Coffee and Quotes made me smile this morning…. As the page does every day!
We started the day in an Italian supermarket! I love stuff like that!
The produce is out of this world and I honestly believe it’s way better than we see in the UK these days, since Brexit.
These peppers are as big as they look.
The shelves seem so well stocked… check me… supermarket geek!
These cannoli look amazing.
I’m currently on 8BUS heading into Rome to Piazza Venezia. I never saw this the last time I was here… and wow! The Palazzo Venezia.
Look at that smile. I am beaming 😆
This was literally around the next corner!!
Then I spotted the Colosseum in the distance!!
This was a beautiful fountain.
I then walked round to the Trevi Fountain. It’s under repair for the Rome Centenary next year so it’s not running and they built a walkway over where the water would be. I’m queuing to get onto the walkway. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to the architecture.
Then I carried on round to the Spanish Steps. It was heaving there today. It’s a beautiful day after all and much warmer than I expected. Not sure you can even see the steps?!
They’re behind me!!
These are the Christmas decorations at the Fendi store. So pretty!
I walked along the Tiber River and spotted the dome of St Peter’s in the Vatican.
Then the Castel Sant’Angelo. I climbed to the top of this in April. It’s lovely to see it from over the river.
The bridges are all really pretty as I walk.
And finally I need to take the jacket off. It’s hot in the sun and chilly in the shade!
The trees are still very autumnal.
Once again St Peter’s Basillica.
I’m back on 8BUS heading into Monteverde Nuovo.
Honestly with the CityMapper app you never need to worry about getting lost. It will find you and it will take you “home”. You can wander anywhere with a mobile signal and maybe a battery charger just in case, and you know exactly where you are. I can’t explain the buzz I feel inside as I wander around on my own. It’s feels so powerful. Sometimes I chatter away to myself (🫣😬). I must look like a crazy wummin 😆
Back to Melanie’s for Turkey Pot Pie. 🥧
If possible this was even better than her food yesterday, and that’s saying something.
I’m back on my travels again. Melanie is having a rest after a busy morning. I don’t want you thinking I didn’t help her clear up because as I write this it sounds like I just keep leaving her to clean…. 😬 I’m just desperate to see the city!
I’m wailing through Giancolo Belevedere .
Headed to the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica.
It’s beautiful!
Amazing views up here!
It’s a lot quieter at St Peter’s Square than it was in April this year but it’s still busy.
The sun sets….
I have had the most amazing day. Honestly out of this world. Melanie has messaged to say she’s on the train on her way here!!
This was the best hot chocolate I have ever had in the whole world. It is literally liquid chocolate!!
It was exquisite.
Melanie and I have walked through Rome in the dark and it has been amazing.
Once again I appear unable to sleep on a flight. I am exhausted but there’s too much else going on and it’s freezing. I should have remembered from my flights to Milan. if I’m cold the Italians on this flight must be freezing.
So everything went well again so far!
Bed at 7.30, woke just after 9pm and again a few times and up with the alarm at 2am.
I was showered, hair washed and ready to to go so only had to get changed and close up my bags. Craig got up with me, bless him, it was lovely to have the company.
I left the house about 2.35am and drove over to Edinburgh Airport. That took about an hour at 10 minutes at that time of day. I thought the roads were surprisingly busy.
The only hiccup is that I think I may be in an NCP car park that’s payable on departure. I’ve pre-paid but they made me take a ticket and my gut tells me I’m in the wrong one. It might be fine. Guess I’ll find out on Tuesday morning after midnight when I land 😆
I chose a seat on the LHS of the plane so I could get to see sunrise.
I am soooo tired. I’m going to try and sleep again.
Claire sent me this after I’d gone to bed last night… I sent her this a while back and it still makes me laugh out loud!
Assume this is us over the Alps
So I landed just before 10am and managed to get on the bus to Rome Termini at 10.30.
This got me into Rome at 11.30 and it took me about 20 minutes to find the bus stop I needed.
Not surprisingly everything is in Italian and the local buses don’t have English at all.
I got out the City Mapper app to try to plan my journey.
It’s a strike in Rome today and everyone said the bus might not come.
So I got a bit frustrated trying to find the bus but actually it was all good. I just need to trust that I can find my way and I’m fine. Breathe through when I think I might start to get anxious. Someone will speak English eventually!
This is where I’ve travelled today.
Once you’ve done it once… it’s so much easier. Once you get into the routine of transport abroad, it’s just like public transport back home. You just have to trust that it will work out.
Melanie met me at the bus stop near her apartment and took me to her home.
It’s beautiful and so special for me to be saying in an Italian home.
She had made a lovely pot of homemade soup. We had lunch and a coffee. It’s great to catch up but I am tired.
It took everything in me to get back up and head back out. My body is screaming for sleep but I can’t waste a second now that I’m here.
I’m here for Melanie’s Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow so I’m currently on the number 8 bus heading back into Rome. I’m multitasking as I’m standing on a bus AND writing this AND trying to stay on top of my stops 😆
Now that I’m out, I’m so glad I have done it. It would have been so easy to stay in the house and sleep. Life is too short.
I’m passing through Trasstevere which seems to be pronounced Trast-avery which makes me smile every time they say it!!
I’m headed for Piazza Navona.
The fountain is being refurbished for Rome 2025. There is a lot of work underway for Rome’s Centenary celebrations. I went to look at the other foundation in Piazza Navona instead.
This city is full of history! I love it!
I then made my way round to the Pantheon.
It was too busy the last time I was here… but today I’m going in!
It’s only €5 entry and you have to wait in a big queue until they let you in.
It is breathtaking. I’m so glad I got to come in here. I’m writing this real time so I’m sitting right here just now.
This is the fountain outside the Pantheon.
I decided to walk back to Melanie’s… it was just starting to get dark.
I spotted the Vatican off in the distance.
I have had the best day. I’m so proud of myself for going out again this afternoon. I feel like I have this solo thing back under control after a couple of wobbles.
We woke just before 6am. I will not get back home until abound 2am tomorrow morning! I am cramming everything into my last day in Italy.
We got the Metro to Milano Centrale station and then the train out to Bergamo. It was light already as the clocks went back last night. This road doesn’t get very quiet but this is a lot quieter than during the day time.
All the trains are very different here. We were on the green one today (so technical, that’s only because I’m tired and I can’t remember the name of the company) heading out to Bergamo where Melanie’s friend Ivan, was meeting us.
