For those of us who work a bank holidayā¦. It always feels a bit unfair that everyone else seems to be asleep when you leave for workā¦ that said, the traffic is amazing. I have a cheek as my commute is nothing these days but there were less cars on my roads!
Poor Craigie is feeling really rough. He fell asleep on the couch last night, woke to eat some dinner and fell straight asleep again. I could barely wake up when I went up to bed. He was dripping in sweat.
I woke at 4.30 and went down to check on meā¦. Still fast asleepā¦. When I went in again at 6.15 he was awake. He was literally zonked all night.
Heās slept most of the dayā¦ which is just as well really, as we had no electricity for most of the day. Power cuts, low water pressure and no mobile phone signalā¦. Itās been some day for him, heād be as well sleeping. Strange goings on in our village.
My ego feels really hard done to having to work a bank holidayā¦. It feels so unfair, why is everyone else off, why do I have to work, whyā¦. And on and onā¦. But you know what, it can shut right up as weāve had a great day at work. We got loads done, delivered a good few vans and it was so worthwhile being open.
Sometimes our minds just want to moanā¦.. Want us to feel hard done to and as a result we feel bad for the day.
When this happens, and you recognise is for what it is, you are taking back control of your thoughts. The ego doesnāt like that and tries to winā¦. And I often still let it.
But not today.
I had a lovely walk with Claire after work. It was quite warm. We took Calaidh and Bhruic.
The sky is really dark against the green of the fresh growth.
Itās really dramatic.
We are lucky we donāt get wet.
The rain doesnāt come for a good hour and half afterwards.
My alarm went off at 5.45amā¦. I woke at 3.11am to think about what I was wearing today. š¤¦š»āāļø Of course I did. It was a great sleep until then but obviously the rain, snow, cold etc was playing on my mind. Us over thinkers need to make time to overthink!
Craig got up to make me a decaf coffee which I ended up taking with meā¦ and of course the first train is delayedā¦ a 40mph restriction on the track due to the heavy rain overnight.
I got a bit antsyā¦ I had a half hour to get across Glasgow before my next train. It was only delayed by 11 minutes but the restriction is making us later. Then FB shows me this.
Synchronicity ā„ļø
I did literally run across Glasgow from Central to Queen Street, a steady jog. Iām a bit dishevelled and out of puff but I made it!
Next stop Stirling!
Should say here with my Club 50 railcard, (oh my actual god, how much does that freak me out?!?) Glengarnock to Pitlochry cost me Ā£39.75. Now I know I could drive for less than that probably, but my view is it keeps mileage down on the car and I get to look out the windows and see the world like a lady of leisure. Thatās the planā¦. š
Made it to Stirling with a half hour until my next train.
Of course Mrs overactive bladder always has to find the looā¦
Closed due to flooding
š³
It will be fine. š¬
I survivedā¦. Iām the blue dot šµ on the map!
The snow appeared just north of Stirling. all of these are taken from a moving train through tinted windows!
Itās very dull, misty and overcastā¦. All 3 of them but the snow is really pretty.
About to arrive in Pitlochry. There is no snow!!
What a lovely day we have had!! Mum and Dad met me off the train, such a shame this is blurry, they appeared as the southbound train pulled out the station and I was crossing the bridge!
They were all bedecked in waterproofs and I felt a bit under waterproofed!
The took me to Cafe Biba for lunch.
A lovely wee building, just like our house! I had the veggie breakfast but didnāt eat the eggā¦ Iām still on this ānot fancying meatā thing. I would eat it if it was put down in front of me but Iām just not able to choose it for some reason. I had a lovely soya decaf latte! Completely perplexed Dad!!
Mum and I went for a wander round the shops starting off with Heather Gems which was recommended to me, by Margaret, yesterday!
Itās a huge store where you watch them making the jewellery tooā¦. Lovely!
We had a good wander around the shops, until 1pm when chauffeur Dad, as he said he was called, came and picked us up!!
We decided to head up to The House of Bruar just north of the lovely village of Blair Atholl.
This is a very posh shopping complex where you walk about and look at things that you can never really afford to buy! Thatās a slight exaggerationā¦ the shoes dad picked up were Ā£435ā¦ I said he should get 2 pairs!! There were lots of photo opportunities though.
This is a cashmere jumper canoe!
The Troop London canoe.
The Yeti canoe. I think Craig will like this one!
Hereās mum in motionā¦ this is the sit-ooterie for food!
We had another cuppa and a cake this time.
Think our village woodcutters need to up their game!
Even the fresh fruit and veg looks amazing.
We headed back down the road towards Pitlochry and stopped in Blair Atholl to look at the water wheel.
There was no water running through the burn at allā¦. Would you believe that this is the reasonā¦
Maybe we got their rain in Ayrshire??? I feel like itās rained all winterā¦ just shows you!
Our next stop was the River Garry Bridge. Itās soooo high up!! this is the view looking north.
Looking south is so very different.
Then chauffeur Dad drove us to Faskally wood where I got a few photos of Loch Faskally.
We went back to the caravan for a quick pit stop to wait for my train home.
