Apprehensions!

Greetings loved ones :) This may be my last post before heading to Scotland on Wednesday! I've repacked 3 or 4 times already and still things cross my mind as to what to smush into my suitcase/backpack/purse. Each time I repack I take things OUT trying to lighten the load. My suitcase is divided into two sections and thanks to the vacuum bags my clothes fit quite well. The other side of the suitcase is for toiletries, adaptors, socks, undies, hiking boots, extras (extra kleenex, extra bandaids etc) and quite a pile of snacks. The good thing about taking along a lot of trail mix and other assorted protein bars etc is I may not need to buy lunch saving me some money AND when eaten room is created in my suitcase for gifts and souvenirs! There's a method to my eating!

My back pack contains rain gear, hat, gloves, first aid kit, water bottles, maps and printouts of directions to all the places we want to go, a spork, rainproof backpack cover, backup pair of glasses and my small bag of gels/liquids - under 100ml of course. At our first Airbnb I will need to rejig a few things from backpack to suitcase and vice versa as some things - like insect spray - can't be in carryon luggage (my backpack) but have to be in my checked suitcase.
My purse is a small pack and holds my iPad, wallet, journal, pills, Nighty Night teabag as we are taking the aptly named red-eye... arriving in Glasgow at 9:45am.

Then we will be going via train to get our rental car in Stirling so that will lighten the load as well as I can keep my snacks in the car instead of my suitcase as well as a number of other things.

My apprehensions? Well, the obvious one is the weather which can change a dozen times a day. The joke is you can experience all 4 seasons in one day! I have good rain gear and water-proof hiking boots and at least this time around we can retreat to the car if need be. I remember one time in Ireland(?) or was it  northern England (?) when Annie and I ate our soggy sandwiches while sitting on a piece of farm machinery in a steady rain.

All you can do about the weather is be VERY prepared and GRIN AND BEAR IT:)

My other apprehension is driving in the UK. My brother doesn't have a license so I will be doing all of the driving. Yesterday I learned all about driving on a single lane road and the etiquette of "passing places". Youtube is an amazing resource!!

Today I am learning about: Roundabouts! 

Hey...this isn't so bad...HAH!

                               

Whoa!!!

I just found...a 6 page printout- that shows, with diagrams, every possible scenario of driving through a roundabout - yes...on youtube! I'm all set!

We'll be back Oct. 4th and hopefully the house will still be standing! If we can find wifi that works I'll post on Facebook!

Checking in...

Hi everyone - thought I should check in cuz I miss you all!  I'm trying a new blogging position - laying on the couch with the laptop propped up against my knees. The back is still healing - I found some exercises today from a book called "Treat your own Back"; well actually is was a couple of Youtube videos that demonstrated the exercises so I'm trying them out.  I've done them twice and already feel that the pain is leaving my legs. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I'm scheduled for acupuncture next Wed. Wish I could have gotten in sooner but he wasn't in at all this week. When I missed a month of work 2 years ago due to a pinched nerve in my shoulder the only thing that helped was acupuncture so I'm eager to try it again.

The good news is (aren't you glad there's good news?) I bought a trailer at the same park we were at before. We're just a short distance from the one we previously owned, in the quiet section. (Well...it used to be quiet:) !!

Here's a few photos from last fall when I looked at it before...and I just realized I've shown you these pics before, however, that was before it belonged to me!  It'll take some work to make it mine but I'm looking forward to that. And Lake Huron is just a few minutes walk away!

Nice big living space with a slide-out section that makes it feel much roomier...

A pull-out couch, ceiling fans, TV, air conditioning... (I likely won't use either the TV or the AC)

The master bedroom has a brand new mattress, never slept on...yet!!

Something I was looking for - a second bedroom with 3 bunks and lots of storage space.

 Dining area...

 Kitchen - full size stove and fridge, built-in microwave, double sink...

Cute shed for my lawn mower, extra chairs, bike etc...

Nice big porch...

The trellis stuff was being used to build a sort of fence, I'm not sure why...they aren't high enough to cover the window of the adjacent trailer so not too sure what the idea was...

You can see one of the trellis fence pieces in the photo below...I'm not going to bother with them - I'd rather just plant some tall grasses if more privacy is needed...

And the lovely bathroom - wow - counter space!! And there is a large shower to the left which we can't see here.

So now you're updated on me...pain is dominating my life at present but I have much to look forward to when this passes!!

This too shall pass, right???

Dancing Queen

This will put a smile on your face and a kick in your step!