Day 1583 6k run then ferry to the Isle of Arran!

I woke at 4.30am…. Of course I did. I think I may have woken Helen too.

Alarm set for 6.15am and by 6.30 we are out for a run!!

The sunrise was pretty.

I took Helen to see my favourite gate!

And she’s off up the hill looking like a purple wheelie bin.

And we’re done. It’s the first time I’ve run in a week… it was an easy start but I did find it rough towards the end.

Home, cold shower for me then off to Ardrossan to catch the 9.45am CalMac ferry to Arran.

The sun is shining!!!

It is, however, a tad windy!

I managed to get the flag to look like is plastered onto the lighthouse when leaving Ardrossan.

It might not look it but the ferry is heaving. I’ve never seen it so busy.

Finally we can see Brodick and the clouds are clearing.

The wind dies right down in the bay. Goat Fell looks lovely under the blue sky.

We decided to walk around Brodick, look for a coffee shop and then head round to the rocks near Brodick Castle to sit in the sun for a bit.

CalMac’s Isle of Arran still loading as we walk away.

We went to The French Fox for coffee…. It was a lovely wee space. Thanks to my friend Anne for the recommendation. We sat outside under a poly tunnel.

We had brioche French toast to share and she split it between us.

The coconut milk latte was exquisite too.

Then we were off again, headed for the base of Goat Fell. This river was lovely.

Some lovely wee buildings.

Then down to the beach.

It’s beautiful.

It’s still windy at times but a lot less than the ferry.

Now walking back round the bay and it’s lovely and calm.

We got some beautiful shots.

Love this next one.

And then we went to The Parlour in Brodick for pizza…. Thanks to my friend Lesley for the recommendation.

Big smiles… 30 miles done already this weekend!!!

Lovely pizza. Quattro Saggioni and a fruity pizza with fig on it. They were honestly amazing!!

We had about a half hour to kill so sat in the sun and waited for the ferry.

The Isle of Arran AND a man in a kilt with 2 Border Collies!

We are shattered but have had the best few days and still one more to go!

I said it yesterday but I love that we just want to do the same things and are happy to go with the flow. We’ve had a lovely few days on the west coast of Scotland.

We’re on the ferry heading back now. It’s a lot less windy so far. We are the blue dot 🔵

Hope you all had the best weekend. We’ve the day off tomorrow… 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1414 Exmouth to Sidmouth by Stagecoach bus!

Slept like a log from 9am until 5am and then was awake on and off until sleeping beauty finally awoke at 8.33pm… that’s my friend Helen, not Craig 😂

We went on a bus trip from Exmouth to Sidmouth today.

This was like a step back in time…. In a previous life I wrote the spec for these buses and checked them all through build.

This bus one was one of my contracts.

Stagecoach selfie!

So yeah… off to Sidmouth.

It’s now 8.23pm and I am shattered. A mere 15,724 steps so far, a lovely lunch out, hot chocolate and cake out and a chippy tea with Helen’s mum and daughter Anna. I’ve had the loveliest day but I’m a bit too tired for words…. I am in my element exploring, walking and taking lovely photos in the sun. Here are a few.

Here we are at the mouth of the River Sid. We walked right up the river through the Byes.

The ford was closed as it was too fast flowing.

We are the two shadows on the left 😂😂

When we got back down to the beach there was a storm rolling by. It was really dramatic.

Models own T-shirt…. Pres from Craigie for my trip!

Helen’s mum picked us up and took us to Budleigh Salterton where we caught this lovely sunset.

Off a a wee overnight secret adventure tomorrow that definitely involves Lyme Regis! Exciting!

All of this is what makes me tick.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1325 a wee Starbucks catch up with Lea!

Just a quickie tonight as I’ll be late home.

Having a lovely Silverburn Starbucks catch up with Lea tonight. Love it when two people can talk so much and never be done talking!!

Silverburn has lovely Chrissie decs up!

I wish I’d made an effort to change after work instead of looking like a bag lady.

We had such a giggle trying to get our faces beside the stags head…. Photos either many chins were deleted.

Even the staircases look pretty.

I’m heading home now, yawning my head off but had a lovely wee catch up and wander round the shops.

There were also coffees with cream 😂😂

It’s sooooo good to talk.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1316 a ratty day but ending with a lovely dinner with lovely ladies!

Oooh I’ve been a ratbag today. I’ve been so ratty… I don’t know why, but I’m snapping at everyone and everything that’s not going my way.

