A Work In Progress

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For any of you reading my blog over the last few years, you will be aware I have had a constant battle with my weight. I have always been a yoyo dieter, with an all or nothing attitude. I am either sticking to a diet 100% or I am completely off it, consuming everything and anything that I think I shouldn’t be eating. I have tried all the usual avenues of slimming clubs, weight loss shakes and online diets. Each time I have lost weight, but always put it all back on, each time becoming heavier

A Diabetes Diagnosis

During the earlier summer of 2024, I started to feel generally unwell. My eating was out of control as I was craving sugary foods all the time and eating far too many processed foods. I was constantly tired, my joints were aching, I was irritable and had tummy upsets most of the time and had started with a pain in the right hand side of my stomach. After going away on holiday a couple of times and feeling unwell i decided that I need to see the doctor. I presumed that it was my IBS that was flaring up, particularly due to my bad eating habits.

At the end of September I went to see my GP, who listened to all my symptoms and carried out a number of tests to check for anything serious. Luckily all the tests came back without any major concerns, apart from my blood sugar being very high and my liver function being poor. The tests for these were completed again four weeks later. At that point my liver function had improved, but my blood sugar had increased (HbA1c test) and was now at 68. It was at this point I was informed that when I had been for a wellness check 2 years prior to this, my blood sugar was slightly high at 48 and I was considered diabetic at that point. Unfortunately no one had ever given me these results and my blood sugar had slowly been increasing over two years.

I was prescribed metformin to try and reduce my blood sugar and was referred to the diabetic nurse for further advice and other health checks which I now needed. The appointment with the diabetic nurse was at the beginning of December. Prior to the appointment I tried to cut down on the amount of sugary and processed foods I was eating. I had just read Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, which was a real eye opener regarding the ingredients in processed food and the reasons why it was so difficult to stop eating them.

A change in direction

After my appointment with the diabetic nurse, I was ready to start a drastic change in my eating habits. Luckily I had no issues with my feet when they had been checked, but was advised to be really careful with my feet, particularly as I love walking around in bare feet, even outside. I was also referred for an eye screening, which again came back clear.

Once I had made the decision to change my eating habits, I found it exciting exploring what I should avoid eating and the types of foods that I could actually eat, which I had avoided whilst on “low fat diets”. I was advised to eat lots of protein, full fat dairy products, lots of vegetables and not as much fruit. I found it easier to fill up and stay full, without snacking all the time. I thought avoiding rice, pasta, bread and potatoes as the basis for my meals, but once I got going I really started to enjoy it. It was the first time in most of my adult life that I wasn’t concentrating on eating to lose weight. I was now concentrating on eating healthily, keeping full and reducing my blood sugar.

I started to really read the ingredients on packages of food and avoiding anything that had a lot of ingredients in them, particularly ones that I did not recognise the names of. I started really thinking about anything that I might have as a treat and asking myself if it would be worth it rather than just eating mindlessly. I did have a few setbacks along the way and occasionally slip back into bad habits of eating things like cereal for breakfast, toast and sandwiches for lunch, or having a day where I really just want to eat cakes and biscuits.

The really exciting thing about all this was that I started to lose weight steadily but each week my weight was dropping. I was not counting calories, points or sins and I wasn’t starving myself. I was eating good healthy foods, healthy fats, nuts, eggs, dairy produce and adding a small amount of carbs to some of my meals.

Reintroducing Exercise

Once I had lost a little bit of weight I decided that I needed to start introducing some proper exercise again. Although I love walking, I knew that in order to tone up and keep the weight off I would have to do something more than just going out for a walk. My daughter Izzy had just completed her training to become a personal trainer and wanted to specialise in women’s fitness, particularly around pregnancy, post natal and menopause.

I joined the gym and she helped me to build a programme around the areas I wanted to improve. As I was losing more weight, I was unhappy with the tone of my skin and the flabbiness around the areas where the fat had gone. Izzy helped me with some weight training to help build muscle around where I was looking a bit floppy and also concentrated on “functional fitness”, which will help me keep flexible and mobile as I get older.

The exercise and healthy eating has really made a difference. Izzy took photos of me in January and again in April, as its quite often hard to see the changes in yourself. I was really pleased with the changes I had made and when I went on holiday this year and throughout the warm weather through the summer I have felt more confident wearing shorts and other outfits that I would not normally wear.

