Another great sleep but awake at 5am… on a Saturday dammit. I tried to go back to sleep for 2 hours but it wasn’t happening! I finally got up at 7am.
We sat and had a coffee then I got ready to take the dogs out.
It’s actually a lovely morning. It’s warm and sunny… I didn’t realise.
These cows were watching us! 🐮🐮🐮
Lovely blue sky 💙
Big shadows this morning!
The cow guy was making some noise as we walked towards it! went silent for the photo!
Scary moo coo.
So when I got back I got straight into the gardening. I didn’t plan to do any, and the forecast was for rain all day. Thought I may as well be outside since it was warm and dry.
It was proper back breaking stuff. Trying to take as many roots out of the ground as I could. I even moved some plants around, which I may regret, but, the garden at the bottom was very congested. If the moved plants take up the top then great but if not, you couldn’t see them anyway.
When we first moved in here, the back of the garden was fully overgrown. We paid to have it cleared and then put bark down.
Big mistake.
That’s not fair actually, it served its purpose at the time but bark eventually mulches down and becomes mud. We’ve added layer upon layer of bark in order to dry up the mud, but it keeps mulching down.
We have decided to do away with the bark but it’s slow progress. Hoping for as much free artificial grass as we can get.
I found a path that we covered up and have been digging that back out.
It’s slow progress as I get sore hands and arms…. And I do get bored with it!
I’ve been thinking for a good few weeks that I must get back to exercise. I feel guilty for not doing any and I have sag where I haven’t sagged for years.
I need to remember that the dog walk and a full workout in the garden count too! It was a hard slog.
I had a shower and washed mud out my hair and came back out to sit and let my hair dry.
I am shattered. I am silent. I’m not gonna give you the chat of your life tonight. (Think Craig has sussed this already)
I am beyond calm.
I am thinking of nothing. Maybe a nap would have been a good idea.
This is not the best photo but it shows where I was working today.
I am having the loveliest wee day to myself. I am super productive when Craig is not here, what is that all about?!? How do I get so much done when I’m on my own, yet lounge about moaning about being “tired” when he’s here?!?
I had the best sleep. Out for the count until my body clock woke me at 5.02am. I’m waking up at Scottish Dog Behaviourist time, even when he’s not here!!
I checked the weather and my phone and all was quiet despite quite a bad storm overnight, Craig & Calaidh must have survived the night in the tent!
I managed to fall back to sleep until just before 8am. That’s more like it.
I got Bhruic and Freya up and straight out for a walk after their breakfast.
It’s strange weather, pretty windy and obviously had been very wet, but the wind was warm and the sky very dramatic.
On one hand very sunny but on the other very mean and moody!
I came home and got stuck into the housework. It’s amazing how clean your house can be when you actually clean it…. Ok I know! Obvious…… now I have a bit more time, it’s easier to stay on top of it. I’ve done two washings and have hoovered the whole house again.
This is a part of our Shark anti hair wrap hoover…. I’ve been SO disappointed with it since we got it, years ago now to be fair. It seems to delight in wrapping hair instead.
To be fair, it still does it’s job as THIS is how much hair it picks up from one rug in one week.
I do fight a loosing battle with housework. We both have long hair and we have 3 dogs… she who once lived alone in a spotless house, had to relax some standards. There are times when I think I relaxed them way too much but hey… life is not all about housework. 😂
I headed out for a food shopping at 11.30… now this is quite unheard of for me. If I’m doing anything like that, I usually have to go first thing, so I’m there before anyone else and can get parked and first choice of everything…. Blah, blah. Today I broke my own rule…. Didn’t even consider the panic a mid day shop would sometimes bring. Just did it.
I thought this was a very Scottish supermarket photo!
On my way back, I headed to Curiosity which has just opened in Beith. It sells coffee, cakes and a few wee curiosities.
This is Lesley who owns it. She came to the little gift shop a few weeks back and brought us a free coffee. I finally got there today.
It’s a beautiful space. I love the colours. there’s only one wee table, so will mostly be takeaway.
I had a Mint Oak Milk Latte, really randomly as I have NEVER put mint in a coffee, but wow…. It was soooo good. The coffee is lovely, really mellow. I also had a Rhubarb and Custard Blondie with chunks of hot chocolate in it. That speaks for itself!!
This is how I broke 19 hours of fasting!!
There’s a lovey unique view of the Beith Townhouse!
I love the cake cabinet.
I had a great chat with Lesley and even met Emma who has started supplying cakes to Curiosity. Cakes by Emma 🧁🧁🧁
I finally dragged myself out of there and headed back up the road. I put all the shopping away and started defrosting the freezer. As you do!
It was sunny for a wee bit there but has mostly been wet and windy today.
So who knows what relaxing things I’ll get up to tonight. I might read a bit, I might find a good movie or I might watch some more YouTube clips on the most beautiful places in the world to visit. That’s what’s on in the background as I write this.
Wide awake at 5am which is fine because I was in bed at 8.15pm!!
I was shattered yesterday.
I read for a bit then was off to sleep before 9pm. Apparently I missed a beautiful sunset!
Up and out with the dogs before 7am for a bit of a dog jog though way more walking than jogging.
It was lovely and sunny to the north and east.
And really dark and cloudy to the south. This photo doesn’t do it justice.
This seagull was the goalie the whole time we walked passed.
