What a week!

Get a cuppa, make yourself comfy, today's post is going to be a long one.

Last Thursday I packed for my weekend away, all the important things - clean knickers (I have been known to forget them), snacks and a bottle of wine. At the last minute I decided to take my purse (it usually stays in my work bag), but I had a little cash I thought might come in handy. 

That night I slept at Ellie's. She has a great blow up bed! Plug it's in and up it goes in seconds, it's about two foot deep and very comfy. Alas, it felt like I was lying on a block of ice! After a few hours of frozen feet and not sleeping I dragged myself up and got a bowl of hot water to stick my toes in. I put a towel and blanket on the bed under me, wrapped up in Ellie's cosy dressing gown and had a duvet and thick blanket over me! Half an hour later my feet were freezing again and I didn't sleep. Of course the best bit is that they following night in the hotel the bed was blissful and I slept like a log. 

We got coffee at the train station Friday morning. I booked my Scotrail ticket through my LNER app. There was no QR code just a reference to go to a machine. I needed my credit card, which I only had because I'd picked up my purse at the last minute. Ellie then asks if I have my driving licence. What for? Do'h for ID for the flight. Good grief, it's in my purse! Someone was looking after me! Then, downloading my boarding pass I noticed I'd booked my flight in the name of Gilly, and of course my licence is Gillan! Nooooo. Can you believe that not a single person at the airport looked at my ID. Wow. 

The play we saw 'Woman in Mind' was ok, but a bit weird. The Malmaison was nice and we had a couple of great cocktails, and breakfast was fab. 

We landed at Birmingham just as hour before Mark appeared off his flight, great timing. At my nephew's birthday event we played The Traitors. I was a traitor, and won the game with another traitor. How on earth this happened I have zero idea. When 'Claudia' tapped me on the shoulder to select me I let out an enormous scream! This did not go unnoticed yet I managed to not get voted. I also kept putting my foot in it when saying 'we' when talking about the traitors. I was truly terrible! 

That night Mark was up all night with sickness and diarrhoea. I slept through most of it which was just as well as Sunday morning he really just wanted to get home. Once we were happy the vomiting had stopped, and I got some Imodium for extra insurance, I drove him home. 8½ hours - not too bad considering we stopped twice for wees (just me - Mark drank not a drop of water in case the spewing started again), lunch (again, just me - no way he was trying any food) and fuel (the car!). I was gutted to miss a Mother's Day roast dinner at my sister's but hubby was very relieved to be home. He was totally fine the next day, by the way. Oh, and we had some amount of rain too. Next to Preston the heavens opened at biblical proportions! The motorway was a river and the visibility was so poor all the rear fog lights came on. 

Tuesday at work I made my delicious (even if I say so) Baileys cheesecake for 32+ service users at work, for St Patrick's Day. It (three big ones I should say) went down very well. It was great fun. 

Well after that exhausting week I am finally having a day to sit and relax. Have a great week and I'll see you next Friday. Woo hoo!

P.S. I've been meaning to tell you for ages - I lost that pesky lb. Back to my normal weight again!

Life is what happens when we are making other plans. 

Fruit platter

At work this week we had little kiddies over from the local primary school, to sing and dance for the service users. At half time we offered them plates of fruit, and what was left was offered to me. I had a great platter of all sorts and was excited. I put it on my desk, but obviously not properly because it promptly fell off, upside down and the fruit went everywhere and I let out a little swear. I was gutted especially as the raspberries and blueberries were so delicious! This is Anna 'helping me' to clean it up as I was too busy taking photos for this blog! Lol. Thanks Anna.

Had the best day ever yesterday. My colleague, Kelly, organises a monthly community event called Boogie in the Bar. Have I mentioned it before? Free to anyone and especially those in need - care homes and elderly, folks living alone etc. We offer hot drinks, sandwiches and biscuits. This month's theme was St Patrick's Day. The hall was decorated and we wore those big hats, the band played some Irish ditties too. The bar was busy so I helped Anna, yes the Anna from the paragraph before. First time in almost 3 decades that I've pulled a pint. I still have it though! Enjoyed the afternoon so much. I recon I could get a part-time job in a pub! Loved it! And the hall was full, near capacity. Kelly does the most amazing job! 