Just keep going

By March, my blood sugars had come down to 48 and I had lost over two stones in weight. By June, this had dropped to 42 and another half a stone in weight. I was taken off the metformin and was no longer classed as diabetic. I still need to lose some more weight, but I still need to concentrate on keeping healthy, avoiding the sugar and the processed foods. I am still being monitored and remain under the supervision of the diabetic nurse.

I have slipped back into some old habits over the summer months, particularly cold fizzy drinks, ice creams and picnic foods, which are all high in sugar and processed ingredients, However I still eat really healthy meals and try wherever possible to keep within the guidelines. I know that this is not a quick fix, or losing weight for a special occasion, this will be a lifelong journey and in order to keep as fit and healthy as possible I need to just keep going.

Izzy is really great at motivating me, both with healthy eating, exercise and just the general encouragement whenever I need it.

If you are looking for some help with a fitness plan I have copied Izzy’s link below.

https://www.instagram.com/improvewithiz/

A Sunshine break in Gran Canaria

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It’s been a little while since we had a relaxing holiday in the sun, so it was great to be able to get away to Gran Canaria for a week. Me and my husband, Andrew travelled with our eldest daughter Meg and her partner Ed, and our youngest daughter Izzy and grandson Walter. We had booked all-inclusive at the Tui Blue resort Orquedia at Bahia Feliz. This is the first time we have been all-inclusive and it was definitely a good choice.

First plane journey with a toddler

We took a mini bus to Manchester airport from our home address, which meant that we could all travel together. The booking in process and security all went smoothly, with everyone being friendly and helpful. The flight was delayed for around an hour, but once aboard, our grandson was allowed to go sit in the cockpit and have his photo taken. All the air crew were amazing, assisting all the young families onboard. Our grandson Walter was really settled through most of the flight and when he did become tired and upset at one point, the cabin crew took him and my daughter to sit in the crew area so that she could calm him down, which was reassuring. He didn’t fall asleep at all on the plane, but nodded off when we got on the transfer coach.

Hotel Orquedia

The hotel had everything you needed for a great week away. The rooms were spotless, as was the rest of the hotel. The grounds were picturesque, with plenty of areas of shade or sun, whichever you prefer. There were a number of swimming pools, including a splash area for toddlers, a shaded shallow pool for babies, a shallow pool with a slide for children, a deeper pool for inflatable and a larger pool for swimming and the daily activities. There were a couple of playgrounds and a number of buildings where children could go and play, which were in addition to the paid children’s clubs. My grandson loved going to the stay and play which was in a lovely air conditioned building with lots of tubs of toys.

The restaurant was light and airy, with a seating area outside. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice for each meal. There was also a snack bar and drinks by the pool. We all enjoyed the food throughout the week, eating a variety of fresh healthy foods, fruit salads, vegetables, as well as lots of desserts. It was great that we were all able to eat different foods and try things which we might not normally eat.

All the staff were friendly and ensured everyone was having a great time. We couldn’t have asked for anything better from a hotel.

Enjoying family time

The week away gave us a lot of time to spend together as a family. The first couple of days were spent by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the surroundings. We were in and out of the pool and the playgrounds. We took it in turns to keep an eye on Walter or to take him for a walk through the grounds when he was tired. In the evening, we all got together to go down to the restaurant, and then afterwards into the pool bar for the evening entertainment. Each night there was a children’s disco. There was then a quiz, which we joined in most nights. We often came second or third, but never won! This was then followed by a show by the entertainment team, which were good fun.

Having a decent nap during the day meant that Walter could stay up later and enjoy the entertainment, although he often prepared to go out into the grounds and the playground to run around. When he went to bed on an evening, it gave me and Andrew chance to spend time with Meg and Ed.

Throughout the rest of the week we had more time to relax, as well as join in with some of the activities. It was a lovely balance of spending time altogether, people doing their own thing. I took Walter to a couple of the organised activities for toddlers. Our two daughters spent a morning together. Meg and Ed went off to spend some time on their own. Me and the girls enjoyed a few of the exercise classes including aqua aerobics, yoga and the very adventurous yoga and Hit classes on a paddle board in the pool.

We got to meet some nice families and it’s always great to see how easily little children make friends. On an afternoon, we would often see the same families walking around pushing prams trying to get their toddlers to sleep.

On a couple of the afternoons the bar was open for “happy hour” where there was a cocktail of the day, snacks and a musician playing. It was so relaxing sitting under the shade outside listening to music in such lovely surroundings.

