Woke up after a very comfortable night at Ullapool. The hotel was very lovely and I must have been wiped out as I slept through till 8am which never happens.

We checked out at 10am in miserable weather. Sideways rain common here 😂 we drove to Lochinver which was a town that I’d probably heard of but didn’t look into why it was on my list. It was lovely though but we fuelled our cars and our bellies and set off for the beautiful and breathtaking Achmelvich bay.

It was one of the places I most wanted to visit on this trip for its turquoise water and white sand. Adam was insistent it wouldn’t look like the pictures and that those were just pics from sunny days on the Internet…I was right, it was just as stunning as the pictures. The turquoise sea was incredibly cold though, proud of Adam having a cold water dip too.

The roads by now were all NC500 roads and a chunk of them were the single track roads I’d been dreading…they were actually a bloody dream to drive! We drove 90 miles today but our drive time was almost 5 hours. So that tells you the kind of roads we were on.

Our final destination was Durness Bay at the very top of the world, or just the UK 😂 you can’t book the campsite so it was a big risk driving all this way and hope there was space. Luckily there was, we have the best pitch and the campsite is epic.

So I’m car camping and Adam is in his tent. We have had such an incredible day and incredible 3 days together. Adam is heading home tomorrow and I’m still adventuring, but I’m so very glad we did this and so glad we did it together

❤️

Na night from the top of the UK

🌈😴

We woke up in Kenmore all dry and cosy and refreshed from a good nights sleep. Said goodbye to Dad (his ashes) and then we headed over to the west, to Glencoe, which isn’t on the NC500 but looked spectacular to visit.

What an understatement! As we passed a sign saying welcome to the Highlands I was already in love with the vast and beautiful landscape. Then Glencoe…if ever a place was going to take your breath away and leave you mesmerised.. it’s here. I think it’s genuinely the most beautiful place I’ve been.

We went to the visitors centre, walked around, met the Highland coo’s (cows to you and I) and then headed to our next destination, back east to Loch Ness. Stunning, but I’d been spoilt by Glencoe.

Back west again towards Ullapool (who come up with this itinerary 😂) we were now officially on the NC500. Because we were breaking the journey up we stopped at Rogie falls which saw lots of salmon jumping up the falls. Pretty spectacular indeed!

We left Rogie falls and drove today’s last leg to Ullapool. We were greeted by the friendliest hotel owner who sorted us out with the best fish & Chip recommendation and was just genuinely really very helpful.

We ate our tea on the beach, watched the seals, plotted our trip for tomorrow and now in bed, super early. Adam bagged the best room. Fuming! Ha…

This trip, especially today has far exceeded my expectations. The best bits being Glencoe, sharing the adventure with Adam (he is having an amazing time too) and surprisingly…the driving. The driving has been so very lovely and picturesque that it’s all been very easy.

Checking out on Day 2. It’s been a blast

Sue & Adam
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For a number of years I’ve been wanting to do the NC500 which is a beautiful and rugged coastal road trip around Scotland. Something always come up or we went somewhere else. Which isn’t a moan, I’ve just always wanted to do this.

I was going to postpone this trip again as I had so much on this year and I’m going to Bali soon. But I’m doing it with my youngest son who would have gone without me and it was important to me to do this with him.

We are doing some bits of the NC500 but not all, Adam will do it over 3 days and I’m staying for 6 days 😍 we are doing our own way and will come back to do the bits we miss.

We drove to Kenmore today which is a very special place in our hearts, it’s where my Dad’s ashes are and we frequently come here to visit him.

We were due to car camp/wild camp, and honestly it’d be like camping in the actual Loch Tay as its all so flooded around here. So we did decided at 5pm to throw caution to the wind and book a hotel. We obviously dropped on as we were told it was fully booked. It is bank Holiday after all.

In my head I asked my Dad to assist…and so, here we are in the hotel 😂😘 thanks Dad. There was also a Robin on the fence as we checked in. Adam laughed…but I’m happy with what I believe 🐦

Tomorrow we travel across scotland to visit Glencoe and then onto the Nc500 route near Inverness and head towards Ullapool. I’m really looking forward to driving the beautiful route I’ve longed to explore for so long. Lots of memories to be made.

Checking out on day 1 of our Scotland road trip –  sleep well 😘

💙

Dad’s resting place 😘😘😘

You’ve come a long way Baby!

On the 5th of July last year. My world fell apart, came crashing down, the trapdoors opened and I was free falling for many, many months. My 12 year relationship was over in a heartbeat, completely out of the blue, no warning, from perfect to none existent overnight. Wtf! I actually didn’t think I’d ever, ever recover, ever. This was my life, my perfect little life, our perfect little life, or so I thought.

My post today isn’t a ‘Feel sorry for me post’ it’s a celebratory, 12 months later ‘You’ve come a long way baby’ post!

For a lot of people, they’ll have noticed me getting up quickly and dusting myself off, climbing back to the top of that mountain physically and emotionally, very quickly. This is what I chose to share with many people. To save any dignity and pride I had left.

But for those closest to me dealing with the devastation, they helped me up, shared my tears, held my hand, the late night chats, the therapists, the friends, the voice notes, them believing in me, them empowering me, they know they saved me, and my sanity and I will always, always be grateful for those people having my back and their unwavering loyalty!

So, 12 months on, I’m now truly that better person, not just appearing that way, to save face, but actually in that place – better, stronger, more resilient, more successful and empowered. Happy! Very happy………

I am that person, and I’m absolutely going to take the credit for the work, the support was from my girlfriends and my kids, the rest was the work I did and I’m really proud of that. Of getting through the toughest time of my life, apart from when my Dad died!