Today I'm in Glasgow with Ellie. We've got the theatre tonight.'Woman in Mind' with Sheridan Smith and a nice stay over in Malmaison. We're going to have a great mother daughter stay celebrating Mother's Day. Then Saturday morning we fly from Glasgow to Birmingham. It's my nephew's 30th birthday - Happy Birthday James. Mark is also flying back to Birmingham after his snowboarding week in France. Then we'll drive back up the road Monday. Just a lovely few days with family. Feeling blessed. 

Have a great week everyone and thank you for reading.

Healing doesn't mean the pain never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives. 

Sausages

I'm sat in Thaikhun waiting for Ellie. I have a cocktail as you can see. I'm not driving so had to be done really. 

I've lost one of my pesky lbs. Just another to go and then I'll be a happy Gilly again.

You'll all be delighted to hear that my 6 week sleep program has come to an end. My sleep efficiency started at 46% and is now 92% which is amazing. I've started to go to bed at a much more reasonable time and am getting to sleep pretty quickly so I think I'm now getting between 7½-8 hours a night which is magic. I feel super tired come bed time but I guess that's a good thing. And I've not had a sleep pill for a three or four weeks! Good grief, I feel so much better now! 

I've been having lots of thoughts and plans about our move to Newcastle. It's scary but not trying it is more scary. I feel such a feral pull to go home. I need to be with my mum. Life is so short don't we have to just do what we need to do. Waiting is for losers! Let's just sort the logistics and be on our way. 

I missed strength training again. Ellie has just given me a right telling off. Anna couldn't manage so I just let that be my excuse to stay home. Though that's lame and no excuse really. I need to be more determined or I'll be a cripple when I'm older (Ellie's words not mine lol - a bit dramatic I think but she's sure lol). 

Tonight we are going to The White Company (shop) for an event. Fizz and snacks and discount. Ellie has already told me she's not buying me anything tonight, for mother's day. So rude! Having a sleepover at her flat which will be fun.

Short and sweet today. Have a great week and see you next Friday.

Don't give up your power by thinking you don't have any. 

Controversial

I keep this blog all about me! Me, me, me. That's because it's not fair talking about others on this format. Usually, when I do, I ask permission first. The obvious exception is talking about my husband. It was in our wedding vows that I'm allowed to slag him off, moan and be generally negative about him whether verbally or written, in any format I choose. Which brings me to a funny story. I was watching The Good Doctor about an autistic doctor who has just moved in with his neuro typical female friend. She likes the toilet roll to go down the back of the roll and he wants it over the front. As you know, Mark calls me a psychopath for putting the rolls so they hang down the back. I showed him this part of the programme. The friend saying it's just personal choice and the doctor being clear that it's not choice, it's just wrong! He even goes into the loos at the hospital to take photos - because they must be professional toilet roll putter-on-ers. Mark and I laughed, a lot. 

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, so I also don't write about anything in the media, in politics etc, or share my views about anything that could cause offence or be controversial. Today is the exception. The Andrew previously known as Prince being arrested and all that, and the chat on the news about taking his succession to the thrown from him. I don't care one way or another but all I'm going to say is that Prince Harry literally walked away from the royal family and resigned from his royal role so shouldn't he been taken out of the succession!? Just saying. 

I bought this lovely spring wreath for my door. It's an artificial thing but it's pretty and I like it. Mark has only seen it from the back through the glass and all I got was "What the hell is that?" He's such a joy. 

Not really shifted the 2lb gain. It kind of fluctuates a bit but I need to remove it properly, as soon as I am able. Don't be under any illusion that I'm immune to putting lots of weight back on. Many people do after bariatric surgery so I need to be mindful cos I ain't going back! Over my dead body will I be anywhere as near as fat as I was. I like me so much better this way. 2lb be gone!

Sleep is also so much better. Not had a tablet for nearly 2 weeks and my sleep is of a higher quality if still a little short. I do cheat sometimes and go to bed around 11pm (I always get up at 7.30 am no matter what, which is the important bit) and it's not been detrimental to the plan so I'm very happy. Sleep should never be underrated! 

