tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65296848213946523012024-03-14T02:57:57.131+00:00Steff in Scotlandan expat blog with a little bit of everything!SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-90812201547052225392022-11-29T02:04:00.004+00:002022-11-29T02:24:18.715+00:00Hello<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix19yp-e8jG7CBOyqsd6rruI4uAwTLTIjFrrdGvZQ_U076xa9AOUkl_nxOc8Rjkv_3s4fj3LcGSZWu0d11FGdIW1ailU_hoT2Z6-tVMWF15GLuteoecOBduWlr8T0mWNQ5pmM8wYE8q-sJl7ZzLrEQRH6lA3o_74KlXIFRQpAutnMaXtBURWoi2n8X/s3174/20201009_140805-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="3174" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix19yp-e8jG7CBOyqsd6rruI4uAwTLTIjFrrdGvZQ_U076xa9AOUkl_nxOc8Rjkv_3s4fj3LcGSZWu0d11FGdIW1ailU_hoT2Z6-tVMWF15GLuteoecOBduWlr8T0mWNQ5pmM8wYE8q-sJl7ZzLrEQRH6lA3o_74KlXIFRQpAutnMaXtBURWoi2n8X/w640-h318/20201009_140805-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Hey there. I feel like I don't know how to blog anymore! Is anyone still out there? I felt like checking in. Hi. I'm a bit Medium overloaded this week, I have committed myself to writing/publishing every day for 30 days just to see if I can boost my stats/reads there, which have really flatlined in the past few months. </p><p>I'm not alone, it seems an issue other people are dealing with too, but I feel like it's reinforcing how caught up in the money aspect of the site I became for a while. To be fair the community aspect was great for a while too, but a lot of writers I like have jumped ship. </p><p>The thing is if I keep it all in perspective, I still made way more there than I ever have blogging, it has pushed me to write in a more editorial style, and feel more confident as a writer. So it wasn't all for nothing if for some reason it all goes boom (changes in CEO, half-priced memberships and mass firings are never good omens for a company are they?).</p><p>Anyway what is new with me? Not much, you know. Joined the dead dad club this year, yes it's been a few months it's still weird to try to move forward from and hard and the estrangement issue has its own grief ripples that sting in a way I'm not convinced "normal" grief does. Or it's just different.</p><p>What else. I caught pneumonia this summer, that was fun! Really made my vacation a peach.</p><p>hmm. 2022, not my best year really! Things can only get better? Keeping in tradition with me dealing with possible cancer shit at the holidays, I have an appointment in December to have a weird scabby freckle looked at. I have been ignoring it for a while. In my defense, this year was a lot of back burnering. Plus it's stupidly annoying to try to get a face-to-face appointment with a doctor where I live right now.</p><p>I don't feel very Christmassy despite watching a shit ton of hallmark and Netflix Christmas movies. I am in the middle of the Freddie Prinze one right now, it's ok. I feel depressed not spending it with my Mom, I don't want to go to my in-laws so that's causing tension because we are kind of overdue to spend one there and I just want peace and quiet and my own house and going there means taking the train and staying for a week at least and I'm sick of catching germs on public transportation and basically I need a vacation from my life is all. </p><p>I have been thinking about New York a lot recently. The first time I visited New York was at the holidays and I loved living there during this time of year, especially even though I totally took it for granted and was probably too busy being young and drinking in dive bars or whatever to really see all of the touristy sites. I do miss the West Village at Christmas though. My acting school was there and the surrounding streets are some of the coziest and cutest in the city. It's easy to romanticize the past but I do miss it more recently than I have in a while.</p><p>Anyway I hope this year wasn't a terrible one for anyone who might be reading this, and if it was I wish you a much better 2023. Christ how is that real?! In two years I will be a BIG NUMBER birthday. Life goes so effing fast after a certain age. </p><p>Not very cheery, sorry! Thanks for reading.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2QW65Amj0vM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-70080579413436246002022-09-04T17:56:00.000+01:002022-09-04T17:56:01.980+01:00Sunday Confessions: Long Time No Blog!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6htDN3ZDBqVysJgrK6uLZztK_gu3TZ8xXIcM4aKqkzUCHYPhWW3p4nrZppz8cq4JGcB-TtQquLusPyt_xdsJwb9BSHkV13BNFdqitpbRzp-vkkNBF50l2CBUBY33tUoejNXGXC3whp0LwbuDUaWpfNlVKct0CChi6fA8KsRp_GM9Sp1wGcIZzi0e5/s2946/Pink%20azalea%20bud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="2946" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6htDN3ZDBqVysJgrK6uLZztK_gu3TZ8xXIcM4aKqkzUCHYPhWW3p4nrZppz8cq4JGcB-TtQquLusPyt_xdsJwb9BSHkV13BNFdqitpbRzp-vkkNBF50l2CBUBY33tUoejNXGXC3whp0LwbuDUaWpfNlVKct0CChi6fA8KsRp_GM9Sp1wGcIZzi0e5/w640-h454/Pink%20azalea%20bud.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><i>I confess:</i></p><p>Hello! It's been a ridonculous time since I have blogged here. I am mostly on Medium these days, but recent life events have me feeling less than inspired to write "real writer" type stuff. It feels vulnerable to write about my life right now. Anyone following my Instagram will have maybe seen my post about my Dad dying last month. So yeah...that was/is a lot. More than I know how to write about yet in a way that isn't just emotions pouring out on the page. I traveled to America where along with my Mom we cleared out his apartment -I hadn't seen him in many years so it was a lot to process. </p><p><i>I confess: </i>I am sorry I suck at catching up with/reading my favorite blogs. I just never log into Blogger anymore, no excuse but yeah, I see I have missed some stuff! I love that people are still writing though. I think I was just burned out with the culture of lifestyle/influencer blogging, partly my own fault since I let myself get swept up in it a bit by attending real life blogger events for awhile (which weirdly dried up, even pre-pandemic, are people still doing these?). Anyway I saw a blogger on insta at a blogger event not in my town and thought oh that's cute I remember those, seems like a million years ago though now!</p><p><i>I confess: </i>I feel happy/sad about autumn approaching. Normally it's one of my favorite times of year. I think I am still in this sort of grief bubble/daze and nothing feels normal still. Most of August was a weird blur of being in upstate NY where my Dad lived, a road trip down to Florida where my Mom lives (it was not a leisurely/fun kinda road trip though, more like the Amazing Race, we only stopped one night!), and then a little bit of respite in Florida, where I got some sun and went in the ocean which was 90 degress (the gulf coast is no joke in the summer!). </p><p>It was weird because we were over there in May/June but I caught bacterial pneumonia so it was basically the vacation that wasn't/ SO to go back unexpectedly a couple of months later was weird. Like I got to enjoy the Florida beaches/time with my Mom and stuff but it was also a time of sadness and weird stressiness. </p><p>We went to the DMV THREE TIMES altogether this trip to deal with my Dad's car, which we had shipped from NY because it is a Mustang convertible (an old but nice one) and is basically our only shot at making back some of our expenses in dealing with his death. </p><p>So anyway I gotta go make risotto (sweet potato) for dinner. Hello out there and I hope everyone is doing ok. xo Steff</p>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-86671730548157153322021-12-11T14:01:00.002+00:002021-12-11T14:15:29.606+00:00Sunday Confessions: It's Been Awhile, Dear Blog. Why I Have Shifted to Medium<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhQybG26n24/YbSu5MMNteI/AAAAAAAAHxI/qdHWHCFxImUTeCKe1HEUCAgh8C8d_1k7QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201121_154336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhQybG26n24/YbSu5MMNteI/AAAAAAAAHxI/qdHWHCFxImUTeCKe1HEUCAgh8C8d_1k7QCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20201121_154336.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>I confess</i>: Hello! Long time no blog. Over a year. Yowza. What can I say other than Pandemic times be crazy/my blogging mojo disappeared (maybe forever? Idk...).</p><p>If anyone follows me on Twitter or Insta you might know I <i>have</i> been writing, mostly on Medium recently. I joined at the end of July 2021 after feeling really uninspired to write for a long time. I don't know what came over me - they were having a cash money writing contest (spoiler I didn't win) so I am sure that was part of it. </p><p>But it has a pretty decent and interactive writing community, which has really motivated me, along with the small goal I set myself to earn back the $5 membership fee every month. Medium is ad-free and pays members according to reads. This has its pluses and minuses. </p><p>People with a big readership do great and are admittedly in the minority. Small fish like me try to scramble for a viral hit (erm except I basically just write what I want). But I would declare it a success in that every month I have earned back my membership fee plus a little extra (excluding the first month when I was only there for a week). AND I am writing again - so there is that. </p><p>I don't know how to be a success at Medium any better than I did at blogging, but I feel a bit freer there to just write what I want, and hopefully elevate my writing to a less blogger-ish style where necessary, without killing "my voice" too much. The big thing there is to produce as much as possible - but I am hesitant to churn quantity over quality. </p><p>You can also import old blog posts there if you wish as long as you state that you have published it elsewhere. I have personally only done this once so far. I guess once I have written something it's in the past in my mindset, I don't know why and it's possibly to my detriment. I do feel like five (six?) years of blogging have whipped me into better shape as a writer though.</p><p>I hope it doesn't come across as snobby to say that Medium is inspiring me to try to elevate my writing. I don't know if I will ever be a professional/paid writer, that ship may have sailed, but I enjoy writing the essay-ish type stuff there, it makes me feel like my English degree hasn't gone completely to waste lol.</p><p>There are some drawbacks, the site pays almost diddly squat for outside reads/views, so even though I wrote an album/band article about Toad the Wet Sprocket that received almost 3k views this week I have earned almost nothing from it as they were 98% external hits. Which is some bullshit if you ask me! </p><p>Apparently, the site Vocal Media pays better for external reads than Medium, but it has its own fees and is less interactive community-wise than Medium as there are no comments on the articles. </p><p>I am definitely trying to maximize any earning potential I can from my writing. I figure if I spend a lot of time writing something and blogging won't pay me or reward me in other ways (Blogging just became really dead for non-influencer blogs in my opinion, and while I appreciate the friendships and loyal readers I have, it's weird to feel like you are largely in an echo chamber after awhile).</p><p>Anyway so that's the tea on that. Please come say hi if you are already on Medium! I am <a href="https://steffanyritchie.medium.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Also if you decide to become a member please use my affiliate membership link, I will earn a portion of your membership fee every month (this is a new way for content creators to make money on Medium, although real talk I have zero sign ups so far lol). My membership join link is <a href="https://steffanyritchie.medium.com/membership" target="_blank">https://steffanyritchie.medium.com/membership</a> </p><p>Even non-writers can join Medium to have unlimited access to reading as many articles as they want, whereas free members get three a month I think. Oh I just remembered I did join as a free member to start with, you can also write without being a paid member (but you won't earn/be a part of the partnership program). </p><p>They did put some new rules in place even since I joined where you have to have 100 followers to be approved (they are very obviously trying to get a more social media type vibe here but also it's dumb in my opinion as followers on Medium are cheap). Half of them are bots or don't read, so add no value to the site. On the plus side it should be easy for most people to get followers, I am at over 400 and I don't really follow anyone unless I like their writing.</p><p>Anyway seriously I will shut up about that now.</p><p><i>I confess</i>: I don't know what else I have to report. Like Covid life be crazy in the UK. We are getting more restrictions again because of Omicron and honestly, I am just really beyond fed up of it now. </p><p>It is making my Mom's planned Christmas visit a nightmare logistically for her to have to book nine million Covid tests and isolate in my small apartment is a joke. Like, I could go to a nightclub tonight, get wasted, swap spit with 20 unvaccinated people (Obvi I am an old married lady I am JUST SAYING), without any tracing or tracking or testing. But my masked, triple vaxxed Mom is treated like Hannibal Lechter just because she is flying in. </p><p>I did manage to visit her in Florida in June and honestly, I almost forgot about Covid for a few moments when I was over there. It was freaking bliss.</p><p>So yeah, right now I am a stress ball hoping her trip goes to plan, please send any good vibes her/my way if you can for her journey this Wednesday.</p><p>In typical me form I have planned a million pre-Christmas run-up things and executed almost none of them. I decided I wanted to make Stollen (it's like a German Christmas fruity sweet bread) this year because it is so expensive and we always buy stollen bites and then they are gone and we are sad. Of course it is not a simple thing to make, I don't own a stand mixer so I am now realizing I am in way over my head after I have bought all of the not cheap ingredients. Any tips appreciated for hand mixing bread lol. Ugh.</p><p>Anyway, I am just going to go ahead and push publish. I know it's only Saturday but there is no way I will remember to do this tomorrow the way things are going. Hope everyone is doing ok and has a nice holiday season despite the slight shitshow many of us are still living in (Merry Christmas lol).</p>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-42075216687017244272020-11-10T18:20:00.002+00:002020-11-11T07:18:38.119+00:00Autumn in Scotland<div><br /></div><div>I was dreading this time of year more than a little bit, this particular year, because normally right about now is when we are in Florida or on our way to Florida to visit my Mom. So it has been almost a whole year since I have seen my Mom, this is definitely the longest we have gone without seeing each other. I admit it has been really tough for me at times being so far away during such a stressful/weird time with no end in sight. It's still hard, feeling grounded, indefinitely, I hate feeling so stuck. </div><div><br /></div><div>Traditionally Fall/Autumn, whatever floats your boat (I feel like "Fall" is more common in New England among my people?)...anyhoo, it was always my favourite season once we moved to Massachusetts from Virginia when I was a freshman in high school. Autumn always seemed hotter and shorter and less defined where I grew up in the south. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Massachusetts, Fall meant raking huge piles of leaves, hot cider, trips to the apple orchard for apples and cider donuts. It meant chilly days where you don't quite need a coat, the disappearance of humidity (always good for curly hair!), Halloween and Thanksgiving and just...comfort and kinship to be corny. I liked school, I liked being with my friends, I liked driving to family's house a few hours away at Thanksgiving with my Mom, listening to Alice's Restaurant on the radio. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <i>idea</i> of Fall still makes me feel nostalgic and happy. It's different in Scotland, as many things are. For one thing, the temperature change doesn't seem as dramatic. A hot summer's day here is usually somewhere in the 70s (or even 60s!), so the months where it swerves into 50s/60s just don't feel very different. We also don't get quite as many crisp, sunny days it feels like (what we in New England especially call "Sweatah Weathah!"). </div><div><br /></div><div>I was more than happy to spend the best days of the season wading in the warm Gulf of Mexico and eating ice cream and not thinking about the long dark winter ahead. Inevitably the change in seasons would happen while we were away, often when we go away it's still fairly mild, and more often than not when we arrive back home it's freezing, the trees are barren: one year there was even a massive snowstorm the day we flew home. </div><div><br /></div><div>At any rate, this year is different. We are stuck here, we live in a city with no car so it's not even like we can go off on Instagrammable highland adventures (to be honest, we are not huge hikers, or country people, but it's been a very long year to have gone absolutely nowhere).</div><div><br /></div><div>But to my surprise, I am finding autumn in Scotland very pretty and cheering this year. We have had some bright days and some not so bright days, but the spots of pretty foliage have really lifted my mood. People don't really "decorate" for Fall or Halloween here like in America, so it's rare to see more than an occasional pumpkin, but nature, even "city" nature, has made this season a bit brighter for me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3so8mGWS-oE/X6rB3iBl7lI/AAAAAAAAHgU/9tNML4EX04sM3-PI0_5uGYXiK6mLkeBiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201014_141051-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1273" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3so8mGWS-oE/X6rB3iBl7lI/AAAAAAAAHgU/9tNML4EX04sM3-PI0_5uGYXiK6mLkeBiQCLcBGAsYHQ/w398-h640/20201014_141051-1.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9suiwdF0m8s/X6rS41rh0xI/AAAAAAAAHi8/bE9WaVFdXSI_BQeF4AsebkO_XDRIAY-yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_145522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9suiwdF0m8s/X6rS41rh0xI/AAAAAAAAHi8/bE9WaVFdXSI_BQeF4AsebkO_XDRIAY-yQCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201023_145522.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THUlJlI4ntE/X6rTAGl_OCI/AAAAAAAAHjA/C5GLI-7Outs6RTnEYd8bKzNUGnmUOIw7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_145028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THUlJlI4ntE/X6rTAGl_OCI/AAAAAAAAHjA/C5GLI-7Outs6RTnEYd8bKzNUGnmUOIw7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201023_145028.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I like to stop and take pictures when the mood strikes on or our walks, most of these were taken in the past month or two - the weather has turned pretty rainy and bleak now so I'm glad I caught some of the autumnal colours while they were out!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-080rDLq20lk/X6rCZPz6i8I/AAAAAAAAHgc/LLH1IWJyu7UpIHrKftpodMAp0eI391NWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201009_141842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-080rDLq20lk/X6rCZPz6i8I/AAAAAAAAHgc/LLH1IWJyu7UpIHrKftpodMAp0eI391NWACLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201009_141842.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm a little obsessed with Japanese maples, they bloom so bright and then poof overnight they are gone. I would love to plant one someday though!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9AXUK4ZCQo/X6rDDtmbJLI/AAAAAAAAHgo/HZLNOHnSSOYgRzGGgYzBaUlhNmUuUzRwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201018_150027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9AXUK4ZCQo/X6rDDtmbJLI/AAAAAAAAHgo/HZLNOHnSSOYgRzGGgYzBaUlhNmUuUzRwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201018_150027.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Full disclosure I put the above pic on my Instagram grid and <i>may</i> have over brightened it a tiny bit. Which bugs me because other than some exposure brightening because I live in a gray land with not much light this time of year, I take pains to keep my pictures as true to life as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dCIeJUFsn20/X6rELJ919oI/AAAAAAAAHg0/7LLPQ8Osxj85qd0BwSYJw40npxtkEq-MQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201012_114430-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dCIeJUFsn20/X6rELJ919oI/AAAAAAAAHg0/7LLPQ8Osxj85qd0BwSYJw40npxtkEq-MQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h392/20201012_114430-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It was my wedding anniversary in October. These roses were delivered from M&S, they were pretty but "eh" on the long lasting scale. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJS5gCAl1ck/X6rKqUtfs5I/AAAAAAAAHhI/9o4Op64N7mYud-xoroOrz3sTaB8l8MpCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_144911%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJS5gCAl1ck/X6rKqUtfs5I/AAAAAAAAHhI/9o4Op64N7mYud-xoroOrz3sTaB8l8MpCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201023_144911%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>In case anyone hates orange here are some hydrangeas, which come in all colours this time of year it seems! I decided I also really like that pale greenish white shade of hydrangea that I guess is the beginning phase? I would love to get a bouquet of hydrangeas, I see them in people's houses windows who I presume have them in their gardens sometimes but I don't think they sell them as cultivated flowers anywhere?<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYAWbZAUjvk/X6rK3xMXDUI/AAAAAAAAHhM/FP5tgJDtzegLYFyYBcQFJdd6AjEz3dKJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201015_162802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYAWbZAUjvk/X6rK3xMXDUI/AAAAAAAAHhM/FP5tgJDtzegLYFyYBcQFJdd6AjEz3dKJwCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201015_162802.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20qjHMKXFSA/X6rLnWxoitI/AAAAAAAAHhc/5Cz2X_XEwqMHbGRjjFfgQrpzJIFhPjsbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201015_162516-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="2048" height="550" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20qjHMKXFSA/X6rLnWxoitI/AAAAAAAAHhc/5Cz2X_XEwqMHbGRjjFfgQrpzJIFhPjsbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h550/20201015_162516-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I went to get my flu shot a couple of weeks ago and it was at a school not the doctor's office because COVID; anyway this hastily designed sign cracked me up (kind of a you had to be there thing probably), but the appointments were rather far away from this sign, and then there was no actual sign at the doorway of the appointment so I was glad I went ahead of time to scope it out! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMEFDEnOXtw/X6rNGI8vn6I/AAAAAAAAHho/LT0FJE6OLUMrgTcSNW-J1AfN3tUgl9npwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_150730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMEFDEnOXtw/X6rNGI8vn6I/AAAAAAAAHho/LT0FJE6OLUMrgTcSNW-J1AfN3tUgl9npwCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201023_150730.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that it went well, although the flu shot made me feel really icky this year, which doesn't normally happen to me. So it is added to my list of "maybe I had Covid and didn't know it?" weird symptom checker. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have had a series of odd two day colds this year, of course every time it's like "Oh no", but then it doesn't turn into much. It is weird because normally if I get a cold, I get a cold. So I'm vaguely paranoid it's "long Covid" but also rationally I know it is highly unlikely I would have had Covid as an asthmatic and not known it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also I was wondering are they giving the flu shot to people they know had Covid and is that some sort of risk/could they have a weird reaction to it? Am I the only one who drives myself a bit batty with unanswerable medical questions this year? :-0</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway...let's crunch through some leaves, shall we, that will make things less stressful!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6weD3FdpZcY/X6rV88G0ybI/AAAAAAAAHjM/pJOtxRmAk4kj6ot3PGPYOLMBNlayzSH_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201024_093822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6weD3FdpZcY/X6rV88G0ybI/AAAAAAAAHjM/pJOtxRmAk4kj6ot3PGPYOLMBNlayzSH_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/20201024_093822.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How pretty is the school/its grounds though? I admit I have walked past maybe once or twice, it's not right near where I live, but anyway sometimes you just have to visit a place to notice it more I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLHGpOa2n-g/X6rNdw5zEpI/AAAAAAAAHhw/8-3lI9zoHIYLRmWXZAEl9swXmlRyas-NACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_150500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLHGpOa2n-g/X6rNdw5zEpI/AAAAAAAAHhw/8-3lI9zoHIYLRmWXZAEl9swXmlRyas-NACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/20201023_150500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsfu_US1Zh0/X6rNphZVQzI/AAAAAAAAHh0/39QMgsLmDDokGLVtPKwBQ8NQGpbjvjQ2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201024_095533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsfu_US1Zh0/X6rNphZVQzI/AAAAAAAAHh0/39QMgsLmDDokGLVtPKwBQ8NQGpbjvjQ2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/20201024_095533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>This is a cottage (headmasters? Is that a thing?) at the entrance...I thought it was so fairy tale cute looking.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB_ianBV1yY/X6rNzA6-DpI/AAAAAAAAHh8/pSCCDIqpRv8Sg_UsWGIjgv2KtMPlAVGDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_150548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB_ianBV1yY/X6rNzA6-DpI/AAAAAAAAHh8/pSCCDIqpRv8Sg_UsWGIjgv2KtMPlAVGDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20201023_150548.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>And right beside it is a stream with a little mini waterfall! I thought this was so cool, how had I never noticed a waterfall in the middle of my town before?! It's hard to see through the woods, I know, sorry! We tried to get a better look but it is all fenced off, you can totally hear it though.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7RrNX2AYEw/X6rN-2ExNdI/AAAAAAAAHiE/RrLpXTWyTZEwpvPQYWL9clWOTaIg0KgVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201023_150657-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1180" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7RrNX2AYEw/X6rN-2ExNdI/AAAAAAAAHiE/RrLpXTWyTZEwpvPQYWL9clWOTaIg0KgVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w369-h640/20201023_150657-1.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div>Being stuck, STILL in one place, is unquestionably getting more than a bit tired. But it has been surprisingly nice to discover even just little things on walks we maybe never would have seen had it not been for this situation, and for that I am grateful. Thanks for reading my little Autumn/Fall picture album! How is everyone else coping out there?</div>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-77845737776405670542020-10-03T18:08:00.006+01:002020-10-23T18:26:03.732+01:00Distracting/Comforting Reads And Views, Internet Edition...Hey...hooo...heyyy...hooo (Hip Hop hooray...anyone?). Sorry, what a week/year eh? Like what NEXT? <div><br /></div><div>Anyway, just checking in on everyone's sanity meters? I have recently tried to disconnect slightly from elements of the web, in terms of Covid obsessing/what fresh hell is in the news now etc., while at the same time looking for corners of the internet that are stress/drama free. I thought I would share a few things that I liked for anyone interested!</div><div><br /><p>I checked the Garance Dore blog/site for the first time in a while, I have always enjoyed her writing. Her site has had a pretty drastic revamp and is much more magazine in style and has numerous other writers and lots of glossy lifestyle features (it used to be more of a straightforward blog). Which is...whatever. I'm just tired of curation? Which is exactly what I am doing with this post here, I get it, but like...I don't know what separates most big bloggers from magazines anymore, which was kind of the whole point of blogging? <i>Anyhoo</i>.</p><p>So I had to hunt a little bit to find her own writing, but I really enjoyed this piece <a href="https://www.wearedore.com/garance/10-rules-of-being-a-creative/" target="_blank">10 Rules of Being A Creative</a>.</p><p>Go Fug Yourself has always been one of my favorite sartorial love it or snark it sites, the "Fug Girls" have such a deep love and understanding of fashion, and during this year of not much fashion they have done a lot of historical fashion deep dives that are very distracting and fun. </p><p>I particularly enjoyed this <a href="https://www.gofugyourself.com/classic-vogues-september-1941-70-09-2020" target="_blank">Classic Vogue covers </a>through the years post (there is a continuation of more recent years I need to check out too). Also worth a click are their look back at <a href="https://www.gofugyourself.com/limp-bizkit-had-an-album-release-party-on-this-day-in-2000-09-2020" target="_blank">questionable</a>/amusing eras in fashion as well as more classic Hollywood eras like this post about <a href="https://www.gofugyourself.com/hollywood-royalty-wedding-rewinds-elizabeth-taylor-marries-a-variety-of-people-09-2020" target="_blank">Elizabeth Taylor's many wedding dresses</a> or Sophia Loren <a href="https://www.gofugyourself.com/sophia-loren-was-a-regular-at-the-dior-front-row-back-in-the-day-09-2020" target="_blank">looking fab always</a> to name a few.</p><p>I'm kind of fascinated with the evolution of fashion in the 21st century. Things went from very glam to hippy-ish to barely making any effort/low slung jeans and a tank top at the early 2000s era, whereas now we are back to everyone wearing a ballgown to the opening of an envelope (Hollywood red carpet wise). Well when things start up again. </p><p>McSweeney's is so reliable at producing witty irony/sarcasm-tastic pieces like this I almost take them for granted, but <a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/decorating-tips-for-the-fall-of-society" target="_blank">Decorating Tips For The Fall of Society</a> hits a really sweet spot of quasi Martha Stewart autumnal advice meets the pandemic-pocalypse and had me giggling.</p><p>In case anyone thinks I survive on nothing but bitter coffee and burnt leaves I will fully hold my hands up and say I have fallen down a few warm toasted marshmallow pumpkin spice internet rabbit holes this strangest of Fall seasons. </p><p>I have followed like 20 of those Instagram "Fall into Fall Y'All/Halloween is here yay" type accounts, I did it last year with the Christmas ones too. They are SO samey and repetitive but also weirdly super soothing, it's basically visual xanax for me. </p><p>Why are pictures of autumn leaves, pumpkin lined driveways and piles of sweaters and books so comforting? I embrace the "Christian girl autumn" meme inside of me fully, probably because I miss New England the most this time of year. </p><p>I <i>also </i>have to admit to falling down a Holderness Family rabbit hole once or twice, I admit I have always been a bit "eh suburban family basic-ness, can't relate as a childless person" about them, but Kim's alter ego <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T_993KBG_M" target="_blank">"Rona" videos </a>are genuinely funny, and this one "Fall Will Fix Everything" also made me chuckle. I miss wandering around Target with my Mom, sob!</p><p><br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-VsJyOE1iU" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>(I cannot find the "center" button I HATE the new Blogger format so much halp!)</div><div><br /></div><div>As Yoga With Adriene says "Find What Feels Good", we have to, for our own sanity. I admit I oscillate between taking time out for myself to try to enjoy life in whatever way I can right now, and feeling perpetually deeply guilty for not doing ENOUGH to try to help fix the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like I know it's important to stand up for what's right but anytime I try on most social media platforms it feels like a. a vacuum of like minds sharing the same stuff (Twitter/Insta) or b. annoying people who live in la la land on Facebook/pissing off family whose minds aren't going to be changed ever anyway so what's the point. It kind of feels like screaming into the void at this point, I am burned out to be honest. </div><div><br /></div><div>The system is broken, we need to elect less old white men and more women and p.o.c. and LGBTQ people for a more equitable, less deranged and oppressive political system, both in the U.K. and the U.S. We* all agree, racism is bad, Trump is bad, Covid is bad, science is our only hope, life sucks/is hard for a lot of us right now. Only THEN do we have a hope of reversing any of the damage currently being done. And sadly it is too late for a lot of things, like, um. the EARTH, which is when I personally take the time out to fall down a rabbit hole of escape of my own choosing.</div><div><br /></div><div>So yes, um back to yoga, sorry! I am currently doing the Yoga With Adriene 30 day series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUP0zqPP_E&list=PLui6Eyny-UzwIo3OBXV_KlsWaxUANvWhh&ab_channel=YogaWithAdriene" target="_blank">"True"</a> after FINALLY completing "Home" in um...a bit longer than 30 days. As with the last series I sometimes come to a day and can't face a harder class (I'm a yoga wimp) so like this week, two days in a row I just chose a different, more chilled sounding practice from elsewhere on her channel. I DO finish the 30 days series in order eventually because I am a completist, so I won't allow myself to cheat by skipping one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hm what else...comedian Marc Maron's recent Instagram lives have become a bit of a fun decompressor for the husband and I - coffee with Marc having a reliably entertaining gripey no holds barred rant about the STATE of things is oddly comforting for us. They are basically like the beginning of his (reliably excellent) podcasts, where he monologues off the cuff, except with Instagram he is fielding or ignoring fan questions and chatting as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I feel I should note here that in general Instagram lives are not my bag, they kind of weird/freak me out as an introvert, so I often watch these after the fact! Is this just me? Like when you accidentally stumble across a live in your stories you feel EXPOSED? I don't know maybe I am just a weirdo.</div><div><br /></div><div>I recently stumbled upon these addictive little mini movies on Youtube by a Chinese vlogger called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=oi38cQMORQY&app=desktop" target="_blank">Liziqi</a>. They are all very similar but feature different food as the central theme of each video - Life of Potato, Life of Tomato, etc., but in each video you get this incredibly soothing planting to harvest montage where you see Liziqi's garden and life. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I don't know who films it or how authentic it is but it SEEMS authentic and feels real, to me anyway. We see the beautiful landscapes of rural China and awe at the WORK that she puts in, I do feel a tiny bit lazy watching them sometimes because often Liziqi will like, build a wall with her bare hands to grow her beans or whatever else she has going on. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's so hard to describe but it's so engrossing to me. And then she cooks her grandma like three dozen different dishes, they don't tell you what she is cooking or how, it's all a non-narrated video log aside from the occasional casual overheard dialog, soundtracked by soothing zen type music and nature sounds. The sheer variety and resourcefulness of how they grow and process/preserve almost everything themselves in incredibly impressive and I basically just sit with my jaw dropped but also find it incredibly relaxing and inspiring to watch.