This was a double decker train.
Just to prove we made it!
Ivan picked us up here and drove us all the way over to Lake Garda. To Desenzano del Garda. It took us an hour and a half.
The lake is beautiful.
The sun was just starting to come through. I’m Scottish so it’s still warm but the sun and blue sky always helps. 😆
We walk out on to the harbour wall.
The water is so clear and turquoise.
We walked to the west along the side of the lake. There’s this lovely wee marina.
The lake is so vast the photos don’t do it justice. You can’t really see anything at the other side of the lake but it’s very pretty.
I did a pose!
There are lots of lovely private jetty’s.
And some you can actually walk out on… or sit on…. Melanie got that scarf in Verona yesterday… I may have bought one too!
There are boat trips but we didn’t have time to do a trip and get all the way back to Milan before Melanie’s train to Rome.
Loved this boat.
We sat here and had lunch at that really pretty marina. Ivan very kindly treated us to lunch which was so very lovely and kind of him… especially as he had done all do the driving.
And here is the food….. it was the best meal yet. Everything was lovely. Again… I’m too tired to remember what it all was but it was very traditional Italian food.
The marina from the others side.
I had left my sunglasses in the car as it had been cloudy the last few days and I didn’t need them! I did today 😎
Ivan drove us all the way back to Milan and we said our final goodbyes outside Milano Centrale.
I went in to the station for some more photos. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I can’t believe how busy it is too.
I sat outside the station for a while and waited on my bus. It’s the first time I’ve needed to wear a cardigan.
Bergamo airport is heaving and my flight is delayed. Thankfully only by 20 minutes but I think they might have to wake me up to get on it.
Be found a wee corner to sit on the floor and I must be tired as it is sooooo comfy.
I’ve had such a lovely weekend.
I fought so much anxiety to get here. There are times I wonder why I put myself through it and then I remember the experiences that I have, when I do.
We’ve crammed so much in.
Thank you so much to Melanie for being my translator and guide and my Italian correspondent 🇮🇹😆 and thank you to Ivan for our trip today.
I’m going to get off the floor, head to the loo for the 100th time today then head through passport control and find my gate…. And hope there’s somewhere to sit through there!
It’s 7.26am and we’re on TUI Boeing 737 somewhere up in the sky and hour away from Glasgow, on our way to Dubrovnik.
We have been up since 2am!
Minor anxiety when Mr A seemed to have misplaced the passports before 3am. I bought a wee wallet to keep them in but he wanted to carry them…. Without the wee wallet… They’re now in my bag minus the wee wallet which is still in the house. Just saying 😬
Thankfully the car started despite the engine management light on the dash and we were on our way. It was wet and windy this morning. I have actually packed a waterproof jacket. You can never be too prepared. Hey even I sniggered at that. I hear myself.
We parked at Direct Parking which is the car park that closed due to Covid and has recently reopened. It was seamless. I paid £63.70 to park there for a week. Two days later they returned that £63.70 but we were still booked to park.
Despite the fact that I love travelling and want to do nothing more with my life, you’re probably not surprised that none of it comes easy to me. I am a ball of anxiety and even now my stomach is still churning. I’m on high alert. I have very little focus. My mild state of panic doesn’t allow me to calmly search for any documentation that’s needed.
I flap.
We go to self serve bag drop with our sub 20kg cases…. I’d brought the scales home from work to weigh them. Mentally high fiving us for being way under the allocated 20kgs.
That is if you have booked 2 lots of 20kg luggage…..
🫣
I had not.
I had only booked luggage for me.
Not Craig.
I’m not sure how that is even possible.
I booked this well over a year ago.
I know how I’ve missed it in all the anxiety checking and double checking as my booking is first with the correct luggage and you have to swipe right to see Craig’s with ZERO luggage.
I never swiped right.
£154 that’s one hundred and fifty four pounds we’ve just had to pay to get Craig’s luggage on board.
Gutted but surprisingly calm as there is nothing we can actually do about it.
We can be raging and as angry as we like but it is what it is.
Security is busier than I have ever seen it at Glasgow but then we don’t take holiday flights very often.
We go for a Pret breakfast. She who doesn’t normally eat until 12.30pm is ravenous at 4.35am. 😆
Breakfast was only £24 and quite honestly isn’t worth it.
The flight is on time and you’ll be pleased to know I have the emergency exit control 🫣 the price I pay for Craig’s extra leg room. I can’t even find my flight booking in moments of flap but you trust me to take control of the over wing door?!?! 😆
When I was a kid I couldn’t say Julie and Tui was my nickname as that was all I could manage!
Tired plane selfie.
Glasgow after take off.
Mid air.
We arrived in Dubrovnik at 9.10am after a fair bit of very cloudy turbulence. I was glad to be on the ground.
The queue to get through passport control was massive and it took us an hour to clear! Gone are the days pre Brexit where we could walk through the EU channel. 😆
We are staying in Cavtat which is a 9 minute transfer from the airport. Our room wasn’t ready until 2pm so we went for a wander down into the town. We’re right on the water.
We went for a walk round the peninsula. It’s just so beautiful.
This is a good view of the town from the other peninsula.
We’ve found a new favourite bar. The Bay Beach Bar. That’s it in the foreground.
Check the feet in this lovely photo 😆😆😆 didn’t realise until after I’d taken it!
Had an early dinner and we sat watching the sunset.
We haven’t been on a sunshine holiday together for sooooo long.
It’s much cooler at night and there’s a chance I’m a bit underdressed now. The sun went down at 6.30pm which is 5.30 our time.
Check the plane coming into land. They look much larger in real life!
I’m only able to sit here and write this right now as Glasgow Rangers are playing Malmo in the Europa Cup and this is the stunning location I get to watch it in.
I have a million more photos but my phone feels pretty hot after writing this.
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.
I woke at 4.30am…. Of course I did. I think I may have woken Helen too.
Alarm set for 6.15am and by 6.30 we are out for a run!!
The sunrise was pretty.
I took Helen to see my favourite gate!
And she’s off up the hill looking like a purple wheelie bin.
And we’re done. It’s the first time I’ve run in a week… it was an easy start but I did find it rough towards the end.
Home, cold shower for me then off to Ardrossan to catch the 9.45am CalMac ferry to Arran.