Have a great weekend everyone. Do something exciting, even if that's just buying a new packet of biscuits to try. Life is too short not to try the exciting biscuits.

Don't make perfect the enemy of good. 

Two!

My diet has been rubbish recently and I've put on 2 lbs! Shock horror! My excuses reasons are obvious. Mark's birthday celebration in a hotel with booze, snacks and hotel breakfast. Then my FiL's birthday with pizza. Followed by Valentine's Day and not one, but two Asda meal deals (really good value) full of UPFs though. AND me endeavouring to stay up until 12.30am! My main meal is usually 5.30pm so that's another 7 hours before bed and I get hungry and therefore snack! On top of all this is the fact that not getting enough sleep makes you snack on the sugar! No wonder I've put weight on. Though I will admit it felt very weird as this is pretty much the first time in nearly 3 years that I've put weight on. Holidays have seen wee temporary increases but this feels more permanent, or at least it will be if I don't take action. It's such a shame that I'm addicted to KitKat's just now! 

The 7 hour bed window is working though. I'm getting to sleep quicker, staying asleep and, most importantly, I feel it's quality sleep! I've not had a pill all week which means I'm not walking around like a zombie all day! I feel so much better. 

I missed strength training again this week (no 3). Anna couldn't manage but I was very much planning on going myself. But (there's always a but) I got home from work, sat down to eat and the enthusiasm seeped out of my bones. The sofa was at risk of floating away so I needed to keep it grounded. And I was desperate to finish my Netflix drama which was so good. I promise, with our without Anna, I'll be there next week! I really disappointed myself though. Which is worse than letting other people down isn't it. 

Picture this week is my silly cat sitting in the plastic tub I throw my tea towels in waiting to be washed! 

Have a great week. And the Netflix drama was called 'Unbelievable' and was excellent. Very much recommend. Bye for now x

What doesn't bend, breaks.

My memory

 

Quick sleep update - going into week 3 of my sleep app program I've had to do 'restrictive' sleeping. Based on my sleep diary of the previous 2 weeks the app calculated that I can only sleep for 7 hours this week. So because I want to get up at 7.30am I can't go to bed until 12.30am! I can't do anything in bed except sleep therefore I can only be in bed for 7 hours. Going to bed after midnight is pretty tough but I'm determined. The first night was not great. No meds that night and it took me ages to fall asleep so I was knackered but it's getting easier. This 7 hour window isn't permanent, it will grow. I'll keep you posted. 

The picture this week is Mark's birthday cake. Victoria sandwich sandwiches! They were good and I was chuffed with the design. The appearance of my cakes is normally my down fall, but these were canny.

I've mentioned my appalling memory many times but today I'm going to try to explain it to you, just because I want to and to stop the gas lighting! I know what I've forgotten or what I haven't forgotten. For example, if my boss asks me to email such and such I either do it immediately or I write a note to remind me. If I forget and my boss asks me again I'll remember that I was asked but forgot. Now if you ask me what I bought my bestie for Christmas last year and I've forgotten then I have really forgotten. She might say it was a sweater and I'll be like "oh a sweater, I don't remember that" and it was a sweater. But if she says it was Watch and I know it wasn't a watch - even though I don't remember what it was then I will know that it wasn't a watch. Even though I don't know what it was but it definitely wasn't a watch, I will be right! It's complicated but I hope you get a grasp of what I'm talking about. I know what I don't remember. 

Had a night away for Mark's birthday. Meldrum House hotel was very nice. Nice quirky room, lots of space with a big comfy bed. We had fun, I enjoyed a few drinks (my only alcohol for ages) and Bella had a great time too. 

Have a lovely week and see you next Friday xx

What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. 

Work

It's rained for a month so I thought I'd just post a nice, sunny holiday picture to cheer you all up.

I don't want to bore you but I'm sure you'd like a quick update on my insomnia. It came to a head on Friday when that feeling off wanting to weep made me actually cry. I spoke to my GP who prescribed me some pills as a temporary patch, he suggested I try the app Sleepio which is a 6 week sleep programme and he sign-posted me to psychology. The meds do help me sleep but also make me feel pretty groggy and 'drugged'. The app, I think will be helpful, at the moment I'm just logging my sleep daily (though this figure is artificial due to the meds). I've contacted psychology but nothing happened with that yet. Obviously a waiting list and I'm not convinced it will help, only because I don't believe anxiety is my problem here. Fingers crossed things improve. 

