Day 1442 dog walks, writing and a trip to Largs! ☀️☀️☀️

That’s two days in a row the forecast has said one thing and the weather has done the opposite. I’m not complaining. I’m sitting here right now….

I have my jacket off and even had my jumper off earlier. The sun has been shinging almost all day. It’s been cold but it’s beautiful now. I have fur lined boots and fleecy leggings on and I am pretty cosy.

I’ve found a new path and a new bench today. I’m in Largs but I parked at the Marina and walked from the Largs Pencil, into Largs. People have told me to do that a lot, I finally have!

The Pencil is a memorial to the Battle of Largs in 1263, between the Scots and the Norwegian Vikings.

It’s so lovely to see the sun and in between breeze gusts, feel the warmth of it. It’s been away for a LONG time! I am so ready for Spring and Summer.

I met up with Craig’s sister Lisa and my nephew and we played on the 2p machines for a wee while until I won a dolphin keyring! It’s been ages since I did that!! So serious!!

But the sun was calling. I’m like a caged lion being inside when the sun is out. I’ve also fasted for 19 hours so I’m ready for a cuppa. I sat outside in Indigo Eats Largs. It was a beautiful wee sun trap albeit, by the side of the road, it felt very European!

I haven’t washed my hair since Wednesday morning!

I could have sat there all day but the sea was calling. I walked up to the top of the promenade, turned back round and walked all the way back down to the Largs Marina where I’ve parked. I can’t bring myself to leave, it’s just so beautiful. I’m now perched on some rocks at the jetty!

Sunshine and blue sky is very good for the soul. 💙☀️💙☀️

Here are some more photos from the walk.

They are rebuilding the harbour wall up the top of the promenade. It looks like they are extending it into the sea a bit too.

Looking back down to Largs.

CalMac’s Loch Riddon seemed to stop sailing at 4pm.

My blogger friend The Windsor Waffle, thinks railings are my new thing… she might be right. It’s the shadows too!

My new favourite bench with a lovely dedication on it.

I’ve had a lovely day. I didn’t sleep that well, I tossed and turned like a tossey turney thing. If you ask Fitbit it says it was much better than it felt!

I got up at 7.30…. I’m still trying the no phone before natural sunlight but it’s hard. 😂

I took Calaidh and Bhruic for a run.

Then back to get Freya and take her up the hill. I left my phone to charge as it didn’t charge overnight.

I then really randomly sat down at my laptop and started to write…. I feel like I have a book in me. I say that and squirm because my head says not to be so ridiculous and my heart trusts that it might help some people. I wrote for about 3 hours just jotting things down.

Will see how it goes. I may never mention it again…. I feel drawn to help people but I’m not sure gallivanting around the world, with anxiety, is the best kind of business plan. 😂

On the way back from Largs I stopped at he Hailey Brae roadside view point. Wow.

The gorse bush is almost in full bloom with the Isle of Arran on the horizon.

Largs is just down in the foreground here.

I had the lookout to myself. It was so peaceful.

I love the calm. I love the peace. I love the sun. I love the blue sky.

I am very happy.

Stay safe everyone ☀️💙☀️

Day 1358 kayaking in the Firth of Clyde from the Largs Pencil to Hunterston Pier and back! 🛶🛶

What an amazing day. Oh my word…. Just out of this world.

I am SHATTERED writing this but that could be because I had to sleep on the couch again last night due to my bad knee…. And the fact that Lindsay and I have kayaked 10.7K today from the Largs Pencil to Fairlie Pier, Fairlie, Hunterston Pier and beyond… then back.

It’s been a beautiful day, wall to wall sunshine and a real warmth to the sun, time spent with the best mentor and great chat!!

Now I’d like you to take the time to read this and remember that it’s only a few years since I sat in Gran’s chair and could barely manage to shower, clean my teeth or walk the dogs.

Here I am this morning in my dry suit! (This was gifted to me by a random lady we met in Castle Semple car park in Lochwinnoch, saving me about £300!)

We parked at Largs Marina and got the kayaks all ready to go. That’s the Largs Pencil in the distance, with the Largs ferry a tiny dot on the horizon!

The sun was so low we couldn’t see a thing to take this photo but apart from a lot of teeth, it work out fine! 😂

The sea was like a millpond.

I’ve missed this beautiful weather so much over the last few months.

It was actually quite warm in the sun.

Following Lindsay! She’s a great teacher and has all the safety equipment to keep me safe. This is my first time in the sea and the sea is not to be taken lightly.

We kayaked carefully, past the entrance to Largs Marina and carried on down to the Fairlie Pier.

And went right under it!

And out the other side!

We stopped for lunch on Fairlie Beach.

It was just beautiful.

Had to get the obligatory kayak photo in the water! That’s the isle of Great Cumbrae in the foreground to the right, Little Cumbrae to the left and Arran in the background.

Looking back to Fairlie as we leave.

We watched two tugs move this massive barge, full of large rocks, over to Great Cumbrae, to help build its flood defences.

Now heading to the Hunterston Pier.

Lindsay got some photos of me, just to prove I did it!

