos are so vibrant.

Here’s my current view from the train!

It’s cloudy now I’ve got to Glasgow… all 17 stops later 😂😂

So I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I also hope we see some more sunshine. I also hope that it is warmer 😂😂 I don’t want much.

I also want everyone to be more June ♥️

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 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

Day 1171 the out of office is on! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

It’s 5pm and I’m sitting at the side of Kilbirnie Loch. I’m getting my toes painted at 5.30 nearby, not enough time to go home really.

It’s so hot, beautiful blue sky and there seems to be no one here but me.

I literally just typed that and 2 dog walkers have just walked around the corner. 😂

I’ve just been woo woo woo’d at by a wee white fluffy dog because I said hello!

It is beautiful. So calm and peaceful. This swan just did a wing flap for me!! I love the photo but it’s maybe a bit too zoomed in to be anything special?!

A lovely end to a hectic day. I’ve been so busy these last few weeks that I’ve had to leave a lot of work not done but I hope that I’ve done everything that really needed done… I just know what I’m going back to.

I do need the break. With the exception of Iceland and my friend Helen visiting, I’ve been working 5.5 days a week. I’m looking forward to some down time…. And what a way to start, sitting right here!!

Craig and I are heading off on Saturday morning for a week in Clachtoll, north of Ullapool. It’s a long drive, but it’s the first time we’ve been on the Scottish mainland for a summer holiday for a while. No ferry trips this time.

The forecast keeps changing and doesn’t look the best at the moment but it will be what it is. It will be lovely if we get some sunshine like this.

And relax.

Stay safe everyone 💙💙💙

Day 1146 a beautiful day outside!!

To be fair, it’s been a beautiful day inside too. Finally we have a day of shorts and vest top…. Out in the garden. You’ve kept us waiting for this, 2023!

I slept really well all night, again. Could not wake up this morning at all. Have been looking forward to some good weather and getting the bedding washed, dried and back on the bed, so,I finally got moving.

The day started with dog jog and very tangled leads 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Nothing is more beautiful than the colours on a sunny day. That sky…. 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

These next two are just the cow parsley at the side of the road! It’s taking over the world!

The buttercups are out in full force too.

The cows are totally checking us out!

So back home and it was straight into doggy bath time…. It’s been a while and when you have 3 dogs, grooming can add up.

Freya was first and I forgot to take photos of her…. I am totally soaked after her!

Then Calaidh who was surprisingly dirty… she hides it well in that black coat of hers.

She who wants to bit the shower spray any chance she gets, is surprisingly traumatised by being washed! Then Bhru… she looks like she’s smiling but I think she thought she could get out the bath via the taps… she’d planned an escape 😂

Here they all are out in the garden, drying very quickly, all fluffy and clean. Note the bedding on the line as well…. It’s definitely washing day in our house!!

All that and 2 loads done and I t’s not even 9.30am!!

Next step was the rockery. Now I think it looks lovely and wild but it is FULL of weeds and someone I live with, is not a fan of a weed…..

I’ve done really well but it’s nowhere near where it needs to be. I hit a wall around 12.30!

So really for the rest of the day I’ve been sitting on a sun lounger and having spurts of weeding energy.

I did open my eyes to this…. At one point!

That’s what happens when you put yourself at their level… 😂

Another spurt…. Before.

…and after!

We’ve had a lovely dinner tonight…. Cooked over the fire!

Spiced venison hotpot. It was amazing!!

Craig did very well for his first South African potjie…. Or as close as we can get to it! The “rules” say it’s not to be stirred but we stirred ours….. ours I have a cheek… I stirred Craig’s 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. There’s lots of seasoning in it that we bought from Amazon. The meat is browned with the onions and them the veg layered on top. He made enough for 6 people. Guess what’s we’re having for the next few days?!?

So all in all, we’ve had a really lovely day. We’ve done lots but also rested lots too.

It got a wee bit chilly an hour or so ago so I gave in and put a T-shirt on… of course now the sun is back out.

The sign of a good day off is when it feel likes it’s been longer than one day and it’s still only 5.15pm!

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙☀️