I have had two weeks of vacation, which were sorely needed.
My first week was a complete wind down.
I took my peeps out to Peggy’s Cove to at least get off the balcony for one day….
One of the views from Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse
My daughter and I got matching tattoos. Ponyo!
Astrid does amazing work!!
We headed to the beach on the second week…temps in the city were close to 30 celsius and there was humidity, which meant melting on the balcony was not an option!
Hubbards BeachCatching some rays
Back in June, I was able to snag a reservation for a glamping dome down in the Annapolis Valley. What a quiet, relaxing little spot. We grabbed some food from The Noodle Guy (delish) and some local wine from Luckett Vineyards.
You can almost drive by….so take it slowWe hung out while waiting for our orderLuckett Vineyards are absolutely beautiful….I picked up a bottle of Tidal Bay and a couple of spritzers
Valley Sky is a MUST, and we are already planning a fall visit. Check it out!
I added a charcuterie board to our stay. Local eats!And I turned the temperature down for a soak in the hot tub! (It was 38 celsius with the humidity, blargh!)
We stayed in the Tidal Dome. The bed was super cozy, the lounge chairs with ottomans were soooo comfortable, and all the amenities made for a great stay. I was kind of sad when we had to pack up the next morning!!
So serene, and so many birds to listen to!My first cup of the day…
On the way home, we popped into Just Us Coffee for some fuel….and I needed a latte, haha.
Vanilla Latte…. Deeeeelicious
Now I am turning the corner to start getting ready for Back To Work on Tuesday (Monday is the Natal Day Holiday here).
While I am sad to be coming to the end of my vacation, I had some good times. I got a lot of rest.
To really see Scotland we would have to have spent at least a month. To see just a small part of the Highlands in the time that we did has a tease really.
It just makes us want to go back for more!
We did a day tour with Rabbie’s to explore the Western Highlands. Our tour guide was Fran. She was AWESOME.
We began our trip from Princes Street in Edinburgh and did the round of introductions on the bus. Fran talked about the lowlands and highlands and spoke of the three bridges, the Kelpies, and what our trip would entail for the day. The weather wasn’t super, but TeenThing and I were pretty pumped, so weather be damned!!
Our entrance into the Highlands started once we entered Callander, the Gateway to the Highlands.
Our first stop was at Loch Lubnaig (pronounced Loch Awe).
What a beautiful start to the Highlands.
You could camp along here. There was a nice little spot to grab a snack.
It was raining right before we got off the bus. But once we got out to explore it started to clear up!
We gathered our snacks and hopped back on the bus. If this was just the beginning we couldn’t wait to see what was in store for us 🙂
That also meant: Castles!!
Our first Castle was Doune Castle. We did the audio tour here. You could listen to audio specifically for Monty Python (Terry Jones) and Outlander (Sam Heughan). It was super fun. We had a blast here.
I still wonder how they maneuvered those turrets. TIGHT FIT!
Doune Castle: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Castle Leoch (Outlander) and Winterfell (Game of Thrones)
All of the delicate furniture had thistles on them to deter people from sitting.
Our next stop was further up in the Highlands at Kilchurn Castle, built in the mid-1400s (Clan Campbell). I’ll show you the pictures and THEN tell the story, lol.
Kilchurn from afar.
Aaaaaaand a little closer.
And there it is 🙂
Now for the story.
So, as you can tell from the first pic, this is quite a distance from the road. We all hopped off the bus and started making our way through the “field”.
It was a bog.
Once another passenger and I sunk a little bit (mid calf), everyone else pulled back.
NOT ME. This was the first castle built by the Campbell Clan. My Nanny was a Campbell. I WAS GETTING THIS PICTURE DAMMIT.
So, off through the bog I ran. Got down to the Loch and ran into a lovely man fishing on the shore. I took my pictures, cleaned myself up a bit in the loch, turned around and went back into the bog, this time keeping to the other side which was more water than mud.