The sun is shining!!!
It is, however, a tad windy!
I managed to get the flag to look like is plastered onto the lighthouse when leaving Ardrossan.
It might not look it but the ferry is heaving. I’ve never seen it so busy.
Finally we can see Brodick and the clouds are clearing.
The wind dies right down in the bay. Goat Fell looks lovely under the blue sky.
We decided to walk around Brodick, look for a coffee shop and then head round to the rocks near Brodick Castle to sit in the sun for a bit.
CalMac’s Isle of Arran still loading as we walk away.
We went to The French Fox for coffee…. It was a lovely wee space. Thanks to my friend Anne for the recommendation. We sat outside under a poly tunnel.
We had brioche French toast to share and she split it between us.
The coconut milk latte was exquisite too.
Then we were off again, headed for the base of Goat Fell. This river was lovely.
Some lovely wee buildings.
Then down to the beach.
It’s beautiful.
It’s still windy at times but a lot less than the ferry.
Now walking back round the bay and it’s lovely and calm.
We got some beautiful shots.
Love this next one.
And then we went to The Parlour in Brodick for pizza…. Thanks to my friend Lesley for the recommendation.
Big smiles… 30 miles done already this weekend!!!
Lovely pizza. Quattro Saggioni and a fruity pizza with fig on it. They were honestly amazing!!
We had about a half hour to kill so sat in the sun and waited for the ferry.
The Isle of Arran AND a man in a kilt with 2 Border Collies!
We are shattered but have had the best few days and still one more to go!
I said it yesterday but I love that we just want to do the same things and are happy to go with the flow. We’ve had a lovely few days on the west coast of Scotland.
We’re on the ferry heading back now. It’s a lot less windy so far. We are the blue dot 🔵
Hope you all had the best weekend. We’ve the day off tomorrow… 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Honestly it is just soooooo beautiful. There is no wind, only blue sky and sunshine. Such a welcome change from the winter of yesterday!!
Ahhhhh…. I’m sitting outside having just had dinner and it’s still hot.
My to do list went out the window as a result.
In Scotland, when the sun shines, we rush outside and everything else just has to wait. We never know when we might see the sunshine again.
I’m being dramatic but it’s absolutely true!
My to do list was completely housework related.
I have still been very productive though.
First of all I cleaned all the white upvc about the French doors in the spare bedroom. They look. amazing, that cleaner really brings out the white in them again.
I then jumped in the shower to scrub all the paint off…. I just found some on my toenail 😆
Gayle came to pick me up and we went to Mocha Jak’s for brunch.
It is a scorcher. We are both dressed in blue jeans, black T-shirts and have our hair tied back. Twinning!
We had a lemon meringue blonde and a double caramel brownie to share. Sooo good.
We are headed to Gayle’s wholesale supplier for some tissue paper.
I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop as I’ve never been to this wholesaler before.
We head back down the road via B&Q as Craig has made me stop for decking screws… which he hasn’t used today, I may add…
It was so lovely to get out and have a good natter!
She dropped me…. And the decking screws off before 1pm!
Craig had already got his new cold dip barrel all set up. He is very lucky to have friends that able to get one for him.
It’s on decking board that he got from another friend.
It has a step to get in but not one to get out. I can’t use it until then. 😆
We also have some more artificial grass that was going spare. It’s second hand, like our other grass, but that’s ok.
We had woodchip/bark down the back of our garden, which used to look lovely.
We had no idea we were just creating mud in the long run. It mulches together and becomes mud, which weeds thrive on.
Did you spot the guy in the orange T-shirt… please with is efforts but sporting a long hairdo?!!
So now we have a patchwork quilt of artificial grass but it’s much safer for the dogs.
None of our grass is the same colour but that is ok. It is also very, very heavy!!
We’ve very kindly been given it all…. For nothing… over the years. We have been so lucky!
Here is Mr proud of his days work.
And quite rightly so… Khaleesi is loving in too
The sun is shining and I’m matching the hydrangeas!
We are knackered but it has been a really good day and we’ve got so much done.
We’ve ended the day in with Claire and Graeme at their fire pit! A lovely end to a lovely day.
I couldn’t wake up this morning, I felt dead to the world.
I coughed a fair bit through the night, unfortunately once was right in Craig’s face! 🫣
I’ve just got a dry and scratchy throat. I don’t feel ill. I just don’t 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 opened…. Again!!!
We got soaked but the dogs don’t care.
The sky looks so mean and moody.
The rain does start to clear. The weather’s a bit like April just now.
I spotted 3 deer in the field next to us… calmly called the dogs and pretended it was just time to head home… 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 doesn’t do it justice, the sky was dark navy blue….
The sun felt hot when it came through.
And we are back home soaked…. Thought this angle of the garden looked lovely!
Poor Khaleesi still can’t get walked at the moment.
So, I didn’t feel great when I got home…. 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.
Physically….. tired, weak, headache, dry and scratchy throat, jaw tight, teeth sore, tense, anxious, breathless, if I shut my eyes I could sleep.
But….. 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 house…..
It feels good to write it down.
Why does that give me physical pain?
Because it feels like a chore and I don’t want to do any of it.
What do I want to do instead?
Be out somewhere exploring in the sunshine.
I’ve looked for mini breaks and can’t nail one down. I think I’m scared that I feel nervous again…. Like I did when I was travelling to Rome. I can’t find a flight that is the right price, the right time, to the right place.
I yawn……. Big time. In kinesiology that is a sign of energy moving, of stress being released… for me, anyway.
All I want to do is rest…… the weather hasn’t been what we expect for our summer so maybe it’s ok that I just want to rest and relax. I’ve been like that for much of July and August.
So…. From that point on I feel a lot better. I sat with it, I wrote it out, I felt it.
I know it’s all a bit crazy but that is what goes on in my head at times.
I sat and picked up the home and car insurance… 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 off…. 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. It’s just food for the soul…. I love chatting!
I ended up staying for ANOTHER coffee and cake…. How shocking is that?!?
One wasn’t enough but two was definitely too much 😆😘
It was lovely though.
I then went for the food shopping!
A few chores done and it didn’t feel bad doing it.
Craig and I then nipped into the pub next door for one.
I am shattered but I’m so chuffed that I’ve actually done it. Thanks to Gillian who agreed to do it with me and run at my pace. when you read on you’ll realise she didn’t really agree to anything up front! She’s a good runner and I just kept on going 😆😘
I didn’t have the best sleep so when I got up at 6.20am, I didn’t feel like running at all.