I know I’m better than this.

I don’t want to be that person…. I just feel a bit meh just now. This is the week of my birthday and I usual count down the days in November. Not so much this year. I cannot believe it’s a year since my 50th!! Where has the year gone?!

Listen to me sounding all Eyore…

I’m sorry. I want to be full of sweetness and light. I’m not living in wonder at the present moment, I’m just just a bit flat.

I went round to the beach while I waited to meet Andrena and Linda for dinner at Gro Coffee. It’s dark and mean and moody…. The sky is full of passing rain showers. The Isle of Arran invisible behind the clouds.

Gro looks lovely in the dark with all of its lovely lights. Very inviting.

I came in early and it’s such a lovely space and it was cold and dark in the car. This was a very good idea. I’ve ordered a decaf coconut milk latte.

There are good tunes playing and it’s immediately lifted my mood. I’m excited to catch up with the girls and hear all about the Fit z body Farm.

I guess we can’t all be happy and full of the joys of spring (🤷🏻‍♀️) every day.

The key is how you manage the less happy days. Being aware is half the battle. I’ve been apologising to everyone all day. 🥺😬 One day I hope I will be able to keep calm and not get flustered. I have set myself high goals eh?!

Spending time in a lovely place with lovely friends is always going to help lift your mood.

We had a lovely wee catch up and the loveliest food.

We shared a Cajun chicken pizza, buttermilk chicken strips with BBQ and Siracha sauce, bread and oils and Caprese salad.

Gro Coffee is just so pretty.

This is really blurry but I had to get a cake for Craigie! I didn’t have one as I couldn’t have fitted anymore in. 😂

It was a lovely evening with lovely people who are good for my soul!!

I’m also hoping there’s some cake left over for tomorrow…. 😆

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1302 a whirlwind of a day! 🎃👻🎃

I have no idea where today went… it’s been an absolute whirlwind of a day! I woke at 4.17am but did get back to sleep for a change.

Work just flew by. We had lots of customers in which kept me really busy. I don’t think I looked at my to do list once but it was a good day.

I think I’ve said before that I’m one of the admin on a FB group called After Dry January? One of the guys in the group had hired a Tartan Campervan and I got to meet him today.

It was lovely to put a face to the name and get a right good hug from someone who’s been there from the start of After Dry January in February 2019.

I made soup in the slow cooker overnight. I stirred it at 4.19am!!

I took some into work today and was able to take Ellison lunch in for a change. She has brought soup in for lunch so many times and it’s SO good! Mine was actually really nice.. not as good as the last batch but I’d used broth mix inside of lentils this time. Back to lentils next time.

When I got home I took some photos of the crochet poppies in the Village Hall.

It’s hard to get photos without the reflection.

I threw together a quick salad for dinner and headed over to the earlier Kinisi-flow class at 5.15pm. I took photos inside the hall.

Aren’t they beautiful! ♥️💜

I’d like to say that our crochet group did all of these but actually it was really only Jane! She was very good at them. The rest of us just spurred her on and Anne came up with the concept of attaching them to the wreath. It’s a a lovely tribute. ♥️💜♥️💜

The Kinisi-flow class was amazing! I was able to do almost every move for once and I really felt the flow. I got a lovely Pukka tea bag at the end… called JOY. I came home and made the tea in my favourite mug.

Oh and happy Halloween… you can tell it’s not a big thing in our house…. But I like the emojis! 🎃👻💀👻🎃

Stay safe everyone 👻🎃👻

Day 1292 the calm after the storm and a catch up with a lovely friend! 🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🥣🥣

I slept all night again. I’m so grateful again for the fantastic sleep. I wake up with relief that I slept all night.

Up early and out with Bhru and Calaidh before 8.30am.

Freya has developed a limp since our walk yesterday. Checked her paws and no sign of anything but it’s quite a prominent limp. She may see the love that Khaleesi gets because of her limp and wants some of that?! 😂😂 It’s a lot colder than it looked this morning… I didn’t quite wrap up warmly enough… but the wind has died right down.

The sun is trying so hard to come through.

Back home, shower and hair dry for the first time in way too many days!

Off down to the little gift shop to pick up a last minute retirement gift then off to meet Shelagh, my previous Health Kinesiology Practitioner, now my friend!

Shelagh has just announced her retirement!!

We had a lovely walk down by Kilbirnie Loch on the new Lochshore path. The clouds were trying hard to clear.

