Day 1527 recap of my day in Oban yesterday and a trip to church this morning!

I slept like a log.

Out for the count completely until Miss Khaleesi woke me with some licking at 4.30am and I have dozed on and off ever since. I was even too tired to make sure she wasn’t licking her scar, to be honest she doesn’t really anymore so I just mumbled a ā€œKhaleesi, neh, nehā€ a few times, which is what she’s been trained for no. Come to think of it, it could be ā€œnay, nayā€. I have never thought of the spelling. šŸ˜‚

No wonder I slept, really, it’s been a very busy weekend but one that I have loved so far.

It was so good to catch up with Helen and Mike yesterday. They have a lovely lodge in Oban Bay Holiday Park for a whole week.

As you may know, Oban is just one of my places, I love it sooooo much. It was a real treat to be able to show them around. We didn’t do half of what I had planned. šŸ˜‚

As I said yesterday, the drive up was great and only took me two hours. I was there just after 9.30am.

We sat and admired the view from their lodge, which is just so lovely, with a wonderful Scotland flag flying in full view, which always improves a view.

We’ve been coming up to this campsite for years. We even had Mum, Dad and Nana visit us once in 2018. Special memories as that was one of the last times we spent with my Nana before she died.

It was lovely to see what Hoseasons have down with it, since they took it over a year or so ago. I do fear that they are looking to build right up into the hill which might turn it into a massive holiday park, but I suppose life brings change. You don’t always have to like it.

It’s currently so quiet and peaceful.

Their lodge is really beautiful with a lounge and kitchen are and a bedroom with en-suite… and a hot tub with a view!

We set off for an explore round the campsite after 11am. The sun was out for the first part of our walk.

I do not remember this lookout point AT ALL!!

To be fair, this was always the most salubrious of pitches and I don’t think I’d ever have walked in front of someone’s caravan to go looking. Now there are lodges here, it doesn’t feel as invasive. I also feel like they cut back some huge undergrowth! I wouldn’t have missed this! There’s a lovely view up here.

Also looking down towards the Kerrera ferry and the Puffin Dive School.

We took a walk to look for Highland Coos!

Found them but only one of them was close enough to be photogenic! They get fed at 4pm every day so expect Helen to accept the mission and get some fab photos through the week.

A wee bit too far away.

Such a beautiful location for a campsite. It’s a bit out of Oban but it’s within walking distance if you’re a walker.

We went down to see the old pier opposite the campsite, it’s looking a bit worse for wear.

Mike took our photo with the island of Kerrera in the background.

I went to take a pic of this yacht and thought the barbed wire added to the shot.

The colours here are just stunning. I am definitely a blue sky photographer!

We walked down the single track road to the Kerrera ferry.

Here it is!

Tell me you’re in Scotland without telling me you’re in Scotland šŸ“ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó “ó æ .

Love a passing place sign.

I don’t know what it is but I’m so at peace in Oban and the highlands of Scotland. If we had the weather, I would never be anywhere else, yet it also would be horrifically overpopulated, as everyone else would want to live there too!

The clouds are starting to roll in.

Love this wee boat. Think I got it on the way back too.

Single track road.

Now at this point the weather clouded over and from a photo perspective, Oban bay doesn’t have the best light. I’ve run a few photos through my Lightroom app to get the best of them.

We popped into the Correyvreckan Wetherspoons on the quay for a quick lunch. Right next to CalMac’s Isle of Lewis, which was loading for Barra.

Spotted the Loch Frisa and the Clansman. Friday leaving for Mull the Isle of Mull just back from there.

The mighty Clansman just coming in from Colonsay.

The little boat tour heading out backwards. McCaigs Folly up on the dark skyline.

The Hebridean Isles heading out the Sound of Kerrera.

A close up with the tide out.

We walked through the town and went to the Oban Chocolate Company for a hot chocolate.

Then walked towards Dunollie.

I’ve had my eye on this house since I was a wee girl. I wish I could find a photo of the old house that used to be here. It was a kit built bungalow style house but it’s so close to Oban that I always felt it had the best view in the world. (Yes a bit dramatic maybe, but as I kid, I was in awe of its location). Then one visit and this had appeared!!!

It’s on a tiny island called Rudh-A-Chruidh (who knew until I looked it up!) built in 2014 it had an asking price of Ā£950k.

One day…. šŸ˜‚

We sat on a bench near the war memorial and watched the Majestic Line head out to see one by one. There must have been about 6 of them least between 3.30 and 4pm. Two of the are like cute Captain Pugwash ships.

Arty shot before Helen the wrecking ball, knocked all 3 of us down!! We were all crouched down here in a row!

3 craws sat upon a bench! Dunollie Castle above the lighthouse.

We headed back along into town. The tide is in now but still no blue sky.

