Day 1485 I ā€œdot de toldā€ but had a good day anyway!

I woke up at 5am and felt like I was swallowing glass…. My throat was all scratchy and sore.

I got up and had a big drink of water and it seemed to help as I fell asleep until 8.30am, unheard of for me!

I stayed up for the Aurora again last night so I was shattered. I ended up joining Claire, next door in her back garden and we lay on the seats at her fire pit, holding phones up to the sky. Nothing was happening. I can’t remember when we came in… I think just before midnight.

Still got some moody shots… love that I’ve caught out 14 year old neighbours purple lights in her bedroom!!

The sky was much brighter than it had been the day before.

I triggered our security light down the back coming back in from Claire’s…. Blinded me!!

Just nothing happening in the sky.

My friend Michelle did get some Aurora shots from about half a mile away… I was in bed by then and couldn’t muster up the strength to head back out.

So back to this morning, I lay in bed for a bit, reading some positive quotes to lift my spirits.

Once I got moving I decided to head to Home Bargains and Aldi for a cheap toiletries, house cleaning stuff and food shop. All done by 10.30am. We’ve had no tin foil, extra virgin olive oil, bin bags or Fairy Liquid for a good few days…. I never run out of things like that…. This time I ran out of everything!

I feel really lethargic. Everything is an effort but I hoovered the house as it needed doing.

The 4 x moulting dogs have taken their toll! I’ve been picking it up on the daily, but nothing beats hoovering it up. Incidentally we have the Shark Anti hair wrap hoover…

Which does not do what it says on the tin…. No wonder it struggles to pick up at times.

It felt good to get it done even if I needed a wee sit down after each room!

I’m not really sure where the afternoon disappeared to.

It got really sticky and hot so I sat in the sun. Craig pressure washed the back artificial grass and decking and it looks lovely.

We just need to deal with my meadow garden (far left) which turned into a horrific weed-fest when I planted my meadow flowers… I may never hear the end of that!

Incidentally we have artificial grass because of the dogs. We lived one summer with three dogs and this is what it looked like.

After one winter…

Every time the dogs came in they were filthy. The artificial grass has been a godsend.

So we have to pressure wash it from time to time to freshen it up. ā€œWeā€ā€¦.. šŸ˜‚

The bit Craig has just washed is away down behind the big black shed. We have a huge, beautiful garden but it’s a lot of work to stay on top of all the weeds, washing grass and staining all the decking and fencing.

We had a thunderstorm around 4pm… it got quite loud and heavy rain so I went for a shower. The heavens opened and Craig said the main road was running like a river.

The skies cleared and it’s been sunny again ever since. We’re sitting outside enjoying the birdsong.

My second favourite bush has started to flower.

I just love these colours.

The forest flame have both been reduced to a white hot heat now… see what I did there?! šŸ˜‚

So not much else to report…oh I did made another Planthood dinner.

Craig had some too. It was a really good one… and I have some left over for lunch tomorrow.

So I’m just sitting here having some quality cuddle time with Freya. Pup #3.

Bless her wee socks. It’s lovely in the early evening sun.

So… remember that we can take whatever this week throws at us. We can choose how we respond to situations outwith our control.

I will try to remind myself of this šŸ¤¦šŸ»ā€ā™€ļøšŸ˜‚šŸ«¶šŸ¼

There’s a good chance of Aurora again tonight but the experts are saying that it won’t be the same as Friday night. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They say we can expect to see it again maybe in the next 23 years.

I’m undecided as to whether I’ll stay up or not. It’s hard to decide to miss out just in case ā€œtheyā€ are wrong! One final pic as a reminder of how special Friday night was.

Stay safe everyone šŸ©·šŸ’œšŸ©µ

Day 1229 dog walk, housework, food shopping and Curiosity coffee & cake

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 ā€œtiredā€ 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. šŸ˜‚

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.

And relax.

I’ve had the loveliest day.

Life is good.

Have a great Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone ā™„ļøā™„ļøā™„ļø

Day 1207 a lovely Friday day off!

Another Friday off and another list of things ticked. I’m really enjoying super productive Fridays!!

I didn’t feel great when I woke up this morning…. Sore throat and headache. I got up to the loo and cooried back down into bed…. Thinking I could just lie there all day.

I knew I had loads to do and loads I really wanted to get done.

I got my running stuff on and took the dogs out for dog jog, first time since last weekend. I felt rotten to start, I had a shooting pain up my leg almost willing me not to jog. Yet I started to run and managed a fair bit of the way. I get so much better for it. I felt spurred on for the rest of the day!

I know that I’ve been feeling lethargic due to very little exercise. Despite fasting and breaking my fasts with lovely salads, I have eaten a fair bit of rubbish in between. It’s the first time in about 6 months that I’ve actually felt a bit bloated. Seems a tad unfair after a 19 hour and 45 minute fast today. šŸ¤¦šŸ»ā€ā™€ļøšŸ˜‚šŸ˜˜ but hey it’s just a bloat day. If there is such a thing šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļøšŸ˜‚

So I have been like a wummin possessed today.

I have emptied Abbie the Campervan… seven huge bags full of stuff! Bet that wasn’t great for fuel economy?!

Also cleaned everything apart from washing the outside. I scrubbed, hoovered, dusted and polished and she’s probably cleaner than she’s ever been… and definitely emptier.

That took me until about lunchtime when I moved into the house and started hoovering, dusting and polishing inside.

I washed and dried all the blankets from the couches in the living room. It’s actually been a beautiful day today, unexpectedly.

I’m sitting outside in shorts writing this at 5pm. I’m shattered.

When Craig came home from work he brought in a parcel that arrived for him, started to unwrap it. I told him he’d better tell me how lovely the house looked pretty damn sharpish. šŸ˜‚ it’s the first time we’ve seen the dining table this week since he unceremoniously dumped his wedding outfit on it last Saturday night!!! He said, of course he’d noticed…. Hmmm I’m not so sure!!

Check his wee face as he’s bought a new toy and didn’t tell me. ā€œHi julesie….ā€ Big grin.

Anyway he took me out to The Canny Man for lunch which is just 5 minutes down the road. It was worth him feeling guilty to get me a late lunch out.

He had haggis balls in a peppercorn sauce to start.

With both had Salt and Chilli Chicken Burger for mains.

And I had a Caramel and Chocolate Sundae for dessert!

I enjoyed it despite my itchy nose!!

I am so tempted to go for a nap now but the sun feels lovely on my skin. What a beautiful day it turned out to be.

Oh well, what little peace I have is being interrupted…. Seems it might be puppy dinner time… feed me she says!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ā™„ļøā™„ļøā™„ļø