At work things have been difficult. Having to concentrate when feeling so thick-headed is tricky. My boss has been great, giving me time to get to a quieter place and doing jobs that need less brain function. I'm blessed. 

Now, I feel it's also my job to tell you how annoying my husband can be. (Don't worry, if he wrote a blog it would be full of how annoying I am - but he doesn't and I do.) I don't generally share annoyances about other people (I'm not that rude... Usually). And think about it, everyone in your life annoys you sometimes, don't they? I love my family, including my big sister. Now this annoyance really made me laugh, and if you know my big sister I'm sure you'll agree too (can you tell I'm nervous? Lol). She's a diabetic nurse and therefore an encyclopedia about sugar and carbs. And she lives by her word. The other day I was shopping for Ribena (love it hot) and asked her whether full sugar or sugar free was best. She came back with "fizzy water with berries?" No! No! And No! Ha ha I mean she's absolutely right, but no! 

Mark might annoy me but I've really missed him this last 2 weeks and I can't wait for him to come home tomorrow. It was his birthday Wednesday (he's always away snowboarding on his birthday) so we're having a nice night away to celebrate. I won't be having my sleeping pill that night as they are taken sans alcohol, and a glass or two of something will be had. Whoop whoop. 

Have a great week and I'll see you next Friday.

It's not about making right decisions. It's about making decisions right.

21st century problems

 

The first class rail lounge at Newcastle Central station. I bought a first class ticket and it was worth every penny. What a lovely journey home. 

We had a power cut one morning this week. It was 8.30am and I was just about to leave for work. The only problem was that our garage door is electric, so my car was stuck inside. There is of course a manual lever but a) I wasn't sure exactly how to use it b) it was very dark as the light wasn't on c) you need quite a bit of strength to pull it and d) my car was in the way! A quick call to work to advise I would be late. My boss said she'd send someone to pick me up. So rather than give directions to my house I said I'd walk to the village. A few moments later Anna-Marie messaged to say she was on her way. Now Anna knows where my house is but you know what? I still decided to walk! It was a relatively pleasant morning and it's only about 15 mins, and I thought the exercise would be good. I kind of amazed myself because 2½ years ago, before my weight loss, I would not have volunteered to walk even that short a distance! I actually found that I really wanted to walk. Albeit not far but walk is what I cheerfully did! 

You probably also know that 2½ years ago, after having my op, that I suddenly became an insomniac! I don't think it was the op, that's a coincidence. I think it's my post menopausal hormones, which all came at the same time. Last Wednesday after driving to Newcastle was the last ok sleep I had. It's the getting to sleep I have problems with, and it's frustrating me. I'm a nine hour needer and I've been getting maybe 4 or 5 hours. After a week of this I was so tired I honestly could have wept. I looked awful, I had headaches and I was miserable! It's amazing that I could function, but function I still did. I know all the tips and use them - cold and dark bedroom, no stimulation too close to bed, no caffeine after 3pm, warm bath in the evening etc. I've even been abstaining from alcohol and cutting down on sugar in the evenings! The only advice I don't follow is getting out of bed when sleep doesn't come, mainly because I'm convinced if I stay put I must soon fall asleep. My boss gave me some Vicks to put behind my ears - maybe a placebo but not for me as it didn't help at all. Then on Wednesday a very special person treat me to a full body massage! I also bought a magnesium spray which I was told would help, and instructions to have a bath with Epsom salts, lavender and baking soda! The massage was amazing and I came home all relaxed. But, there's always a but, I was invited next door for chat and wine. Just a couple of glasses and it was delicious. Somehow Bella managed to come to bed with me and I couldn't be bothered to take her downstairs (I'm used to Mark doing that after Bella and me have snuggled). I fell asleep fast (thanks to the drink) and woke about 2am (thanks to the drink) eventually I got back to sleep just for the cat to come into my room (Bella left the door open) and wake me up even though my alarm was off! Thursday night I tried it all again minus a massage and the wine! Lol. Alas it didn't work. 😭😭

The bird, the bee and the bat all fly, but they use different kinds of wings. 