Palmitos Park

We had a trip to Palmitos Park one day, travelling there by bus, which took around 45 minutes. It was an extremely hot day, but the zoo was not too busy and there was plenty of shade. Walter enjoyed seeing all the animals and liked the lizards and crocodiles more than any of the bright coloured birds or furry animals. During the day there was a dolphin show, which was very entertaining and also educational. Although it was a really good day out, I am always in two minds how I feel about animals in captivity. It gives children a chance to see animals up close, which they otherwise may not have chance to do. The zoo promotes the rescue and protection of the animals, but I much prefer to see the animals out in their natural habitat.

Overall we had a great holiday. We all came home with a suntan, relaxed and having enjoyed some quality time together. What more could you want from a holiday?

The Good, The Bad and The Phenomenal

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It’s been theatre time again over the last few weeks. Sometimes we don’t seem to go see a show for ages and then suddenly we are going numerous times. One was good (well better than good, but I saved phenomenal for later), one was bad (It probably sounds a bit harsh, but it was awful) and the final one was phenomenal.

I’ll start with the “Good”

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

I have not seen many ballets compared to other types of shows and have generally seen ones where I am already familiar with the story. When I was given the opportunity to see Swan Lake, I jumped at the chance, as I know Matthew Bourne’s work is very different to the classic ballets. I went with my eldest daughter to Bradford Alhambra when the show was touring a couple of weeks ago.

I certainly wasn’t disappointed! The music alone is beautiful to listen to, but coupled with the amazing dancing it was magnificent. From the moment it started, I was entranced. There was so much to look at on the stage throughout the whole performance. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. The style of dancing was unusual and quirky in parts, but so satisfying to watch. The swans were such powerful dancers, graceful and strong and sometimes a little bit scary. The costumes were impressive and unexpected, from long flowing gowns, sparkly mini dresses and pyjamas There was not a traditional tutu in sight.

There were some very dark moments in the story, which were projected so well through the dancing, but there is also a lot of lighter moments which made the audience laugh out loud. I would definitely like to see some more of Bourne’s work, as it gives a completely different slant to ballet which I really enjoyed

Bat out of Hell

I was looking forward to this as I had never seen it before, but sadly I was very disappointed. It was bad! I didn’t read the synopsis before I went, but then I very rarely do, as I hope that the show itself would tell the story for me. Unfortunately it didn’t. It was a very weird mixed-up story with characters that didn’t seem to know who they were or what they were portraying.

Some of the singing was good, but a lot of it wasn’t. At first I thought they were having issues with technology, as they were passing hand held microphones between the cast whilst singing, which apparently is meant to appear more like a rock concert, but just made it look a bit amateurish. The acting from most of the cast was lack-lustre and at times downright annoying.

There were some scenes when I wasn’t sure whether it was trying to be a parody, a comedy or whether the performances were meant to be serious. There were a couple of moments in it where it was just downright cringey. The cameraman videoing for the screen throughout was distracting. It also felt like there were too many people on stage. It reminded me of a school performance where everyone is given something to do, which is fine on those occasions, but not in a full on professional production.

At the interval my friend asked me “Is he meant to be dead” and my reply was “I don’t know and I really don’t care”. It is the first time I have been to a show where I considered leaving at the interval.

The second half wasn’t any better and I spent the last half an hour just waiting for it to be over. I feel for the performers involved, as I don’t think this show did some of them justice. My husband quite rightly pointed out that the band were amazing and he had spent most of the show watching them rather than the performers on stage. They definitely put in 100% effort. There were lots of people in the audience who absolutely loved it and I have heard and read rave reviews, but this was definitely not for me.

Kinky Boots

This is one of my favourite shows and I was very excited to see Joahnnes Radebe taking the part of Lola. I have never heard him sing and there are some big numbers in this production, but he hit every note and his portrayal of Lola was funny, moving and uplifting.

The whole cast were exceptional in all aspects of singing, dancing and acting. It is hard to pick people out of such a great cast, but the characterisation of Lauren was one of the best I have seen and had me in stitches at times. The choreography was wonderful and it just filled me with joy to watch the dancing with Johannes at the centre.

There have been a few changes since I last saw it. The set has been altered slightly, but gives more room for the superb dance numbers. There are quite a few different costumes to previous production, but I thought they worked really well. The other difference is that the Angels are more diverse looking which is more in keeping with the shows ethos of being yourself and accepting people for who they are.