Sheladh spotted these birds on the fence posts. One looks like a bat!

Loved this wee fishing tent.

We went into the Lochshore cafe and had a lovely bowl of Yellow Split Pea soup.

It’s always lovely for me to spend time with Shelagh. She had a lovely energy about her. I’ll miss her kinesiology sessions and still remember my last one so clearly. She has a very special talent and I will never forget how much she helped my on my journey with mental health. I was so lucky to be given a link to her FB page in the very elderly days and her introduction video spoke directly to me. I knew I needed her help.

I attended Kinesiology sessions with her for 3 and a half years.

The end of an era but the continuation of a connection that we made at the time. Now it’s time for me to learn about her! 💕

I was home before 1pm and it’s now 5…. I kid you not…. I have been sleeping all afternoon. An hour on the couch… then up to bed. Not even reading, just sleeping.

Been out for the count. I don’t even feel like I have the cold anymore so the tiredness has surprised me. I’m so lucky that I was able to just sleep.

We’re now off for dinner with our friends Lindsay and Euan. We’re going to the Torranyard Tandoori. I’ve heard good things about this restaurant since we moved here 8 years ago. I forgot to say but it was our houseaversary (as Claire would say!) a few days ago so yeah be great to try the restaurant!

Lovely sky on the way there.

Fabulous company and fabulous food. lots of laughs with the guys as usual!!

I’m now resembling a beached whale!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1270 Turkish massage day! 🇹🇷💆🏻‍♀️💆🏻‍♀️

We didn’t get to bed until after 1am Turkish time. We had the air con on…. As you do. We both woke up about 3am absolutely freezing!!! What a laugh trying to get the aircon to go off. The remote control needed the batteries reseated before it would switch off. I went back to bed in joggies and a sweatshirt with a blanket over me too!! Woke up at 8.30am to very loud Turkish chatter next door and lashing in sweat! Air con back on. 😂😂

By the time we got up and moving it was 11am. We had tea and coffee on the balcony.

And we did a first round of the hotel complex. (I know…. Never start a sentence with and!)

Gayle outside our little bungalow garden room.

We found the Turkish massage place straight away and got that booked for 12.30pm. Best to have a good body scrub before you get any sunburn.

So the Turkish massage was out of this world. Gayle went first though, we went in together. Firstly we were in the Hammam, the Turkish bath. You lie on a hot marble table in the middle of the Hammam and they rinse you with water from the sinks that surround the room. Then they scrub you with a scrub mitt and then with Turkish coffee…. Which smells amazing!!!! Then rinsed off again and they soapy suds you with the soapiest soap suds ever. It was so silky smooth… you just lie there and they run it all over your body and gently massage it in. A full rinse again and then you stand up for a full rinse down. Then towel off.

You then sit out on a lounger and have a drink while your “bather” gets rinsed off and changed herself.

The massage is something else!! That wee girl was up on the bed, totally astride me at times and, with the tiniest of hands, delivering the most powerful massage.

We had a full body massage, there were hot stones half way through and a facial with a mud mask to finish off…. With Turkish Apple tea. It was sooooo lovely!

So we are all scrubbed up and ready to go for some sunshine!

I love the decking out into the sea. You can get in and out of the sea without having to fight your way through the busy beach. The hotel has a private beach but it was very busy when we got down to it at 11,30am. The decking has had empty beds all day.

Sitting on the balcony now about to get ready for dinner!

It’s a hard life 🇹🇷

Stay safe everyone ☀️🇹🇷☀️

Day 1257 supporting an inspirational lady swimming from Troon to Lady Isle and back 🏊🏼‍♀️🏊‍♂️ and other stories

I slept like a log last night. 3 caffeine coffees yesterday too, go figure. Not complaining.

Khaleesi’s first mum/previous owner was on TV yesterday being interviewed by Vanessa Feltz! Khal was out the count after a big day and slept right through it.

Craig got a great wee clip the other day when she was on Newsnight. It’s on his Scottish Dog Behaviourist page! I do wonder if she knows who it is?! 😂

I felt a bit antsy when I woke up… as if I should be worrying about something… I know how ridiculous that sounds but that’s what anxiety does. I have to say it’s 1pm…. I’m sitting writing this and I feel calm to the point I could just sleep.

I’ve said before, but the calm after anxiety is a wonderful feeling.