Ouch

A colleague messaged that her Strength Training class was needing new blood, was anyone interested? Of course, me. Just what my body needed - though I didn't ask any questions just presumed it would be great. Off I went, with Anna-Marie from work, though I must add that Chloe (the instigator) wasn't there lol (she was on shift). I walked into the 'Boat Shed' to be faced with a relatively small space packed with equipment. In the end there was about 10 of us and it was a circuit. 45 seconds full pelt, 15 seconds rest to move to the next station. There was a wee treadmill, rowing machine, pull ups, ropes, medicine balls, kettle bells 16 stations in total all done twice. The next day Anna and I were feeling chuffed, nothing hurt - maybe we hadn't worked hard enough? I thought I had. Obviously, it's been so long since I've worked my body like that that I forgot it's the day after the day after i.e. today! Yes, I hurt! But a good hurt. I can't wait for next week! Bring it on. I was describing the place to a friend. I said it was like a garage, it still had the garage door, and a door for humans and it was bigger than a standard garage. She said 'Like a boat shed then?!' D'oh what a idiot I am lol. It's all in the title lol.

I have a family of rubber ducks on the side of my bath. A mum and three babies. My BiL, Richard, likes to visit my home and hide the ducks around the house for me to find - sometimes weeks later! He once took them away and sent me photos of my ducks in all kinds of situations! This visit he brought his own ducks (see pic). I found them pretty quickly - one in my car, on my picture frames, my mantle. I am now the proud mother of 10 rubber ducks! The 'elephant' ducks are my favourites. 

Mark, and Richard, are going skiing for two weeks tomorrow. Flying from Newcastle so I've come down with Mark to have a quick visit with my mum. Catching up with friends and seeing my sister and dad. I'm getting the train back Sunday ready for work. It's great being here again. We were in Newcastle city centre yesterday which is so familiar but so very strange too. Buildings and roads are the same but shops and businesses are different. Things have changed so much. It makes me sad a bit because 40 years ago I started my full time career in Newcastle and everything was just as I knew it. Obviously progress and missing decades makes everything different. I hope one day Newcastle will be as familiar to me as Aberdeen is now.

The days are long, but the years are short. 

Still surprised

I got back to work, and I'm so grateful for it. If someone told me in December that I'd get an unplanned week off work without being ill I would have been 'Yeah!' but the reality was that I got cabin fever (wasn't going far - apart from a walk with Bella), once J & R left it was only really Mark I saw and he was working all day. I felt bad about not being in the office so that wasn't great either. I didn't get paid but that's ok, I got a £48 tax refund lol. It's so nice being back though and I've been super busy! Ahhh.

Friday the weather did nothing. Saturday I attempted to drive to the local shop for my paper and there were big machinery clearing both village roads to the main street. So I went to Asda for groceries - and spent a fortune. It started to rain and by Sunday Isaac couldn't get to Asda for work because the roads were closed due to flooding! Facebook community posted loads of pictures of the huge puddles! Not sure how Isaac's little car even got through them to get to the closed road sign on the main road. From the sublime, to the ridiculous! 

I didn't put a single ounce on during Christmas. It's amazing and just doesn't get old. My before life would have seen half a stone easy. And I didn't feel cheated or compromised. I ate and drank to my best effort. Having a new normal set point has simply transformed my life for the better, and I love it so much. Praise be to the fairies and people who got me here! Thank you to so many, I hope you know who you are. 

I just want to end this week by reiterating that the dark nights are getting lighter. When I drive home in the evening it's still dark but there is a redness to the sunset and a light blue glow. Whoop! Spring will be here so soon. I've even seen my daffodils taking a sneaking peek! 

If you want to fly you have to give up what's weighing you down. 

Good grief!

