59 to 60 part 24

                                                                               31/08/21

Hello and welcome to part 24 of my blog and it is the last day of the month and also the last day of summer booo i here you say, well weather has been fine lots of sun and i am hoping i can get out for a bike ride at some point today, my leg is still very bruised from the fall but not to painful. Work yesterday was fine not many problems this is my last week in Dundee am of to Perth next week. Hopefully this weeks blog shall involve getting married and holidays abroad amongst other things, but first my bike is on back of my car and it is time to take it to spokes to get new tape put on and for it to get a check over, new tape for as you will know if reading this it burst after the fall. So will be back later to add a bit more. 

Bike now handed in but i have to say since lockdown and more people have started cycling I am finding that a lot of cycling shops have become a bit more arrogant maybe it is just me but i just find now that they are busy they seem to think it will be a given that they can just say to customers that on to other things and in 1989 1st of April,, yes you read this right me and Helen were married at 3oclock at Clepington rd church a fantastic day and the night was fantastic as well which was held at the craigowl suite inside  the nine maidens bar. I remember being very nervous the night before and never slept much, i stayed at my brothers house and all i can remember is the noise his boiler would make ( not his wife btw 😂) i also remember getting up and going for a walk up and down Balgowan Ave the place where i was brought up and when i got back think i feel asleep for a while, Chris was my best man and his son Paul a page boy.

John gave Helen away as her dad was not sure he wanted to do it for no bad reason but he was there in the front row which was just as good especially for Helen as she was very much a daddies girl. How good do we look especially me ha ha. Helen had her sister Joyce and a friend Yvonne as brides maids.

As you can see it was a bit windy but they do look beautiful and of course especially Helen. It went really well the whole day the man in charge kept everyone smiling and my brother had me in tears as well you can imagine at a wedding your a bit nervous so the slightest thing that happens can make you laugh, during the opening to all things bright and beautiful which can be quite long well my brother decided to start singing before everyone else so this gave me the bloody giggles and him as well ha ha oh dear so good, i also remember Helen trying to fit my wedding ring on mmm yes she pushed and pushed until it went on and then she gave it a tap when it finally did ha ha. It was best day of my life and she did look stunning.

                                                                         Helen beautiful 

We have a video of the wedding which i keep meaning to see if we can get it put onto cd the photographer was Helens cousin as far as i can remember. It really was a great day everything went to plan and once we were back at the place where we were having a meal and were able to relax it was great mmm even though my team got beat 😂. Chris speech went well although he was nervous and the meal was fine even though the girl spilt gravy on Helens dress. It was just a nice way to relax before everyone turned up at night and in these days i was still playing football so had lots of friends and it was good that everyone turned up but will say more about that later, here are some more photos of that special day.

Hat night was a great night I’m think everyone we invited turned up and it just took care of itself  

People danced from the very start and I remember our first dance it was i want to know what love is by a band called Foreigner.

 

I am sure i have a better photo but hey you know what a first dance is, it was also good as all my uncles were their and of course mum who very rarely went out much apart from work and she really looked like she was having a great time as well, its a shame as we or i don't see as many of these people now just lost touch and unfortunately couple have passed away. But all i can say is that i look back on this day as one of the best days in my life.

This photo is Helens dad and mum Ernest and Gert and my mum in the pink and rest are of  some of our guests. I remember when me and Helen sneaked away from the night we had booked a stay at the Invercarse hotel and when we got their i had ordered a pint and i think Helen ordered a gin not sure but i sat down in this leather chair and it just hit me how tiered i was falling asleep in this big red leather chair and when we fin up went to our room and i opened the door i thought i saw a hand on the inside and jumped back saying to Helen their is someone in that room, but when we opened the door wider we discovered it was a big mirror wardrobe and it was the reflection of my hand 😂. Well so ended a great day sleep came very quickly ha ha. The next day we were away to Edinburgh for our honeymoon and it was son good as i had really only been to the Edinburgh for gigs we had a nice time their and i wish i had taken more photographs i shall see what ones i have and try to post them later but I remember the first place we stayed was not very good so Helen booked us into a much nicer place. Ah well great times. So onto the rest of the day and not much to say, my shed is coming on 17th September so few things to finish before then. Was out for wee while but just bit shopping and drive through the countryside. So for today i leave you with i hope you enjoy this and i hope you are all happy. Byeeeee.