The feeling of cleaning your rain splashed glasses, and being able to see again, is equally wonderful. Don’t know why I didn’t clean them before now. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 hello blog!

I was up at 6am as I was heading to Ballast Bank in Troon. A very inspirational lady I know was swimming from Ballast Bank out to Lady Isle and back to raise money for River Garden Auchencruive. They do amazing work helping people to free themselves of addiction to drink and drugs. Chantal very sadly lost her partner to addiction a few years ago. She’s been talking about doing this since I met her swimming with Ellison and Eileen.

It was a pretty wet morning with winds forecast up to 14 mph…. Or knots… I’m thinking knots to be honest. Anymore than that and she would have to stop.

I’m dressed for the weather.

There’s a dredger out going up and down the channel that Chantal will be swimming across.

It’s pretty wet and mean and moody.

A very blurry photo of Lady Isle.

She has a friend swimming with her.

There she is waving at the boat!

Ready for the off.

We watched until they were almost invisible and then I headed to Morrisons in Troon for a food shop. It was a very healthy food shop!

I have to say that I am loving driver Bertie Beetle (I still feel the need to say I don’t actually call it that!! 😂) I think if I’d still been driving the van, I wouldn’t have gone down to Troon this morning.

I headed into Irvine and had a wander around Primark.

I got a pair of parachute trousers!! 🪂👖check me. How old do I think I am?!?

They are size 10/12 which is uh-mazing… they are obviously MASSIVE made (big made wasn’t quite large enough!) they were reduced from £18 to £10.

Also for a vest top and these teal joggers. They were £6.

Came home and got photos of the pups and took the OG3 out for a walk. This one of Khaleesi makes me laugh. Her face!

It’s stayed dry.

I went to pick Gayle up at 3pm and we headed up to Braehead Shopping Centre to get some currency for our holiday. We had a wander round the shops and I got some new trainers.

Chantal finished her swim in 5.5hours. What an amazing effort.

And just like that it’s 8pm! I’ve had a good day today. I love an early start and making the most of the day.

Most of all I love being calm.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1255 the day Khaleesi went to Tartan Campers & lovely dinner at Gro Coffee

It’s 8.42pm and I’ve been awake since about 4.30am….. I’m shattered but I’ve had a lovely day. I’ll make this quick!

I took Khaleesi to Tartan Campers today just to give her a different experience.

It was a very different experience for me. We often have dogs in Tartan but is the first time I’ve ever taken one in.

She was a wee bit breathless in the car on the way down. I made her a wee bed under my desk… she does look a wee bit sad here.

She relaxed into it.

She was super excited to go into the workshop. She was sniffing around and loved all the attention she got.

Here she is visiting Ellison in upholstery. She jumped up on this seat and sat smiling away, chuffed with herself.

Honestly she was amazing today. She never barked once, I was able to let her off the lead and wander around. She never moved as we all stepped over her at times. It was lovely to spend time with her.

I ran her home, got changed and headed back down to Irvine to meet Andrena and Linda,from the Fit Body Farm, for dinner at Gro Coffee in Irvine. (DECAF!!)

It was lovely and sunny when we arrived.

We had a selection of food between us. I love that. A chicken and peppers pizza, some crispy buttermilk chicken strips, some bread and oils and a caprese salad.

It was really lovely and so good to see them both. They are both so bright and cheery it’s lovely and warming to spend time in their company.

We’ve set our next date for 2 months time!!

Home now yawning my wee head off and Khaleesi has been out for the count all night Craig said! Too much excitement today.

Bless her.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1251 a lovely morning canoeing with friends 🛶🛶

Ok so yesterday I had 3 caffeine coffees, 3 alcohol free beers and a 0% gin and slimline tonic…. And I slept like a LOG. Go figure?!?

I had the best sleep. I went to bed really early, about 9pm and read for a bit. Maybe that helped. Who knows?!?

So up and out early with the OG3 this morning. Still resting Khaleesi’s injuries after a couple of big walks earlier this week.

It’s still hot but no sun this morning. interesting cloud cover.

We met Lindsay and Euan at Kilbirnie Loch at 10am this morning. We are so lucky to have this within 10 minutes of the house. We are even more lucky that they have leant us their lovely big, red canoe.

They both had kayaks and Craig and I shared the canoe. 🛶

Now I’ll be honest and say I’ve enhanced this photo a bit but Kilbirnie Loch has blue/green algae at the moment. If it wasn’t so dangerous to dogs, it could be considered quite pretty!