Itās started to rain by the time we got to the station to wait on the train.
We mucked about with the mini flower train!
As we waited the Royal Scotsman train pulled into Pitlochry heading north. It is stunning and as dad pointed out, everything that could be painted, has been painted! Click that link and get a look. Itās lovely.
If you zoom in, everything underneath it is spotless, every window had been cleaned, itās an old train thatās pretty immaculate!
Think Iāll have to stick to the Inter7city for now!!
Iāve just pulled into Stirling but this is a direct train to Glasgow so I donāt have to get off here.
Iāve had a lovely day with Mum and Dad! I love that we are making new memories together. That feels important to me.
We need to plan our next adventure!
Only another hour and 45 until Iām home to Craig and the pupper bunch!
Itās such a pretty coffee shop on the banks of Loch Goil and itās about an hour and a half drive from where we live.
We agreed to meet up today as the Scottish Dog Behaviourist was working! He is so busy heās having to work a Sunday now.
When I picked Gayle up I gave her optionsā¦ the first of which was the Boat Shed and she jumped at it and we both got really excited. I was so pleased she wanted to go and didnāt think it was too far. She was pleased that I was happy to drive there.
Itās a beautiful day. After all the rain and wind weāve been having, the cold sunshine is just so lovely. It is still pretty cold but thereās a warmth when the sun is beating down on you.
I was up at 7am and did 2 dog walks before 8.30am!!
Bhruic and Freya firstā¦. look at that sky!!
The morning sun makes this old mossy wall look so green against the blue.
It also made me look really tall and the puppers look like wolves!
The primroses are blooming, I always think they are so pretty.
Gielsland Estate looks lovely in the sun too.
Itās so quiet I stop the 3 of us for arty middle of road shot.
When I used to have the big, heavy job and used to drink and be Mrs life and soul of the party, I would never have seen this time of the morningā¦. This is now when Iām at my best. No one around, sounds of the birds chirping and nothing else. I just love it!
Home and quick change for Calaidh and Khaleesi.
Itās just so beautiful.
Khaleesi zonked out in Granās Chair when we got home. This is the seat I used to sit in when I was off sickā¦ itās a great seat to relax in and lovely to see Khaleei likes it too.
So back to the ROADTRIP. Love that WordPress always puts that word into caps for some reason ššš
We set off on an exciting adventure.
Itās a beautiful driveā¦ my trusty Co-pilot even thinks to take some photos for the blog. Sheās a keeper š the next 4 are Gayleās taken from the moving car!
The drive through Scottish lochs and mountains is breathtaking at any time but when that sky is blue itās just stunning!
We get to the turning for Lochgoilhead and the road goes down to single track, with passing places. Itās not a great single track either but a very crumbly road with steep verges at either side, if you pull off the tarmac thereās a chance you might not get back up onto it.. my anxiety heightens a little. Iām relieved that I didnāt know this in advance!
There are lots of people standing outside, come to think of it weāve driven past loads of people walking on the single track road towards and away from it.
The realisationā¦..
The car park is over full already and there is literally nowhere to park.
Weāre both completely shocked as that thought had never crossed our minds. Weād driven all this way only to not get in?!?!
We had no option but to drive right past it. I finally found somewhere to turn and we drove past again but nothing had changed.
About half a mile up I found somewhere to pull the car into. This shows how narrow the roads areā¦
We parked and walked back.
We stood in the queue and took the obligatory selfie with the sign in the background.
There were about 7 groups of people in front of us. I donāt know how long we stood but nothing was moving. Gayle was reading lots of comments on their Instagram page about the lack of parking and the trouble you could get into parking illegallyā¦. We talked ourselves into worrying that the car wasnāt in a proper parking space and could be construed as in a passing placeā¦. I went to take some photos of the loch.
I mean it would have been a lovely view for coffee but the outdoor area isnāt in the sunā¦ the sun is shining on the road side of the building. Everyone had blankets and looked freezing.
We really sadly gave up our space in the queue and decided to leave.
We were gutted that weād gone all this way and couldnāt get parked. Itās only 24th March, goodness only knows how hard it must be in the summer as the Loch Goil cruises go from the same car park.
With hindsight, the car was fine where it was parked and we could easily have stayed but the shine had gone a bit by then.
Instagram follows are all very well but the reality of the beauty of the place is often different. Their posts are beautiful, so appealing but obviously everyone and their Auntie want to go too!
So back in the car and took a shortcut back to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful. I say shortcutā¦ the satnav didnāt want us to go on this road but it was so much quicker.
The Rest and Be Thankful is named after the old road which was super narrow and windy to the top of the road. You had to rest and be thankful when you got to the top.
This photo doesnāt do the depth of the valley any justice! if you look to the left youāll see the new road which cuts up the side of the hill. This gets closed after almost every heavy rain shower due to landslides. The old military road gets used more often than it should be!
We then got back onto the A82 and headed down into Arrochar. We eventually found a parking space!
We managed to find a takeaway for hot chocolate and a chocolate bar as we were starving by now!
Spotted this GATE!!!
