Trees and a freesia

Been in the house 3 months already! Feels longer to be honest. I feel very settled and am loving getting it how I want it.

The lovely Gary from Garden Ross Store came round and worked out the best trees to plant to give the garden some structure. This was phase 1. 8 trees later (it’s not a big garden, but it was completely empty) including 3 beautiful olive grees are now planted, and I’m desperately waiting for early March when phase 2 can begin - shrubs! Although we have some digging and prepping too, and it’s annoying that the ground’s so hard at the moment. OK so it is just early February, but I want to be doing stuff out in the garden!

I’ve given Will the landscaper the go ahead to lay a patio, and build some trellis and planters. That’s likely to be April. I had considered getting an orangery/conservatory but can’t really justify another room - I’ll be on my own in this 4 bedroom house sometime in the near future. I thought about a summer house, but the jury is out on that. I considered a jacuzzi but running costs sound high. I was thinking about a veranda (silly name for a glass roof on 2 posts) - I did arrange for a company to come and quote, but they didn’t turn up. I’ve now decided to get the patio laid first and live with the garden for a bit. Steady Caroline - taking your time over something. That’s new!

I’m getting to know my way around Ross now. Have been to the Hope and Anchor a couple of times. Thought it was going to be a pub to meet people, but it’s more of a restaurant in the winter. Nice food and friendly staff though. It’ll be lovely in the summer - right by the river, with lots of tables and chairs. I had a nice breakfast at Esca one day, and I’m at Tracy and Chloe Nails every three weeks and have been really pleased with the results: having bitten my nails most of my life, it’s so nice to see them long and in pretty colours. I have joined the library and found some lovely shops, including Charbel Blinds - they’ve put in some very smart blinds on some of the windows, put up curtain poles and will be hanging some cafe shutters soon!

So what else have I been up to?

Watched Luke Littler become world champion in darts on 3 January. He’s only 17! I love films, and have seen quite a few lately. O loves them too, but not always the same ones! I thoroughly enjoyed Cameron Diaz’s latest: Back in Action. O recommended Peanut Butter Falcon which was lovely and Once upon a time in Hollywood too which was good; I do love Brad Pitt! I’m watching Yellowstone at the moment. There are 4 series. I’m more than halfway through. Kevin Costner; another of my favourites. And Montana is absolutely beautiful.

I tried weight loss injections for 3 weeks. I had signed up to Juniper, and got prescribed Mounjaro. Stopped because I had a week where I couldn’t work due to the shits. Goodness I was ill and ended up so weak I couldn’t get out of bed! I presume it’s the jabs (although I had just started meds for high blood pressure, and I’d started taking Collagen), but I’m too nervous to continue. Annoying because for the first time ever I lost my appetite, and I couldn’t finish most meals. Turns out though it’s not a ‘magic pill’. You actually have to diet and exercise. How disappointing!
Now I’ve just started on Zoe. I am wearing a glucose monitor for 2 weeks and I’ve sent off the poo and blood tests. Will be interesting to get the report.

Weekend before last I went to Edinburgh with O. He had to be in Scotland for work from Monday and suggested we spend a couple of nights in the city. It was great fun apart from the flight there which was VERY bumpy. We stayed in an Airbnb flat just under the castle, round the corner from the grassmarket where there are lots of pubs and restaurants, so great positioning. We do like our food and drink! And of course there are plenty of taxis to get us further afield. We did a guided tour of the vaults. Quite interesting but it would have been an horrific place to live. Very, very dark, stinking (no toilets or water), thieves/murderers, etc. O is so good to travel with, and he’s always looking out for me. Couldn’t ask for a better son. We went to the Surgeon’s museum. Interesting, but made us both feel sick! All those different bits of the body in jars! The jars were on beautiful shelves though - design of the museum interior is stunning! There were a lot of Italians in Edinburgh this weekend - turns out there was a big rugby match between the two nations. We went in a cocktail bar at one point and the TVs were showing it even there! Dined at Petit Paris which was fab. O had snails for the first time. We both ordered fish. Mine can with a creamy sauce. His came with tomatoes. We swapped; I’m not into creamy sauces and he hates tomatoes! The next night we went to Rios Brazil - where the waiters keep coming to you with meat they carve in front of you. The thing is I don’t eat much meat, but I do love their salads which are on a buffet. £50 per person. Lot of money for salad! After our meal that night we went to a pub and sat outside drinking. Outside, 10pm, early February!! It was nice. I was on the whisky. Or is it called Scotch in Scotland? When I got to the airport to come home I noticed a lot of very tall men in blue - it was the Italian rugby team!

Two more bits of news.

The divorce has been finalised. That came through a fortnight ago. I was a bit shocked when I read the email. Thought it’d take longer. Was sad for a bit, but it is what I wanted, and when I think back to how I was this time last year, approaching the age my mum died at, questioning what I wanted out of what’s left of my life, crying lots, it’s quite amazing how far I’ve come.

I’m going to be 60 on the 18th. It’s shocking and sounds so old. I cannot believe how quickly the last 30 years have gone. I could be miserable about it, but let’s face it, I can do nothing about it! I’ve decided to celebrate it. A lot of people don’t reach this age - including my own mum. So it’s a privilege! And a great excuse to travel more, say yes more, and get a tattoo.

Yep, I did that too! A freesia - for my Mum (her favourite flower) and I love it!