Ready for the off!

I love the luminescence of the green against the water.

At precisely this point in time my Co-pilot (who am I kidding…. Pilot!) reminded me to put down my phone and start paddling 🛶

It was SOOOO calm. Just the most peaceful thing in the world. Out there on the water having laughs with Lindsay and Euan.

They are excellent kayakers.

We are so grateful that they have lent us their canoe 🛶 to try.

Seeing the loch from the water is really lovely. Opens up a whole new world. I have always wanted to kayak around Scotland and Craig is loving the canoe.

Too much chat, not enough paddle 😂

I think these look like a heart beat!

It was so calm, still and peaceful. Just the paddles splashing and the chat and laughter.

Next thing we know, we are heading in here!!

This was just so beautiful and so unusual for us, we’ve never done anything like this before. It was so much fun!

We all have to turn round as the river got shallower further up. I have to say that Craig did all the pilot work and just told me what to do and I actually listened. Check me!

It went surprisingly well considering we are novices.

A wee bit too much photography again 😂

The sky is really moody.

There is a heron flying through this shot but it’s too dark and moody to see properly… the sky that is, not the heron!!

Then we pulled into the waters edge and had tea, coffee and cake!! Lindsay was super organised with her Jetboil, even had a choice of teas!

It was so lovely to stop and look around for a bit (as if I hadn’t been doing that already!!)

Here comes the train!!

Lindsay and Euan swapped kayaks out in the middle of the water. Super impressive.

Euan then did some spinning!!

Craig and I just kept on paddling 😂🛶

Some more of the blue/green algae.

This old walkway has mostly disintegrated now, really sad it wasn’t looked after.

And back to where we started.

Such a lovely morning and still had the whole afternoon to write this!!! That’s how long it takes sometimes when you have so many lovely photos 😂

Hope you’ve had a great weekend and all the best for another lovely week ahead!

Stay safe everyone 🛶☀️🛶

Day 1244 a very early rise, dog walks, shopping and lunch with Gayle

Another busy but lovely day off. Craig actually had to wake me and ask me to roll over last night which suggests I may have been snoring?!?

Moi?!?! 😳

Couldn’t possibly be true.

His alarm went off at 5am. I knew I wouldn’t get back to sleep so got up about 5.30 and made coffee. The grindy bean kind ☕️

We sat and chatted for an hour or so then Craig set off bound for Potters Bar, north of London.

It’s a long drive.

He was meant to be meeting Tito The Transpawter between 3 and 5pm so he had to be down there for 3pm, just in case, which he was.

Unfortunately, due to delays in France, they didn’t make the ferry, from France, until 3pm so they are now meeting at 8.30pm.

Thankfully Craig has checked in to a hotel so he was able to get some rest and a shower. It does mean he’ll have to drive home in Monday morning traffic.

On the plus side, it gives him time to spend with Khaleesi as she’s been travelling since Friday morning. Poor little poppet. I feel so sad when I think what she’s going through. We have to make her stay here extra special for the next few days to make up for it. Here he is saying goodbye to the pups!

I set off with hoddit, doddit and ploddit at 7am when Craig left.

Love this tree 🌲

Something serious to sniff here!

It’s much cooler than yesterday.

Bhru looking for sheep 🐑 😂

Lots of cows this morning instead! Finding cows instead!

Gateside village was looking lovely in the sun this morning.

I really loved this next shot.

In our excitement leaving the house this morning, I had forgotten poo bags…. I had to retrace my steps to pick up two poos… not a lovely subject but important to say that I did retrace my steps when I’d forgotten to take them with me!

We passed this next field twice this morning and it’s never cut for silage…. It has been this year. This is about 500yards from the back of our house. I did wonder what the noise was yesterday…. They must have been cutting this field.

I did two loads of washing and hung it up and got showered and ready to head to Braehead Shopping Centre with Gayle.

I forgot to get a pic of us!

We tried on lots of trousers in M&S! I didn’t buy any of them.

It’s fun trying them on though!

We had a lovely lunch in Starbucks and a good wander around the shops until we both hit a wall. I was shattered.

Oh I got some magnesium for my aches and pains. The really helpful guy in Holland & Barrett said it would start working in a couple of days. Fingers crossed as I feel really stiff and sore just now… probably lack of exercise, I know!

When I got home I took the dogs up the hill to the field for a big run about.

