Day 1243 back down to earth with housework and decking staining

It’s 3pm and I have hit a wall….. I’ve been on the go since 7am with dog walks, housework and decking staining.

To be fair I also did it all while I was fasting so I think I got a wee bit too weak and had to stop for some food. That was an hour ago and I’m only just starting to feel a bit stronger now.

It is a BEAUTIFUL day up here today. It’s calm and sunny.

Only a gentle breeze… and as I say that the sun goes behind a cloud 😂

This is a fairly mundane day compared to all the excitement of yesterday.

Khaleesi is still travelling up through Spain and France. She should be in the UK sometime late afternoon tomorrow.

Tito The Transpawter said his wife wanted to keep her because she was such a sweet girl. I think she stayed at his house overnight.

So this is me off out with the OG trio this morning.

Every time I take the phone out, Freya turns round to say hi.

There was even a big of a dog jog today! Been a while.

Freya looking back at me, is quite a new thing. It makes me smile. It’s like she’s checking up on me! 🫶🏼

As I blitz the house, these 3 seem to be on canoe guard duty.

I go to hang washing out and they are still at it, just facing down the garden! 😂

By 11.30 I can put it off no longer. Craig bought the decking stain and pads…. It seems unfair to leave it for him finishing work, when he has so much on this weekend.

I officially hate staining decking.

I am so sore by the time I finish it. I am only 50 and 3/4 and everything hurts, way more than I think it should.

I have another full coat today that I can start in precisely 25 minutes. The price I pay for a wonderful day yesterday. 😂

It really does look so good though and I’m so proud of myself for doing it.

Craig comes home to find me lying flat out on the grass, trying to stretch my aching muscles. His jokes about the second coat almost result in World War III.

To be fair to him he left a perfectly happy wife at home and had no idea he was returning to the she-devil from hell.

I laughed at that. I’m prone to exaggeration for comedic effect. He may beg to differ.

I’m now in a deckchair counting the minutes until I can relax. I’m not one of those people that can just leave it until tomorrow. I need the decking staining out of my life for good. As soon as. 😂

It’s 5.36pm and I am done.

The second coat was easier as “Mr Here’s How You Should Have Been Doing It” saved the day. A lot more decking oil and a lot less scrubbing. He did save the day but why does that annoy me so much?! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I’ve learned another lesson today. Stay well out of my way when I’m doing a job I don’t want to do. Simples. 😂

Ok so I’m still a work in progress and there are things I could do better at. I will try to remember “Mrs Sweetness and Light” the next time I’m exhausted doing something I don’t want to do. The fact that I know I’m the one in the wrong is a very good start. 😂

I’m going to celebrate with a frozen bottle of Nozeco as someone put it in the freezer…. 😬 it’s actually really lovely but the pic was more about the decking.

I am pretty damn proud of myself for doing all that, even if every part of me aches!

And relax.

Khaleesi is now in French France 🇫🇷 and was out for a walk on a beach. She was a good girl and got back in her bed for the next part of the trip. I just snapshot this from a video Tito sent.

Craig is away at very, very early o’clock in the morning so we’ll definitely be having an early night.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1236 an unexpectedly warm day spent working in the garden & International Dog Day (who knew?!)

Another great sleep but awake at 5am… on a Saturday dammit. I tried to go back to sleep for 2 hours but it wasn’t happening! I finally got up at 7am.

We sat and had a coffee then I got ready to take the dogs out.

It’s actually a lovely morning. It’s warm and sunny… I didn’t realise.

These cows were watching us! 🐮🐮🐮

Lovely blue sky 💙

Big shadows this morning!

The cow guy was making some noise as we walked towards it! went silent for the photo!

Scary moo coo.

So when I got back I got straight into the gardening. I didn’t plan to do any, and the forecast was for rain all day. Thought I may as well be outside since it was warm and dry.

It was proper back breaking stuff. Trying to take as many roots out of the ground as I could. I even moved some plants around, which I may regret, but, the garden at the bottom was very congested. If the moved plants take up the top then great but if not, you couldn’t see them anyway.

When we first moved in here, the back of the garden was fully overgrown. We paid to have it cleared and then put bark down.

Big mistake.

That’s not fair actually, it served its purpose at the time but bark eventually mulches down and becomes mud. We’ve added layer upon layer of bark in order to dry up the mud, but it keeps mulching down.

We have decided to do away with the bark but it’s slow progress. Hoping for as much free artificial grass as we can get.

I found a path that we covered up and have been digging that back out.

It’s slow progress as I get sore hands and arms…. And I do get bored with it!

I’ve been thinking for a good few weeks that I must get back to exercise. I feel guilty for not doing any and I have sag where I haven’t sagged for years.

I need to remember that the dog walk and a full workout in the garden count too! It was a hard slog.

I had a shower and washed mud out my hair and came back out to sit and let my hair dry.

I am shattered. I am silent. I’m not gonna give you the chat of your life tonight. (Think Craig has sussed this already)

I am beyond calm.

I am thinking of nothing. Maybe a nap would have been a good idea.

This is not the best photo but it shows where I was working today.

Happy International Dog Day from our gang and the Scottish Dog Behaviourist.