The sun looked amazing in the clouds.
I was helping out in The little gift shop today and, as usual, it was so lovely. It’s lovely to catch up with so many people that I’ve not seen in ages. I get so much out of helping people choose gifts when they have no idea what to get.
One lady said I was very good at what I did and it was a real talent. Kindness costs nothing and the shop is all about kindness, every step of the way. ♥️ Her words will stay with me.
😘
I love this next one….
I’ve felt good again today. Calm and in control.
For dragonflies ready 2 Blue Merle Border Collies!! Craig is away camping this weekend with Calaidh…. Leaving me with these two beauties 💕
I’ve just looked at the weather forecast and we have strong winds and torrential rain overnight so I hope the campers are ok.
Hope you all have a great weekend! Was about to end with my usual “stay safe everyone” when I remembered that COVID really seems to be kicking back in at the moment, I know 6 people who have got it and it seems like they feel pretty rotten. I got a text about my 4th vaccination and my flu jab and I decided I wasn’t going to get it this time. I kinda feel enough is enough. I never wanted it in the first place but got it and I just don’t know what to do. Now that people are sick again I’m undecided. Will take any advice anyone has. I’m easily persuaded!
It feels like a longer weekend having a Monday off, than having a Friday off, but I know that’s not really true.
I slept in until ooooh 6.15am…. 😳 we had a nice, leisurely, freshly ground coffee ☕️ in the sun room before taking the dogs up the hill for some Scottish Dog Behaviourist photos and filming.
It’s a lovely morning… really clam and still and very mild. The forecast is for heat all week, which is lovely, though to us, that’s 16-20°C which will do me nicely.
Bhru got a wee teensy bit muddy!!
Calaidh loving her red frisbee!
Filming some training!
I stopped in past the meadow garden on the way home. Check this beauty!
Just to give it some perspective, they are very small but so pretty when you stop to look and focus in.
Showered and changed and headed over the Largs to wait for the PS Waverley coming in. She’s sailing from Glasgow around the Isle of Arran today.
I had time for s quick wander round the odd charity shop, Costa Coffee to pick up some sandwiches and a Coconut Milk Latte (DECAF!) and I settled down on the rocks to wait for her coming in.
There were hundreds of people waiting to get on!
And just like that she was gone!
I was home for 1.30 and passed Craig on his way out to work. I have no idea where this afternoon has gone but 3 hours have past and I have done precious little. Two loads of washing, put clothes away and watched some YouTube videos of the quieter places to visit in the world! It’s been pretty cloudy but still warm. I might do some more work on my vision board later on. I’m getting quite into this manifesting malarkey.
It’s been a lovely relaxing day, it’s lovely when the sun shines in the blue sky. It makes everything feel really good.
I’ve been in bed most of the day. I’m not sick I’m just so lethargic.
The Scottish Dog Behaviourist set his alarm for 5am. Today was my only day off without an alarm. I tried to go back to sleep but got up at 5.45am. I’m very quiet, definitely not full of chat.
I headed out with the puppers at 6.30am!!
The forecast is for rain all day again, but it’s dry for now, though much cooler than yesterday. It is, however, only 6.30am 😂 when was the last time I was out in a T-shirt at that time of the morning?!
I didn’t run as much today. More of a flat footed fast walk at times.
It’s what I call a watery sun this morning. Looks like it will rain heavily soon.
I think that shot is pretty impressive when you consider I have 3 excited Border Collies in one hand 😂 desperate to get off on their walk!
Quite liked the wee thistley things, as you can tell as there are two photos.
“Whatcha stopping for now mumma?!? Awwww there are sheep-y-mehs in here!!”
I dragged the 3 of them past the meadow garden, just to see how it’s coming along.
It’s much the same but still very pretty.
It’s very unassuming behind this gate!
Back home and I sat about for a bit. It’s only 7.30am so I headed back to bed until just before 10am. I was woken up but the dogs doing a proper wolf howl after Craig left the house!!
I didn’t know where to put myself. Didn’t have the energy to do anything but couldn’t think of the kind of nothing I wanted to do. 🤦🏻♀️😂
I came outside for a poo pick and suddenly found myself weeding the very overgrown garden! As you do.
It was a tough slog and I felt a bit lightheaded at times. There are still a lot of very tough weeds but I really broke the back of it. There are some plants that ended up going too but Craig really doesn’t like this part of the garden so I did what he wanted me to do rather than what I would have done. It’s easier to clear it all than clear bits of it.
I asked him to bring a KFC Boneless Bucket home. Lethargy craves junk.
As soon as I ate it, I went for a shower then back up to bed for another 2.5 hours!!
I tried to read a book that Evelyn lent me but was out for the count. I haven’t needed this much sleep in ages.
I’m super silent in my head. I’m calm, there is nothing to worry about, nothing I can’t blog about, Craig and I haven’t fallen out, I’m just hiding in silence which I know sounds weird but I must need it for some reason. I maybe need some kind of recovery from the crazy histrionics mid week. Hard work this over analysis! 🫣🥱😂
I’m back out in the garden, jammies on hoping no one from the pub looks over the fence. I have one boob under each arm pit, as you do when your my age and braless. 😂 I could sit here all night.
The rain never came.
Check out our hydrangea bush. I tried to get it all in the photo!
It’s really beautiful.