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's about it. I am still enjoying my hippy/crystal/astrology/tarot/fun weirdness too but I find that I feel more private/protective about it these days. I had someone ask me about it publicly recently and it made me feel uncomfortable, I think because it's something I am still very much a novice/learner at and I don't feel comfortable opening myself up about it to strangers. But if anyone ever wants to ask me about my favorite witchy/astrology or alternative healer type Youtubers feel free to email me, happy to share. I still say I am a sceptic and super discerning so the ones I follow are like, the real deal in my opinion. Keep your sitch tight in the season of the witch I guess? ;-).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JAzTnsSgs2s" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>*(look, if you are here, "we" is taken for granted, although I do have friends and family on both sides of the political divide and try not to alienate anyone where possible).</i></div><div><br /></div></div>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-66087351132565451092020-09-23T20:55:00.008+01:002020-10-04T16:14:17.210+01:00Florida Beach Dreams: Anna Maria Island <br />This is a post I started and never finished because pictures of the beach, who cares am I right? But ha ha 2020 came and it seems I won't be seeing a (warm) beach anytime soon, so please indulge me this trip down memory lane?<div><br /></div><div>Normally this time of year we would be getting organized for our annual trip to Florida to visit my Mom/laze on the beach/do other Florida stuff. Where my Mom lives in Bradenton there are several islands, as well as Sarasota, and about 45 minutes north Tampa/St.Petersberg. </div><div><br /></div><div>We basically stick to <a href="https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/anna-maria-island.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anna Maria Island</a> for beach days, nearby Siesta and Lido Key are also huge tourist spots, but Anna Maria Island is hands down my favourite for several reasons. It's somewhat touristy but in a kind of old school way, it's also local/residential in vibe, it is more of a chilled/family area than Siesta or Lido (which are also very nice beaches!) in my opinion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iy9-4F4qiWc/X2tOajvNveI/AAAAAAAAHa4/bCElaL-ahwcsN_8-ftl9Qpmt0PvtJTIcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191030_160649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iy9-4F4qiWc/X2tOajvNveI/AAAAAAAAHa4/bCElaL-ahwcsN_8-ftl9Qpmt0PvtJTIcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191030_160649.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also there is more beach choice, you can go to Bradenton or Holmes or Bean Point at the top of the island, with Anna Maria having several areas of shops and restaurants, as well as more dotted around, and a free trolley, you could very easily stay on the island for an entire vacation. We actually rented a beach condo a few years ago and did just this. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a lot of rental property including motels and hotels on the beach, houses and condos, as well as permanent residents so it's a nice mix in my opinion. There is a local am dram theatre, a library, a museum, a couple of churches, a beach branch of Publix (the best supermarket evah, get their fried chicken if you ever visit one!). </div><div><br /></div><div>It is super welcoming to day tourists, unlike some other local islands which are less plentiful with parking and general amenities. Bradenton Beach has lots of picnic tables and grills as well as a snack bar. My personal favourite Holmes/Manatee Beach (it is always changing names I can't keep up!) has a really great hot and cold seafood shanty/diner type food beach restaurant, a full tiki bar, plentiful bathrooms and outdoor shower/rinse spots, as well as lifeguards.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLpnMJA_PPU/X2tTt_rkkkI/AAAAAAAAHcA/1F3S4eB3qO8CbXB7a-uS-YgMdDDOqF5AACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191024_134604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLpnMJA_PPU/X2tTt_rkkkI/AAAAAAAAHcA/1F3S4eB3qO8CbXB7a-uS-YgMdDDOqF5AACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191024_134604.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2GynOwB2P0/X2tT7daskXI/AAAAAAAAHcE/jGUM26K2j_kXcF2kqf1o7RLVw79B_aUJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191024_134620.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2GynOwB2P0/X2tT7daskXI/AAAAAAAAHcE/jGUM26K2j_kXcF2kqf1o7RLVw79B_aUJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191024_134620.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ff5FtfDMNZw/X2tUChIFtgI/AAAAAAAAHcM/30NCtWm2J002-Y1LIgZNotaMroBJsFQ3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191022_141625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ff5FtfDMNZw/X2tUChIFtgI/AAAAAAAAHcM/30NCtWm2J002-Y1LIgZNotaMroBJsFQ3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191022_141625.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I still remember how excited we were the first couple of times we visited Florida and saw pelicans up close, nowadays it's a bit "Eh more pelicans" but I will still always try to take a pic if there is a large cluster like this!).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkZMcNuWcXU/X2tXBct7WEI/AAAAAAAAHco/6Nz_UfiD7IsjD6L6KIYrRDAN5lOvqR2IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191024_135217-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkZMcNuWcXU/X2tXBct7WEI/AAAAAAAAHco/6Nz_UfiD7IsjD6L6KIYrRDAN5lOvqR2IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191024_135217-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelicans, common as muck but still cool!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3NaC2d-AaI/X2tXFLMOoSI/AAAAAAAAHcs/Gcu_Spdi52gNxCaU7oU5TkH7Zv8ePbvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191024_135212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3NaC2d-AaI/X2tXFLMOoSI/AAAAAAAAHcs/Gcu_Spdi52gNxCaU7oU5TkH7Zv8ePbvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191024_135212.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The water is warm, like bathwater warm, usually until around mid November. On a clear day you can see to the bottom of the turquoise sea, and the shallow low tide can extend out like an irresistible oasis. Sigh!...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQOY3DvEIE/X2tUIeYFy6I/AAAAAAAAHcU/it7pfH2cp2UmvkTFAj_7aBUpEsIlWFFrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191024_134628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQOY3DvEIE/X2tUIeYFy6I/AAAAAAAAHcU/it7pfH2cp2UmvkTFAj_7aBUpEsIlWFFrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191024_134628.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also really like the little area near the Bridge Street Pier, closest to Bradenton Beach. There are some cute homewares and tourist shops and a few restaurants, including a takeaway branch right on the pier of the popular local seafood restaurant <a href="https://www.oysterbar.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anna Maria Oyster Bar</a>. Also leaving from this pier are regular wildlife sightseeing boats (I admit every year we say we are going to do this and never get around to it!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnNHftWnfI8/X2uZWgZDhtI/AAAAAAAAHc8/fHfIhTpkKEoUgTY42as32nLb5esxnN0EQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2524/Anna%2BMaria%2BIsland%2BPier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2524" data-original-width="1246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnNHftWnfI8/X2uZWgZDhtI/AAAAAAAAHc8/fHfIhTpkKEoUgTY42as32nLb5esxnN0EQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Anna%2BMaria%2BIsland%2BPier.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mJqOKA2nFI/X2uZc5D_PtI/AAAAAAAAHdA/MZt8Q_Opd-0y49bVZC2-2dj3g0Rwzq-_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Anna%2BMaria%2BIsland%2BShops.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><br /><br /><br />The longer you spend at the beach, the more easily you can see yourself never leaving and decorating your beach cottage in whimsical and cool ways! (Maybe this is just me!).<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iX3NSW_Mgs/X2uZkMPIeqI/AAAAAAAAHdE/bcl0McRfpK8ta3N6-OPUbGX7E-gZCzJYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Jellyfish%2Bblown%2Bglass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1257" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6iX3NSW_Mgs/X2uZkMPIeqI/AAAAAAAAHdE/bcl0McRfpK8ta3N6-OPUbGX7E-gZCzJYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Jellyfish%2Bblown%2Bglass.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3cAkJSiGfo/X2uf-pOpDyI/AAAAAAAAHeE/zFAm18av0Y86eHxJvnoj6soApGALNCQxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mermaid%2Bsign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3cAkJSiGfo/X2uf-pOpDyI/AAAAAAAAHeE/zFAm18av0Y86eHxJvnoj6soApGALNCQxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/mermaid%2Bsign.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THPSb4hvrCM/X2uZr5OeIJI/AAAAAAAAHdM/WCAlOl2akZI9TBlD8sJ8DAsMqM1qtKYMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/beach%2Bsign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1084" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THPSb4hvrCM/X2uZr5OeIJI/AAAAAAAAHdM/WCAlOl2akZI9TBlD8sJ8DAsMqM1qtKYMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w338-h640/beach%2Bsign.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XkgRcKJlvk/X2uZun6QSiI/AAAAAAAAHdU/au6g8hww8LcLK1-Ua-XdUTu8Wr8slep2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/sparkly%2Bgulf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XkgRcKJlvk/X2uZun6QSiI/AAAAAAAAHdU/au6g8hww8LcLK1-Ua-XdUTu8Wr8slep2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/sparkly%2Bgulf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQnbJ25DMQc/X2tPy9Y8uWI/AAAAAAAAHbE/HO_aWngRaLQDit3TulduNzPyJzaT5M63wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191103_131732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQnbJ25DMQc/X2tPy9Y8uWI/AAAAAAAAHbE/HO_aWngRaLQDit3TulduNzPyJzaT5M63wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191103_131732.jpg" title="Palm tree path to Bean Point" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of a few paths to Bean Point at the northern tip of Anna Maria Island. It's kind of a local secret in that there is no public parking but you are (the last I checked) allowed to park on local streets and walk to the beach. </div><div><br /></div><div>This beach, unlike Holmes and Bradenton, has no public restrooms, it's more something we have gotten into for a walk on the beach/occasional wildlife viewing on non-(full on, swimming and sunbathing) beach days. </div><div><br /></div><div>You see more people fishing up at this end, it's more quiet than the beaches further down the island, but I also kind of dig that about it. Also we saw a manatee here once and many locals report seeing them often!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD6aeMFE1AQ/X2tSnGu3RhI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/ODXo6RVbGVoZSekK1M9aZ7FPTXi2tpu8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191103_135250-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD6aeMFE1AQ/X2tSnGu3RhI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/ODXo6RVbGVoZSekK1M9aZ7FPTXi2tpu8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191103_135250-1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I just love these little black and white birds! I think they are sandpipers?<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWFCbCaVLOA/X2tSvaG7flI/AAAAAAAAHbU/m_2T0OTlpYsSQIykMMcdo9dWFeN3SzFKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191103_135207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWFCbCaVLOA/X2tSvaG7flI/AAAAAAAAHbU/m_2T0OTlpYsSQIykMMcdo9dWFeN3SzFKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191103_135207.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kX7Ur537BBQ/X2tSwQehbEI/AAAAAAAAHbY/cCUgP_S01mso1XWXcjdGomWpwvvd86oWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191103_135731.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kX7Ur537BBQ/X2tSwQehbEI/AAAAAAAAHbY/cCUgP_S01mso1XWXcjdGomWpwvvd86oWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/20191103_135731.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David is so chilled after a beach vacation he even (sort of!) tolerates selfies!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q12SHZCaxpM/X2tS7N3SsRI/AAAAAAAAHbg/8Z142f5gMV8RvShWytFGX7ALYz8twrdSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191103_131711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q12SHZCaxpM/X2tS7N3SsRI/AAAAAAAAHbg/8Z142f5gMV8RvShWytFGX7ALYz8twrdSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191103_131711.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The "big birds" are always fun to photograph because no matter how slow and patient you are, they always turn ever so slightly at the last second so you don't get the perfect shot, but also they are too lazy to fly away, so you can spend stupid amounts of time stalking them for pictures (maybe that's just me! ;-)).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KScoAzoC3Ko/X2tS_6xFBFI/AAAAAAAAHbs/kEMdo--Mo_I4UXOgsMudnDoMIiQ4huH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1456/20191103_140003-1-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KScoAzoC3Ko/X2tS_6xFBFI/AAAAAAAAHbs/kEMdo--Mo_I4UXOgsMudnDoMIiQ4huH2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191103_140003-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>There is another cute shop area nearby with a great homemade ice cream place called <a href="http://twoscoopsami.com/" target="_blank">Two Scoops </a>and the Rod N Reel, another, more rustic pier that is popular for fishing nearby. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JOu56Miy-E/X2ubwzSDinI/AAAAAAAAHdo/HgagLVJkvBoAeV081BhqIy502IYPzi5gwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bean%2Bpoint.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JOu56Miy-E/X2ubwzSDinI/AAAAAAAAHdo/HgagLVJkvBoAeV081BhqIy502IYPzi5gwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Bean%2Bpoint.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the year before last on a cloudy day<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeU3Taqv9wY/X2ubzGWdzPI/AAAAAAAAHds/kKVm67jQkZsc0jErtqbazLIFjpMA83hiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Cloudy%2BBean%2BPoint%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeU3Taqv9wY/X2ubzGWdzPI/AAAAAAAAHds/kKVm67jQkZsc0jErtqbazLIFjpMA83hiACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Cloudy%2BBean%2BPoint%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>Thanks for indulging my day at the beach! I definitely recommend checking out this area if you ever get the chance. I have only mentioned a few things but there is lots more to see here for more adventurous water sports enthusiasts or boaters, as well as the more culture vulture scene of nearby Sarasota or slightly further away Tampa. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think because I started blogging after we had been visiting for several years I have been a bit slack about bigging up all that Florida has to offer. I know Florida is the cool state to hate on, especially in the current climate, but it really does have so much to offer beyond news headlines and isolated weirdness. No, I don't love some of the politics there, but most people I have met are kind and welcoming and I am really looking forward to being able to visit again, hopefully before too long...I miss the sun on my skin and the saltwater air and mostly, of course, my Mom!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBKDEK8gCJo/X2ukt6d9ujI/AAAAAAAAHeU/tfn_hggsbb06qOBtK3m5zuBpfEqMTLYXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191105_174344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBKDEK8gCJo/X2ukt6d9ujI/AAAAAAAAHeU/tfn_hggsbb06qOBtK3m5zuBpfEqMTLYXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20191105_174344.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URWFDzrXiYY/X2uk8wTiCiI/AAAAAAAAHeY/w5QDeu55Dnwj9nh_aX2ilNgcJC_7_DamQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191105_174908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URWFDzrXiYY/X2uk8wTiCiI/AAAAAAAAHeY/w5QDeu55Dnwj9nh_aX2ilNgcJC_7_DamQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20191105_174908.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you have any favourite vacation spots you are dreaming of visiting again someday? </div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-36273981022521812412020-08-25T19:37:00.002+01:002020-08-25T19:37:32.009+01:00BLOGLOVIN TEST<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19863063/?claim=3262a7hkyg8">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-37010955359627568142020-08-02T16:16:00.001+01:002020-08-02T16:18:36.075+01:00Sunday Confessions<i><br />I confess: </i>I just deleted a Sunday Confessions post from a couple of weeks ago and am now typing over it (where it was!). It was mostly just me whining. This one will probably be more of the same tbh. Whine, feel guilty about whining because my life isn't that bad have some perspective etc. etc. the cycle repeats.<div><br /></div><div><i>I confess: </i>I feel like I have some version of ADHD type symptoms lately. I just can't seem to concentrate on most things. I'm very beyond bored of lockdown. I am tired of baking. I am beyond sick of cooking. I seem to only be able to (vaguely) concentrate on murder documentaries or stuff like that. (Saying that I mainlined all of Good Girls s.3 in a few days and I have a lot of THOUGHTS but then I think, do people really want to read me babble about one t.v. show for an entire blog post? Should I bite the bullet and do a film/t/v/ focused blog?). Also my blog views are in the toilet because Bloglovin still won't add my blogspot address for some reason, so I feel like why bother, maybe I should just start a new one.</div><div><br /></div><div><i> I confess: </i>I would love, more than anything, to have one entire day to myself (introvert problems in a quarantine). Which makes me feel ungrateful and selfish and guilty, but I know it's normal to want personal space, my husband is just not as bothered about it as I am though I don't think so that makes me feel like a selfish git as they say here. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>I confess: </i>I think the new Taylor Swift album is overrated, but I love The (formerly known as Dixie) Chicks new album a lot. So gossipy and vengeful! No one does woman scorned like a country artist!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>I confess:</i> My life is super boring right now tbh I'm out!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9-iIIgnz0KE/XybX9uUK_DI/AAAAAAAAHYc/xlQGYX1hRvQdtkTEEP5wCjP3kywlbsyUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2515/Empy%2Bstreet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2515" data-original-width="1250" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9-iIIgnz0KE/XybX9uUK_DI/AAAAAAAAHYc/xlQGYX1hRvQdtkTEEP5wCjP3kywlbsyUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Empy%2Bstreet.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(This pic is of a really cute street we like in my city - one of the cottage houses is for sale and I looked it up and it's around half a million pounds. For a pokey little house. In a city whose oil centric economic slope is on a steep downturn, this is the reality of why we are still renters! I hate it here!)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br />
linking up with <a href="https://unitedstatesofbecky.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The United States of Becky</a></div>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-59603699583329348602020-06-22T15:08:00.000+01:002020-06-22T16:17:07.750+01:00Bloom & Wild: Flower Delivery Review<br />
Bloom & Wild are a nationwide flower/gift delivery company that I have seen reviewed and mentioned many (many) times over on other blogs and social media in the past couple of years. When they first started up it seemed they sent gifted bouquets to seemingly every blogger in the land (except me, sob!). I admit I was always a tiny bit sceptical if they were as amazing as everyone said they were, seeing as the majority of reviews/feedback I had seen were based on a gifted item.<br />
<br />
When lockdown hit I quickly realized that one of my few indulgences, fresh flowers (mostly bought in person or at supermarkets I admit, other than special occasions), were going to be a hard thing to get easy access to. I realize I am sounding hugely spoiled here, but honestly a £5-10 bouquet of flowers every couple of weeks is one of the few luxury type things I buy and I don't spend much on alcohol or other things. Seeing as we are spending no money going out and I haven't bought any clothes in lockdown I justified getting fresh flowers in every couple of weeks (ish).<br />
<br />
Living in a flat in a city and not feeling confident about going outside every day because I have asthma and am trying my best to be as safe as possible, fresh flowers really do make a huge difference to my psyche. I have always loved flowers, but on my walks I do find I am stopping (where possible!) to look at and photograph flowers almost as an exercise in sense memory to keep me going/feeling connected to the outside world.<br />
<br />
So yes, I decided to try my first Bloom & Wild bouquet, as a treat, because they run a bit pricier than some other flowers. I was able to secure one of their coveted £10 off coupons, but even then some of their bouquets fell a bit outwith my normal expenditure. I settled on the Harper bouquet because it had stocks, I love the peppery sweet smell of stocks in springtime and hadn't been able to get a hold of any this year.<br />
<br />
Bloom & Wild was one of the first companies to provide letterbox flower deliveries, which means you don't have to be home/they can slide the flowers through your door with no contact, which seemed super handy in our current circumstances! They also do hand tied flowers, seemingly there are often two versions of the same bouquet, with the letterbox being slightly cheaper and the hand tied more luxe.<br />
<br />
The communication of when my flowers were arriving was good, if not particularly specific in terms of what time in the day they would be arriving. The flowers are not local, so they are packed and shipped via a courier on the same day. And living in the north of Scotland, I have had some bad experiences before with this style of delivery I admit. We seem to be last on the delivery route of most regional couriers, which means there have been more than a few wilted bouquets that have sat too long in a delivery van.<br />
<br />
My Bloom & Wild flowers did not arrive until late in the day, and the guy just rang the bell anyway and brought them up despite the letterbox thing (most couriers are ok at social distancing now though).<br />
<br />
When I opened the box the flowers had been individually wrapped, something the company mentions on their website. Some of the netting had squashed the alstroemeria/seemed a bit too aggressively packaged for a delicate flower. Unfortunately, as with my experience of other "airlock" packed flowers that have been in transit for too long, they were also a bit wilted. The flowers arrive in bud, so you have to wait a couple of days to see what they bouquet will look like. They started like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGj0gu3l7KI/XvC2Bu4SvBI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/VzarvejkuTQR4mOtebe3uGp9hqIPEh67ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bloom%2B%2526%2BWild%2BHarper%2Bpre-bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGj0gu3l7KI/XvC2Bu4SvBI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/VzarvejkuTQR4mOtebe3uGp9hqIPEh67ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Bloom%2B%2526%2BWild%2BHarper%2Bpre-bloom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There was a TON of filler foliage in this bouquet, and while I appreciate having it, it felt like a couple of more stalks would have balanced it better. The overall effect the first few days looked like I'd just picked some flowers myself, and while I get that is a kind of aesthetic now, it didn't do much for me pre-bloom.<br />
<br />
After a couple of days the stalks began to open. I have to say the flower portion of these stalks was much smaller than stocks I have had previously, and unfortunately they had no discernible smell at all.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDNgzHeEAwI/XvC2ZlO6VVI/AAAAAAAAHWY/ps8zHkZgmC4bTEPpfCwzjVwG6bXB-L20QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bloom%2B%2526%2BWild%2BHarper%2Bfull%2Bbloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDNgzHeEAwI/XvC2ZlO6VVI/AAAAAAAAHWY/ps8zHkZgmC4bTEPpfCwzjVwG6bXB-L20QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Bloom%2B%2526%2BWild%2BHarper%2Bfull%2Bbloom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloom & Wild Harper bouquet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This was pretty disappointing as the main reason I picked this bouquet was for that unique stalk scent. The stalks definitely had the most wilting on arrival and I don't think they fully opened/they had brown bits on them within a few days of opening. The alstroemeria were much hardier and outlasted the stalks by a good week, but they weren't terribly exciting colour wise without the pop of pink (the stalks were lavender on the website too so not what I was expecting).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRUKOt7jzsU/XvC5HOXUZdI/AAAAAAAAHXA/mV0E7RJ0_zMsCw1AtGtOGwIlEFNuS-dPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wilted%2Bstalks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1104" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRUKOt7jzsU/XvC5HOXUZdI/AAAAAAAAHXA/mV0E7RJ0_zMsCw1AtGtOGwIlEFNuS-dPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/wilted%2Bstalks.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Browned/wilting stalks after 5 days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In full bloom the bouquet was nice, it lacked a bit of wow factor and the main reason I ordered it was for the scent so it was just a bit "eh".<br />
<br />
I mean, at this point I think I have to consider admitting defeat with flower delivery that isn't locally sourced. I'm sure if you live in England you will have a better experience of this or other companies of its ilk that are popping up. I wouldn't rule out Bloom & Wild entirely, I would consider sending them as gifts further south perhaps.<br />
<br />
At some point maybe I will try them again, as their bouquets are so pretty, but it's always a gamble I guess. I hope I am not sounding too negative but the last two bouquets I had prior to this (from another company) were also a bit of a bust, so I'm just a bit unconvinced all around right now on this sort of flower delivery.<br />
<br />
I do wish florists would go back to using actual water to keep flowers fresh, why did they try to "fix" what wasn't broken (grumble grumble), just me?<br />
<br />
This is only my experience of one bouquet, so it's not definitive and I do have a <a href="https://refer.bloomandwild.com/me/referee/registerko/56106081/221681086/er/52b26456ea8ce3d67b4290994a992f06eb4897a8/fe/cw?epr=1" target="_blank">discount code for £10 off</a> Bloom & Wild for anyone interested, truly many people seem to love this company so please take my review for what it is, one slightly underwhelmed customer.SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-932157000696510782020-05-26T16:53:00.001+01:002020-05-26T19:44:57.633+01:00Finding My "Zen"<br />
Zen – what is zen? I’m not entirely sure...I read
Siddartha and dabbled in the armchair, studenty type Buddhism at various points, but I feel like a lot of
what we now refer to as “self-care” falls into this type of <i>realm</i>.
Or even the Hygge craze of a couple of years ago. We have tuned into this need
for quality time to look after ourselves, but as a western culture we also had to
make it a thing that involved baths and pampering and stuff (nothing wrong with that, either!).<br />
<br />
For me it’s a sort of intangible peaceful feeling, a
contentedness. It requires tuning out the noise of the world and finding
something relaxing to focus on. Although sometimes it happens by accident. For
me, a lot of my “inner zen” can be memory related, those little moments in time
that stick in your head, that weren’t necessarily big or eventful days at the
time, but for some reason they are the ones that give you a feeling of comfort
and somehow stand out more vividly than others.<br />
<br />
This week I have been drinking herbal tea before bed. I have
this vanilla chai (decaf) tea and for some reason this week it reminded me of
this coffee shop in the town where I went to college. This was twenty years
ago, and Chai tea was believe it or not a new thing. Not even Starbucks had it
(in fact Starbucks had yet to invade our town). Anyway there was a cool hip
coffee shop across the street that we tended to frequent, but I wandered into
this little one that I had never been in for some reason. It was small and had
been there forever.<br />
<br />
The owner was a friendly man and it was one of those weird
moments where you don’t know what you want and he sensed that and asked had I
ever had Chai? I honestly had not ever heard of it (in 2020 I know this sounds
INSANE ha ha!). Anyway he just kind of took it on himself to make it for me, he said something like “you have to try this, I promise” and I patiently waited for this exotic new drink to be made – it took longer
than any chai latte in the history of chai lattes, but I do remember feeling
really chill and in the moment for whatever reason that day.<br />
<br />
Finally it was
ready. Even if it had been terrible I would have felt obliged to smile and say
it was great, because the man was so vested. But it <i>was</i> great. It was
actually the most delicious drink ever in the history of hot drinks, and
reader, no one has made a chai latte that has come close in my life since!<br />
<br />
The coronavirus quarantine of almost three months now has
meant less available alone time for me personally. As an
introvert, being locked down with someone else almost always nearby, has made
me stake out claims in ways I wouldn’t normally need to for myself. Sometimes
we choose to be apart from each other, in separate rooms, not out of anger or
any particular frustration but just…it’s a lot, lockdown in a one bedroom
apartment.<br />
<br />
The only time I am alone is if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I </span>choose to go for a walk by myself, which is
in its own way stressful living in a city given our current circumstances, so
even that time isn’t as relaxing as it could be. I miss the gym, I miss going
into shops, the occasional coffee with a friend. I miss random small chats with strangers, the petting of dogs, the ordering of food
and coffee and beer and t shirts and whatever. I miss the smell of food cooking
by anyone other than me, and yes I am really sick of cooking, not to imply I am
a hardworking chef by any means. I still feel nervous to order food, I know
lots of people are but I’m just not there yet.<br />
<br />
I took a lone walk in the light rain last week (I prefer to go out when it's likely to be less crowded) and was rewarded with some solitude.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaPSN9YBpB4/Xs01-04-AqI/AAAAAAAAHUM/QmqLMJHiekAGYWos8t1j2wqpdgnyC4ihwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Empty%2Bpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="841" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaPSN9YBpB4/Xs01-04-AqI/AAAAAAAAHUM/QmqLMJHiekAGYWos8t1j2wqpdgnyC4ihwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Empty%2Bpark.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City lockdown, Scotland style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I felt weird stopping to take pictures, almost like a spy or something, looking over my shoulder, making sure no one is coming. I admit I did get into my solitary photo shoot after awhile, it is one of if not the prettiest time of year in Scotland right now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6DcP9vdsNI/Xs03XzXzimI/AAAAAAAAHUY/RoBnu_NBS0I1kSp-XA_rppf-DLfyOVMNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Climbing%2Bpurple%2Bflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6DcP9vdsNI/Xs03XzXzimI/AAAAAAAAHUY/RoBnu_NBS0I1kSp-XA_rppf-DLfyOVMNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Climbing%2Bpurple%2Bflowers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcfiWvqxLdE/Xs03k4is_QI/AAAAAAAAHUc/7nVbLicYQncEwu1RW4IeocwafbHR154HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200522_142152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcfiWvqxLdE/Xs03k4is_QI/AAAAAAAAHUc/7nVbLicYQncEwu1RW4IeocwafbHR154HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200522_142152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq31DX1iMTQ/Xs031yGoAzI/AAAAAAAAHUo/xAPZyFz0Ll8hCyaC6BqW4Fv7IlOzYKs3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200522_142432-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1148" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq31DX1iMTQ/Xs031yGoAzI/AAAAAAAAHUo/xAPZyFz0Ll8hCyaC6BqW4Fv7IlOzYKs3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200522_142432-2.jpg" width="459" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White lilacs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I have felt an easing in my spirit this week, and apologies if this sounds/is eyeroll worthy ;-), but I think this is a lot to do with being introduced to the chilled, calm, awesome* world that is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene" target="_blank">Yoga with Adriene</a> for the past couple of weeks. Late to the party I know, as she has
something like a gajillion followers on Youtube.<br />
<br />
I have tried and failed to get into virtually taught yoga a
few times over the years. I have a box set of dvd’s that are just a bit too
clinical. I did yoga semi regularly in my early 20s, and took an occasional
class here and there in Scotland. I took a Pilates class for a good spell a few years ago, but it never quite gave me the same relaxed, soul refreshing vibes
that a great yoga class can. <br />
<br />
Adriene is such a guru, what I mean by that is, someone who inspires
me, who doesn’t intimidate or make you feel less than for being at whatever
level you are at. Yoga with Adriene has a very simple and kind
and inclusive tone in her practice that is so refreshing.<br />
<br />
She often says things like “It’s ok if your pose looks
different from mine” or gives small adjustments.<br />
<br />
I admit I find the competitive yoga poses of Instagram off
putting. I have also tried a few body positive yoga videos during lockdown and while they are
great, there simply aren’t the volume and selection that I am
seeking right now.<br />
<br />
I find having to switch from one
instructor to another jarring and I admit, it’s just easier to click through Yoga
with Adriene’s hundreds of available videos, many of which are chilled sleepy
time ones, which are definitely my go to! I have also started the “Home” series
this week, one of several 30 day series she has created; so far it is a bit more challenging that the chillax ones but I
trust Adriene will give me a break at some point, because she is cool like
that! <span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";"><br /></span>
The other thing Yoga with Adriene has is a dog, a blue
heeler called Benji, who is super calm and fluffy and cute and there during
class most of the time. He obviously just likes chilling while his Mom does
yoga and I freely admit a yogi with a cute doggo is always going to be more of a draw for me!<br />
<br />
Adriene’s classes are filmed in her home in Austin, Texas and
this adds to the whole relaxed vibe, despite being very successful and having
more giant plants and piles of groovy woven blankets as the time passes I
cannot help but notice! But you just imagine you could chill with a cup of
herbal tea with her and be a girl who practices yoga on the regular and goes to
Austin festivals (yes I get carried away it’s just my thing, I swear I am not
stalker lol).<br />
<br />
Also one of my oldest friends lives in Texas. I visited
her there once, and watching yoga with Adriene does make me feel more connected
to the idea of friends and home as an expat on a subconscious level if that
makes any sense. I very much associate yoga in my own life from when I lived in
America/was younger, so I guess it’s natural to remember a lot of my yoga
experiences from that era as I tiptoe back into the land of downward dog and
sun salutations.<br />
<br />
I also dig that Adriene intersperses her more holistic yoga
speak with enough down to earth real-ness and occasional goofiness to add up to
an altogether un-annoying, fun, modern interpretation of what yoga is about.