                                                                                01/09/21

Hello and welcome to a new month and the start of Autumn, today i had to leave work early as i was feeling unwell and i have to say i have not improved to much since i left, i am a bit sore all over and my nose is blocked and just feel a bit lethargic and i have the beginnings of a sore head, i have done a lateral flow test and it came back negative which is good and I have an appointment with doctor tomorrow. I hate leaving work like this as i know they are struggling at the moment but it has to be something like this before i would think of taking time off i was at the stage of just sitting down and falling asleep, when i got home i went to bed and did fall asleep for a while but woken up feeling pretty much the same. So i now sit on the settee and thought i would do a bit of my blog. It is not looking great for me getting out on bike due to the way I feel so i shall have to wait and see how i feel each day. Well you can see that our summer is coming to an end as it is getting darker earlier but weather wise it has been really nice and today their was not a cloud in the sky it was really warm, i think we should enjoy it as if lasts winter was anything to go buy it could be a long winter think i have a video of it when it just started to snow.

                                                                     The start of winter snow

02//09/21

Hello and it was an early start to get to doctors to get this lump removed from my back and all went well it is bit sore but i have stitches in it and if need be will take some painkillers, it was a strange night i woke up about six needed to go to the toilet but trying to get out of bed was a bit of a struggle as my leg would not bend and was sore and when I finally did manage to get up i had to make my way along the wall to stay up, it finally bent but pain stayed until i got back to bed, when i woken later expecting to be in pain it was fine! This is the leg i landed on when i fell so i am hoping it is this that caused the pain but it was bi scary at first. Anyway after doctors we decided to go for a drive and then brunch i was and am still not feeling great but i needed some fresh air, we drove out to see the sunflower field near Errol and they were all in bloom.

We had brunch after doing this and grabbed a couple of things before heading back home and i am about to lye on the settee and see if i can have a quick nap before a bite to eat.

So as for tonight well i have been uncomfortable i have taken couple more pain killers but only making a small difference but I suppose it was only today, i hope tomorrow their is some more improvement in not only the lump being removed but the way i have been feeling for last few days. I have few things to do tomorrow so will keep it light and hopefully i can get bit more movement back. So i was hoping to add bit more today but will try rest of week as thinking i may have an early night in the hope Friday may bea better day.

                                                                Something to cheer me up

                                                                             03/09/21

Well its Friday and all i can say is ouch, unfortunately my back and legs are still sore especially my back where i had the small op it feels very sore and kept me awake most of the night, no matter which way i turned i just kept wakening up aaaaaaa so my painkiller tonight is beer 🍺 i just thought oh god i have had enough of this pain I’m having a beer. I’m so fed up of being in pain it just seems i get one thing sorted then something else goes arc well onwards and upwards. I am not used to being like this as when i was younger it was very rarely i was ill, yes I remember being at doctors for certain things but never anything major i was always out always doing something and i have tried to carry that on but i know as you get older you have to be a bit more careful and maybe i should give myself a break. So not much done today i was out in garden and did small bits just to keep myself moving but truthfully that was all but in saying that it has been a rainy day.

I am a lover of the great outdoors be it out on my bike or in the mountains mmm which i have not been to in a while or even just out walking even doing the garden. I have done lot of Munro’s and have also walked abroad as well which i shall go into but if your reading this there is a blog on my trip to Everes base camp (EBC) but please remember i was not used to doing blogs so its a bit raw but please have a look. I love the mountains of Scotland and shall say mor on this later this wknd hopefully but today i leave you with a couple of photos from some climbing.

                                                       Yes that is a snowball on my head

               

                                                                             04/09/21

Well wee bit better sleep last night but still kept wakening up every time i wanted to turn or move but yeah was bit mor comfy, Helen is going to change my dressing today so hoping all is ok. As i finished with last night i do like getting to the mountains and while ago i did ones up by Glenshee which means i have walked most places up their or all places up their to get to these to i had to drive down to the Dalmunzie hotel which i have stayed in and was lovely, but i parked close to hotel and walked to Glas Tulaichean and CaRn an Righ, it was a stunning day i started early and it was sunny all the way up these two and back, i was on my own and only saw another two people the whole day, the views were spectacular and their is a small loch their which I dipped my feet in as it was that hot my feet were burning.