I’ve had a wee play with the puppers to get some jumping shots!
A couple of them you have to click on the pic to get a full view but I’m sure you get the gist.
So a day of a whole lot of nothing and I could go back to bed and sleep some more. I might just do that.
Getting up some energy from my full day on the PS Waverley tomorrow which I’m super excited about… in a quiet, tired kinda way!
It’s a beautiful day here today. It’s been the perfect temperature and I’ve spent all day outside.
So last night it would appear my FB account was seriously hacked and I’ve been blocked for 2 days which doesn’t sound that bad but I can’t do anything this time.
Once again for she who breaks no rules, ever….. this is a bit of a pain in the proverbial backside. Since the middle of June there been suspicious activity on my account. I’ve been blocked for days, here and there, about 3 or 4 times.
FB is the hardest company to try and get hold of. I’m exhausted going round and round and round in circles trying to get them to believe that I didn’t post those horrific pictures that actually did show up on my page last night. All of a sudden my time zone has changed from GMT to UTC+07 wherever that is.
I’ve changed my password about 4 times in the last few weeks and yet they are still getting to me. I don’t even understand how that is possible?
They’ve made me question my own judgement for weeks. Was it the start of the Just Jules Photography page? Was it the fact that I use positive quotes in the blog and maybe don’t reference the authors properly?
What am I doing wrong?
Then last night at 10.18pm I finally realised it most definitely wasn’t me. FB are still to catch up to that fact though.
Copyright infringement hardly even remotely covers from my hacker posted on my page last night.
I had just invited lots of people to my photography page and now I can’t even reply… I just look rude.
Anyway, I’ve reported the hacking about 100 different ways so hopefully they’ll get round to checking it sometime soon. The majority of my readers are on FB so none of them will even get this post. Hey ho, there are worse troubles at sea, my Gran would say.
We didn’t get home from Craig’s mum’s until after midnight, so I had a long lie until 9.30am. Check me. I had been up to let the dogs out so they were ok.
I pottered about in the garden, pulling weeds (there are millions of them) and cutting back bushes that were threatening to take over.
I took the dogs out over lunch time and actually it was maybe a bit too hot.
I love the clouds in these next pics.
They had a play in the burn to cool down for a bit and then we were on our way again.
For the rest of the day I’ve been pulling weeds and relaxing. This has really been the longest weekend as I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have 3 days off and be in the house. I’ve done 4 washing loads and they are all dry already!!! I love that!
The clouds are moving in now and we are due some spectacular rain overnight. Apparently I slept through a very loud clap of thunder last night….. Craig said it sounded like a truck had crashed out in the road. Oblivious!!
I’ve nipped in next door to feed the cats! Gorgeous boys.
As soon as I got back I the house Calaidh seriously sniffed me all over. You’d think I lay down next door and rolled around the amount of sniffing I got… I can assure you, I did not!
So all in all a lovely weekend once I got my head round being at home. I feel nice and refreshed and ready for a new week. Just need to get my FB account sorted once and for all…. Or leave it… that’s another option. 😆🤷🏻♀️
Hope you all have a lovely Sunday evening and the best week.
I was shattered when I got up this morning again. Slept like a log all night and could hardly move when the alarm went off. Since starting HRT I reckon this would most likely be time of the month, but nothing happens anymore so maybe I just have the lethargy and negativity so graciously served up at this time, or I’m actually just tired and grumpy!
I dragged myself out on dog jog and actually felt so much better for doing it. I was very grateful for dog sniffing to save me jogging!
It’s super cloudy this morning, rain forecast but warm considering it’s only 6am.
So I actually felt great this morning.
Noticed that I wasn’t able to like any comments on my new Just Jules Photography page first thing, but figured it must be a signal issue and didn’t think any more of it.
Got the monthly stock check completed today which is always a big task. All these ducks that I want in a row for finishing up on Thursday, grew arms and legs and started walking away from me! Jobs that I thought were easy became more than I bargained for. I think I have to accept that I won’t get it all done.
I also felt a bit like this before we finished up for Iceland. The pressure I put on myself, to leave everything in a perfect state, makes me anxious and worried when things don’t go to my well laid plans. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. I catastrophize about everything that could go wrong when I’m not there to manage my side of it. Why would I ever take holidays eh?!
Today’s motto was “ works well under pressure…NOT!” I reckon. I do not work well when I’m out of control, that’s for sure.
I found out at lunchtime that I was on some kind of 9 hour curfew with Facebook….
My activity didn’t follow which standards? Doesn’t help that everyone I told said “what did you do wrong?” 🥺
My account was hacked a few weeks back. Someone random accepted s friend request that I hadn’t made. I caught it quick and my password was changed. since then they keep asking me if my activity is my own…. Which is great really but it feels like FB hasn’t been the same since. My newsfeed has been dreadfully slow, mostly businesses and I hadn’t felt right for a while. Now this. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Then the doctors surgery phoned to say, “good news, we have managed to track down some Utrogestan (progesterone) for you…. You just have to collect it in Howood”
😳
I felt so deflated by everything. Real doom and gloom and humphing about thinking it’s so unfair I can’t even drink to cheer myself up.
None of these things are a big deal…. I apologised to the lady calling from the doctor, for my dejected tone and told her I’d just had a bad afternoon and I thanked her for trying to source the progesterone… she felt really bad that I had to try and get to Howood which is actually 12 minutes from here. That puts it into perspective doesn’t it! I work 5.5 days a week and don’t have any spare time to go and get it…. But I will have to make the time!