Today's blog is going to be akin to War & Peace. I considered writing half now and half next week but I think that will lose the momentum. So, here we go - my diary for 2026 thus far -

Thursday 1st 

Jane & Richard are with us for the celebrations. They planned to leave on Saturday but there's snow forecast so will probably escape Friday instead. I cooked a Christmas dinner part II exactly like the week before. (This was after I'd already written last week's post.) Half way through and my brother in law goes still. You alright Richard? Nope. He has a condition where rather than his gullet using peristalsis to get food to his stomach, it goes into spasm and locks it in. Generally, it clears itself. Sometimes a mouth of coke helps. Sometimes he needs to go to hospital for an injection of a muscle relaxant. It doesn't sort itself, and coke doesn't work. Jane tries NHS24 but there's a big queue on the phone. Plus the local cottage hospital shut at 7pm and we've all been drinking! J&R decide to just try to sleep cos if Richard can sleep he'll relax. Next morning no change. 

Friday 2nd

Richard can breathe ok as it's not his windpipe just his oesophagus, but he can't swallow anything (not even saliva) and it's painful. Quick, early call to NHS24 and they tell us to take him to the Peterhead wee hospital. They give him the jab and then coke. Nothing happens other than the coke still can't be swallowed. I was in the waiting room so not privy to the actual events but I'm pretty sure the coke came out of every orifice! I'm thinking mouth, ears, nose and even coke tears. They now send him to Aberdeen, and hey it's snowing, hard and I'm driving! This is the first snow Harriet has driven in but she's doing a good job. We arrive! As you can imagine there is a lot of waiting around, a bit of nurses taking bloods, blood pressure, ECGs etc. It's still snowing with no let up. Jane and I watch it out the ward window. The doctor tells Richard he needs an endoscopy. He sends Jane and I home before it gets dark. If he's discharged he's planning on staying in an Aberdeen hotel. The roads are covered in snow and it's coming down heavily - huge snowflakes! I'm not a nervous driver but I'm not having fun. Home safe and sound but Harriet refuses to go back into the garage. Mark tries but there's too much white stuff. So she stubbornly stays parked on the drive. Mark finishes work at 6.30 just as Richard rings to say he's had the procedure and is good to go. Mark drives to Aberdeen to pick him up, with Ellie taking the opportunity to get back to her own place. Finally, about 10pm they are back, after a pretty hairy journey. 

Saturday 3rd

J & R not getting away today. I'm also not going to get to work. It snows today. And it snows some more. And more, and keeps going! It snows a lot!

Jane is on antibiotics. A couple of days ago she woke up with a very painful thumb - it's swollen, red and hot. When talking to NHS24 yesterday they tell her to go see a pharmacist. However, we can't find one online that is open - 2nd January is a bank holiday here. So when at Peterhead hospital she asked the medical staff where she might find an open pharmacy. The staff decided to treat her directly, and diagnosed gout (aka infected arthritis). Hence the prescription.

Sunday 4th

J & R still not going to get home. Richard tries to move his car. Mark tries to move mine and Isaac's. They are pretty stuck. We have plenty food - lots of chocolate and wine! The dogs are loving it. Tilly (J & R's spaniel) is so little she almost disappears in the snow. Bella bounces around as Bella does. It is still snowing!

Monday 5th

When we take the dogs out the snow is up to the top of my wellies, and that's on the flat, not including drifts. It's bloody hard work walking in it! I don't remember having such deep snow before - and it continues to snow, big fat flakes! Isaac and I can't get to work again. Jane (who watches very little TV) and I binge watch Red Eye and manage 5 episodes in one sitting. It is pretty good too.

Jane's thumb is much better but Richard is coming down with a nasty cold. Oh the joys!

Tuesday 6th

No work again. I am feeling anxious now. Everyday I wake up wondering what the weather is like, what are the roads like. Could I get to work? Should I risk it? I feel guilty not being at work when I'm not ill. If you are off sick you don't give a second thought to work, usually too busy feeling awful. But this is weird. I call my boss and she puts my mind at rest. All my paperwork will wait for me. I can catch up when I can - working more days or longer hours. I try not to think about driving and my guilt. Jane & I watch the last episode of Red Eye! Hey, I think it's stopped snowing!

