Thatās my day in the titleā¦ you donāt need to read on š
Claire asked if anyone was available for a run this morning so I said yes before I could think about it too much. š
A wee 4.3kms at 6am.
It was quite dark, so we had head torches on and Claire was in her high vis, and I was just clashing with her š
It was a good run. I found it hard and it was a bit faster for me but I really enjoyed the chat and really enjoyed the thought of it all, once it was over š
Cold shower and off to work and we had a super busy day. I didnāt sit down at my desk until 9.45am. Least the day passed quickly.
Itās been a really dull and cold day today and it started to rain at 4pm when I finished work.
I had dinner then took the dogs out and got soaked!! I wore the wrong clothes againā¦. The high vis jacket isnāt waterproof unfortunately!
Nice look eh?!?
Poor Leesi still not getting out for a walk with her bad pawā¦. The other 3 are wetter than me, hence the dog goonies!
So I have put my jammies on and I have got th lamps on and Iām going to sit and relax and watch more Celebrity Race Across the World. Itās quite addictive and I have HUGE travelling envy!!
Iām feeling calm just now. Iām excited for our holiday in 16 days!
Quite possibly one of the hardest things Iāve ever done. I ran my first 10k āraceā in the most brutal weather imaginable.
We left the house at 5.40 in the pouring rain and driving winds, to head for Irvine Maritime Museum.
Iāve only ever run in a T-shirt on top and was reluctant to change the clothes set up that seemed to work for me. The weather had other ideas. Iād been freezing all day at work. We all decided to wear our running jackets and it was absolutely the right decision.
Here we all are before we start.
A lady asked why we had our number outside on the jacketā¦ what if we get warm?!? Of course that sent me into a āshould I put the number under my jacket, should I leave itā run up to the startā¦.. we all decided that it was so cold outside that weād need our jackets anyway.
This is us sheltering under the Irvine Railway Station bridges at the start line.
I cannot explain how bad the weather was.
It was the kind of night you would curl up in front of the tv, or with a good book. You most certainly wouldnāt have gone out for a run!
Lynsey and Gillian disappeared quickly after the start. They are fast runners.
I settled in with Rachel and Emma but I have to be honest and I say I never settled into the run at all.
I didnāt enjoy any minute of it.
My body fought it all the way.
My mind fought it all the way.
Rachel kept a good stride beside me, as we did in Tough Mudder. I kept telling her to leave me if she felt I was holding her back. Julie the burden showing her true coloursā¦ just so I could beat myself up for not finding it easy.
The first 1k felt like miles. The 2nd km felt about 4 or 5. Everything felt difficult in the wind and rain.
Our water station was at 4k and that felt like we still had so many miles to go.
Rachel really seemed to be in the zone. She had a spring to her step and a positivity in her head that I seemed to be lacking.
I honestly couldnāt have done it without her. Iām so grateful to her for pulling me round.
The last few kms were by far the worst.
If you know Irvine at all, we pulled into the lake behind the dunes, in Irvine Beach Park. We were fully exposed to the worst of the weather.
The rain felt like hail on our skin. The wind was so strong we were hardly moving.
It felt endless.
We laughed for some of it which is always a good thing.
The course seemed to keep turning away from the finish line but finally we turned along the home straight, from the main beach car park down past Gro Coffee.
I didnāt feel like I could go on.
Rachel kept me going.
We crossed the finish line!!
I burst into tears and couldnāt do anything for myself. I was exhausted š
I had beaten my previous 10k by almost 2.5 minutesā¦. And in that weather, that was pretty special.
I was 253rd out of 262 runners but it was a proper race and not a fun run. For once I donāt feel bad about that. Strava confirms my PB.
And what a way to do it. Lashed my all the west of Scotland weather had to offer.
A special shout out to Lynsey and Gillian. They managed a sub 1hour with 58 minutes. Incredible effort for Gillianās first race.
They came out to meet us and ran the last few hundred metres with us, hand in hand. It was a really special moment.
I also want to say a special word for Emma who has never run 10kms before, at allā¦. And she did it all by herself in that weather. She lost her Gran a few days before and could have so easily got out of it. An inspiration.
And we are done!
We headed up to Vanilla Joes in Irvine for our free finishing ice cream. It was like nectar from the gods. I will definitely be back.
We then got changed and dried off in the pouring rainā¦ appreciating the irony. We all stood in Asdaās car park in our sports brasā¦. My leggings wouldnāt go all the way up as they stuck to my legs but we were at least out of the soaking wet clothes and on our way home.
Thanks to Rachel for driving as the roads were all flooded.
What a night.
It didnāt end there.
I relived it for most of the night.
I tossed and turned.
I lay wide awake but exhausted.
I got up and went downstairs to read.
I took paracetamol and ibuprofen which calmed my legs. I felt them melt into the bed which was such a relief.
My head still thumped and the adrenaline flowed.
And then it was 6.40am and it was time to get ready for work again.
My legs have been fine.
Iāve drunk so much water and the headache is still there but lessened.
I did it.
I ran a 10k race.
On 1sr January this year, Rachel and I decided to start running once a week as we paced well together.
Whoād have thought weād have been taking part in a 10k by August?!?
Whoād a thunk it?!
So proud of our wee running team in Gateside. A tiny village with a whole lot of runners, with a whole lot of wisdom to help each other through anything. ā„ļø
And finally thank you to Claire and the team at Irvine Running Club who made it all possible. Their support all the way really helped. They must have been freezing and soaked to the skin themselves.