So I listened to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast on the way home.
That did the trick. Sorry I should also add that I vented it all to poor mum… that probably really did the trick and the podcast smoothed over the cracks.
Take time for yourself every day to be present in the day.
They called it a ritual. I don’t imagine much more of a ritual than writing a daily blog every day, so it was great to hear of the benefits of doing something like this. Sitting with your emotions, anger, fear and worry and trying to understand it. Even if only for 30 seconds a day. This, of course, takes me way longer than that 😆
The blog hasn’t posted automatically over to FB for 3 nights now. These things are sent to try us! There’s good reason so many people avoid it! Will see how it goes tonight.
It’s a beautiful evening. The sun is hot. I’ve had another lovely salad, fasting is still going well and we go on holiday on Saturday. So much to be grateful for. I’ve had an alcohol free pink gin and lemonade in a gin glass with a huge ice cube!!
It made a lovely sound as I swirled the ice cube round in the glass. Like a bell ringing… kinda.
I would love to get up for sunrise tomorrow morning on Summer Solstice but it’s at 4.34am and the forecast looks cloudy…. I would also love to stay up for sunset at 22.07!! I am fairly certain my tiredness will allow neither. 😆
Jeezo man it is hot. 🥵 It’s been 25°C since about 1pm and just hasn’t let up. I was literally stuck to my clothes this afternoon in the metal portacabin! The fan just blowing hot air at me.
I don’t know about anyone else but I can’t deal with the noise of a fan…. I feel such a relief when I switch it off. It must be at a frequency that just irritates me. I can only have it on for so long, blowing it’s hot air around. (Listen to me 🤦🏻♀️😂)
I am trying not to complain but it’s hard not to feel lethargic when we are SO not used to this!! The aircon in my van was amazing!!! I am so grateful for the aircon. It was 43°C inside the van when I left work. 🥵🥵🥵🥵 It was down to 28°C by the time I got home which felt so much cooler than outside. Funny how that works?!? Maybe my sensor is wrong with hindsight 🤦🏻♀️😂
So up and at it today with dog jog before 6am. It would have been so easy to stay in bed but I was determined to start the new week the same as the last.
Took this pic as Calaidh was having a wee shake!
The rhododendrons were stunning. I love that colour. 💜💜💜
I managed to have a shower, make a salad for lunch and a banana and strawberry smoothie AND feed the dogs and tidy the kitchen all before work. It feels amazing being bright and breezy in the morning.
I’m still doing really well on the fasting. I have definitely found the thing that works for me. As with most things I really want to do, I am focussed on it and never let it slide. I really commit to something when I want to.
I feel SO much better for it. I never wake up bloated, my clothes are never tight. I am almost comfortable in my own skin…. But let’s not take it too far. 😂
I’ve been having salad for almost every meal for the last few weeks. Toss everything into a large Tupperware tub, a splash of extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar and shake! I’m having some lovely meats and cheeses mixed in with it all. I’m not denying myself anything but I am not so hungry anymore either. I love it, it makes me very happy!!
A HUGE cloud has just come over and it’s still roasting but it looks ominous.
The forecast is for thunder just now… and as if on queue. Thunder!! 🌩️⚡️🌩️⚡️ I just wanted to use these emojis.
We’re still sitting out under it but the puppers have gone inside. They were not happy. I’m just loving the cool air!
I’m starting the day with gratitude today. It’s another beautiful morning though there is a cool breeze. I’m sitting outside in the garden with jammies on, having my first decaf coffee of the day.
I’m drinking out my lovely Slothy Julie mug and feeling grateful for all the lovely gifts I got for my 50th birthday, this being one from the lovely crochet hookers!
It’s just beautiful out here (could lose the breeze but let’s stick to the gratitude!)
There are no dogs at my feet…. There is no one in our house but me. The Scottish Dog Behaviourist is off out walking them this morning. I have really enjoyed our dog jogs but I am equally happy for the morning off to just sit here and just be.
I was the Queen of people pleasers! I went out of my way to make “YOU” happy…. Whoever you were, regardless of how you treated me, if I could make you happier then somehow my life would be at peace. Oh how wrong could I have been. This is what finally broke me…. Tying myself up in knots to please everyone else buy myself.
My head literally screams at me now when I agree to something I don’t want to do. It creates a whirlwind of emotion and angst (oooh what a word before 8am!) I don’t get a minutes peace from it until I say NO.
I do think that it could be perceived as selfish these days, and I get that, but I have to work very hard at preserving my mental health. I have learned over these last 4 and a half years, that I need to listen to myself now. I need to put myself first and do what is best for me.
As awful as that might sound to the person still stuck in the people pleasing loop…. I can honestly say this is one of the things I am most proud of.
Despite everything I have been through, I’m so grateful that I have been given time to learn this lesson. They say that true learning comes from adversity.
So back to today… it’s been beautifully sunny today though it was forecast to be cloudy. Sat here in the back garden at 6pm and it’s windy so cooler than it should be.
The little gift shop was lovely as usual. Always get to chat to so many lovely people. I was lucky enough to get a buttered cinnamon scone from Lindsay that works there through the week and Norma, who works in Harmony next door for me a packet of crisps!! So kind of them both. I had my usual salad for lunch. I’ve been living on salad this week. It’s been great! Long may it continue.
