Day 1499 a trip to Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth and back to Bristol Airport ✈️

I set an alarm for 7.30am this morning as Helen was coming to get me at 9am. Just as well as I was out for the count last night. We didn’t get to bed until 11pm!

The evening reception started at 5pm until 9pm as we were out on the Stuart Line cruises, cruising the mouth of the River Exe.

Stuart Line River Exe cruises

That link above gives you dome detail on the cruise.

I used Helen’s house as a base yesterday and got ready pretty early. I spent a lovely half hour with her daughter’s new kittens, actually as I say that, I think I posted those photos yesterday.

It’s only a 15 minute walk down to the Stuart Line cruise.

Phone matches the dress!

We leave exactly at 5pm.

It was much cooler, had clouded over and was threatening rain which was a shame.

Leaving the harbour.

We went upstairs on and off but it did start raining about 6pm and ended up lashing with rain by 9pm.

Such a shame after a beautiful day. It didn’t dampen the spirits though as the boat has a warm indoor area downstairs.

I’m making sure there are no photos of the bride and groom!!

Here we are, so lovely to spend time with Helen and her family again…. Obviously we missed Craig but you know me, I chatted to everyone.

Laughed at these 3 bots powering along all tied together.

The boat sailed as far up as Topsham. Helen I had walked up here the last time I’d been down in March. It was lovely to see it from the water.

One of the other cruise ships followed us at one point!

I thought this looked like a sunken pirates ship!

Apparently this happens a lot when boats sink and are just left. The harbour master tried to find the owners but it’s often very difficult to do.

It’s raining heavily now, so this one is taken inside. This is Starcross which is directly across the water from Exmouth.

Well go here next time I’m down.

The water took on quite a roll as we crossed the mouth of the Exe. It was the only time it was bumpy.

So back to this morning…. Helen and Mike picked me up at 9am and we headed to Budleigh Salterton.

I was blown away by these stunning colours. Apparently the sea is always like this. The red sand comes from the cliffs.

What a pretty bench with all the bright red poppies!

Typical English beach huts.

First of all we had breakfast on the beach!

Pretty much right after this photo we got soaked!!

We hid under a tree and you can see the squall moving off.

Lovely war memorial with a view.

The wild flowers are so pretty in Spring and there’s so many of them.

Pastel beach huts and the sun is back out…. We’re trying to dry off.

Loved this church and tree.

Because of the weather we decided to head back down to Exmouth and went out around the harbour again.

The tide is in.

I loved this red and blue boat.

We walked down to it.

The clouds are coming in again.

Helen said this boat appeared about 6 months ago and just sits here.

It’s raining again now but we make it back without getting soaked.

The sun comes out just in time for Helen to hang her washing!!

So that’s me at the airport waiting to board, heading back to see Craigie and the puppers.

There’s a chance I may have an empty seat next to me as Craig should have been in it. 😆

I can’t post the blog now as there is no signal and none of the photos have loaded up.

Just home and it’s 7.15pm. Shattered but good to get back to Craig and the puppets and for these photos to finally load!!

Some great shots of the flight and flying in to Glasgow…

I’m off to get some dinner and put my comfies on.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1415 Exmouth to Bournemouth for the night!

Such a lovely surprise, an overnight trip to Bournemouth. Despite the forecast it’s been another beautiful day!

Helen and Anna made pancakes for breakfast and we set off on our magical, mystery tour after 9am.

Here we are in Lyme Regis. our stop along the way.

As you can see the sun has been splitting the skies all weekend. It’s been cold but beautiful.

Looking down to Lyme Regis sandy beach. This is artificially filled with sand and the right hand side, the rest of the beach is stony.

Down at he little harbour looking back up to where we were. Loved the little red boats.

This lifeboat heading out with a bouquet of red roses. Maybe laying a memorial at sea. It was called the Spirit of Loch Fyne. How funny?!?

Loved this yellow fishing boat. 🚤

Seagull on the horizon.

We climbed these very wonky steps to get up on the cobb which is the harbour wall.

I got new trousers in a charity shop yesterday and new snow boats for Iceland in December…. They were reduced from £120 to £49 and they are fully lined with fur, exactly what I’ve been looking for.

Loved all the beach huts down here.

Love the wee peachy pink thatched cottage.

We jumped back in the car and headed along the coast and I still had no idea where we were going…. As we got closer it was either Poole or Bournemouth and I knew we talked about Bournemouth before… and here we are. It was a bit cloudy when we arrived. This is the pier.