How beautiful is this?!?!? The view…. Not me 😂

We came back under both piers.

Honestly I have another million photos but these were some of the best.

I have had THE most amazing day. It’s not lost on me that for so long I thought life, as I knew it, was over.

My life is SO much better than it ever was. I have ALWAYS wanted to kayak out in the sea. We never knew Lindsay and Euan back then. Now we do, and they are so kind to lend us their equipment and help teach me.

Lindsay was so patient and safety conscious…. There’s not need to be scared. I was slighly anxious last night but absolutely buzzing ALL day today.

Life changes in ways you will never believe it possible.

It’s important to keep believing that.

If it’s bad for you just now, just be patient and try to be as grateful as you can, for all that you currently have.

Stay safe everyone 🛶♥️🛶

Day 1327 a lovely sunny Saturday with another trip to Largs !

What a beautiful day!

It was such a heavy frost this morning…. -4°C when I left for the little gift shop. It was so cold but a beautiful, clear sky day.

I actually had a lie in until 8am. Can’t remember the last time I managed that. Turns out Craig was up with Calaidh at 2.30am….

I heard nothing!

She was barking and he shouted at her a couple of times to go back to bed , WHILE LYING RIGHT BESIDE ME….. nothing. That amazes me.

This was the view out the window when I woke up. Ignore the scabby sky dish!

Khaleesi enjoyed her first hard frost…. Think she’s jumping up thinking jeezo this is baltic!!

The little gift shop was really busy and I came back up the road for a bowl of soup in front of the wood burning stove… all sounds super cosy as lovely doesn’t it! 😂 there’s 4 excited dogs bounding around in the midst of all that!

When Craig came home from work, we headed back to Largs for fish and chips The Fish Works in Largs. Yes I had just eaten but I wasn’t missing this for anything.

When Craig asks me what I want to do… I ALWAYS suggest this… but he drives every day with work so doesn’t want to go back out. I’m so chuffed he wanted to go today and we had a lovely fish and chips!!

Largs is so different from yesterday…. So still and calm.

There are no photos of the restaurant, or their food…. We ate outside and you have to be very careful with the seagulls!!

The fish and chips really are exceptional. I had lemon sole and Craig had battered king prawns 🍤 (who knew there was a prawn emoji?!?)

It’s not like a standard chippy and nothing is greasy. I can’t recommend it enough!

We went for a wee walk after the food. So I could take some photos… obviously!

I should say it’s only 3.30pm!

It was just beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful…. The Aurora is just kicking off in the UK tonight…. How much do I actually want to see it though, I can’t bring myself to get wrapped back up and get out there. I want it to come to my back garden to save me the bother! Still way too much light pollution for that….

On the way back from Largs I got my trusty Co-pilot to take photos of the moon as it was massive and so low in the sky.

I commented that it looked like we were on Tattooine. (Star Wars!)

He was awfy proud of me!! Star Wars wife!

You can just about see it above the trees on this photo. I’d have obviously got a better shot than this but I take that I can get 😂😂😂😘

We went into the pub for a couple when we got home. I had 0% Whitley Neil raspberry “gin”. Very nice.

This was the moon when I walked the 10 steps back to the house. You can see the frost on the roof too.

Have a lovely Saturday evening!

I’m kayaking with Lindsay in the morning and I am beyond excited. I have ALWAYS wanted to learn to kayak. 🛶 I’m hoping this will open up a whole new world on the water.

Stay safe everyone 🛶🌅🛶

Day 1224 a cheeky Monday off ♥️ and a trip to Largs to catch the PS Waverley 🚢

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.

Long may the peace continue.

Peace shattered 😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1216 a trip on the PS Waverley from Glasgow Science Centre around Ailsa Craig and back! 🚢

It’s a beautiful morning. There’s not a breath on the Clyde.

Craig ran me to the Glasgow Science Centre for 9.30am and picked me back up in Ayr at 6.30pm. In that time I have sailed the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde down to Largs for 12.10pm, Ayr and Girvan for 4.10pm and out around Ailsa Craig. A very crude map….

A bucket list item ticked for me today. Big time!!

I didn’t feel good when I woke up this morning but the day had had the desired effect. This is what makes me happy. This is what gives me a buzz. Travelling and exploring and not having to drive.

I have had the most amazing time. I have gazillions of photos to sort through so I’m going to make this very quick and just show you a few for now as I’m shattered! It’s 8pm already. (Reading this back over, I did way more than I was planning!!)

This photo makes me laugh… I have the tallest husband in the world 😂 I look tiny!

The Waverley is pushed around to turn the opposite way on the Clyde. It’s literally shunted.

Craig stayed and took some photos from the dock.

Sailing under the Erskine Bridge.

Passing Dumbarton Rock.

We had dolphins riding the bow at this point and I got a fab video which I shared on The Rambling Sloth FB page. The last time I tried to add a video to WordPress it hung for days so I not risking it!!

Ailsa Craig is the tiny blob of an island on the horizon.

Leaving Largs.

Arriving in Ayr where a million people got on!!

Arriving in Girvan.

The RNLI lifeboat danced around beside us for a while!

