Day 1645 a 10km run before 8am!

Wow I was on a roll this morning!

I woke at 4.30am.

I changed the bed last night and it was soooo lovely. I was in bed for just after 8.30pm! It’s funny when we’re kids we spend all our lives trying to stay up late, now I find that bed can be the best bit.

I managed to doze on and off until 6am when I jumped out of bed and got into my running gear, to take the dogs for a walk, before I met the running girls. There had been a hint of the run going a bit further than usual so I didn’t want the dogs to miss out.

It was very dark, but I had the three pupsketeers and my headtorch on.

When it came to it. I didn’t feel safe walking on the backroads so we walked the streets…. If you’ve been in our wee village you will know that takes all of 5 minutes!

So we headed out the main road which felt safer.

I love this photo I took of my friend’s house. She has Halloween decs up and the clouds looked amazing against the super moon.

Her spider webs are glistening in the light.

We carried on in the dark.

Everything looked so atmospheric with the way the moon shone on the clouds.

I love our wee cottage.

So 4 of us set off at 6.45am. It felt really good to start. I was buzzing to be back out running.

I love that we catch up on all the news while we run. Sometimes you don’t even realise you’re running for that distance.

When we were round about the 5k mark, Rachel suggested that we run a bit further so Lynsey, Rachel and I headed up the hill….

First a quick team 5k pic!

Then we’re off….

I found it hard going . I had to walk for a few minutes at times, just to get my breath back.

By the time we got back into the village we were close to 9kms and we ALL knew we had to run up the hill to the and hit the 10k!!

We did it!

It’s says it’s my third fastest 10k and to be fair it is only my third 10k….. 🫣😆 so it was my slowest but I need to stop looking at the times.

If you’d told me I’d have run 3 x 10k this year I’d never have believed you. Rachel and I were going to run “round the block” once a week, which is less that 3k…. I felt like that would be a struggle.

Look at us now.

I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved. What I’ve achieved….. and I can’t thank all of the girls enough, for being there to help me do it.

Sooooo… back in to the house to hang up the washing I’d put on before I went out 😆 I hear myself…. Who actually am I these days?!?!

Then after my shower it was down to the little gift shop for the morning.

The shop looks amazing!!!

The Christmas stuff is beautiful again this year. It was so busy this morning. Christmas things are flying it the door already. It was so lovely to get a catch up though not much time to chat!

It’s been a beautiful afternoon. There’s been a warmth to the sun.

I started putting clothes up for sale on Vinted as it was nice to take photos in the sun.

I lost my spark after about 3.30pm. I’m shattered now and it’s no wonder.

Craig and Khaleesi are still down south and the house is a dog short! I’m in my comfies and I’m going to light the candles and settle down for the evening.

And relax…. my friend Ruth sent me this… we should all look for glimmers.

I’ve had so many glimmers today.

Have a lovely Saturday and please be careful in tomorrow’s storm if you’re in the UK. It’s not looking great.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1613 an amazing 5.4km run before 6.30am 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

The moon was amazing when I went to bed last night.

When the alarm went off at 5.30am, I had a red alert for Aurora from the Aurora Watch app.

I ran straight out into the garden, once I was dressed obviously, into the dark. Funny how the morning dark is less scary for me than the night dark. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nothing…. These photos make it look a lot lighter than it actually was.

Can you spot the light in the window?! Craig is on his phone in the bedroom… it made me laugh!

No sign of the Northern Lights.

I had the best run this morning!

My breathing wasn’t laboured, my legs weren’t heavy, it was a lovely morning, mild without being too hot and the company was fab as usual.

I feel like this is the fastest i have run but Strava wasn’t for giving me any speed awards 😆, so I can’t have been a PB.

I was buzzing when I finished and headed into a cold shower. It was a really good one.

Work was good again today and really busy. I’m soooo ready for a break though.

This is my welcome when I get home. I just couldn’t get Khaleesi in the shot.

This looks a bit strange as I had to widen the lens to fit all 4 dogs in.

It’s a lovely calm evening so I ate dinner outside. I have a watermelon, red onion in lime and Feta cheese salad with raspberries, blueberries, peppers, cucumber and tomatoes.

It’s really lovely. I love my tubs of salads… turning them upside down to mix them around. I had a few oatcakes too.

This is the time of year that our gorgeous ivy starts to turn red… it’s a beautiful sight to watch. I’ll try to remember to take photos again as it turns. When I was off sick with anxiety and depression in 2018-2020, I would sit and watch the ivy every day. Its colour never ceased to amaze me. I found gratitude in its beauty and started to appreciate nature for all that it was.