That’s the best part about running with other people, you don’t want to let them down. I knew Gillian was meeting me at 6.45am so I got ready and headed outside. It’s a beautiful morning.
After last nights heavy rain, everything seemed fresh. You can see the dew glistening on the leaves.
The sun is so low in the sky and looks much bigger than the photo shows, in real life.
I take a few photos as we run.
I found the first part really tough, my breathing was laboured and my legs felt heavy. As we turned the corner onto this road I started to relax a bit. I knew I wanted to do more than the 8k we ran a couple of weeks back. I hadn’t told anyone as didn’t want to commit and as I started off feeling rough, I didn’t think it might be possible.
But we kept going.
Gillian is a fast runner and while I hate holding anyone back it’s great that she could run at my pace. It certainly won’t have been her fastest run. So while so many of the photos show her in front of me, we did run together.
I always want to take photos of this tree on the way to work in the morning but there’s nowhere to stop the car.
I see this in all seasons, with sunrise behind it and it always makes me smile.
Sorry for all 3 😆 I’m not sure which is my favourite.
This one’s a bit blurry 😆 I am running my third kilometre at the time!
Then we come to THE HILL…. That’s the only downside to this run.
Gillian is a hill machine and I tell her to go and she goes!!
I took a selfie to show me still smiling AND I didn’t stop on the hill at all, unlike two weeks ago, where I walked the worst of it.
I kept going.
I only stopped for a few seconds at the top and got my breath back as we ran.
I knew I wanted to keep going.
The light was lovely again as we headed into Spiers Old School Grounds.
Just glorious… it’s still before 8am though.
And still we go…. Down to the Beith bypass and up through the housing estate.
And back along towards Gateside.
We have to do a wee round robin towards the end to get Gillian over the 6 mile mark… it feels never ending but we do it!
What an achievement. I first started running with Claire, couch to 5k back when I was off sick…. I found it so hard. I remember the second or third run being awful and look at me today. I’m not the fastest but I’ve been steady with the training and I try not to miss a week.
So proud.
I then went to Tesco for a mini shopping and have also walked the dogs this morning too.
We met this big guy!
They had a great run.
I love that they all watch for me. To make sure I’m still walking… only just 😂
This cow knew I was talking to it!
So all showered and ready to head to my brothers in South Queensferry for a family get together.
We’ve sat outside all afternoon and had a lovely buffet and I’ve had lots of lovely alcohol free!
Can you believe it’s August already?!? I mean honestly, we didn’t even get a run of sunshine this year. These last 4 days have probably been the hottest and, even then…. Not a summer.
At least I got to wear my shorts to work for one week of the year. I’ve not worn sandals yet. Still in my trainers. Seems crazy keeping all these summer clothes we can’t ever wear. Yeah I know, that’s a ridiculous statement!!
I spotted our lovely roses, as I kicked a ball about, for the dogs, before work.
I just love this one. It’s so pretty.
There was one bud a few weeks ago but the petals fell off in heavy rain. I’m so pleased it flowered again.
I also love our bright hydrangea bush.
Work was good again and passed quickly.
So that’s me at my weekend already! The 4 day week passed very quickly.
I have a few things planned to keep this weekend busy, though nothing tomorrow so will try to keep my noisy head in check.
I’m currently sitting outside in the heat of the sun while poor Craig has broken down on his way to a client. He had a battery light come on last night and he trickle charged the car overnight. It’s just completely died while he was on the phone to me just before 5pm. He’s 5 minutes from the clients house but has to wait for the car to be recovered. While you could say rubbish timing, he managed to to limp it into a side road, so he’s safe, which is definitely the main thing.
I also found out tonight that I’ve become a printed photographer!!!
I sent my neighbour an aurora photo of her house, back on 10th May, when we had the beautiful Aurora. She currently has this one displayed on her wall at the top of the stairs.
She didn’t tell me but called me in to look at it, so it was a surprise!
I am so proud.
It looks lovely and you can even see the stars in the sky.. .
I knew she was awake, as the living room light was on. I thought her house made the shot.
I think the weather is due to break tonight but this has been a really lovely spell. there was a brief aurora last night too.
My head’s had a chance to re balance this week, which has been lovely and much more comfortable, than the noise I had spinning around in it, last week.
Long may that continue.
The recovery truck is on its way to the garage so I’ve to go and get Craig in half an hour. Claire just phoned about a walk…. Such a shame but can’t be helped. Got to rescue the boy!
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.
Well…. 10 days since I was last at work and it does feel like I’ve been off forever.
I’ve been all over the place this week.
I am completely off kilter.
Spinning on the wrong axis.
I feel uncomfortable in my own skin.
My teeth are on edge.
My jaw is clenched.
I’ve felt squeamish.
I’ve a thumping headache.
My body is telling me something needs to change and try as I might, I can’t get to the answer.
I feel lost.
I’m SOOOOOOO DISAPPOINTED in myself.
Raging at the state I’ve got myself into.
This is the worst I have felt in a long time.
It’s all caused by me in my own head.
I’ve not been able to get out of it at all.
My head is full of noise.
I preach about living in the present moment but the present moment has me raging.
I’ve been so bored but not wanted to do anything.
The noise in my head is incessant.
There’s a very angry voice in there screaming at the injustice of it all.
You think you’re better do you? Ah well, we’ll show you….
Nothing gives me peace.
I couldn’t even drive to the beach today as I had a million reasons why that wasn’t a good idea.
I just need a minute out of my own head.
When Craig asks how I feel, I want to lie to him to pretend it’s all ok. He’s no daft. He knows fine well. It makes for a pretty rotten holiday for him too.
I hope this will pass once I get back to a routine.
The long and short of it is, if I lived by myself I’d rent out or sell everything and go travel the world.
I obviously can’t do that and need to find some way of making peace with it.
We had a good chat today about me trying to book some weekend breaks away. I need to try something to see if that helps. When they are places that Craig wants to go then he might come too.
Thanks Anne for this!
I want to appreciate every single day. I write a blog that documents my day and when I do nothing it feels like a waste.
I’m not rested because I haven’t taken the time to rest. I have wittered away to myself the whole time. Put myself through turmoil.