Have a lovely Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone 🐶🐶🐶

Day 1228 a lovely little gift shop kind of day 🎁

Wide awake at 5am which is fine because I was in bed at 8.15pm!!

I was shattered yesterday.

I read for a bit then was off to sleep before 9pm. Apparently I missed a beautiful sunset!

Up and out with the dogs before 7am for a bit of a dog jog though way more walking than jogging.

It was lovely and sunny to the north and east.

And really dark and cloudy to the south. This photo doesn’t do it justice.

This seagull was the goalie the whole time we walked passed.

The sun looked amazing in the clouds.

I was helping out in The little gift shop today and, as usual, it was so lovely. It’s lovely to catch up with so many people that I’ve not seen in ages. I get so much out of helping people choose gifts when they have no idea what to get.

One lady said I was very good at what I did and it was a real talent. Kindness costs nothing and the shop is all about kindness, every step of the way. ♥️ Her words will stay with me.

I love this next one….

I’ve felt good again today. Calm and in control.

For dragonflies ready 2 Blue Merle Border Collies!! Craig is away camping this weekend with Calaidh…. Leaving me with these two beauties 💕

I’ve just looked at the weather forecast and we have strong winds and torrential rain overnight so I hope the campers are ok.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Was about to end with my usual “stay safe everyone” when I remembered that COVID really seems to be kicking back in at the moment, I know 6 people who have got it and it seems like they feel pretty rotten. I got a text about my 4th vaccination and my flu jab and I decided I wasn’t going to get it this time. I kinda feel enough is enough. I never wanted it in the first place but got it and I just don’t know what to do. Now that people are sick again I’m undecided. Will take any advice anyone has. I’m easily persuaded!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1227 busy Thursday and a lovely massage!

Another broken nights sleep…. I’m off the Progesterone for two weeks so it could be that. I say broken nights sleep, it’s just unsettled, I am certainly not awake all night. I just don’t feel very refreshed when I wake up.

In other menopausal news…. I know you love it…. 😳🤦🏻‍♀️😂 The old time of the month came sauntering back along after 4 months of absolutely nothing.

Now I should say here, around this time, I used to say it was the one day of the month that I should have taken off sick. I was always a nightmare, very tearful, anxious, fearful, ready to fly into a rage. Also used to have crippling stomach cramp. I remember my poor Grandpa being sent to pick me up from University when it was so bad…. We didn’t discuss it at all, as that wasn’t the done thing, at all, but I got into bed when I got to my Gran’s, with a hot water bottle and painkillers to sleep it off. I also remember hugging a kettle in one job to try and ease the pain… as you do.

This month I would like to report that I’ve been positively angelic. 😇

It’s so nice for me to be able to see these changes and appreciate how far I have come.

So work was the usual very busy today…. I’ve only had a 3 day week so it’s flown by…. But I’ve been ok again today. Handled anything thrown at me. Again, lovely to have some days like that and not overreact to things that shouldn’t be overreacted to!

I had a Harmony massage booked with Norma straight after work. I soooo needed it. It’s only a half hour but I could have stayed the night! I feel all sleepy and chilled and relaxed now.

Norma is so good and really works her magic.

A quiet night for me tonight… I think the amount I am yawning it might be a very early night!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1225 a busy day at work and some “through a toilet roll” photos 🧻🧻🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I was out for the count the whole night last night. The caffeine I’ve been drinking in the morning isn’t affecting my sleep.. at all!

I had decided to get up and take Calaidh out before work this morning. I didn’t change my alarm as the Scottish Dog Behaviourist ALWAYS has his set for 5am. I’d just get up when he did.

Not so this morning.

6am.

I did not know it was 6am and decided to have a wee snooze.

My alarm went off at 6.15am and I was gutted. Too late Calaidh puppa, sorry!!

Anyhoo…. Work was crazy busy again today. Non stop though I did get a full half hour out in the sun at lunch time which was fab. A wee catch up with Ellison who’s been on holiday!

So yeah after the day off and visiting the Waverley, I forgot to tell you about my hysterical giggles on Sunday night.

It started when our friend Euan sent me this…

Well that was me…. Hooked!!

Mine looks exactly like a photo taken through a toilet roll tube. I don’t look anything like the moon!!

This is my why is it not working face.

I got Craig in on it….

Then the dogs!!

I was honestly in hysterics….. which Craig recorded and sent to Euan and Lindsay. Of course he did. 😂😂

I was trying to photograph everything through a toilet roll. Even now I still smile at the thought of it. It’s surprisingly addictive… could be the thing that sets me apart from other “photographers”….. I put that in quotes as I means someone who takes photos rather than and actual photographer! Hours of fun and giggles and I don’t laugh like that enough. I had tears streaming down my face and couldn’t speak as I was laughing so hard.

It is very good to laugh!

So tonight I’m heading back to Tuesday night exercise class in the Village Hall. Kinesioflow. Sounds interesting and not connected to kinesiology.

I can feel all my muscles withering away and I have skin sagging where it hasn’t for years. My body is missing the Fit Body Farm even though I’m loving my late nights and morning lie ins.…

I really don’t want to go but I know I will love it and it will feel great afterwards.