It’s nice to be sitting back outside where I started the day, although this time surrounded by Border Collies 🐶🐶🐶
The dogs have all just made a bee-line for the front door which means that the Scottish Dog Behaviourist just got home from his first day back at work!
She who vowed never to look at the plane tracker ever again… tracked Craig’s plane into landing this morning. 🤦🏻♀️
When I woke up after another dead to the world sleep…. This time fuelled by progesterone as it’s another 2 weeks on…. I checked and he was flying over Santander!
Then it was off out for dog jog! Getting into a bit of a routine with all this these days.
No pulling, no fuss, just out for a walk.
And a bit of a run!
We had a big run about in the field and they were all in munching in the grass.
By the time I got to work this morning, he was coming in to land, just passed over our house!!
I know I am sad but I love this tracker…. Also watch with a huge amount of fear, as you know, as the speed with which it descends is quite terrifying to watch! Can’t stop though.
It was a quick day today and I’m just home from work and Craig has had the day with the pups…. They are really pleased to see him and haven’t left him alone.
There was no one at the door to meet me!!!
He’s already missing the 5 he left behind in Spain.
Just sitting outside in the windy sun for a bit though I do have a sweatshirt on today. Mr Spanish heat is loving the breeze!
It’s been another lovely day after yesterday’s clouds. We didn’t see the sun until about 3.30pm yesterday. When it came out, it was HOT!
Sorry for such a quick blog yesterday, I just ran out of day! I literally never stopped from 5.30am until about 10pm. I was so full of “birthday tea” when I went to bed, that I ended up waking at 4am. My mind started racing, the birds were twittering away and I couldn’t get back to sleep.
I got up and did everything backwards this morning!! I made my lunch, had a shower and then headed out for dog jog?!?! Go figure…. A run after my shower?! 😂 not my smartest move but hey… I’m tired.
Mid jog, I stopped to show you how tall the cow parsley is growing!! Absolutely nothing to do with taking a breather….. 🙊
They had a good run around in the field this morning too.
There’s also lots of these lovely yellow iris’ along the side of the field, so pretty. There’s a lot of them in the wild just now.
I loved this Hawthorne tinged pink!
I can’t tell you how guilty I feel when I head to work and leave these 3 wee faces. They’re used to Craig being here on and off through the day. They get under your feet as you leave, as if to the and trip you up!
Please don’t go mum!!
So the Scottish Dog Behaviourist is actually home tomorrow, finally! It feels like he’s been away for weeks! He’s had a great time, done loads of training and learned loads but think he’s ready to get back to our 3 amigos. He’ll certainly miss the 5 dogs he’s leaving in Spain too.
He’ll be home tomorrow morning just as I get to work, so our lovely friend Lindsay will pick him up and bring him home.
So I’m off to crochet tonight in the pub…. Alcohol free gin and tonic for me! We’ve not met up in ages so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone. It is just the other side of the fence from where I’m sitting just now so not too much of an effort. Guess I should actually take my crochet this week and get back into it, or that blanket will never finish itself!
I was out in the pub last night… on a school night! Our friends Lindsay and Euan walked out from Beith to meet me next door. We had a lovely wee catch up and FaceTimed Craig in Spain!!
I came home and played with the dogs for a bit and got some lovely random photos.
Always love the jumping shots!
This morning started off cloudy. I had an alarm set for 5.30am and was off out with the dogs but had to wear a long sleeved top. I felt pretty tired and grumpy if I’m honest. I get sluggish as I jogged. Not feeling it today.
We saw this big sheep!
Freya alway checking up to make sure I’m still there!
I’ve not been in the best mood today. I don’t quite know where to put myself. I think I’m just tired after being so busy at the weekend. I got through lots at work so that’s always good. The sun came out about 9ish and it’s been really hot today. We’ve had the door wide open all day and even the fan on.
I am LOVING this run of beautiful weather. All the things mulling round in my mind should be irrelevant when I look at that lovely blue sky and just breathe.
I just yawned my head off…. Early night needed I think!
That sun emoji is still right up there at the top. Even above my ♥️ emoji which I use a lot.
I’m sleeping really well these days… there no snoring in our house as he’s away and obviously I don’t snore at all so I’m out for the count! 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️😂
I felt a lot of anxiety when I woke this morning. It’s a beautiful day again and I have a sea swim planned at my favourite Portencross beach, today at 11am.
Now that sounds to me like the perfect day… and spoiler alert… it absolutely was… just the best…. But oh my god I make some amount of fuss in my head before I go!!!
There’s the dogs to be walked… and I like to do that before everyone is up… so I better get moving…
We went a different way today. They were so excited as they know they get off at the top of the hill so they pulled me all the way up. I stressed about that.
Then Freya needed a wee rest!
There are loads of buttercups up here.
Look how clear the sky is. You can see all the way over to the Isle of Arran.
A gate specifically for The Windsor Waffle my blogger friend. Just so she knows I’m still looking for gates 😂
Sooo many buttercups!!
I still had ages to get ready to head to the beach. I was stressed about remembering everything I needed to take (which was all safely stored in one place, I might add..) and of course I needed to be there an hour early so I could get parked. my driving and parking anxiety has been quite bad this weekend.