And with that… I’m gonna shut up now as I’m sick of the sound of my own voice.
Here’s to a week of peace…. 🤞🏼
I’m off to do a mediation.
Oh and it’s been beautiful weather all day! Sunshine at last!
It’s a beautiful day and we’re we’re woken by a bird chirping away outside the window.
It did not give up until him we were both awake. 😆
It was 6.30am.
I got up and dressed and took the dogs straight out.
Look at that sky?! 💙💙💙
I am definitely a sunshine girl…. What a difference to my mood when the sun shines. There is a spring in my step and a hope that everything will be ok. The sunlight creates a calm in my head.
And then there are thistles. 💜💙💜
The dogs are used to me taking photos all the way round.
I had an appointment at the Optician in Largs for 9.50am.
Back in November they found a freckle at the back of my eye. They need to monitor the size of it. They told me to get in touch around February/March time if I hadn’t heard from them.
🫣
July.
Hi… can you check the size of my freckle?!
I parked a bit further out so I could walk on the coastal path.
Wow.
This just take my breath away. The colours are just beautiful.
No matter what else is going on in my head. This makes it all ok.
There’s not a breath. I wished Lindsay and Euan had the day off work and we could go out kayaking with them! 🛶🛶🛶
My heart shaped stone is still in the same place!
I’ve never take a photo of this fountain before. It’s a shame it’s not working.
The Largs to Cumbrae ferry is a lovely contrast to the blue.
Then the yellow bench!
Ahhh I could lose myself in the calm here. Largs is surprisingly quiet at 9.30am.
The ripples from the ferry… hardly create any movement.
Loading before heading off again.
Standing here when my lovely friend Isy, sent me this.
Start loving yourself…… I feel I still need to work at this. I love myself when I’m doing something that I’m passionate about. I don’t love myself when my head screams at me and I can’t hear what it says.
Do more of what you love…. Is what I get from that.
Exactly.
I had a quick wander round the charity shop before heading into SpecSavers.
My eye freckle is exactly the same size so nothing to worry about and back to the normal 2 year checkup.
I’ve booked to go back Friday morning for a contact legs trial…. Be interesting to see if they work for me. They would help with water sports… she says… like she does water sports every day…. 😆
By the time I’m out, the tide has come I. A good bit.
So have some clouds.
Reflections for my friend Helen.
The old bridge.
The two Cumbrae ferries passing
Smack bang under the mama cloud. I do think these clouds were like dad, mum and baby clouds 😆 getting confused with the 3 bears.
It’s just calm, it’s beautiful.
The island of Cumbrae in the foreground and Goat Fell on Arran in the background.
Heading back up this lovely road to the car.
I had to rush back as the locksmith was coming back to measure something, and Craig had enquiry calls to make.
Shame as I could have found a bench and sat there all day.
I’ve done some weeding, and filled in a path that I’d dug a few weeks back…. We’re trying to level off the back half of the garden for some artificial grass.
Check this one out… Khaleesi conked out right next to where I was digging!
Then it got pretty hot…. I may have sat down for a while. I’m trying to link my Instagram with my Rambling Sloth FB page…. It has taken me a long time to investigate but it still not happening! Everything I read… does not work for me. 🤦🏻♀️ it’s not the end of the world but I out lots of reels on The Rambling Sloth insta and I’d like them to post over to The Rambling Sloth FB but they got to my personal page just now. I figured the personal page is better than nothing….
I did some pupper photo shooting.
Trying to get them all moving towards me at once!
Bhru in her usual ladylike stance 😆😆
Couldn’t resist this…
Gorgeous girl.
So we’re off to our neighbours, Holly and Kenny for dinner tonight. Really looking forward to Holly’s cooking!
It’s still hot, I’m just going to jump in the shower as soon as Craig gets out of it!
First of all we had a lovely time visiting friends we’ve not seen for years, last night, for Clair’s 50th birthday. It was so nice to be invited and so lovely to meet all of her family and friends.
We definitely can’t leave it as long next time!
I came home to a lovely surprise voucher through my door, from Gayle! She said she wanted to treat me to coffee and cake for our local Curiosity coffee shop. How lovely is that?! I was really touched.
I didn’t have the best sleep last night but woke to a lovely sunny morning. ☀️
I stayed in bed and read for a bit. Evelyn gave me 5 or 6 books recently and I’ve read them all. They were all just my kind of book.
I heard Craig in the garden with the dogs so I got up.
We sat and had coffee in the sunshine. It’s a lovely day.
Claire (next door Claire!) had given me a lovely Highland Cow mug so I used that and sent her a wee pic!
Bhru was showing off her tail in all its glory when something dared to move in her garden. I don’t know if she could smell next doors cat?!
So we got ready and took the 3 Borders for a walk…. First dog walk in shorts this year I reckon!!
We headed straight out to Lidl and did a big food shopping. Definitely my first food shopping in shorts this year!
We decided to cook over the fire pit today and it was really lovely.
I had halloumi, meat free sausage, pepper and mushrooms and Craig had chicken wings, sausages and chicken kebabs.
It was really lovely. Nice to spend time together. We haven’t done anything like that for ages.
I sat and read my book for the rest of the afternoon. It’s been so relaxing in my weed free garden.
The dogs are all fast asleep.
I say that and Freya woke up.
Khaleesi made sure she’s touching both of us….
I have my legs crossed…. It looks like the other one has disappeared!
I’ve had a lovely another lovely calm and chilled weekend…. More weather like this please!
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.
The alarm went off and I had to think what day it was?!? It’s Friday, why is there an alarm….. oh wow it’s 4.30 and I’m swimming with Elly this morning.
I actually felt great and got out of bed no bother.
Sometimes you lie awake waiting for the alarm…. Not last night! It’s such a great feeling.
So out of bed, swimsuit and wetsuit on to the waist and I walked up to meet Elly. She was coming to pick me up but I was ready a bit early and I thought we’d wake less people if I walked to her house… I’m very considerate that way… sometimes too much!
The road was so quiet apart from seeing Lynsey who was off to run a 10k. She’s a machine!
We drove to Irvine beach where the tide was still really high.
The sunrise clouds were so pretty.
You can see the Isle of Arran so clearly as the sunrise hits Goat Fell.
The colours are lovely.
It’s calm, there no breeze and although it’s not warm, it’s. It that cold either. Ailsa Craig there off to the left.