She manages to teach yoga in a healing, soulful, but never too self-serious way.<br />
<br />
A possible side effect of all of this breathing and
stretching and carving out time to be present alone has made me feel a bit more
relaxed. My mind has been wandering and thinking about
when were other times in life I felt this zen/calm feeling, aside from yoga. I
do think something about yoga/meditating does bleed into the rest of your life
and make little things less irritating (even things about your own self! <span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😉</span>).<br />
<br />
I hope I stick with it, not because I have any particular
fitness goals other than to stave off encroaching lockdown atrophy(!), but
because I am lazy at creating self-care or zen moments independently, and yoga,
right now, is giving me that peaceful feeling that I usually leave to chance. I currently look forward to the evening ritual of relaxation and letting the cares of the world slip away with some deep stretches and breathes. It's so deceptively simple, but it works wonders.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>*I cannot help but find Adriene’s use of the word awesome
endearing, being from Massachusetts where "wicked awesome" was our main exclamation. Her language overall contributes to the
cozy feeling of her videos it must be said, she is super casual and comforting
overall. </i><br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzC_RxB1COw/Xs1BZDwyPJI/AAAAAAAAHU4/H2sQ1icqdYcuPHB0OQf5nz9wesyz3u0CACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blue%2Bflowers%2Bstone%2Bwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="340" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzC_RxB1COw/Xs1BZDwyPJI/AAAAAAAAHU4/H2sQ1icqdYcuPHB0OQf5nz9wesyz3u0CACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Blue%2Bflowers%2Bstone%2Bwall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<div id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
<span style="mso-comment-author: "Steffany Ritchie"; mso-comment-providerid: "Windows Live"; mso-comment-userid: 5100f9ed466b4a2b;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_msocom_1"></a></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-41617311711804554282020-05-19T17:48:00.002+01:002020-05-20T13:30:16.826+01:00My Eating Disorder Story:The Beginning<b></b><i></i><br />
<b><i>(trigger warning: I talk about eating disorders in this post)</i></b><br />
<b></b><i></i><br />
<br />
This is a post I began in the hopes of publishing for NEDA (National Eating Disorder Awareness) Week, and it went on a bit, and wasn't quite done, etc. It's already quite long so I think I am going to break it up into two if not three posts, we'll see. I try to write a concise version of my eating disorder story every now and then and it's just impossible for me.<br />
<br />
I am sure a part of my reluctance to finish and publish it is no doubt rooted in my own shame, and also in not wanting to upset anyone. But it is my story, and since I discovered Body Positivity three years ago I have been on a mission to deal with my food and body image issues in an honest way, and it all begins here.<br />
<br />
Also I do believe that stories like mine are SO common, even though mine is unique to me/my life, I feel like most eating disorder stories are told/portrayed by people who look a certain way/are the most severe cases, when in reality so many women (and men/anyone with an e.d.) who look "normal" or are in larger bodies also deal with eating disorders, sometimes hidden and for much longer than anyone would guess.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned in this post <a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2020/01/invisible-eating-disorders-and-medical.html" target="_blank">Invisible Eating Disorders and Medical Fatphobia</a>, I do feel that the need to be aware that people in all body sizes can have eating disorders is something that the whole scene (Medical, Eating Disorder professionals/treatment centers) could do with being better about. Like a LOT better about. It has been over 30 years since I first had eating disorder behaviors/symptoms, but I don't see much change in the public perception we have of what an eating disorder "looks like".<br />
<br />
The fact is many girls I knew in high school had various phases of unhealthy/eating disordered behaviors that simply went ignored, because we weren't in the "deathly skinny" category - which we also had at my school, but they mostly got away with it because they were athletes.<br />
<br />
We skipped meals, we binged, we purged, some of us silently, some of us it would get out of hand and you know, <i>maybe</i> an adult would have a word - but we weren't the girls being sent away for eating disorder treatment or scrutinized as unhealthy. Because as long as we were on the "right" side of thin we were considered ok. I also knew people in bigger bodies than me who also had food issues that went even more ignored.<br />
<br />
I remember in sophomore year I think we had "Health Class" which consisted of basic sex ed, and I don't even know what else. It was taught by our male gym teacher. One day of the class involved checking our BMI's with a fat pincher, publicly, and him telling the (boys and) girls which ones were over their BMI. I think he even made jokes about which of us needed to lose weight. WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUU*K.<br />
<br />
I just...I can't even. Do they still do this?! I remember several girls being traumatized and upset the rest of the day. BMI IS BULLSH*T! Utter, soul destroying bullsh*t. Quite a few of the still growing teen bodies in this class were deemed overweight or on the verge of somehow, no consideration was paid to the fact that girls simply have more fat and less muscle than boys unless they are athletes.<br />
<br />
So while most of the boys were deemed acceptable, a lot of the girls were on the "wrong" side of the middle of the BMI. This was in like 1991. By this point I had already lost around 20 lbs after being fat shamed by a doctor after weight gained during my freshman year.<br />
<br />
So I was one of the girls who was "ok", even though I had a secret binge starve occasional purge cycle firmly in play. I would never have self identified as such, but I had an eating disorder. But the fat pincher grabbing my skin held by my middle aged male gym teacher said I was a good girl doing the right thing, obviously.<br />
<br />
The reasons I gained weight my freshman year were complex. I had begun binge eating in late middle school not from anything to do with caring about my body's appearance, because I had never restricted when I first started bingeing. I was always an average/slim shaped child.<br />
<br />
I binge ate out of stress and fear, I now realize, to do with my Dad's increasingly volatile alcoholism. I still remember the first time I binge ate. I was waiting for my Dad to come home, and the later it got the worse I knew it would be. My Mom was working nights and yeah; this is a Gen X growing up story, there were no babysitters by the time I was thirteen I think.<br />
<br />
So this one night I do remember making myself a piece of toast...and it felt so soothing. Without thinking about it, I just kept making pieces of toast and eating them, until I was finally not thinking about my Dad so much. I had not one thought of guilt or sneaking food feelings, it was literally just a coping mechanism I discovered by chance.<br />
<br />
When we left my Dad, not long after the start of my freshman year of high school, we moved into my Grandmother's house for a while. We had moved to a new state - Massachusetts, which unlike Virginia was cool and autumnal, and while in many ways I felt much safer, the truth is there were other stressors in that house. Because my grandma was an alcoholic too. A much quieter, more secretive alcoholic, who drank surreptitiously and went to bed early.<br />
<br />
The first month or so we lived with her it was ok, she was cooking these amazing dinners every night and there was always dessert and I legit thought I was living in a dream. It was all so wholesome, so what I imagined life should be like, like an afterschool special before things go bad. But unfortunately she fell off the wagon and for a time there was this weird unspoken "Things are not good but they are not good in a quiet/weird way" thing that I was not used to.<br />
<br />
On the surface things were peachy - nice house, tree lined street, suburban middle class levels of grocery shopping that I was not used to - there was branded ice cream and cookies and honestly, a lot of fancy "junk food" that I did not grow up with in my house. It made everything ok.<br />
<br />
My grandma would basically go to bed (again, my Mom was working nights, she worked two jobs the entire time I was in high school and did everything on her own financially to support us) early, and me, being a freshman without much of a social life at a new school, would have the tv and the snacks to myself. I told myself this was all going to be ok; while of course there were cracks and unpleasant things that did happen, and eventually she did go to rehab and we moved out and things got better.<br />
<br />
But in that time period, I did binge eat, unquestionably, for comfort. I simply wasn't used to having access to that volume of treat food (while I totally grew up having treats, there were limits, and it was often, you know, the boring/healthier part of the cereal or cookie aisle - whereas my Dad was a skinny junk food addict, and yes I do also feel like there is a connection with me associating food with love, because my Dad and I did have little late night tv snack sessions together when he wasn't drinking - see I'm my own therapist, bada bing!).<br />
<br />
Weirdly (I guess?) I don't recall that I ever worried about my weight or stuff like that during this time, it just didn't occur to me. I did feel like I was probably doing something wrong with my eating patterns, I did begin to feel like I was sneaking food in some way, but mostly it was just sort of soothing. I don't think I ever ate past the point of feeling ill as I would later do, but to be fair I can eat a lot sometimes without feeling full (especially when numbed out/binge eating I guess).<br />
<br />
At any rate, I did begin to have more of a social life, I made some friends and I remember feeling happy to be going back to school in the Fall.<br />
<br />
I remember going to the doctor for a pre-school check up I guess? I don't think I had been weighed/had a general check up for some time before that, because the last weight they had me at was very much my pre-teen body weight, something like 110ish lbs. If you had asked me that day if I had any idea what my weight had been I would have said no (This seems sort of amazing to me as by this point I was 15 years old I think?).<br />
<br />
I had never felt any kind of way about my body, other than quietly smug in ballet at my flexibility (actually hyper-mobility, ack), or perhaps like a bit of a lame-oid because of my asthma when it came to running. I was a fairly active kid who spent a lot of time outdoors, in retrospect I was less active as a pre-teen and that possibly, naturally contributed to some weight gain too, along with puberty.<br />
<br />
My newly curly hair and braces were probably the main bane of my existence in terms of caring about how I looked. I was just starting to care about fashion in a concentrated/teenager-ish way, after discovering The Cure and Winona Ryder and all of that good <a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2015/08/20-things-90s-teens-might-remember.html" target="_blank">90s alternative weirdo</a> stuff.<br />
<br />
I was beginning to feel like I had a place; my English teacher was a sort of substitute Dad and cast me in school plays and praised and believed in me in this very supportive, kind (honest to God not creepy) way. I remember my freshman year we didn't really have an official Drama Club teacher so he took over, and we did a night of scenes and one acts.<br />
<br />
I got to do a scene from Picnic and the Juliet monologue from Romeo and Juliet. I remember my Mom made me dresses for each part, one a fifties swing style and a Grecian drape-y style for the Shakespeare, obviously ;-).<br />
<br />
I feel like this is one of the last memories I have of being completely neutral/uncritical about how my body looked in something (and it's possible I am mis-remembering, but I don't recall feeling anything other than...special, to have these specially made clothes for my characters). I don't remember being aware of what size I was - I think I definitely felt, as I had my whole life, "average", acceptable*, somewhere in the middle. It's hard to put into words or clearly remember, but I think I just felt...present, in my body, without thinking about it, like kids do.<br />
<br />
Apologies for the self indulgent fashion memory trips, but again, my freshman year I remember for my first day in my new school my Mom got me a new outfit (which was totally indulgent; I had already gotten new clothes for my other school in Virginia I am sure). And I do remember buying this orange Aeropostale sweater (it was LIKE A BURNT ORANGE OK), and it wasn't a color I had ever really worn before, but it felt so appropriate for our new life in New England.<br />
<br />
I was very aware of being from the south/being different, and I really wanted to fit in (this was before I became obsessed with being "unique";-0). I just remember that sweater made me feel like I was going to be ok, the way young/pre teens are SO insecure, especially as I was starting out as the new kid with the funny accent (and yes Massachusetts people have the nerve to make fun of Virginia accents!), a month or so into the school year, so I knew I was going to stick out, which I hate. But I do remember as scared as I was that first day, I was so comforted by my outfit/felt unusually (for me) confident and that somehow, miraculously, it was not a total disaster.<br />
<br />
I miss that feeling of <i>feeling</i> good in clothes being the most important thing. Of having zero self criticism. I work on it every day but I would be lying if I said I have let go of all of my self critical thoughts.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I digress. Fast forward to the following summer before my sophomore year.<br />
<br />
It turned out, at the doctor's appointment, that I was in the middle...of the BMI chart for my height. I had gained weight since I was I don't know, thirteen or whatever, shocker. Something around 20-25lbs I guess. Something that might be considered normal in puberty, but in truth in my case it was probably mostly to do with the binge eating.<br />
<br />
I don't remember if the reason for my weight gain was discussed: I do remember getting the impression somehow that it was interpreted as being on the edge of unhealthy (IT WASN'T, in real terms). I think it probably freaked my Mom out because I weighed more than her. I don't want to go into that stuff too much, but I will say that I was made to feel like I needed to lose weight to be more acceptable. That thinner, less numbered me was something that needed to be returned to. Not <i>told</i> to lose weight, per se but it was assumed I would just naturally lose it somehow when I went back to school. I was very much aware, suddenly, that gaining weight was bad, and to gain any more was really not <i>acceptable</i>.<br />
<br />
Looking back I cannot help but wonder why the doctor didn't ask about me being a kid of a recent parental separation, living in a new state at a new school, or wonder if that might have had some stressful effect on me. But my only abiding memory is that I now knew exactly what my weight was, and I felt like it was <i><b>not ok</b>.</i> I didn't know anything about diets.<br />
<br />
I had read one book as a pre-teen about a girl who developed an eating disorder, but it was really sort of low key and told from the girl's perspective and it all worked out ok in the end I guess (I wish I could remember the name of the book...the main character was a young commercial actress and had a long braid, that's all I remember!).<br />
<br />
This medical weight shaming happens to pubescent girls all the time still, and it's so, so toxic and sadly, <a href="https://www.today.com/health/teens-urged-diet-do-same-their-own-kids-study-finds-t124506" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cyclical</a>. It is very normal for girls to gain what seems like a lot of weight sometimes in puberty. Unfortunately nowadays the pressure to be thin is even greater, and companies like Weight Watchers (rebranded as WW yeah we still see you) are trying to cash in on teenage insecurities by welcoming them into the fold of the lifelong diet hamster wheel.<br />
<br />
While my weight gain was probably at least in part down to my new binge eating habit, the fact was I had yet to ascribe any shame about my body to it for getting bigger. It is hard not to wonder what if I had not been made to feel this way, maybe I would have figured out a way past it as it was just a comfort/loneliness thing, and I was soon to have a much more active social life.<br />
<br />
Of course most of my friends had begun to feel some kind of way about food and their bodies too, I was far from alone. And as we traversed teenage life we participated in junk food binges and diet/body talk together as a matter of course.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately it just started permeating the air around us and became ever more normalized as we got older. "I only ate a bowl of cereal yesterday" one friend might say, and we would tut at them in disapproval, probably even make jokes about anorexia like...that's how teenage girls do.<br />
<br />
I remember shopping for back to school clothes before my sophomore year pretty vividly. I had to go up a size (or maybe it was two, I just remember for the first time I knew that bigger sizes were "bad"), and it was imprinted in my head that I would somehow go back down, because that size was somehow unacceptable for a girl my age.<br />
<br />
I really liked some of the clothes, I was very into Heathers and Twin Peaks and beginning to grow a bit of drama geek girl fashion confidence. There were cardigans and pleated skirts, very schoolgirl-ish, which wasn't really a mainstream fashion trend yet. Nirvana's Nevermind was imminently to break and that would have a ripple effect on the counter/underground culture becoming more mainstream, but at that moment in time we definitely felt like little moonflowers (or I did anyway!) in how we expressed ourselves.<br />
<br />
I remember on the first day of school we had to get our pictures taken. I was wearing this turtleneck and sort of floral sack/pinafore type dress over it. I liked the clothes but I was suddenly very aware of how my body felt and looked. I was paranoid that the dropped waist made my belly look fat. I remember sucking in my stomach, hoping no one would notice my suddenly gross body.<br />
<br />
A body that a few weeks earlier had felt just fine. A body that a few months prior had twirled confidently on a stage in a pale blue dress with a flippy skirt in front of an entire school, dancing with a mop to Come and Go With Me by The Dell Vikings (the play Picnic is set in the 50s), with not a care in the world about how my stomach or other body parts looked. That carefree feeling was now completely gone.<br />
<br />
To even sit and remember that loss now still hurts my soul. Because this was only the beginning of years upon years of self hate and body shame. I feel I should apologize for the length of this, it's obviously going to have to be continued later. This was the EASY part in some ways.<br />
<br />
Because honestly, my binge eating, at the beginning anyway, is no longer a source of shame for me now that I acknowledge it. I release that. Here, now, forever. My binge eating comforted me through unbelievably dark times. I still have undealt with issues when it comes to all of that child of an alcoholic stuff, I am sure, but in retrospect I am weirdly grateful that I found some source of relief, albeit temporary.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately ultimately it led to bad things because it wasn't dealt with in an appropriate psychological or compassionate manner. My exterior was judged without any consideration paid to the internal turmoil I was dealing with.<br />
<br />
My binge eating was a place of safety and calm. Obviously, I am not condoning or saying binge eating is healthy, but it was, for me, an outlet to escape the fear and pain of my life.<br />
<br />
For many people, binge eating is a physical response to starvation that is pretty much unavoidable - be it eating disorders or diets, the starve/binge cycle is one that happens because the body wants to survive, not be deprived. That is what my eating disorder morphed into after I was made to feel overweight - ever more unhealthy and extreme behaviors.<br />
<br />
But I still weirdly feel like this initial part of my eating disorder, the beginning, was something that happened to try to protect me. All of the more stereotypical stuff that came after I was made to feel body shame is another story. And I think that's enough for today. I hope to continue this at a later date if anyone is interested. Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpM1uO45qJk/XsP4TvqLeoI/AAAAAAAAHTs/xFYUY4Xrlh0cQO9djkCJGqvNIyVCXGWlACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/freshman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="527" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpM1uO45qJk/XsP4TvqLeoI/AAAAAAAAHTs/xFYUY4Xrlh0cQO9djkCJGqvNIyVCXGWlACPcBGAYYCw/s640/freshman.jpg" width="572" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This mopey faced baby is the only pic of this specific era (this was the summer after my freshman year) I could find on Facebook because I am older than the hills/all my pics are actual film in my Mom's house mostly!). I do have a few pics from h.s. with friends I might have to crop out for privacy reasons. Anyway this is me on a family road trip to Virginia, from Mass, to go camping, for some bizarre reason I have no idea why! Reasons for my teenage sulk face include but are not limited to<br />
<br />
-I do not wish to be photographed, ever, but especially in my dorky glasses, which I am so averse to I wander around blind until I eventually get contacts my sophomore year<br />
<br />
-I don't know why my hair is so short but I think I remember getting a really awful haircut around this time and crying at the hairdresser<br />
<br />
-I am being torn away from the tennis court, where I spend every waking moment with my new b.f.f. Jodi in a very unsubtle stalking my skater boy crush who lives across the road summer of pining<br />
<br />
-Unrelated to my face I give props to teen me for recognizing early on that a good striped shirt will see you through pretty much anything! ;-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-40328875130518844262020-04-21T23:46:00.000+01:002020-04-22T00:05:38.454+01:00Toothache in the Time Of Quarantine How is everyone doing? We are in week 5 (I think technically D. and I are on week 6 even...wait what? I honestly don't know, scary!) of quarantine.<br />
<br />
Last week I started getting a mysterious throbbing but quite intense pain in my jaw, it sort of radiated all around and was hard to pinpoint. I had never had anything specifically like it but I was pretty convinced it wasn't a tooth issue because I didn't have any specific pain when eating or anything like that.<br />
<br />
A couple days in and the pain was just getting worse, the only thing that gave me relief was icing it and then adding heat, but the waves of pain were way more intense than most things. I was convinced it was tmj (I am a tooth grinder and do wear a night guard). I watched a few YouTube videos and started doing all of these jaw exercises, but after a couple of days David convinced me to call our dentist, who I did not think would be in office and was super reluctant to call because of the situation we are all in right now.<br />
<br />
Long story short, despite my conviction that I knew what was UP, my dentist was pretty certain it was a tooth issue, given that I had an infected tooth before and a history of crappy teeth malfunctions. He had me wait a day and then call him back, by which time my pain had reached a level of unpleasantness that was pretty breathtaking, no painkillers were touching it, ice and heat became something I had to do almost constantly and it was shorter and shorter periods without pain. He decided to put me on antibiotics.<br />
<br />
I don't think he can actually see patients right now, but I do feel so grateful that I had a dentist I could call and speak to. Within 2 days the pain had changed from a less radiant one to a sharp, targeted tooth pain, with any kind of pressure. Honestly I was still surprised, because my whole head was so inflamed I guess I couldn't feel it before, so weird! So yeah, I am finished with day 5 as of today, I still have some pain which I hope goes away completely but otherwise feeling so lucky that I called the dentist and he was available to treat me over the phone at least (knock wood it has bought me some time).<br />
<br />
I know this story is super boring, sorry, but there was also someone in my family who had to seek emergency medical care of a more serious note during this quarantine, and I am so grateful they were able to get treatment quickly.<br />
<br />
When I was searching Twitter for jaw pain there were seriously tons of people complaining about it, and then when I had the infected tooth the same thing happened. I have read quite a few articles saying that people are putting off going to to the doctor right now and unfortunately in some cases it means they are letting what should be minor ailments escalate to something more serious. I hope we are all taking care of ourselves, I know it's scary to think about going anywhere near a doctor's office or hospital right now but putting your head in the sand is really not the way to go either. I admit I tend to procrastinate going to the doctor's, even with my <a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-treat-person-who-has-cancer.html" target="_blank">medical history</a>, because it's just like uggggh don't wanna! Immature & silly, I know.<br />
<br />
Anyway other than that, or maybe because of that, I have felt less stressed on a general level this week. I guess having a physical problem to distract me was weirdly a blessing in that sense. I know, it's still scary and weird and sad out there, and my cabin fever is highly ironic as an introvert who loves nothing better than staying home, but overall week...5(?!) of quarantine has gone by quicker than most. We don't have too much food or supply anxiety anymore (although I am definitely having to plan more which is so not my forte).<br />
<br />
Most of my stress remains centered around: I really need me/us/my loved ones to not catch this; I am sad and tired of feeling so helpless and useless to help the people who are really fighting this thing for the rest of us. And obviously, the permanent, simmering rage at the politicians who have led us like lambs to the slaughter and not given the medical staff the tools they need to survive.<br />
<br />
The more Boris/his stand in's and Trump bullshit and bluster (I can't even with Trump but not going there...), that they have somehow done a good job when medical staff are repeatedly saying they are desperate for PPE and the nightly death toll continues to at this point numbly horrify, the harder it gets to not boil over with an all consuming fiery destructive fury that is sadly, in the end, impotent. The only power we have is to vote them out. All of these cold hearted murderous f*ckers. That's it. Sorry.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://giphy.com/embed/cPNJWMR3hNgfRCODa5" width="480"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/a24-midsommar-cPNJWMR3hNgfRCODa5">via GIPHY</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yeah so I WAS feeling better! I just can't allow myself to think about it for too long or it gets dark. I TRY to stay off Twitter now as much as possible, it is no longer serving my mental health.<br />
<br />
Things that have been pleasant distractions this week:<br />
<br />
A couple of walks in the sunshine (honestly hecka stressful in their own way because PEOPLE everywhere in the city, seriously why can't they close the roads, we need the extra space to stay distanced!)...but still I felt like a vampire seeing sunlight - oh but they don't like that!<br />
<br />
I bought someone flowers, which felt nice, and then I bought myself flowers, because also it felt nice :-). I hem and haw over every purchase now and try not to buy anything that isn't a necessity but I really needed cheering up and I figure it's basically good to shop and support the economy, within reason? How are you guys dealing with shopping? I feel bad every time I hear a retailer is struggling here in the U.K. but also why are so many BIG businesses operating on the verge of bankruptcy? When are they going to reassess that paying out big bonuses to a select few while their company burns is not a viable business model? <br />
<br />
I am going to try to finish True Blood, corny, campy, saucy occasionally scary vampires and other monsters show that I abandoned somewhere in season 4 so I am re-watching it. (It's on the NOWTV box in U.K.).<br />
<br />
Ok well good luck to everyone, stay safe and you know, it you loathe it by now, stay home ;-). xo <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhQr70YY7BU/Xp91guwOloI/AAAAAAAAHSg/Dm-B_xwzSLg_RcXE1u2b0qX-blou-ETqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/SODA%2BBREAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="461" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhQr70YY7BU/Xp91guwOloI/AAAAAAAAHSg/Dm-B_xwzSLg_RcXE1u2b0qX-blou-ETqACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SODA%2BBREAD.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish Soda Bread</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh I am still on my baking bullsh*t too ;-). This soda bread was a bit of a mixed bag recipe wise, I kind of made it up as I went along. I used yogurt in the spirit of trying to use up stuff (in place of buttermilk). I think either that or a smidge too much butter (they sell butter in these rectangular blocks here and me, a dumb American, has no idea how to measure butter here to this day other than winging it! Expat problems!), made it not rise very much. Also I cooked it in a cheesecake pan (which I had never used!) because I hate when soda bread spreads to a big monster disc thing. It was still pretty tasty though. I even used some dried out raisins which I brought back to life by soaking in warm water, so I was kinda impressed with my thriftiness game!SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-40127320114601854702020-04-05T16:49:00.001+01:002020-07-06T19:28:34.654+01:00Lockdown Week Three<br />
<br />
So it has been over three weeks now since we went into self isolation (it only feels like 300 lol). My husband got sent home a week earlier to work from home than a lot of people in the U.K. because one of the first confirmed cases was at his office. I think we have only been in technical "lockdown" for two weeks now? What even is time etc.<br />
<br />
I also started having a weird cold that week that started in my chest but seemed to drag on without turning into much, having asthma it's not ideal though and I did have a few stressful days feeling like I wish I could go to the doctor to get some steroids like I normally would for a chest cold but feeling too paranoid/confused as to whether I should go. I am like 98% better now. I feel better anyway but do still have a tiny bit of a cough which makes me feel weird about going for a walk in case people think I have the "rona" as the kids are calling it! Obviously you can't be too safe, I am like 100% sure if I got it it would be much worse because of my asthma, so I am trying to stay inside as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Of course this presents its own set of frustrations/cabin fever/all that fun stuff. The weather has been BEAUTEOUS, almost mockingly so for Scotland, and this week looks set to be even nicer. I now own two sets of fabric masks, the first pair I ordered (his and hers) from Etsy I was not crazy about, they fit sort of poofing out from the face and never felt secure, and they shrank a bit when I hand washed them. The seller kindly send me a different style which seems better but I did hand wash them so need to iron them and see if they are still ok. (I am fully aware the messaging on masks is mixed, but I ordered these like 2 weeks ago just in case). Honestly most people still aren't wearing them where we live, even though it's a city, which kinda freaks me out.<br />
<br />
Anyway other than that it has been very day by day like most people I guess. I had a ridiculous level of stress and anxiety for the first couple of weeks that was just not sustainable. I genuinely felt on the verge of a panic attack some days and have had more than one crying fury jag. It's very frustrating when you feel like your loved ones aren't doing what they should be doing to protect themselves, and from speaking to friends I know I am not alone in this when I say<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: yellow;">STAY THE F*CK HOME BOOMER PARENTS!!!</span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><br />
Ok I got that out of my system! Sorry!<br />
<br />
Nothing I say or do can control other people's brains, no amount of "please don't keep doing what you're doing I don't want to be an orphan" seems to matter so yeah...I have had to "self isolate" from my own emotions a lot just to stay sane!<br />
<br />
I do think that in America certain (*cough* FOX) news outlets have a lot to freaking answer for in not making people take this more seriously sooner. And it doesn't help that it has been a clusterfork of catastrophic proportions at the top. We are almost in the same boat in the U.K. really to be honest, our cases are rising every day and the U.K. government also sh*t the bed with their "herd immunity" b.s. and still allowing large concerts and events like Cheltenham to happen mere days before the lockdown, which they knew was imminent.<br />
<br />