I couldnāt wake up this morning, I felt dead to the world.
I coughed a fair bit through the night, unfortunately once was right in Craigās face! š«£
Iāve just got a dry and scratchy throat. I donāt feel ill. I just donāt feel great.
I read my book and finished it before I got up. It was a good one, thanks Evelyn for lending me it.
I got dressed to head out with the dogs and the heavens openedā¦. Again!!!
We got soaked but the dogs donāt care.
The sky looks so mean and moody.
The rain does start to clear. The weatherās a bit like April just now.
I spotted 3 deer in the field next to usā¦ calmly called the dogs and pretended it was just time to head homeā¦ little did they know!! This is not the best photo! Two of them ran off.
Then the last one stared at me for ages!
The others were long gone!
This photo doesnāt do it justice, the sky was dark navy blueā¦.
The sun felt hot when it came through.
And we are back home soakedā¦. Thought this angle of the garden looked lovely!
Poor Khaleesi still canāt get walked at the moment.
So, I didnāt feel great when I got homeā¦. My head was starting to make the same noise it did when I was off on holiday with nothing to do.
I decided to put a stop to it.
I sat and wrote down how I was feeling.
Physicallyā¦.. tired, weak, headache, dry and scratchy throat, jaw tight, teeth sore, tense, anxious, breathless, if I shut my eyes I could sleep.
Butā¦.. I have a day off.
How lucky am I to have a day off when I feel like this?!? Very!!
Then why do I feel so bad? Why is my head trying to fight it?
I have a huge list of things I think I should be doing. I need to sort my road tax, my car insurance, home insurance, food shopping, poo pick, paint the spare room, clean and tidy the whole houseā¦..
It feels good to write it down.
Why does that give me physical pain?
Because it feels like a chore and I donāt want to do any of it.
What do I want to do instead?
Be out somewhere exploring in the sunshine.
Iāve looked for mini breaks and canāt nail one down. I think Iām scared that I feel nervous againā¦. Like I did when I was travelling to Rome. I canāt find a flight that is the right price, the right time, to the right place.
I yawnā¦ā¦. Big time. In kinesiology that is a sign of energy moving, of stress being releasedā¦ for me, anyway.
All I want to do is restā¦ā¦ the weather hasnāt been what we expect for our summer so maybe itās ok that I just want to rest and relax. Iāve been like that for much of July and August.
Soā¦. From that point on I feel a lot better. I sat with it, I wrote it out, I felt it.
I know itās all a bit crazy but that is what goes on in my head at times.
I sat and picked up the home and car insuranceā¦ and tried to tax the car. I looked for mini breaks and narrowed it down. Potentially Milan at the end of October.
I had a productive few hours and it felt good.
I jumped in the shower and even washed my hair. On a day offā¦. Check me.
I headed down to Curiosity coffee shop in Beith as it celebrates its first birthday today!!
Here are the girls with their celebratory Prosecco while I ate my mint aero brownie and drank my mint, oat milk, decaf latte!
I had such a lovely time chatting. Itās just food for the soulā¦. I love chatting!
I ended up staying for ANOTHER coffee and cakeā¦. How shocking is that?!?
One wasnāt enough but two was definitely too much šš
It was lovely though.
I then went for the food shopping!
A few chores done and it didnāt feel bad doing it.
Craig and I then nipped into the pub next door for one.
I donāt think Iāve ever experienced anything quite like this.
It is as rough asā¦
Today has taught me a lessonā¦ if Iām sailing and I see a forecast like thisā¦ just cancel!!!
Iāve been watching the forecast all week, and been slightly concerned about the wind and rain.
Every time I have sailed on the PS Waverley it has been scorching. Pure blue skyā¦
Not todayā¦.. cloudy, winds up to 35mph and torrential rain.
It has not been my usual experience at all but I can still take the positives. The ship is empty compared to what Iām used to and Iāve been able to get some different photos from different angles.
The negatives. Despite 5 layers on topā¦ I am wet through to my pants.
Sodding.
My feet are soaked through too.
My fingers are so wet itās like Iāve sat in the bath all day.
Iām ok but itās been a massive solo learning experience.
Iāve been exhilarated and scared, excited and worried, Iāve loved it and wanted to get off in equal measure.
My hands are so cold and wet Iāll make this short and just send post some photosā¦ donāt expect much scenery š itās been covered in mist!
Here I am sporting my new Waverley hoodie.
Craigās the only person whoās seen itā¦. Itās been under two jackets all day!
I get to Largs and realise just how windy it actually is.. the sea is very choppy.
But here she comes. I love this ship.
Sheās such a beauty.
She took a while to moor at Largs. The swell seemed to pull her away from the quay.
And weāre offā¦..
Itās wildā¦ getting soaked up the front but the huge waves.
This is our first stop at Millport.
CalMacās Isle of Arran. (I thinkā¦.)
Alfred leaving Brodick.
Itās been a very windy crossingā¦ but at least itās dryā¦ until we get to Brodick.
This shows how few people are actually on boardā¦ I feel like they know something I donātā¦. š«£
For the first time ever on this ship, I moved to sit on the upper deck.
What an amazing viewā¦.
Then the heavens opened.
There arenāt many photos from here on in.
It was so torrential and such a bad southerly swell that I only took video. Try to pop on my insta or FB to see them.
Iāve honestly hardly seen any of Arran!
