Recent walks & festive vibes

Post-wedding I felt I was clinging on to 2016 with my fingernails, so reluctant to let the year end. Feeling unprepared for 2017, and wishing I could go back and do all the wedding - planning and everything - again.

Thankfully I seemed to have turned a corner, and am now on a more positive - and currently festive - path. Being thankful for everything that 2016 was, but excited for everything 2017 could be.

However! This is not my yearly round up yet, that will come in early January. But time has run away with me as always, I haven't blogged in December, yet there have been some fantastic walks. This will probably be my last post before the end of 2016, so I thought I better sneak it in there before the Christmas festivities really begin.

The month started with fizz and wine, as we celebrated a month of no-booze with...plenty of booze. We wanted to be sure that we'd earned it though, so we completed our favourite 6-mile loop walk round Dryburgh/St Boswells/the Tweed - the walk we did part of on our wedding day, and will continue to enjoy time and time again.

 

A week later we went slightly further afield (although not much) and went up to the Three Brethren, near Selkirk. This is a walk I've had my eye on for ages (I'd printed the 'instructions' months ago) but it took until a December Sunday to get round to it.

It was a glorious walk, Dave and I enjoyed traipsing about in the heather, the gradual climb, and the views from the top. Tig was delighted to be out and about, and ran around like a dafty the whole time. The descent was slightly longer than I thought it would be, as we wanted to do a circular route, and the legs struggled with short inclines on the way back. But it was a lovely afternoon with plenty of good, fresh air.

 

 

 

The Three Brethren plus Tig & Dave!

 

 

Views to the Eildon Hills on the descent

Looking towards Selkirk

There's a local walk near Stow that we have done a couple of times, following the Lugate burn up to Ewes Castle (very much a ruin) then up and over the fields and back to Stow. It takes us a couple of hours, with enough hills to make us feel like we've done a 'proper' walk. It's a great walk to relieve any stress or tension.

And Tig is absolutely in her element. She runs at least twice the distance as us, and sleeps for ages when we get home.

 

 

 

 

 

Almost home! Stow

 

There's also a wee woods that we have named 'Helen's Woods'. It's such a bonny spot, and Dave and I can sit and contemplate life and its rich tapestry in peace there.

Looking towards Helen's Woods

All in all, a fab walk, and I've done it 3 times in December! It's also great at the moment because there are no cows in the fields, and I can relax knowing I won't be chased by a bovine beast.

I've also spent a fair chunk of the month at Dryburgh Abbey, another peaceful and restorative place, and this has allowed me to be a bit kinder to myself regarding the doubts and regrets I've had post-wedding (just read that back and it doesn't sound good - thankfully I don't regret the choice of husband! I'm just a terrible over-thinker who fixates on the details - mostly the negative ones - and heads off in a downward spiral, not seeing the woods for the trees).

 

 

It's great to feel a bit more positive about things now, and start looking forward rather than looking back. This is a time to enjoy being with family (terrible jokes and brussel sprouts aside) and cherish what we have. My thoughts recently have been very much with my cousin, and I'm sure he is still marching up hills and tripping over beside me.

Merry Christmas to you all!

AA x