ANYHOO. I really didn't mean to write about this stuff but what else is there right now? I AM trying to stay sane, tuning out where I can but I could still do better. I took a Facebook break this week because despite having some really lovely reconnections with old friends, it has been incredibly frustrating to feel like some people on there just aren't taking it seriously. I think people are more so <i>now</i>, but even like a week ago there was still this kind of subdued vibe about it. A friend made a comment about "well I guess this social distancing is going on for 3 weeks according to the President so I can't have this party"...and I was just kinda like....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://giphy.com/embed/10uct1aSFT7QiY" width="480"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/surprised-10uct1aSFT7QiY">via GIPHY</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I TOTALLY get that people don't want to think about this stuff 24/7, it's waaaaaay too stressful. I share plenty of jokey/feel good things too but I also feel like I'm one of the few people I know who was really trying to get people to take it seriously in America a couple of weeks ago and it felt like it was falling on deaf ears and basically I was like<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ey1Z0VhAQdA" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
I saw this film <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Shelter-Michael-Shannon/dp/B07RW54QYW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=take+shelter&qid=1594059966&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Take Shelter</a> starring Michael Shannon years ago (it's actually on Amazon Prime* in the U.K. now, not sure I can bring myself to watch it right now though!), and it's one of the few films about a person who just KNOWS shit is about to go real bad, and the whole time you sort of think he's crazy, but his conviction is so strong and everybody is like "Eh, not sure 'bout dat, we'll be fine".<br />
<br />
So yeah, me and Michael (I forget his character name) cannot save the world from its own folly/stupidity or willingness to believe what the scarily incohesive message of the day is from the leaders of the western world. The only people saving the world right now are doctors and nurses and other essential workers. As frustrating as it is there is nothing I or anyone else can do about it but try to look after our own selves and the people we love, except the ones who won't listen, in which case we are allowed to sometimes do this:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/11Wkoq2MaUbLXi" width="375"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/g-help-11Wkoq2MaUbLXi">via GIPHY</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I do hope we will see/be through the worst of it soon, and it feels super selfish and weird to write that - like "I hope it peaks so I can go outside again" LIKE WTF 2020?! Obviously I wish that is has peaked already, but realistically it has not. I am not a praying sort but I have been praying in my own way during this time that we all get through it, against the odds maybe but Christ what else is there right now.<br />
<br />
So I haven't been able to blog or write at all during the week because my husband is using the computer for work. And honestly, without being able to do anything much while he works other than hang out in my bedroom and try to distract myself/the occasional yoga or whatever, I have realized how bored my brain gets not being able to write.<br />
<br />
Even if it's adding to my myriad unpublished drafts folder or just working on random private writing, I miss it and I can't go on like this indefinitely so I will hopefully be getting a laptop or notebook soon. I do have a tablet I could watch shows on but I am just not a watch t.v. during the daytime person, or maybe I just don't like watching stuff on small screens I don't know.<br />
<br />
Anyway this was meant to be a post about some of the slightly weird things I have been cooking but this came out instead. Hopefully I can get that one up too. Ok well I hope everyone is staying safe and getting through this the best they can. I keep reminding myself that I am lucky to be able to "stay safe stay home" and I know most people think this situation is an introvert's dream but I saw a funny meme that pointed out the reality of an introvert in this sitch PERFECTLY.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fs0B1EZMdoA/XonvQPIlMdI/AAAAAAAAHRs/2yyoEAiafpcTGGGW_vioUL0S7-VTysKoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/introverts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fs0B1EZMdoA/XonvQPIlMdI/AAAAAAAAHRs/2yyoEAiafpcTGGGW_vioUL0S7-VTysKoACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/introverts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(No offense etc. but yeah...). Being stuck in a house with someone, even someone you are very fond of, is a lot, especially if you are used to a decent amount of genuine solitude. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few things that have helped keep me sane in the past week are live concerts that musicians have been putting on. I was so happy that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooV0fxHSU7g" target="_blank">Joy Zipper</a> started doing little videos in particular as they are sort of seemingly semi retired for some reason. I also enjoyed Facebook lives from Richard Thompson, Bill Janovitz, and this funny mini film/concert from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhsFAKA_YM4" target="_blank">Jason Narducy</a> (he is a household fave, he plays in Bob Mould's band which is how we came to know him but his solo stuff is excellent).</div>
<br />
T.V. and film wise some things that have kept my brain briefly occupied include:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Love at First Sight </span>(Netflix). It's totally bonkers, but so engrossing and that is what the world needs right now! I am so sad it's over! The only let down for me was the weak sauce reunion show.<br />
<br />
Foreign language shows help because they force me to put down my phone: Right now I am watching s. 3 of <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Elite</span>. Trashy Spanish teen soap murder mystery of the most enjoyable order.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Peep Show:</span> Classic pioneering British comedy about two unlikely best friends, always worth a re-watch, any light hearted silly comedy is a good distraction right now.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Inside No.9:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> I had seen a few episodes of this show before, but it's only recently we have started watching them in succession (David tends to put them on and sometimes I am *trying* to do other things but I usually get sucked in). What's great about this show is, aside from the two regular actors/creators being a constant, every episode is different, with different guest actors, genres, you never know what to expect. It does tend towards the comically weird/creepy/occasionally genuinely spooky (I feel like Black Mirror owes a lot to this show, but Black Mirror is often "too much" for me whereas this is not, even though it can be truly freaky at times!).</span><br />
<br />
Also I am sticking to period dramas, for some reason they distract me more than modern day dramas right now. I started the BBC Lady Chatterley's Lover from a few years back, bodice ripping smut of the first order! ;-)<br />
<br />
Film wise we watched <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Midsommar</span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"> </span>(in retrospect, probably a bit too intense,) it actually took us three goes to finish it as halfway through the first time I had a crying fit (must have been all of Florence Pugh's extremely excellent hysteria! OH do check out her Instagram she cooks and is a delight) and then David kept falling asleep. I wouldn't NOT recommend it necessarily but if you have seen The Wicker Man you kind of know where it's going. I actually did like it as far as very freaky awful upsetting horror films go though!<br />
<br />
Oh I forgot we watched <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">A Quiet Place</span> that week too (yikes, like can we just avoid post apocalypse stuff...somehow The Walking Dead doesn't bug me right now though because I am used to it though?). Anyway yes A Quiet Place is good but again, timing not so much.<br />
<br />
And last night we watched a movie I had heard was good on Netflix called <span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: black;">Blindspotting </span>- I was under the impression it was more of a comedy than it was but it was really good. It's about two friends in Oakland, California going about their daily life as movers, with a lot of heavy social commentary/context of everything from police violence against African Americans to neighborhoods getting gentrified. It was a lot deeper than I was expecting but I really liked it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Stay home save lives. xo<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*<b><i>I am a member of Amazon affiliates and may receive a percentage payment for any purchases bought from using my links.</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-86907634850808831362020-03-20T21:01:00.000+00:002020-04-05T17:01:28.286+01:00Coronavirus Quarantine Life: Food Tips <br />
<br />
<br />
Hey, how is everyone doing out there? It has been such a tough week for most of us, I think? I haven't experienced anything like this in my lifetime, anyway.<br />
<br />
I don't know about you, but I have struggled at times to force myself to tune it out, to get off social media (I have mostly failed miserably at this, something I am definitely going to try to get a handle on this weekend), long enough to properly decompress from it all. Between worrying about ourselves, our loved ones (not always in that order), and just the disruption to daily life, along with the fear and confusion of it all, it has been really stressful at times.<br />
<br />
It has been tricky for me also as I have been in self isolation/quarantine for a week now, because of a slight cough. It’s fine, but it also has weirdly stayed very minor/persistent without turning into a cold or anything but it’s hard not to wonder “what is going on?” <br />
<br />
I’m not suffering much at all so I won’t pester the health service hotlines about it – what is scary is that because I have asthma a lot of my colds do go into my chest, so obviously I am very anxious about the Coronavirus, but I would be very surprised if I got it and it was this mellow (I know some people don’t get it too badly though or aren’t even symptomatic so who knows). <br />
<br />
Anyway, the past week things have gotten pretty upended for a lot of us who are trying to stop the spread or self-isolating. Even for people still going to work, the grocery shelves have been emptied a lot of the times when they get off work unfortunately by panic buying (sorry) twats.<br />
<br />
I have seen so many videos and photos of medical workers and elderly people confronted with barren supermarket shelves that it is hard not to get very angry and upset with the state of the world right now. Yes there are positive stories, too, but collectively, we could be doing a lot better at not being so selfish that other people have to go without basic foodstuffs.<br />
<br />
Anyway, breathe. I/my husband and I are trying to be as prepared as we can, and we are changing a few things “just in case” in how we shop for food and eat. I have been trying to treat this whole situation, without panicking (OR PANIC BUYING) as rationally as possible. <br />
<br />
Here are a few changes and ideas for food preparedness that I think might be of use (I apologize if any of these seem obvious or are things people already do, we are a two person household who gets away without much forethought when it comes to food a lot of the time so this whole thing has been a bit of a wake up call for us!).<br />
<br />
I appreciate that a lot of this is stuff people with kids or on a tight budget probably already do. It’s just the changes we have made/are making to help us get through this. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>- Be prepared:</b></span> On a basic level, we are used to being able to walk 5 minutes to a store and get most things (within reason) that we need. A random ingredient for dinner. Or you know, dinner. We were very unprepared for how bad things would get so quickly this week, and with me quarantined and David working from home, this has involved him having to go on various scavenger hunts for food, which sucks, as I don’t want him going out any more that he has to.<br />
<br />
We have a decent cupboard full of dry ingredients but not much meat or vegetables as those are things I normally buy in person (plus we had planned to be away for three days this weekend for my mother in laws birthday but had to cancel the trip because of everything that is happening/my cough, so we got through some of the food I had planned for this week over the weekend. Bad luck). <br />
<br />
So, much of our food buying has unfortunately been a bit reactionary and limited this week. We are FINE, but we are also buying things that are available that we know will come in handy down the line if things really get locked down, as opposed to things we “want”. There was no bread anywhere yesterday, so today we (D.) bought two loaves and a bag of flour. We have a small kitchen and can only stockpile so much (again I wouldn’t be buying tons of stuff even if it was available because that is rude a.f. right now). Luckily we do have a decent sized freezer though, so we froze a loaf of bread (I know other people do this all the time but we are just not normally freeze bread people ok! 😊). <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><b>- Make the most of what you’ve got:</b></span> Take an inventory of the things you do have and try to think outside the box if necessary, of things you can make with them. We are pretty good on beans right now, so I am probably going to try to make bean burgers at some point (not something I would normally do, because the o.h. is a picky-ish eater and our vegetarian options are usually pasta or pasta with cheese or risotto).<br />
<br />
He has been much more open minded when we have had a few “outside the box” things this week though; I will give him credit for that! We do just have to suck it up and eat stuff that’s not our favourite if that’s all we have, we have to pull together and try to make our loved ones lives less stressful –lest we chuck one another onto the street to fend for themselves with the seagulls ha ha! (in Aberdeen it would be our beastly gulls, maybe rats elsewhere, but I saw a really freaky scary video of a woman being attacked by seagulls in Italy I think. Nature omg).<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Buy Frozen Fruit:</b></span> (if you can get it) Much tastier than tinned (although honestly I have a weird fondness for tinned fruit), and makes great smoothies. Frozen vegetables too but they are pretty stripped where I live. Also if you can get fresh fruit or vegetables, look into if it’s ok to freeze them (or can? Are we canning now? In middle school I had a friend whose Mom coped with her divorce by filling their entire basement with things she had canned herself; it was impressive! I wish I had thought of it sooner!). <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><b>-Buy long life drinks: cow’s milk alternatives: </b></span>(I need to get on this myself), long life juices, sodas, etc. Stop buying all the water, unless you live somewhere with bad tap water this is just dumb – it's not a hurricane, it’s a virus, dummies! <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><b>-Think about shelf life:</b></span> Here are some cupboard essentials you might want to consider if you don’t normally buy them: Nuts, beans, legumes, tinned fruit and vegetables, tinned fish, peanut butter, oatmeal, dried fruits, cereal or protein bars, jello/”jelly” as they insist on calling it here! (we don’t have Jello pudding in the U.K., sob!).<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">-Don't forget Health Food stores</span></b>: (the independent ones, not Whole Foods, which we don’t even have most places in the U.K.). A lot of health food stores are dotted around random spots and while I’m sure people are probably already ON IT, just mentioning it in case anyone is really desperate; they might be an unlikely source of various essential items or have alternate versions of things you can’t find elsewhere (I apologize if I am wrong, my Mom thinks they have probably been ransacked already but I myself haven’t tried yet!). I also read online that a lot of Asian grocery stores are quiet, which is a shame, and stupid, so take advantage if you have one! <br />
<b><br /> <span style="background-color: lime;">-Stock up on herbs, seasonings:</span></b> (Worcestershire sauce, mustard, spice blends, whatever floats your boat), onion and garlic (again, someone in my house isn’t keen on garlic but desperate times!). <br />
<b><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;"><br />-Stretch out your pasta (or curry, whatever) sauce</span></b>: we normally don’t use a whole jar anyway to be honest, but it goes a lot further if you stir it through your pasta and freeze some for later. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><b>-Buy flavourful things that can be stretched out more than you would usually:</b></span> I knew meat was thin on the ground so I told D. to get bacon if possible because I knew I could stretch it out for soups, pasta, whatever. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">-Consider vegetable proteins: </span></b>again, we are limited as my husband can’t eat the main vegetarian protein here (Quorn), but I am hoping to source tofu, soy mince and whatever other non-meat based protein I can find, just to have. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><b>-Try to be less wasteful:</b></span> If you have leftover pasta or, as we did this week, this baked orzo with eggplant and mozzarella (recipe from<a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2012/09/baked-orzo-with-eggplant-and-mozzarella/" target="_blank"> Smitten Kitchen)</a>, have it as a side dish the second night. We are notoriously bad for throwing away leftovers and this is something we are already changing. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><b>-Get basic baking ingredients (if you can): </b></span>Flour, raising agents, sugar and oil. Eggs ideally. Butter helps too 😉. <br />
<br />
There is a cookbook author called Jack Monroe over here in the U.K. who has a blog/website called <a href="https://cookingonabootstrap.com/tag/tinned-food/" target="_blank">Cooking On a Bootstrap</a>
(as well as several cook books), a lot of which is based on cooking
with cupboard or tinned ingredients. I was aware of her prior to this on
Twitter as she is an outspoken social justice advocate, as a single Mom on a tiny
budget she came up with all of these recipes out of necessity. I think
her recipes all sound so inventive and amazing; I am going to try my
best with what I've got to have a go at some of them.<br />
<br />
Thinking about this stuff can be stressful/anxious making, but also it can be a nice distraction to try to think about new/random things to cook, as well as trying to be thrifty with it. <br />
<br />
For instance, I have always wanted to make pineapple upside down cake, why not now, when store bought treats are a hassle to obtain? I also have some leftover frozen cranberries from Christmas so pretty sure we will be having cranberry bread soon (in March, unheard of!). <br />
<br />
On a semi related note, I have seen/heard quite a bit of “Welp it’s the coronapocalypse, I am ditching the diet and eating what I want now, anything goes!”. As well as “I am eating as healthy as possible to up my immune system”. I think we are having a lot of complex feelings about food right now, understandably, with the fear we might run out of some things or we might not have enough of our usual foods. <br />
<br />
As someone who tries to practice intuitive eating generally, it’s interesting to see people “allowing themselves” to eat treat food, like it’s suddenly ok now when it wasn’t before. I have also seen a lot of jokes about people “getting fat” during this (hi, you’re being fatphobic saying this stuff actually so maybe don’t) and I just want to say, it’s ok to eat what you want, and it’s also totally normal if you have a past history of eating disorders to be feeling extra stressed and confused and maybe having some not very healthy thoughts right now. I know I have. <br />
<br />
I just want say that: it’s ok to feed yourself, it’s ok to comfort eat, and if you are feeling “out of control” around food because you are used to having certain diet restrictions that is totally normal. It is also understandable to feel stressed about food availability right now, but with any luck we will all get through this and hopefully start looking out for each other more along the way.<br />
<br />
Maybe read about Intuitive Eating during this weird/uncertain time (admittedly a little trickier to practice right now), but it might be enlightening anyway to think about why we treat food the way we do, giving it “good” or “bad” values, etc.<br />
<br />
It might be a good time to reflect on the normal dietary self-imposed restrictions some of us practice which often make us feel deprived of the things we like, which leads to binge eating, a natural response to deprivation.<br />
<br />
Maybe we can start to consider the idea that food is nourishment that is vital to life, and the pleasure of it has a greater value than we honor when we are severely restricted, and everything in moderation is something to consider after all of this madness clears up. And to question: why do we choose to live with strict limitations that the body naturally rebels against?<br />
<br />
What presumptions do we abide in our lives because of what diet culture tells us is healthy? And how different does it feel now, to have a different, less superficial value placed on food? Just a thought! <br />
<br />
I hope everyone is doing ok, please let me know if you have any tips or changes you have made in response to all of this, we are all in this together.<br />
<br />
I am essentially a lazy cook with a limited repertoire so it’s challenging times for me, too! I would really love to hear what everyone else is doing with their food prep/cooking too.<br />
<br />
Good luck, stay safe and take care. xo<br />
<br />
update: I made the Pineapple Upside Down Cake :-) It came out super tasty!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qbaHB9-MrU/XooAnOCB6gI/AAAAAAAAHR4/ZF2yclhpq6YBX2XMmdn-5ALlbTl54XAlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200322_165544-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qbaHB9-MrU/XooAnOCB6gI/AAAAAAAAHR4/ZF2yclhpq6YBX2XMmdn-5ALlbTl54XAlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200322_165544-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-25739498932980294362020-03-16T15:55:00.000+00:002020-03-16T18:17:11.207+00:00Self Isolating Tips and A Blog Address Change <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ar6lUyikqfA/Xm-XwxS_BVI/AAAAAAAAHQc/YOD6L7fCt5sz2VNaouMKo-rPehwB9YbfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191105_173958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ar6lUyikqfA/Xm-XwxS_BVI/AAAAAAAAHQc/YOD6L7fCt5sz2VNaouMKo-rPehwB9YbfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191105_173958.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh to be a bird! :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Hello! How are we all coping with the coronavirus pandemonium? I have a slight cold/bug (seriously 99% sure it's nothing although sadly we did have to cancel some important family plans this weekend). <br />
<br />
Between my weird not quite a cold/cough bug thing (it has tapered off and I don't have a fever, although I won't lie as an asthmatic it was hard not to freak out a little) and the possibly more worrying fact a person tested positive in my husband's office building this week (not on his floor, but still), we are definitely classing ourselves as people who should self isolate as they are calling it (I don't think it's a quarantine unless you suspect you might actually have COVID-19?). <br />
<br />
Luckily my husband's office has told everyone to work from home for the next two weeks at least (which not going to lie, is going to be interesting seeing as we live in a small flat!). <br />
<br />
So yeah...everything gets turned upside down pretty quickly, and it seems like maybe the U.K. and U.S. might have (TOTALLY FORKING SHOULD HAVE!) done a bit better at stopping this thing getting in a getting a foothold in the first place. Like I know it was always inevitable, but there was no screening at U.K. airports of people coming from Italy or other heavily infected places until recently (and even now I don't think it's super stringent). <br />
<br />
Anyway I don't want to harp on about it because it's everywhere and overwhelming enough already. I am trying (and not always succeeding) to not oversaturate myself with it. It's quite frustrating feeling like the people in charge are valuing the economy more than human lives, but there's not much I can do about it other than stay inside, use my antibacterial wipes and pray I don't run out of t.p./ loo roll anytime soon! <br />
<br />
I have been drinking vitamin c shots every day to try to kick the cough's butt and it's maybe a good idea to drink your o.j. and try to do some healthy activities if possible. <br />
<br />
I have been trying to stay calm (in between stressing myself out with the news!) doing some of the following things this week: <br />
<br />
Yoga- I am VERY rusty with it but I got the idea to start it again after a Facebook yogi did a 5 day body positive yoga challenge last week. It felt really good, I have to say I am not going to the gym for obvious reasons right now (there is a whole other THING with my gym not providing cleaning supplies to members, they have now finally but it's just icky most of the time).<br />
<br />
I am hoping to continue with it at home with the help of Youtube and Amazon video (I do actually have yoga dvd's but they are all kind of long and I enjoyed the thirty minute format of the ones I did with the challenge). <br />
<br />
Unwinding/getting sleepy/meditative with the videos of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPCHuLiHbhG3s_YxhMLOn6Q" target="_blank">Lune Innate</a>. I am really not that into ASMR, (although hers is pretty chill/un-annoying) but her distance Reiki and crystal healing/ sound bath other hippie good stuff videos are so reliably calming and soothing if you are open to that kind of thang. <br />
<br />
Re-watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice (on Netflix U.K. - Colin Firth version ding dong!). I admit I have struggled a bit to concentrate on shows and films with everything that is going on, but for some reason the period setting and comforting familiarity of Jane Austen's world is just the salve I needed for tuning out the real world. I think I will just keep watching Jane Austen/other period shows for awhile. <br />
<br />
Dabbling in aromatherapy: I bought a few skincare items from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ZenCompanyShop" target="_blank">Zen Company Shop </a>on Etsy a few weeks ago, and fortuitously I also picked up a few of their aromatherapy roller ball samples (with cute names like Let It Be and No Thanx-iety I couldn't resist!). I had never tried aromatherapy on my physical body before - I have gotten more into putting oils in my mist diffuser recently so I guess it was a natural progression.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIh6Y6opLaM/Xm-gMPWVpQI/AAAAAAAAHQs/NyLQaDagpFsnQF4KiSu-keL4_kzCp8vUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200214_115029-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIh6Y6opLaM/Xm-gMPWVpQI/AAAAAAAAHQs/NyLQaDagpFsnQF4KiSu-keL4_kzCp8vUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200214_115029-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zen Company shop organic skincare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_ZcD7vTrT4/Xm-gO2mxRSI/AAAAAAAAHQw/Q79Ng6ZGrjA3LwkMHwnZJDH3W_81_KYXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200214_114959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1600" height="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_ZcD7vTrT4/Xm-gO2mxRSI/AAAAAAAAHQw/Q79Ng6ZGrjA3LwkMHwnZJDH3W_81_KYXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200214_114959.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have enjoyed all of the roller balls and the room spray and the skincare things I bought and may review at some point. Worth noting is that the skincare is pretty headily scented (I am ok with it) but the roller balls are actually quite subtle, much more subtle than say, a Tisserand type if you are averse to overpowering scents (obviously if you are super smell sensitive maybe avoid altogether! ;-)). I don't know if they are "doing anything" per se but they are certainly pleasant to use and the Doze Off (sleep) themed one I definitely feel an effect with I think! <br />
<br />
I have also been doing my usual "I don't know if I fully believe but it cant hurt to meditate and set intentions" crystal stuff, and I did happen to buy some crystal bracelets (pre Coronavirus) with different (purported) energy healing properties a few weeks ago for some belated birthday money presents. <br />
<br />
I bought a chakra bracelet (I won't say which, that's uh personal! ;-) and a calming bracelet and a protection bracelet from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/whitewitchofthemoon?ref=notif_nfyfs&order=date_desc" target="_blank">White Witch of the Moon</a> on Etsy (none of this is sponsored or anything btw), they are advertised as being Reiki and moon charged and yes maybe it's my brain being susceptible/ a placebo effect, but legit, none of the bracelets "feel" identical, and I did not have any preconceived idea about how the chakra bracelet would feel -if anything I thought it would feel "light" and cleansing or something, and it's sort of the opposite. <br />
<br />
I have been wearing the calming bracelet while I had this bug to try to keep chilled out and it's definitely a non-intrusive, nice way to remind myself to stay calm. And they are pretty too so that helps! <br />
<br />
I hope everyone is doing ok, it's likely going to be a stressful time for most if not all of us in some way. <br />
<br />
It has heartened me to see the stories of people going out of their way to help others, especially the elderly and in need, I also hope we can all start to emulate the rallying spirit of Italians singing and making music on their balconies (although most of us don't have balconies in Scotland!).<br />
<br />
It's hard for me to be far away from my Mom right now on a personal note, it's very weird and scary to feel so powerless to do anything and I hope we can all just be kind to one another and oh yeah stop hoarding! Sheesh. Anyway.... ;-) <br />
<br />
Oh yes and I think I am going to let my blog address steffinscotland.com lapse back to steffinscotland.blogspot.co.uk. (it's due for renewal this week but usually takes a few weeks to actually expire).<br />
<br />
Basically once again Go Daddy have hiked up the price and I haven't managed to regain much domain authority at all this year since I switched the .co.uk. to .com, and I just don't know if it's worth it to me. I could care less about this stuff right now but yes, anyway, if I disappear, I'm still here, I will update my social media if it does change. Stay safe everybody.<br />
xo<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/syx3a1_LeFo" width="560"></iframe></div>
SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-22261958069597874992020-01-31T17:45:00.001+00:002020-07-11T16:06:19.188+01:00Invisible Eating Disorders and Medical Fatphobia<br />
So I did that thing I sometimes do and started babbling on Instagram after a weird thing that happened and tried to make sense of it as I wrote and hello confusing word jumble!<br />
<br />
Anyway. It got me thinking. What was I trying to say and what important thing did I miss (this is often what I think after one of my Instagram rambles - seriously go follow me I'm a delight!). The thing is I do sometimes connect with other people in the fat/body positive space over there and it's nice not to feel like I am boring absolutely everyone like I often do when I try to write about this stuff here.<br />
<br />
So basically what happened was:<br />
<br />
I went to my asthma review. I know, going in, that two things are going to happen to stress me out: they are going to nag me about still needing to use my short term inhalers (because asthma isn't a chronic illness no siree oh hey I wrote about it <a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-inspector-and-wheezer-annual-asthma.html" target="_blank">here</a> too in a slightly whimsical way!).<br />
<br />
AND they are going to weigh me. I have no idea why they have to weigh me at this, all is I know is that I no longer weigh myself and there is no way in hell I am going to let them mess with my head by telling me how much I weigh. So I go in fully on the defensive, but trying to remain calm at the same time.<br />
<br />
It goes okay-ish, in an ideal world I would not be weighed but this nurse is a little scary and maybe my imagination is getting carried away but I feel like she actually wrangled me by the arm onto the scale? LOL IT'S FUN! At any rate, I tell her that I do not weigh myself and I do not wish to be told my weight, and she at least respects that.<br />
<br />
It's a digital scale so I don't bother getting on backwards and I just don't look down. There is no apologetic removing of shoes or belts, because at that moment, I (just about) give less than zero effs what those numbers say.<br />
<br />
Then there's a whole <i>thing </i>where the doctor has to come in because I still use my short term inhalers (like I have been my whole life this was never an "issue" in America but anyway) and then he's on to the importance of "cardio" and basically I'm just smiling and nodding my head and trying not to boil over with rage.<br />
<br />
I feel vulnerable. I feel like I'm trying to create this impermeable shield in case the fat shaming begins.<br />
<br />
And here's the thing. I'm only a<i> "small" </i>fat. I'm <i>pretty</i> sure I'm comfortably outside my "BMI" now (BMI IS BULLSH*T BTW OK<a href="https://www.bicycling.com/training/a20005057/5-bmi-myths-you-need-to-stop-believing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> READ</a> ALL <a href="https://shapescale.com/blog/health/why-bmi-is-wrong-and-shape-index-is-telling-the-truth/" target="_blank">ABOUT IT</a>), but I am still the same size I was when I quit diets and took up with<a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2018/02/5-things-body-positivity-has-taught-me.html" target="_blank"> body positivity</a> and intuitive eating, so I kind of know where I'm at. <br />
<br />