And view from it.

That big dark cloud hung around for a half hour or so.

Then we set off on a big walk to the Sandbanks Ferry.

Here we are having a seat watching the Sandbanks Chain Ferry.

With this view when it’s over the other side. Absolutely stunning.

We got the bus back into town. It’s been the most amazing day. Just perfect!! I’m gonna have to pull the cat out the bag when Helen comes up to stay with me in August! No pressure!

We’ve just been out to a Greek Restaurant called The Real Green. The food was amazing…

The walk back to the hotel was lovely too. I’ve done 24,999 steps.

I’m gonna take a shower and collapse into bed. It’s 8.42pm.

Shattered but still buzzing from the experience!

Off on the bus to Swanage tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1413 a lovely walk from Exmouth to Topsham for lunch

As suspected the flight was absolutely fine and all anxiety was gone by the time I landed.

It was such a clear night. This is us over Bristol.

I slept like a log! We got to bed about 11.30pm last night after Helen met me in Bristol and we drove back down to Exmouth.

Woke at 6.33am and back to sleep until 8.33am (what is it with the 33’s?!?!)…. When someone called me and woke me up… now who would do such a thing?!? Surely not Craig 😂😂😂

Anyway, it was worth it as it got me up and moving!

By the time we showered and had hot cross buns for breakfast if was after 11am before we got out.

This was the planned walk today from Exmouth to Topsham.

If you follow the black railway, that’s exactly what we did… I took this at the “you are here” sign.

The tide was in, in the estuary for the whole walk.

Here we are setting off.

We’ve done nearly 26k steps today!!

This bench was a memorial to Joanna O’Toole. Here’s the link to the FB Joanna O’Toole Foundation. She dedicated her life to saving animals around the world and died on Ethiopan Ailrines Flight ET302 on 10th March 2019. She was only 37 years old. So sad…. A beautiful bench modelled by Helen!

It was lovely weather with a few rain showers along the way. Much better than forecast.

TRAIN!!!

Lympstone Village is almost half way and is really beautiful with tiny streets. Don’t know how you would get your weekly shop to your front door!!!

We walked along the beach.

And saw this lovely boat. I love the colours.

Someone lives here!!!

Train AND rainbow.

Thatched roof, so very typically English.

The sea on the estuary is all churned up just now, full of sand.

We had a wee seat on a wee bench. I seem to be rocking a combe over 😂😘

The clouds came over just in time for lunch!

Topsham was lovely too. Lots of money in those houses too!! again… with the parking?!? I couldn’t live here 😂😂

But it was very beautiful!

Met this wee guy!

Then we went to The Café in Topsham and had avocado toast.

AND clotted cream scones.

We got the train back to Exmouth. I was too full to walk anywhere!

The tide is out in the estuary but the reflections are lovely. All of these are taken from the train window!

We then went to visit Helen’s eldest daughter and her grandson before he went to his first school disco. He was all dressed up as Spider-Man bless him, such a cutie.

We then went for another walk down the harbour.

The heaven’s opened after this so we headed back to the house.

We now have our feet up on the couch with Helen’s youngest daughter and we’re having a girls night in watching movies!

I’ll be asleep in an hour. 😂😂

Off to Sidmouth tomorrow.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1366 rail trip from Oban through Glasgow to Glengarnock 🚉

And relax.

The best wee overnight break.

Currently sitting on the 12.11 from Oban to Glasgow Queen Street… only typing when we go through a high banked section of the track. I’m not missing a minute.

I had a lovely sleep in my wee single bed. My knee was agony and woke me at 11.22pm. I’d been asleep since 9ish… but after that it really settled and has been fine ever since.

You’ll be pleased to know I’ve done my exercises twice and they really help strengthen my leg. Why is it though when we have exercises to do it seems like such a chore?!? A real “ugh” moment….They are designed to help the pain. Get over it Julesie.

I couldn’t decide exactly what to do this morning and was keen to get the ferry over to Mull and straight back but I was waiting to see if the conditions were right.

Do I stay in the hotel until 10am checkout? Do I get the ferry and risk missing the 12.11? Do I plan for the 16.11? So many decisions.

I decide to head back up to McCaigs Folly (Tower) for first light so that I could see sunrise…. As you do.

Up at 7 showered, packed up and ready for the off. Back up that huge hill almost in the dark!

As you can see I stood there for ages! It was bitterly cold and one guy came up during a run, said hi, stretched, said goodbye and ran off…. I had the place to myself.