This was an absolutely wonderful night out and I left the theatre feeling elated and singing along to the songs for the rest of the week. It was so good in fact that we went back to see it again later in the week and it was just as good!

A Trio of Theatre Visits

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Just recently I have been lucky enough to enjoy three trips to the theatre. All of them were to shows I’ve not seen live before. I’ve done a little review on each one

Hamilton

Bradford Alhambra was the location for the touring production of Hamilton. I have seen the Broadway version which was filmed and shown on the Disney channel, but was looking forward to seeing the live version in person.

Firstly I have to say that it was much better for seeing live, as most things are. When the show first came to the UK several years ago, there was a lot of hype surrounding it.

Although the music isn’t generally the type of music I would listen to, I enjoyed the score. I would say that there are a couple of really good songs, which do stick in your mind, but on the whole, it’s not one of those where I travelled home unable to stop singing. The production was amazing, as was the choreography. I was able to hear more clearly the words of the songs than when I watched it on TV.

In my opinion, I think the cast did a great job. I really enjoyed the production and I can understand all the hype when it was first produced. It was great to see something I had not seen before, but it isn’t one I would be rushing back to see.

Only Fools and Horses

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this one. It was a TV comedy I grew up with and I always found it funny, but wasn’t sure how it would lend itself to being a musical. It was on tour and we saw it at Leeds Grand Theatre.

The show is built around the upcoming wedding of Rodney. There were all the usual jokes, bad French phrases and physical comedy you would expect. The cast were excellent, bringing the characters to life on stage. The singing and music were good. There were no real memorable musical numbers, other than the theme tune, which was used at the beginning and then during scene changes.

All in all it was a really good night. There were lots of laughs out loud moments and great characterisation. It worked really well as an entertaining piece of theatre, appealing to fans of the show.

Calamity Jane

This was one I was really looking forward to. It was a firm favourite with my family when we were young. My children always loved watching the film when they were little and my husband was in the school production when he was younger. The touring production was at Leeds Grand Theatre.

The show was excellent, with everything you would expect from a traditional musical. The ensemble were incredible, playing musical instruments alongside singing, dancing and acting. They put their heart and soul into
all the big musical numbers, with some excellent choreography and great singing.

However, I know this is likely to be an unpopular opinion, but I wasn’t a huge fan of Carrie Hope Fletcher’s portrayal of Calamity. She was good, but there were times, particularly in the first act when I couldn’t hear what she was singing. She also appeared a bit laboured in some of the dance numbers. I know she is seen as a big ticket seller and has a massive following, but I have seen other less well known performers over the years, who could have done a better job.

This did not spoil it though as the whole show was fast paced and left you uplifted and singing your head off on the way home, which is just what you need from a night at the theatre

Reflections For A New Year

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Thoughts on Being a Grandparent

In July 2023 my husband and I became grandparents to a gorgeous little boy called Walter. I hadn’t mentioned this on my blog before for a number of reasons, but as it is new year, it is a good time to reflect on this huge change in our lives. There aren’t any photographs on the blog as my daughter made the decision (very wise, in my opinion) not to have his photo on any social media. My youngest daughter, Isobel, really wanted to be a mum and after moving in with her partner to their new house, they announced in December 2023 that they were having a baby.

I must admit that my initial reaction wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was really pleased for them, but not sure I was ready to be a grandparent. I also felt anxious about her and the baby and worried that something would happen along the way. When I was pregnant all those years ago, I never felt any of these fears, but for some reason with her, these stayed with me throughout the whole pregnancy. It was something I only voiced to a few people, as it was a difficult thing to explain.

I was very excited about a baby in the family and felt an enormous relief when he arrived safely. The moment of joy on seeing him for the first time was indescribable. Anyone who is a grandparent will know this instant feeling of love towards a child who isn’t your own, but is the closest thing to it. Over the next few weeks it became clear that Isobel was an amazing mum and it was incredible seeing Walter changing each time we saw him. It was wonderful to spend time with him and be part of his little world.

In November 2023 we had a shock when Isobel and her partner split up. It was a difficult time for all of us, but we adjusted and supported her as much as we could. In June 2024 when she was due to return to work, she moved back in with us. Over time we have made adjustments to the house to accommodate her and Walter.