We’ve had a big event on in the Village Hall this weekend and I seem to be petrified of not getting parked when I come home. My whole weekend has been jigged around this event, which is, quite frankly, ridiculous!!
Anyway… I get there for about 10am and this is what greets me. Portencross is the best I have seen it this year.
The water is so still, so calm and peaceful. I could sit here for hours.
It’s just a shame a big group of age 60+ seem to have moved in to the picnic area and even at that time, have music blaring on a loud speaker. They are all chatting over it. Sitting under a large gazebo, none of them in the sun and they’ve brought an actual karaoke machine. I mean, really?!? Who does that. No care for anyone else sitting nearby them. Not sure why they hadn’t just stayed at home.
Down on the rocks and thankfully their tunes don’t travel.
I sat and watched this wee family of ducks float past! The wee one at the back was paddling like crazy to keep up. I was so lovely to watch.
I go swimming with Ellison from Tartan Campers and her sister Eileen who has been doing it for years so knows her stuff! We also met Chantal and Lesley today (they are really good swimmers so they were off for a good two kilometre swim).
Eileen is really good at taking photos but had left her phone pouch at home. I gave her mine. No point in me faffing with my phone and getting nothing! Also allowed me to relax and enjoy it without taking photos all the time.
We swam out the little stony beach at the side of Portencross Castle.
We literally walked in here and swam away!
Don’t be fooled into thinking I was swimming with a spaceman!! Ellison is wearing her snorkel mask which covers her full face and allows you to breath through your nose and mouth while snorkelling.
Eileen obviously took all of these photos. It just felt like such a special day. I’ve always wanted to swim there. I was petrified of jellyfish and saw none. I preferred not to look but once I borrowed Ellison’s snorkel I saw that it was amazing to swim under water.
I could have lay about in the water by the side of the castle all day!
It’s lovely to come out of the sea into the heat but you’re still exceptionally cold. The heat helps you to warm up a bit faster but you still have the shivers.
We sat and had a lovely lunch looking out to sea, I took a salad with me, I was ravenous by then!
Then to top it all off, Ellison and I took a wander back round to the castle and went inside. I’ve always wanted to do that! The views from the top are incredible.
This next picture shows the bit we swam in. It was amazing to see it from above.
Yet another day spent with people who are very good for my soul!
The whole reason I write this blog is to show people that I might look like I do lots of amazing things at times but I do feel a lot of anxiety around it. It doesn’t always come easily to me. It would have been so easy to stay home today and look what I would have missed.
Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Off to meet friends in the pub tonight about half 6… it’s been all go but a great weekend!
Lots of calls with Craig during the day today catching up on his dog training too! All good over there!
Wow you know you’re having good weather if the sun emoji is at the top of your emojis. Right next to the Scotland flag!
I’ve had the best wee day to myself so far!
To be fair it started at 2am with a bark…. To wake up to this.
The moon was so bright that the room was light…. We don’t have curtains so wear eye masks but once I was up it was just really beautiful. Made me a bit less angry at the dogs. I let them out and we all went back to bed… until 6.15am when another one barked… or quite possibly the same one so it was off out for this mornings dog jog.
I didn’t take a lot of photos this morning as it’s just as beautiful as every other day this week.
It was a lovely walk. Back home for a peppermint tea in the garden before I got showered to head out.
I walked to the little gift shop this morning. It was such a lovely day and the village hall has a big event on with about 20 visitors expected. The downside to roadside living is that you can come back and never get a parking space!
Also getting my steps up!
It already feels really warm but I have to have warm clothes for the shop as it’s always really cool.
I had the best morning. It was heaving!!! So busy but I still got lots of lovely chats with customers. Doing what I love the most. Chatting to people, making them smile and having some banter.
The morning passed so fast. I didn’t get a chance even for a coffee, let alone the lovely salad I’d taken with me. I of course had to walk home in 22°C heat which is very hot for us Scots… wearing jeans and trainers, carrying my sweatshirt and body warmer!!
It is just a scorcher of a day. It’s hot and I am…. Wait for it…. Outside in my garden in a bikini for the first time in a VERY VERY VERY long time.
I am lying like a coiled spring, waiting on someone to walk into the garden so I can wrap myself in a towel but I’m in a bikini and not horrifically horrified by what I see.
The dogs just want to be with me so I’ve moved next to some shade so they are not to hot but able to still be close to me. Our artificial grass gets very hot in this weather!!
This is the life.
Gayle and I are going to Largs for a chippy tea later and I’m so looking forward to it!
Here we are!!
We’ve come to The Fish Works in Largs!
It is stunning here and we are having such a lovely time! I’m off to enjoy it!
It’s 20°C and I’m writing this at 6.40pm in Scotland.
This is pretty much summer for us.
It’s so warm, the sky is blue and there’s not a cloud to be seen. Everything is in full bloom. It’s so green against the blue.
The puppers have been well looked after by Holly again today. When I got home they were wet, having been soaked with the hose this afternoon to cool down. They love that!
The day started with dog jog and run in a field. They ran in the field, I walked!!
They found a ball!
The field has just been cut and is so yellow looking, desperate for rain!
When we got back I sat out in the garden with a peppermint tea. That doesn’t break your fast and it’s so refreshing. Another photoshoot!
There’s loads of new stuff in the little gift shop again! Father’s Day is 18th June.