That back fired as the farmer was hay baking…

They only got one big run and I had to put them straight back on the lead. Was fascinating to be so close to the baler though.

Since then I’ve made a lovely salad for dinner, thrown balls for the dogs in the back garden and read a magazine that Holly next door gave me.

I’m determined to stay awake to see that Craig has Khaleesi.

Exciting times!

I need to get a lift to work tomorrow as I’m van-less and car-less and husband-less in the morning. I need to be up and out with the dogs and potentially starting work by 7am. I might be asleep at my desk by 11 😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1241 another whirlwind of a day but a deposit on Abbie!

I got to bed about midnight last night and managed about 5 hours sleep. My alcohol free head has felt hungover all day… that’s very unfair. Shows how much of a hangover is actually sleep deprivation!

Was lovely to see do many neighbours out on their glad-rags last night! Megan was stunning and Stewart is a very handsome lad! It was lovely to be a part of their day.

I shockingly didn’t get any other photos other thank a lovely shot of the twinkling hall way at Dalduff Farm.

AND despite my best intentions, I completely lost track of time and forgot all about the blue moon that was due between 8.19 and 8.25.

I missed the “once in a blue moon”. 😆

I did get photos of the moon when we left.

So up this morning and out super early to get to Tartan to wash Abbie the Campervan in time for her 3.30pm viewing.

By 8.51am they said they weren’t coming. 😳

I am SO proud of the way I handled that whole thing. I love when I am so aware of my lack of reaction to something. I’d upset the lovely lady who had made the offer for Abbie. She spent the evening talking herself out of it. I’d been stressed and late leaving the house for the wedding last night, k thought about it a lot. I’d gone against my gut feel for some more money.

As soon as I knew the others weren’t coming, I was pleased instead of raging, as I knew my gut feel has been right. I wanted to accept her offer last night and leave it there but I took the advice to wait for more.

Of course I would have got more for the van if they’d wanted her but hey… in my life now, a gut feel is really important. I trust my own intuition 100%, I may just question it a lot but it’s only because I still don’t trust my own opinion above others.

So I messaged the lovely lady straight back and through the course of the day she paid me a good deposit!! I have no idea when she’s coming to get her but I drove like Miss Daisy tonight…. I must investigate that saying, I use it too much!

So I’m sitting at Silverburn Shopping Centre now waiting on Lea as we’re meeting for coffee tonight. The sun is shining so I’m sitting outside on a bench instead of going in.

As usual writing this I feel relaxed and calm.

I’ve sold Abbie the Campervan. The end of an era but the start of something exciting for me, like what on earth will I buy next?!?

I thought it would be a VW Caddy so I could still camp but I honestly think my mind might be changing…. Back to a normal car, with reversing sensors and all the mod cons. Hmmmm food for thought!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1230 a wee trip with Gayle to the Scottish Trade Fair at the SEC

Oooh I did not get the best sleep last night. I’m not sure why? I read until late to try to finish my book and maybe my head was buzzing?!?!

I’d actually had a fairly antsy evening, considering I’d had such a lovely day. I could not decide what I wanted to watch on tv. I started the Sixth Commandment on iPlayer but I couldn’t get into it. I needed something bright and cheerful rather than dark and intense.

I had the room all lit with candles as it had been such a dark afternoon.

These two were sitting at the top of the stairs when I sent them up to bed last night. Too cute. Please don’t make us go in our room mum… please can we come and sleep with you?!?

I didn’t feel the need to sleep with a herd of wildebeest!!

I didn’t get to sleep until about 1pm and woke again at 3 and finally at 6. I suppose I should be grateful I slept through the “5am alarm” which wakes me most days.

I dried up the last of the defrosting freezer and put the oven trays and shelves back in the oven. I forgot I’d cleaned all of them yesterday too. Well, I tried my best. I popped half in the sink and half in the bath with dishwasher salts. It’s amazing how much it lifts. I’m also very proud of my freshly defrosted freezer!!

I took the dogs out at 7.30am… no photos this morning as it’s very non descript weather. Hmmm that appears to not be a word?!? Who knew?!?

I did take these lovely flowers on the way into the village…. With the pylon in the background!

Gayle and I are heading to the Scottish Exhibition Centre for Scotland’s Trade Fair again…. Assuming this will be the autumn/winter collection….. oh jeez and probably Christmas!!! I never thought of that… how will I cope this early on?!?! 😂😂

Here we are, about to go in!!