Ok so… next decision… the ferry. Headed down to the terminal to ask their advice….

It appears that this ferry… the departing one…. was my only hope of a sail to Mull at back before 12.

That’s my decision made then. I’ll no be doing that! 🙄😆 I must have got it completely wrong when I looked up the ferry times this week. To be fair it was pretty choppy and the Loch Frisa doesn’t look like there is too much outer deck so it may not have done what I was hoping it would do.

As I walked aimlessly through the harbour, I met Luana, the Brazilian girl I’d met yesterday. She was heading for the bus to Fort William but suggested Pulpit Hill. I remembered mum and dad had climbed it before.

Now I should say here that Tracey, my Canadian (insomniac 😆) friend, was fully involved in my morning again. She obviously never sleeps! She told me it was a 23 minute walk… so off I go.

It’s a hike but what a view… looking directly over to McCaig’s Folly that I just left!

Looking over to Kerrera, with Mull in the distance to the left and Lismore in the distance to the right.

Zoomed in on the harbour and train station. The train is in already.

Then I met a lovely local couple walking their blind spaniel… which basically means, she who has not spoken much this weekend, chewed their ear off with chat! It was lovely to make them laugh. In that 10 minutes of chat, we really connected.

They suggested Hinba Coffee Shop… so off down the hill I go.

At the same time Tracey has already recommended Hinba, as it gets the best reviews online 😂😂😂 Tracey has also come up with another walk to Oban Hydropathic Santorium ruins 😂😂 but I need a heat up.

It’s lovely!! I have a Guatemalan coffee and a slice of Tiffan cake.

I chill, warm and charge my phone. Then order a decaf gingerbread latte. Heaven.

I still have time to kill so wander around taking even more photos before my crazy kind gets me first in the queue for the twins so I can pick my seat on the left side, get a window and a charger. I know, I know…. But it pays off. I’m first on the train 🚆 😂

Tracey must finally be asleep!

I’m on the other side on the way down so I can catch everything I missed on the way up! It’s also freezing… all the way!!

These next photos are all out the window of the train!

First glimpses of Loch Lomond.

Inveruglas power station.

Tarbert and Loch Lomond.

Think this river is in Dumbarton.

I have honestly had the best time.

I’m shattered but so grateful that Craig doesn’t mind me doing this. He had to work yesterday and he’s had some quality doggo time. I know I’ll go back to bed full of dog hair.

I get to do all the crazy things I want to do, I don’t have to worry about anyone else, I can just do my thing.

It’s 3.10pm and I’m still on the train, about 20 minutes out from Glasgow Queen Street station. I should be home for 5 at the latest.

What a lovely weekend.

This…my Sundays always used to be this… gut-wrenching stress…. Not any more ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1334 we woke up to SNOW!!

I got up to the loo at 6.30am and Craig said to look out the window! What a shock to see a huge blanket of snow.

Obviously this photo wasn’t at 6.30am…. More like 7.30 by the time we got up.

She who usually has one eye constantly fixated on the weather forecast…. Did not see this coming! There were a few tiny flakes when we were out the back with the dogs last night. I didn’t even bat an eyelid…

It’s so pretty.

We had to make a plan to try to capture Khaleesi’s first snow 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂

Craig went out round the pub so he could come into the back garden with fresh snow so I could let her out the back door.

She was not impressed to start off with… she ran out… seemed confused, tried to see if she could eat it…. And ran back in!! Poor Craig’s half way down the garden waiting for her 😂 I got her back outside and she finally clocked Craig and went bounding towards him! She’s always so excited to see him. there are no decent photos arms it was all video.

I’m all sent for my walk to the little gift shop.

It’s a beautiful morning… a cold walk but got some lovely shots. I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop, walking and taking photos.

This is the A737 and one of the busiest junctions, the Gateside – Beith cross. it’s usually heaving.

Another good morning at the shop and all too soon it’s time to walk back home.

It’s such a lovely day… there’s a real cold air hanging over the snow.

I played with the dogs for a bit. Craig’s only just left for the weekend so they’ve been out all morning. They’re still so excited.

It’s hard work all this snow play!

I had to clean all the snow off the car and headed over the Largs to pick up my new reading glasses. I’ve never seen the tide so night and there’s no snow in Largs given that it’s obviously at sea level.

There’s a nice sunset too.

I treated myself to lemon sole and chips from the Fish Works again.

I ate one half in the car!

I ate the other half at home!! Khaleesi is beside me. 😂

So I’m all wrapped up cosy.