Guess it comes back to, if it was easy, everyone would do it. I just have to stay switched on until 6.30pm!

I’m sitting out in the sun, it’s been a beautiful day today. Hot.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1224 a cheeky Monday off ♥️ and a trip to Largs to catch the PS Waverley 🚢

It feels like a longer weekend having a Monday off, than having a Friday off, but I know that’s not really true.

I slept in until ooooh 6.15am…. 😳 we had a nice, leisurely, freshly ground coffee ☕️ in the sun room before taking the dogs up the hill for some Scottish Dog Behaviourist photos and filming.

It’s a lovely morning… really clam and still and very mild. The forecast is for heat all week, which is lovely, though to us, that’s 16-20°C which will do me nicely.

Bhru got a wee teensy bit muddy!!

Calaidh loving her red frisbee!

Filming some training!

I stopped in past the meadow garden on the way home. Check this beauty!

Just to give it some perspective, they are very small but so pretty when you stop to look and focus in.

Showered and changed and headed over the Largs to wait for the PS Waverley coming in. She’s sailing from Glasgow around the Isle of Arran today.

I had time for s quick wander round the odd charity shop, Costa Coffee to pick up some sandwiches and a Coconut Milk Latte (DECAF!) and I settled down on the rocks to wait for her coming in.

There were hundreds of people waiting to get on!

And just like that she was gone!

I was home for 1.30 and passed Craig on his way out to work. I have no idea where this afternoon has gone but 3 hours have past and I have done precious little. Two loads of washing, put clothes away and watched some YouTube videos of the quieter places to visit in the world! It’s been pretty cloudy but still warm. I might do some more work on my vision board later on. I’m getting quite into this manifesting malarkey.

It’s been a lovely relaxing day, it’s lovely when the sun shines in the blue sky. It makes everything feel really good.

Long may the peace continue.

Peace shattered 😂

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1223 a productive morning and lovely lunch and walk with friends!

Such a productive morning! It seemed a long morning as I felt I got so much done.

We were up early as usual, which always helps. I stripped the end and got it in to wash as it was the last thing to do in our newly spotless bedroom.

We had one of Craig’s new ground coffees. I love grinding the beans 🫘 I always drink it black as I’m always fasting in the mornings, since the 20th December….. I should be a size 6 by now. 😂

I’ve been thinking of doing a vision board since Kinesiology last week. I got set up on Craig‘s laptop, through in the living room and we sat together, and I looked at loads of photographs of wonders of the world and places I’d like to visit. I saved them all into one file and will eventually get round to making them up into a vision board. It was so much fun to actually look at so many beautiful photographs. If I want to make something more of my photography, I feel that I need to search out some beautiful shots rather than just pointing and pressing with the iPhone. There are so many stunning places in the world to visit. I am keen to travel by train, plane or boat instead of driving. I’m also quite happy to go on guided tours because you find out so much more information than you would if you were on your own. It’s exciting to think of all the places we can explore.

We then got the dogs ready and took them down to the garage to pick up Craig‘s car. He’s had a leisure battery fitted for a camping trip he has planned for next weekend. It had been pouring all day yesterday and through the night and it was wet when we got up this morning, but we managed to walk half the way there before the heavens opened. It was actually a really nice walk even although we got soaked, it’s nice to be out in the rain sometimes.

So that’s really cool log along the way that someone had painted.

Drookit!!!

I also put a Abbie the Campervan up for sale on Autotrader…. And I sold some of the camping gear I put up for sale yesterday. Had a lovely lady come to the house and got chatting for ages. Poor Craig got stuck in the bathroom as we chatted for so long in the hall! He couldn’t walk out in his towel!!

So we were meant to meet our friends, Lynsey and Euan today to go canoeing on Kilbirnie Loch. How cool would that have been. They are seasoned kayakers and canoeists and were going to show us how it was done. Unfortunately it was too windy this morning for our first shot so we scrapped those plans and arranged to just meet for lunch. It’s a shame we didn’t get to canoe but looking forward to sometime soon. I’ve always wanted to go sea kayaking and Craig seems to have the bug for loch or river canoeing 🛶 so I’m happy to meet him there!!

We went to the new Lochshore Café for lunch. We had lentil soup and coffee and cakes! The cakes are so good I never know which one to pick. I ended up with a white chocolate rocky road which I’m sure is what I had the last time!

We always have such a laugh when we are together!

We took a lovely walk along the new Lochshore path, and I got loads of photographs at the side of the loch. Of course I did. Here are a few!!

I’m on the horse while they’re in the cart!!!

Turned into such a lovely afternoon. The sky was really blue and the clouds are very fluffy looking. Of course on the day where I do more walking than I have in a long time., my Fitbit stopped working, so I’ve no idea how many steps I’ve done but I’m sure it’s quite a lot!

A good laugh is very good for the soul!

I’ve been watching YouTube videos on the natural wonders of the planet since I got home. That seems to be my new fascination.

I’ve had a really great weekend so far. I’m looking forward to a Monday holiday too. It’s great to be sitting here on a Sunday night knowing that I don’t have to get up to go to work tomorrow, it makes a Sunday seem even more relaxing!