So it was much smaller than the one in January. Only one small hall. I think we were both a little disappointed…. strangely there was virtually no Christmas stuff out either!!! I didn’t expect that. It was worth it for a couple of suppliers that Gayle got to meet though.

To be fair, all the gift shops will have had to order Christmas stuff months ago but I hadn’t realised that. We had a lovely wee day anyway and Gayle bought us a huge chunk of Red Velvet Cake and coffee.

The motorway was heaving when we left the centre of Glasgow so Gayle took me the scenic route through her old stomping ground, Renfrew and Paisley!!

I have never been to Renfrew. She gave me a wee tour with running commentary.

How pretty is the Town Hall?!? Very Bavarian I thought? Lovely flowers on the central reservation too.

One of things I want to do this next year is to go on tours where people take me around and show me the sights!!! Exactly what today was.

It’s sunny now that I’m home but still really windy. I’ve tried to sit outside to write this but had to come in when the sun went behind a cloud.

This next one really spoke to me. “The dark tunnel of changes leads to the light of possibility”.

During everything I went through, as awful as it was, I always knew I would be ok. I always knew things would work out, I knew I wouldn’t lose the house, I knew it would eventually be ok.

This calm of the last week has been so lovely. I am truly grateful for every day. I’m not wishing it to be over, or wishing for the next day. I’m happy and content in my own head. Yes I want to sell the van and look for my next thing, yes I’m looking forward to my holiday but I am not wishing my life away.

I’ve said it before but I am so grateful to have had that wake up call. I stopped fighting for a life I had outgrown. I sat in Gran’s chair and went through some pretty dark times but it was all worth it to find this version of me.

So here’s your Sunday reminder that we can take anything life throws at us.

Oh and Craig and Calaidh are home.

They haven’t messed up too much of my tidy home.

Yet.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1223 a productive morning and lovely lunch and walk with friends!

Such a productive morning! It seemed a long morning as I felt I got so much done.

We were up early as usual, which always helps. I stripped the end and got it in to wash as it was the last thing to do in our newly spotless bedroom.

We had one of Craig’s new ground coffees. I love grinding the beans 🫘 I always drink it black as I’m always fasting in the mornings, since the 20th December….. I should be a size 6 by now. 😂

I’ve been thinking of doing a vision board since Kinesiology last week. I got set up on Craig‘s laptop, through in the living room and we sat together, and I looked at loads of photographs of wonders of the world and places I’d like to visit. I saved them all into one file and will eventually get round to making them up into a vision board. It was so much fun to actually look at so many beautiful photographs. If I want to make something more of my photography, I feel that I need to search out some beautiful shots rather than just pointing and pressing with the iPhone. There are so many stunning places in the world to visit. I am keen to travel by train, plane or boat instead of driving. I’m also quite happy to go on guided tours because you find out so much more information than you would if you were on your own. It’s exciting to think of all the places we can explore.

We then got the dogs ready and took them down to the garage to pick up Craig‘s car. He’s had a leisure battery fitted for a camping trip he has planned for next weekend. It had been pouring all day yesterday and through the night and it was wet when we got up this morning, but we managed to walk half the way there before the heavens opened. It was actually a really nice walk even although we got soaked, it’s nice to be out in the rain sometimes.

So that’s really cool log along the way that someone had painted.

Drookit!!!

I also put a Abbie the Campervan up for sale on Autotrader…. And I sold some of the camping gear I put up for sale yesterday. Had a lovely lady come to the house and got chatting for ages. Poor Craig got stuck in the bathroom as we chatted for so long in the hall! He couldn’t walk out in his towel!!

So we were meant to meet our friends, Lynsey and Euan today to go canoeing on Kilbirnie Loch. How cool would that have been. They are seasoned kayakers and canoeists and were going to show us how it was done. Unfortunately it was too windy this morning for our first shot so we scrapped those plans and arranged to just meet for lunch. It’s a shame we didn’t get to canoe but looking forward to sometime soon. I’ve always wanted to go sea kayaking and Craig seems to have the bug for loch or river canoeing 🛶 so I’m happy to meet him there!!

We went to the new Lochshore Café for lunch. We had lentil soup and coffee and cakes! The cakes are so good I never know which one to pick. I ended up with a white chocolate rocky road which I’m sure is what I had the last time!

We always have such a laugh when we are together!

We took a lovely walk along the new Lochshore path, and I got loads of photographs at the side of the loch. Of course I did. Here are a few!!

