Day 1423 a crazy busy day with dog walk AND cooking 😂

A wonderful, wonderful sleep last night. I never heard Craig come up to bed, never heard a thing all night.

I’m using deep sleeps earplugs from Amazon. Snoring?!? I hear nothing but yeah rumour has it I am….. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😬 oops sorry…. I can’t hear a thing 🎧😂

I woke at 5.15am and snuggled back down for another hour. I felt so refreshed when I got up.

Once I’d had my shower I felt really stiff….. I haven’t walked the length of myself all weekend. Last weekend I walk 35 miles, this weekend less than 10,000 steps. I’m sure I feel more stiff when I exercise less.

I hobbled out to the car.

By the time I got to work I couldn’t walk properly. I couldn’t put any weight on my left leg. When I did I got an excruciating pain and my left gave way. I hobbled into the office. It was so painful.

I sat about for a bit but as sore as it was, I realised the more I walked, the more it eased off. I went for a jog around the car park… as you do at 8.10am. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. It totally eased it off and I’ve been fine for the rest of the day.

Work was beyond busy today.

Just another manic Monday! A throwback from my 80’s singsong in the car yesterday.

By the time I got lunch I had fasted for 22.5 hours. It was just the fastest day.

When I got home I literally dragged myself out in a dog walk. I know I need to keep moving and exercise more.

It would have been so easy to come in and sit down.

I took Freya and Calaidh and despite the meh weather, we had a good walk. Exercise is good for the soul.

Check Freya with her wee bunch of cut grass in her mouth 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂

If you zoom in she has a mouthful!!!

I got another food delivery, this time from Planthood…. Only because I got a voucher for money off.

I decided to have Crispy Mushroom Shawarma With Garlic Tahini Sauce, Pickled Radish & Fresh Mint In Soft Flatbread. Sounds awfy fancy eh?!?

Here are the ingredients.

It’s so easily packaged and easy to make. It took less than 20 minutes.

This is what it turned out like and I can honestly say it was out of this world.

I wrapped it and it tasted so good and I feel really full after it.

I’ve had at least 4 of my 5 a day today and that feels good.

It’s been a good day. life is for living…. Let’s do it!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1381 a bright and busy Monday

I didn’t sleep well last night. I had night sweats and woke at 2.35 with a thumping head and soaking wet sheets. I’m very lucky that doesn’t happen to me often.

My 2.40am hunt for paracetamol was fruitless… I was sure they were in my handbag… but no, couldn’t find them. I should say here I have THE tiniest handbag…. The paracetamol were all present and correct when I checked the handbag at 7.15am before work… of course they were. 😆

I woke again at 4.30 and just before 6… too hot so out from under the downie, then freezing. The joys.

Thankfully the headache didn’t return…

Also Bhru had been quite badly sick after yesterday’s blog so I was pleased to see she had been fine overnight.

As I lay in bed I searched for that rotten feeling so I could be justified in staying off sick. I couldn’t face work. I hadn’t slept, I’d be shattered, I’d be grouchy, my head hurt, did I have stomach cramps…. Etc….

I gave myself a shake, got out of bed at the alarm and have been absolutely fine all day. Neither up nor down. If anything I’ve been good…. Check my reluctance at admitting to that.

Our ego is a funny thing. It wants to wallow in the sadness, the injustice of things but actually I seem to be able to see it now and shut her up. I’m smiling at that. It’s good to smile after the last few days.

A lovely sky tonight.

I’ve made us a nice dinner and I feel like I’m being watched….

So yeah, a good day. Love may that continue.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1362 stuck for a title 😂 another calm day 🫶🏼

😂😂 midweek blog titles are sometimes difficult when life seems a bit like Groundhog Day.

I have to say that I’ve had another good day. My head is very calm just now, my mind is focussed and I’m tackling spreadsheets like there is no tomorrow. I’m in my spreadsheet element… if there is such a thing.

I had THE best sleep last night.

No knee pain at all… no waking up that I can remember… until 6.04am… 6 minutes before the alarm. I love that. I’m so grateful for a good sleep.

I was up and at it today as it’s hair wash day. I had to get the dogs up and outside before I left as they were in bed early last night…. Only because I was. 😆

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist didn’t get home until 10.40pm…. A real late one for him and I was long gone, out for the count.

