Confused.com

 

Thank you to those that let me know you liked my video. In fact the only person who told me the writing was better was Mark. Though I am aware that it's easier for those who enjoyed it to tell me. Harder for those that thought it was rubbish! One friend suggested I mix it up with a vlog on some weeks and the blog on others! I'm undecided, but this week we're back to normal. I just don't know what to do! You can read this discretely in an office when a video is too obvious but you can listen to the video and get to do other stuff!

When I was away it occurred to me how weird it is to walk about half naked (in a bikini), popping to the bar etc. And yet just a few hours later, if I walked the same walk in my underwear I'd get a few strange looks. And yet my underwear probably covers more than my bikini does. Does this not strike you as absurd? If I walked down the street in Peterhead in my knickers and bra (apart from being freezing cold) I'd be arrested! Crazy man. 

Something else that bothered me was how much I ate. We went to the steak house and I had filet mignon and it was delicious! But I could only manage half. It was so hard leaving this delicious beef on my plate. If I was here I'd take it home, but on holiday there is no where to take it. The best I could hope for was that a member of staff could take it for a very very pampered dog! I think it's my upbringing. My grandparents lived through the war when food was scarce. Then this was passed to my mum who was born during the war. To leave food was criminal and I hate to do it now. I'll never get used to it and I'll never apologise. 

I treat myself to a bracelet when I was in Grenada. Great value compared to the UK. I love it and will wear it every day. I almost gave it to Mark to give to me for Christmas but decided that that was stupid. I bought it with my pension money i.e. MY money lol. It's not a Christmas present! Lol. 

Don't save anything for a special occasion, being alive is a special occasion.

Maybe you'll get a video next week. It might depend on what I have to say lol. Thank you for reading and I hope you're not disappointed not seeing my sunny face! 

TGA

 

I wasn't going to write this, this week, as I've done my very first vlog (video) instead. And when I was persuaded to still write this (thank you Mark) I was going to let it be a written version of the vlog but I just can't bring myself to write the same stuff. So if you'd like to find out how I ended up in hospital the night before flying out to start our holiday you'll just have to listen to my YouTube video. Therefore the blog below is different content. 

https://youtu.be/gQOuht4WxgI?si=cW6YH-q9qqEa2ZWr

(You might have to copy and paste this link into your browser - I'm a novice)

Grenada has been lovely. The weather is fantastic and we always have such a great time over here. I've not been diving, yet a-bloody-gain! See above for the reasons why.

I was floating in the pool this morning when I noticed that one of my pinky toe nails had lost all its nail polish, (see picture below) which I thought was a bit mental as it's gel polish that lasts for weeks! But when I looked closer I noticed that I'd lost the whole nail. How can you lose a toe nail without noticing? You'd think it would hurt. I have lost nails before but never without noticing lol.

On our first day here we met a couple who we'd met at this resort last year. They remembered us and Lorraine even commented that I'd lost more weight. And she's right. I'm 2 stone lighter than I was when we were here last September! I felt pretty great then but I feel even greater now. 

The picture is me with my gorgeous half price silk dress that I told you about a couple of weeks ago. I say gorgeous because I absolutely love it but Mark and Ellie aren't keen. They think it's a bit boring and dowdy! So rude. But hey, it's my dress so as long as I adore it that's all that matters. To be honest I think the size below would have been a better fit but by the time it was delivered they were out of stock so I kept this one. It's fine. And yes, I am boasting! I love it when a size 12 fits.

Anyway, if you listen to my vlog please give me some feedback. I can't do both long term, especially if they contain different contents each week to each other, my god I'd run out of things to say. Let me know which direction I should go. Keep the blog or branch out to the vlog? I look forward to hearing from you. Have fun this week xx

Sometimes I say to myself don't be crazy Susan but my name isn't Susan, so there you go.