Setting sail for Ailsa Craig.

I am so pleased we got to sail right around. The photos of the Waverley sailing round would have been pretty special. That’s the only negative to being IN her… you don’t get photos OF her.

Never mind the island. Look at that sky!!

I obviously have loads more photos but will work through them another day.

I met some lovely ladies. Another blogger Dawn-Marie than I’m going to follow and a girl called Sarah. You’re never alone when you’re on your own.

I’ve had the most amazing day. Honestly out of this world. Sadly I’ve been FREEZING for most of it as I opted for the summer wardrobe and unpacked the hat, gloves and warm hoodie… but nothing would get me sitting indoors!!

Sarah spotted this rabbit in the clouds!

Looking towards the Heads of Ayr.

Craig took some fab photos from the dock.

Where’s Julesie, just like where’s Wally!!! Look how busy the ship is?!?

Hint I’m waving!

Vision in turquoise…

A wonderful day. This is what life is all about. 🚢♥️

Stay safe everyone 🚢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

Day 1197 another busy day and a trip to Largs for ice cream! 🍦🍦

Crazy work day again today. I didn’t sleep well again last night, either. I was asleep but dreaming really heavily. Dreamt I had to move into a flat and it was a room at the top of a high set of stairs and I had to climb over sleeping people to get up to it. I didn’t like it. 😂

I went straight for a food shopping after work tonight and spent £169!!!!! How is that even possible. I only had 3 big shopping bags of food. I did buy some lovely things as it’s Craig’s birthday this week, and I didn’t pick the cheapest of everything, but I never saw that coming. Before the Tesco Clubcard price reduction it was £193!!! For a weekly shop for two people?!?!? Horrifying…. 🤯

I had about 10 minutes turnaround when I got home as I was heading out to Largs with Gayle again.

I’d checked the forecast today and saw that it brightened up tonight. It was a lovely wee trip!

As we headed around the corner towards the ferry terminal I suddenly spotted the red funnels or the Paddle Steamer Waverley!!!

The tide was going out and because it’s moored at the back of the pier then I couldn’t get a decent photo!

The Loch Riddon heads over to Cumbrae.

We sat and had an ice cream sitting watching the calm tide recede…. While we talked the hind legs off a donkey!!

When two become one… the Loch Riddon with the Waverley in the background!

Hiding!!!

Some sea kayakers were out checking out the Waverley.

Loved these 3 yachts spaced out.

The kayakers heading home, as we’re we.

My photos got a bit mixed up and I’m too tired to move these next ones up to the top… Julie half a job. It’s 9.38 and I need my bed after all that sea air!!

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 1165 the little gift shop on tour!!

It’s 21.56 and I haven’t written the blog yet. What a busy day!!! I’ll have to make this quick as I am ready for bed!

I’ve had another excellent day.

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist waved the dogs this morning and I was going to sit out in the sun and have a decaf coffee. Instead I decided to hoover the whole house, as you do. That said, I’m so glad I did it as I haven’t hoovered for weeks!!

Gayle and I decided at the little gift shop today, to go out another wee trip to Largs for ice cream tonight! 🍦🍦

I’m afraid it’s going to be another photo bomb 😆

We headed over for about 6.30pm and it was really misty and moody.

Thanks to the little seagull for the photo bomb!

Spotted this lovely heart stone that only looked like a heart on the way out of Largs, not when you looked at it on the way into Largs.

Another lovely evening and thanks to Gayle for the company and great chats!

I feel like the forecasts show the weather will break tomorrow and I didn’t want to miss a last sunset if it’s getting more cloudy.

Living life to the max!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

Day 1142 a beautiful day on the Isle of Bute, then Largs for a chippy tea and. Portencross sunset 🌅

I slept like a log last night. No wonder as we just didn’t stop yesterday and we’ve had way more of the same today.

It’s 8.30 and we are still not home yet so I will make this quick. We have had another amazing day and have been on the go since 7.30am!! We left the house at 8.30 and headed to Weymss Bay for the 10.05 ferry. A little bit of parking panic but otherwise all good!

We decided to walk all the way to Mount Stuart on Bute. It’s a stunning gothic style design inside. I’ll talk way more about it tomorrow.

It is a very, very, very long walk!! Not to be recommended, it took us about an hour and half… I’ve done 24,394 steps so far!!

And finally the sun came out. Woo hoo!

We had a wander around Rothesay after a bus trip back. yes bus trip woo hoo!

I bought a replacement Highland Cow for Helens grandson!!

Back in Weymss Bay station. It’s still so Victorian.

Then we headed down through Largs for a chippy tea.

And finally to my special place in Portencross where we are sitting now.

There are loads more photos to follow on another day!

I should just end by saying that I’ve had the best few days with Helen. She’s been sent to me to remind me to giggle and laugh way more (yes Craig I know, as you always say to me!!) She’s shown me that it’s easy to spend that much time with someone else. We’ve just settled into a giggly, comfortable life these last few days. It’s been a really, really special time. 💜

Everyone should spend time with a Helen! will miss her though will be found sitting in silence for a while… 😂😘

Stay safe everyone 🌅🌅🌅