The hydrangea are starting to turn as well.

The sky has finally turned blue. It’s been warm but cloudy all day.

Another lovely few days to come for us in Scotland.

Hope you’ve had nice weather wherever you are.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1610 National Sober Day and the Gateside Flower Show!

I slept right through to the alarm at 6.30am, just the best….. and ran 6.5Kms before 7.30am.

I did stop my watch when I thought we were finished…. But no…. Back to it.

I ran with the same girls that ran the 10k back in August… it was much better weather today!

I loved running this morning. I felt good and comfortable most of the run. that’s two in a row that have gone really well.

I’m so pleased that I’ve got in to regular running and hope it doesn’t get too difficult as the winter sets in.

I was back in the shop this morning which was lovely.

I played with the dogs for a bit when I got back…

We have to keep a hold on Khaleesi so she can’t run after the ball. 😆 just lemme go, she says!!

We just have to keep an eye on her all the time…

Who knew the top of my head had gone so grey…..

The Gateside Horticultural Society had their flower show today.

Here are some of the stunning exhibits.

I think portrait mode on my new phone can be a bit blurry at times….

This next one won best in show!

This was the display that we were all routing for! Nancy did the beautiful flower arrangement and Holly did the chocolate mint dessert (WHICH IS NOW IN MY HOUSE FOR LATER!!!!) and Aimee made the LOVELY crochet bookmark. They won third prize!

I can’t rave about the mint chocolate mousse enough 😆

These leeks were massive!

These photos don’t do the scale any justice. All of the veg is huge 😆

Now this is a whole lot of kale!! 🥬

The kids did these flower displays.

We ended up in the pub for a couple. I’ve enjoyed seeing our neighbours as we haven’t caught up in a while.

In the list of national days, today is National Sober Day!

I’m so proud to be on day 2,081 of my sober journey. That will be SIX years come January. It’s just a way of life now. One that I am so very proud of. I never would have wanted to stand out from the crowd, to be different, to be socially awkward and yet here I am… 😬 it’s what keeps me sane these days… literally.

Have a great Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1607 an amazing 5km run before 6.30am

Wow.

It’s 6.33am and I’m writing this now so I can capture just how good it felt.

That was an amazing run! It’s not often I get one where I manage to breathe the whole way round. Maybe that’s my preferred running pace… I am buzzing. 🫶🏼🥳

I had a great sleep last night. Woke at 4.50am and the rain was lashing down. It was torrential. We had the window open and it felt cold too.

I couldn’t decide whether to wear my jacket or not…. I decided not to and it was definitely the right decision.

My arms and hands were cold to start but soon heat up.

Just the best feeling after a run and even more so when everything just fell into place. It stayed dry and the sky was amazing as we ran. No photos as I didn’t take the phone with me.

I’ve had a good day in the office today too. Working on a spreadsheet…. Bliss!

The day passed really quickly as we’ve been so busy but I’ve loved having my spreadsheet to go back to. Also laughed at having so many jobs that needed doing today while the spreadsheet was priority…. I was jumping about all over the place doing different things😆

I’ve found myself breathing very deeply today for some reason… taking huge, calming, deep breaths … not sure why but I’ve been very aware of it. If memory serves me right I remember my Nana doing that. 🫣 I’ve just done it again 😆

Off to meet the Crochet Hookers in half an hour and I might even crochet tonight.

After a strange, antsy day yesterday, I’m pleased that today has been really good.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1587 we did it! Despite hail-like rain and gale force winds… my first 10k race 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

Wow.

What a night.

Quite possibly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I ran my first 10k “race” 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.

I’ve 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. I’d 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 jacket… what if we get warm?!? Of course that sent me into a “should I put the number under my jacket, should I leave it” run up to the start….. we all decided that it was so cold outside that we’d 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 wouldn’t 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 didn’t 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 colours… 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 couldn’t have done it without her. I’m 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 didn’t feel like I could go on.

Rachel kept me going.

We crossed the finish line!!

I burst into tears and couldn’t do anything for myself. I was exhausted 😆

I had beaten my previous 10k by almost 2.5 minutes…. 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 don’t 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 Gillian’s 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 all…. 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 rain… appreciating the irony. We all stood in Asda’s car park in our sports bras…. My leggings wouldn’t 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 didn’t 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.

I’ve 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.

Who’d have thought we’d have been taking part in a 10k by August?!?