                                                    A welcome relief for my now boiling feet 

I am sure when i dipped my feet in this i heard a sizzle 😂. It took me ten hours of walking and when i got back to the car i sat for a while then went into the hotel and had a pint of freezing cold Perthshire lager 🍺 just the one and when i went back out i had a walk around their golf course which is lovely, it was a great day and i would love to go back again soon and do it again and i may do it this winter

As i have already said i have lots of mountain photos from my many walks and really i should be adding to them as well, as you can see the sky was like this the full day and was one of my best days in the hills on my own. My favourite place to go is Glencoe i love it their and will try to put a bit up tomorrow about the Coe. Well onto today and i think i may go for a walk and a coffee as i cant sit all day as i end up in more pain at night which is not good, day started of with rain again but it does look like it is trying to cheer up a bit, hope so as even getting out in the garden would be fine.

So I could not sit in all day so walked to my he ferry and Costa for a treat of coffee of course and big bit of chocolate cake.

It was rather nice and it cheered me up a bit, it did take bit longer to walk down but I’m trying m best to keep active in the hope that everything that is going on in my body will sort itself out. It will be a slow walk back home but it is good to get some fresh air in n the body.

Had a nice walk up the road was slow but was ok still cloudy but rain is off and it is a bit clammy, tonight i may indulge in a couple of beers or maybe even a glass of wine mmm it is one of the things that’s not changed for me much apart from the amount but i still like to have a glass or two at the weekend and if sitting in the house i like that i can just sit and watch rubbish on tv and sup some ale, i hate to think how much i have spent on beer whisky and wine i would probably be rich as my wildest dreams 😂. So that’s it for today a quiet day again still no bike but a walk and few things done in the garden just to keep me moving.

                               05/09/21

Hello and welcome to Sunday and happy to say for the first time in 4 days I had a decent nights sleep and did wake up feeling a bit more happier that happy that I had a lovely bacon roll for breakfast and then out to Hoover both cars, we then decided to have a drive to Montrose and a walk along the beach, Was nice as the sun came out and it was not to busy. 

Lots of people out fishing and few walkers on their way to Scurdie Lighthouse but it was nice and quiet, we collected some driftwood and shells for a wee project I’d like to try as well. 

Got back to the car and had a cup of tea and a pork pie oh how posh eah 😂. Did feel bit weary but I’m happy that we both got out and though not the most exciting it was still a nice day. Well back home after a good day and just made it as it feels like the rain is beginning to blow through so we definitely got the best of the day. Tonight will be tv and may have a glass of red and a complete chill as i still feel bit of colour and hoping as this week goes on i get back to feeling more like myself. So another week end as does another blog, i as always if you are reading hope your enjoying and keep on reading… so for this part it is byeeeeee.

GED 

 

 

59 to 60 part 23

                                                                              23/08/21

Hello and welcome to part 23 and to start we are back home from Inverness and although am sore and bit bruised i feel not to bad mmmm well i am still annoyed at the fact my time was 4h 45min and now at the stage i am thinking of going back next year to have another go at this well i have done this 5 times now and not really happy leaving it this way so i will plan to do it again. We had a lovely time yesterday at johnny fox bar few beers and a nice meal then back to the B&B to finish off the wknd with a wee bottle of fizz perfect end to the wknd. Drive back was fine not many hold ups and the sun came out at times which made it bit better, i have to say though by the time i got back home i was feeling shattered, so now i am about to look at some videos of etape and hopefully i shall be able to upload a couple on my blog. I did take some photos last night they light one of the bridges up which is nice 

I do like Inverness it’s a nice place especially for events like this. Well decided to have a sleep and I must have needed it as I woke up at 18-40 and truthfully I think when I get to bed tonight it won’t take me long to fall back asleep, so we decided to have a chipper tea, was the last thing I needed but it did not stop me enjoying it but boy I need to have some light tea’s so cereal tomorrow and a very light tea. 