I had to get wood in from the wood store but both fires are going strong and I have an electric fire in the living room and one outside then bathroom. Our friends Lindsay and Euan dropped a heater off today and Gayle was going to lend me one from the shop.

It’s amazing how our body’s adjust to the temperature. What shocked me to the core on Thursday is now becoming the new norm. I’m sure we didn’t have central heating when we were kids… I’ve survived it before and will again. Called three guys but have no one booked yet. One was only oil heating and sadly he’s the one that answered!!

Anyhoo. Happy Saturday night!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️ and warm… stay warm!

Day 1193 a lovely walk and lunch out!

What a lovely way to spend a day off. I slept like a log again courtesy of sea air and progesterone. That stuff is good for a great nights’ sleep.

Up and out for a dog jog for the first time in a VERY long time.

Check the action shot 😂

I actually managed to run a fair bit of it, which felt great, considering it’s been so long. it’s a really good way to start the day.

We still have the barriers outside the house, from the water pipe work that was done while we were on holiday. 🤦🏻‍♀️

It was raining, but warm enough for me to have just a T-shirt on. I got wet but it didn’t matter, it actually felt really nice not to care.

I did some housework and then went to Kilbirnie Loch, Lochshore to meet my friend, Shelagh, for a walk and lunch.

The heavens opened as we arrived but we set off anyway. Check the hood up shot but it was raining very heavily.

The rain cleared and the sun was lovely for a bit. We definitely got the best of the day.

It’s pouring again now incidentally and forecast for rain forever!! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Shelagh has a really wonderful energy and spending time with her is really special. She is healing from a year and half of cancer and treatment and is inspirational in the way she has handled it. She makes sense of my head which is lovely too.

For those who’ve been reading from the start, you may remember that she was my original Health Kinesiology Practitioner. It’s lovely to spend time with her now and get to know her. She obviously knows everything about me as I’ve poured my heart out to her over the years… and she stuck around!! 😂😘

We had a lovely walk for about an hour and then headed to the Lochshore Café for lunch. We had a bowl of tomato soup. It was so good after our walk. I had a white chocolate piece of rocky road with an oat milk latte for desert. I scoffed it before I thought to take a photo, it was soooo good!

Really lovely to have a catch up.

I headed to Tesco for a food shop afterwards and then back home for more housework and I’m just waiting on the Scottish Dog Behaviourist to get home from work so we can have some pizza and garlic bread. My mouth is watering at the thought!!

It’s 6pm on a Friday night and he’s just driven into view outside the house. A long shift for a Friday!! Love that the dogs know he’s out there!!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1165 the little gift shop on tour!!

It’s 21.56 and I haven’t written the blog yet. What a busy day!!! I’ll have to make this quick as I am ready for bed!

I’ve had another excellent day.

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist waved the dogs this morning and I was going to sit out in the sun and have a decaf coffee. Instead I decided to hoover the whole house, as you do. That said, I’m so glad I did it as I haven’t hoovered for weeks!!

Gayle and I decided at the little gift shop today, to go out another wee trip to Largs for ice cream tonight! 🍦🍦

I’m afraid it’s going to be another photo bomb 😆

We headed over for about 6.30pm and it was really misty and moody.

Thanks to the little seagull for the photo bomb!

Spotted this lovely heart stone that only looked like a heart on the way out of Largs, not when you looked at it on the way into Largs.

Another lovely evening and thanks to Gayle for the company and great chats!

I feel like the forecasts show the weather will break tomorrow and I didn’t want to miss a last sunset if it’s getting more cloudy.

Living life to the max!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

Day 1159 a walk to & from the little gift shop & birthday party at the in-laws 🥳🎉🎁

It’s another beautiful day. There’s still a breeze which, at some points, seemed like a howling gale in the back garden 😂

We were up with a woof at 6.30am, goodness only knows what disturbed them this morning. To be fair, I do love the early mornings so I’m not complaining.

We sat outside right a coffee… DECAF of course 😂😂😂 I am far too quick to take Craig’s suggestion that he’ll ask the dogs. 2 days in a row now that I’ve wanted to go out with them but give up in a heartbeat, as I’m so grateful that I don’t have to.

Think I may be shunned by Calaidh as a result 😂

So I decided instead to walk to work…. That’s how I can explain it to myself but in all honesty, there a another reason….. it’s the Beith Gala day today and I am…. Wait for it… worried that I might not get the van out of the car park as it might be too busy when I leave. Seriously. It’s amazing what I can make up in my own head. So instead let’s pretend it’s all about the exercise. 🥴

To be fair, I did really enjoy the walk. It’s calm and peaceful. I did get stopped by one of our lovely neighbours, to see if I wanted a lift, but I was striding it out and enjoying it. also taking photos… naturally!