Hope you all have a great week!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1218 a scorcher of a busy day at work!

What a beautiful day today. It’s been sunny and warm which has been lovely. I was able to wear my shorts to work and not freeze.

I’m sitting outside writing this. It’s windy but warm enough.

I had another amazing sleep but when I woke I wanted to just stay in bed and had to talk myself into moving… to be fair, I had to 😆 but I was super positive. I kept saying “you’ve got this and today is what you make it, it’s going to be a wonderful day and you’ll get loads done”.

It ran around my head like a mantra and I smiled every time I thought it. Which was a lot.

The morning went slowly as I started on all the things that needed doing. I was clear and focussed and pleased with my progress. All the while, massively proud of my positivity.

The day is what we make it.

Then I saw my lovely friend Isy posted this.

A major shift in consciousness…. Wow. I love when something like this clicks with me.

Things happened that weren’t what I wanted to hear but I took a deep breath and got on with them. I did what needed doing. Still smiling. Proud of my lack of Julie style reaction.

I can’t pinpoint when it actually went wrong but I became overwhelmed with everything coming at me in the afternoon.

My list long out the window. All the while everything that’s happening is just adding to the list. I’m no longer in control, I don’t have time to write things down before I move on to the next.

I should say here, as I always do, that NONE of these things are the end of the world. It’s my fight or flight reactions that make them the end of the world in my head. Nothing is insurmountable (I’ve used that recently 🙄) but it’s true, I know that.

Yet I get ratty, defensive, put myself down to anyone who will listen and worst of all… laugh at myself for being so cocky in the morning. “”yeah right, you think you’ve got it sussed, you’ll never have it sussed”. I speak to myself in a way I’d never speak to my worst enemy.

I have to take Abbie the camper van to the garage to get a once over before she sells. I’m not happy with the steering and think she needs a new power steering pump though hoping it’s less than that.

I left the garage without a lift home and felt all tearful and angry as I left. I suppose it’s understandable really but I feel like a wee kid who needs to have a tantrum. I’m full of pent up irritation and anger, all of it unfounded. I’ve become irritated with anything that doesn’t go my way. Tasks that a few Friday’s ago I was positively bursting to tick off my list are creating anger and frustration as I can’t possibly imagine how I’ll be able to fit that into my busy schedule.

Again, lets have a laugh at that…. My busy schedule sees me sitting with my feet up in front of the tv most nights so I’m hardly rushed off my feet.

So thankfully Gayle agreed to come and pick me up after work and I sat on a kerb at the high school car park for a while. That helped me breath a bit more freely. She then made me laugh in the car which really helped.

Honestly my teeth are crawling in the back of my mouth right now….. I messaged Angela, my kinesiolgist, to pull forward next weeks’ appointment and she can see me at 7.30pm. This stuff works wonders for me and I know I’ll feel better when I’ve talked it through. I feel better writing it down too.

I always vow when I’m like this, that I’ll never feel like this again and yet it keeps coming at me. I wish I could just let the bad feelings go but I hold onto them, swing around on them and get irritated by how they make me feel. Maybe that’s what I need to work on tonight.

Sorry…. I hear myself. I had such a lovely Sunday. I need to hold on to that…. Which means more photos!!!

Passing the Tall Ship on the Clyde.

On our way… Craig took this!

The Renfrew Ferry jetty. This is the only Clyde ferry that still operates across edge 200m river. The Captain said it was very popular with pedestrians.

Heading to the Erskine Bridge.

The Glen Sannox, CalMac ferry still under construction.

The Cloch Lighthouse.

Dolphins…. Honestly! 😂

Millpond.

I’ll leave it there for now. still millions more to share 🙄

Health Kinesiology awaits.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1214 a lovely day at the little gift shop 🎁🎁

I had THE best sleep. Out for the count all night, it’s such an amazing feeling… I woke up to a woo woo woo woo from the back garden at 7am. Craig was up early and I never even heard him. (Should clarify, it wasn’t him woo woo woo-ing…. Obviously! 🐶🐶🐶)

I didn’t feel great when I woke up…. Really groggy and little bit sad. I cuddled Craig on the couch and had a wee tear without him even noticing. (Love that he reads this to find out… 🤦🏻‍♀️😬) I mentally gave myself a shake and got my running gear on to take the dogs out for dog jog. It’s the LAST thing I wanted to do. Every part of me wanted Craig to say he’d take them.

I opened the front door, walked out and started to run straight away.

I never do that.

I ran and ran and ran.

It felt good.

It’s comical when one of them catches scent of something and almost pulls me off my feet as they stop dead to catch up on their pee-mail.

It was a beautiful morning… lovely blue sky.

I felt so much better for it. Straight in the shower and back into my little gift shop clothes! Funny how I have clothes I haven’t worn since I haven’t been in the shop. 😂

I’ve had a lovely wee day chatting with Gayle and seeing lots of lovely customers again. I’ve missed that lovely energy. We had a busy day and it passed really quickly. The shop is looking amazing with lots of new stock!

There’s a new vintage coffee shop opening in Beith next week and the owner came in and brought Gayle and I a lovely latte. ☕️☕️

What a great idea to get local businesses on board. The coffee shop is called Curiosity. She’s planning to open on Thursday.