Who’d 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. ♥️

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 am not moving off the couch tonight 😆

Stay safe everyone 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

Day 1565 a 7k run before 7am on a beautiful morning!

First of all I captured a photo of a sun dog last night…. Who knew that was a thing?!?

I saw a few people posting photos of it on FB on the Aurora pages and someone said it was a sun dog. I sent them my photo and it was confirmed! I felt right proud of myself!

There was a lovely sunset last night too.

Then a beautiful start to the day. I woke at 5.20am and the alarm was due to go off at 5.30. I was meeting Lynsey for a run this morning.

It was only 4°C and felt really cold outside. The sky was beautiful.

It’s getting darker in the mornings already… the Village Hall looks lovely in the light.

We set off at 5.45am and could really feel the cold. A cyclist shouted behind us to warn us and then gave us the fright of our lives… 😆 that was us awake!

The sun rose as we ran and thankfully it got warmer… as it always does 😆

Look at the light as we ran into Spier’s Old School Grounds! It was so beautiful. It’s usually really dark in here due to the amount of overgrown trees.

My favourite gate.

I maybe should have lightened these ones up as they are very dark. I love the simplicity of this next one.

Bearing in mind these are all just point and press as we stop for a second while we are running.

And we’re done. I was a sweaty mess!! My glasses are steaming up!

I think this is my fastest pace so far. Strava doesn’t say that but I don’t think I’ve seen 7.09/km before? I think 7.27/km has been the fastest so far?

It’s 6.45am!

I went into a freezing cold shower for a few minutes to calm down! I love that feeling after a very hot run.

I love that we get to do all this before most people are awake. It’s a special time of the day for me.

The 10k we are signed up for on 21st August is in the evening…. I don’t know how I will ever stay awake or be motivated to run in the evening. I’m definitely a morning person!

It put me in good stead for the rest of the day.

My running has improved so much over the last 3 months. I’m really proud of my consistency… even thought some runs have been really hard. They have all taught me something. I’m so grateful to the girls for allowing me to run with them. It feels like we’ve got a lovely group.

Work has been good again today. We were really busy with lots of customers…. And it was quite hot. The weather has been lovely.

My friend Isy sent me this…

Wow that blew me away. It’s so very true. I am impatient.

Yes ♥️ Yes ♥️ Yes ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1554 happy birthday to Craig! 🎂🥳🎉🎁

Today is Mr A’s 49th birthday…. He is still not 50…. Another whole year before he’s finally in his 50’s. He’s 3 years younger than me and let me tell you, this has been a long 3 years. 😆

I woke at 4.33am and did a birthday post on Scottish Dog Behaviourist for him…. Then did the dutiful wife birthday post… then fell asleep until 7am when the alarm went off for our run this morning.

I didn’t commit as I didn’t want to be out on his birthday but he was still fast asleep. 🫣 I escaped!!

Emma, Gillian and Rachel ran this morning and we went a different way!

There were a lot of hills. The pic above is taken of us at the top trying to catch our breath.

This is me running up it with Gillian in front. She runs like the wind!

It was a tough one but my head was in a good place.

We ran 8.03k!!!! Never forgetting the .03k.

I feel bad as Rachel wanted to do more but I was knackered. We only needed another 2k to hit 10!!! Obviously….. 🙄

Here we are at the end.

Here I am…. catching my breath!

I did it!

It felt amazing.

For the first time I went under a freezing cold shower and managed some Wim Hof breathing and actually managed to stay under it for a good wee while. I was pretty chuffed with that too…. Anyway enough about me…. 🙄

The birthday boy finally got out of bed and we were all ready for him.

Only the Borders didn’t really get the “pose” memo… they seemed to just sit on Calaidh.

All set for pressies!

Some lovely Old Pultney whisky from my mum and dad. This was the whisky we had at our wedding.

Calaidh loved the jammie snowballs.

Khaleesi ready with her pressies…

All done!

New shorts and T-shirt on.

We had the breakfast of champions…. Wait for it…. Waffles with bacon 🥓 and maple syrup 🍁 with Forum vanilla ice cream!!

Craig said it was the food combination that’s been missing all his life!

We’ve had a lovely lazy morning (obvs after the 8.03k run!) and also had more cake. Bhru is asking him if it’s for her?

It’s from the Curiosity coffee shop… lemon and pistachio blondie and carrot cake.

So the birthday boy is currently asleep on a deckchair in the garden. It’s not hot but it’s WAY nicer than the forecast. It’s meant to rain all day today.