I sat upstairs but was too scared to move so just stayed there and rode the swell and got very, very wet. About 5 waves really took my breath awayā¦.
Weāre now heading back from Brodick, running about an hour late. Iām wet and cold but Iāve found a seat in the observation lounge so I am finally warming a bit.
I hope thereās only another hour to hour and half before I can get off.
I have, as usual, met some lovely people and had a laughā¦ there is camaraderie in the fear at sea š
Get the electric blanket on Craigie!!!
Stay safe everyone, believe the forecast before you jump on a boat trip! ā„ļøš¢š“ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó “ó æ
I had a great nights sleep apart from one thingā¦. I decided it was a good idea for a Khaleesi to sleep in with us.
Instead of heading to her room for bed, she stood at our closed door and looked at me with the saddest eyesā¦. And I caved! ššš
She had my covers all nightā¦. But it must have only woken me a few times, or I would have moved her. I just couldnāt get enough cover out from under her, for my left arm! She was very happy though.
There was a lovely red sky this morning.
On national Unicorn Day š¦š
I am much calmer today.
I feel much better that I have some trips booked for when Iām away. I still have lots of concerns and anxieties but I know that thatās all they are.
Iāve called my travel insurance to make sure Iām covered, got Craig to check our mobile phones are covered under our mobile phone insurance, Iāve told both banks Iām going to Italyā¦. Craig said I worry too much!!
Has he met his wife?!?!? š¤¦š»āāļøš
My bag is mostly packed. Iāll finalise more tonight. I also want to look at a map of Rome and get my bearings.
Hmmmmmā¦. I am really looking forward to some sunshine. āļøāļøāļø Sunday is the hottest dayā¦. Thisāll do nicely!
Actually thatās gonna be pretty hot considering itās about 6.5Ā°C today. It has rained ALL day today. Everything looks soaking wet. The sky is so heavy and foggy.
Iāve had a good day. Itās been a good week at work. A good buzz.
I also made another lovely, colourful dinner tonightā¦.. Sticky Teriyaki Tofu Bowl With Purple Sprouting Broccoli & Pickled Cabbage Over Sushi Rice.
I think Freya is actually licking her lips!
Iām listening to another Mel Robbins podcast, called What Makes a Good Life.
She said that when she was younger she spent way too long looking at the curtains, deciding on the brand and the fabricā¦ she never looked out at the view.
Wow.
That really spoke to me.
Until I was off sick, I never stopped to look out at the view. Now material things donāt really mean anything to me. Itās such a lovely feeling to want less rather than constantly wanting more.
We will not always be happy.
We will have days where we are far from happy. There will be days that are incredibly sad, days where things seem impossible to overcome, but as my friend Ruth has always said to me, we will survive 100% of these days. As awful as they seem, these are the moments that define us.
Dare to be Happier on FB shared this.
The way to happiness is to spend time building healthy relationships with othersā¦. Says she heading off on holiday alone š¤¦š»āāļøš
Wow what a quick dayā¦. I did a stock check at work today and had a great wee time to myselfā¦ until I got back to my desk and tried to catch back up with the day to day!!
I seemed to have switched the wi-fi off on the laptop and was oblivious to anything other than my stock take!
All done for another month.
I had a great sleep last night but lay awake thinking I couldnāt believe I was so awakeā¦ my head thinking rubbish nightsā sleepā¦. Then the alarm went off. It was just time to get up. Our inner voice can be so harsh at times!
I had my left over dinner for lunch todayā¦. It doesnāt look quite as tasty in a plastic tub. I was so full I didnāt eat any snacks for the rest of the day, oh apart from some banana bread!
Really strangely about an hour after it my face went bright red and refused to cool down. Iāve never had hot flushes and I donāt know if thatās what it wasā¦ I had the portacabin doors open and then had to take my long sleeved top off from under my work T shirt.
It was burning and while itās cooler now thereās is still an underlying heat.
I made another lovely Planthood meal tonight.
Rich & Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff With Chickpeas, Baby Spinach, Basmati Rice & Fresh Parsley (copied that straight from the website!). I rushed it in time for Kinesiology but itās delayed for a bit so now Iām chilling writing this while I wait. Itās good actually as I felt a bit too harassed!
The photo on the recipe shows mushroom stroganoffā¦ mine shows chickpea (with mushroom) stroganoff šš itās a bit runnier than it should be but it tastes lovely.
I havenāt had time to focus much on synchronicity todayā¦. I did drive to work thinking the gate would be open.. it wasnātā¦ I laughed, got out and opened and it and drove through saying, I did thatā¦. Honestly, the chat I have to myselfš
This is very true for me. I need to go with the flow
It has rained ALL day!!!
And finallyā¦ Iāve downloaded a course by Mel Robbins that Iām going to start.
Itās called Make it happenā¦ ready to unlock your potential?!? Letās see how it goes. My head is good just now. Normally I would say that something usually comes and wallops that out of me but Iām going to own my positive mind and keep working on it.
I sat at work today thinking, jeez what on earth will I write about today?!?
It rained a lot. I was at work. I got my period. The End.
šš
Thereās so much more to sayā¦ of course there isā¦
I started the day with some gusto. As it was a non hair wash day, I had lots of time to spare so I cleaned the kitchen, put on a washing and loaded the dishwasher.
We are being really lazy not doing this at night. I came down annoyed at the mess. By the time I left for work, all that needed doing was the clean dishes out the dishwasher needed put away.
