Noo shoos

Not quite shoes but new wellies. These are just a normal pair of wellies but to me they are supreme. It's been a few years since I've had 'standard' wellies rather than extra wide ones. They are snug at the calf but at least they fit. Oh the joy. And bright yellow to match my rain coat. It's the simple things isn't it? Purple has always been my favourite colour but I have to say that yellow is coming in a close second. It gives me joy. Full disclosure: my welly socks don't fit though. They take snug to a new level. 

This week has been Wellness Week at work. Our residents get looked after every day so this week has been all about the staff. I've been in every day, starting early at 7.30am. I've made smoothies, everyone gets a taste from a shot glass. On Wednesday I went controversial with grapefruit and ginger. It would put hairs on your chest and wasn't well received, but good for you. And every day I've made fruit, yoghurt and granola in different flavours. They've been popular. I did over-night oats for Thursday and they were delicious. Every day we've had 'spin the wheel' to win goodies like afternoon tea, prosecco, chocolate, juice, hand massages or head massage. I've been giving the massages. I've lost count how many but definitely quite a few. Apparently I'm very good. I've arranged meditation (very popular), exercise sessions with our residents PT - my thighs are killing me, a brisk walk around the block and today yoga! My colleagues, mostly, have been loving it. It's been bonding and therapeutic. The buzz has been great, I'm so chuffed. The reception has been better than I expected. 

Going back to my thighs....I think this has been the first exercise 'class' that I've done since losing weight. And the difference was incredible. Now I'm not pretending I'm super fit, I'm so not, but my capability was immense. I kept up, I went fast, I could do it all. And the best bit? I actually enjoyed it. I wanted to do it. This is so different to the Gilly of 2 years ago. Carrying an extra 6 stones made everything, especially exercise so, so hard. It was uncomfortable, sweaty, painful and (for me) a bit humiliating. I've never enjoyed working out as much as I did on Tuesday. And I did both sessions! And I can't wait to do it again! 

If you do one thing for yourself this next week I recommend sitting in a quiet room, in a comfy chair and breathe in and breathe out, and repeat for as long as time allows but aim for at least 10 minutes. Your mental health will thank you. If you do that I also recommend you should follow this with a square of good quality dark chocolate. Your mental health will thank you for chocolate too!

I hope you've all had a great week. Let's see what next week brings us. Probably not much but we'll figure it out then.

Love to you all. You are in control, you are safe and you are guided. Namaste!

Imagine reading a book, and not being able to turn back the page. How carefully would you read it? That's life.

2nd anniversary

Last week it was 2 years since my bariatric surgery. Best decision I ever made. 6 stones lost. From, I think around a size 20 to a size 12. I never bought any clothes a size 20 and only got clothes labelled size 18 but I think I probably was. This photo is just before my op and I hate it. The second picture is much better. I was never contemplating having cosmetic surgery but I am definitely changing my mind. My tummy is horrible and needs a tuck. It is a more difficult decision to make (the stomach bypass was an easy decision) and I need to think long and hard but I am heading that way. Please don't share your opinion with me as I need to make my own mind up and I think the majority of you will tell me not to both. Remember, you don't live in my skin, literally. 

We've just spent a week in North Yorkshire and York city with the kids. We stayed in an Airbnb. First cottage was gorgeous and had a hot tub. Second was a terrace house walking distance into the heart of York. We did all the touristy things. Isaac loved the history, Ellie loved the trains and planes as did Mark. I loved it all but especially the WWII stuff. As we all know I was reincarnated from then. I reckon I was born about 1890 and does in the 50s. And, no, I still don't believe in reincarnation but I just get such a warm feeling in the museums and houses. My first novel is about reincarnation so maybe I do believe something. When I say my first novel, I haven't actually written it but it's all in my head. If only I had the skill to get it down in paper! Maybe when I retire. 

The weather was lovely and warm and sunny all week. I don't think we had any rain. So nice when walk around villages and towns don't you think? Next weekend the forecast is up to 30° in York. That would be too hot for sightseeing. That temperature is for lying around with an ice lolly and cold beer. Luckily, that's something I can do just as well. Though it won't be that warm at home at the weekend! I shall cope though. Not much choice. Though we are going to move to North Yorkshire I've decided! It'll be a tiny little house because it's very much more expensive down there than Aberdeenshire. 

Bella had a lovely holiday too. She was mostly pretty well behaved. Jumped up at a few people who paid her attention but overall. She liked walking around the streets and going into pubs and coffee shops. She was even allowed into some of the museum things. And when she wasn't allowed we just shared the dog sitting duty. We all didn't want to see the same things so it worked well. We left her in her doggy prison at the house when we all went into the Castle Museum though it turned out that Isaac should have been Bella sitting as he was bored in there! Bored?! Crazy crazy boy. And he's the one that loves the history! 