So it’s now 2.30pm and he’s asleep on the couch. I’ve been out and walked the dogs and have come back. This turning 49 seems to be hard work.

As long as he’s having the best day. Which he says he has.

We’re now watching the Rangers-Manchester United friendly on TV, waiting on an early takeaway to be delivered.

We did get a lovely pic together last night after the pub.

Happy birthday Craigie!!

Hope you’re all having a great weekend.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1547 Largs last night, run, weeding, dog walk and dog shower and a party!

Gayle and I had a lovely wee evening in Largs last night. It was still quite warm when we got there.

The Largs Cumbrae ferries were in and out like yo-yos last night. it’s such a short crossing and when two ferries are on in the summer, it’s double the speed!

We went to Fish Works on the sea front and Gayle had haddock and chips and I had onion rings and chips and cheese.

The seagulls were wild with everyone eating and there’s always that one person who feeds them!?! I gave the one near me a look…. 😆

We went for a walk after we’d eaten and sat looking out towards the sunset while we had a right good catch up.

Funny the different in sky colour from right to left.

The sky was just as dramatic as it had been in the morning.

As usual I took a few.

Lafga looking lovely in the evening sunlight.

When I got home the clouds were lovely.

I was in bed for 9.30pm and up at 7am to run with Rachel.

It was just a wee short one today, under 4k but still adding up through the week.

Then I started weeding….. AGAIN!

Here is no stopping me just now.

Before:

After:

Would you believe this only took just over an hour. I’ve hated those weeds for so long. An hour and they’re gone…. For now 😆

The greenhouse had gone wild!!! This grapevine was planted in 1972, the same year I was born. It had taken over the greenhouse!

Not any more…..

And finally the fruit beds beside the greenhouse… before…

And after……

I was losing the will to live by now. 😆 the Rambling Weeder is done 😆

Then I got the Borders out for a walk.

Check the height of the these weeds?!?!?!

Bhruic was white and fluffy before she went into the wee water channel at the side of the field.

This is the look I get when I tell her she’s getting a shower when we get home!

And she did…. Bless her.

Lemme outta here!!

All done.

I’m soaked, the bathroom’s soaked but hey, she’s a bit cleaner!

Only then did I get my shower and then broke my fast and ate some lunch at 2pm.

We’re off out to Craig’s friend’s 50th birthday party and we’re heading off shortly. I’m in my comfy dungarees again. But hey… they are comfy!

I’m knackered but it’s been a great day. I’m so proud of all the weeding I’ve done.

Instead of going out and visiting other places, I’m taking the time to look after what we already own. I’m pleased with the garden now. There’s more to do but that will come.

Hope you have a great rest of Saturday!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1543 a 7.3km run before work!

I was out for the count again last night… an amazing sleep until someone woke me up to ask what time I was going running!!?! To be fair he was only 5 minutes before the alarm. 😆

I felt exhausted but I got up and was out the door by 5.45am.

I was both terrified and excited when we set off. I knew we were going for 7kms.

It was just Claire, Lynsey and I this morning.

It was a beautiful start to the day. The next few photos are Claire’s…..

I don’t carry my phone when I run…. It just adds to my weight 😆

I had a really good run. I struggled, I find it really hard but I love it at the same time. I had to walk a couple of times to try to regulate my breathing but my head was strong. Despite being behind the girls for a fair bit of the way, I’m telling myself I CAN when I feel like I can’t. I managed to run up a couple of hills that I thought I’d never do. To be fair the girls are a great support talking me through it.

They ran back to me at the end to let me finish “first!”….. by the time I finished my heart rate hit a high of 180 as I tried to push through to the end!

The stone was lovely and cool on my face 🤦🏻‍♀️😆

Here we all are….

I don’t even have a red face in that photo but trust me… I was BEETROOT!!!

The sweat was pouring out of me by the time I got in but I only had a half hour to get showered and out the door for work. I love the cold shower!!

I checked my stats when I got to work.

While I know this is the longest distance I’ve run…. It’s also the fastest pace.

I am sooooo proud of myself. ♥️

If you’d told me I’d be able to run this distance….and love it at the same time… I’d never have believed you!

I’m so pleased with the splits but you can see where the hills kick in!

It was a lovely morning but the rain moved in just after lunch and it was torrential on the drive home. Such a difference from last night where I sat outside in the sun until 8.30pm!

Tonight I’m wrapped up in my cozy comfies, in a blanket in front of the tv.

I made a lovely dinner again. Spicy tofu with oyster mushrooms on a wrap

It was really tasty.