The messy kitchen monster ran about all over the kitchen today at some point and I came home to do it all again. I have proudly, clearly communicated my desire for things to be left a bit tidier moving forward.
By the time I came home some mild stomach cramps had kicked in and I felt really irritable.
Iām angry at the weather for being so cold, wet and miserable again. Yesterdayās sunshine was so lovely. It really helps my mood. I feel like I am sitting in front of series after series on TV just now, I donāt want to do that but I also canāt not do that just now. I donāt drink, Iām trying to fast, I only do decaf and Iām pretty much veggie/vegan just now so thereās not much enjoyment in lifeā¦ I need some escapism.
As soon as I write that I realise how dreadful that sounds. I get lots of enjoyment in lifeā¦ I havenāt stopped this weekend. I have a cheek to think life is dull. I just mean that the day to day life is a bit monotonous at the moment.
My boss made a great point todayā¦ itās still winter, it is still cold, all of that will change with the lighter nights and some sunshine.
I was excited to get my next Planthood food deliveryā¦.. which, of course, did not arrive.
Seems I have ordered for a monthly delivery and not weeklyā¦ I have virtually nothing to eat in the house but Iām not going back out. I have a real aversion to going out in the evenings these days. Donāt want to watch tv but donāt want to do anything else!!
So I made some cauliflower cheese with plant based spread and tofu. Who actually am I? Why am I doing this? Why canāt I eat meat? Soooo strange. I was angry at Planthood but itās not their fault I canāt seem to work their app.
So I felt grumpy and sludgyā¦ amazed that is actually a wordā¦. I put my anorak on and took Bhruic and Freya out for a walk in the rain. I knew that would make me feel better!
What a difference the weather makes. Yesterday compared to today!
The pups did a lot of sniffingā¦. Honestly felt like they stopped at every blade of grass! Itās great mental stimulation for them though.
Come on mum says Freya!
Very spooky, old tree.
We got a bit damp and soggy but I feel all the better for the fresh air. Iām so glad I did it.
One of the lovely ladies that I used to sea swim with has just published a book. How amazing is that?!
The sad, untimely passing of her husband, lead her to honour his memory by raising awareness and reducing the stigma of those struggling with. Their mental health and addiction.
She started working towards a swim challenge where she swam from Holy Isle to Lamlash on Arran. She completed this on 4th September 2021.
Sheās such an inspiration writing a book about it too!
Thatās all from me tonight. Iām off to sit with my grumpy assed emotions. šš
Today The Rambling Sloth Explores Stirlingā¦. Well Stirling Castle to be precise. Iām meeting Mum and Dad up there. Our tour of Scottish castles continues!
I love doing things like this with them as we are making memories rather than sitting about in each otherās houses.
I woke at 5 but managed to fall back to sleep before the alarm at 7amā¦ only got 86% for last nights sleepā¦. Love that I think Fitbit is scoring me. š¤¦š»āāļøš
My train is 8.42 out of Glengarnock to Glasgow Central.
The forecast is not the best for a day out but as the weekās gone on, itās got slightly better and there is sun now, in amongst some showers. It is very windy though!
This is my journey from home up to Stirling.
Of course Iāve taken the train as I like doing now. I get to watch the world go by rather than have to drive and find parking spaces.
Just as we pull into Stirling the heavens open but Mum and Dad are already in the car park waiting for me. We head straight up to Stirling Castle.
Within 5 minutes the sun is shining again and thatās par for the course all day.
Mum took this lovely one of Dad and I looking at the Sir Robert the Bruce monument and in the distance over to the Wallace Monument, if you zoom in.
I tried to get a photo without all the cars parked on the Esplanade.
This is actually all you can see of the castle as you walk in.
Mum and Dad are members of Historic Scotland so mum only had to book a ticket for me. We went straight to the Unicorn Cafe for coffee and cakeā¦ canāt sightsee without sustenance!
By the time we come out itās raining again, but the mini daffodils are so pretty in the stunning gardens around the castle.
I got talking to a couple from the Gold Coast in Australia, right under that big tree, as we sheltered from the rain. We were talking about the history it must have seen in the past. I love taking to people I donāt know.
The views off behind that tree are just stunning. Stirling Castle is built high up with views for miles around.
You can also see the next band of rain moving in. actually this one was moving away!
This is the Wallace Monument which is off to the other side.
Back into the gardens.
This is the back of the Grand Hall. Itās beautiful in the sunlight and look at that sky! We are soooo ready for some sunshine with actual heat in it. In Scotland we can sometimes have some warm weather in March, not so this year.
You can tell how windy it was!! Mrs no hat is creating havoc for the selfie.
Love this tunnel.
The front of the Grand Hall.
And this is inside.
With the Queen on her throne. šøš» š
Last time I sat here I was with my Australian cousin Linda in 2018!
Love this one of mum and dadā¦ not posed, just resting.
The stain glass windows are stunning in the sunlight.
This is the gift shop but sure it was something else long before that!
The circle on the ground below is the remains of the Kings gardens. Iāve never noticed this before. The Queens garden is just out of shot.
The flags š“ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó “ó æ
Guess you have a rough idea that I took loads of these until the Scotland flag actually blew in the right direction!
Another favourite shot of mum and dadā¦ both being present in the moment.
Now I made them pose!
I love this of Mum wandering around the chapel.
Now weāre inside the newly renovated Palace. Dad says when we were kids we walked through this and it was all just stone and wood. It was refurbished in 2011 to look as it may have back in the day when Kings and Queens lived here. (I have to confess to not being too great on the history of it allā¦ thereās way too much to remember and Iām more taken with the beauty than anything else).