I’m on the horse while they’re in the cart!!!

Turned into such a lovely afternoon. The sky was really blue and the clouds are very fluffy looking. Of course on the day where I do more walking than I have in a long time., my Fitbit stopped working, so I’ve no idea how many steps I’ve done but I’m sure it’s quite a lot!

A good laugh is very good for the soul!

I’ve been watching YouTube videos on the natural wonders of the planet since I got home. That seems to be my new fascination.

I’ve had a really great weekend so far. I’m looking forward to a Monday holiday too. It’s great to be sitting here on a Sunday night knowing that I don’t have to get up to go to work tomorrow, it makes a Sunday seem even more relaxing!

Hope you all have a great week!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1192 a busy day at work, bags to charity, a massage and a wee trip to Largs!

I am so proud of myself…. I finally took 4 big bags of clothes to the charity shop after work. They’ve been sitting around for MONTHS! It isn’t hard to do and honestly only took maybe 20 minutes out of my way.

Check. Me.

Work was really busy again today, it’s been such a busy week. I was in military precision mode after I left work too!

Charity shop, fill the van with diesel and straight to my massage with the lovely Norma, at Harmony in Beith for 5.30pm.

It was SO good. My back bad been really bad after my holiday sleeping in the van. Norma worked her magic and it feels so much better!! So relaxing.

I then drove to pick Gayle up and we headed out to Largs for ice cream and a walk. It was surprisingly warm when we got there.

This is a bit blurry but the heart stone is still in the same place that we saw it before!!

It’s such a lovely random stone as we’ve both wondered if anyone has noticed it before?!?

The sun is shining and there only a light wind.

CalMac’s Loch Shira coming in to dock.

We got a two scoop tub of ice cream and sat on the promenade and chatted for ages, so much to catch up on. This was the view.

It clouded over as we walked and got a wee bit chiller. It’s such a lovely way to spend and evening!

Spotted this cygnet in the river. It was so fluffy!!

Largs looking lovely in the evening sun.

The tide has come in and covered the heart shaped stone on the way back!

A lovely evening with great company!!

Shattered now and my weekend has already begun.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1187 two whole days off in a row and mother in laws birthday get together!

I must admit I could actually get used to this again. It’s only early Saturdays afternoon and I’m already off longer than I have been every weekend since September. (Except holidays… it does feel different when you’re in the house!)

I lay in till after 8.30am again and straight up and out with the dogs. I wore my sloth T-shirt today that my lovely friend Helen got me!

It’s a beautiful morning. It’s hot already.

I was roasting half way round!!

The thistles we’re looking lovely in the sun. The sun always makes everything seems a bit brighter. The key here is to staying positive and happy on the darker days too.

I went straight back out to the supermarket to do a quick food shop so I could keep eating healthily.

We’re off out to Craig’s mum’s this afternoon for her birthday.

Having a lovely afternoon and evening with family and friends.

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 1141 the best catch up with a lovely friend in Beith, Loch Lomond & Loch Sloy Dam walk

I am exhausted!

I have not stopped talking since 18.44 on 22nd May 2023… precisely. My friend Helen has come to visit from Exmouth. We knew each other when we were teenagers!

We talked until about 23.10 which is WAY after my bedtime!! Sadly there was a MURDER (read with very Scottish accent!) during the evening, as Calaidh broke into Helen’s room, sniffed out a cuddly toy Highland Cow for Helen’s grandson Arthur…. And the cow is toast …. How bad did I feel?!?!

Then the Scottish Dog Behaviourist’s alarm went off at 5.30am…. 😳 and I finally fell back to sleep and then Helen actually woke me up at 7.45am…. On my day off?!?

You know I am joking about all that. I must have zonked back out due to the 4 hours sleep night before. 😆

We started talking again at 7.45am and I’m only silent now because Helen is on the phone home!

I am having a really lovely time.

Helen thinks I have to lie in the blog and say I’m loving it when I’m not really. Told her to shut up. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

So let’s be clear… Anyone coming to stay will cause me stress. Cleaning, disruption to the routine, the lack of control will generate an anxiety or nervousness of the situation.

We haven’t spent any time together since we were 17 or 18 and we have totally picked up from where we left off. I don’t have to try, don’t have to think what to say next, don’t have to make any effort. I can just rabbit away and talk the hind legs off a donkey and just be me. 💜💜 that’s pretty special.

So itinerary for today….