I’ve found lots of motivational quotes tonight…

I feel really different since the Christmas break and I don’t know why but I love it. I feel lots of hope and dare I say excitement for each day at the moment, even if they are spent at work. I know so many people are going through some really difficult things and it makes me extra grateful of my own peace of mind.

I had a lovely salad for lunch in my new Brabantia salad bowl.

Didn’t I just go and leave my lunch bag at work though… dammit.

Last night I said I promised I would go and look out my knee exercises…. I forgot by the end of the blog. Of course I did.

I remembered today…. Got them out my handbag and realised most of them have to be done lying in bed. Of course they do. So I couldn’t do them before I started work like I thought.

I put them in my sandwich bag………… 😂

Won’t be doing any exercises until I retrieve said sandwich bag and hit my bed tomorrow night now. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

It’s the return of the Crochet Hookers tonight so I’m off next door to the pub to get my hook on. And my alcohol free gin and slim.

Stay safe everyone 🧶🧶🧶

Day 1329 just a wee Monday at the end of November!

There was nothing dramatic to report today… except that I slept for 8 hours and 51 minutes last night…. We were in bed for 8.30pm!

Out for the count apart from some random dream just before I woke….. I looked at my watch at 6.14am… the alarm went off at 6.15am!

The moon was amazing this morning. this is not a great photo.

It’s massive and so low in the sky. It was a stunning drive to work and once again, I wished I could have stopped to take photos all the way.

Today went so quickly. It flew by. I didn’t open my diary to consult the to do list until 1.15pm…. I was able to cross a fair bit off my list. It’s rare that I remember anything from a Thursday to a Monday but today was a good day. A very good day actually.

I felt calm and in control. I enjoyed work and that doesn’t happen every day. There was no frustration at all. Check. Me.

I had the last of my soup for lunch and could stand my spoon up in it!

Check the label on this parcel delivered to work last week 😂😂😂

It was from a lovely supplier who lost her Dad last week and just needed to talk. I called to order parts on Thursday and listened to everything she had to say. It’s nice to be kind to people. It’s gets you a lovely label on a parcel 😂😂😘

I took 4 big bags to charity again after work. I smile that I used to be so anxious doing that before. I walk in, have a bit of banter with the staff, make them smile and walk back out… after spending £3 on a navy blue White Stuff cardigan and £3 on a Christmas T-shirt.

The moon was just as dramatic on the way home.

Another rotten photo but the cloud kept covering it and making it look all spooky and Halloween-like…..

I love driving to and from work enjoying the scenery…. Loving driving the car and genuinely enjoying the drive.

Right now I’m bringing a really good attitude to life.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1296 a good day!

A day that starts off with THE bat 🦇 signal isn’t usually going to be a good one… but when you’re driving to work and witness a wee one for real, it is really pretty cool.

A bat flew out of a hedge in the early morning light (just looked like a bird) and in my headlight showed an almost perfect bat signal. It was a very precious moment where you realise how beautiful nature can really be.

You can tell someone is feeling a bit brighter, waxing lyrical about random things like that. 🙄😆

Kinesiology was really good last night. Angela said that’s it’s good to approach a session when not in crisis mode. It allows you to tackle some genuine issues before they hit that fight or flight mode.

I have homework as well… an affirmation, which I thought was a good one.

I quickly catch thoughts that don’t serve me. It’s ok that a part of me feels this way. I joyfully release the thoughts and embrace the positive.

I do need to get my head around it being ok to feel a bit low some days….. These feelings are still very valid.

My friend Isy sent me this yesterday, which summed up exactly how I was feeling.

Today has been different altogether. I’ve been clear headed and focussed. I’ve not been anxious or paranoid.

We had a great Tartan management meeting today and I love a good meeting, a good communication session, a good discussion on the future. Can’t beat it!

It’s been a really good day.

Did I mention I bloody love driving a beetle. What a difference a car makes.

Off to crochet now!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1293 spring cleaning?!?

Another great nights’ sleep… slightly more restless but that’s down the beached whale Indian food belly…. But still… I woke early and went back to sleep until after 8am. That’s late for us!!

I did my usual Sunday morning positive FB trawl. It’s so good when you get your social media feed set up exactly as you want it. I only get positivity from it.