The ceilings are stunningly beautiful. This is the famous Stirling Heads. Which are carved oak roundels, recreated from the 1540ās.
Not the best shot but there was a full rainbow when we left.
Iāve had the best day. If youāve followed the blog for a while you will know that Iāve realised that THIS is what makes me tick. I love exploring, catching blue sky and taking photos of the beauty that I see.
My head is clear, Iām present in the moment all day. There is no stress, no worry, no fear, no irritation. Just calmā¦. And a fair wee bit of excitement. Quite a bit of excitement to be honest.
This is living for me. Making the most of each day as much as I can.
We had some COVID chat at crochet last night and remembered queuing up to get into the supermarket one at a time. The aisles were mostly directional so you couldnāt just wander around as you pleased as they created a flow through the shop. Remember how it felt when you saw someone going the wrong way, youād be raging and try to get as far away as possible so you didnāt catch anything.
I canāt remember how long it took before masks and hand gel became a thing but I do remember the fight for toilet roll and paracetamolā¦. Across the worldā¦ was very real. The shelves were empty almost immediately.
Wearing masks was awfulā¦. I couldnāt see for steaming up my glassesā¦. But those were the rules and COVID showed me I was a rule follower to the letter!!
Some people didnāt wear them because they said they couldnāt and wore those sunflower š» lanyards around their necks, some folk randomly wore them under their nose and over their mouth which always seemed a bit pointless to me.
When we met someone we used to do a merry dance around that 2m distancing.
We were only allowed out for an hour a dayā¦.
So many people died without loved ones by their side and weāve since learned that so many of those in power didnāt live as strictly as we did. So very sad.
We all followed a set of rules to a certain extentā¦ it seemed so crazy to think back of how strict everything was.
This is from my 2020 memories on FB
I wish I could find my blogs from back then. I initially started writing under Overland and Borders, which was the FB page that we shared our travels in Craigās Jeep at the time. I knew the name didnāt sit right and at some point in the fairly early days, The Rambling Sloth was born. It summed me up at the timeā¦. Wittering away like a budgieā¦ boy I can talkā¦ but so tired that some days even cleaning my teeth was hard. Last night the Hookers said I was more Dora the Explorer! š. I see a future where The Rambling Sloth Explores š doesnāt quite roll off the tongue does it?!?!
So I had another AMAZING sleep last night. Fitbit has given me two 92%ās in a row. I feel like Iāve won the sleep lottery.
Work was really good again today. No drama, no distractions from left field, just worked through the tasks at hand and got them done.
Itās rained almost all day and the portacabin was battered by the wind too.
So now I have my feet up in front of the tv chilling out. Itās my Friday night!
So tomorrow The Rambling Sloth and Parents Explores Stirling šš and thatās definitely a mouthful.
Helen will be so proud of me. I spent the morning walking, walking and walking!!
I had the best sleep. All night until 6.30am.
As usualā¦ facing a weekend with no plans, Iām never quite sure what to do with myself.
I got up after 7 and put a washing on and decided to get out with some of the many dogs, first thing šš
The torrential rain has stopped but left a low lying fog.
It was so peaceful, so still and so calmā¦. Not a breath and barely a noise apart from birds tweeting.
Weāve all been a bit depressed by the weather recently and yet this morning, it felt really lovely, very misty and mysterious. I had a really lovely walk.
Huge puddles.
Bhru checking out the high burnā¦ itās flowing fast after all the rain recently.
They went in to play!
I say that and Freya always sits on the bank!
On the way back I played with some reflections in puddles. This one wasnāt the bestā¦
Like the spooky tree reflection.
When I got home I decided to take Calaidh out for a LONG walk.
We went through Spiers School Grounds. Itās beautiful but very wet.
These wee daffies were lovelyā¦.
Some of them flattened by the rain.
It really feels like everything is starting to grow now.
How random is this?!?! A road sign in the middle of a field near Kilbirnie Loch? I stood for a while trying to figure out where the road might have been? Hope some of the locals can tell me why this is here?!?
Calaidh thinks she can take on this branch!!
Calaidh is living her best life.
By this time itās been raining for a while but Iām loving being out in it.
She loves a wee pose does our Cal!!
Hereās the random road sign on the way backā¦ so weird!
Calaidh loves a paddle!
Not sure this does the rain justiceā¦. But it was heavy by the time we headed home.
Someone needed a shower!
Itās the first good wash sheās had in a long time and she is super fluffy now!!
Iāve walked 11.37 miles today and Iām feeling it. I had such a lovely morning thoughā¦ out in the rain, appreciating the beauty in the mist. It felt very good to be alive.
When Craig came home from work we headed to Mocha Jakās for a bite of lunch. I had Honey and Walnut avocado stack.
I gave Craig the fried egg but I did have the halloumi. Iāve been almost fully vegan this week, itās not through choice but I just donāt fancy meat.
I may also have had an oat milk hot chocolate (with cream yup I get the irony!) but I felt it was well deserved after my 11 miles today.
It was really very lovely.
Iāve been home since 3.30 and all of a sudden itās 5.40?! Time really disappears when I write this blog.
Just while Iām sitting thinking, what will I write about todayā¦. I suddenly realise itās Freyaās birthday! She is a big 7 today. I find that incredulous that 7 years have passed so quickly.
