Welcome to Scotland!

Why did I move to Scotland?

It's a question I often ask myself in the summer, when the South of the UK bakes in glorious weather and I sit here contemplating whether it would be truly 'nesh' of me to put the central heating on…. In order to dry the washing of course, not because it is really that cold in Glasgow, but it IS very wet.

Before my job interview in November 2006, I'd never been to Scotland. I'd just turned 30, got my PhD, got out of a bad relationship and needed something new. It turned out that moving to Glasgow turned my life around. Three and a half years later - I still like my job, I met David (in Poland actually… more on that story at a later date maybe?), I got married, I had a baby, and I got used to all the rain. Most importantly, I discovered what an amazing place Scotland is! I felt so welcomed in Glasgow as soon as I arrived, I've met great friends and had some excellent times, and when the day comes for me to leave, I won't regret my time here at all.

Yesterday, for work, we spent the day at Ross Priory. It belongs to the University and sits on the South banks of Loch Lomond. This was my view for the day…

And this was my view at dusk…

Just two of the many reasons that I love Scotland.

Although I do miss things like this - one of my beautiful nieces upsetting Grandad by blowing dandelion seeds onto the garden :-)

This is my entry for Tara's Gallery this week. The subject being 'Nature'. There is a prize of chocolate! Who could resist such an offer?! Make sure you go and check out some of the other entries, the photos this week are exceptional!

Run Linz run!

I've struggled with losing the baby weight for many months. Struggled meaning I just can't stop eating! I try to stop for a while but then I only lose a pound or so, so I just start eating again. And drinking wine of course...

Anyway, instead of dieting, I decided to start running! Anyone who knows me knows what a crazy idea this is, as outlined in my post here. It's amazing what I can put my mind to when I want to. Some people would call it 'stubborn' :-D

So, four times a week, out I went, walking / running, huffing / puffing, and then I started to like it. Hang on, hang on... *I* started to *like* running? I think I've gone insane. We went to Portugal for two weeks and I carried on running. Then I realised I could actually run 5K! Wow, I'm still quite surprised about that!

Yesterday was run day and I was very nervous. David had told me he would run with me if I wanted but I wasn't sure; David is a born runner and regularly goes out for 5, 6, 7, 10K runs so I didn't want to feel stupid. It turns out he is the most brilliant running partner! He pushed Thomas in the jogging pushchair and maintained my pace, pushing me a little bit more than I would have done on my own. Around the track we went, across the park and towards the big hill... the big hill had been scaring me for a long time and I'd never actually run up it! Up we went, running all the way, and then down the other side. What a relief! Around the back of the park, past the House for an Art Lover, and onto the last 1K. That was hard and then I was done. I almost cried with relief!

Then David told me the time - 31 minutes and 50 seconds - and I did shed a little tear. I took 3 minutes off my previous 5K time AND I raised £275 for Sands. All in all, what a brilliant experience!

Oh - but I never lost any weight! I heard somewhere that diet AND exercise is the key... :-D

Beforehand...

The lovely David...Nervous!Run Linz run!Tired but proud!

A Novel Idea...

This week's theme at The Gallery is: A novel idea.

A photograph which you think represents a favourite book or novel or even children's tale.

A classic, pulp fiction, a fairytale, a modern masterpiece.

Dracula, On Chesil Beach, Lord of the Rings, Little Red Riding Hood.

Tell us which book and why your photo illustrates it for you.

Oh no!

I like books too much and have many favourites but how do you take of a photo of Shadow of the Wind, The Subtle Knife or Clan of the Cave Bear? I considered going for Perfume, but that seemed a bit easy... To Kill a Mockingbird seemed a bit macabre... then I considered not doing it at all! But, here is my contribution - can you guess what it is?

I went for the Children's Books category and for a long time MY favourite books, if not T's, have been the "That's Not My..." range. I give you - That's Not My Robot.

:-)

Emotions

This week, Tara at Sticky Fingers has teamed up the Gallery with the Writing Workshop hosted by Josie at Sleep is for the Weak. The task? Emotions. It's a tough one! Here is my contribution...

My mum always used to tell me that I could never hide how I was feeling. All she had to do was look into my eyes and she knew if I was OK or not. I think that is still true.

Since having T my emotions have gone all over the place. Before I would get upset about things but I'd keep myself in check. Now I sob at the slightest thing - sad films, happy news, frustration...

But these days I just don't care so much. The fact that I can look at my son and be overwhelmed with love for him, so much that it makes me cry, how can it be wrong to feel that sort of emotion?

And Thomas? Well, these photos say it all. The excitement of Grandad showing him how to water the plants; the sheer joy at watering the plants; the happiness when he realises he can REFILL the watering can! Emotions on a different level. A level so innocent, it makes me cry...

Creatures

This is my contribution to the Gallery this week - subject: Creatures!

What is it?

A sheep! Apparently...

:-)

Motherhood

This is my contribution to this week's Gallery by Tara over at Sticky Fingers.

I don't think I can easily write about what motherhood means to me. It was so powerful. That moment of becoming a mother, when suddenly this little person appeared and all he needed was me. My heart burst and I was overwhelmed.

The journey to becoming a 'mum' was hard and it was painful. I thought I'd be a natural, having grown up with so many nieces and nephews, but breastfeeding was impossible, doing anything was impossible, taking a shower would be the one solitary thing I managed to do each day. And then it got better... it got easier. It was still hard but it was difficult for different reasons. I was now confident. I knew I could do it and I knew that I was good at it. I could take him out for an afternoon and it would all be OK. We could even get on a bus and go into town, imagine!

Now motherhood is the wonderment I feel when I watch him explore and discover. So many things for him to learn, and excitement to be found everywhere. I care for him, I play with him and I try and teach him.

This photo was taken at Millport. He had the whole beach to look at, the rocks to explore, other kids to play with, so what did he do? He sat in the grass and gazed in amazement at the kernels. He amazes me :-)

What do boys play with?

What do boys play with? Having spent plenty of time with my nieces, this was the problem I was faced with when we discovered I was having a boy. I worried! Girls play with dolls, and dress like fairies, and have tea parties. Boys? What do boys do?

I grew up with three brothers and was more of a tomboy than a girly girl so I don't know why I worried!

It turns out my husband knows EXACTLY what Thomas wants to play with. Always has. "Maybe he'd like a ball" - he loved the ball. "Maybe he'd like a drum" - he loved the drum. "Maybe we should get some Lego" ... you get the drift don't you?

My husband is brilliant. He knows exactly what Thomas wants. Books, toys, clothes. He always gets it right and that is part of what makes him a brilliant dad.

What do I think now about having a boy? I think it is brilliant :-)

This is my entry for Tara's Gallery this week - the topic was 'Still life'. Lego Man was pretty still at the time...