Brae. A gay woman's tale!

Home after a fabulous 5 days away split between Kentallan near Ballachulish and Dornoch. The weather was kind to us too but my plans to swim at Dornoch were hit on the head due to the size of the waves!

Had some wonderful drives… most notably up to John O Groats then along the coast to Tongue followed by a 34 mile drive along a single track road through the most breath taking scenery back to Dornoch.

The only problems we had were with car… my fuel gauge stopped working… so I had to guess when to fill up… this bloody xtrail really is a crock of shite!… didn’t help matters when we visited Portmanonack … only car in the car park… when we returned after a walk on the beach we discovered someone had rammed the back of my car! No note left but it was a hefty blow… I suspect the dustbin lorry that was doing the rounds but I cannot prove it… the air was blue!

After a few weeks of a crazy life, it is lovely to get away for a few days. First stop Kentallan near Fort William. Fabulous wee hotel with a swimming pool … we then have 3 nights booked in Dornoch… just me, Ros and the dug!… oh… and my wetsuit… I was thinking Dornoch would be the place for a wild swim but the pool here is only 10m… by the time I kick off I am only getting a couple of strokes in…. so perhaps Loch Linnhe will see me splashing around tomorrow… it’s certainly close enough!!

I have started learning to knit … simply because I have absolutely no talent at anything crafty and I always admire people who can make things … I did delve into making candles … but I was hopeless at that (and a fire hazard!).

Ros has taught me how to knit … and although I am not very good yet (may never be!), I find it a wonderful way to relax … it is as good as swimming for easing my mind!

I have been whinging that I didnt have a proper bag for my knitting (nothing the right size … everything was too wide, too small or too big ….

After a massive weekend of stress  (my sister had been admitted into hospital with cellulities and sepsis in her leg) … I was exhausted last night … I went to bed early and when I woke up, Ros had made me a quilted bag for my knitting!    I am seriously impressed! … told her she should make more and sell them!

Sometimes life likes to kick you when you are down… this weekend life has kicked, punched and stabbed with all the ferocity it could muster.

Not only had my car broken down with the same fault (fourth time in 2 months)… but our weekend up to Fort William had be cancelled.

However, all of this turned out to be for the best… on my way for a swim this morning, Ros took me to my mum so I could borrow her car. My mum did mention yesterday that my sister had been unwell with an upset stomach, but to be honest, I didn’t think too much of it. Today when we walked in, I was horrified at how ill Margaret was, with a fever and unable to walk. Ros’s nursing knowledge kicked in… and we have spent the day at Victoria Hospital, where Margaret has been diagnosed with Sepsis in her right leg.

She is not well, but the medical staff have been brilliant with her.. and, after being on an antibiotic drip all day, her fever is dropping but leg still very red and swollen and she still can’t walk… hopefully she will feel a bit better by tomorrow…

Well… 20 minutes of Spinning. 30 minutes of Swimming and 45 minutes of Water Aerobics! Legs are like lead… but I feel great!!! Bet I’m asleep by 8pm!!

Well today I am trying a spinning class for the first time…I know I’m fitter than I have been in 30 years… but I’m still worried about it!

Zumba didn’t work for me… my knees (or rather my left knee) didn’t hold up to the constant bouncing and twisting… swimming and water aerobics are great but I need something with more impact… I was thinking about running, but again I worry about my knee… although to be fair it has been holding up to walking… ochhh I don’t know… I guess what happens will happen..