The coffee was lovely but full caffeine… obviously!! I was buzzing afterwards!!! 🫣

Despite having such a lovely day, I still don’t feel right. I am tired and just a bit antsy and unsettled. I felt really nervous and stomach churning before I got home… could just be the caffeine maybe but a lot of people I speak to this week have said similar, that they just don’t feel quite right. Someone said there were two full moons this month. Ahhhhhh… nope no idea what that means but it sounds a good enough reason for me.

When I don’t feel 100%, I always want to have a reason, I want to know why I feel out of sorts….

I’m home now, in our newly organised sunroom, with the wood burning stove on and the door open.

I have my feet up and Craig’s just made dinner. We had lots of meat that was about to go off so we had a plate of different meats… protein dinner, a bit like a BBQ! It was really nice and actually I would have just had cheese and biscuits if it was left to me in my lazy state of mind.

Hope you all have a great Friday night and a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1213 what a beautiful day it’s turned out to be!!

The forecast was for rain in and off all day today….. it’s been lovely and warm, so sunny and Ellison and I got a seat out at lunchtime again, which is always lovely. It breaks up the day and it’s especially nice after all the rain we’ve been having.

The forecasts seem all over the place these days.

I’m shattered today. I’m sitting outside in the garden and it’s 5.15pm and the sun is hot. There’s a strong wind but it’s not cold.

And relax.

I’m yawning my head off…. 🥱🥱🥱

It’s been a really busy day today. I didn’t get anything done in any order. There was no control today, no process, I just had to jump from thing to thing and try and write notes so that by a Monday, I have half a clue about what has happened. I had tears before 8.30am over something that was really nothing…. When I write it down it sound so ridiculous, so pathetic…. We keep getting the wrong windows delivered and last night it happened again. It’s not my fault but I feel wholly responsible. I don’t know why I take these things so personally. Even when I find out what happened and how it happened, I still feel to blame and that I should have done something differently. I hate letting other people down.

When does this self flagellation ever end?!? (I have a wry smile when I say that’s flagellation and not flatulation…trying to make light of the situation…)

Anyhow, the rest of the day was much better, just busy. We’ve ordered a Chinese for dinner as I have no energy for cooking. I think I need to get up and at it with a dog jog tomorrow. This lethargy needs nipped in the bud. tonight I need to rest…. A lazy evening with a takeaway and a movie sounds like just the ticket.

It’s funny how some days this all just flows on past like it doesn’t matter and other days I choose to wallow in it. The voice in my head, tells me I’m not good enough, that’ll teach me for having such a great start to the week…. And then I beat myself for my overreaction and so it goes on.

So I’m just gonna sit back and chill and enjoy the lovely evening.

I’m back in The little gift shop tomorrow so that will be lovely and I have my big adventure on the Paddle Steamer Waverley on Sunday which I’m super excited about!! The weather looks promising which will just be amazing.

I have everything crossed. 🚢🚢

The clouds are really wispy but it’s just so lovely to see the 💙 sky! This is my view just now!

So much to be grateful for! Hope Craig thinks that after an evening with me 🥱😂😘

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1207 a lovely Friday day off!

Another Friday off and another list of things ticked. I’m really enjoying super productive Fridays!!

I didn’t feel great when I woke up this morning…. Sore throat and headache. I got up to the loo and cooried back down into bed…. Thinking I could just lie there all day.

I knew I had loads to do and loads I really wanted to get done.

I got my running stuff on and took the dogs out for dog jog, first time since last weekend. I felt rotten to start, I had a shooting pain up my leg almost willing me not to jog. Yet I started to run and managed a fair bit of the way. I get so much better for it. I felt spurred on for the rest of the day!

I know that I’ve been feeling lethargic due to very little exercise. Despite fasting and breaking my fasts with lovely salads, I have eaten a fair bit of rubbish in between. It’s the first time in about 6 months that I’ve actually felt a bit bloated. Seems a tad unfair after a 19 hour and 45 minute fast today. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😘 but hey it’s just a bloat day. If there is such a thing 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

So I have been like a wummin possessed today.

I have emptied Abbie the Campervan… seven huge bags full of stuff! Bet that wasn’t great for fuel economy?!

Also cleaned everything apart from washing the outside. I scrubbed, hoovered, dusted and polished and she’s probably cleaner than she’s ever been… and definitely emptier.

That took me until about lunchtime when I moved into the house and started hoovering, dusting and polishing inside.

I washed and dried all the blankets from the couches in the living room. It’s actually been a beautiful day today, unexpectedly.

I’m sitting outside in shorts writing this at 5pm. I’m shattered.

When Craig came home from work he brought in a parcel that arrived for him, started to unwrap it. I told him he’d better tell me how lovely the house looked pretty damn sharpish. 😂 it’s the first time we’ve seen the dining table this week since he unceremoniously dumped his wedding outfit on it last Saturday night!!! He said, of course he’d noticed…. Hmmm I’m not so sure!!

Check his wee face as he’s bought a new toy and didn’t tell me. “Hi julesie….” Big grin.