Here we are, 5am!
We’re on our way in….. the water is cold this morning.
I love that the water is so clear. You know what you get on Irvine Beach as it’s so flat for miles out.
It’s just so atmospheric.
Elly is going for the no hands approach for as long as possible.
I snapshot this photo from it… it’s the best of a bad bunch 😆
There’s a fair swell in the sea despite it feeling calm.
The clouds are dark blue.
I took a million photos to try and catch these birds which were low flying over the water.
The birds are still here if you can see them?
Birds still going strong!
It’s a shame they didn’t fly in the blue sky space between the land and the clouds.
We’re on our way back out after 20 minutes.
The tide’s on its way out but there are still waves coming in too.
So dark and moody….
There’s hardly anyone on the beach. One girl away for a walk and one guy with a dog. I love this time of day… but you know that by now….it’s not yet 6am….
You can almost make out the cloud inversion in the distance.
The tides gone out a fair bit already.
Can’t get enough photos of Arran.
I think the weather looks better over there!
Last few….
I can’t get enough of this view!
Pano!!
Really enjoyed it and Elly is such lovely, calming company.
Back home and had a warm shower, then off out with hoddit, doddit and ploddit.
It’s 8.30am and the clouds are still lovely.
The sun is trying to burn through.
Very pretty roadside weeds today.
I met a guy that I used to see all the time on dog walks. He had 2 border collie type dogs…. Then he only had one and recently I’ve driven past him and he was walking alone 😢
I stopped to talk to him and said how sorry I was to see him on his own. I asked what had happened, sadly just old age… and I introduced him to our 3 and he never got much of a chance to say hello in the past. We chatted for a good wee while… he introduced himself. I felt really sad for him but I hope I cheered him up by speaking to him about his lovely girl.
Then I spotted these beauties. There are for my friend Anne! 💜💜💜 she sends me pics when she finds them too. To be fair I think we send the same thistles to each other as these are very close to her house!!
Back home and washings on and out to dry and more weeding…. Before….
After…..
Before….
After….
I sat down just after 1pm and started this… it’s 2.36 already… and I wonder where my day goes eh?!?
I’m sitting outside in the sun. Shorts and vest top on. It’s a high of 19°C today. Got to catch it while we can.
Thanks to Elly for a special morning.
Meeting Gayle tonight so might head to Largs… it’s been a while!
Hope you all have a lovely Friday and rest of weekend!
Out for the count completely until Miss Khaleesi woke me with some licking at 4.30am and I have dozed on and off ever since. I was even too tired to make sure she wasn’t licking her scar, to be honest she doesn’t really anymore so I just mumbled a “Khaleesi, neh, neh” a few times, which is what she’s been trained for no. Come to think of it, it could be “nay, nay”. I have never thought of the spelling. 😂
No wonder I slept, really, it’s been a very busy weekend but one that I have loved so far.
It was so good to catch up with Helen and Mike yesterday. They have a lovely lodge in Oban Bay Holiday Park for a whole week.
As you may know, Oban is just one of my places, I love it sooooo much. It was a real treat to be able to show them around. We didn’t do half of what I had planned. 😂
As I said yesterday, the drive up was great and only took me two hours. I was there just after 9.30am.
We sat and admired the view from their lodge, which is just so lovely, with a wonderful Scotland flag flying in full view, which always improves a view.
We’ve been coming up to this campsite for years. We even had Mum, Dad and Nana visit us once in 2018. Special memories as that was one of the last times we spent with my Nana before she died.
It was lovely to see what Hoseasons have down with it, since they took it over a year or so ago. I do fear that they are looking to build right up into the hill which might turn it into a massive holiday park, but I suppose life brings change. You don’t always have to like it.
It’s currently so quiet and peaceful.
Their lodge is really beautiful with a lounge and kitchen are and a bedroom with en-suite… and a hot tub with a view!
We set off for an explore round the campsite after 11am. The sun was out for the first part of our walk.
I do not remember this lookout point AT ALL!!
To be fair, this was always the most salubrious of pitches and I don’t think I’d ever have walked in front of someone’s caravan to go looking. Now there are lodges here, it doesn’t feel as invasive. I also feel like they cut back some huge undergrowth! I wouldn’t have missed this! There’s a lovely view up here.
Also looking down towards the Kerrera ferry and the Puffin Dive School.
We took a walk to look for Highland Coos!
Found them but only one of them was close enough to be photogenic! They get fed at 4pm every day so expect Helen to accept the mission and get some fab photos through the week.
A wee bit too far away.
Such a beautiful location for a campsite. It’s a bit out of Oban but it’s within walking distance if you’re a walker.
We went down to see the old pier opposite the campsite, it’s looking a bit worse for wear.
Mike took our photo with the island of Kerrera in the background.
I went to take a pic of this yacht and thought the barbed wire added to the shot.
The colours here are just stunning. I am definitely a blue sky photographer!
We walked down the single track road to the Kerrera ferry.
Here it is!
Tell me you’re in Scotland without telling me you’re in Scotland 🏴 .
Love a passing place sign.
I don’t know what it is but I’m so at peace in Oban and the highlands of Scotland. If we had the weather, I would never be anywhere else, yet it also would be horrifically overpopulated, as everyone else would want to live there too!
The clouds are starting to roll in.
Love this wee boat. Think I got it on the way back too.
Single track road.
Now at this point the weather clouded over and from a photo perspective, Oban bay doesn’t have the best light. I’ve run a few photos through my Lightroom app to get the best of them.
We popped into the Correyvreckan Wetherspoons on the quay for a quick lunch. Right next to CalMac’s Isle of Lewis, which was loading for Barra.
Spotted the Loch Frisa and the Clansman. Friday leaving for Mull the Isle of Mull just back from there.
The mighty Clansman just coming in from Colonsay.
The little boat tour heading out backwards. McCaigs Folly up on the dark skyline.
The Hebridean Isles heading out the Sound of Kerrera.
I’ve had my eye on this house since I was a wee girl. I wish I could find a photo of the old house that used to be here. It was a kit built bungalow style house but it’s so close to Oban that I always felt it had the best view in the world. (Yes a bit dramatic maybe, but as I kid, I was in awe of its location). Then one visit and this had appeared!!!
It’s on a tiny island called Rudh-A-Chruidh (who knew until I looked it up!) built in 2014 it had an asking price of £950k.