She was our wee runtie pup and was hand reared by Erica from Holmelyne Border Collies after her mum rejected her.
This was the first photo we ever saw of her.
Weād had some prosecco in the back garden that dayā¦ it was lovely and sunnyā¦. Course we could give her a home. š¬š³ one of the reasons I stopped drinking?! š
When we went down to pick her up, I cannot tell you how small she actually was. The photos donāt really do it justice. She was tiny.
She was in with a litter of black and chocolate labs that were 6 weeks old. She actually looked like a white rat running about with them. It really did take my breath away. Of course we were smitten.
She had the tiniest of earsā¦.
Which grew very quickly!
She had a big distended tummy which is still completely bald to this dayā¦ the hair never grew in.
This is her first poo in the back garden. š³š
She has loved Bhru from the moment she arrived in our family.
They are pretty much inseparable. That pleases Calaidh as she just wants to be with people.
Here she is pretending to be a garden gnome-puppy!
Look at the size of her, my heart still melts a little.
Very quickly she became Dinky, Baby Dinks, Baby Dittle, Baby Dinkledoodle, Baby Dinklydoo, Deetle-deetle-deetleā¦. The list goes onā¦ š¬
She makes me smile almost every day. I put Calaidhās bowl of food down in the living room, then Khaleesiās and every time I turn round Freya has followed me in to check to make sure Iām coming back to the kitchen to get Bhruās then hersā¦ I giggle that sheās checking me out and I never fail to go back through and feed her.
She just jumped up beside meā¦.
Big girl 7ā¦. Maybe sheāll grow up now?!!
So yeah in other news, I didnāt sleep well last night which is strange as it was the first night on progesterone. Woke at 4.45am.
Itās been torrential rain today. It just never stopped, all the lovely daffodils look flattened by the rain. It pounded our wee porta cabin all day.
We were really busy again. I got a bit flapped a couple of times but Iād ended up fasting for over 20 hours so I think I just needed to eat. Iād been waiting for two parts for two different vans ALL week and neither of them arrived again. Poor Ellison had to traipse about Kilmarnock to try and pick them up from Royal Mail and Yodel. She got one of them but the Royal Mail in Killie is only open for 2 hours a day from 8-10 so weāll have to try again tomorrow. I hate it when things donāt go according to plan but hey, thatās life.
I made this for dinner tonight!!
It was really lovelyā¦ Craig had it too.
So thatās my weekend againā¦. And relaxā¦ with a few more coories from Freya!
We were really just at work again todayā¦ donāt know where the day went! Itās good to be busyā¦ but Iām really tired today.
Itās a dreich day, very misty and damp. I took a pic of our first daffoildils in the gardenā¦ they are not great but Iām proud of them šš
This one looks more like a yellow snow drop!
Itās a smirry rainā¦ that kind that soaks you but I went out anyway as its lovely to connect with nature.
I cooked again tonight. Check me!
Rich & Creamy Cacio E Pepe Butterbeans With Tenderstem Broccoli & Smokey Chipotle Toasted Sunflower Seedsā¦ you so know I copied that donāt you. š
It was really lovely and I have some for lunch tomorrow.
The good thing about Planthood meals is that they are much faster to cook than the Green Chef I had last week. I like the 15 minutes rather than 30-40.
Since I donāt have much to say today I also took a photo of all the supplements I am currently taking at the moment.
Most of these are on recommendation but I know the daily vitamins are not the best and could be stronger. I try to take these every day but I do struggle at the weekends outwith my daily routine.
Happy to take any further recommendations! (Just remembered Helen has suggested Tumericā¦. Will look into that)
The best sleep againā¦. It was just the best, from 10 through to 7am. Not a blink in the night.
I felt really refreshed and ready to start my dog walk Friday.
First up a dog jog with Bhru in the rain. Bless her wee face.
Next up Calaidh and Freya. It wasnāt pouring with rain this time. We walked mostly but we did jog for a bit.
They had a good run about in the field.
They love my new dry trainers.
I saw my first daffodil.
The Khaleesiās turn.
Spooky trees through a Maliās ears. ā„ļø
We saw this lovely rainbow.
It was only minutes before we were hammered with hailstones. Poor Khaleesi was petrified.
We got back home and dried offā¦ we were drenched.
I got ready and headed up to Asda for a food shop. Not been to Asda in years. I got lots of veggies and vegan food. I donāt know whatās wrong with me but Iām just not into meat just now at all.
I came home, put the shopping away and made two pots of lentil soup. One with bacon and one without. Check me.
I know fine well I will probably end up eating the one with meat too!
The sun came out and I spent a half hour outside with the dogsā¦ it was warm in the sunshine.
I made little videos of them. I shouted one of them to come while the other 3 stood still. Calaidh was the only one that broke ranks when she shouldnāt have but only because itās all about the ball for her. š¾
Oh I also decided to book one of the Waverley cruises. Iād been looking at a 3 day cruiseā¦
I wanted to do the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday but I canāt get accommodation in Kyle of Lochalsh AT all.
So that meant I could only do the Monday. So itās all booked. Gonna be a VERY long day from 7am to 10.45pmā¦ and thatās without the drive to and from the Glasgow Science Centre! That saidā¦ Iām soooo looking forward to it. I should start to list all the things I have planned this year to remind me of how many exciting things I am doing.
So itās been a good day, Iāve enjoyed myself. Iām calm and relaxed and looking forward to my wee dolphin š¬ trip tomorrow. The forecast is very cold but sunny.