It is a beautiful walk and the same again home only this time, more gates AND pretty damn hot! The breeze is suddenly working in my favour!

I stopped by the community garden on the recommendation of one our customers.

Then off up the road!

So many very old gates on this road.

They are all hanging by a thread!

It is scorching hot today. 25°C is about as hot as it gets here. I’m sitting in the garden for a wee while before we get ready to go out to the in-laws for my father in law’s birthday party. I am so hot I may not be able to move.

The dogs won’t leave me alone either so there’s not much sunbathing being do’e!

My life 🐶🐶🐶🎾🎾🎾😂😂

I’m at the party now and just realised I haven’t put this out!!! It’s also been raining….. 😱 Having cake and Nozeco so all good and I’ve met Isobel!

Here’s hoping I get home before 3am.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 788 a whole lot of exercise!!

I didn’t put out a blog yesterday…. and the world didn’t stop turning.

I had less than nothing to say. I honestly couldn’t even do the… wake up, went to work blog again. It bores me writing it let alone you guys having to read it.

So…. I’ve said this before but I’m going to make a pact with myself. If I have nothing to say then I’m not going to write a blog that day as this needs to be tool that helps my mental health and doesn’t add to the list of things that need doing. If there’s no blog in a day, I’m all good, just my day has been uneventful.

I should say I’ve been good this week. I’ve not been anxious at all really and it’s good I have nothing to have to work through.

Today I have loads to say as it’s 13.16pm and I’ve already done 23,245 steps!!

The weather has been crazy for May in Scotland. Its very wet, cold and windy. I’ve taken some pics on the way to and home from the Farm to show the crazy clouds. There was a lovely rainbow during the class too.

The Fit Body Farm was a killer this morning. We’ve been doing a fairly new thing called DecaFit these last few Fridays. There is a whole lot of running and it’s really just not my thang. 🥴

This morning we worked out 5 stations for 3 mins with a 500m run in between each station. I think I only managed the 500m twice and the rest were closer to 350/400m. It’s non stop without and break…. though hitting the station targets before the 3mins is up does give you a minute of a breather.

So, not my favourite day at the Farm but I still did almost all of it and I know the running will come the more I work at it.

It was sunny when we finished but still windy and cold.

I went straight into the shower when I got home as I couldn’t get a heat!

I had to have Abbie the Camper van at the garage for her MOT this morning, so I drove down to Glengarnock with Calaidh and Freya so I could walk back up.

I thought this bus stop looked a bit arty?!?

This is where all the daffies used to grow

A strange contraption blowing from this tree… either Chinese lanterns or poly bags?!

Back home and crawled into bed for a wee half hour…. then back out this time with Bhruic.

Craig was working in Ayr so I thought I’d go with him and walk her down on the beach. He dropped us in Prestwick as I’d never been down to that beach as far as I could remember.

It was wild!!! Sooooo windy and the sea was whipping up and splashing over the sea wall. I have so many photos.

I’m not sure they do it justice, it was really wild.

Then in the middle of it all, I spotted this.

The sun comes out but it doesn’t heat up much….. though it does look a lot prettier!

Mumma do you think Dad will hurry up so we don’t actually freeze to death?!?

I was fine for the first hour but after that I was just walking round in circles, praying Craig would hurry up. We sat on a bench for a bit but I think that just made me colder!

Come on…. Let’s move again…. We’ve been sitting too long!!

He phoned to say he was 6 minutes away! 😘😘😘 of course then the sun came out and the sea calmed down a fair bit.

It was soooo good to see him driving towards us…. I got the heated seats on and defrosted.

Back home to hang washing and made a lovely sharing snack late lunch/early dinner.

We had it with Nozeco (alcohol free sparkling).

It was really lovely and now…. I could sleep for Scotland.

It’s 16.18 and I’m now up at 24,951 steps and still waiting to hear if Abbie passed her MOT!!

She did not pass…..She failed for all brake disks, a top engine mount and a white indicator light….. a mere £374. 🫣

Anyway, all fixed now. I just put £133 of diesel in her the other day…. That better do her for now. She’s had enough!

Anyway it’s been a good day. I’m feet up on the couch now. Planning only steps to the bathroom 😆

Have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️