One day…. 😂
We sat on a bench near the war memorial and watched the Majestic Line head out to see one by one. There must have been about 6 of them least between 3.30 and 4pm. Two of the are like cute Captain Pugwash ships.
Arty shot before Helen the wrecking ball, knocked all 3 of us down!! We were all crouched down here in a row!
3 craws sat upon a bench! Dunollie Castle above the lighthouse.
We headed back along into town. The tide is in now but still no blue sky.
Loch Striven loading for Lismore.
It’s such a beautiful road through the trees.
Helen trying to wreck another photo opportunity 😂😂
The Kerrera ferry slip now under the high tide. They are going over there today… could I be any more envious?!?! 😂
I left at 6pm after a lovely day with great friends.
Sadly there had been a bad accident on the Glencoe A82 which meant that all the traffic north was diverted to Oban on the A85. I met a huge queue at Connel Bridge but got these lovely shots from the car.
I then drove past 5 miles of traffic which was queuing to get up and over the bridge. I felt so sorry for them all but I had a straight run home and was back to Craigie and the puppers by 8.30pm.
We had walked 21k steps!!
So today we went to church to see our friend and neighbour, Holly, be ordained as an Elder of the local Beith Parish Church.
After the service we went straight for a food shopping, (as you do!) came home and let the dogs out and were invited to a celebration in the pub, next door, this afternoon.
We were there until 4pm when the sun finally came out. I think we have a few good days of weather coming.
We’re sitting outside in the garden now. Khaleesi is in the shade under a tree and I’m enjoying some heat in the sunshine.
It’s been a really busy weekend. I’ll be back to work for a rest.
I’m so grateful I no longer have the Sunday afternoon dread of going to work. Those days are long gone. I do need to get planning my next adventure though.
It was very strange waking up with only 3 dogs this morning. We’ve been fixated on Khaleesi for the last week and now she’s not even here.
My alarm went off at……. Wait for it… 4.30AM!!! Elly had asked if I wanted to wetsuit swim this morning but she had to be back by 6.45am.
As hard as it is to get out of bed, it’s so worth it. As you know I love being out and about when everyone else is asleep!
Pic taken at 5.30am. It’s 9.5°C.
Wetsuits bottom half, still to get ready to go in. Lovely sunrise glow!
The tide was coming in, and almost at high tide but it was a bit windier than it usually is, when I go in the sea.
We didn’t swim but we stayed under the water and bobbed about in the waves.
It’s the most present I’ve ever been in the sea. I didn’t take a million photos, I just enjoyed the moment.
It felt like we were in for ages… and here I go sharing the million photos I “didn’t” take 🤦🏻♀️😂
It clouded over a fair bit, which surprised me as I knew the forecast was going to be good todays
I didn’t find it particularly cold today but it took me ages to heat up, even after a hot shower.
We had great chats this morning, nothing beats a good deep and meaningful conversation! Thanks to Elly for asking me to go.
We decided to take the 3 Borders for a family dog after my shower. .
This is what happens when I say ….. WHO…. WANTS…. TO GO…. FOR… A….. WALK…. Exactly with that intonation 😂
Look at this gate, it’s disappearing after years of no use!
This is what happens when Craig says… GO!
It’s a lovely morning and I’m a bit overdressed as I’m still a bit cold from the swim.
When we came home it clouded over so I hung out the washing and hoovered the whole house. It’s like deja vu from last weekend…. The house is soooo hairy. I want it to be nice for Khaleesi coming home. 😆
Craig had a job in West Kilbride today at 1pm so I decided to go with him and spend some time on the beach. It seems really hot until I get there and there’s actually a really cool breeze.
It’s still beautiful and exactly what I need to take my mind of Khaleesi. That’s not entirely true either, that was the plan but actually I think of her more when I’m alone, it’s the not knowing that’s the worst part. Is she still in surgery, out already or still to go in?! We had no idea.
I sat here for a few minutes. A lovely view over to Arran.
Craig dropped me near the Waterside restaurant and I walked up the coast as far as Portencross.
Sat here for a few minutes too. I have 3 hours to kill.
The tide is out so the beach is full sized.
My photos pretty much all have Arran as the backdrop 😂.
I loved the wee cottage off to the right hand side of the burn. It’s literally on the beach but private enough that it seems secluded too.
I found a sheltered spot behind the Seamill Hydro. The wall to the right of me, sheltered the breeze. I lay down here for a while and rested my eyes. The sun felt very hot.
The beach is just massive when the tide is so far out. I set off again.
I tried to take some arty upside down shots of all the lugworm piles (it disgusts me that they seem to be called that…. ) but I can’t seem to hold the camera straight when I’m hanging upside down… picture the scene?!?
Should say this is Portencross beach now.
I’m getting straighter 😂
There are more waves here. They’re still tiny though.
I love the colour of the sand.
I almost have the whole beach to myself. I wish I had brought some of the dogs. If the tide is in, the beach is tiny and I always feel a bit overwhelmed with 3 dogs on a beach filled with other dogs.
It’s really windy but I love the peace.
The lovely irises growing in the boggy ground.
I’m finally on my favourite rocks at Portencross.
Portencross Castle with the Scottish flag flying.
Love the rocks.
Always think of Claire when I see this lovely blue boat as she took some lovely photos of it.
I’m heading back along the road to meet Craig when he’s finished.
Sooooo green!
I love this house.
How pretty is this?!
And just like that my knight in shining armour appears.
We head home via Lidl. We’re on a budget and it’s great to see how many bargains you can get in Lidl. I got sensitive toothpaste for 69p!!!
That reminds me I actually had the dentist in between shower and dog walk! Just check up and scale and clean. £15.85 and done in 10 minutes.
We got the call when we were in the supermarket with no signal and Craig had to run out to call them back.
Her operation had just finished and it was a success. Her ankle bone has been fused and her foot had been straightened. It all went as planned.
Such a relief. Craig is blinking back the tears all through the crisps aisle… I’m relieved but I knew it would be ok.
We have to call at 9am to find out how she was overnight and they’ll tell us when we can pick her up.
It will be so good to have her home again. It feels really strange without her. Bless.
Unfortunately due to some unforeseen circumstances, Craig has had to get an earlier flight home to look after the dogs.
Please don’t worry, we’re all ok, obviously I was gutted to see him leave at 7.30am and he’s only just landed back in Glasgow at 2.30pm, it’s just not my story to tell.