Itās so still and calm but clouded over a bit.
Sadly despite the beauty, the beaches are covered in plastic. Itās really sad as itās sooo bad. it must wash up in storms but there is so much of it.
Back in the car and down through Tarbert to Firkin Point on Loch Lomond. I stopped because there are toilets here!! Itās very pretty too.
Back into the car and further down the Loch to get a picture of Ben Lomond.
Then we headed back down the road and home.
Despite not achieving our main goal, we had a great day! Great company for a lovely chat.
Happiness is what you make it and Iām never happier than out sightseeing and especially with a great friend!
So yeah thatās WordPress renewed for another year. It costs me Ā£100 a year to rant and moan š¤¦š»āāļøš maybe I should just write it down on some paper, save a fortune and be done with it?!? š Acht I know there are more positive days when I get to travel around our beautiful country and share photos of stunning beaches and sunsets!!
Also another day of being public enemy number 1 on FB. My account has definitely been compromised, to put it mildly. Iām still barred for another 29 hours or so. The majority of my readers are on FBā¦ my new photography page is on FB. I know life does not revolve around Fb but from a positive point of view mine has recently. Maybe this is a lesson to rely on it a bit less and look for other ways to do what I do?!?
Hmmmmā¦ Iām angry and upset and have struggled to come to terms with how difficult is for me to voice that opinion to the FB powers that be. The hackers keep finding me no matter how many times I change my password. Iām not sure how that can even be possible?!?
Anyway, it is what it isā¦. Iām home now and itās pouring with rain outside so we have all the candles lit and none of it seems quite so bad.
I have a feeling my account will never be quite the same again. I feel like Iām on some list that is now easily targeted. Iāll see how the next few days go and maybe have to start afresh.
For those who read this tonight, thank you for finding another wayā¦. And Iām sorry for the negativity!!
Iāll end with some Just Jules Photography shots just to brighten the mood! It works for me anyway. ššā„ļø
Another little woof awakening this morning at 6.30amā¦. Theyāve become regular wee alarm clocks these days. I did try and go back to sleep but it was never going to happen.
So itās been a stay at home kind of day today except we popped into the pub at 3pm for our next door neighbour, Kennyās birthday. Weāve managed to sit outside all afternoon, even under spots of rain and the ominous clouds! It was nice to see everyone and catch up! Didnāt even take a photo!ā
Iāve done some housework and sorted out my clothes drawers but for most of the day Iāve been sat on my laptopā¦ as you do on a Sundayā¦. Not!
I know that I want to do something more with my photography so I have downloaded the Lightroom app, along with Snapfish and Photobox. I need to start seeing what some of them look like printed out.
Iāve also set up a FB page today and decided to call it Just Jules Photography. Please click the link and give the page a like, she says, very nervously!!
Itās not about me, itās not about the Rambling Slothā¦ itās Just Jules.
Iām not certain what will come of it yet but itās a start. I want to be able to share my photos and not just add them to the blog. Itās the one thing I feel very passionate about.
I love taking photos. I love looking for the next shot. Sometimes a āpoint and pressā photo turns out to be stunning! I take photos when I walk and photos when I jog. I donāt currently spend hours setting them up. This may encourage me to spend a bit more time looking for that next subject.
You should have seen me this morning with the Lightroom appā¦ā¦ I was like a wee kid having tantrumsā¦. Thereās a reason Iāve not done anything like this before. Itās always been too much like hard work! I couldnāt understand half of the tutorial and had to rewatch sections countless timesā¦ but I got there and I now understand how the app works. There are a whole host of options that may be too much for my calm, relaxed brain these daysā¦. But itās a definite step up from where I was this morning.
I am really pleased that I actually got the ball rolling. Several people have told me I should do more with my photosā¦. I am listening, eventually! Gayle gave me one great big push earlier this weekend.
In an other much lighter noteā¦. I had a wee photo shoot with my Vinted and Charity Shop dresses, last night. Craigie made a great photographer!
This outfit was from the British Heat Foundation in Largs.
Dress, Ā£5.50, bolero cardigan Ā£6.50 and fascinator Ā£8 with a tag on it that said Ā£40!! Whole outfit Ā£20 and I do NOT do fuschia pinkā¦. Ever!!
This next one also the British Heart Foundation.
Dress was Ā£6.50 and is from Oasis.
This next one was from Vinted and was Ā£3!!!!
Next one is a Shein dress from Vinted for Ā£7.
And finally my least favouriteā¦. From Vinted and Ā£4ā¦. Itās the tightest one that I got so Iāll probably sell it on.
Iām showing the one from behind as it was a bit of a tummy hugger. š
I honestly love that Iāve got such great deals for all of these dresses. I need to sell some more on Vinted again soonā¦. I still have quite a few dresses that I wonāt wear anymore so someone else could make use of them. If I can eradicate the dog hair that is.
Well that was the weekendā¦. Only 6 more sleeps until our summer holiday so will be a busy week at Tartan trying to get all my ducks in a row š¦š¦š¦š¦
The Rambling Sloth š¦„ 