I only mention this because I know I still have <a href="https://everydayfeminism.com/2012/11/20-examples-of-thin-privilege/" target="_blank">thin privilege</a>, and I cannot imagine what a sh*t show of fat shaming doctors are for people bigger than me. I still get occasionally less than subtly told that the answer to anything that ails me is weight loss, and it's infuriating, but I have heard and read so many genuinely upsetting things about people in larger bodies not getting diagnosed with very serious and even fatal conditions because the doctor could not bring themselves to look past the person's weight. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.self.com/story/weight-bias-and-health-care" target="_blank">This article in Self</a> is a great piece about how widespread it is and how women in particular just put up with it (probably because it's really hard to defend yourself when you feel you are being attacked/fat shamed all the time at the doctor's. Basically you are just waiting to go home and cry).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, even though it has been proven time and time again that <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2015/03/diets-do-not-work-the-thin-evidence-that-losing-weight-makes-you-healthier.html" target="_blank">most standard diets do not work</a>/result in weight gain/weight cycling upwards, we are still infantilized by the medical industry and made to feel that being fat is somehow a choice we really should be better at fixing.<br />
<br />
It boggles my mind that the standard expectation of body size keeps shrinking when the population overall is yes, getting fatter. I am not saying people shouldn't try to lose weight if they want to, if health is a genuine concern.<br />
<br />
But we are not being helped by the diet industry. We are just giving them money for a new book every year, the latest expensive ingredients, the latest exercise fads, and none of it is working, and somehow WE are the failures?<br />
<br />
Why is the huge trend towards <a href="https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/" target="_blank">intuitive eating</a> and HAES (Health at Any Size) among <a href="https://christyharrison.com/foodpsych" target="_blank">professional nutritionists</a> and health coaches being so completely ignored?<br />
<br />
It's <i>possibly</i> also worth noting that my baby rage monster was already beginning to simmer as when I was sitting alone in the waiting area, there was a poster opposite me of an outline of a human body, with correlating blurbs about how being overweight causes all of these different types of cancer.<br />
<br />
I won't open that Pandora's box, but AGAIN the blind promotion of "LOSE WEIGHT OR ELSE YOU WILL DIE" messages being fed to us everywhere are often easily challenged or dismantled when we look at them <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/03/cancer-researchs-obesity-campaign-isnt-just-misguided-its-dangerous-10108310/" target="_blank">more closely</a>.<br />
<br />
And I, a young cancer survivor (well I was young at the time of diagnosis) was an average weight at diagnosis and had no real cause for my cancer other than bad dumb luck. I know, for a fact, that there have been no links whatsoever between Lymphoma and weight. And yet there, in a little box on the poster were the words "types of blood cancers". And who knows, maybe there are a few that have some fragile connection, but also....oh it just <i>got</i> to me.<br />
<br />
Thin/average sized people get cancer too. PROBABLY just as many, if not more than, fat people. I certainly never noticed an uptick in body size on the cancer ward, and no it's not a chemo thing, I saw people from all stages of the disease in the appointment waiting area. I genuinely believe a large aspect of this hyper obsessed wellness culture has somehow <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obesity-an-overblown-epidemic-2006-12/" target="_blank">permeated medical science. </a><br />
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obesity-an-overblown-epidemic-2006-12/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
I wrote about the blind ignorance of wellness culture and the harm it does to cancer patients <a href="https://steffinscotland.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-smokescreen.html" target="_blank">here </a>quite awhile back.<br />
<br />
So to sit in an office when I feel like I have all of this knowledge and personal experience of the healthy mind and body that I firmly believe leaving diet culture and embracing body positivity, self acceptance and intuitive eating has brought to me after a lifetime of battling with my body and psyche, the PEACE of that, and be treated like a dumb chubby toddler who needs to jump around more is EXHAUSTING.<br />
<br />
I was feeling <i>pernickety </i>to put it mildly. I mentioned I was thinking of taking up yoga again because I remembered when I did it regularly many moons ago that I felt like my breathing was better. The thin doctor cocked his head to one side and was like "Hm well yeah but really CARDIO and getting OUT OF BREATHE is what's best for <i>you,</i> really".<br />
<br />
And to me, that just sort of represented everything that is wrong with the medical attitude right now. I had already told them I belong to a gym and (normally) do regular cardio, but me mentioning a new, more holistic, less calorie burning thing is just sort of dismissed/scoffed at, when yoga has been widely known to <a href="https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/your-stories/julia-white-teaching-yoga-to-people-with-asthma/" target="_blank">help people with asthma</a> for eons. I'm <i>tired </i>gang.<br />
<br />
I'm ready to leave the appointment now, and at this point it's just me and the asthma nurse. As I get up to leave, she says "By the way, just so you know, you have lost weight since last year."<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i> </i>I don't really say anything to that, at least, I don't feed into the diet culture b.s. any more and say "Oh yay, how much?" Because inside I am trying to stay calm.<br />
<br />
My self worth revolved pretty strongly around my weight up until three years ago. Of course there is still a part of me that says "OH F*CKING YAY, GO ME!" inside. Of course she's still there. She's the same one who still thinks I might "accidentally" lose weight and would you look at that, by no effort whatsoever on my part, I have. I am living the diet culture dream.<br />
<br />
I genuinely do not think I have lost much weight, I am still the same size I was when I quit diets/calorie counting. I think that my muscle mass increased for a while, but I haven't lifted weights for a couple of months now, so maybe it's actually lost muscle mass? It's not necessarily a good thing that the numbers on a scale decreased.<br />
<br />
<i></i>
But once an eating disordered mind gets a whiff of that "Oh I SHRANK you say?" high, even a latent one, even one bolstered by the freedom of life outside that circus, it becomes a very delicate operation on my part to put her back in the box before she sees daylight again.<br />
<br />
My eating disorder was never treated with therapy or told to gain weight, because she was <i>invisible</i>. She was inside a body that was mostly "average" weight wise, which was pretty infuriating to her to be honest. She flirted with excess thin-ness briefly, but it went largely ignored, other than a few remarks from friends to eat more.<br />
<br />
There were no interventions. She was almost always in hiding (many are, but people in <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/no-one-believed-i-could-have-eating-disorder-fat-body" target="_blank">average or larger bodies with eating disorders</a> mostly <a href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/eatingdisorders/73467" target="_blank">do not ever receive any kind of real treatment</a>).<br />
<br />
<i></i>
The only time my body obsessed brat of an eating disorder was allowed to breathe out in the open was when she got FAT after cancer/chemo steroids, and was very clearly expected (or she expected herself) to go back to how she was pre-cancer. It was the first time she tried actual diets, which must be ok because they are in books and everyone does it, right?<br />
<br />
Yes, that one where you drink sugar water and oil all day was definitely medically SOUND. That one where you eat virtually nothing for five days a week but gorge at the weekends - yeah that's <i>nothing </i>like the binge starve cycle of a bulimic or anorexic mind set AT ALL is it?<br />
<br />
She/I was VERY good at diets, the more extreme the better. She was comfortable with a pittance of food, because to lose weight you must suffer, it's just how it works, duh. Oh yeah and falling off the diet wagon and <a href="https://isabelfoxenduke.com/how-to-stop-binge-eating/" target="_blank">bingeing when your weight loss stalls</a>, that is all too familiar too:<br />
<br />
"You are such a perpetual failure, why can't you just be naturally skinny?" she sighs, and is rewarded with mass commiseration from women everywhere living their best lives on the diet hamster wheel, sharing memes about what "fat" failures they are - ha ha, good times..<br />
<br />
Yeah that head space is like totally normal and healthy (eye roll). But seriously, for so many of us, it is the way things are.<br />
<br />
The stress of the diet/ weight cycling life mimics/overlaps with actual eating disorders in <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/clean-eating-disorders-when-healthy-lifestyle-orthorexia-restrictive-harmful-a8244301.html" target="_blank">myriad ways.</a> Stress and depression from not losing or keeping weight off are also not "<a href="https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-10-9" target="_blank">healthy"for us in the long run.</a><br />
<br />
It's challenging and frustrating, but also, mostly, a million times better to live my life outside diet culture. Any time I have questioned what am I even doing/what is the point, I get a reminder, like a trip to the doctor where I am simultaneously exercise shamed and told I have lost weight. Isn't life weird.<br />
<br />
I just don't understand why doctors/the medical profession are so insensitive and oblivious in<br />
the way they handle this stuff sometimes.<br />
<br />
So many people have eating disorders or have had them at some point. And if a patient asks not to be weighed/not to be told their weight, you would think, in 2020, it might occur to the nurse not to then tell said patient they have lost weight. It's just....ugh.<br />
<br />
There is so much more I could talk about here, how people in bigger bodies are totally overlooked when it comes to treating their eating disorders because they are not thin, how they are told to diet their whole lives when that is probably the last thing they need.<br />
<br />
How maybe, just maybe, there are other more safe and consistent ways for them to pursue health. Because diets don't work. Why is this so hard for the medical establishment to admit?<br />
<br />
I know there are a million links in this post, but there is SO MUCH information out there for anyone remotely curious about this. I find it so frustrating that we still live in diet culture without questioning why, so blind to its harmful fallacies in 2020.<br />
<br />
Even if you don't believe in body positivity or any of this stuff, I challenge you to just click on any one of the links I have shared, and maybe you will see what I'm talking about, just a little bit.<br />
<br />
Right now I'm tired and I think need a little self care/regroup moment. It's okay to struggle with this stuff, truly, it's not all rainbows and Lizzo dance parties in the real world.<br />
<br />
I think I'm as guilty as anyone of transferring my weight focused perfectionism onto this bopo life and feeling like I have to be okay all of the time and happy all of the time. I am much better off, truly, but the truth is it can be lonely and deeply challenging outside diet culture too, so forgive my ramble here.<br />
<br />
But if it helps one person dealing with this it's worth it. And sometimes creating my own safe space is the only way to deal with it. So yeah, I'm off to finish season 2 of Shrill, it rocks. Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Everyone watch Shrill! (on BBC iplayer in U.K., Hulu in U.S.) Also it's not always as gut punching as this (awesome) scene, it is mostly a comedy drama. But it does dispel a lot of fatphobic b.s. too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H9X41LXbsXU" width="560"></iframe></div>
SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-31973368435087735722020-01-23T23:44:00.002+00:002020-01-24T13:02:38.908+00:00Skincare Changes I Have Made in My Forties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I am well and truly DEEP into my forty something decade as of this month, but seeing it in black and white in my title still kinda freaks me out! Which I know sounds super immature, but like, I don't <i>feel </i>forty something yet either (I think this is the great mystery of getting older, few people feel their age, we just have to uh, roll with it I guess).<br />
<br />
"Age is just a number" and all that jazz but I would be lying if I didn't admit to getting a tiny bit more fussy in recent years about the aging process/my approach to looking after my face in particular.<br />
<br />
I do try to be as self accepting as possible, but it doesn't mean I won't still occasionally try to change things if I feel they are not working for me anymore.<br />
<br />
My main skincare concerns so far this decade are:<br />
<br />
-Uneven skin tone, thanks to a bit of pigmentation/sun damage I presume, and the dreaded thread veins, which I have been intermittently getting zapped with lasers for the past few years now.<br />
<br />
-Sinking cheeks/jowls. Basically the whole lower half of my face!<br />
<br />
Enough people are kind enough to say I don't look my age that I just sort of shrug and get on with my day instead of falling into a pit of despair over my lost youth. I know I look fine to good "for my age" but it also makes me feel a bit odd about not ageing the way I <i>should</i> be ageing, like in an elegant French way where I just add more eyeliner like Carine Roitfield or cut bangs (this would be a disaster on my <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2016/02/20-curly-girl-problems.html" target="_blank">curly hair</a> but I have felt very wistful urges for a dramatic hair transformation this decade) or whatever else sophisticated modern women do to feel comfortable in their skin as they grow into middle age. I <i>want</i> to feel my age in some respects, I don't feel ashamed of it.<br />
<br />
There are changes afoot inside and outside my body and it's quite unsettling at times to feel like you have no control of these things. So I don't see the harm in trying to make myself feel and maybe look a little bit better if I can.<br />
<br />
<u></u><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Skincare Changes I Have Made in My Forties</span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.<b> Be GENTLE(R)!</b> In my thirties if I wasn't attacking my skin with a Clarisonic or several masks and scrubs a week I felt I was not doing my best. Turns out abrasively "caring" for my skin probably was not doing it any favors, as despite having oily-ish skin, I also have sensitive skin that started throwing vein parades and acne parties all over in my late thirties.<b> </b>Oh well, at least I was wearing sunscreen!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So basically, with the caveat I still have sebum control issues, I use gentler products. Out with the vigorous brush cleansing, in with the hot cloth and (non drying) foam cleansers. I occasionally use a scrub but mostly use a gentle yet acid type exfoliating toner (I like the Nip/Fab sensitive wipes). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I can totally tell that my skin cell turnover has slowed this decade, as my nose pores will get blocked up semi-regularly if I am not exfoliating enough, which was never a problem for me before. I have resorted to charcoal nose strips once or twice a month to try to combat this (and squeezing, ugh I do love to squeeze and yes I know, so bad for my skin! Must do better!).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I try to use soothing masks and moisturising masks where possible, but I do still go for a charcoal or mud mask maybe once or twice a month.<br />
<br />
My favourite masks I have tried recently are:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Superdrug <a href="https://www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face-Skin-Care/Face-Masks/Superdrug-Charcoal-Face-Mask-75ml/p/740213" rel="" target="_blank">Charcoal Mask</a></i></b>: It's very similar to the L'Oreal one but hasn't dried out as quickly, and actually leaves my skin feeling less tight than the L'Oreal one, so yeah, I dig.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Temple Spa</i></b> <a href="https://www.templespa.com/becalm" rel="" target="_blank">Be Calm Mask</a>: This is just lovely and soothes any redness or irritation, great for sensitive skin and all natural ingredients to boot. I tried this in a spa/sample kit a little while back. It's not cheap, but it is good quality stuff (I know it's a "people sell this on Facebook" thing and yes that's how I was introduced to it but I did really like everything I tried/am considering a few repurchases).<br />
<br />
I am also a fan of the Garnier Face<a href="https://www.superdrug.com/b/Garnier?q=%3AbestBiz%3Abrand%3A406004%3Acategory%3Apt-skin-facial-mask-sheets&text=&minSel=1.0&maxSel=16.0&minSlider=1.0&maxSlider=16.0&resultsForPage=20&sort=bestBiz&categorypt-skin-facial-mask-sheets=on#" rel="" target="_blank"> mask sheets</a>. They and their ilk are cheap and cheerful and still feel like a nice treat for the skin. I also tried some French pharmacy onces awhile back (I forget the brand sorry) but you can often get two or three mask treatments out of a sachet style mask from a high quality brand (<a href="https://www.escentual.com/?msclkid=abca71da4e0217133b222ff38cf1d7bd&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Escentual&utm_term=escentual&utm_content=Escentual" rel="" target="_blank">Escentual</a> is particularly good for French pharmacy products, not sure about outside the U.K.).<br />
<br />
2. <b>Treat Yo'self</b>. Ok for me this mainly involves the vein zapping, it's not cheap unfortunately and is probably money that some women might spend on massages or other facial treatments, so I do go for those things less often than I might otherwise. Saying that I just realized I actually haven't been in about a year so I do think I deserve a little treat! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My favourite facial I ever had was done by my same beautician who zaps my veins (which is highly unglamorous and scabby, I keep meaning to blog about it but also it's gross!), she only does one brand of facial and it's the relatively not super common Guinot. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
The <a href="http://uk.guinot.com/youth-firmness/hydradermie-lift-treatment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guinot Hydradermie Lift facial </a>(which I must stress, paid for by me, not an ad), is the only thing I have ever had done to my face that made me think "Holy Shirtballs would you look at that!" Of course they advise you do it weekly (LOLOLOL I'm not a millionaire!). I will say that my face was truly tightened and my skin looked and felt so smooth and even in tone and yes, visibly more defined/lifted, for a week/ going on two afterwards. You do feel like Joan Crawford or something having electric currents zapped all over your face with these metal balls (it's seriously painless though).<br />
<br />
I would definitely recommend it for special occasions/ a treat, or if you are just feeling in a funk if you can find a qualified therapist. (This is just my personal experience having it done once, I have seen this treatment top various best facial lists though for whatever reason it still has a sort of "best kept beauty secrets" vibe to it), like it's never been hip or trendy but again, it's FRENCH, they spend their lives on their skin, they know what they are doing!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3. <b>Try New Things/Change it Up:</b> I have finally caved and bought a jade face roller (well mine is actually rose quartz - er I hope. Who knows, it's probably just glass as I bought it on Amazon but it feels nice ok), which came with a matching Gua Sha massage tool, which is a more "serious" face massage tool. I found some videos on YouTube for how to do it but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc12OTFzua0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a> was my favourite. I also highly recommend the neck massage video by the same account, it feels so relaxing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6__a4eGmmJI/XinYIP4FoYI/AAAAAAAAHOk/m2UeQ4dx48wc_SLSYwUdDQMKnEa2Pl6RACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jade%2Broller%2Band%2Bgua%2Bsha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6__a4eGmmJI/XinYIP4FoYI/AAAAAAAAHOk/m2UeQ4dx48wc_SLSYwUdDQMKnEa2Pl6RACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jade%2Broller%2Band%2Bgua%2Bsha.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1198307475"></span><span id="goog_1198307476"></span><br />
As far as I understand, you are encouraged to use these tools with oils and or/serums as they encourage them to penetrate your skin. I am enjoying the face rolling, it feels lovely and cool on my skin. I don't honestly know if it is doing anything but the idea of stimulating and massaging your face/neck area like you would any other area of your body to aid the skin's health and circulation appeals to me.<br />
<br />
So far I have been using:<br />
<br />
Rosehip Oil: New to me, but liking it a lot so far. Rosehip Oil contains vitamin a,b,c,d, and B-carotene, all antioxidants good for you. It's supposed to be good for pigmentation and acne/scars as well. It's also super light and non greasy which is a bonus for me as my skin is combination and I have to be careful not to overload it.<br />
<br />
And a teeny drop of Argan Oil! Honestly I want to buy something more obviously associated with skincare but I had this stuff handy, If you are anything like me you might use this oil for your hair, but the latest bottle I bought just wasn't doing me any favors on the hair front, it's organic though and I have read it's ok to use it on your skin. Argan oil is high in vitamin E, essential fatty acids and (again) antioxidants.<br />
<br />
I am currently in the market for some sort of serum that won't irritate my skin but silicones tend to break me out so I am trying to slowly add ingredients to the routine so I know if something isn't agreeing with me. I am definitely interested in more organic, thoughtful, less mystery ingredients type skincare lately.<br />
<br />
4. <b>Break the Rules!</b>: i.e., Do what works for you, even if it goes against the grain/common advice, whatever. For me this means in the past year I have mostly stopped using eye cream at night (GASP!). I am not saying anyone else should do this, for me it just became more trouble than it was worth. When I use eye cream at night, more often than not I wake up with SUPER puffy eyes.<br />
<br />
I do think I have a particular sort of lymph drainage/puffiness problem, but my eye doctor also nags me not to use heavy eye creams because they clog the pores on my eyelids and lead to these really unattractive lumps (I forget what they are called?!). So yeah, less eye cream for me. I feel like my regular lotions and potions sort of creep up to the crow's feet area anyway, and I do still use eye cream when putting on concealer otherwise it looks awful. My main reason for using eye cream was to try to minimize dark circles and honestly I never found one that did anything so I'm not really missing it.<br />
<br />
I feel like this applies to other areas of skincare too: basically, just listen to your skin. Don't cleanse in the morning if your skin feels dry, maybe just a splash of water and some toner (if you use it). Don't use tons of heavy moisturizers if your skin doesn't agree with them, don't skip toner because a book told you to or do skip it if it dries out your skin.<br />
<br />
It's totally ok to buy a cream aimed at women ten or twenty years younger than you if your skin likes that cream, there are no laws against it!<br />
<br />
Ok that's about it I think! I feel like there is a sort of playbook that beauty/skincare companies expect us all to follow blindly sometimes, and for me personally it has not always worked. It's ok if your skin doesn't agree with retinols or acids, you can treat it gently if that is what works for you and it's all good.<br />
<br />
I feel like if I have learned anything about this stuff it's that there is no real <i>correct</i> way to do it. Of course I do still like to try the things that everyone says works, it's natural, but more importantly listen to and respect your skin when it tells you something is or isn't working.<br />
<br />
How about you, have you changed anything about your skincare regime with age? Please do tell in the comments! ;-) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b></b></div>
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-29410974088493843752019-12-01T23:20:00.002+00:002019-12-01T23:23:45.345+00:00What to Write<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efc4BSOvTok/XePJgnp-qfI/AAAAAAAAHNU/FrfWMN6W118UGo8DwMSnMFT1E6dgUiQ2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191022_102248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efc4BSOvTok/XePJgnp-qfI/AAAAAAAAHNU/FrfWMN6W118UGo8DwMSnMFT1E6dgUiQ2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20191022_102248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's garden, Florida, last month!*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I've written/touched on my feelings before about blogs being (seemingly) less and less personal in recent times, but it's a subject I keep coming back to, in terms of: how do I, someone who writes a lot of personal type musings keep at it, and also, where have all the little (personal) blogs gone?<br />
<br />
How personal is too personal? For me, as a reader, there is no such thing really. Unless a post makes me feel uncomfortable or like I worry the person is in distress, and then it becomes a little bit awkward. But honestly the more personal a blog, whatever the topic, the better, for me. Because the best writing to me always comes from the heart, from some sort of life experience. If a blog is completely void of that I lose interest quickly.<br />
<br />
As a blogger/writer it is something I do grapple with. Not long after meeting a couple of fellow bloggers in real life they both said to me "Your blog is SO HONEST!" with what I couldn't help but interpret as a slight tone of wonderment (or horror!). It had never really occurred to me that my blog was particularly<i> noteworthy </i>with its "honest" or personal content, as most of the blogs I had read before starting my own were pretty personal in nature.<br />
<br />
I have, since then I think, always tried to have a mix of stylistic content on the blog, but I do feel that what has kept me writing a blog for 5 years now to a relatively similar effect (non-monetarily successful, occasional gifted posts, occasional posts with more than a couple of comments!) has been my need to express myself through writing stuff down, and ideally connect with other people who relate or are interested in the topic in some way.<br />
<br />
Last week I read a blog post by a successful lifestyle blogger who has now moved most of her content over to the La La land of Instagram. I always liked her writing, and was a little disappointed to see she had not written many posts at all in the past year (compared to her previous output, and no I am not one to talk here, either!).<br />
<br />
But she did have a post up about how and why she had stopped writing personal content for the most part. It was understandable in its reasoning - she has basically become too big to be so open, it made her feel vulnerable, something I understand in theory although my blog is small so I can still sort of pretend I am writing into the void (and these days it's not difficult to feel this way!). But it also made me sad, because I always enjoyed her posts about mental health and life and stuff.<br />
<br />
Obviously it is up to the individual how personal they want to get. No one owes anyone in their readership anything more than what they are comfortable and willing to share. <br />
<br />
I've been struggling myself with posting anything on the blog recently, as most of my creative output has gotten very personal: yes, even for me!<br />
<br />
This has sprung mostly from my attempts at creative non fiction (2 submissions and 2 rejections and counting, thanks very much!). I guess it's only natural once I tapped that well it would be something I would want to keep trying.<br />
<br />
I have quite a few pieces that stem from the c.n.f. (that's shorthand for it if you search Twitter hashtags!), it's a process where in order to write the creative piece I need to remember the real life event in some way, and some of those are now tasty over personal (?) little essays in my drafts box.<br />
<br />
I had this one thing I was writing, it started as c.n.f., but it was so loooong, I just couldn't contain it to anything resembling a reasonable length. So then I tried to write the story as it happened, without the subterfuge, for my eyes only.<br />
<br />
And then THAT turned into a poem sort of thing that I finally felt a little bit happy with, until the inevitable rejection ha ha! (the editor who rejected it said it read like c.n.f. but was a poem), so uh yeah, I am on a steep learning curve (or breaking the boundaries of alt literature, depending on your viewpoint! ;-0). And believe it or not I filtered all of <i>that</i> down into a blog post that was more of an essay and I felt was <i>maybe</i> ok to share (until I didn't press publish!).<br />
<br />
I like the idea of c.n.f. but if I'm being honest/self critical of my writing, I don't think I quite have the flowery, esoteric, fireflies in a jar on a muddy porch soulful mystique type writing in me to actually get published writing it (ok so <i>maybe</i> I just need to read a wider variety of creative non fiction, but I didn't want to be derivative and over saturate myself with it). The stuff that has come out of me has been sort of too sparse and bare and fiery (I feel) to be comparable to other c.n.f. I have read anyway.<br />
<br />
But the <i>idea</i> of turning some of my real life experience into <i>something</i> beyond memoir feels much more natural and inspiring to me than any other kind of writing right now. I don't think I have it in me to write fiction. I wrote short fiction in college but it was honestly like pulling teeth, and mostly thinly veiled real life stuff dramatized.<br />
<br />
I feel like if you are a fiction writer you have infinite stories inside of you waiting to be told (I know there is lots of work and research involved too, maybe I am just too lazy ha!).<br />
<br />
Occasionally I will get an idea for a book, and even run with some plot points in my head - and then I try to think what the main character would be called and honestly that is the hurdle I fall at! There are no good names/all names sound cheesy or fake or weird I swear, I am just not decisive enough for fiction I think!<br />
<br />
I have toyed with the idea of ghost writing even, because I do think I have an ability to write that is a bit underused. I feel like I have it in me to have a bash at something like that. I have read SO MUCH CHICK LIT in the past few years, and weirdly I do feel I could maybe in theory ghost write a book of that genre if the motivation overtook me. Could someone just fill in the blanks for the character names for me please? (I know this sounds ridiculously delusional, I am sure ghost writing is probably equally as hard in its own way as solo writing).<br />
<br />
So yes, anyway. I need to figure out if anything I am writing is something I can share here on the blog. It's tricky because some things I have an infinitesimal hope of maybe someday publishing elsewhere, and the anonymity is crucial for a few pieces, and I have sort of laid some stuff bare in the detritus of writing the other stuff. I can imagine it's a challenge for a lot of people attempting the creative non fiction lark (...and also the whole point?).<br />
<br />
I have seen some things and lived some things that can only be written with a bit of a mask on them to see the light of day, and even that feels...naked. It's one thing to blog about my life, it's another to turn it into something resembling fiction and try to keep it real and true but also respectful if anyone else is involved. Tricky.<br />
<br />
So yep...that's where I'm at. Writing lots of...stuff...into the ether, that it seems there is no audience for. I know it's a bit defeatist sounding, but I hope it's maybe someday a source of something beyond rejection and failure!<br />
<br />
I am a bit confused where that lands me in terms of blogging now. I have had a few more traditional blog type post ideas recently, so who knows, this could all change. But I just wanted to explain (part of) why my blogging has taken such a back seat recently, I do feel bad for not blogging more in 2019, but hey ho, almost a new decade an all that (eek!). I might not have much to show for my efforts, but I <i>am</i> proud of myself for putting my work out there. It was a big step for me and while the rejection wasn't fun, I do hope I find it in me to keep at it.<br />
<br />
How about you, have you ever written creative fiction or poetry or put yourself/your art out there? How do you keep going? My feelings on dealing with the writing rejection bringing my whole former actress failures feelings up might lead to another post on this. Rejection sucks so bad. But it's better than not trying? I do believe it's extra hard for us <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2016/01/re-visiting-my-inner-infp-figuring-out.html" target="_blank">introverted sensitive</a> types. But we also tend towards the arts and lives of semi tortured creativity, so there's the rub I guess! Ah...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
