Why is it that January always seems to last forever? It feels like New Year was ages ago and yet it was only 20 days… we are barely through the month! 🤣
I heard they call yesterday (19th), the 3rd Monday of the New Year, “Blue Monday” as it’s supposed to be the most depressing day of the year! According to the AI bod on the internet, this is due to a mix of cold weather, post-holiday debt & failed New Year’s resolutions… although there’s most likely a few people out there suffering from these three issues, you might not be surprised to hear there’s apparently no scientific research behind this and it’s more likely to stem from a clever marketing ploy to get us all to book a winter sun holiday! Hilarious how we are all so gullible 🤣
Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but we have had a pretty busy week or so…
I’ve been back to the Docs after a second blood test which again came back all clear, so definitely not rheumatoid arthritis (hurray!). The Doc referred me to get my hands X-ray’d (along with my chest as I’ve had a cough for well over 4-weeks now…) and I managed to get an appointment which coincided with Pete having to be at the hospital for his CT Scan yesterday – so that was good!
I got talking to the Doc about everything that’s been going on with Pete and life in general and she has suggested that some of the issues I’m experiencing (aches, pains, lack of sleep, tiredness etc) might be down to the menopause so we talked about the pros and cons of HRT which I wasn’t expecting! Anyway, the long and short of it is, I have decided to give HRT a go. I left the Docs with my first prescription (our Medical Centre is great! No faffing about with prescriptions being sent off to a pharmacist & having to wait a day or so… the Doc went straight to the pharmacy next to reception, printed off the prescription herself and came out with the medication about 5 minutes later!) and started on the patches and tablets that same day!
I have now been on the HRT for a week… Do I feel any better? Although it’s only been a few days, I think I do! Although I am still only averaging 6-6.5 hours sleep, I feel like I am sleeping more soundly and feel a bit more energized / less foggy-brained during the day… so maybe it’s working?
I am sure I would feel even better & have less aches and pains if I shed a few pounds too and, funnily enough, I suddenly feel a bit more positive about weight loss and eating more healthily… another example of the HRT clearing my head at least, maybe? I really have been eating far too much crap over the past few weeks – cakes, chocolate, a pizza (see below) etc! But am feeling stronger and in a better frame of mind… besides, most of us know how losing just a few lbs in weight can make you feel like a million dollars & so different, so here I go..! My body is a temple and all that 🤣
Pete has been making a steady recovery following his last round of chemo… he was extremely tired for the first week and had the oral thrush as usual but since then, he is definitely on the up.
I can tell he’s getting back to his usual self slowly as he bought a car off e-bay which meant we had to drive 120 miles to Stranraer to pick it up! 🤣🤣
Actually, it was good as it meant we got a sneaky overnight stay in Port Patrick on Saturday night (17th) which was lovely – like a mini little holiday and our first night away since September last year! The hotel we stayed in overlooked the harbour and it was a nice, almost wind-less, day which meant we could have a little walk.
It was so nice to see the sea! Oh, and the new car (a 10-year old Nissan X-Trail) drives like a dream! Much more comfy than our old Mokka…
Collecting the new car on Sunday from a lovely family with the most amazing new build house (all mod cons including underfloor heating and the most enormous windows providing a stunning view over Loch Ryan), meant that Pete also had to drive the old car home – the first time he has driven since about last August! Progress is being made – brilliant!
Of course, having a new car meant that we were briefly a 3-car family… I say briefly as we headed off to Galashiels after our stop at the hospital yesterday and sold the Mokka to “We buy any car” – so now back to just the 2 cars! Thank you Paul Beck – your recent experience with “We Buy Any Car” meant we knew what to expect and managed to get the price we wanted!
We have decided that we probably only need one car now so Pete is going to look at flogging the Mini next – it will be good to have just one lot of car expenses for change!
So, what else has been going on…
We have managed a few nice walks around the village and spotted our first snowdrop down by the river… it’s good to know that spring is definitely on the way!
Last Wednesday (15th) I had my first FaceTime call with Mum this year… She seemed happy enough and was waiting her turn to see the hairdresser! I have planned to go and see her in person on the 27th & cannot wait!
Pete spent an hour on the phone to his sister-in-law Anne & brother John that day & I did likewise with my Niece, Emily…
We even had surprise call from Pete’s sister Catherine that same day which was nice… however, she called to say one of Pete’s younger brothers was very poorly in hospital which was obviously not nice… I hope he’s ok and making a speedy recovery 🤞❤️
Ooo, and it was also announced that the Tour de France 2027 is going to be starting in Edinburgh and will come straight through the village on the way to Carlisle! Having been in Yorkshire the last time the Grand Départ was in the UK, we are looking forward to this as it was a great event then… I remember we went to see the cyclist whizz past in Skipton (followed by a few bevvies with our Louise after ❤️) and also the following day when they went through Silsden & up the bypass to Keighley (we were living in Steeton at the time so the race more or less came past our front door!) the following day… it was a fantastic atmosphere so it’s brilliant that we get to do it all again literally 50 metres from our house! After Carlisle, the route heads from Keswick to Liverpool so it seems Louise will get to see it in her hometown too! Lucky us😊
The Tour de France Grand Départ from Edinburgh! From the TdF website:
STAGE 1 I 2/07 – EDINBURG > CARLISLE – 184 KM
Heading south from the Scottish capital, this stage could well suit the sprinters, allowing one of them to pull on the first Yellow Jersey. Running through very rural terrain, the route features some magnificent scenery. It’s undulating too, reaching an altitude of 400 metres, but the climbing is almost always on long false flats and there’s only one categorized ascent on the menu. The final section, which is flat and will take the race from Scotland into England, leads into Carlisle where there’s a short finishing straight.
In preparation for Louise & family’s visit in a few weeks, we have done some research into the quality of food being offered by our new Bistro 🤣 They are only doing takeaway at the moment but Pete enjoyed the fish & chips & my pizza, although not quite a Dominoes, was alright – that should save on cooking at least one night when the family are here!
fully opening soon in the village
So, that’s all our news – a busy few days but all good. We are having a lazy day today as I’m worried Pete’s been overdoing it a bit with all the driving etc although we have had a great few days! Next week, we have our new fireplace being put in so am sure we will be in a bit of disarray… I might not be able to blog until that’s finished – we will see! TTFN xxx
All the gubbins… 
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