Loch Striven loading for Lismore.

It’s such a beautiful road through the trees.

Helen trying to wreck another photo opportunity šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

The Kerrera ferry slip now under the high tide. They are going over there today… could I be any more envious?!?! šŸ˜‚

I left at 6pm after a lovely day with great friends.

Sadly there had been a bad accident on the Glencoe A82 which meant that all the traffic north was diverted to Oban on the A85. I met a huge queue at Connel Bridge but got these lovely shots from the car.

I then drove past 5 miles of traffic which was queuing to get up and over the bridge. I felt so sorry for them all but I had a straight run home and was back to Craigie and the puppers by 8.30pm.

We had walked 21k steps!!

So today we went to church to see our friend and neighbour, Holly, be ordained as an Elder of the local Beith Parish Church.

After the service we went straight for a food shopping, (as you do!) came home and let the dogs out and were invited to a celebration in the pub, next door, this afternoon.

We were there until 4pm when the sun finally came out. I think we have a few good days of weather coming.

We’re sitting outside in the garden now. Khaleesi is in the shade under a tree and I’m enjoying some heat in the sunshine.

It’s been a really busy weekend. I’ll be back to work for a rest.

I’m so grateful I no longer have the Sunday afternoon dread of going to work. Those days are long gone. I do need to get planning my next adventure though.

Stay safe everyone ā™„ļøā™„ļøā™„ļø

Day 1422 Happy Mother’s Day 2024!

I left the house at 8.15am this morning all set to surprise my Mum and go to church with my parents, this morning, for Mothering Sunday. šŸ’•ā›ŖļøšŸ’•

And surprise her I did…. šŸ„°šŸ˜‚

I messaged just as I was leaving the house and told her to get the kettle on!

So actually timing wise I had to go straight to church as they were already there setting up. She had a black cup of decaf coffee waiting for me!

St James the Less Episcopal Church in Penicuik is a very beautiful church.

I have soooooo many memories in this church.

I grew up here.

I sang in the church choir until I was 18.

I attended Sunday night Youth Group and loved every minute of it.

I got married here the first time even although that was a big mistake. I wish Craig and I could have been married here.

Not a straight photo among them šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

I remember all of the words to the prayers.

Today mum was one of the Lay Preachers and dad was on the keyboard… no organ for today’s family service.

So I’m sitting in the church…. I can’t explain the emotions I feel…. It transports me back to another time… it always has.

I was sitting on the left hand side in the church choir, when I was 12, for my very first Christmas Eve Midnight service… when we left we found out that my Grandad had died…. At 56.

I remember the first Christmas Eve that I sang a solo and had been at the Rugby Club all evening and felt a bit tipsy!!

I even made this kneeler back in 1996. It’s still going strong.

I turned round and saw this lovely face and we had a MASSIVE hug.

Hilary was in the year below me at school. It was so lovely to see her. I quickly moved back to sit with her and her mum.

I hope she doesn’t mind me saying, but she gave me this lovely card… with the loveliest words inside…

It meant a lot.

As the service goes on, I have waves of emotion….. my voice breaks occasionally singing the hymns. I really want to cry for a lost younger me but I swallow it back.

It keeps on coming through the service….. until I head up for communion and it’s Mum that’s standing there giving out the communion… and the emotion overflows, I can’t blink back the tears any faster.

I try to look everywhere other than let mum see the tears… but I think she spots them and has a well up too.

I don’t know why church does that to me. Listening to certain music gives me that big well up of emotion too.

So lots of hugs and catch ups later, we head back to mum and dad’s for lunch and I hang about waiting on my brother and his wife as they are coming over this afternoon.

Quick selfie with mum before I head home.

I am so glad I went over.

I was planning on a lazy day in the house. Then I thought about how awful it must be to have children, and they don’t go and see you on Mother’s Day… that must be pretty rotten. My lazy day can wait. Life is for living and making memories.

Mother’s Day is a difficult time for so many people.

Someone used a phrase today that I love… there are those of us who are childless through choice and those of us who are childless through circumstance. There are those of us who fell pregnant but couldn’t carry to full term. Those of us who have lost a child… unthinkable. Those of us who have lost our mum already or our mum’s are sick or who have a difficult relationship with them.

Being childless through circumstance, I think of all of these women today.

(thanks to the lovely lady for those words!)

I drove home blaring 80’s tunes… as you do when you are re-living your childhood.

I got stuck in a traffic jam on the Edinburgh City Bypass… instead of being stressed, I enjoyed the diversion… taking me on roads I haven’t been on for years.

Now I’m chatting with my P1 school buddy in Canada and we are reminiscing about everyone we went to school with. It’s just one of those reminiscing kinda days.

Here’s to a great week for you all.

Stay safe everyone ā™„ļøā™„ļøā™„ļø