So not much else to report….. oh apart from Craig took Calaidh to Portencross today, in between jobs and captured her and the PS Waverley in the distance…. It made my day! I’ll try to link to it here….

I can’t but I’ve linked it to this FB page and it’s the last post.

Scottish Dog Behaviourist FB

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1523 amazing 6.07km run before work!

I was not feeling it last night OR this morning…. I couldn’t get the idea of a run out of my head, I should cancel, I’m tired, I ate too late last night, didn’t drink enough water, shouldn’t run…. I’ll hold everyone back…

And yet I set the alarm for 5.30am… Khaleesi woke me at 5.24am and I got out of bed and ready to meet the girls at 5.45am.

I settled into it and honestly can say I barely noticed my breathing at all.

I was out of breath but I was also just out for a chat with the girls, moving faster than we would if we were walking.

It was such a great feeling.

Here we all are after 48 minutes of non stop running.

I loved it this morning. There were no bad moments for me at all. It’s funny that I can feel so negative about it yet be so positive during it.

I’ll take that every time!!!

Work flew in today and it was nice enough for Ellison and I to sit outside at lunchtime.

I’m sitting outside writing this now but I’m cold… I’m trying to stay here in the sunshine but I may have to give in. It’s just the coldest wind.

I literally stood up and walked straight indoors 😂.

Craig made a lovely veggie dinner.

So yeah, not much else to report, mid week and all that.

Busy weekend coming though!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1516 an amazing run before work and a fast day!

Lynsey and I went for a run before work today.

We met at 5.45. I’d had a rough night. Sleeping with Queen Khaleesi and her cone wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. She woke me at 12.30 and again at 4.15 and I lay awake after that.

She’s not making a sound, she just looks really sad.

I felt exhausted and kept thinking I’d just cancel. The alarm went off at 5.30am and I got my running gear out, let Khaleesi out with Calaidh’s collar and no cone for a wee sniff around, then met Lynsey.

We ran and we ran and we ran….. we only stopped to let traffic pass on the Beith bypass.

I ran just short of 6k without stopping to catch a breath.

I achieved my personal record!

At one point on the return leg, Lynsey said “I don’t want to jinx anything…. But… “ and I told her not to say another word, I was well aware of what was happening every step of the way.

I was buzzing!!

I honestly cannot describe how good that felt. Lynsey shared it to the group and I’m like a kid greedy for praise. Saturday’s run had been sooo hard, I really questioned why I was in the group in the first place. You know me by now, it’s all or nothing. 😂

Claire said at the weekend that concentrating on a conversation regulates your breathing so when there are only two of us you’re forced to talk as you run. When I’m in the bigger group, I often go silent and withdraw into myself.

I went straight into a cool shower and it was lovely. By the time I’d fed the dogs and got the cone girl out again, I had to go to work with wet hair!

Work was so busy today. It just flew by and I don’t really remember much of it. My lunch was interrupted 5 minutes in and I never got back to it! It was just one of those days.

I’m trying to clear food out the cupboards just now so my tub of sticky rice with soy sauce, wasn’t that appealing anyway!

So back him and got the cone off her and have watched her like a hawk ever since.

She’s been sooooo good. She’s only gone to kick the wound once since I’ve been home and that’s about an hour and a half. She’s on the lead beside me.

I managed to make dinner with one eye on her the whole time.

It was really spicy and even Craig had some.

I’ve not ordered the Planthood meals as they are so expensive, despite being lovely. I’ll need to use them as a treat in future.

I’m having lovely cuddles with Khaleesi.

Then the Scottish Dog Behaviourist walks in and she only has eyes for him!

I’m off into the pub to meet the Crochet Hookers tonight and then I have to come straight home and go to bed.

I’m running Craig and our friend Jim, to Edinburgh tomorrow morning and we have to be at Edinburgh Airport for 5am. I then have to work a full day while my lovely in laws come down and pup sit, and then I have the whole house to myself until Sunday. if you ever have your house to yourself when it’s full of dogs?!?!

They are off to Germany 🇩🇪 for the Germany 🇩🇪 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Euro 2024 opening match. This was organised ages ago, before Khaleesi had her injury. Everything has just come at once.

So I think that’s all from today. Oh just remembered the doctor called me this afternoon to check up on me after my appointment 3 weeks ago when I couldn’t stop crying.

I’d totally forgotten she was going to call… and if I’m honest, I’d totally forgotten that I’d even called her back then. How times change.