He is now almost 18 months old and is so funny and clever. Watching him learn new things almost every day is just astounding. He has a cheeky little personality and keeps us all on our toes. Seeing things through a child’s eyes makes everything seem much brighter somehow. His eagerness and wonder at seeing things for the fist time makes those things exciting again. The major milestones such as sitting up, crawling and walking are some of the greatest moments. You can’t help but smile when you hear him chattering as soon as he wakes up on a morning, even though we don’t always know what he says. Him waving and saying “hiya” when you come through the door after work is delightful. Seeing him fast asleep after a busy day is heart warming.

I sometimes worry that I have become one of those people who talks about their grandchild all the time. Am I at risk of becoming a baby bore? I probably am and quite frankly I don’t really care. Many of our friends and family have grandchildren too and they are always the first thing we chat about when we meet up.

At times it has been exhausting having broken sleep or running around after him all day. There have been difficult and frustrating moments. Having 3 adults and a child living under one roof again can sometimes be stressful. We very rarely have the house to ourselves and it is even rarer that our house is spotlessly clean and tidy. It wasn’t what we planned for this time in our lives, but being able to spend so much time with our grandson whilst he is so young is wonderful. We have developed such a bond with him and we really miss him when we don’t see him for a few days. We know that he won’t be little for ever and these moments are so precious.

In the future we hope that he will remember this as a very happy time in his life and the bonds we have built now will remain strong throughout his life.

A Scotland Getaway (4)

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Bone Caves

Thursday morning was misty and drizzly, but the forecast promised dry and warm weather for the afternoon. We had a late breakfast and a drive into Lochinver to buy pies for tea from the Lochinver Larder.
Around 2pm we made our way to the car park for the walk to Bone Caves. We had seen lots of deer rutting here on a previous visit and some of us were not keen to encounter them on this occasion. However, there were no deer in sight, so we were able to set off on our walk.
The walk follows the river up the valley, passing a waterfall and lots of underground springs. Crossing a dry river bed, we then started the climb up the stone steps towards the caves. It is quite steep and rocky underfoot, but worth the climb, as you are soon able to see the caves at the top.
The caves are small, but you can go inside each one and almost stand up. The caves were excavated in 1889 by the geologists Peach and Horne. They found the remains of animals which once roamed the Highlands including lynx, polar bear, arctic fox and lemmings. It is believed that the caves may have once sheltered these animals and also the humans who hunted them.
There is a slightly different path setting off down from the caves, but it soon meets the original path back into the car park. There were a few deer to see on the hillside on the walk down, but luckily none that we had to come into close contact with.

The Old Man of Stoer

Today the weather was good in the morning, although a little blustery. We decided to set of earlier and walk in the morning before the storm came in which was forecast for the afternoon.
The walk began at Stoer Lighthouse and is mostly a sheep track which is tricky underfoot due to the rocks and the boggy grass and mud. Very soon we were treated to some gorgeous views of the rugged coast and eventually the Old Man of Stoer. This impressive stack reaches out of the sea at 70 metres high.

We continued to walk along the coastal path, reaching the Point of Stoer, giving stunning views in all directions. We sheltered out of the wind whilst we ate our lunch.
The path back to the lighthouse is a little less wet and rugged and eventually leads onto a track which is much steadier underfoot.
Once back at the car, we made our way back to the lodge for a final dip in the hot tub and packing ready to begin our journey home.


A Scotland Getaway (3)

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The Drumbeg Loop & Scourie

On Tuesday the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear blue. We decided to go out for a drive, heading off towards the beach at Scourie.

It’s a very scenic drive from Lochinver, with some winding roads. The beach at Scourie is beautiful, with lots of pebbles and shells. After a hit chocolate from the food van, we had a lovely stroll on the beach, taking in the scenery and the fresh air.

We then drove around the Drimbeg loop, another scenic route, taking us back to the lodge.
In the evening, after cooking chilli for tea, we lit the fire pit and sat outside toasting marshmallows. It was quite a windy evening, so we didn’t stay out too long, but it was a lovely way to spend the evening outdoors.

River Inver and Glencanisp Circuit

On Wednesday the rain was lashing down, but the forecast said it would blow over and we would have a fine afternoon. In anticipation we packed sandwiches, ready for a walk when the weather changed.