I got to the road and Fran was like “Yes!!! I knew you were going to keep going!”
Rock. Star.
Our next stop was Inveraray. What a beautiful little spot. There was also another castle.
Inveraray Castle (Clan Campbell since the 18th century).
If you watch Downton Abbey, this was the Castle they visited in Christmas 2012 episode. We didn’t go into this Castle, instead choosing to go into Inveraray and have a bite to eat at Brambles 🙂
A gorgeous little spot.
Loch Fyne
Some Scottish beer 🙂
This burger was AMAZING!
With our bellies full and treats bought at the little candy store, we were ready to get moving!
We drove through some amazing scenery. My GoPro died early (wah) so I was unable to get some good video of the area.
One of the most amazing spots of the day was the Rest and Be Thankful Pass.
I can’t even explain how beautiful this place was.
Cheeeeeeeese!
So many teeny tiny cars.
We were able to take some time here and really soak up the atmosphere.
Our next stop: Loch Lomond.
O ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road, And I’ll be in Scotland a’fore ye, But me and my true love will never meet again, On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
So beautiful. I could have sat here forever.
But Fran wouldn’t leave without us, lol.
It was time to load up and head back. All the sads 😦
We were very lucky to stop and see Stirling Castle, some hairy coos and the Kelpies on our way back to Edinburgh.
Stirling Castle
Highland Cows (Hairy Coos)
The Kelpies
This was our FAVOURITE road trip.
The beauty of the Highlands is something to see.
I want to go back and just experience the Highlands next time!
It was fairly late when we arrive back into Edinburgh. There was a concert at the National Gallery, so we checked that out before grabbing a bite and getting back to our rental.
Evening Concert
Come back next week for Walking Tours of Edinburgh and our trip to the Edinburgh Zoo!
I know that my mental illness contributes to my “I can’t people” moments. I’ve learned that is just a part of who I am now, and that’s okay.
I had a really bad anxiety filled “OMG I am going to be out in a group on the open water” moment Friday night. This was right before my 2nd sea kayaking adventure at East Coast Outfitters on Saturday. Now, I absolutely LOVE this activity. Like LOVE LOVE. But I had this “how can I get out if it” moment that I had to sit down and talk myself out of.
It is always worth it in the end, going out and doing something I love.
Happy Me. I have awesome friends.
The struggle is real. REAL. So, to show you the weirdness that is me, here are some of my confessions:
I get the heebie jeebies just about every morning on the bus. Especially if it is full. I have to listen to my meditation app, a podcast, or turn up my music and try to make myself small so no one is touching me. I only talk if it is necessary, like if the bus is on fire.
I love people watching, just sitting out amongst the everyday hustle and bustle, but being in a large crowd turns me into a flight risk on occasion. The “world is closing in on me” feeling sneaks up and turns me into a panic stricken ball looking for the nearest way out.
I get excited to make plans with my friends to do something AWESOME. About 4 to 24 hours after the fact, my brain hijacks my heart and starts to plan an escape route.
I can work a party like a rockstar, once I’ve had time to analyze the room. If there are too many “in my face people”, I start to plan my stealth, ninja-like, exit.
I love being in crowds and meeting new people. Depending on my level of social energy, you may get the low down of who I am and what I stand for, or you just get the Cole’s Notes version of me.
I may want to spend every weekend out and about, but that drains the fun out of me. There are days I don’t leave the apartment, and it doesn’t bother me at all. Silence and a reboot are what I need.
In the right environment, I will flourish. I just need to be with the right energy.
So, if I seem a little “stand offish”, I’m not. I’m just feeling you (and my surroundings) out.
I got the call today for my follow up appointment for my knee! I go one week from today.
I know that I am more than likely going to have to go under the knife, and I am good with that. Even if it does mean recovery time off the knee.
That being said, no matter what I am told, I am going to follow every single instruction. I’ll be a good girl and not go off and do things just because I “feel better”. (Yes I wrote this down, so I can hold myself accountable! LOL)
What have I been up to?
