Exploring Kenmore in the Highlands
Day at work in the Botanic Gardens!
Evenings at the City Beach
Home cooked dinners from my Veg Box
It might be half way through August, but I still wanted to share what I’ve been up to lately. Better late than never, right? July has been very chilled out, by my standards at least. I made a new friend and I’ve spent a couple of lazy weekends in Scotland with her, passing the hours with a pint in hand, talking about our lives. I know it seems like a silly thing to mention but as an adult I actually don’t make new friends very often. I meet a lot of new people that I get on with (mostly at work!) but the circle of people who I talk to and hang out with regularly is pretty small. I’m also kind of a homebody and I love mooching around my flat so I’m proud of being sociable and making new friends!
In other new, James’ cousin stayed with us for a weekend. We took him to all my favourite places in Edinburgh (Arthur’s Seat, Auld Hoose for nachos and a lot of trips to the pub, duh) and I visited a club for the first time in a year! I’ve accidentally fallen into the habit of swapping club nights for the pub and I don’t think I’m sad about it. I do miss dancing, but I don’t miss the bad music and sticky floors. I am hesitant to drink at moment, because I know I enjoy social drinking but I get the most horrendous hangovers. I seesaw between swearing off alcohol in favour of experiencing Saturday mornings and throwing caution to the wind and staying out late with my friends on a whim. I feel too young to be acting sensibly, getting up early and “ridding my body of toxins” or whatever phrase wellness bloggers are using these days. What are your twenties for if not drinking too much and not sleeping enough? On the other hand, I’ve had a drink most weekends for so long it’s lost some of its allure. Evenings of beer and lipstick and mischief aren’t as tantalisingly rebellious as they once were and drinking sometimes bores me. Oh well, it’s hardly a new dilemma – I bet millions of people have puzzled over the choice between productive mornings and a pub session with friends. I’ll keep you updated on my findings!
Last month I spent just the one weekend away for my Mum’s birthday, and on this occasion indulged in too many whiskies at the folk bar. When in the Highlands! We had a glorious stay in Kenmore on Loch Tay, whiling away the time with countryside walks, good food and adventures to the local historical sights. It was very wholesome – I fear I have become old before my time. The Highlands is a special place, and you don’t have to drive far north out of Edinburgh to feel like you’ve reached relative wilderness. Staycations like this are food for the soul and I’m looking forward to seeing more of Scotland over New Year’s once I find a place to stay for the weekend. It might sound like too much forward planning but I’ve decided that snuggling up around an open fire is how I’d like to see in the New Year!
There’s not a whole lot of August left but I’m already snowed under a mountain of work that I need to get done before I go away to California! Sometimes preparing for holidays from work seem like more effort than they’re worth, but this time I’m sure our trip will compensate. Luckily I have exciting visitors and Edinburgh Festival plans on weekends to get me through before we jet off. What do you have on this month? What have you been up to lately? I’d love to hear more about your life!
Your pondering about drinking made me smile, Jess–I am substantially older than you are and still wondering why, sometimes, I over-do it and feel awful on Saturday morning! I had forgotten that you’re going to California–what a fun time to look forward to!
Haha, I suppose we never learn! I am SO excited about California, I’m a bit nervous about being prepared enough, driving on the wrong side of the road etc. but I’m sure I’ll be fine once we get there
Always love reading about your life, Jess! (such a creeper) Sounds like your days about Scotland with your new friend sounds lovely – I can totally relate to not making new friends often… it’s hard to find someone you can really talk to and they’re the gems
How exciting that you’re heading to Cali, I’ve never been but everyone loves it… and the amount of vego food there!