As promised the rain blew over and the afternoon was fine and unseasonably warm. We walked from the lodge down into Lochinver then followed the circuit which takes you along the River Inver then over the glen, past Canisp Lodge and back into Lochinver.
The first part of the walk is by the fast flowing river, but you are soon climbing with the river below you. Further up you drop again to the side of the river, which is more sedate and there are areas set for anglers. Eventually you leave the river and head upwards across the glen, giving great views. Due to the rain, it was muddy in parts, but it was a great walk. We stopped off near the lodge and it was warm enough to sit without jackets whilst we ate our sandwiches.
Once back down in Lochinver, we made the steady climb back to the lodge and into the hot tub and a restful evening.

A Scotland Getaway (2)

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On our first day at Waterloo Lodge, it was a little bit overcast with a watery sun trying to break through. We had a lovely brunch (it should have been breakfast, but eggs had been missed from our shopping, so someone had to go and pick up eggs before we could start!) of poached eggs on toast, with potato cakes made with leftover mash from the previous evening.

Culag Woods

We set off from the lodge and headed off down towards the harbour at Lochinver. We were surprised to see, what was once a busy working port, now looking abandoned, almost as if everyone had left in a hurry.
Once past the harbour we turned left into the woods on “Billy’s Path”. The walk is extremely pretty, with plenty to see along the way, including a wishing tree, sculptures of dragon flies and a beautiful pebble beach. There are also lots of viewpoints. It is undulating and a bit slippy in parts. I managed to slip on the boardwalk, hitting my face on my husband’s knee as he reached it to stop me, banging my nose. I recovered quickly and other than a slight bloody nose, I was relatively unscathed. Everyone made sure I was okay before bursting into fits of laughter.
The trees in the woods are covered in lichen, which indicates good air quality. It definitely felt you were breathing in clear air and despite being near the harbour it felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, especially as we saw very few people along the way.


The walk took a couple of hours, as we took time to enjoy the views and scenery. We then walked back up the hill to the lodge.

We had a restful afternoon and evening, cooking curry for tea and then relaxing watching a film.

Achmelvic Beach Coastal Walk

On Monday it was a fine, but blustery day. After breakfast we set off towards Achmelvic beach to walk along the coast.

This is another area of outstanding coastal views and stunning beaches. The walk is fairly easy, with an undulating path, but fairly well marked paths. Near the end of the walk, before returning, there is an old mill ruin, which you get to by crossing stepping stones through the stream. However, there has been so much rain the steps were covered in water which was running really fast, so we decided not to cross.
Our return took us almost the same route, stopping at a couple of beaches on the way.
Returning to the lodge, we had an afternoon of chilling in the hot tub and sauna, leaving us feeling relaxed at the end of a great day.


A Scotland Getaway

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A couple of nights in Stirling

This week we travelled to Lochinver on the north west coast of Scotland. It is a nine hour journey by car from our home in Yorkshire so we broke the distance by staying for a couple of nights in Stirling.
We travelled to The King Robert Hotel on the Thursday, but as there were six of us we had booked into Bruce’s Cottage which is in the grounds of the hotel. The cottage was set out well for six adults and very clean and comfortable. We ate in the restaurant at the hotel. The food was excellent and exceptionally good value.

On the Friday, after a good nights sleep, we had breakfast before setting off to the Falkirk Wheel a short drive away. The wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift, created to assist the swift passage of canal boats, rather than taking over five hours to travel up a flight of eleven locks. The gondola takes about five minutes to rotate, lifting the boats thirty five metres to connect with the canal above.
It’s a pretty impressive sight from the ground and the mechanism and engineering behind it blew my mind. On the boat however it is very difficult to tell that you are even moving. Before you know where you are, you are high up on the canal overlooking the vast Scottish landscape.

After leaving the boat, the rain began pouring down, so we decided to head of towards the Helix Visitors Centre where we had a lovely lunch after which the rain had stopped a little. We then went outside to walk around the amazing Kelpies. They are a pair of thirty metre sculptures of steel horse heads, rising out of the ground in spectacular fashion. The sculptures are a fabulous sight and well worth a visit.
As it stayed fine we walked further up the road and around the lake before heading back to the car before the rain came again.

We went back to the hotel for our evening meal and had another good night’s sleep before getting up to start the remainder of our journey to Lochinver. After picking up our shopping from the local Tesco, we went for breakfast at the nearby River House Restaurant. The food was absolutely gorgeous and the surroundings equally so!