Wednesday 7th

We have a bit of meltage overnight, the avalanches off the roof are so loud they wake us up. I plan on taking Isaac to work at Asda and getting some groceries. If this is successful I'll get to work tomorrow, The farmer has been up our road. J & R pack the car and set off. I watch from the window and see them get stuck in the dip of our road. Richard is reversing then tries again, then tries again. Mark gets his boots on to walk down to give them a push...but they manage to pull away. 2 mins later Jane phones me to say they are stuck again, just round the corner at the school. Some time later she calls again. They are at the top of the road that leads to the main road. A car is stuck coming up the hill so they can't get down. Richard, and another guy, help 2 nurses that are stuck on the adjacent road. They then help the stuck car coming up the hill. After 40 mins since leaving my house they get to the main Peterhead/Mintlaw road - it's about 1 mile!! OK, I'm not going anywhere today - Richard tells me the roads are really not good.

9 hours later they are home in Worcestershire. Phew.

It rains a bit today and the snow is melting still. I set my alarm clock ready for work tomorrow and Mark gets my car back in the garage!

Thursday 8th

I get up and open the curtains. What?! I can not believe it. It has only bloody snowed again overnight. A good 3 or 4 inches! All the bits that were uncovered yesterday are covered again. Mark walks to the village shop with me and Bella. The roads are horrendous again. We help a couple of cars that are stuck. One ends up reversing all the way down the road because he just can't get up the hill. The shop has 2 loaves of bread (I buy both, one for us and one for next door), some eggs but they have no milk. I mean the shop's shelves are empty bar the odd tin or chocolate box!

The farmer ploughs the road, he ploughs our drive and behind our house. My car is now inadvertently stuck in the garage as the plough piles the snow up against it - oops. I wonder if I could now get to the supermarket (in Isaac's car obvs) - we plan to go after Mark finishes work so that I don't get stranded by myself. It is a lovely sunny day, things looking good. Seeing is not believing. Mark thinks the plough has made our road worse. In spite of the sun it is the coldest day yet. The flattened snow is just ice. The snow is piled abstractedly on top. No shopping today. 

I go to bed wondering what on earth the weather will bring. I'm feeling low and anxious again. If tomorrow is no go, I will not get my knickers in a twist. Next week will be better and no one will get harmed if I don't get to my desk. I must chill, like the weather outside my window.

If you are still reading this, well done. I'm impressed. I'm expecting most of you to give up by Sunday. I hope all my readers in Aberdeenshire are safe and warm. See you next week.

Thank you for the free 7 day trial of 2026, but I think I will cancel my subscription!

2026

 

Thank you for popping in to read my great wisdom on starting a new year (tongue in cheek). Resolutions are so last year. This Hogmanay is all about the manifesting, apparently. Of course, we all know what I'm manifesting so we won't bother talking about it. And, on top of that, is the forever mundane (but oh so true) health and happiness of my family and friends. Now the nitty gritty. Let's be specific, I want this year to be, on top of the obvious, a great year for health and wealth. I mean, no way am I promising to go to the gym, or walk more or play more sport. But, and it's a little but, I want to dance more and enjoy moving. The wealth part is a little beyond my control though it could be something to do with spending less. I love my holidays and breaks so that might prove tricky but I will state, here and now, not too buy too many clothes or make-up!

The picture is my crazy daughter. My sister and BiL came up for new year and we spent the evening off the 23rd in the garden, as you do in December! Fairy lights, candles, mulled cider and pizza from the pizza oven. Just lush!

2026 is the anniversary of writing this blog. In June it will be a full decade of weekly writing! 10 years of chatter! What started out as very much a tool to help me lose weight, education on diets and failure of getting thin has morphed into just my thoughts and opinions and general waffle. Thank you to all that have been with me from day one! Without you reading i wouldn't be writing! Bam! 

This week's general chatter is about tea (the drink). Before my op 2½ years ago I drank coffee, with the odd cup of tea or mug of hot chocolate. Now I can't really drink hot chocolate at all and I only drink coffee at work. Tea is my drink of choice at home, and it's taken me this whole time to figure out how I actually like it. It started as pretty weak with milk. I've never had sugar in tea so that wasn't in the equation. A couple of weeks ago I had a revelation that I actually liked fairly strong tea (but not builders) with a tiny splash of milk, but a big splash of cold water (just because I don't have an asbestos mouth). Bingo! How I like my tea. Stick it in a china cup and I'm just in heaven! Add a rich tea biscuit and I'll love you forever! 

The best way out is always through.