Thanks Cherie, you’re not a creeper at all. I am writing about my life publicly, and I’m just so glad you enjoy reading about it! Oh my god, I am so excited about the food. Might have to squeeze in a couple of extra meals a day just so we can fit it all in
Lovely to catch up, Jess, as always! Binging can be about many things, and I’m really bad about reading into the wee hours… sigh! Do keep a look out for where the forest fires are along the Coast, as they can disrupt tourist traffic. I remember one attempt to visit Big Sur that got cancelled due to same. Lovely to see the Highlands, which I’ve read about all my life over here (often quite late at night-grin!). xxx
Haha, I’m sure there are plenty worse vices than reading too much! If you’re going to stay up late, that’s the best way to do it
I am a bit nervous about the forest fires, so I hope it’ll be okay. Our schedule’s pretty tight and I’m looking forward to driving down the West Coast Highway! The Highlands are magical, they should definitely be on your travel list xx
Jess, I’m gonna mooch around & see if I can locate a local-to-your-trip site, so you can check conditions yourselves, once you’re over here. If you don’t hear from me by Monday, please remind me!
In no special order: CA road conditions
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/mtnhwys.htm
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/statemap.htm
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi?roadnumber=1+&submit=Search
Sorry for just replying to you now Del, but thank you for sending these to me. Luckily we had no issues with the weather when we were there, although we did see the forest firest at Big Sur! x
Ah, I love your posts. Can I please move to Edinburgh? GORGEOUS! It’s so funny, I definitely feel the same about drinking and staying out – though I have pretty much always felt that way! ha. I’ve always been such a lightweight – and drinking in the states isn’t nearly as “social”. We recently went to Vegas where I had high plans to experience fabulous bars and clubs and have great drinks… but I spent the entire time feeling so terribly dehydrated (while chugging water) that I just didn’t want a bit of alcohol. I’m not meant for the desert, though it can be lovely. I am also not meant for the crowds and sheer amounts of over-indulgence that is the culture in Vegas. I enjoyed the view from the observation wheel at night, a few museums and the lovely shows… but the rest was a little despicable to me if I am being honest. So much waste and excess.
I tried to take it for what it was, but it wasn’t my thing. I agree also that making new friends as an adult is hard, rare, and a treasure. 
Hooray for you. I love all of these great pictures, especially the birds on the beach. So pretty. I am craving cooler weather and time at home these days! 
XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Please do, you would love it here! I actually used to think of myself as a hot-weather person, but since moving to Scotland I’ve got used to the climate and hot days can feel like an annoyance. I’m looking forward to the heat in California, so I just hope I can hack it in the desert! Yeah, the waste in Vegas doesn’t sound great. And I totally understand the appeal of all the glitz and glam, but huge displays of wealth are pretty gross. So happy that you liked the pictures! We were having a bbq on the beach and the birds kept trying to nick our food… we might have been encouraging them a little
xx
ooh, lovely photos and sounds like you had an amazing july! i don’t think mentioning making a new friend is silly at all – it really can be hard as an adult. and you mentioning being a homebody and being proud of socializing – that sounds very much like me! on top of which i’m very reserved and therefore can be on friendly terms with people for over a year before actually letting them in my life, in which time they often lose interest in actually becoming friends (hahaha that sounds so sad now that i’ve written it down, i’m not really that sad of a loner!). and i feel you on the drinking dilemma as well. at uni there were maybe too many times i’ve overdone it and been at the pub or out too often. as a contrast when i’m living at home, like this year, i live a very wholesome life and haven’t been drinking for over a year. we’ll see what happens now that i’m going back to uni next month, ha! that’s what i’m doing in my life atm; i’ve finished work and am trying to start packing to move to turku to go back to uni:-) xx
It is hard, isn’t it! It also takes me a long time to *really* become friends with people. I’m lucky that I’ve made some really brilliant friends in my life, and I’m good at keeping friends, but not that great at making new ones. I know you’re not a loner, Laura! I actually think it’s a pretty good thing to be comfortable with your own company. Not a lot of people are. I didn’t realise you were going back to uni, that’s incredibly exciting. All the new students walking around Edinburgh at the moment are giving me the start-of-term feels. I just want a new bookbag and a schedule to colour code! Good luck – what are you studying? xx