I love this next one.

It’s cold but a beautifully sunny day… it’s definitely the calm after the storm. There wasn’t a breath of wind today.

We randomly started “spring” cleaning the whole of the kitchen. Every cupboard was blitzed. Simple things but I love it. I love a good clear out.

4 big bags to go out (just from the kitchen) and a sneaky tub of one cal spray has been in this kitchen since 2020!!!

All the cupboards have been cleaned inside too. We’ve moved things around. a change is as good as a rest!

That took us until lunchtime. I only fasted for 15 hours today, but that is ok.

Quick shout out to my friend Tracey in Canada who is waking up on day 4 of a 4 day fast!!!! Wow!! I would love to do this at some point.

After lunch… Ellison’s recipe home made soup…. (Yum) I started putting away washing and hoovered the house. I’ve done nothing this week as I felt so rotten so it was good to feel better and tidy up.

I then went outside and poop scooped and dead headed the beautiful hydrangea!

They are all gone now!!

We sat outside for a few minutes as it was really lovely in the sun. It was soon really cold the minute the sun went behind the clouds.

I’ve had a really good day. I haven’t needed a sleep either!

I’ll leave you with our gangly Khaleesi who’s making herself at home!

Oh I’ve also booked to go back down to Devon to stay with Helen at the end of February, start of March. Amazing what’s possible when my head is clear.

It’s been a rough week but, so many people I’ve spoken to, have said it’s been a difficult week. The change in temperature, the darker nights, the worsening weather… we need to be kinder to ourselves and allow ourselves to rest when we need it the most.

I certainly have this week. So onwards and upwards with a fresh head and let’s see what this week brings.

Gone are the days where I’d have opened a bottle of red on a Sunday and forgotten that I have to get up super early the next day. I’d have been DREADING work. I can’t stress that enough, I hated my job at the time… and that’s a strong word.

Now I just sit here with it all and allow myself to feel what I feel. There’s no dread AT ALL….. Fresh head on a Monday is always a blessing. I am so grateful for all of that.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1238 just another manic Monday 😆 and a lovely gift from Ellison!

Actually today wasn’t really manic at all, I just smiled at that heading. 😁

The English part of the UK had a bank holiday today which meant the Scottish part of the UK got no answers to any phone calls today. 😆. It also means that it was ghostly quiet with no emails etc.

Strangely for a Monday, the phone didn’t go like the clappers either 😂

I had another amazing sleep. You’re sick of hearing that eh?! I don’t know why my sleep is so good just now, usually the 2 weeks off the progesterone is not as good but hey, I’ll take it.

Work went by fast oh and wait until you see what Ellison bought me today…..

MY PHOTOS ON WEE FRIDGE MAGNETS!!!!!

How lovely is that?! I was really touched….. also shows me what is possible with them, if I could have the confidence to do something with them!! That rose just looks stunning.

I had to go for a food shopping after work tonight… I have to say it was not fun. My head was all over the place, I couldn’t think straight at all. I’ve ended up with a whole lot of everything and nothing. It was a last minute thought so no list or plan. Never a good idea.

I came home, put it all away and made dinner and somehow it’s 8pm already!!

Lots of positive quotes first thing this morning so will share some of them.

And this next one… wow wow wow wow and wow!!!

I am in control of my own destiny. There are times when something side swipes me and I forget that but most of the time I know this is 100% true. My problems are my own.

Mull that over for a bit!

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 1190 a brighter day today… still under a FB ban 🫣

Another blog that hardly anyone will read but hey… as I said, if you find it here then thank you 😘

I’m still barred from FB until about 10pm and then hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to plead my case and get them to take me off this horrible list I seem to be on. I just want to go back to my account, unhacked and WAY more wary of the vulnerability of it all.

If that’s not possible then I will consider leaving FB altogether and I’ll find another way of publishing my blog and photos.

So yeah, I feel different today. I feel like I’ve accepted the reasons for everything that’s being going on. I woke up this morning, opened my eyes and knew instantly that something was different. I’ve felt really hard done to in the last week or so. I’ve felt like everything seemed a bit hopeless. I’ve seen the negative in everything.

I can’t tell you how good it is to feel a wee bit better. Life doesn’t feel hopeless today.