Anyway he took me out to The Canny Man for lunch which is just 5 minutes down the road. It was worth him feeling guilty to get me a late lunch out.

He had haggis balls in a peppercorn sauce to start.

With both had Salt and Chilli Chicken Burger for mains.

And I had a Caramel and Chocolate Sundae for dessert!

I enjoyed it despite my itchy nose!!

I am so tempted to go for a nap now but the sun feels lovely on my skin. What a beautiful day it turned out to be.

Oh well, what little peace I have is being interrupted…. Seems it might be puppy dinner time… feed me she says!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1200 a day of getting SO much done!!!

I have been ticking boxes all day and I bloody love it. ✅✅✅✅✅✅

It’s just been one of those rare days where you catch up on things you have been meaning to do for months…. And it feels so good!!!

We ended up having a Chinese takeaway last night for dinner, after a couple of drinks in the pub next door. Think Craig had a lovely birthday. I was late in bed but slept like a log again. The Scottish Dog Behaviourist still had his alarm set for 5am!!! I did manage to snooze until after 7 but decided to get up and get on with the day.

It’s a beautiful sunny day. (As an aside, I feel like beautiful, amazing and lovely are three of my most used words these days…. How different from years gone by and a nice thing to be able to say).

I got ready and took the dogs straight out for a dog jog.

These giant daisies were amazing.

The sky is so blue and it’s quite warm already. The forecast was to break by midday but it really only clouded over about 4pm.

Another million thistle pictures and this one was by far the best.

Once I got back I started selling clothes on Vinted again. I put up 13 items of clothing but it took me all morning and into early afternoon between making phone calls etc.

I also booked a dentist appointment. Been meaning to do it for ages.

I called a company about looking at the rust on my van. I went out and took photos to send to them. Been meaning to do it for ages.

I called the Paddle Steamer Waverley excursion line and booked myself onto a cruise on Sunday 6th August. It leaves Glasgow Science Centre at 9.30am and heads for Largs, Ayr, Girvan, round Ailsa Craig and back to Girvan and then Ayr, where a bus will take me back to Glasgow Science Centre. A long day but I am SUPER excited!!!!! Been meaning to book another cruise for ages.

I called a company who fix doors and windows to see about getting a quote for some repairs. Have thought we should do it for ages but a door got a bit stuck today so that spurred me on!

I went to get my toenails and eyebrows done before the wedding we have tomorrow.

I tidied up the house and put everything back in it’s place. Been meaning to do that all week.

I was out in the sunshine all day as I did my Vinted selling.

I also managed a 20 hour fast without even realising it.

It’s 5.15pm and I could just shut my eyes and have a nap.

So yeah we have Elly and Scott’s wedding tomorrow so I’ve also been getting organised for that too.

Maybe a short or no blog tomorrow as there won’t be any time but I will try get a photo out, at least!

Also should say, 1200 days of the blog eh?!? Who’d s thunk it?!

Hope you all have a great Friday and weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1198 where is this week going?!?

I can’t believe how fast this week has been?! I’m so busy at work I just keep jumping from one thing to the next and never getting back to the thing I started. 😬

It’s good to be busy but 4pm comes and I can’t leave…. It takes me till 4.30 to finish up and even then, I think of so much that I haven’t done. I’m not even getting a chance to check my lists as they’re fairly inconclusive anyway!

It’s Craig’s birthday tomorrow so I have got all his pressies together and we’re going to have a birthday night tonight so he can play with all his new “toys” on his day off tomorrow! 😂 yup I hear myself…. 😂

I’m going to cook up lots of lovely nibbles I got on my extortionate food shop yesterday for him coming home from work tonight.

So yeah not much else from me today. It was lovely and sunny again but I didn’t see much of it. Least I get to wear my shorts to work!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1197 another busy day and a trip to Largs for ice cream! 🍦🍦

Crazy work day again today. I didn’t sleep well again last night, either. I was asleep but dreaming really heavily. Dreamt I had to move into a flat and it was a room at the top of a high set of stairs and I had to climb over sleeping people to get up to it. I didn’t like it. 😂

I went straight for a food shopping after work tonight and spent £169!!!!! How is that even possible. I only had 3 big shopping bags of food. I did buy some lovely things as it’s Craig’s birthday this week, and I didn’t pick the cheapest of everything, but I never saw that coming. Before the Tesco Clubcard price reduction it was £193!!! For a weekly shop for two people?!?!? Horrifying…. 🤯

I had about 10 minutes turnaround when I got home as I was heading out to Largs with Gayle again.

I’d checked the forecast today and saw that it brightened up tonight. It was a lovely wee trip!

As we headed around the corner towards the ferry terminal I suddenly spotted the red funnels or the Paddle Steamer Waverley!!!

The tide was going out and because it’s moored at the back of the pier then I couldn’t get a decent photo!

The Loch Riddon heads over to Cumbrae.

We sat and had an ice cream sitting watching the calm tide recede…. While we talked the hind legs off a donkey!!

When two become one… the Loch Riddon with the Waverley in the background!

Hiding!!!

Some sea kayakers were out checking out the Waverley.

Loved these 3 yachts spaced out.

The kayakers heading home, as we’re we.