Someone offered me grapes but I declined, I'm not used to having my wine in tablet form.

Influencer

I'm officially an 'influencer' after a friend told me she was inspired to sort her sock drawer! Go me. 

I'm also not the only barmy lass in the village. I bumped into a friend on Saturday in Home Bargains, as you do. She told me she was going on holiday, flying from Glasgow and staying at a mates house the night before. Her mate had just called her asking what time she was arriving the next day. Lisa told her she would drive down on Monday night. Only for her mate to tell her she was flying out early Monday morning! I've lost count how many times I've got plans wrong. Luckily I have a Mark who reminds me of dates etc before hand. I've booked holidays and hotels only to have to cancel and rebook the correct days! I really shouldn't be trusted. But it was a joy to find at least one other person who gets it wrong!

I've told you about Bella opening doors? And she's pretty good at closing them too (but only when someone is watching - to ensure she's given a treat for doing it). And now she's started to open doors that open inwards. I've popped to next doors for coffee and left her in the house. She then batters the door handle until the door swings open, then she comes over to Gill's and sits at their kitchen door looking through the glass so happy with herself! It's a nightmare. Nowhere is sacred. For my birthday from Mark I got recordable buttons. Basically I record a message (I've started with wee wee). Bella can then hit the button that shouts 'wee wee' whenever she needs to go out for a wee. She's learning quickly though not there fully yet. I have another 5 buttons. There will definitely not be one saying 'treat' as she'd press that one constantly lol.

This week's Gilly-ism. Shopping in Asda. I had a digital gift card that I couldn't get scanned, I kept getting an error message! Argh!! Until a member of staff told me it was a Morrisons card. Oops 

Marriage is when you know your wife adores you but also finds you the single most annoying person on the whole planet all within the same minute!

Finally

 

I finally got around to sorting my sock drawer. I had a corner of the bedroom which had a supply of odd socks which came out of the washing machine without it's partner. Such a weird phenomena. I remember my brother in law putting a load of washing on for the first time. He was amazing that the rumour that socks got lost in the machine was actually true! Until his mum found the missing socks stuck to the top of the drum. 

Some stats -

I had 41 odd socks, 95% of which were generic black ones - hence I never got round to pairing them. So I managed to pair 18 pairs and binned the remaining 5 odd.

At the start I had exactly 100 pairs of socks. I binned the old, horrible ones and the ones I didn't much care for. A couple of pairs belonged to Mark (he'd been looking for them for weeks apparently). 

I was left with -

11 pairs of cosy/bed socks 

6 pairs of hiking/thick socks

16 pairs of normal socks

41 pairs of trainer liners incl. 1 pair of ballerina liners 

The drawer was re-packed with the socks minus the cosy ones (see photo). They took up a lot of room and I felt needed their own space. Not sure where, though Mark 'reminded' me that I had another drawer! I do? We have a large chest of drawers with 3 drawers one side and 3 the other. I thought I had the right side and Mark the left. But, he tells me, he only has the top 2 on the left. The bottom one is mine! How exciting! I took a sneaky peek and it seems to contain lingerie. I'm guessing it's lingerie that's too small for me and has been for many years. This is obviously why I forgot all about it. So my next task is to have a look and see what I have. Does any of it fit me now? Do I even want it? And can my cosy socks live there. I think it might contain the very first lingerie I ever bought (sorry if your already know this). When I was 16 and working full time in my first job at The Royal Bank of Scotland I bought a silk teddy from a very exclusive, posh boutique underwear shop. It was £50 (in 1985!) and I loved it. It was purchased with one of my first monthly pays, I think I was paid about £300 a month. That's ⅙th of my pay!! Start as you mean to continue I say. I still love nice things ha ha. Oh the memories. I'm sure it'll be too small for me still and it is 40 years old but I can't wait to see it. 

It's World Wellbeing Week the last week of June and my boss and I have been planning wellness treats for work. Yogurt and granola pots and smoothies for breakfast. Yoga, meditation and walks in nature. Hand and head massages. A wellbeing box full of goodies like face masks, hand cream, bubble bath etc etc. And a spin the wheel to win all sorts of nice things. I can't wait. It's going to be fun and hopefully the staff will have a healthy and nurturing week! I have a great job! One morning this week I was looking after two 3 year olds for 3 hours. They were as good as gold. And we had a lovely time with the Lego and dartboard (not a real dartboard, don't panic). Like I say, my job is very diverse! 

I hope you all have a great week and do fun things!

Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live.