She was pleased to hear that my head is much better than it was back then. I’m still going through some “stuff” at the moment but I’m handling it like anyone else would. There are good days and bad days. That’s the way of life.

Today is a good one.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1484 amazing Aurora last night in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ♥️🩷💜🩵

Oh my word. (Polite terminology for blog purposes….)

I actually want to scream with excitement!!!

What a wonderful night to be alive.

The Aurora Borealis slammed earth last night, I follow several FB pages and Aurora Hunters UK & Iceland said there were 5 enormous solar flares all sandwiched together and expected to be a direct hit on earth. He said direct hits are rare but to have 2 M class flares and 3 X class flares, together in one massive hit, is totally unheard of.

We may never see these stats again at least for the next 7 years.

That is the reason I was not going away this weekend.

I was meant to be at home.

I sat out on a seat in the back of the garden after it got dark. Letting my eyes adjust. There was nothing….. except Craig about to get into bed.

I’m in my Auntie Jac’s Christmas onesie and Ugg boots to keep warm. I do look ridiculous!

Some of the running girls can see the Aurora before I can…. It turns out I’m looking the wrong way. Despite being told to look North, this one was distinctly in the south easterly direction!

It started like this….

To the naked eye it looked like wispy clouds but through the phone camera you could see the start of the colours.

I took a lot of photos but the south easterly view from our garden is all trees covering the sky….. I bravely stepped out the front door in Auntie Jac’s Christmas onesie…. I lost count of the amount of cars that saw me. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Faintly at first, it was like a giant rainbow over our village.

At this time, the colours were only visible through the iPhone camera and not visible to the eye.

I’m up the lane over from our house. I should say… that is not our house but a very photogenic subject!

Our lovely village. the colours start to become visible.

It’s moving all the time. I tried to video it but the light is not the same.

It was just breathtaking. I managed to get Craig out of bed so he could see it. Just as well really as I still don’t like the dark much. 😂

The light was changing all the time.

There came a point where it started to fade ever so slightly and we were both shattered…. We decided to head home.

Also so I could show other passing motorists my onesie 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

It’s right over the house. Just beautiful.

So yeah… 12.30pm I got to bed and 5.30 I woke up… still so full of excitement from the night before. Run club was on at 6.45am and there were 7 of us this morning!

My throat was sore when I woke up so I found it pretty hard this morning… but I still ran my fastest 5k ever thanks to Claire for coming back for me at one point and Michelle for dragging me over the last 20 steps.

I was not buzzing and loving life by the end but I’m very proud of myself for doing it. We ran 5.47k at a 7.54 pace. By comparison the subsequent dog walks were about 15 km/ hr pace.

It is a beautiful hot day. It’s been 18-19°C here today. My blogger friend the Windsor waffle laughs at the Scottish definition of hot! 😂

Bhru and Calaidh first…. I’m coming for you mumma!!

Then Freya and Khaleesi. It was nice and shaded here.

Spotted my neighbour’s beautiful clematis this morning, so lovely against the blue sky.

Craig was working this morning, popped home then was heading out to meet friends in Glasgow.

So I dropped him at the train station and decided to treat myself to a Mocha Jaks strawberry milkshake!!

Sooooo good! I may have had a salad too but this was the best!

It’s the first time I have solo dined anywhere locally…. I did feel a bit odd… but I’m so glad I went as that was my treat for the day.

Mochas was also surprisingly quiet. They suited me… I sat outside.

Since I got home I’ve been lying out in the garden dozing on and off. I had a blanket over me.

When the sun when in, it got a wee bit cooler. When the sun comes out I deblanket if that’s even a word?!? I know it’s not.

I’ve done another 3 washing loads. All the dog blankets are washed now. My machine has been going all weekend 😂

There’s a good Aurora forecast for tonight but it might be cloudy here so we’ll have to wait and see. They’re predicting 10.30pm through to 2.30am. Remember to look at the sky through your phone camera. Look all round tonight as it might not necessarily be north.

Happy Aurora hunting if that’s your thing!

Stay safe everyone 🩵💜🩷

Day 1482 finally some heat in the west of Scotland! ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It’s 6.30pm and I’m sitting outside in shorts and a vest top….. finally. It feels so good to feel the sun on my skin!

I know I had sunshine in Rome, but it’s been a cold start to the year in Scotland. Anyone who’s here on holiday now is soooooo lucky!!

You can imagine I’m like a caged lion… where can I go, what can I do this weekend?!?!