I don’t know why I feel better. There’s obviously always things that happen to me that I can’t write in the blog. Things that affect me but are not my story to tell. The blog feels like a real chore on those days.

I’ve been so irritated by everything this last wee while and today I see the positive in everything, the reasoning behind everything, rather than the anger. It really makes such a difference. However the switch got flicked I’m not complaining. It’s so draining when you feel mentally rotten.

It poured with rain overnight last night. Absolutely stotting down when we went to bed. it was the same again this morning.

Mid afternoon the sun came out and it’s been lovely and warm. Long may that continue.

I’ll leave you with some Just Jules sunset photos again…. Because they make me smile!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1147 a beautiful working bank holiday Monday! ☀️💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙☀️

Ahhh what a beautiful day! I’m sure us Scot’s would be a much happier race if we had sunshine all the time!

The legs are out again as I sit in the garden writing this, but I can assure you the top is very much “oan”…. See description above!

I’ve been awake since 4.30am not sure why really, maybe just not that tired.

Clean bed was amazing last night, I even had a shower and washed my hair to get the full effect of clean person and clean bed!!

I got up at 6.15 and sat outside for a bit.

There was a warmth to the sun already. I’ve said before but i love that time before many people are up and you feel like you have the world to yourself.

I did 20 push ups and 20 tricep dips… that was my start at trying to tone back up again. Things are wobbling a lot more than they did when we were at the Fit Body Farm 3 times a week!!!

The traffic was busier than I expected today. It seems there were more Scots working this bank holiday than the last.

I’ve actually had a really good day. I wasn’t too hot or told cold in the office, just right. (Sounds like Goldilocks and the 3 bears 😂)

A few things went wrong first thing, which I overreacted to and then settled back down to resolve. Ellison and I sat out for lunch and rolled our T-shirt sleeves up for maximum tanning 😂

I even appreciated the mini weed garden next to where we sat.

I love a weed!!

I’d made a lovely salad for lunch with loads of things from the fridge that were just about to turn, but hadn’t yet.

I really enjoyed it. I didn’t pig out on unhealthy food which feels good.

It was one of those rare working days where I actually just lived in the present moment. Check me.

It’s funny but since I got the anti depressants from the doctor, I have never felt as bad as I did before she prescribed them. I’ve never felt the need to take them yet. Maybe the placebo effect as I know they are there? I don’t know. It’s maybe as simple as the better weather. I don’t really care what it is. I’ll take this level of calm any day.

Craig just sent me this photo as he was working in Largs today and it’s so beautiful. He did say it was heaving though.

A salt and chilli chicken crown is in the oven, I’ve a salad to make up and then dinner will be ready.

It’s now 7pm and it’s still hot. Long may this continue. ☀️☀️☀️

Stay safe everyone 💛💛💛

Day 1114 still not feeling great but lots of sunshine today! ☀️☀️

I slept really well last night. My evening spent curled up on the couch in a Christmas onesie and a blanket did the trick.

I got up for the loo at 1.30 (which is much more of an effort now that we are upstairs 🙄😆) and woke Craig too but managed to fall back asleep until just before 6am.

I felt a lot better this morning. No headache and no sluggishness which was good.

It was meant to be frosty this morning but it’s not so I’m really grateful not to have to scrape the van!

I even went outside with the dogs and took photos of the forest flame. It’s so beautiful!

It was nice to catch it in the sunrise light.

Those colours are just stunning!

I gradually felt worse as the day went on and had a lovely half hour lunch in Abbie the camper van at 1pm.

It’s always hard to leave the van as it feels like I’m on holiday every although I’m just sitting outside work! It’s super toasty inside with the sun streaming in the windows. Still not warm enough to sit outside though.

I’m still feeling lightheaded and dizzy with sore head and sore eyes.

I’ve realised though that most of us at work have similar symptoms though so it’s not just me and might be a thing….

I’ve cancelled crochet for tonight and will coorie up again. As snug as a bug in a rug… as Gran would say!

Don’t panic though. I still have my appetite. 🙄😆

I am actually sitting out in the back garden writing this. My eyes only half open 🤦🏻‍♀️😆 and I got big cuddles from Freya!

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist says I can sleep in the spare room. 😆 I told him he can 😂

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️