Currently typing this with a Bhruic on my kneeā¦.
I was not quite that cheerful at 6.10am when the alarm went off this morning.
I couldnāt get to sleep last night at allā¦ I came down to the couch, finished Matthew Perryās book and then fell asleep for a few hours.
Of course I felt shattered when the alarm went offā¦. But bright at the same time.
Everything was ready to go, I just needed a shower.
It was torrential rain when I left. not sure the photos do it justice.
If you click on the photo and zoom into the street light it shows how bad it was!
Of course nothing goes according to the plan in your headā¦ expecting a great first day with great progress and there were two guys on holiday and one off sick and thenā¦. Time of the month rears its ugly head š of course it does. May explain my maudlin mood these last few days. I would have found that all overwhelming in the past but none of it affected me. I just had a wry smile to myself.
Life has a way of throwing you off what you expect to happen but itās all ok if you just let it be what it is. None of it is the end of the world.
I bet you all read that thinking course itās not the end of the worldā¦. But I would have made that all a big stress and drama in the past.
So a good day. Got lots done. Refreshed my befuddled head. Reminded myself what it is we do and how.
I had a lovely salad for lunchā¦. Followed by hot chocolate and choccie biscuits and pizza but heyā¦. The salad was genuinely the best part.
It was almost light the whole drive home!
I got my self care journal from Clever Fox today.
It has 90 days of mindful wellness planning. Iāve yet to get a good look at it but initial inspection is really interesting.
And I found the stickers! Iām going to spend a bit of time with it at the weekend.
Iāve never done anything like this before and Iām excited to see what it brings.
Iām not gonna sit back and be overwhelmed by a dark and moody January. This is the first time I donāt feel dread for the month of January. I feel hope and excitement for everything that it might bring. A very good friend told me just today that we have to live and love every moment.
I hear myself, I know itās cheesy but I mean it. No more lounging around bored.
We also get an extra day this year as itās a leap yearā¦. 366 new pages!
I hope to write a beautiful story this year. I want to explore as much as possible and enjoy every minute as much as I can.
I am not going to write āwhat could possibly go wrong?ā as I usually doā¦. Iām going to say bring on 2024.
My knee has uncomfortable today but nothing like the pain a few days ago, so all good.
Itās been another strange day in between Christmas and New Year.
I donāt really want to do anything but Iām bored by doing nothing.
Itās still torrential rain, the wind isnāt that strong first thing but it picks up again later on in the day. It feels like it never really gets light. I miss the blue sky and sunshine.
Again I sound like Iām complaining but itās actually been a really nice dayā¦ indoors.
We went for a food shop together today. We got lots in for the next few days. The use by dates arenāt great so weāll have to go back out before New Yearās Day. Most stuff was dated until Saturday.
I changed the bed when we got backā¦.Clean sheets tonight! I did two loads of washing, put clothes away and tidied out Craigās wardrobeā¦. As you do. It was stressing me out! š
Other than that is been another āmeā dayā¦ chilling with my book and the puppers.
I love the light of the Christmas tree and the candles but youāve gathered that by now, havenāt you?!
I saw this and thoughtā¦. Absolutely!!
So feet up on the couch for me again. Dogs are shattered, theyāre all sound asleep!
I should say that Iām not complaining but I donāt do lazy or correction, rest days easily.
Despite lying around reading a book, I do have spells of guilt but it passes pretty quickly.
I have had a lot of social interaction these last few days. I am in desperate need of a day of silenceā¦.
I literally had no idea what to do today. I didnāt wake up until 9.15am. That doesnāt happen often.
I feel like Iām in some exhausted slump. It doesnāt help that, between the progesterone, I slept like a log but I woke every time I moved my knee through the night.
I came downstairs and lay on the couch with the dogs curled up on me and at my feet.
With the other two just across the way.
The weather doesnāt help. Itās dismal todayā¦. Itās rained all day and everything is wet and sodden looking, the dogs are soaked from being outside. They prefer to be inside.
Iām reading this back and I sound down in the dumps. I am actually not. Iāve had the loveliest of days, just not doing what I expected to be doing.
Iām using lots of my Christmas presents alreadyā¦.. I seem unable to live without my electric hot water bottle and Iāve been unable to put down Matthew Perryās memoirā¦ Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Itās such a fascinating read. Iāve been really drawn to his trouble with addiction, since he died this year. I wish I knew then what I know now. The poor guy never really stood a chance. He was great at helping others but just could not beat it himself.
Cookie the Chihuahua came to visit for a couple of hours as my in-laws had a funeral to attend. I got lots of Cookie cuddles!
Watch out Julie Five Dogsā¦. No Craig, just noā¦ not ever!!! šš this is the best photo I got of them altogether.
Cookie who hates the rain went straight outside and didnāt seem to care.
Until Khaleesi did a big excited woof woof and she was off!!
Pretty girl.
I managed to get a call with a Doctor about my knee today and he asked to see them at 4.25. Itās actually been a lot less excruciating todayā¦ of course it has but I still need to get it checked as that was way too sore.
#breaksfordoctor š
So turns out that itās just inflamed tendons around my knee causing the pain. Rest, ibuprofen and paracetamol are the answer with Physio booked for Friday 5th January.
Iāve had physio on my other knee and know that it hurts but also know that it does help!
I love this next one and I hope that I am able to help others after everything I have been through. I hope no one ever feels as bad as I felt for no real reason other than my head told me I wasnāt enough.