Gilly does Gilly

 

Ellie is home at the moment, ready to look after the dog and the house (and her brother) when we're away. She's just spent her uniform budget for work and had a lovely long green cardigan (the style that goes down to your calves). I decided it would go lovely with my new travel pants! When I asked if I could borrow it she reminded me I already had my own long cardi. Oh yeah, I'd completely forgotten about it. And had no idea where it was. But my grey one would look really stylish with the black pants. I looked everywhere. Wardrobes, on the pegs behind all the doors, in the coat cupboards, drawers, under the bed. Ellie and Mark shouting suggestions. I was sad, as even though I'd forgotten about it now I remembered I really, really wanted it back! Where was my long grey cardigan? Try dad's chair (chair in our bedroom where he flings his clothes) says Elle. He looked and as he was moving a navy woollen thing to see under it I yelled with delight - that's it! My lovely grey cardigan is in fact a navy cardi (as above pic will show) which does not match my new black trousers!! Ellie, can I borrow your new green cardigan? She said yes 👍😄

We had 'work related stress' training at work the other day. It was great. Box breathing, a bit of a chat, followed by meditation. I almost fell asleep. We also got a wellbeing card - mine said ' and a sleeping tip card - 'listen to soothing music before bed'. And... We got paid! No wonder I love my job.

I've been very vocal about the weather this week. It's so cold and wet and miserable. I've been saying how I'm not emotionally or physically ready for autumn. Especially after a poor summer. However, I realised I've been premature with my chagrin. Autumn is actually lush. Think roaring fires, under a cosy blanket with a hot chocolate. Dark nights with the curtains shut and candles lit. Walking in the woods with chunky jumpers, woolly hats and purple gloves! Yes summer was not great but I'm going to embrace this new season and concentrate on all the best bits! Bring it on. 

Thank you so much for committing to reading my blog every week. I love you all. Let's face it, I wouldn't write it if no one read it! 

It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life.

My addendum

Horrendous photo. That's Mark's phone sharing picture of me with food on my face! And no, I'm not a child (see below) but I'm so bloody messy! I can't believe I'm volunteering to share these pictures with you. I have no shame obviously.

As you may have noticed I love a good life quote. I add one at the end of every blog, so that's quite a few sayings I've come up with over the years. But I thought I'd share a few that just don't cut the mustard, for me at least.

Do something every day that scares you by Eleanor Roosevelt. Nooooooo! Why?? Who on earth wants to be scared? I have done some scary things (mostly anything involving heights). I've zip lined through the tree. The zip bit was fun but standing on the platform was horrible. I tried Go Ape and climbed around a wooden assault course about 5 foot in the air. It's not high, and looked easy from the ground. I was terrified and don't know how I got round. These experiences don't improve my personality or make me a better person! They created memories - but bad ones. No thanks, keep your daily scares. 

If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain by Dolly Parton. Yeah I get it but a huge element of this is missing. The sunshine! You can't have a rainbow without it. And let's face it, rain is just pretty miserable. Sunshine, however, is lush.

The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much by William Hazlitt. How depressing is this one? I say enjoy a lot and endure what's left. 

We are here to add what we can to life not to get what we can from life by William Osler. Uh-uh. Nope. It's your life, it's short, get what you can from your life! No excuses needed. Enjoy!

At work this week a residents family member described me as young. I can't remember if it was young lass, young lady or young girl but it was definitely young. How cool is that? Me, at 55. It's so weird that after about the age of 20 you don't get any older. I mean the years go to by and you have birthdays but I'm not any older than I was over 30 years ago. I only know my age because I can do the maths. I know my body isn't the same as it was 30 years ago, and I look a bit different now, but tell me I'm 55 and I just don't feel it, or believe it. I forget that people under the age of 30 probably look at me as if I'm ancient. I look at them as my peer! Only children under the age of 18 are allowed to think I'm ancient! So there! 

Have a lovely week and we'll speak next Friday. 

This week's addendum I've used before, but it's my favourite. 

Just be yourself because everyone else is taken. 

PS to those that are normally on my holiday photos what's app group - next holiday is next weekend but I wasn't going to bother with the group as it's getting a bit samey. Cocktails, sunsets, flowers, creatures and me in a dress. If you disagree feel free to let me know, and I shall reconsider.