Anyway, thank you for reading my ‘You’ve come a long way baby’ post and if you were one of the people above, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I’m off to celebrate ME and my NEW LIFE today with one of those special people, if I have to do that for every person who helped me, I’ll be gone for quite some time 😊 let’s hit the beach Cathyann ❤️

I’m very, very grateful.

Much Love Always

Sue

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2,000 days since I made the choice to save myself from the dangerous and destructive clutches of alcohol.

I know I look like I’ve likely always had my shit together, this isn’t the case anyway 藍 BUT it certainly wasn’t the case 2,000 days ago.

My life is unrecognisable now compared to what it was and I’m truly grateful for that, every single day.

I’m grateful to everyone who has supported, inspired and stood by my side throughout the 2000 days. And continues to do so, daily….you are my people. Thank you.

If anyone wants to give up but fears losing their friends, loved ones or might feel isolated…come talk to me. I’ll help you see that’s not necessarily the case.

I’m definately one of the lucky ones and I’ll never ever forget that.

2,000 days ‘All shiny and new’
Sue x

This podcast was so very powerful…I’d forgotten how emotional it made me on the day BUT you can certainly hear it in my voice. Especially talking about my Dad.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fVTaTKZr0E73JzQtnjCzl?si=sPcAF2iXTNusVksZgcsUzQ

If it helps to change someone else’s shame, drinking habits or relationship with alcohol. Then recording this podcast was worth it.

Give it a listen 🎧

Let me know what you think 😘

Sue

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It’s been this last year….

This week marks 8 years since my Dad left us, he did leave such a huge gaping hole in our family.

I do wonder if he looks down with pride at his little girl.

His little girl who is becoming stronger more resilient and more powerful by the day. (Maybe not the last few days….but still)

I wonder if he’d have words of wisdom or comfort on the ridiculousness of this last 12 months.

I wonder if he’d use his usual ‘get on with life’ line …thinking he was being inspiring. But really, he didn’t want to hear us moan 🤣

I wonder if he knows how much we miss him?

I wonder if he knows how much I need my Dad ♥️

Love you Dad …gone but not ever forgotten 😘

Still gutted I lost all my Dad pictures when I lost my Facebook last year 😢

5 years clearer, stronger, more resilient, more fun, more active, more determined, a little crazier, living a much, much better life.

5 years of challenges, of inspiring myself and others, including my kids, better friendships, 2 degrees under my belt, 5 years of career progression, 5 years of improving my mental health, 5 years of self care, of raising thousands for charity, of getting out in nature almost daily.

5 years of adventures – with many more planned, 5 years of being just a better person, of peace of mind, for me!

5 years of being alive! and 5 years sober!

Thank you for being here for it all, the inspiration and the support!

Here’s to the next 5 years …because my life is worth it! X

Crikey – don’t think i realised how emotional that would make me……….

Let Them by Cassie Phillips

Just Let them.

If they want to choose something or someone over you, LET THEM.

If they want to go weeks without talking to you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with never seeing you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with always putting themselves first, LET THEM.

If they are showing you who they are and not what you perceived them to be, LET THEM.

If they want to follow the crowd, LET THEM.

If they want to judge or misunderstand you, LET THEM.

If they act like they can live without you, LET THEM.

If they want to walk out of your life and leave, hold the door open, AND LET THEM.

Let them lose you.

You were never theirs because you were always your own.

So let them.

Let them show you who they truly are, not tell you.

Let them prove how worthy they are of your time.

Let them make the necessary steps to be a part of your life.

Let them earn your forgiveness.

Let them call you to talk about ordinary things.

Let them take you out on a Thursday.

Let them talk about anything and everything just because it’s you they are talking to.

Let them have a safe place in you.

Let them see the heart in you that didn’t harden.

Let them love you.

 Author: Cassie Phillips

❤️

Sharing in case this helps someone going through a tough time…’Let them’

X

I found out my degree results today and whilst I did pass, it wasn’t the most amazing result ha. So I wanted to write this as a ‘word to myself’ and digest.  

What was amazing though, and I’ve deliberated this on my journey to work this morning, is what I have done to get here! I didn’t really go to school, didn’t get any proper qualifications until I was over 40. So, to now have 2 degrees, to my name is actually a really huge achievement. PLUS i have a really great job! (See, get a grip Sue)

This last degree was a BA(Hons) Business Management Professional (Executive) In Health & Social Care. Sounds impressive right? Not only that, in that 2 years there were tears, frustrations (I’m not academic at all), late nights, me constantly moaning to family and friends, a pandemic, cyber-attack, working full time and trying to still be human. I also passed English, Math’s and graduated the Mary Seacole Leadership Program within that 2 years too.

Also, in this 2 years I created and ran run clubs, ran a hiking and activity group for 700 people, got hundreds of people out and about and thinking about their wellbeing, all whilst claiming I was thinking about mine – but in truth sometimes this was quite stressful.

I questioned this morning, should I have dropped the community/voluntary/extra curricular stuff and focused solely on the degree and had the results my fellow students had this morning (I’m immensely proud of them) BUT…I’ve decided, I’m proud of me and the ‘balanced’ way I’ve created so many wonderful things in the community AND still have a degree at the end of it. Because of my lack of academic ability I might not have got a higher mark anyway?

Anyway – That was 2 years hard slog and I’ve reached the end and made some great friends along the way. I’m incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity through work to have completed this degree as an apprentice!

So, I’m celebrating all of that today

X

P.S. Thanks for listening whilst I had a word with myself ha x