My photos got a bit mixed up and I’m too tired to move these next ones up to the top… Julie half a job. It’s 9.38 and I need my bed after all that sea air!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1196 a VERY busy day at work and a productive evening!

I didn’t feel like I slept well last night… I felt like I was alert all night and yet I wasn’t. I just didn’t feel refreshed when I woke up. One of those nights. The two alcohol free beers I had at 6pm seemed to fight with the progesterone. The progesterone won, keeping me asleep but the caffeine jittered away underneath.

We were SO busy at work today! The phone never stopped ringing, people were queuing up to speak to us and customers were in for vehicle handovers at the same time!

It was 4pm before I knew it!!

As I was driving home, I knew I should stop at the supermarket but I was shattered. I really couldn’t be bothered and in my head was frantically scrambling to think what we could have for dinner…. I was literally chattering away to myself all the way up the road. I phoned Craig… No answer.

He phoned back and said, sorry I couldn’t answer, I was in the chip shop getting us a chippy tea!!! My hero!!

We had really lovely fish and chips from the shop in Stewarton. It’s the most I’ve eaten in a while but it was so good, really meaty fish and just what the doctor ordered!

After dinner I took the dogs up the hill to work off some of my fish and chips!

It’s turned into a lovely evening…. Spot the puppers!

I love the tracks in the grass, mine are pretty straight and Calaidh’s are meandering next to mine.

Freya is shattered at the back!

Thistles!!

The hedgerows looking particularly beautiful just now.

The newly tarmac’d road!

The colours are so blue and green!

On the new road home.

I got back and did a poo pick in the garden, emptied and refilled the dishwasher and burned all the cardboard in the fire. I’m trying to do more in the evenings rather than just doing nothing. It’s worked so far. Feet up now.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1191 another busy day, back on Fb with much trepidation this time as it still doesn’t feel right 🤷🏻‍♀️

I slept like a log last night. Another progesterone induced sleep! Don’t remember anything!

I’ve had another good day at work. It’s super busy just now. I’m not getting time to breathe but thankfully had some help today from the boss man’s daughter. She’s amazing. She picks up everything immediately and honestly made such a huge dent in my backlog today. It felt so good to be getting on with things while she cleared out some tasks I’ve been trying to get to for months.

Oh to be young again. I don’t have to tell her anything twice. I can say a word and she will see it on the screen straight away. Doesn’t spend hours hunting for it like I do!! I also enjoy her company which makes for a great day.

So yeah, in other news, I’m back into FB again. For now. It’s still not right. My profile is still in the UTC+7 time zone and my FB pic has gone, replaced with a blank head and shoulders. I seem to have 2 foreign admin on my account…. Not invited obviously.

We were so lucky to be able to sit outside for lunch today, given the forecast was rain all day. I love to get the break from my desk.

It was war but super dark and cloudy when I left work.

I went to Tesco straight after work but realised it’s left my handbag at work… 🤦🏻‍♀️ so headed home.

I made my lovely salad for work tomorrow. They are different every day, but I’ve been eating mixed salads for as many meals as I can since we came back from Iceland. A bit of everything in them.

Had biscuits and cheese for dinner tonight and sat outside but it’s really windy and I ended up eating my hair!

Crochet is cancelled tonight so I’m wrapped up in my joggies on the couch. And relax.

Stays safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1188 a gorgeous day and a longer FB ban 🤷🏻‍♀️🥺

It’s a beautiful day here today. It’s been the perfect temperature and I’ve spent all day outside.

So last night it would appear my FB account was seriously hacked and I’ve been blocked for 2 days which doesn’t sound that bad but I can’t do anything this time.

Once again for she who breaks no rules, ever….. this is a bit of a pain in the proverbial backside. Since the middle of June there been suspicious activity on my account. I’ve been blocked for days, here and there, about 3 or 4 times.

FB is the hardest company to try and get hold of. I’m exhausted going round and round and round in circles trying to get them to believe that I didn’t post those horrific pictures that actually did show up on my page last night. All of a sudden my time zone has changed from GMT to UTC+07 wherever that is.

I’ve changed my password about 4 times in the last few weeks and yet they are still getting to me. I don’t even understand how that is possible?

They’ve made me question my own judgement for weeks. Was it the start of the Just Jules Photography page? Was it the fact that I use positive quotes in the blog and maybe don’t reference the authors properly?

What am I doing wrong?

Then last night at 10.18pm I finally realised it most definitely wasn’t me. FB are still to catch up to that fact though.

I had just invited lots of people to my photography page and now I can’t even reply… I just look rude.

Anyway, I’ve reported the hacking about 100 different ways so hopefully they’ll get round to checking it sometime soon. The majority of my readers are on FB so none of them will even get this post. Hey ho, there are worse troubles at sea, my Gran would say.

We didn’t get home from Craig’s mum’s until after midnight, so I had a long lie until 9.30am. Check me. I had been up to let the dogs out so they were ok.

I pottered about in the garden, pulling weeds (there are millions of them) and cutting back bushes that were threatening to take over.

I took the dogs out over lunch time and actually it was maybe a bit too hot.

I love the clouds in these next pics.