Unfortunately Craig is working all day tomorrow and is out all day on Saturday so I really need to puppy sit my own dogs. 🐶🐶🐶🐶

I have looked at campsites for Saturday night but not sure if there’s much point in setting up camp again for one night. Hmmmm decisions…. Right now I’m very happy sitting out on the decking and feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.

This is my current view!

I had a lovely wee night out in Largs, last night, with the Crochet Hookers.

We went to the Wetherspoon’s Paddle Steamer for dinner. It was really busy when we got in but the food is so cheap. The whole evening only cost less than £15 a head. I had vegan pizza which was surprisingly lovely, with hot chocolate and shortbread for afters. The hot chocolate was £1.76 and free refills. The shortbread was 71p!!!!

We did get a right good natter though. It was lovely to have a change of scenery.

It rained when we left so I couldn’t get any decent photos!

I actually really like this next one after I said that.

It was 9.30pm…. Way past my bedtime.

I set my alarm for the 5.45am run club, fully intending to be too tired and to roll over in bed, instead of going.

Last night was the first night of HRT progesterone for 2 weeks….. I was completely out for the count. I slept like a log all night. The alarm went off, I got up and had one of the best runs with Elly and Lynsey. Lynsey was photographer today!

Not sure I like my rear in this pic but I’m going to embrace it and then buy black leggings….

Lynsey has it ingrained in us that we have to touch the white line at the end of the road in Gielsand Estate!! We do it even when she’s not there.

I love this next one she took of Elly and I! It captures the sunrise run mood perfectly!

We did 5k exactly and I loved every minute of it.

It was so much easier than yesterday. I ran straight into a very cool shower again!

As I washed I really stopped to think about how far I’ve come and it brought some tears of gratitude.

I’ve come such a long way from the days where I could barely put one foot in front of the other even to walk the dogs.

I love the friendship of the run club girls. I appreciate their support and their encouragement. I love that I run so much further with them, than I would do on my own. I love the feeling of accomplishment. I love getting up early and running before everyone gets up.

I felt so alive this morning.

Fast forward to the half shut knife I am now… struggling to stay awake!! 😂😂

It’s been a good week at work too. It’s gone quickly and I’ve enjoyed it.

I made another lovely Planthood meal tonight….

This was one of the best I’ve had, if a little bit spicy! It tasted soooo good!

This is my latest view….. throwing a tennis ball as I type.

Will be an early night for me tonight I think. Hopefully a blissful progesterone induced sleep!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

Day 1475 5.45 run club and the wind thought it would blow away some of the lovely heat!

I woke just after 5am and lay looking out our non curtained windows, at the trees outside. It doesn’t look sunny but it is a lovely chilled way to start the morning.

Up at 5.30 and straight into my running gear as 4 of us were meeting for run club!

Here we are “in action” but stopped for photos as there was no multi tasking possible 😂

There were 4 of us, Caryn, Elly and Lynsey and I. We ran for 34 minutes and I only stopped a couple of times just to catch a quick breath, before starting again. I’m really proud of the way that I’m running and that I’m enjoying it.

I’m so grateful to have such a lovely group of girls to run with a different times.

I ran in the house and straight into the shower. 😂

When I went to feed the dogs I realised that our Butternut Box dog food hadn’t been delivered. I felt so bad that I hadn’t realised it never arrived last night and they didn’t get fed! Worst dog mum! As soon I was ready I headed down to the co-op for it opening at 7am!

So much all before 7.15am. 😆

Work was busy again and passed pretty fast… oh forgot I didn’t get Kinesiology last night as the lady got held up. Hence the reason I forgot about the dog food! I managed to get in to the pub to meet the Crochet Hookers instead.

Back to today…. Ellison and I sat outside at lunch time and there was a warmth to the sun. It’s so lovely to see the blue sky. The wind has picked up now and it’s blawin’ a hoolie outside. Blowing all the warm air away!

In other news the village is being used for some more filming tonight for the drama about the Lockerbie disaster.

We currently have film crews out in the street again and they’ll be here until 11pm. A nice wee bit of excitement for the evening.

Bertie Beetle goes back into the garage again tomorrow…. Another creak from one of the top mounts. The garage say it’s the poor quality parts supplied by the warranty people. The warranty people are questioning the repair.

Me 😬 right smack bang in the middle.

It’s all good though, I’m handling it.

Oh and finally. I’ve achieved 500 fasts!! I got a badge.

We just had a chat about how much I’ve changed…..no drinking, very little caffeine, fasting every day and now eating veggie and vegan. If you’d told me that 5 years ago plus, I’d have laughed in your face.