* <i>In among all of this "Rah rah save the small blogs!", I have, you might have noticed, changed to a slightly zingier format. I resisted the magazine/ multi post landing page for a long time, because in many respects it doesn't fit my blog, but I do like having different choices to read when you land on a page. And I have noticed an upsurge in people sticking around a bit longer, so, I guess it is worth it? So now I have to put pictures up for each post or be annoyed by the lack of picture...something I knew would happen but alas, here we are! So expect possibly random photos with some posts! Especially as my new computer hardly has any of my old "bloggy" type pictures on it.</i><br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-8505785010072656062019-10-17T23:38:00.000+01:002019-10-18T00:13:33.473+01:00Halloween Tag <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 30px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 40px; margin: 10px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
Hello! So (my fellow Aberdeen blogger) Denise over at <a href="https://thelifeofdee.co.uk/2019/10/halloween-tag/">The Life of Dee</a> has created a fun Halloween tag post and tagged me in, I thought I would chime in with my own attempt at spooky answers! Please feel free to join in if you like and comment on other tag posts. (I will be on holiday from Monday so not tagging anyone specifically but do join in if you want to!).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgLtwpTa--k/XajjaDzrguI/AAAAAAAAHDY/gUVg8I6GwPAnQQ67HW7MgFGCaJByIBdFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1571264944243.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgLtwpTa--k/XajjaDzrguI/AAAAAAAAHDY/gUVg8I6GwPAnQQ67HW7MgFGCaJByIBdFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/FB_IMG_1571264944243.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Halloween Tag</h2>
<b></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. What’s your favourite non scary Halloween film?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
OK it's not technically a film but a cartoon special, it's still probably "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!", just out of sheer nostalgia, I love when I catch childhood faves when I'm visiting America, I think it's an expat homesick thing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. And your favourite scary film to watch is?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Hm, tricky one! I do like scary films but I'm also a wuss. I will say The Exorcist, even though it still scares the bejeezus out of me, there is just something so creepy and evocative about those opening credits alone. They bring back memories of all those times it would come on when I was a kid and I would have to change the channel immediately because I somehow knew it was too scary for me. And then in high school my friend Kelly and I finally rented it from the video store (yup!), and I just remember us screaming all the way through it lol! <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Do you have any Halloween traditions?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
My Mom and I usually carve a pumpkin now that I tend to vacation during Halloween. Honestly I'm terrible at it! But it does get you in the mood for Halloween to see it lit up for the first time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. What is your favorite season of American Horror Story?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Like Denise I have really only seen the first one (Horror House) and Coven, and they were fun but the themes of the rest of them haven't really appealed to me.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Favourite thing about Halloween?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Hm I don't know! I used to really love dressing up, less so as the years have gone by. We will often go to the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) in Florida in my Mom's town and it's pretty cool, it's in this neighbourhood called <a href="https://www.villageofthearts.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Village of the Arts</a> that has a bunch of cute artisan shops and everyone decorates their lawns with Halloween stuff and there are the traditional Mexican shrines and cool curios and it's neat. And candy, gimme all the candy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vTNOi4LPWk/XajlQctknWI/AAAAAAAAHDk/MI5tcqug4C0ogWxuUClYWn6W5ZZeRLEBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1571265024806.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vTNOi4LPWk/XajlQctknWI/AAAAAAAAHDk/MI5tcqug4C0ogWxuUClYWn6W5ZZeRLEBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/FB_IMG_1571265024806.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CwVRTBKT8EI/XajlSHBxnaI/AAAAAAAAHDo/RpacVcy-iEwcuqVg4746fRPBW69JepHjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1571265040185.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CwVRTBKT8EI/XajlSHBxnaI/AAAAAAAAHDo/RpacVcy-iEwcuqVg4746fRPBW69JepHjACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/FB_IMG_1571265040185.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I mean I guess some people would find this creepy? ;--0 </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vpvutbiPN8/XajlUfJDZjI/AAAAAAAAHD8/7qzjwXI5XbQIIkLO4cAh6V5qSZgzUQRjgCEwYBhgL/s1600/FB_IMG_1571265163519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vpvutbiPN8/XajlUfJDZjI/AAAAAAAAHD8/7qzjwXI5XbQIIkLO4cAh6V5qSZgzUQRjgCEwYBhgL/s640/FB_IMG_1571265163519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elvis Shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>6. What Halloween costume will you or your children be wearing this year?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
No plans whatsoever! Sometimes I will cobble something together last minute, the last time I did dress up I was a Victorian Ghost and I got way too obsessed with the costume but ya know, worth it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PXzFMzcVSE/XajmWT9GPII/AAAAAAAAHEI/_srxhHA1e6gByCr9UFjy6sJlICneAc02gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1571264999233.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PXzFMzcVSE/XajmWT9GPII/AAAAAAAAHEI/_srxhHA1e6gByCr9UFjy6sJlICneAc02gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/FB_IMG_1571264999233.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. Has anything spooky ever happened to you?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
I had sleep paralysis once, and it happened to be in a very old farmhouse we were living in at the time, where my uncle also claimed he saw a ghost (with a fair amount of dubiousness given uh, my uncle, who was also on Judge Judy, my family is interesting y'all!). ANYHOO I was in this very vivid, creepy dream, I don't remember exactly what, but I felt like something was hovering over me and holding me down, and then when I woke up, I physically couldn't move, for what felt like forever but was probably only a few seconds. It was pretty forking scary, I feel bad for anyone who has it chronically because it's not a nice feeling! (I don't honestly believe it was a ghost, because I'm kind of a scaredy cat who can't really allow for the possibility of ghosts in real life!).<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>8. Who is your favorite fictional serial killer? </b><br />
<b></b><br />
Hm. Probably Hannibal Lector! Anthony Hopkins was just far, far too convincing as a cannibal sociopath! Again a teenage sleepover (my friend's 16th birthday I think) we watched this and it kept us up the rest of the night we were so freaked! I think there is even a picture of the movie in my graduating year high school yearbook because it was the favourite film that year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>9. What’s on your Halloween playlist? </b><br />
<b></b><br />
Um, it has to be Monster Mash I don't care! So cheesy but instant Halloween feelings!<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNuVifA7DSU" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>10. Do you hide behind a cushion at a scary bit on tv or are you so brave it doesn’t bother you?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
I am not brave. I saw Scream 2 in the cinema and there was a bit that startled me so much I let out an actual wailing loud scream - my friend was so mortified! Yes I know Scream 2 isn't even that scary, I just jump out of my skin quite easily! Like Denise I also watched most of The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix), except from behind a cushion, especially as I was watching it all alone because David thought it was dumb, so I thought I could totally watch it by myself like a big girl - yeah not so much (but I did still watch it, so like, I am not a total wuss!).<br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>11. Would you spend a full night inside of a haunted house if someone paid you?</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Isn't there a movie about that? Where they get a million dollars or something if they last the night? I feel like if the money was enough to tempt me I might, but also I have watched enough horror films to know I would realistically NOT be the final girl. I scream too much, am scared of my own shadow, and would try to hide, isolating myself and sealing my fate no doubt ha ha!<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway this was a fun distraction for me, thanks<a href="https://thelifeofdee.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Denise</a>! I will leave it up to anyone who wants to participate to tag themselves - go on, you know you want to!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-64082930770153195602019-09-30T23:22:00.001+01:002019-10-18T00:16:27.459+01:00Sognefjord and Vik Tour With Go Fjords Review<br />
When my Mom and I went to Norway in late May/early June of this year, one of, if not her main reason for going, was to see some fjords. Me, I was honestly a bit..."Eh, fjords whatever". No, I don't know why, either! I do like nature, but I think I am <i>generally</i> more into the idea of city breaks as opposed to the great outdoors when it comes to European holidays.<br />
<br />
But now, after visiting, I am arguably the one who is more obsessed with seeing ALL OF THE FJORDS!! BECAUSE THEY ARE BREATHTAKINGLY STUNNING MOUNTAINS AND WATERFALLS AND TURQUOISE WATER CRYSTAL CLEAR AIR GLORY!!!<br />
<br />
Sorry to shout! But seriously, go see some fjords if you ever get a chance, they are beauteous!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6olz0RWhmdw/XZC78wS7KCI/AAAAAAAAG54/MiSAAglOOgABhduVsw_T0hRrNRz5aTd1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sognefjord%252C%2BNorway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6olz0RWhmdw/XZC78wS7KCI/AAAAAAAAG54/MiSAAglOOgABhduVsw_T0hRrNRz5aTd1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sognefjord%252C%2BNorway.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sognefjord, Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Given my somewhat limited experience, if I were to give advice, I would say, allow for more time than we did. We were limited to day trips as we were on a short break based out of one city, <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2019/08/bergen-trip-day-one-bryggen-mount-floyen.html" target="_blank">Bergen</a>.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, it's totally possible to see quite a bit with many of the tour companies, arguably even more if you choose to do a "Norway in A Nutshell" type tour, which are very popular (but very daunting in my opinion if you are trying to do that one in a single day).<br />
<br />
But if I were to do it again (*cough* WHEN I do it again, totally kidnapping the husband!), I would plan to leave from one port/city, and give myself a few days to cover the ground offered in many of the tours, and finish up in another city. There are lots of lovely campsites and things around the countryside and it seems relatively easy to do it either via public transport or rental car.<br />
<br />
So anyway, we were arriving in Bergen just before peak tourist season starts, in late May, so we chanced our luck and booked our tours once we got there (this is not recommended during summer). We went down to the harbour where the tour companies are, having done a bit of research. We had ruled out arguably the most popular tours, the "in a Nutshell" tours, for a couple of reasons:<br />
<br />
1. You are basically just paying for public transport with the Nutshell tours, albeit with the convenience of having all of your tickets ready and organized for you beforehand, which is definitely a plus in high season as I have read they can sell out. <i>But </i>there are no tour guides, and most of these tours do not offer any guarantees if you miss a train or bus or ferry, you are basically on your own.<br />
<br />
2. The Norway in a Nutshell tours and their ilk, when trying to do them in one day involve numerous changes - we're talking a train to a bus to a train to a boat to a bus to a train, etc., all in one day, with little breathing room for error.<br />
<br />
I think my Mom and I know our limits, and this sort of tour would be something I might consider with an overnight stay, because I would love to do the famously scenic Flam railway and see the fjords near that which are meant to be beautiful. I think I would maybe do it starting in Oslo and finishing in Bergen, or vice versa.<br />
<br />
So we settled on the idea of a one day semi-guided tour, and a shorter boat tour, the Mostraumen Cruise (I will post a wee separate mostly pics blog on that because that trip was also stunning).<br />
<br />
For the day trip we went with the relatively new outfit <a href="https://gofjords.com/" target="_blank">Go Fjords</a> (they just started up this year I believe) because they offer a few guided tours, as well as a couple of shorter boat only trips out of Bergen.<br />
<br />
<div>
We decided on the<a href="https://gofjords.com/norway-tours/day-trip-from-bergen-to-vik-and-voss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Sognefjord and Vik tour </a>option, which includes:</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A scenic bus ride that stops at Tvindefossen Waterfall and then up into the mountains</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A stop at a Stave (Viking) church and a Hove Stone church near Vik</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A cheese tasting and lunch</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A guided tour around Vik Harbour, and a scenic boat ride along Sognefjord back to Bergen (this is just the public ferry boat to be fair but it was very scenic, more on that later!).</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Sognefjord and Vik Tour Review</span></span></h4>
<br />
With this tour you had a choice of beginning by boat at 8 a.m. or bus at 10 a.m., both tours depart at the harbour.<br />
<br />
We chose the bus to start as it was our first day and we had to walk for about 15 minutes from our hotel so it would have been an early start!<br />
<br />
As it was not quite peak tourist season there were only about a dozen or so of us, which actually was nice I thought and as the day went on and we developed a bit of camaraderie being such a small group. I will say that the bus not having a toilet was a bit of a problem for me as we drove for a three hour interval in the morning with no toilet break, and I was having a bit of an upset stomach (sorry if this is too much information but a lot of people would struggle with this anyway so I thought it worth mentioning!).<br />
<br />
When we did stop at the <a href="https://gofjords.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tvindefossen</a> waterfall many of us rushed for the toilets, and were told by our driver we had 15 or 20 minutes to visit/take pictures at the waterfall, which wasn't really generous time wise seeing as most of us needed the loo! I think I ended up with like five minutes to look at the waterfall, which I felt as the tour went on we had more than enough time with other stuff we were doing that they could have allowed for more time at the waterfall (I have a feeling that this popular tourist stop might impose time restrictions on bus tours though, but Go Fjords should really look into buses with toilets!).<br />
<br />
The waterfall itself was very impressive, even if it was less flowing than it can be (I have seen pics on Instagram and it really does get even more majestic!).<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLaQRjfwUVQ/XZEqiWwqu-I/AAAAAAAAHAY/9t55O1ZBAAwjlVh9AcpelH1ikPbsD9F5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2BWaterfall%252C%2BNorway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLaQRjfwUVQ/XZEqiWwqu-I/AAAAAAAAHAY/9t55O1ZBAAwjlVh9AcpelH1ikPbsD9F5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2BWaterfall%252C%2BNorway.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8hqh0bt4oM/XZC9ooagFWI/AAAAAAAAG6A/UaXezenaaYsawgxt2ClXauzSw5QmGjEVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2Bwaterfall%252C%2BNorway%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8hqh0bt4oM/XZC9ooagFWI/AAAAAAAAG6A/UaXezenaaYsawgxt2ClXauzSw5QmGjEVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2Bwaterfall%252C%2BNorway%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtZmvTm4AAc/XZC97MflpsI/AAAAAAAAG6I/qP90hAftQHE66D1fRBQVZZy0iRDAyTudACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2Bview%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtZmvTm4AAc/XZC97MflpsI/AAAAAAAAG6I/qP90hAftQHE66D1fRBQVZZy0iRDAyTudACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tvindefossen%2Bview%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OydP1vS7F2g/XZC-JaZJEpI/AAAAAAAAG6M/V3qHM9AiARkW3CVq2yujol8hmUl3WkEegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_115601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OydP1vS7F2g/XZC-JaZJEpI/AAAAAAAAG6M/V3qHM9AiARkW3CVq2yujol8hmUl3WkEegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_115601.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I look like a tourist? ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2j7qzIs9hw/XZDWpplS3zI/AAAAAAAAG60/bhsYkd4yg3AlnJ-nSboPRF4Wn3WHqZIEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_115800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2j7qzIs9hw/XZDWpplS3zI/AAAAAAAAG60/bhsYkd4yg3AlnJ-nSboPRF4Wn3WHqZIEQCEwYBhgL/s640/20190528_115800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The actual bus journey is very pretty - with an aside that they love a mountain tunnel in Norway, so the first hour or so of the journey you are in and out of tunnels at regular and long intervals. The driver throws out a few fun facts along the way about various towns but mostly you are left to your own devices to take photos.<br />
<br />
There are lots of lovely streams alongside the road and scenic hills and valleys that only increase in dramatic splendour the higher you climb into the mountains. A couple of the roads are quite bendy and steep and I did have to look away a few times to stop myself getting too scared!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXFSk7JN_h0/XZE4jdRvRCI/AAAAAAAAHC0/TVy3D_mEZzE_m9ijFZ-mOWwXcfyMQE_iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_121000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXFSk7JN_h0/XZE4jdRvRCI/AAAAAAAAHC0/TVy3D_mEZzE_m9ijFZ-mOWwXcfyMQE_iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_121000.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute campsite!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bSYQWhWPlM/XZDWCGaSELI/AAAAAAAAG6c/eRBnVdGJ_LEu2F0xanuP24E5yZazddgogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_121011-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bSYQWhWPlM/XZDWCGaSELI/AAAAAAAAG6c/eRBnVdGJ_LEu2F0xanuP24E5yZazddgogCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_121011-1-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idyllic Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SWpFhp-I5Q/XZEuAM15DzI/AAAAAAAAHBY/9yqu7kBbfBcUURAbhEN5GutC6WDO938SQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Scenic%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SWpFhp-I5Q/XZEuAM15DzI/AAAAAAAAHBY/9yqu7kBbfBcUURAbhEN5GutC6WDO938SQCEwYBhgL/s640/Scenic%2BNorway.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtR8ZyFNqAw/XZDWVeH7qHI/AAAAAAAAG6k/qkbKIW6LKpYP5MHWD8khRkRBsAOTUn1oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Scenic%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUTc8L3fL8w/XZDWsmZfU8I/AAAAAAAAG6w/SoVpwOPe0JQ_KV4rOpGRUn_BcXjIIIzOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_123430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUTc8L3fL8w/XZDWsmZfU8I/AAAAAAAAG6w/SoVpwOPe0JQ_KV4rOpGRUn_BcXjIIIzOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_123430.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yv6yyuQ_KRQ/XZEwWk_mk9I/AAAAAAAAHB0/Wshypq4XS-EmXbDFHqF8k2iJ5dvgbfcxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_123042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yv6yyuQ_KRQ/XZEwWk_mk9I/AAAAAAAAHB0/Wshypq4XS-EmXbDFHqF8k2iJ5dvgbfcxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_123042.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
The next stop after the waterfall is a stop on top of the mountain where the tour company says that you can "throw snowballs at each other!". Honestly no one really did this on the tour, it was a very chilly day and a lot of the snow had melted already from an unseasonably warm April.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCRw74xy1uw/XZDXoIfVIKI/AAAAAAAAG7A/kSqRfLZLDEQqR-jqV2YzSojXzKD9yU36wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_123702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCRw74xy1uw/XZDXoIfVIKI/AAAAAAAAG7A/kSqRfLZLDEQqR-jqV2YzSojXzKD9yU36wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_123702.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu46O16t30Y/XZDXtkoydVI/AAAAAAAAG7E/5UcpMIC9eZ4INMtIhLlmjScVEu6hpUEcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_124121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu46O16t30Y/XZDXtkoydVI/AAAAAAAAG7E/5UcpMIC9eZ4INMtIhLlmjScVEu6hpUEcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_124121.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My Mom was very happy to go frolic in the snow though, crazy Floridian!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCV1-b-61oQ/XZDXx8GTdyI/AAAAAAAAG7I/hmIMbhn8ZpcqOzjT-RYNI5MenVxsYVqTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_124509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCV1-b-61oQ/XZDXx8GTdyI/AAAAAAAAG7I/hmIMbhn8ZpcqOzjT-RYNI5MenVxsYVqTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_124509.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TotBY_thtZs/XZDX1ISpDGI/AAAAAAAAG7M/v0sJi6zM-aIr_nI6AtzQ_6EHxR98rGj9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_124546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TotBY_thtZs/XZDX1ISpDGI/AAAAAAAAG7M/v0sJi6zM-aIr_nI6AtzQ_6EHxR98rGj9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_124546.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurry up lady, the bus is leaving!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Another hour or so on the bus and you end up in the quaint town of Vik, where the bus portion of the tour terminates. But first, you stop and see a couple of churches. This is also when you meet your local tour guide who you finish the guided portion of the tour with in Vik. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcD3IjaRCp0/XZDYXABmucI/AAAAAAAAG7g/QPU2SSEVTYYoE793CJwzuxzG4IJPBOPjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_130535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcD3IjaRCp0/XZDYXABmucI/AAAAAAAAG7g/QPU2SSEVTYYoE793CJwzuxzG4IJPBOPjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_130535.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Vik Norway from above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopperstad_Stave_Church" target="_blank">Hopperstad Stave church</a> is a medieval style of church that mainly exists in Norway. It is believed to be one of the oldest stave churches still in existence, estimated to be built around 1130 (!), with an extensive renovation from near ruin in the 1800s. What makes<a href="https://www.visitnorway.com/typically-norwegian/stave-churches/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Stave churches</a> unique is that they have many wood carvings (often animals on the exterior) and detailing that are associated more with Vikings than Christianity, so they are an interesting sort of fusion of cultures and religion.<br />
<br />
Our tour guide for the church itself was very knowledgeable and detailed but there were a few groups stuffed into the church and I found it a bit hard to concentrate. Again, this section of the tour felt a bit rushed to me considering what was to come next.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA7dTSL1lug/XZDY1j-HWNI/AAAAAAAAG7o/RHk6vg43vYo6E4g2ruf2PLB3qyORkoJVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2BChurch%2BVik.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA7dTSL1lug/XZDY1j-HWNI/AAAAAAAAG7o/RHk6vg43vYo6E4g2ruf2PLB3qyORkoJVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2BChurch%2BVik.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopperstad Stave Church, Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs3_ZL6Jew8/XZDcBB5h8CI/AAAAAAAAG9Q/BZ3dmruRJecmvid4q7w_IbQ5SxajJ3VRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Misty%2Bgraveyard%2BStave%2Bchurch%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs3_ZL6Jew8/XZDcBB5h8CI/AAAAAAAAG9Q/BZ3dmruRJecmvid4q7w_IbQ5SxajJ3VRwCEwYBhgL/s640/Misty%2Bgraveyard%2BStave%2Bchurch%2BNorway.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8kU2gLu0LA/XZDbuYph34I/AAAAAAAAG9A/kpkbCWtuSBEr53RNhRiKDzmLnwv4vCEJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/STAVE%2BCHURCH%2BNORWAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8kU2gLu0LA/XZDbuYph34I/AAAAAAAAG9A/kpkbCWtuSBEr53RNhRiKDzmLnwv4vCEJQCEwYBhgL/s640/STAVE%2BCHURCH%2BNORWAY.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Similar to shot above but brightened for detail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnjB6iYm-Y/XZDY-4_t0UI/AAAAAAAAG7s/hTQAHfctzAoU27bxJ2tdMB_i7-pQLVpXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2Bchurch%2Bpaintings%252C%2BNorways.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnjB6iYm-Y/XZDY-4_t0UI/AAAAAAAAG7s/hTQAHfctzAoU27bxJ2tdMB_i7-pQLVpXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2Bchurch%2Bpaintings%252C%2BNorways.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall painting Stave Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aiHQeqT4a9Q/XZDZCYT_C3I/AAAAAAAAG70/VHJ__xwSsEsus03yyiTOaWDA0RTUTkg3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2Bchurch%2Bwall%2Bcarvings%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1098" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aiHQeqT4a9Q/XZDZCYT_C3I/AAAAAAAAG70/VHJ__xwSsEsus03yyiTOaWDA0RTUTkg3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Stave%2Bchurch%2Bwall%2Bcarvings%252C%2BNorway.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient wall carvings, Stave church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x-KDZ2gGjmQ/XZDZMp9TKqI/AAAAAAAAG74/eb0wAEfRF1k8e3fy8tkdKrR6v8gTViwWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2Bchruch%2Bwooden%2Binterior%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x-KDZ2gGjmQ/XZDZMp9TKqI/AAAAAAAAG74/eb0wAEfRF1k8e3fy8tkdKrR6v8gTViwWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Stave%2Bchruch%2Bwooden%2Binterior%252C%2BNorway.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopperstad Stave church interior, Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DryCkrmbcBc/XZDZQkJfr4I/AAAAAAAAG8A/hrOy0EhEfB0ZvC5Vl4BHu3Udw9cTwsU-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stave%2BChurch%2Binterior%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DryCkrmbcBc/XZDZQkJfr4I/AAAAAAAAG8A/hrOy0EhEfB0ZvC5Vl4BHu3Udw9cTwsU-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Stave%2BChurch%2Binterior%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stave church detail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2yqU6tFumM/XZDb4Cqfn-I/AAAAAAAAG9I/qVHLj0CrUkAV9yoYX_Losxenl-lzHy-IgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_134027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2yqU6tFumM/XZDb4Cqfn-I/AAAAAAAAG9I/qVHLj0CrUkAV9yoYX_Losxenl-lzHy-IgCEwYBhgL/s640/20190528_134027.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YibrQbyybV0/XZDb6m9QeMI/AAAAAAAAG9M/5Dkh0WLwVBAiOYK5JIx7W4_vOGBz0KntQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_133647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YibrQbyybV0/XZDb6m9QeMI/AAAAAAAAG9M/5Dkh0WLwVBAiOYK5JIx7W4_vOGBz0KntQCEwYBhgL/s640/20190528_133647.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The little pastoral valley of Vik is undeniably pretty and idyllic, and I couldn't help but think how peaceful it must be to live there. But as the clouds darkened and rain began to drizzle and then pour, all of a sudden it seemed more fitting for a Netflix noir murder mystery!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKLsocPGzQ4/XZDallzulEI/AAAAAAAAG8U/rsjXJU-bI-oRIDaTlvTvAv8aw2IojCwxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_133003%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKLsocPGzQ4/XZDallzulEI/AAAAAAAAG8U/rsjXJU-bI-oRIDaTlvTvAv8aw2IojCwxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_133003%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vik, Norway</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We got back on the bus for our next church stop, the nearby Hove Stone church, believed to be the oldest stone building in the region, with some Roman ruins apparently according to the website, but they were just sort of gestured by our guide vaguely as being in a nearby field. Maybe if it's not raining they take you to look at them!<br />
<br />
This church was also very old but not as old as the Stave church. It was built for the rich people in town, and it was a nice enough looking thing from outside, but it was pouring rain and we were locked out for reasons that the tour guide didn't seem 100% about (insert crying laughing emoji). So we stood, in the rain, as our local guide rattled on various facts, mostly being drowned out quite literally by the rain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzS3bdzqiI/XZDbGP4LaGI/AAAAAAAAG8g/Yw8xcOT7auM-Fl5Yr67tHWJjCdSj8d0BQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_140415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzS3bdzqiI/XZDbGP4LaGI/AAAAAAAAG8g/Yw8xcOT7auM-Fl5Yr67tHWJjCdSj8d0BQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_140415.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hove Stone Church Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JljRfsOoCCI/XZDbYMbqLLI/AAAAAAAAG8s/LUNvBx6fRdQufAYWSypCnIn14N7MbkuVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Dragon%2Bcarving%252C%2BHove%2Bchurch%252C%2BNorway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JljRfsOoCCI/XZDbYMbqLLI/AAAAAAAAG8s/LUNvBx6fRdQufAYWSypCnIn14N7MbkuVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Dragon%2Bcarving%252C%2BHove%2Bchurch%252C%2BNorway.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon carving for protection (likely Viking), Hove Stone Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5zbtYpVdQD0/XZDbmEC8lpI/AAAAAAAAG80/CNLG3HuihS8U00CzZHveDdznEyL1b8ECQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Hove%2BStone%2BChurck%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5zbtYpVdQD0/XZDbmEC8lpI/AAAAAAAAG80/CNLG3HuihS8U00CzZHveDdznEyL1b8ECQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Hove%2BStone%2BChurck%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little miss "I want to play in the snow" is not so keen on the rain lol! ;-))</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong, I live in Scotland, but we don't really stand around in the rain much if we can help it, but this must have gone on for 20 minutes, eventually members of the tour sort of filed back onto the warm dry bus even though the guide was still speaking, which was perhaps not polite but also we were cold and wet (and noticed some people hadn't even bothered getting off the bus!). It was a harbinger of the slightly oblivious quality our guide had. It was something like 1:30 and we were due a cheese tasting. Again, by this point it had been around 3 hours since we had a toilet break.<br />
<br />
So we were driven into town and bade farewell to our bus driver, who was a very affable and cheeky type chappie. As we went into the small café, I made a beeline for the toilet (not outrageous as it had been 3 HOURS, some of which standing in the freezing rain), and our guide sort of barked at me that we had to stay on schedule for the cheese tasting (I had to bite my tongue a bit here as he wasn't worried about the schedule when we were standing in the rain for a stupid amount of time! I just went anyway and so did a couple of other people because people need the toilet ok!).<br />
<br />
Anyway then we had the cheese presentation, which was about the "Old cheese" they make in Vik, which is actually a form of blue cheese that is in fact very young and not old at all. It basically tasted like an extra tangy cream cheese with a sort of crumby crust, we tried it savoury and sweet, along with a small cup of fresh raspberry juice that they produce in town, which was delicious. The cheese was not my favourite thing I ever ate, but it was cool that they can make a form of blue cheese so fast. Honestly I was starving at this point and looking forward to lunch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY7xDOPYv-c/XZDdo5xx_II/AAAAAAAAG9Y/rzwziw9VTH0y91ML67BfvRs_nhLXnZVPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Old%2BCheese%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1433" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY7xDOPYv-c/XZDdo5xx_II/AAAAAAAAG9Y/rzwziw9VTH0y91ML67BfvRs_nhLXnZVPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Old%2BCheese%252C%2BVik%252C%2BNorway.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crPvoctM95w/XZDdyYruwaI/AAAAAAAAG9c/GleRLp0xJysCyhwkMXtL8i_rggMCLrhHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_141635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crPvoctM95w/XZDdyYruwaI/AAAAAAAAG9c/GleRLp0xJysCyhwkMXtL8i_rggMCLrhHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20190528_141635.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ok so I shouldn't have gotten too excited about lunch. It was a buffet at a nearby hotel that sort of had the air of breakfast leftovers (our hotel had a similar buffet except it was much nicer tbh). It was very functional, with no real option to order anything even if you wanted to pay extra. So we had the salad bar and some small nibbles.<br />
<br />
Mostly I drank lots of tea because my bones were colder than those in the nearby medieval graveyard. It was ok, don't get me wrong, but for the money the tour costs I thought it should have been a bit nicer/not have such a "here are some leftovers" vibe. We got to chatting with several fellow tour members, our guide had dropped us off and given us near enough two hours to kill at this place, which yeah, at this point some of the tour were getting a little restless with the Norwegian hospitality (ME, me ok. I think it's fair to say I was not alone in feeling this portion of the tour was a bit mismanaged time wise).<br />