After he left, I sat out in Helen’s mum’s garden and enjoyed the lovely weather. It says it will only reach 14°C today, but it feels way warmer than that to the ode of us from beyond the wall!
The flowers are beautiful!
I love the early morning sunlight.
We woke at 4.18 and I tried to get back to sleep but not sure that I did.
This is the lane that the house is on! Typical Devon high hedged lane.
We left just after 9 to head down to Helen’s. I will wonder around Exmouth for the day and come back to Helen’s to get ready.
You know me, I love a wander, especially in the sun!
I got to have a sneaky peak at the beautiful bride to be, Mother, Grandma and sister of the bride before I headed out.
This is the view on the way into Exmouth.
The harbour is looking beautiful in the deep blue sky and bright sunshine.
I love the colourful houses.
The tide is in, but starting to head out, it looks positively tropical.
I think that’s the boat we will be on later, sir the Reception.
I walked along here to the beach.
The water seems so clear.
It’s nowhere near as busy as I expected but there a good few boats and yachts out.
The tide here flows out really fast.
This is an upside down photo.
I love the wispy clouds…. It’s to rain later, it’s hard to see that in the sky.
This is the start of the main beach in Exmouth which is huge.
I stopped and got an ice cream at the Sea Shore Ice Creamery. It’s a bubblegum waffle with Turkish delight AND a flake. The guy said it was “a bit out there”. 😂
I surprised it’s not heaving for bank holiday weekend.
Spotted all these Scotland flags 🏴 in the English sky!
I love these cliffs, part of the Jurassic Coastline.
I found a wee path to save me walking in the sea.
The contrast in colours is stunning.
Random big rock.
So quiet.
I wandered around here for a while.
I love that the photos don’t really show the folk that were there!
Heading back into Exmouth.
The current here is so strong and it’s like the clouds are mirroring the speed!
The clouds are starting to roll in.
Back to the boat we are on tonight.
And the harbour.
The sun shone all day.
I came back to Helen’s and got ready. Here I am sitting with my other goddaughter’s beautiful kittens.
I’m glad I ironed my dress!!
They are soooo lovely.
Right I best dash, finish off and get down to the boat!
I’m writing this on Monday night on the bus on the way back to Glasgow. I cannot begin to explain the true extent of the beauty I have seen today. We got the West Coast of Scotland as its absolute best.
“I’m sailing up the west coast, through villages and towns” to quote Dignity by Deacon Blue!
More accurately, we sailed up the west coast taking in several beautiful islands.
We started off on The Clyde at the Glasgow Science Centre and sailed down the Clyde, under the Erskine Bridge, past Greenock and Port Glasgow and down to our first stop in Largs. We picked a good couple of hundred people up in Largs.
My friend Helen sent me the Waverley’s actual trip for the day. I was so chuffed.
We then headed over to Great Cumbrae and sailed north of Little Cumbrae and over to skirt the north coast of Arran…. With Bute in view most of the way.
We then headed across around the Mull of Kintyre and across to Islay and up the Sound of Islay with Jura visible on the right hand side. We sailed on to Colonsay and then back across towards the mainland via the Correyvreckan Whirlpool. Then down through the Slate Isles, past Easdale, Seil Island and Luing… before head into the sound of Kerrera, past Kerrera and into my favourite place on the world… Oban. In the scorching hot sunshine.
What is not to love.
I also met two other solo travellers, randomly both called Chris. One male, one female. We kept an eye out for each other’s bags while we were off away around the boat. I love that kind of connection with someone. We’ll not stay in touch and never see each other again but we shared the day.
I am shattered but I am so grateful that I had the chance to see all of this. I’m gutted I’m not carrying on further north in the Waverley but, given how much I was “bouncing” on dry land… it’s maybe just as well I’m on the bus home. 😂
So I’ll pick up where we left off… we were just about to enter the Correyvreckan Whirlpool.
Now, I’m not going to lie… this is a bucket list thing of mine and I had NO idea that we actually went through it on this cruise. Also, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was a bit like sailing through a bubbling cauldron… actually when has anyone EVER done that?!?
These photos WILL NOT do it justice.
If you have ever drive past the Falls of Lora in Connel, near Oban, the effect is very similar.
As the Waverley went into the Whirlpool she was doing 15 knots, by the time she came out she was up to 2/knots just with the force of the whirlpool…. About 10 minutes later, she was down to 11 knots as fighting against a flowing tide.
It’s now Tuesday afternoon and I’ve had the laziest day in the sun. It’s 4.30 already and all I’ve got to show for it is a varnished bench!!
I am quite pleased with it.
So back to yesterday. Leaving the Gulf of Correyvreckan was spectacular.
It was now an evening sunset cruise. After such a spectacular day.
The film crew that were on board were sailing alongside getting lots of shorts for the David Hayman documentary about the PS Waverley.
We are currently here.
The Slate Islands were beautiful. I was torn between watching out to the sun and capturing the green island of Luing and the coast south of Oban.
This is just at Seil island.
I almost missed it but I caught the bridge over the Atlantic!
The Oban lifeboat came out to see us!
The PS Waverley is a celebrity wherever she sails. It’s lovely to be a part of that. Even leaving Glasgow yesterday, folk were waving out of their Clydeside flats.
I’m back out the porthole in the ladies toilets again as we head down the Sound of Kerrera into Oban!
My favourite place on the west coast, Oban.
McCaig’s Tower up on the hill.
The low sun is beautiful!
Docked for the evening!
Taken from the bow of the Waverley.
I’m already off and so sad that the day is over. It was just so perfect.
We then had to jump straight on the bus to Glasgow Science Centre. I literally spend 10 minutes in Oban!
What a stunning night.
Even the bus trip down was stunning, I kept taking photos out the window.
All of these taken from a moving coach… this is the start of Loch Awe.
St Conan’s Kirk on the banks of Loch Awe.
Reflections of the railway bridge at Kilchurn Castle.
The moon is huge….
It’s finally almost dark so I try to sleep but nothing comes.
I got home around midnight after a few wrong turns in Glasgow. My mind wasn’t as fresh as it should have been.
What a truly wonderful day that will stay with me forever. There’ll be videos and more photos to come, I’m sure!
I’m too tired to proof read this tonight so fingered crossed it’s ok 👌
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 