I'm a terrible blogger. I admit it. I had planned a whole 'victory in the referendum' post, but I just didn't get round to it. But I think I'm ok with it...I don't need to pressure myself into posting all the time...this is my own blog after all!

So today I'm blogging (briefly - have to start making dinner!) about the Kiltwalk! Yesterday was Dundee's first ever Kiltwalk, which although gruelling, I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in it. The 25.8 miles started well enough, up a slight incline through a muddy trail in the forest. It then levelled out and after hitting the streets for a few miles, I ended up walking in the sunshine by the sea. I had my headphones on but for this I just had to soak it all up. After the seaside trail ended and I reached the '10 miles left' marker, that's when the pain started. I tried to ignore it but I just couldn't. It was by no means, my 'wall', but I seriously just wanted to be at the finishing line. The period of time between 10 to 4 miles remaining was a black-spot to me, more because I was trying to think of ways to stop being in pain without stopping...of course that was never going to work!

I hit 'the wall' during the last Kiltwalk in April. I physically felt like I couldn't move another inch, and that was with 15 miles remaining. This time I was still walking at pace at that point and was feeling good. Comparatively, I think did better as I definitely did not fell like that at any point yesterday!

When I reached the 4 mile marker I started to get back a little momentum. I knew I was making good time so I allowed myself to slow a little. After the 10 mile marker I'd been averaging around 15 mins per mile so after the 4 mile point I made sure I slowed even further.

The eventual entrance back in to the park was a massive hill. You'd think that would have been difficult but it was actually a relief from having walked on flat ground for the majority of the day. It was walking on downward slopes that I couldn't manage.

As I got to the finish line I heard my name being announced...my partner had asked the radio DJ who was 'guesting' at the event to say a few words for me! As I sprinted to the cross the line (yes, despite the pain, I ran for it!) it was the best feeling ever. All that hard work finally over, but at the same time I felt so proud. As well as having raised so much money for childrens' charities, this for me is a huge, physical and mental achievement.

So there it was, the Kiltwalk, Dundee 2014. Started at 9am and finished 7 hours and 10 mins later at 16.10. Couldn't be happier!

Nervous...

...about the referendum. Nervous about what sort of state our country will be in if we mindlessly vote for independence. Nervous about what sort of state our country will be in if we don't - read the news and you'll see just how divided we're becoming. 

Nervous about speaking to other Scots about my opinion on this matter, for fear of negativity against my opinion. Nervous that they'll think less of me and/or that they will try to pressure me and intimidate me. It's a terrible way to feel, but I'm not the only one.

So I'll say it here loudly. I AM PROUD TO BE SCOTTISH, AND I AM DELIGHTED TO BE UNITED.

This does not make me any less Scottish than independence voters. It does not make me a Tory/Labour/Lib Dem sympathiser. I voted SNP like the majority of Scottish voters in our last election, because I believed in something more for Scotland. However, independence was not the 'more' I was looking for.

Please make the right choice, Scotland! Choose safety and security, not uncertainty and broken promises!

Cracked it!

I believe I may have solved my procrastination problem! And it's very obvious now that I think about it...

I was setting the bar too high for myself. I had too much going on in my mind, far too many objectives. It was as though, subconsciously, I wanted to achieve everything all at once. Impossible! So I wrote down all of the things I'd like to do and achieve (in one of my new Alphonse Mucha notebooks - more on those another time!), and I'm going to take them one by one.

Number one on my hit-list is to complete the 2014 Challenge. My mission is to walk, jog, swim, cycle etc etc 2014km before the 31 December 2014. In hindsight it would have been better if I'd known about this challenge at the beginning of the year, then I would have had 12 months (or close to it) to complete. However, I am confident. And I'm doing it in aid of Alzheimer Scotland (my Just Giving page is here for anyone stopping by!).

Number 2 is to complete my Kiltwalk! I'm going to do the Dundee walk starting and ending at Camperdown Park. The Glasgow Kiltwalk that I completed in April was only (I say 'only' very lightly!) 23 miles - they had adjusted the route slightly because of the Commonwealth Games. The Dundee walk will be the full 26 mile marathon. It's going to be unbelievably difficult but I'm ready for the challenge!

Oh dear...

...I've become the Queen of Procrastination. Even as I attempt to type this post I'm being distracted by Friends on the TV.

I started out this blog with aspirations of writing about my career/creative adventures as well as all the fun I'd have along the way. Truth is, fun is all I've been having.

To be perfectly honest, I've never been that much of a motivated person. Even through uni, at times I really had to push myself to even pick up a book. I feel terrible being this young and lacking motivation. The problem is, I have all these goals and things I want to achieve, but I'm never going to get there if I don't move my backside!

Oh the heat...

This afternoon when I left work around 4ish, it was 27 degrees centigrade. 27 degrees in Central Scotland...I may as well have been abroad!! It has cooled down outside considerably since then but it's still 26 degrees in the damn house! And I can't make it any cooler! We are not prepared for this type of weather here. I have no air conditioning and no fans...just silly windows! Anyway, let's try to forget about the heat.

One other thing I wanted to share was my new found love of very bright nail varnish on my toes (I used to always wear dark or neutral colours) and anklets!

It doesn't look like it there but that is a very hot pink and I'm loving it! I think I'll need to invest some time in photo editing though ...

TT 2

Can't believe it's Thursday again! It's been a very quick week indeed. So my Thankful Thursday is just a quick one...

Me time! Right now I'm extremely thankful for this. After having been strapped down by two jobs I'm finally able to spend time some time on 'me'. Although this will come to an end in the next month when My Man comes back home permanently from working away. So right now I'm milking it for all its worth!  I'm more relaxed, I'm able to do what I want when I want and I get to have early nights! I'm planning on getting back into yoga and I'm going to start swimming again soon. Slowly but surely I'm reclaiming myself :-D

Thankful Thursday 1

Aside from bubble tea and this blog, 'Thankful Thursday' is my other new thing. I'm thankful for a lot of deep and meaningful things and from time to time I'll write about them but this spot will be reserved specifically for the ones that simply put a smile on my face.

Today's is Laura Veirs album July Flame. It came out a couple of years ago and it has always been a little special to me for various reasons. When I left the house this morning for my back shift in work (10 hours of pure fun yippee!) I didn't feel anything specific. The minute it started, that smile just grew. It's probably the most summery album I own, without even trying - it isn't a typical, upbeat summer album. You would have to listen to it to understand.

So tomorrow I'm heading in to Edinburgh after work for an hour or two - the intention is to meet The Man when he arrives off his train from Plymouth. I'll have been cruising the Waverly train station market and seeking out a Bubble Tea cafe by the time he arrives. Can't wait!