They had a play in the burn to cool down for a bit and then we were on our way again.

For the rest of the day I’ve been pulling weeds and relaxing. This has really been the longest weekend as I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have 3 days off and be in the house. I’ve done 4 washing loads and they are all dry already!!! I love that!

The clouds are moving in now and we are due some spectacular rain overnight. Apparently I slept through a very loud clap of thunder last night….. Craig said it sounded like a truck had crashed out in the road. Oblivious!!

I’ve nipped in next door to feed the cats! Gorgeous boys.

As soon as I got back I the house Calaidh seriously sniffed me all over. You’d think I lay down next door and rolled around the amount of sniffing I got… I can assure you, I did not!

So all in all a lovely weekend once I got my head round being at home. I feel nice and refreshed and ready for a new week. Just need to get my FB account sorted once and for all…. Or leave it… that’s another option. 😆🤷🏻‍♀️

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday evening and the best week.

Stay safe everyone ☀️☀️☀️

Day 1175 one of the most beautiful days in the Scottish Highlands 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️☀️☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What a beautiful day at Clachtoll Beach.

It will turn out to be the best day of the week weather wise but we don’t know that yet. The joys of writing this a few days later. The sun shone all day.

It really is the most beautiful beach. There’s often no one on it. The waves have been high all week as it’s so windy but it’s lovely to see it in the sunshine.

I started the morning with Freya on the beach.

We both took a walk out in late morning to Split Rock, which Freya is showing off in this photo!

The colours are absolutely out of this world.

You can’t really see it’s a split rock when you approach it walking though… it just looks like a rock 😂

I was far too scared to climb up it. It looks like nothing here but I got a wave of vertigo and had to sit down!! Craig was off up there like a mountain goat!

I decided I would finally go in for a swim… checked the beach and didn’t see any jellyfish 🪼 so back to the van to get all my kit ready and back down to the near idyllic bay in the last few photos.

And there were jellyfish EVERYWHERE. All different colours, shapes and sizes. Now I know that many of them are no bother, whatsoever, when you are wearing a wetsuit, but sadly that seemed irrelevant at the time. I’m still putting my face in and snorkelling. Plus the wind is coming from the west bringing them all into the beach. I’m gutted to say I got spooked after only a few minutes of snorkelling. I saw two Lion’s Mane Jellyfish almost straight away. The sea was teeming with them. I admit to feeling marginally relieved when a couple and their son came down for a swim, fully suited up, and decided against it. Their son was at Uni studying Marine Biology and reported back that a good few of the jellyfish 🪼 were the poisonous ones.

I’m a bit gutted that we came here, or I did, a at least for the free water sports and it’s been too jellyfish-y (nope not even a word!) and far too windy for a novice to do anything else.

We sat on the beach for a bit enjoying the sunshine but came back up to get everything dried.

We cooked fresh chicken on the BBQ for dinner and had it in Brioche buns. Freya got a good few more walks too!

I take out the camera and boom, she hits the deck for a photo!!

It was a magical day today. Scotland in all it’s beauty.

Stay safe everyone 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

Day 1174 a day in Scottish paradise, 3 seasons in one day!

(Again posting on actual day 1176 as no signal on the campsite!!)

Oooh I did not sleep that well. I was shattered but between the heat, some strong gusts of wind, Freya panting in the heat and someone snoring, I felt like I was awake a fair bit. That is ok, I have all day to do absolutely nothing if I want to.

The campsite is very busy but generally quietened about 10.30 to 11 ish last night when I went to bed. We sat watching the bunnies in the field in front of us. At one point there were 5 of them running about right in front of us. Fascinating to watch them.

This was the view out the window at 4.30am. It doesn’t get that dark up here. Even at 1.30am there was light in the sky.

It’s forecast to be sunny this morning and it’s trying really hard…. Not quite managing it.

Freya has been exceptional. Honestly we are blown away by our youngest pup. She’s always been the youngest of 3 so has always been more of a dogs dog than a people dog.

She’s lying at my feet now, honestly barely a peep out of her… except for that exceptionally heavy breathing through the night. The material for the sleeping bag isn’t the best for the heat. It’s amazing in summer but it was holding the heat a lot last night. She got herself a bit too embroiled in it! By the time I moved her, she stopped panting almost straight away.

So it’s now 8.15pm and with all things it’s not always perfect in paradise. It was so windy that we had to pack up camp to a certain extent. Down came the windbreak and pop top and we wound in the Fiamma awning. It was wild.

We went for a walk before it rained and the scenery was still stunning.

We went to Flossie’s Little Blue Shop in the Clachtoll village. It’s the cutest little place. We had cheese toasties.

Then the heavens opened and it rained for about 4-5 hours. Solidly. We went for a nap and I read. Don’t know if I’ve said that there no phone signal so I’m not glued to my phone which is nice.

We had a lovely salad late afternoon and it brightened up. We took Freya our for a lovely walk up to Stoer, the next village.

We walked round the Stoer headland and found the famous Broch. This was a stink g place. Must find out the history when we have signal.

It’s now 8.30pm and the sun is shining. It’s much cooler than it has been these last few weeks but it’s beautiful and that’s the main thing.

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️