Had my usual “set the world to rights” chat with Gayle today too!! It’s always great to catch up.
I’ve been really good on the fasting this week. Don’t know if it’s because it’s sunny, or that Craig’s away, but I’ve been craving salad. I had a huge bowl for lunch and had more for dinner.
Literally a large plastic bowl… classy but honestly lovely. I’ve not craved carbohydrates or stodgy food at all. I feel the difference already.
Then took these really impromptu photos of the dogs and they are the best I’ve got in ages. There were mini sausages involved. 😂😂
Claire then waved a chocolate Cornetto at me over the fence so I went into her garden for that!! The perfect end to a lovely meal.
So that’s all from me! The Scottish Dog Behaviourist is getting on great in Spain. Click that link if your interested in any of his posts. The dogs he’s looking after are impeccably trained and he’s continuing the training while there owner is away. It’s amazing to see him out there doing all that. I’m incredibly proud of him!
I didn’t put out a blog yesterday…. and the world didn’t stop turning.
I had less than nothing to say. I honestly couldn’t even do the… wake up, went to work blog again. It bores me writing it let alone you guys having to read it.
So…. I’ve said this before but I’m going to make a pact with myself. If I have nothing to say then I’m not going to write a blog that day as this needs to be tool that helps my mental health and doesn’t add to the list of things that need doing. If there’s no blog in a day, I’m all good, just my day has been uneventful.
I should say I’ve been good this week. I’ve not been anxious at all really and it’s good I have nothing to have to work through.
Today I have loads to say as it’s 13.16pm and I’ve already done 23,245 steps!!
The weather has been crazy for May in Scotland. Its very wet, cold and windy. I’ve taken some pics on the way to and home from the Farm to show the crazy clouds. There was a lovely rainbow during the class too.
The Fit Body Farm was a killer this morning. We’ve been doing a fairly new thing called DecaFit these last few Fridays. There is a whole lot of running and it’s really just not my thang. 🥴
This morning we worked out 5 stations for 3 mins with a 500m run in between each station. I think I only managed the 500m twice and the rest were closer to 350/400m. It’s non stop without and break…. though hitting the station targets before the 3mins is up does give you a minute of a breather.
So, not my favourite day at the Farm but I still did almost all of it and I know the running will come the more I work at it.
It was sunny when we finished but still windy and cold.
Loved this freshly cut field
I went straight into the shower when I got home as I couldn’t get a heat!
I had to have Abbie the Camper van at the garage for her MOT this morning, so I drove down to Glengarnock with Calaidh and Freya so I could walk back up.
Rainbow and a fascinating tree! Hurry up mumma it’s gonna rain! Whatcha watching?! Strange cloudsI thought this bus stop looked a bit arty?!? Fun in the fieldThrough the woods This is where all the daffies used to grow A strange contraption blowing from this tree… either Chinese lanterns or poly bags?!
Back home and crawled into bed for a wee half hour…. then back out this time with Bhruic.
Craig was working in Ayr so I thought I’d go with him and walk her down on the beach. He dropped us in Prestwick as I’d never been down to that beach as far as I could remember.
It was wild!!! Sooooo windy and the sea was whipping up and splashing over the sea wall. I have so many photos.
I’m not sure they do it justice, it was really wild.
Then in the middle of it all, I spotted this.
Arty beach stones
The sun comes out but it doesn’t heat up much….. though it does look a lot prettier!
Full of seaweed! Mumma do you think Dad will hurry up so we don’t actually freeze to death?!?
I was fine for the first hour but after that I was just walking round in circles, praying Craig would hurry up. We sat on a bench for a bit but I think that just made me colder!
Come on…. Let’s move again…. We’ve been sitting too long!!
He phoned to say he was 6 minutes away! 😘😘😘 of course then the sun came out and the sea calmed down a fair bit.
It was soooo good to see him driving towards us…. I got the heated seats on and defrosted.
Back home to hang washing and made a lovely sharing snack late lunch/early dinner.
Pinched this idea from Claire
We had it with Nozeco (alcohol free sparkling).
It was really lovely and now…. I could sleep for Scotland.
It’s 16.18 and I’m now up at 24,951 steps and still waiting to hear if Abbie passed her MOT!!
She did not pass…..She failed for all brake disks, a top engine mount and a white indicator light….. a mere £374. 🫣
Anyway, all fixed now. I just put £133 of diesel in her the other day…. That better do her for now. She’s had enough!
Anyway it’s been a good day. I’m feet up on the couch now. Planning only steps to the bathroom 😆
💯days eh?! Which means I have written a blog every day for 92 days as I only started on what we recorded as our day 8. I see others saying we’re already up to 103/104 etc but this is when we calculated it at the time and rather than stress that my whole blog is worthless and rubbish the new me is choosing to keep going as is. It’s our day 100. Mine and Craigie’s and Calaidh’s and Bhruic’s and Freya’s….. forgive the poor English 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️😬 but you know what I mean.
If anyone had told you, 100 days ago, that our lives were going to change in a way we could never begin to imagine, we just wouldn’t have believed it. A world where we could stand right next to anyone and touch anyone (with reason obvs!) and we literally hugged people we didn’t even know. We didn’t have a care in the world when it came to that kind of stuff. Yeah we turned out noses up at folk not washing their hands after going to the loo etc but we screwed up our face and moved on. We survived.