Well, I enjoyed some beach time last weekend. Saturday we ended up heading to Hubbards Beach and ran into a very good friend. Had a great time…even though the water was hella cold. Too cold to swim in, that’s for sure!
It’s the Atlantic into St. Margaret’s Bay.
Once you’re numb, then great, but it’s the “getting to numb” part that is the problem.
Crystal Crescent Beach – Halifax Metro – Three white-sand crescent beaches located at the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Boardwalks to the first two beaches, vault toilets. Trailhead for a hike to Pennant Point, 10 km (6 mi) which provides interesting birding and wildlife viewing. (This little blurb brought to you by the interweb….)
We were there fairly early, so we were able to scoop up this sweet little crescent beach area and basically had it all to ourselves! (Note: Having a very excited 2 year old niece who screeched with excitement helps to keep the beach clear).
Since then I have been juggling work, errands and of course everyone’s favourite….PACKING AND MOVING. Needless to say I am a tad overwhelmed right now and have been procrastinating….admitting it out loud will make it real and enable me to not hide from it. Stress and mental illness turns me into “Hibernation Amy”. I just want to be alone and pretend it is all getting done. NOT GOOD.
So, with the help of my most awesome boyfriend (He will now be called “Greg” because I’ve decided I am the Dharma to his Greg….hahahahaha. Seriously though, it’s true….) and my family ladies, we are kicking it into high gear. I also booked a truck for Sunday. IT IS ON.
I was able to get some kitchen stuff moved and unpacked last night while enjoying the breeze from my kitchen window 🙂
So, crossing all fingers and toes, I will be moved in on Sunday…..say some small prayers for me!
This means my upcoming posts will be mobile. I hope to get a “selfie” with my Specialist so I can blog it. HE ROCKS!
I arrived at Dr. Stanish’s Office at almost 8:10 (traffic/construction/etc held me up) for my 8:15 appointment. I registered and sat in the waiting room for my name to be called.
A guy two seats over was slurping his hot beverage….and I mean slurping. I gave him the “REALLY?!??!?!” look. It was like nails on a chalkboard, lol.
I didn’t wait long, it was like 10 minutes and then I heard my name….YAY!
Went into a little curtained room and waited.
Dr. Stanish arrived shortly after and we went through how I injured myself and my whole physio treatment. We also discussed the lovely click and snap of me knee. Joy. He was impressed with my quad strength, as that usually dies with a meniscus tear. I told him I have been rockin it with my exercises! He is setting me up to have an urgent MRI (which means I am on the cancellation list here in Halifax, NS), so I am hoping sooner rather than later. I told him that not running is KILLING me. He told me not to worry, he’s going to get me fixed up. Once we have the MRI we can get the ball rolling 🙂 Happy happy happy!! I was in and out in 20 minutes. He is a wonderful Specialist and super easy to talk to. That being said, my knee hurts like hell today. It’s getting grumpy more often than not….jerk…lol. OFF TOPIC – MOMMY POST 😉 Tomorrow is my daughter’s Grade 9 Graduation…..holy crap! How did this little person get to be 15 and getting ready for HIGH SCHOOL! We’ve had our moments most recently, but I love her to pieces and hope to help her through the next 3 years….instilling that these years ARE important, that you can have fun and buckle down, and to enjoy them as much as possible.
She is thinking about trying out for the Rugby Team, so we’ll be getting her body in tune over the summer. Good thing Mom was a personal trainer for a short while….it will come in handy!!
So, stay tuned for more knee fun…and I am hoping to get more cycling in, so this may take precedence in my posts, along with SUMMA FUN!! So hang on tight…it going to be an AWESOME RIDE!!!!!!!
– Halifax Metro – Three white-sand crescent beaches located at the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Boardwalks to the first two beaches, vault toilets. Trailhead for a hike to Pennant Point, 10 km (6 mi) which provides interesting birding and wildlife viewing. 
The Midlife Reframe 