<br />
My Mom and I wandered over to a local grocery store as it was the only place open and we still had a half hour to kill. It was neat because unlike the more urban style grocery stores in Bergen it had a Mom and Pop/little bit of everything type feel. Also no one spoke English so that was fun! (Most people in Bergen seemed to it must be said; I was no way expecting everyone in Norway to speak English, I actually wish I had heard a bit more Norwegian spoken although we did watch a couple of Norwegian tv shows with subtitles for fun!).<br />
<br />
After lunch our tour guide met us for a walking tour around the harbour of Vik. This could have been accomplished in twenty minutes, tops, but was dragged out, and again we were frog marched around and he monologued out facts before most of the group caught up, and didn't take many questions because of the language barrier and basically at this point many in the group were just wandering at our own pace and taking lots of photos.<br />
<br />
It wasn't <i>great</i>, and I don't mean to be overly critical but I do think tour guides should be a bit personable and less drill sergeant like. I fully admit as well that I am not used to guided tours, we mostly do things at our own pace when travelling, and trying to absorb all of this detailed information just lost my interest eventually. Vik harbour was very pretty, and like Bergen had unfortunately burned down at least one time (also I got distracted by this cat who was following us to be honest!).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgyqYieApP8/XZDg2U54s6I/AAAAAAAAG-A/t29pevH-IYIc15PnlkGFEqOCdXHFoyw7QCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190528_160311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgyqYieApP8/XZDg2U54s6I/AAAAAAAAG-A/t29pevH-IYIc15PnlkGFEqOCdXHFoyw7QCEwYBhgL/s640/20190528_160311.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendly (but quite skinny, I hope someone feeds him :-/ cat)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3_z7EGRqQE/XZDgl31YAsI/AAAAAAAAG9s/p5vshNzicnI4E2lL8iKrpZ8oMe7_cu3mwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_155831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3_z7EGRqQE/XZDgl31YAsI/AAAAAAAAG9s/p5vshNzicnI4E2lL8iKrpZ8oMe7_cu3mwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_155831.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vik harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad6i7tUPjtI/XZDg5ETKJ-I/AAAAAAAAG94/_jCoyVcTl6A1zWEvYhcMA4KEzoZJJfKkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160046-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="917" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad6i7tUPjtI/XZDg5ETKJ-I/AAAAAAAAG94/_jCoyVcTl6A1zWEvYhcMA4KEzoZJJfKkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160046-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wQ8CtdunNEY/XZDhDTqjk3I/AAAAAAAAG98/zHhHf3I275YnCSC1oB1s5FsZf3TyfP5JwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wQ8CtdunNEY/XZDhDTqjk3I/AAAAAAAAG98/zHhHf3I275YnCSC1oB1s5FsZf3TyfP5JwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160448.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zacIyStJkQ/XZDhKLzkIGI/AAAAAAAAG-I/qDFzuKM0rSEUkmaDaa8z_dTfwqm7TcGkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zacIyStJkQ/XZDhKLzkIGI/AAAAAAAAG-I/qDFzuKM0rSEUkmaDaa8z_dTfwqm7TcGkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_160906.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He really was a ham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5XlGSx2NNE/XZDhWAyGN9I/AAAAAAAAG-Q/4b-hqzmdXFEx4xWRO5DOFEY4q37Zcx4JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_162051-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5XlGSx2NNE/XZDhWAyGN9I/AAAAAAAAG-Q/4b-hqzmdXFEx4xWRO5DOFEY4q37Zcx4JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_162051-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGgXs5yVC9g/XZDhfobA-RI/AAAAAAAAG-Y/SgtXlcYbuLk7iUiGF83q8jbkxhLVhy3ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_164100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGgXs5yVC9g/XZDhfobA-RI/AAAAAAAAG-Y/SgtXlcYbuLk7iUiGF83q8jbkxhLVhy3ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_164100.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtR0EoPGXiM/XZDhpKkxNFI/AAAAAAAAG-g/N6cQ3krn2aUI6NvqZFiUJTwM2UlwK5PCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtR0EoPGXiM/XZDhpKkxNFI/AAAAAAAAG-g/N6cQ3krn2aUI6NvqZFiUJTwM2UlwK5PCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04449.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the mountains surrounding the town feeling, so cozy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dpQUsTQabk/XZDiE1KQAWI/AAAAAAAAG_E/R-uqD3TRp0Q38_jx8jMzPqHDiT8noJuKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC04468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dpQUsTQabk/XZDiE1KQAWI/AAAAAAAAG_E/R-uqD3TRp0Q38_jx8jMzPqHDiT8noJuKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC04468.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0yqr7MHAeU/XZDh5M5dz4I/AAAAAAAAG-w/zbAGprlRhColIPZyQWB3oEsX9tyD2t3UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Vik%2Bharbour%2Bmisty%2Bmountains.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0yqr7MHAeU/XZDh5M5dz4I/AAAAAAAAG-w/zbAGprlRhColIPZyQWB3oEsX9tyD2t3UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Vik%2Bharbour%2Bmisty%2Bmountains.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouth of Sognefjord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_EpqyB1Skic/XZDh__DwNeI/AAAAAAAAG-0/OGKKsLB09QkTpuRPWgOONqLrHqlLp2Z3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sognefjord%2Band%2BVik%2Btour%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_EpqyB1Skic/XZDh__DwNeI/AAAAAAAAG-0/OGKKsLB09QkTpuRPWgOONqLrHqlLp2Z3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sognefjord%2Band%2BVik%2Btour%252C%2BNorway.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm3gzbiuHys/XZEzDaOwVaI/AAAAAAAAHCg/cx9Ov8lD9g8-ZPcbwOAf7PL03uRFPf8eACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_155847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm3gzbiuHys/XZEzDaOwVaI/AAAAAAAAHCg/cx9Ov8lD9g8-ZPcbwOAf7PL03uRFPf8eACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_155847.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We were taken to the boat dock by our guide and told that you have to be very quick getting on the boat or it will leave without you (he was kind of dramatic about this, in fairness the boat does just pull up, let people on and off, so were you not at the dock you would be in trouble. I imagine at some point or other tourists have been left behind!). But we all thought it was a bit ludicrous that we were expected to stand there, in the largely un-sheltered freezing air, for the better part of an hour and just...wait (there was a small shelter but it was warmer if you stood behind it!).<br />
<br />
Many of us were cold and needing the loo again, there really wasn't much open in Vik as it was around 5 ish, it is a super sleepy town with like two cafes and a couple of shops. Luckily there was a public restroom which was heated and a had a seating area and some vending machines a minute or two away. The boat dock tourist info place was shut, I was surprised there wasn't a cafe open nearby but maybe there is during peak tourist season.<br />
<br />
We also felt like we had to wait for the guide to leave so we could sneak a visit to the toilet, which the tour members found on our own. This kind of thing should really have been pointed out by the guide as an option, but his main concern was that we were there when the boat arrived, even if that meant getting there stupidly early. Go Fjords let the ball slide here a bit, like "Just kill some time, there is nowhere open and it's freezing, good luck!". They should really arrange for a coffee in a local cafe or something if there is one to fill some of this time if nothing else.<br />
<br />
I appreciate that I am sounding a bit moany/complaining, but I found it a bit irksome that we were so hurried and harried at other points in the tour when we ended up with SO MUCH TIME to kill in Vik. The lunchtime could have been halved, the church tours extended, we easily could have spent more time at the waterfall or honestly had another photo stop along the way. I appreciate it's a balancing act, though I do feel there was enough breathing room on this tour to make it a more relaxed experience at various points.<br />
<br />
At any rate. we were finally about to get a boat into the fjords! Huzzah. We were all fairly chomping at the bit, and more than a bit frozen! I will say that I SEVERELY under packed warm clothes-wise. It was JUNE, I was wearing a fleece and a waterproof jacket, but I really could have done with a hat and gloves and warmer trousers and a warmer jacket and maybe some thermals and hand warmers too! It was in the low to mid 40s this day, but the air was icy and it felt so much colder than Scotland at the same time of year. It can be very nice there and warm apparently but it was unseasonably cold, I would recommend you prepare for the cold regardless of when you visit just in case.<br />
<br />
We were super grateful that the boat was heated inside and had hot drinks and snacks on offer if you needed (at a steep price of course it being Norway!). It's actually a large ferry boat that stops at various towns/ports along the way. I guess a lot of the tours use these, our other shorter tour we did was a dedicated tourist boat though.<br />
<br />
I feel like the tours could be a little bit more up front about this, as it was described as a "Fjord Cruise" which seems a <i>tiny</i> bit misleading, as the boat goes at a fair speed and doesn't really meander or stop at any vantage points or scenic spots. It's kind of hilarious though; because it was so cold, a lot of people didn't brave the very windy and cold outside bit until we pulled into the ports, then everyone would rush out for a couple minutes, have a gander, and then go back into the warm.<br />
<br />
Not <i>this</i> hardy lady though:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ls5uivXsjU/XZD4MspIomI/AAAAAAAAG_U/Ngv32_qF3lQ0xdlV3kOa1QrSnbXxrxNKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_181135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ls5uivXsjU/XZD4MspIomI/AAAAAAAAG_U/Ngv32_qF3lQ0xdlV3kOa1QrSnbXxrxNKACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_181135.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are having so much fun I swear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILDeFRSePSo/XZD3_KH1RCI/AAAAAAAAG_M/6777N5m9anAv6JuQaiyAyXb5Ad-q5Cq9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_181124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILDeFRSePSo/XZD3_KH1RCI/AAAAAAAAG_M/6777N5m9anAv6JuQaiyAyXb5Ad-q5Cq9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_181124.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mummy has rock star hair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATIV4YUCFVQ/XZD6b0SJ_tI/AAAAAAAAHAA/pfmZIM1uDeQd8lZ6h1KtQ3vbExB-uLeNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_181226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATIV4YUCFVQ/XZD6b0SJ_tI/AAAAAAAAHAA/pfmZIM1uDeQd8lZ6h1KtQ3vbExB-uLeNACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_181226.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WE FROZEN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2v_qR9s-Ng/XZD6eQY13yI/AAAAAAAAHAE/fi9L68alts0Cj14hp0EoY3rS0QHP3EtKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_181103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1227" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2v_qR9s-Ng/XZD6eQY13yI/AAAAAAAAHAE/fi9L68alts0Cj14hp0EoY3rS0QHP3EtKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_181103.jpg" width="489" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a girl who took nine million Instagram type shots every time we slowed down, none of them came out like this I bet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKBUq3Z6IS8/XZD6m8whYhI/AAAAAAAAHAI/RQ4PfexW9TwhkvRZInchEmgnu9GwZlvfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_181104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKBUq3Z6IS8/XZD6m8whYhI/AAAAAAAAHAI/RQ4PfexW9TwhkvRZInchEmgnu9GwZlvfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_181104.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't feel my fingers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There is a reason there are no other crazy people on deck, it's blowing a GALE as they say in Scotland! I was genuinely concerned my little Mom might blow away, ha ha! We tried to stay out as much as possible, I would go back inside at intervals to warm up but my Mom was a real trooper and put me to shame! It must be her Massachusetts blood! There were some benches nearer to the doors that had a bit of shelter so we sat there mostly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64TYpMTCELo/XZD4WXwNDaI/AAAAAAAAG_g/lxPLrYWI_2kkLUaOaTzc-oP4g7AocGAFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64TYpMTCELo/XZD4WXwNDaI/AAAAAAAAG_g/lxPLrYWI_2kkLUaOaTzc-oP4g7AocGAFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04469.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIphjQKg-0w/XZD4c3ZDAsI/AAAAAAAAG_o/FiFR04k1fVk_6msczKJzdaoBr8IZRShhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_180019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIphjQKg-0w/XZD4c3ZDAsI/AAAAAAAAG_o/FiFR04k1fVk_6msczKJzdaoBr8IZRShhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_180019.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Sognefjord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqmLpRxUlbQ/XZD4q2D7O6I/AAAAAAAAG_w/-hgs5rzqY2wPAQ8_gWU1_YXmpd1UTWRNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqmLpRxUlbQ/XZD4q2D7O6I/AAAAAAAAG_w/-hgs5rzqY2wPAQ8_gWU1_YXmpd1UTWRNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04476.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally worth it for views like this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-todLbHsS6Eg/XZEtOVBdEPI/AAAAAAAAHAk/FcAi3VTHAf8r-tVHxGptXm-7shDr3a8hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_183002-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-todLbHsS6Eg/XZEtOVBdEPI/AAAAAAAAHAk/FcAi3VTHAf8r-tVHxGptXm-7shDr3a8hwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_183002-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0X-2P7nxU0/XZEtVQu2vWI/AAAAAAAAHAo/9Bj8ML1UJmIYwbiqaJ7at7QfW-AkWPrIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_192124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0X-2P7nxU0/XZEtVQu2vWI/AAAAAAAAHAo/9Bj8ML1UJmIYwbiqaJ7at7QfW-AkWPrIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_192124.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what this statue was about but it was impressive! My picture came out misty because the air was super (icy) misty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mWBSzkxiU4/XZEtoZeHarI/AAAAAAAAHA0/-TbhOdpIv8QeYJfkA2FzWL4UHuHkC8ulgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_192301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mWBSzkxiU4/XZEtoZeHarI/AAAAAAAAHA0/-TbhOdpIv8QeYJfkA2FzWL4UHuHkC8ulgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20190528_192301.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsessed with the fjord water - so pristine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iEze5olQRA/XZEtuPoIfrI/AAAAAAAAHA4/1fFB8IPkhcMnIAUQTar1BqvekD9kvNg-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_192304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iEze5olQRA/XZEtuPoIfrI/AAAAAAAAHA4/1fFB8IPkhcMnIAUQTar1BqvekD9kvNg-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_192304.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many docks we stopped at on boat back to Bergen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFC_xm-VLLg/XZEt16Z3LnI/AAAAAAAAHBA/twlfy6_W9gs-1uV_XbJviDi13Le94MzrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_200540-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFC_xm-VLLg/XZEt16Z3LnI/AAAAAAAAHBA/twlfy6_W9gs-1uV_XbJviDi13Le94MzrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_200540-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love all the little boat houses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TP5dLSc3QMA/XZEuFEqATWI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/AoZ1ZoFp5p0KYdJM1yYyZC7Ga26COlOSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TP5dLSc3QMA/XZEuFEqATWI/AAAAAAAAHBQ/AoZ1ZoFp5p0KYdJM1yYyZC7Ga26COlOSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC04479.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian...lighthouse?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9SeT966wL4/XZEuVq88kEI/AAAAAAAAHBg/-LD7-I7R0Mw7QJ8a-zU9T8_ROfAKza8EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_202157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9SeT966wL4/XZEuVq88kEI/AAAAAAAAHBg/-LD7-I7R0Mw7QJ8a-zU9T8_ROfAKza8EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_202157.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buy me a boathouse please</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7vyxy85ddBU/XZEuW46EJPI/AAAAAAAAHBk/Qq3GOp6tiH0VLO-ns2xqz7jvHJdRWQNWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_200820-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1458" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7vyxy85ddBU/XZEuW46EJPI/AAAAAAAAHBk/Qq3GOp6tiH0VLO-ns2xqz7jvHJdRWQNWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190528_200820-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi I want to live here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The boat trip took almost four hours, and it was really stunningly lovely and scenic and totally worth any quibbles I had with the rest of the day. It's VERY cold though and I imagine the wind is always a factor even when it's warmer, so definitely wrap up!<br />
<br />
Overall I am glad we took this tour as it allowed us to cover a lot of ground in one day without too much stress, we were still very tired at the end of the day though, touristing is hard! Go Fjords are a young outfit and I think it's great they are offering some competition to the more established tours, also it is a really good option for anyone nervous to attempt to Norway in a Nutshell in one day as we were.<br />
<br />
I think everyone on our tour was pretty happy overall, although a few kinks being worked out like time allowed for bathroom breaks, the food could be a bit better (I had a look at their website and I would swear they have updated the lunch to sound more akin to what it actually is than the description we were given, this makes me wonder if other people complained ha ha!), the tour guide being a bit more flexible and chatty, all of that sort of thing, would make me recommend them without reservation. We really didn't see any wildlife of note on this tour (it is mentioned on the website I just noticed), but honestly the air/water was so cold when we visited I am not surprised!<br />
<br />
This tour definitely takes up your entire day, and you get back to Bergen a little bit late for dining out, just before 9 p.m. (well it was for us, we just grabbed some supermarket sandwiches!). I was glad we did this tour at the beginning of our visit, and it did make me keen to see more of the fjords.<br />
<br />
Basically after getting just a taster of the fjords I was hooked and am now very eager to see more. It's the kind of thing that's hard to explain, it's maybe not for everyone, but it's incredibly peaceful and scenic and magical, I felt transported into another world and I truly would love to go back! I think a camping holiday (ok I don't really camp but they have all of these adorable campsites with little cabins around!) where you drive yourself and maybe take a few things at your own pace, I think this would be a really nice way to see the country too.<br />
<br />
This and the rest of our trip definitely whetted my appetite to see Norway again. It's a very pleasant and beautiful country, you feel really safe there and something about it really gelled with me. It's not that different from the U.K. weather wise, so maybe that made me feel at home, too! Have you ever been to or thought about visiting Norway?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-50472570831473576812019-08-14T12:17:00.000+01:002019-08-15T16:06:44.634+01:00Bergen Trip Day One: Bryggen & Mount Floyen<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hi! So anyone who follows me on Instagram or Facebook knows I went to Norway back in late May/early June with my Mom, because I posted oh, maybe 1001 pictures (I'm only slightly exaggerating!).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It has taken me this long to start posting partly because, summer, am I right?! Also I felt daunted at the prospect of blogging about it because I knew I was going to have to break the trip up into a few blog posts to do it justice.<br />
<br />
Norway was very lovely, and VERY rainy, our first day excepted! I didn't have many expectations other than some hasty guide book reading, but it says something I think that I would really love to go back to visit because I am always bemoaning the rain in Scotland, but in Norway it was slightly less annoying somehow! Our hotel, the <a href="https://www.zanderk.no/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zander K </a>in Bergen, even had a rain theme in its décor!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So as usual with my Mom and I this was a very last minute trip, I think I booked everything about two weeks before she arrived in Scotland (I would NOT recommend this if you are going in peak tourist season, we were lucky as it was still just before the summer season kicked in). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Luckily you can fly direct to Bergen from Aberdeen, something I learned awhile ago from fellow Aberdeen blogger Anastasia at <a href="https://www.natbees.com/christmas-in-bergen/" target="_blank">Natbee's</a>, who shared some lovely posts about a winter visit to Bergen, which also looks really appealing to me!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We flew with Wideroe Airlines, who fly to many different cities in Norway. My only slight hesitation was that they use prop propeller airplanes, as a nervous flyer I admit I did worry how it would be. Honestly it was a very smooth and quick flight though, and now that I've done it once I think I might be ok to do it un-medicated the next time!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, its main industries are marine research and off sea oil drilling. It is possibly most famous for its scenic old harbour area, Bryggen, artists like Edvard Munch, composer Edvard Grieg (whose mansion house on an island is a popular day trip from Bergen, we just didn't have time to squeeze it in this journey) and um brown cheese and cloudberries and other fun stuff! ;-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq5X3K0QDwQ/XVGI_PQjhPI/AAAAAAAAGyI/OvLdVwSHcjob_bfwo4SCORIsjNjDwUB5wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bryggen%2Bshopfronts%252C%2BBergen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq5X3K0QDwQ/XVGI_PQjhPI/AAAAAAAAGyI/OvLdVwSHcjob_bfwo4SCORIsjNjDwUB5wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bryggen%2Bshopfronts%252C%2BBergen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryggen shopfronts, Bergen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is plenty to see and do in Bergen alone, we spent two days of our trip on fjord tours but we did manage to see most of the city by foot. including the Floibanen funicular, several museums and other sites.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>First Impressions of Bergen</i></span></span></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">We were staying in a hotel near the railway and bus station, I figured it might be helpful if we decided to do one of the fjord tours that involved a train (we didn't, but it <i>was</i> handy for the airport bus!).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The street our hotel was on was very quiet as it was a small dead end street. It was, as was every area I saw in the city, very safe and clean seeming. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">One of the first things I noticed was how FRESH the air is. You really don't feel like you are breathing city air at all. Also I love that the city is in a valley surrounded by <a href="http://realscandinavia.com/exploring-bergens-seven-mountains/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SEVEN mountains </a>(hence the rain!), it feels very nature adjacent and I totally could see myself living in one of these hillside houses that dot the landscape:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ajRiTQkMVM/XVG62JmgRCI/AAAAAAAAG1E/EiTFgyalvxI5n9wHHZEhGzgVGlYhvXA3gCLcBGAs/s1600/Bergen%2Bhouses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ajRiTQkMVM/XVG62JmgRCI/AAAAAAAAG1E/EiTFgyalvxI5n9wHHZEhGzgVGlYhvXA3gCLcBGAs/s1600/Bergen%2Bhouses.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen hill houses!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The first day we walked to the harbour to check out the fjord tours (more on that in posts to come!), and went via the path around the lake in the city center called </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lille_Lungeg%C3%A5rdsvannet" target="_blank">Lille Lungegårdsvannet</a> as per our hotel concierge's directions (to be honest there was a back road that was quicker that we ended up taking more often, but it is a pretty way to get acquainted with the city - just don't turn the wrong direction from the harbour and get slightly lost like we did the first time!).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ_-2fIXi6c/XVGIC2x-VDI/AAAAAAAAGx0/wrzDStEvIkQXcvmbN4UqgIPuBK66iVWyQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_140624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ_-2fIXi6c/XVGIC2x-VDI/AAAAAAAAGx0/wrzDStEvIkQXcvmbN4UqgIPuBK66iVWyQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_140624.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XgP5er6fP0/XVGIt9vGgPI/AAAAAAAAGyA/mXjyAhuwcCw1X_Yb8Ufb1zCH9_4P2qMVACEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_141412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XgP5er6fP0/XVGIt9vGgPI/AAAAAAAAGyA/mXjyAhuwcCw1X_Yb8Ufb1zCH9_4P2qMVACEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_141412.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building looks kinda touristy but also it's cute because everything in Norway is cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFLWJKuUoZc/XVG72BD8SVI/AAAAAAAAG1Q/jUGWMCaPOekyCyNo2xmeKgi3CY3U-f3FgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_141113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFLWJKuUoZc/XVG72BD8SVI/AAAAAAAAG1Q/jUGWMCaPOekyCyNo2xmeKgi3CY3U-f3FgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_141113.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ole Bull was a famous violinist who was like a rock star in his day and made the ladies faint with his violin playing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6c0sChQN6_U/XVKxdgoA7_I/AAAAAAAAG2o/PU0JSWS7_Sw88v-5GWDmcaZHr5NXSLJpwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bergen%2Bcity%2Bcenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6c0sChQN6_U/XVKxdgoA7_I/AAAAAAAAG2o/PU0JSWS7_Sw88v-5GWDmcaZHr5NXSLJpwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bergen%2Bcity%2Bcenter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrianized central Bergen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><i>Bryggen</i></span> </span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQUjhJgxEtc/XVLQFxkSC9I/AAAAAAAAG3Q/z9hhAzldVCwfJ9pIQq8a9CZvyrjXpPDWACEwYBhgL/s1600/Bryggen%2Bshops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="875" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQUjhJgxEtc/XVLQFxkSC9I/AAAAAAAAG3Q/z9hhAzldVCwfJ9pIQq8a9CZvyrjXpPDWACEwYBhgL/s1600/Bryggen%2Bshops.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Eventually we made our way to the harbour (it only takes about 15 minutes walk if you don't get lost!), and went to book our fjord tour excursion for the next day (it is recommended by many you do this ahead of time in peak tourist season/the summer, we had no issues though).</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">We then had a little stroll around Bryggen - it was the least crowded day and also the sunniest so that was a perk! Bryggen was originally established before 1070 AD, so it's you know, crazy old. And yet it looks pretty sparkling! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">That is because unfortunately it has burned down several times and been rebuilt, with the last big fire as recent as 1955. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 because of its history and remarkably there are still plenty of artifacts from its Hanseatic trading era in the 1400s. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_015hEQL0dY/XVGRdl-oSvI/AAAAAAAAGy8/FvfnQogtsjUNTlGuYs69TG-XSf3dgv6bQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_015hEQL0dY/XVGRdl-oSvI/AAAAAAAAGy8/FvfnQogtsjUNTlGuYs69TG-XSf3dgv6bQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04425.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryggen: The fake facade while one of the buildings is being renovated was clever I thought! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The harbour in Bergen is full of many tourist boats, a few pretty older ships and usually a large cruise ship or two at the mouth (I took more pictures I will share later from our boat trips). It still manages to feel tranquil somehow though which I found impressive compared to the harbour clogged full of oil tankers/large ugly vessels in my town! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjTF1OH9cQs/XVKw6zjE9PI/AAAAAAAAG2g/pwbNvPiLo7wMUmFaFaWLnJ8VrnngaZMIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_143155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjTF1OH9cQs/XVKw6zjE9PI/AAAAAAAAG2g/pwbNvPiLo7wMUmFaFaWLnJ8VrnngaZMIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_143155.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also beside the harbour is a large market as well as a very fancy fresh seafood restaurant adjacent (a bit pricey like everything in Bergen though!). They sell lots of freshly cooked food at the market as well, and more traditional market wares. I didn't get a chance to eat there but everything looked nice and I would definitely like to check it out if I go back again!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xdk0VBEo1CI/XVKxr5MqQCI/AAAAAAAAG20/gz0Grh8-oecGzSRJYaKFF2Nli3mRDtxiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bergen%2Bmarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xdk0VBEo1CI/XVKxr5MqQCI/AAAAAAAAG20/gz0Grh8-oecGzSRJYaKFF2Nli3mRDtxiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bergen%2Bmarket.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Bryggen museum keeps slightly unusual operating hours and we never timed it quite right, but we did manage to visit the Hanseatic Museum one day (I may try to group that into a separate museums post, along with the LEPROSY museum because Bergen has it all going on! ;0).</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V6SotFlthM/XVGQ7DNdlnI/AAAAAAAAGy4/oZDc8-tsqeEW0jsLIJcqemHwFHeZ-x5mQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_181441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V6SotFlthM/XVGQ7DNdlnI/AAAAAAAAGy4/oZDc8-tsqeEW0jsLIJcqemHwFHeZ-x5mQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_181441.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what these signs say but they should translate to "VERY EXPENSIVE TOURIST TAT!" ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjTFMPWskh4/XVGQY7WCgaI/AAAAAAAAGys/TiDWhijq5Usn9xRWETuv2PK6xLJ0OxVQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_175821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjTFMPWskh4/XVGQY7WCgaI/AAAAAAAAGys/TiDWhijq5Usn9xRWETuv2PK6xLJ0OxVQQCEwYBhgL/s640/20190527_175821.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryggen alleyway. This place was packed every other day so we were lucky it was quiet this day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKyNsZrcOqk/XVLQ5WRm0aI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/eFKTEiaZisYXKwACG-GqlcUlVPywbxFsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Bryggen%252C%2BBergen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKyNsZrcOqk/XVLQ5WRm0aI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/eFKTEiaZisYXKwACG-GqlcUlVPywbxFsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Bryggen%252C%2BBergen.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe no one has shot a spooky "Don't Look Now" style horror movie set in Bryggen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Many
of the small alleys between the Bryggen buildings have more artisanal
and boutique shops and a few restaurants. As it was a sunny day we
postponed browsing for another day and headed for possibly the city's
main tourist attraction, the Floibanen fernicular railway up the
mountain to the top of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mt. Floyen</i></span></span></span></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhR3SQQ1XK8/XVGUIz7qasI/AAAAAAAAGzI/l3QQgVbhcgQnF8RlTuwIp9m1azGYr9ihwCLcBGAs/s1600/Floibanen%2BFernicular%252C%2BBergen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="878" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhR3SQQ1XK8/XVGUIz7qasI/AAAAAAAAGzI/l3QQgVbhcgQnF8RlTuwIp9m1azGYr9ihwCLcBGAs/s1600/Floibanen%2BFernicular%252C%2BBergen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floibanen entrance, Bergen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So you wait in this sort of rustic tunnel to take an electric cable car (it's on a track though, there is another mountain you can take an actual cable car up in Bergen though if you are a DAREDEVIL!) up the mountain. I would have taken pictures but it was very crowded, plus this annoying couple was blocking my view with a gross pda session .<br />
<br />
ANYWAY you climb very steeply up the mountain with nice (in theory) views as you travel up. There are a few tunnels (they love a tunnel in Norway) and a few stops along the way for locals who live on the mountain - it's very cool and made me wish I lived on the mountain, too, but it's probably very annoying sharing your commute with tourists!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
According to <a href="http://visitbergen.com/">VisitBergen.com</a>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"The Fløibanen line is 844 m (2,769 ft) long, covers a height difference
of 302 m (991 ft), and carries over 1,8 million passengers a year. The
line is single track with a central passing loop and was build in 1918.