Travelling towards Lochinver, we took another very slight detour to the scenic area of Aviemore. We visited the ski centre for a coffee break and a leg stretch. The ski centre was impressive, with lots of activities to do outside of the ski season.
We then continued our journey north, towards Lochinver, another 3 hours away. The drive takes you through some stunning countryside and panoramic views. Seeing deer in the wild as you are travelling through is an added bonus.
We finally arrived at our home for the week, Waterloo Lodge, high upon the hillside overlooking the harbour of Lochinver with a stunning view of Suilven.


London Theatre Trip

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It was definitely time for a another theatre trip to London. My daughter and I usually go to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre near her birthday in August. This year we struggled to find a weekend when we were both free, so our visit was delayed until almost the end of September.

Meg has recently moved out of Central London to Leighton Buzzard, into a lovely apartment by the canal with her boyfriend. I travelled on the train on Friday afternoon. It was more straightforward to travel into London’s Kings Cross, walk to Euston and catch the train back out to Leighton Buzzard. There are other ways to do it, but this seemed the quickest and easiest route. It was a pleasure to sit on the train, eat my lunch and read my book without any interruptions. It’s very rare I get chance to sit for two hours without having to get up to do something. It may sound sad, but it felt like a bit of a treat.

There were no issues on the train and I arrived in Leighton Buzzard around 4pm and was met at the station by Ed. After a catch up on the latest news and events, we had a tasty risotto cooked by Ed (referred to as dinner by them, but tea if you live further north). We then played a few card and board games, followed by Tiramisu for desert. It was a very enjoyable evening and it was relaxing to be looked after by someone else instead of running round after everyone.

On Saturday morning, I slept longer than usual, due to the quietness and darkness (we don’t really get this at home as we live near a main road) and as a bonus, the weather was glorious. We had a breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and freshly baked croissants before catching the train into London.

Neither of us really knew what we wanted to do, so we walked from the Euston Station heading towards Regents Park, thinking we would have a little walk whilst we decided what to do. We didn’t really want to go shopping and it was too nice to be inside, so we ended up spending the whole of the day in the park. We walked (a lot!), sat and had a drink and a snack and listened to jazz at the bandstand (although it was almost finished by the time we sat down). There was also an exhibition of modern art as part of Frieze London. It was interesting to look at, but I openly admit I don’t really get most of it and prefer my art a little more traditional and to look like something tangible. Maybe I just don’t have the imagination to see some of the sculptures for what they are meant to be, but they don’t really appeal to me. I enjoyed looking around the sculptures and it was amusing listening to some of the conversations around them. Some were like me, not really understanding what it was all about, but the best were the people who talked about them in an intelligent way. I’m never sure whether they really do, or whether it’s a case of being pretentious to appear intellectual.

After a delightful afternoon in the sunshine we headed of to have something to eat at The Real Greek in Marylebone, which was only a short walk from Regents Park. We enjoyed some tasty food and drinks, before making the short journey back on foot towards Regents Park for the evening performance of Fiddler on the Roof.

I love the open air theatre. The reason we originally went was because it was the first one to reopen after the Covid pandemic, but it has now become a yearly tradition for us. The productions are usually excellent and this was no exception. From the moment the fiddler played the opening bars, I had goose pimples. The singing was amazing with some beautiful harmonies. The acting was superb, with some very moving, emotional performances. The girls were more spirited than in the film and older productions, which I liked. It was very well cast. I love the show and the music and this didn’t disappoint. The threatening storm held off until after the performance, despite several flashes of lightening in the last half an hour.

There was a cancellation of trains on the way back, so it was a late journey and a packed train back to Leighton Buzzard. We enjoyed a cuppa and a chat when we got back, heading off to bed at 2am. It’s a long time since I had such a late night and I definitely felt it later in the week

The following morning, we went for breakfast at the vibes cafe at the side of the canal. We sat outside, but undercover as it was raining, but fairly warm. The breakfast was very tasty. I had brioche French toast with fresh fruit and maple syrup. After breakfast it was time for the short walk up to the train station to catch the train into London and then home. Unfortunately, once again there were cancellations and delays on the trains, but I managed to make it back to Kings Cross in plenty of time for the train back up north.

My husband collected me from the railway station and on returning home there was a lovely Sunday roast all ready. What a lovely surprise. It was a great weekend and I felt I had time to chill out and enjoy some relaxing time with my daughter