You can overcome that mountain tooā¦. Or at the very least, make peace with it.
I felt so grateful when I woke. I still have stomach cramp but I slept right through. The best sleep everā¦..
Itās still torrential rain. Absolutely stotting down and meeting itself on the way back up. Itās bouncing!
I changed the bed, sorted through all the Christmas presents that Iāve bought so far and tidied the bedroom. I was on a roll.
I decided I better start the dog walks while I was on a rollā¦. Oh my word it was sooooo wet!!
I was soaking wet after the first walk so I just kept going. Itās so different from last weeks walksā¦. Despite the torrential train, I was actually enjoying the walks.
I had to have a shower when I got back inā¦. I was soaked through to the skin.
I did a quick dog goony photo shoot first!
Khaleesi asking, does my bum look big in this ššš
So weāre up at the in-laws now for the evening. Not seen them in ages. Craig and Doug are watching the Rangers game.
What a dismal weather day. It just did it stop raining and when you work in a porta cabin, it sounded so much worse than it probably was. It was dark by about 3pm.
I fasted for nearly 18 hours but still ate a lot of chocolate biscuits once Iād broken my fast. Canāt imagine how many Iād have eaten if Iād eaten them all morning tooā¦.
So a very quick blog tonight as Iām helping Gayle at the Beith Primary School Christmas Fayre tonight. Better get the Christmas jumper on and head down the road!
How lovely is thisā¦ sent to me by the lovely Isy. She hits the nail on the head every time. A very special soul.
Fiver years ago I was a messā¦ crying in Granās chairā¦ feeling like Iād let everyone down. Now Iām growing.
What a downpour of a day. It was such a scary drive into work again today. I seem to be a big girls blouse in that torrential rain these days but thank goodness Iām driving Bertie the Beetle now.
It was a mean and moody Monday.
Weāve been trying to get prescriptions for Khaleesiās pain meds from our Vet and they called me at work today to say they had to get clear kidney function tests before they would give us a prescription. Ā£164 they said.
They had to be done today or tomorrow so I came home from work, let the dogs out, fed them, made sure Khaleesi had peeād and pooād, ate some lasagne and back out to the vet without remembering to go to the toilet myself. š¤¦š»āāļøš
She was such a good girl at the vet.
They told me they would take her through the back for the tests and could be up to 25 minutes. They would need to shave her and maybe in a couple of places, in order to get the bloodsā¦
5 minutes later sheās back out. A very good girl, all done and no shaved bits at all. We sat to wait on results.
She got a bit bored waiting on resultsā¦.
By the way, the white paint on her tail is from the sunroomā¦ šš
45 minutes later and TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN POUNDS and FIFTY PENCE down.
How can that even be possible? Iād joked with Craigās that 5 mins of blood tests vs the forecasted 25 must be cheaperā¦. Yeah right.
I actually sound really down in my wiring today and Iām not really, least I donāt mean to be.
I feel a bit flat today and it just felt a bit unfair having to pay so much money to be told your dog is fit enough to have the meds that she needs to reduce her pain. As I write that, I guess you wouldnāt want anyone to prescribe something that would hurt your dog.
The meds are SO much cheaper on line than they are from the vetā¦.. so much cheaperā¦. but you need to pay Ā£30 for a prescription to get them cheaper on line. That prescription will only last 6 months.
I woke up to torrential rain pummelling the window pane this morning. 5.30am.
By the time I left for work, the heavy rain cloud was moving on.
I suddenly noticed the bright star next to the moonā¦. I believe it was actually Venus.
Iāve never seen anything that bright, that close to the moon.
It was a lovely drive in this morning, no rain and pretty skies.
I was in work early again and got loads done. I love feeing organised when I finish on a Thursday.
Itās my weekend!
I rushed home to get my haircut in the garden room straight across the road from the house. Itās so cool to have your hairdresser over the road.
There are no pics as I just sat and watched the last episode of House season 4 and I criedā¦.. ššš
The sunset was pretty too.
I saw this earlier and I really liked the sentiment of it. Iāve read it through a lot.
Iāve spent so long raging at the river that I am honestly say acceptance and being present in the moment if so freeing.
Iām listening the Diary of a CEO podcast at the moment. Itās fascinating me. Todays episode said we wear busy-ness like a badge of honour. We expect to be saluted for working all the hours god sends, for having the busiest social life and actually we all need to reward each other for taking time out and looking after ourselves. That needs to become the new norm.
I used to go in early and work late. I thought thatās what was expected of me.
I carried on doing it for most of my careerā¦ I began to resent it.
I told everyone how busy I was, how stressed I was, how hard I worked, I was proud of it all while despising it.
I LOVED my job title. It defined me.
I was never happy with what I had. I always wanted more.
I earned a lot of money and yet it was never enough.
When I finally broke and went off sick I felt like a failure. I felt like that for a very long time.
Iād be lying if I said I didnāt get the occasional pang of failure at times when I left my mind overthinkā¦. But mostly I am truly grateful at having the chance to really think about what it is important in my life. Sadly too many people only experience this after some kind of trauma. If you have felt experienced this without having rock bottom then bottle whatever that is and sell it.
I finally donāt worry about what people think of me (but if you donāt like me please donāt EVER tell me as I would carry that about for yearsā¦ š³š) I donāt care about the job title, about the money, about the things. I just have to do whatās right for me now. Instead of putting everything else first.
The Rambling Sloth š¦„ 