The track is has a gradient that varies between 15 and 26 degrees. There
are two cars, each of which can carry 100 passengers and the cars are
individually named and painted, with Blåmann in blue and Rødhette in
red. (Source: Wikipedia) The track has 6 stops and are frequently used
by locals living up on the mountain side as well as two kindergardens on
the mountain. During the summer and rush hours only certain departures
will stop at all stops."<br />
<br />
When you get off at the top you are greeted with some pretty stunning views over the city. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck65Gd3x-_c/XVGUz0SP4eI/AAAAAAAAGzY/W4wZPa4EykIs6gkd-y9MJ_b5sm0UDdLHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_170617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck65Gd3x-_c/XVGUz0SP4eI/AAAAAAAAGzY/W4wZPa4EykIs6gkd-y9MJ_b5sm0UDdLHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_170617.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Bergen harbour from Mount Floyen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyNyp6UKz1I/XVKwXmZq0-I/AAAAAAAAG2Q/1JLSmQQa2Y4h1SkqJJ2O-hKxvBBt5Fx6wCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190527_170832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyNyp6UKz1I/XVKwXmZq0-I/AAAAAAAAG2Q/1JLSmQQa2Y4h1SkqJJ2O-hKxvBBt5Fx6wCEwYBhgL/s640/20190527_170832.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi I don't know how to pose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOtChrau19M/XVGU_SaxpZI/AAAAAAAAGzc/J3mL0iKHMCwZD_j-b3S2M0wEOZ54yfBKACLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_170626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOtChrau19M/XVGU_SaxpZI/AAAAAAAAGzc/J3mL0iKHMCwZD_j-b3S2M0wEOZ54yfBKACLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_170626.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen panorama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I was so glad we went up on this sunny, clear, day also as every other day we were in Norway it was pretty rainy for the most part. My mom and I had a soft serve ice cream from one of the little shops at the top that was HUGE, I actually couldn't finish it! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Took a picture with this guy, who someone had stuck a scarf on his nose but it didn't occur to me to take it off (some people taking pictures after us did, I was like "oh...) because I'm dumb so anyway....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1UXbROGcyg/XVGUfBDWNtI/AAAAAAAAGzQ/c7PnH8Nr6vY8aASjLLMrN0ann5dfj4wygCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_161733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1UXbROGcyg/XVGUfBDWNtI/AAAAAAAAGzQ/c7PnH8Nr6vY8aASjLLMrN0ann5dfj4wygCLcBGAs/s640/20190527_161733.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is a nice looking restaurant as well if you feel like eating something other than an ice cream or pastry!</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtDXBb3Unwo/XVP5B_e8byI/AAAAAAAAG4U/w4m0umxPgyYbjw56cI4Q_KsOhOoc6cOlwCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtDXBb3Unwo/XVP5B_e8byI/AAAAAAAAG4U/w4m0umxPgyYbjw56cI4Q_KsOhOoc6cOlwCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171053.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There's a cute forest path walk through the woods to a lake (it's advertised as "10 minutes" but it's uphill so it took us closer to 20 - we are not super fit Norwegians okay tourist board!). There are lots of hikes around the hills surrounding Bergen and we saw plenty of people out enjoying nature. You can choose to climb up or down the hill - we had had a long day thought so took the Fernicular both ways.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTWVOjxrpsA/XVG1wazWxPI/AAAAAAAAGz8/vNV6JXspCOcqGQ0uO9uiCNlXP7_2ejEuACLcBGAs/s1600/Forest%2Btroll%252C%2BNorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTWVOjxrpsA/XVG1wazWxPI/AAAAAAAAGz8/vNV6JXspCOcqGQ0uO9uiCNlXP7_2ejEuACLcBGAs/s1600/Forest%2Btroll%252C%2BNorway.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be on the look out for trolls in Norway!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvO5EvGb1KY/XVG2LeyZeEI/AAAAAAAAG0I/I2b8WmWT2N8unadfC-pafLIN5pUZg78JgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvO5EvGb1KY/XVG2LeyZeEI/AAAAAAAAG0I/I2b8WmWT2N8unadfC-pafLIN5pUZg78JgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04409.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETzUoy3lOcI/XVP4Hiy9-II/AAAAAAAAG4A/ZO279MAmN5kwwaEAQcmcsfitKIN8abZHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETzUoy3lOcI/XVP4Hiy9-II/AAAAAAAAG4A/ZO279MAmN5kwwaEAQcmcsfitKIN8abZHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171517.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZSIBrDmIK0/XVG4ykp7Z4I/AAAAAAAAG0k/8DXRXVN1zE4RAiZXtcZrEL62n0MlBBnQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Goats%252C%2BFloibanen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="990" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZSIBrDmIK0/XVG4ykp7Z4I/AAAAAAAAG0k/8DXRXVN1zE4RAiZXtcZrEL62n0MlBBnQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Goats%252C%2BFloibanen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsessed with these goats who live on the mountain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_I5pxbwp_I/XVG2hbPxpgI/AAAAAAAAG0U/5dKxtYTNfDgIEJbbwGQb85MBNbbXU7u9gCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_I5pxbwp_I/XVG2hbPxpgI/AAAAAAAAG0U/5dKxtYTNfDgIEJbbwGQb85MBNbbXU7u9gCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_171323.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh hi hello</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_E_Og2yDFmA/XVG9KI6_COI/AAAAAAAAG1c/OjiMycG-1xcMIdspeCBXR6tPq2CI3138gCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_164314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_E_Og2yDFmA/XVG9KI6_COI/AAAAAAAAG1c/OjiMycG-1xcMIdspeCBXR6tPq2CI3138gCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_164314.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh mountain air! Bergen, Norway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_X1JsarXF0/XVG9bIL0nTI/AAAAAAAAG1k/76nBurBEz2MAHorQYYG9EnpynpCqIIXUACLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_164446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_X1JsarXF0/XVG9bIL0nTI/AAAAAAAAG1k/76nBurBEz2MAHorQYYG9EnpynpCqIIXUACLcBGAs/s640/20190527_164446.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian duckling! There were actually a ton of baby ducks, I think they all swam into some grass the minute I started taking pictures oops!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBAM8ylcEsc/XVG9h2z7M4I/AAAAAAAAG1o/x9_w6miRQsslNcy4bc7J646rL6nhnFaMQCLcBGAs/s1600/20190527_164249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBAM8ylcEsc/XVG9h2z7M4I/AAAAAAAAG1o/x9_w6miRQsslNcy4bc7J646rL6nhnFaMQCLcBGAs/s640/20190527_164249.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babbling brook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbT1tNJceOs/XVG9yugPsAI/AAAAAAAAG10/UthuYmX07LwCrMyDxEDJLztUlqsnb_vrACLcBGAs/s1600/Do%2Bnot%2Bsit%2Binside%2Bwhen%2Ball%2Bhope%2Bis%2Bgone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbT1tNJceOs/XVG9yugPsAI/AAAAAAAAG10/UthuYmX07LwCrMyDxEDJLztUlqsnb_vrACLcBGAs/s1600/Do%2Bnot%2Bsit%2Binside%2Bwhen%2Ball%2Bhope%2Bis%2Bgone.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I googled this sign and it translates to "Do not sit inside when all hope is gone" and I thought that was kind of nice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I/we really enjoyed this little jaunt and I would definitely recommend it on any visit to Bergen, I think it is a pretty cool thing to have so much nature so close to the city. I think it took us maybe 2 hours, keeping in mind we had an ice cream and a couple of leisurely strolls and view gazing, it could be done in an hour or less probably though if you are short on time. It's also supposed to be lovely at sunset. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I did read in my guide book to avoid at peak cruise docking times as it can get very crowded. Apparently it takes around 45 minutes to walk up Mt. Floyen, the paths looked very well kept and if you are a big hiker type it might be a more scenic way to see it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The ticket can be purchased at the Floibanen booth or it is also included in the <a href="https://en.visitbergen.com/bergen-card?msclkid=de39d8dfd54114076ad0858d0b61ab0f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(All)%20Produkt%20%7C%20Bergencard&utm_term=bergen%20card&utm_content=Bergen%20Card%20%3E%20EXACT" target="_blank">Bergen Card </a>seasonally (I think you just got a discount when we visited) along with many other museums and attractions. We did not buy a Bergen Card this visit because we were kind of indecisive and seeing what the weather was doing when planning our fjord excursions, but if you are planning on sightseeing in the city for one or two days in a row it definitely seems like a good bargain.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Ok I will leave it there for now, I hope to follow up with some posts on our Mostraumen fjord cruise, Sognefjord and Vik Fjord Tour, and the museums and other sites we saw in this adorable city during our time there.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-10113544248076550512019-08-11T18:08:00.000+01:002019-08-12T16:06:49.340+01:00Crystal Jewelry From Stone Seasons Review (AD: Gifted)<br />
<i>(AD: (gifted)): The items I received in this post were gifted but all opinions are my own.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have become a bit of a crystal and crystal jewellery browsing (and sometimes buying ;-) addict over on Etsy recently, which is like a veritable wonderland for people into crystals!<br />
<br />
So I was delighted when Bethany Alice of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StoneSeasons?page=1#items" target="_blank">Stone Seasons</a>, an Etsy shop full of lovely crystal and other jewelry pieces contacted me recently to see if I would like to check out her work (I had already liked several pieces in her shop so this was a pleasant surprise).<br />
<br />
Bethany told me that she "is a primary teacher by day but have always had a passion for the creative. I recently found a love for drop earrings and began making my own to sell, that soon developed into a small business as parents and friends wanted them too!"<br />
<br />
I like that her shop is an outlet for her creative talent, it's always nice to support individuals and small businesses pursuing their artistic side and that is what I believe Etsy does best.<br />
<br />
Bethany's shop has so many lovely stones to pick from, I really struggled to choose and will definitely be back for more. I decided on a pair of<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/712778775/lapis-lazuli-heart-detail-drop-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_35&pro=1&frs=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Lapis Lazuli </a>drop earrings with a dainty gold heart accent and a small pair of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/696660400/aventurine-drop-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_38&pro=1&frs=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Green Aventurine</a> heart earrings, as these are two stones I am drawn to lately.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqOH-MMLq0o/XVAccE56kcI/AAAAAAAAGxk/cxyT7Js3yBo50LcU4LjtIVhKxU95U1KLACLcBGAs/s1600/Green%2Baventurine%2Band%2Blapis%2Blazuli%2Bearrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqOH-MMLq0o/XVAccE56kcI/AAAAAAAAGxk/cxyT7Js3yBo50LcU4LjtIVhKxU95U1KLACLcBGAs/s1600/Green%2Baventurine%2Band%2Blapis%2Blazuli%2Bearrings.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(l to r) Green Aventurine and Lapis Lazuli earrings by Stone Seasons, Etsy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I think they are so pretty! They look lovely on too, but I am terrible at taking pictures of my ears so you can just use your imagination! They can be casual or dressy I think, depending on what you are wearing. They were delivered in a cute small drawstring bag so are also packaged nicely for gifting, too.<br />
<br />
Lapis Lazuli is meant to be a great stone for creative types, and I
also appreciated that for each stone Bethany's shop lists the crystal's
properties, which is great for anyone new to or curious about the
meanings of the stones. For lapis lazuli the description says<br />
<br />
<i>"Lapis Lazuli encourages self-awareness, allows self-expression and
reveals inner truth, providing qualities of honesty, compassion and
morality to the personality. Stimulates objectivity, clarity and
encourages creativity. Lapis Lazuli assists to confront and speak one's
truth and inspires confidence."</i><br />
<br />
Also it's just a really pretty stone with the deep blue and gold flecks!<br />
<br />
Green
Aventurine comes in both bright and pale green shades, but I am drawn
to the luminescence of the pale green for some reason. According to the
Stone Seasons description:<br />
<br />
<i>"Green Aventurine is known as the “Stone of Opportunity,” thought to be
the luckiest of all crystals, especially in manifesting prosperity and
wealth, or for increasing favour in competitions or games of chance."</i><br />
<br />
Aventurine
also assists in emotional calm and heart chakra protection as well.
When picking crystals I like to set an intention for what I would like
them to help bring into my life. Many stones are attributed with
numerous possible healing properties, so I like to focus on the ones
that I personally would like to manifest/encourage in my life.<br />
<br />
Regardless
of if you care about/believe in crystals or not I think anyone could
find something to their tastes in this lovely shop, and if the crystals
do do anything for you, bonus! <br />
<br />
Bethany notes that she
uses authentic stones so there may be minor differences in each piece
(but that is how you know they are real crystals!). I think this shop is
very competitively priced with other Etsy crystal jewelry shops, and
seems to run periodic sales/discounts as well, hurrah!<br />
<br />
I really appreciate how delicate they are; the stones are all a nice, flattering size that
could be worn for a dressy or casual look I think. <br />
<br />
Sometimes it can be hard to find crystal pieces
that aren't quite rustic/an earthy boho style. I do like some of those styles too, but
sometimes I want something a little more low key/modern looking.<br />
<br />
I think these earrings offer the best of both worlds,
they are crystals but also they look like everyday, stylish jewelry if you want to go "incognito" with wearing your crystals if that is a concern. I'm quite introverted with this stuff as I am with most things, so I really appreciate it anyway!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StoneSeasons" target="_blank">Stone Seasons</a> also has free UK delivery, which is really great as many shops I have seen charge almost as much to deliver an item as the cost of it.<br />
<br />
I think Bethany's jewelry is excellent value and offers a really good quality with the stones she uses. I have my eye on the howlite and rose quartz earrings next, and I notice she has started doing cute necklaces too!<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
As a special incentive for my readers Bethany has kindly offered a discount code of 15% off her shop - just use the code STEFF15 at checkout.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
Do you shop or sell on Etsy? Please share your favourites with me in the comments!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-9782076099527744512019-07-28T16:48:00.000+01:002019-07-28T23:30:42.215+01:00Sunday Confessions<br />
<br />
Hi! It's been a while so here goes nothing...<br />
<br />
<i><b>I confess:</b></i> Um I just realized I don't have my Sunday Confessions header pic, or in fact ANY pictures saved on my new computer! By some miracle after our computer died our friend was able to retrieve access to the hard drive for us, but that requires, um, I'm not too sure...plugging things into other things and deciding what things I want to bother putting on my sparkly, speedy, clean, purrs like a quiet kitten new computer (did I mention I love her?!).<br />
<br />
It's an ACER Aspire T (not an ad or affiliate or anything because I suck at blogging for dollah bills yo), but I am just so impressed with how instantly she turns on, how quiet she is, and how responsive. Yes we are in the new, early days of our relationship stage do not disturb lolz!<br />
<br />
<i><b>I confess:</b></i> I'm struggling a bit with balancing going to the gym "for enjoyment" as opposed to "it's a boring thing I have to do to keep my knees from flaking out". The novelty has worn off a bit, and now I feel guilty if I don't go at least 3 times a week, but I am not really interested in the body shaming fitspo tone of the way they run their classes (in my admittedly somewhat limited experiences). Saying that I met a girl last week who was nice and said one of the spin classes is really good with the trainer and the music so maybe I will give it a go, but generally I'm not finding it super inspiring or motivating to be there.<br />
<br />
Like I'm happy and feel good after a workout but I think I'm just bored with my routine, and I feel bad paying for any outside exercise classes but a friend and I are thinking of yoga in the Fall - I do miss having a moment of zen type exercise class in my routine (I went to Pilates for about 3 years until a year and a bit ago now when my teacher moved away).<br />
<br />
Does anyone have any tips for keeping the gym/working out fun? I made a new very rap-tastic Spotify mix this week which is slightly outside my wheelhouse, and that helped a bit to re-energize me, I am so bored of my mixes on my mp3 player right now.<br />
<br />
<i><b>I confess:</b></i> I got sucked into watching The Hills: New Beginnings reboot as it's available on NOWTV at the push of a button and I'm weak, ok. I admit I watched the original early seasons of The Hills sort of passively, I don't think I watched after Lauren Conrad left (I think she left? She's not in this one anyway!). Not that Lauren was a super fascinating personality, but she provided a sort of neutral vanilla milkshake moral center to the show. I remember not liking Speidi (that's Spencer and Heidi), but not in a fun, love to hate way, more in a "Ick these people are the worst way" so that probably drove me away.<br />
<br />
I guess the reboot intrigued me because of the whole "where are they now?" thing, and wow, did it deliver on several fronts. I love that it's awkward and obvious these people haven't hung out in 10 years, that some of them are sort of frozen at the age they became famous in the wise words of new baby cast member Brandon Lee (whose mother Pamela Anderson shows up to sage his new house so yes, the hippie crystal chick in me was enthralled ha ha!), and that some of them have even mellowed and are now selling (very expensive!) crystals for a living (Speidi).<br />
<br />
And then there's the eternal Peter Pan "I surfed in Nicaragua for 4 years and came back with a vocabulary slightly outside my actual wheelhouse" blue eyed punk Justin Bobby. Ahhh Justin Bobby. So pretty, so empty. I read a funny tweet about how we've all had a Justin Bobby and yes I felt seen.<br />
<br />
The producers of this show did such a good job making us root for Justin Bobby and newly divorced Audrina, despite all of our better instincts, in the first episode. And then they just fully pulled the rug out in episode two when JB/Justin Bobby immediately went back to his player for life ways and started a totally not romantic friendship *cough* with Steph "ugh go back to London" Pratt.<br />
<br />
Even if the whole love triangle is completely made up (pretty sure it is as there are no secrets on social media these days which adds another dimension to these shows), they are doing a really good job setting it all up. The only person I don't really care about is Brody, or what's his name that used to date Lauren, I just find them really basic/boring.<br />
<br />
Sorry I digress/I won't bore anyone with more Hills chat, what I actually wanted to share (for anyone interested in The Hills!), is that I discovered a really great podcast about the show called <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-1-ep-2-garang/id1470852398?i=1000443682031" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unwritten</a> and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a smart, funny, sardonically snarky but also thoughtfully done weekly rundown of the show.<br />
<br />
It is presented by three (late?)<a href="http://www.steffinscotland.com/2017/04/embrace-being-gen-x-in-millenial-world.html" target="_blank"> millennial type</a> Canadians, two girls and a guy (but no pizza place - ba dum bum!), and they have a lot of fun with it but it also has a sort of refreshingly NPR-esque tone for a podcast about a reality show. Plus they say "aboot" a lot which I enjoy!<br />
<br />
They don't just take the show at face value, they do a lot of research/digging, are all fans of the original so have feelings/opinions that occasionally pop up. They admit to lots of the guilty pleasure type thoughts we have watching reality t.v., the curiosity about stuff/ like how do they afford this, where is that dress from, is it paid for by the show and can I justify a Pratt Daddy Crystal in my life etc. (I...cannot. Seriously $200 for a crystal you can buy on Etsy for a tenner?!).<br />
<br />
I find it a fun listen anyway, it breaks things down in a less reactive and face value way than what you get from say, Twitter responses to the show. I would almost argue that it has a degree of psychological and pop culture discourse that make it worth listening even if you don't watch the show. I am fairly new to podcasts but this one in particular does the job that a lot of t.v. writing used to, whereas now I feel like I mostly see samey recaps of stuff everywhere.<br />
<br />
I am trying to get more into podcasts, they are good to put on in the background when I am doing other stuff (hmmm would that work at the gym?). I have tried the more interview-y type ones and they are ok, I do want to check out David Tennant's, but I liked the roundtable discourse style of The Hills one I found this week a lot.<br />
<br />
Does anyone have any must listen podcasts to recommend to me?<br />
<br />
<i><b>I confess:</b></i> We had a heat wave this week in the U.K. and yes by most standards it was not that hot in Scotland (I think some places up north hit the 80s though we tapped out at around 78!). It's hard to explain why that feels so hot here - for one, there is no air conditioning in people's houses, and the houses don't really cool down at night if the air temperature doesn't (we can't really sleep with our windows open because of the noise also NO SCREENS which I have mentioned before drives me nuts!).<br />
<br />
So anyway there's a lot of silliness and drama when the U.K. gets actual summer weather but legit, in London on the un-airconditioned tube in 98 degree weather must be HELLISH. I was there once when it was tipping into the early 90s in May and it was unbearable.<br />
<br />
So um yes I was laughing at a story doing the rounds about these "chicken filet" things you can freeze and stick in your bra to stay cool...at the same time under boob sweat is a MARE for me so um yes I made a DIY ice pack, and ALSO applied this magical thing called Prickly Heat "Snake Brand" powder(!) - no I have no idea why it is called that, but it's like icy menthol powder, I bought it for a heat rash I get from the sun (did I mention we are not used to seeing the sun?) or overheating or whatever, not exactly sure what causes it. Um yes so I made a icy cool under the bosom relief system, it was bliss! Patent pending ha ha!<br />
<br />
How was <i>your</i> week?<br />
<br />
<br />
(Sunday Confessions linking up with Becky at <a href="https://unitedstatesofbecky.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The United States of Becky</a>)SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-19411106228893995102019-07-02T17:05:00.002+01:002019-10-18T00:16:47.235+01:00Am I Really An Expat? (is this an expat blog?)....Are we human or are we dancers with the title of this post am I right ha ha? Sorry, I still have Glastonbury on the brain! Did you see any of it? I loved The Cure, my inner 16 year old not quite a goth but definite theatre geek with goth tendencies really came out watching them! And I thought The Killers were great too, it was fab they brought out Johnny Marr and The Pet Shop Boys too. No I didn't watch Stormzy, well a little but but I just can't get into grime, or numerous other hip with the kids dance music either, Billie Eilish was just like...I don't know, making me feel a hundred, I don't get it at all (saying that I was all about <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2019/04/march-favourites-part-one-tv-and-music.html" target="_blank">Sigrid</a>, obviously!). I'm fickle. I was annoyed they didn't put Lauryn Hill or The Proclaimers' sets on the BBC iplayer though. Come on BBC the olds want to see music too!<br />
<br />
Anyway...yeah. So I don't know, the title of this post is about how I have questioned calling this blog an expat blog for some time now, but I struggle to label my blog with ANY niche and it's the only one that sort of technically fit.<br />
<br />
Once in a blue moon I will write "American in Scotland this is weird" or <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2016/03/expat-life-sometimes-its-hard.html" target="_blank">"I'm homesick</a>" type posts, but they're pretty rare really. And while no one here thinks I sound remotely Scottish (despite what American friends say about my accent!), the truth is I don't really relate to most Americans who live in the U.K., but very specifically my town.<br />
<br />
In my four and a bit years of blogging I have seen quite a few American expat bloggers come and go from this town, it's just that most who move here tend to do so for jobs in the oil industry, or maybe (rarely) college, and then they mostly seem to move elsewhere after a couple of years. It's a bit of a nomadic, exotic compared to my longtime married to a Scottish guy lifestyle. Like, this is my home, for the foreseeable future, yes I still struggle with it sometimes but barring some major life upheaval I'm not going anywhere. It also means my blog doesn't contain the kind of content most expat blogs do -I did much of my "life in a new country" exploring years before I started a blog.<br />
<br />
I still occasionally visit new places and I might share them, but it's mostly old hat to me at this point to be honest! Like I just can't fake enthusiasm for stuff I'm used to (I know no one is asking me to, but every time I read an expat blog, it's all "Look at this shiny new thing/taste/place I've never experienced before!"). Which is great, for them, but it's not where I'm at.<br />
<br />
I had a pretty different experience moving here to be with someone that is from here than most expat experiences I read. Yes, lots of things were a novelty, and some still occasionally are. But I had an inbuilt, native tourist guide. I am not saying this didn't have drawbacks, I do feel like it means that I have been sort of absorbed into this foreign land in a more automatic way than would normally happen, that has at times made my national identity feel kinda mushy/confused. Of course saying that I am often reminded that I am an "other" here when I meet someone new, but I "speak the language" (you'd be amazed how different it can be), so I don't feel like a complete outsider, either.<br />
<br />
I had an automatic set of friends from the time I first visited, because my husband has a large circle of friends, who luckily, were all awesome, and mostly seem to put up with me too! Yes, I've made a few of my own along the way, but I never even knew there was like, a society for American women in my town until recently, because it just didn't occur to me to seek that out.<br />
<br />
It's only since I started a blog that I realized that the American women and transplant couples here sort of clique together and do Scottish themed or American themed or whatever themed stuff. My curiosity is piqued by it, but like....I just don't have it in me to play the "I've lived here forever" tour guide either if that doesn't sound terrible (not that I have seen everything in the U.K., most short term expats make a point of exploring every inch of the country, whereas I still have a lot to see, and maybe I feel weird about that too!).<br />
<br />
Most Americans who move here do so in a couple, make some fellow expat friends, maybe some local friends too, and then move on to someplace else. I'm not disparaging that life at all, it sounds super exciting and novel, in a different life maybe I would have enjoyed it myself. But it's not my experience, and I've just realized maybe I shouldn't be labelling my blog "an expat blog" if that's what people are hoping to find. I do find it kind of weird that most of my page views are from America, maybe this is not uncommon for most blogs but it makes me feel a bit like I'm letting the side down not chit chatting about the "American in a strange land" stuff more often. <br />
<br />
I did intend to write more expat themed posts when I started the blog, but they're sort of high concept at this point and I'm lazy about that kind of thing. Then again at one point I had a "compilation of British swears" post that I thought was hilarious...but um, yeah, I don't know!<br />
<br />
If any Americans read this blog and have ever wanted to ask me anything about life in Scotland/the U.K. please do, maybe it will prompt me to talk about it more! I also tend to feel like a lot of the stuff that is "different" about living here isn't that different or interesting unless you are planning a visit or are coming to live here, but I know I am just used to most stuff also. Like when Americans (mostly my Mom) come to visit, they're like "What's this switch? What is this weird thing? Why do Scottish people do this? What does that mean!", etc. about any number of things.<br />
<br />
I think what got me thinking about this too was my recent trip to Norway (which um, yes is much more exciting than this drivel but I want to separate it into ack, maybe three blog posts, because we saw a lot of stuff - mainly fjords ok, but they're so pretty!).<br />
<br />
Anyway, on our trip there my Mom and I met all of these Americans on one of our tours, it was quite a small group, and we eventually all got to chatting/knowing each other's business because it was a long,12+ hour day.<br />
<br />
And some of them were doing these quite (to me) ambitious vacations, seeing several countries at once, like it was no big thing. There were two sisters from San Franciso who were super helpful and nice who shared their journey so far and how they planned things, and I just love hearing about that stuff. And this one older couple visits the Edinburgh Festival every year, we bumped into them the next day in an art museum and it was like "hi fellow Americans, we are old friends now because we were thrown together that one time", and THAT is something you don't really get living in the U.K. (in my experience).<br />
<br />
Sometimes I miss American extroversion - I wouldn't even call it that, sometimes people are not even particularly outgoing seeming, but we just make an effort to get to know each other, and aren't aloof or weird about stuff. Don't get me wrong, British people can be very friendly once you get to know them (and for anyone saying "I've met super friendly Brits on vacation, they are hilarious!", I say to you, the British person abroad is a different species. They (<i>some of them!</i>) sudddenly start lapping up the attention their exotic accents get them in America especially, and even the quiet ones become wild extroverts!). They are on vacation and they are ready to par-tay! (I see a <i>lot</i> of this in Florida anyway, I think it's all the Vitamin D and um, cocktails! ;-0).<br />
<br />
But here, on this rainy island there are these invisible walls sometimes that make me feel like a bit of a fish out of water. And I am <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2016/01/re-visiting-my-inner-infp-figuring-out.html" target="_blank">super duper introverted</a>, trust. So it was surprisingly nice to go to a strange country and unexpectedly hang with some Americans, weirdly! It kind of felt like we were a little, very temporary crew, and I think possibly it made me miss having American friends to gab with, which got me thinking about the whole "I feel a disconnect/like I have little in common with Americans in my town, that sucks/is weird" thing. Which brought me here. So that's <i>my</i> recent "expat" story, for what it is worth!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ERNcswQSrc/XRt33_pFtSI/AAAAAAAAGwI/V5j7uGGdT2gyqCs7b5sBO1VXkvyhpcFaACLcBGAs/s1600/S5031123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ERNcswQSrc/XRt33_pFtSI/AAAAAAAAGwI/V5j7uGGdT2gyqCs7b5sBO1VXkvyhpcFaACLcBGAs/s640/S5031123.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Findhorn: Scottish beaches, pretty but cold, swim at your own peril!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529684821394652301.post-53548401832717042872019-05-15T12:31:00.001+01:002019-05-15T12:45:30.260+01:00Dear Gym Culture...Your Fatphobia Has to Go<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day I was at the gym (yes I’m back to gymming it
after a good 2-3 months of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>) and I
was on the rowing machine and this couple came over and proceeded to very
obviously not know what they were doing. I am by no means an expert, but they
didn’t know how to get the screen tracker thing on by pulling the rower cord
thingy (see I don’t even know what it’s called!). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A trainer briefly pulled themselves from the trainer chat
huddle to show them how to make the screen display, then went back to chatting
about fat and macros with the other trainers or whatever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, the woman in the couple (I would guess they were
both in their mid/late twenties) proceeded to struggle to figure out the rowing
machine while her boyfriend stood and watched and gave unhelpful tips because he
didn’t know how it worked either. She was doing the opposite of how you’re meant
to row, pulling the handles with all her might, throwing her back dramatically
back, and gaining little traction with her legs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She kept looking at
me and finally I couldn’t help but do that thing I knew I would immediately regret:
try to help. I said something like “Pardon me for butting in” and that it was
easier if you used your legs-arms-arms-legs (which I learned by watching Youtube
videos, sooo many people use the rowing machine wrong), while trying to show
slowly how it’s done without seeming like some know it all type ugh whyyy do I
bother. She stared at me blankly. Her boyfriend nodded and repeated my words like
“Yes, that makes sense”, but I got the impression there was a language barrier. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally another trainer came over and tried to show her, but
it was clear the message wasn’t getting through and after a minute or so they
gave up and left without saying thanks for the advice or anything like that
(again I think there was a language barrier though so fair enough I guess).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the trainer started chatting to me, asking me what I
was “doing” today (I have had this question from trainers before, it's....exhausting). Knowing trainers don’t like to hear “moving my body until I
feel like stopping and not treating this gym lark as an exercise in self-flagellation
until I reach perfection”, I said what I was doing and why in terms of building
my knee strength back up (which was a mistake, obviously). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She then proceeded to tell me to use all of the machines I
am using already and have been for over a year now. I just sort of nodded
politely, wanting the conversation to end as quickly as possible before she
felt compelled to talk about “health” or weight loss. It is possible she might
not have, but I always feel like one wrong word and the floodgates will open,
it’s only natural at a gym where every surface is covered with their latest
weight loss/”health” or whatever else they are couching diets in scheme or
whatever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is still hard for me not to feel like a fat target some
days at the gym, and that sucks. Maybe much of it is in my head, but I think it’s
natural I feel on the defensive in a place that is so conformist to the cult of
<a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2018/05/diet-culture-vs-body-positivity-inner.html" target="_blank">diet culture.</a> Plus I am coming back into it after a couple of months off,
hopefully I will start to feel more comfortable again before long. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think eventually I will probably change gyms when I can
afford to justify it, there are others that are a bit more mature in clientele/attitude.
Although at the same time it’s not like I can avoid diet culture anyway, it’s
everywhere we look, so in the past I have treated the skinny girls berating
each other for having a candy bar and posing for selfies in front of the mirror
with a full face of makeup pre workout as just…part of a world I choose not to participate
in any longer, and it has toughened my defences in some ways I think when it
comes to self/fat acceptance overall. (I feel like this sounds like I am judging "the youth" for being image obsessed...I genuinely am not, I was one of them once and I feel sorry for some of these girls casting scorn on their perfectly lovely bodies, all to keep themselves off of carbs or whatever. But again, I would never say anything about "Hey why don't you join the "Love yourself as is?" club, because I am a realist when it comes to how people must come to this bopo life of their own volition).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Knowing I will never be anything other than a “before” in
the eyes of how my gym targets its members’ attention is unquestionably
infuriating at times, I am not some zen <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2018/02/5-things-body-positivity-has-taught-me.html" target="_blank">body positive</a> goddess who walks around in a
cloud of self-love 24/7. It is <a href="https://www.steffinscotland.com/2018/09/how-to-maintain-body-positive-attitude.html" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">work</i></a>
not to fall prey to it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it would be nice if they didn’t try to make me feel
like a loser even as I’m feeling wonderful and proud post workout by putting up
weight loss posters in the f’ing toilet, a place where many a woman has had
negative experiences if she has ever had an eating disorder. Talk about a come down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nary a poster that says “Hey, you worked out,
awesome job for being here!” Why is that? Because there is no extra cash to be
made? Because telling people that their bodies can always be improved upon, can
always look better in a swimsuit than they do presently, is where they get that
fast cash. I just think it’s a truly sh*tty business model, personally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gyms don’t really care if you are happy and healthy, if they
did they wouldn’t think fat shaming is a motivator because it so clearly does
not work for the majority of people. There are more and more fat/body positive
exercise classes happening in America anyway, and I really hope at some point it
translates over to the U.K. and the rest of the world that people in bigger
bodies would like to feel more welcome and safe in gym spaces. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is it such abstract (by current gym ideology) thinking to wish that everyone
can exercise if they want, and it is for the greater good of all if we encourage
joyfulness, not misery and shame, in how we move and view our bodies? Why is that too much to ask? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wouldn't gyms benefit from encouraging a large segment of the populaton in a different way, when the methods they currently use so clearly don't work long term at keeping people motivated? I am very lucky, I know, to not feel <i>too</i> much discrimination at the gym in my body, it is probably how I have managed to tolerate it thus far. But I can't help but wish it was better for all of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anyway, I am off to the gym, lol, not feeling it today to be honest but a girl’s
got to keep her knee strength up, because I am going to Norway in a couple of
weeks, yay! What is new with you?SteffRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12883091806982307143noreply@blogger.com9