Now we have an unseen killer. A virus that can spread among us through touch, can survive on surfaces and pass to others and we can’t see it. We have no idea where it’s lurking and worst of all, people can have it and not even know they are infected. It’s the stuff of horror movies!!
We watched every virus movie while we’ve been stuck home and the truth is actually terrifying. We watched these in the past thinking they were just that… far fetched thrillers. We had no idea.
So 100 days ago, we finally realised how serious this was and Craig stopped work and we stayed home to save lives, to help stop the transmission of COVID-19. We “sheltered in place” as they said in America. We only left the house for dog walks and food shopping for months.
It feels like a time for reflection…. what have we learned in this 100 days? Apart from the fact that the rainbow is a sign of hope 🌈❤️
We’ve learned that family and being together is everything. We’ve been given a special gift to spend time with each other but we’ve also been told that we can’t see other family members or friends that have been a part of our daily lives. We’ve seen a community spirit that was always there in Gateside but growing in a way we would never have imagined. That old war time share and share alike. I’ve bartered with rice and milk and sugar… there’s been a lot of sugar passing over fences. We’ve made the best of the lockdown life we’ve been given. Generations ago our grandparents etc were sent to war, we were told to stay home and watch tv, I mean how lucky are we?
The material things in life have become irrelevant. Even with all the money and possessions in the world you still had to stay home. Businesses are realising people can work from home without the world ending and it will reduce their overheads and the carbon footprint of their staff.
We have learned to appreciate the present. To live in the moment as everything else is too uncertain. Everyone is living on the same terms. 🌍
Personally we’ve learned to appreciate each other again and communicate clearly as we have had time to spend together. We can see what makes the other tick, what triggers and argument and we can stop it in its tracks with a laugh or a shrug of the shoulders saying here we go again. Through writing this I have expressed my daily feelings in a way that shows how erratic they are, how quick they are to flare up to anxious, fever pitch but most importantly how virtually none of it is Craig’s fault. He doesn’t have to second guess everything. He can just read it if he didn’t already know it. 🤣🤣🤣
I have learned to slow down, to watch the world move on through different eyes. To watch my handsome husband and smile realising he’s mine, to walk 3 Border Collies without them pulling on the lead, to value the endless movie nights, the takeaways and the connections with others. I hope that the world will be a better place as a result.
However, we have to remember that we have been untouched by this deadly virus. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We are very lucky.
Worldwide stats
The UK have lost 44,131 souls to COVID-19 officially but there is evidence that the number of excess deaths for this year far exceeds that. Scotland stands at 2,488 people so far.
England is seeing a surge in new cases, particularly in London where the R rate is creeping above 1. For everyone one person infected at least one other person catches it. There seemed no doubt this would be the case as the amount of protests and large gatherings threw people together at a time when we were still meant to be 2m apart. It’s easy for me to sit here smugly and be happy that our lockdown isn’t as loose as England’s, that our government is being more strict.
Localised restrictions in Dumfries and Galloway now tooI’ve read today that Boris has urged people not to think of Saturday as Super Saturday as we need to still be careful and make sure that we protect each other by not spreading the virus. Yet apparently pubs can open at 6am….. several chains are planning to open just after this. Maybe it just because I don’t drink anymore that this seems so crazy to me?!?
I am nervous of normal returning as I had stepped back from normal for a good year or so. This is my new normal and I love it!!
I did not love the weather today!! It has stoated down all day… absolutely soaked on the dog walk again. This is where the dogs usually play and Craig day over the other side of the burn. Bhru stuck her tongue in it to take a drink but didn’t go any closer. Same at this but! It’s like they are on a life raft together 🤣Phone got soaked every time I took a pic!Drookit pup #1 wouldn’t stop playing with the stick long enough! Check the coos behind her under that tree… miserable!Drookit pup #2Drookit pup #3 always happy regardless of the weather… 😬😆Bhru’s telling Calaidh Reek St is flooded Did manage to see some beauty in the dreich day!Thistles in the rain
It’s all about how you look at it… I was walking along thinking this is miserable, cold and wet, must be crazy being out in this when I saw a neighbour in Reek Street and he said “good weather for ducks!” 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 that really made me smile as I’ve not heard that in years!! Splashed through all the puddles in my wellies from then on! 😆
And I wonder why my house isn’t a palace?!? Check these 3…. how many sopping wet dogs can you fit on a couch?! Least I put their dog robes on!! Unlike some people 😬🤣
Came home from dog walk and did a poop scoop as I was soaked anyway…. thought it would be a good idea to do it before the bins go out. Got the grey bin ready and took it round the front…. it’s Friday…. grey bin doesn’t go out until Tuesday……. wtf 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤣🤣🤣 my brain is frazzled today as it’s been such a busy week. Not busy in the sense of how busy I used to be… but very busy for me. I did another 2 Pawsitive Solution calls today… the first was dreadful… it was like putting the wheelie bin out 4 days early! Nothing flowed…. but the second was great.
This is what I have to put up with…. 🥰😆🎾🐶
So now I am wrapped in my crocheted blanket with my feet up in front of the fire. I plan not to move until bedtime!
Thanks again to everyone for sticking with this everyday. It means a lot!
Stay safe everyone ❤️💜❤️ here’s to the next 100 days and who knows what they might bring?!? X
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 