                                                                Video on summit 

                                                                       24/08/21

Well hello and as you see the video above is from the summit of the climb it says 2018 but that's because if i set the right day then take the card from the camera to upload videos it changes the date why i don't know. It is a good camera this it records o a loop so if your on a long cycle and card gets full it starts at the beginning again, the only down side to this on Sunday it recorded over the start and it also recorded over me falling mmm thank fffff. I am trying to upload another where you can see some of the views of Lochness and the surrounding mountains but it looks like their to big to put on here but i shall keep trying. So onto today decided it was time to get the garden in order so been a busy morning but it is done now, then was out for some shopping and a coffee. Tonight we are going to have a very light tea then maybe a glass of fizz as i am back to work soon so i am looking forward to a very chilled night.  So was sitting earlier on and noticed it was a lovely sunset outside so was out with phone to take a few photos.

This is just from my house and the hill you can see in the distance are the sidlaw hills which i have walked many times great wee walk especially in winter i have a couple of videos which i shall post later this year. Well not a very exciting day but managed to get a few things done, hope tomorrow for a good cycle then trip up to Arbroath then will be home to get stuff ready to go back to work. 

                                                                               25/08/21

Well another nice day lovely and sunny but as hip was still sore this morning i decided to give it a weeks rest so no cycling until hopefully Sunday so after cleaning car it was trip to ferry for coffee and just a chill at the waterfront which was braw. I am back home and doing well my blog and getting work stuff ready for the next three days but I have to say it would be good to be off still as the weather is nice and meant to be like this for few days yet. As i have said before i do like summer but i am a fan of Autumn and winter and do like the snow as you will see as time goes on, i also love the colours of Autumn here is a wee taster.

The bottom photo is from this year it was amazing to see and i know snow can be dangerous and hard for some people to cope with especially elderly but to me it makes things seem so much quieter there is something so peaceful about a snow fall, i remember days growing up in Kirkton in winter one in particular it was not long before Christmas and snow was predicted, i was in my bedroom looking out the window and it started to fall, i watched for ages it was late but i just stayed up and watched everything turn white and the street was empty, me and my brother went out it must have been near 2am and just had great fun even when someone else appeared and started a snowball fight man it was great, i went to my bed it was still dark and snowing and it gave the room this blue tint and it was so quiet, i even think the next day me and one of my brothers went out with a football and played headers much to mums amusement, i honestly did not want to go in i just wanted to sit in the snow and listen to the silence, mmm I hope if your reading this you understand what i mean and as i say i shall put down lots more about this later in the year. Anyway that’s it for today soon be time for my tea then shower and bit of TV before am early night and back to the grind. Byeeeee  

                                                                     29/08/21

Good morning Sunday and it has been a busy three days at work and i am now on my one day off and i feel sore all over and bit weary, not sure if the pain i feel is from the fall last week as i am still a bit bruised with a few more bruises appearing so unfortunately it will be a no bike day but will go for a walk. Work was busy but was fine and the three days went quick, i had to have a heart monitor fitted on Friday as my palpitations have come back so they gave me an ECG first then monitor fitted and have to wear it for three days.

Can’t have a shower so i will be happy. When i finally get this off and have a long shower. It’s been a long time since i have been on level seven of the hospital and few changes their as well but did notice this framed photo their.

They do say that nurses are angels without wings. Well had a wee dram last night and went outside for a bit of fresh air and saw the moon sitting low in the sky so took a couple of photos with my phone and they turned out not to bad the camera on iPhone is good. Am off to Arbroath today and will add bit more later.

Well 1700hrs and just back home rhubarb crumble in the oven smells braw and to be honest with it being a school night well not much else to report, we both went to Arbroath and put flowers down at Helens mums grave and then went sat at the cliffs and had a cup of tea and cakes mmmm god how boring do I sound well yes I’d love a pint or two but it is a school night and to be honest I’m tired so think couple of beers would knock me out completely but i do have a bottle of blond beer in fridge so may treat myself to one bottle later on tonight. Well maybe not the most exciting end to this weeks blog but hopefully next weeks i can add a bit more about  growing up and holidays and even me getting married to Helen ooooooo i here you shout……. Until then byeeeeee

GED