Who actually am I these days?!?!?

Turns out I kinda like this weird, random version of myself.

For now.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1470 what a beautiful morning to be alive! ☀️🏃🏻‍♀️☀️🐕‍🦺☀️

We’re still being blasted by the arctic air so it was frosty overnight again but it’s a beautiful morning. ☀️☀️☀️

I’m sitting outside on a bench in the garden, pretending it’s warmer than it actually is… it’s 11.08am and I’ve already run 3 miles with Run Club, walked Bhru and Freya and then had a big field walk with Calaidh.

I’m contemplating how to top that 😂😂 actually I’m so tired after all that I may just sit here all day with my suntan lotion on!

It’s been pure blue skies with white fluffy clouds and I am determined to live my best life for June who sadly passed away yesterday. I want to make every moment count, even if it is just sitting around relaxing. As long as I’m present in the moment then that’s all that matters.

It’s 7am.

I cannot get over the colour of the sky… 💙

I must take more photos of the trees now than I do of the dogs 😂

Love the early morning sun creating these long shadows… 4 members of run club in action!

Spiers school grounds looking lovely in the early morning sun!

Old Geilsland House.

This morning’s run club, Lynsey, Elly, Rachel two doors down and my bright red face!!

More trees.

All done! I’m definitely the reddest!!!

I love how much we are all smiling.

Back home and straight back out with Bhruic and Freya. Never met a soul…. Just how I like it!

More shadows!

Then back for a half hour with Craig before Calaidh and I headed out with Rachel and Nacho, Jim and Muck!

We walked right up to the top of the old golf course. Views right over to Lochwinnoch and Castle Simple Loch.

The gorse is as yellow as the sky is blue.

Looking over to Beith Parish Church.

The final shadow pic of the day… it’s not even 10am. There could be more….. Jim couldn’t resist! Rachel looks scarily tall!

And yes I actually did put this stick above my head to make it look like antlers… 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

All the dogs had a blast.

I have to admit after all of that I have had the laziest of days.

I’ve done housework, pottered, hung washing out to dry but I’ve been shattered. I spent a large part of the afternoon on the couch under Craig’s crochet blanket dozing on and off. I’m so tired.

To be fair I have done 22k steps today and most of them all before 10am!!

I am very calm and it feels really good.

On our After Dry January FB group we’ve done tributes for June today. A lovely lady Sally posted this and this says it all.

Happy Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1463 normal service has been resumed!

I’m back.

It’s such a relief to feel better.

I have a feeling that yesterday’s Rigatoni with mushroom and lentils had something to do with it but let’s say no more.

In true Julie fashion, I’m all or nothing…..

I started the day with a 3 mile run, at 7am, with Lynsey. No one else from our run club WhatsApp group was available so it was just the two of us. Last night I was determined to run today. I had enough of sitting around like a sloth. 🦥

Check the heart rate….. woomph, right up there.

Lynsey is a runner so I’m so pleased I didn’t hold her back too much. I only stopped to walk twice when I felt a wee bit sick!

It felt really good. We saw no one.

I came home and sat in the garden and thought I might be sick…. But I wasn’t.

Look at the colour of my face while I take Bhruic and Freya up the hill…. It’s still beetroot!

This wee kitten was hiding from us…. Zoom in!

Back down the hill and the sun was starting to warm up…. Nothing like Rome temperatures… but Craig and I sat out in the garden and had coffee. It was really lovely. We sat for a while.

Craig groomed Bhru, who is most likely the culprit of the moulting hair in the house!!

I have never seen anything like it!!! He got loads off her. We did some videos for Scottish Dog Behaviourist as it was so crazy!

Khaleesi had physio at 11.30 so I went with them and took Calaidh.

We walked while they were in physio.

I’ve never been up here before, we had a great view over Burnhouse.

How pretty is this old gate?!

We headed back into Beith and took the two Khal/Cals to Mocha Jacks for lunch.

I had Honey, Avocado and Pesto stack! Again!

Craig had my fried egg.

We then came back and sat in the sun all afternoon. It’s been so lovely.

I am so grateful to feel better again.

I’ve done loads of Rome posts and reels on FB and I am trying to put some on Insta too. My reels used to post from insta directly onto my FB page but not anymore….

We have Elly’s 40th birthday party from 6pm tonight… I’m so glad my 2 days of illness have left me……. with a big spot on my chin just in time.

🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂😂

Have a lovely Saturday!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️