IN REARVIEW // April 2016

Donmouth nature reserve - spring sunset daffodils

Is it just me or did April go by so quickly?! I can't speak for anyone else, but it's been a bit of a blink-and-you've-missed-it kind of month for me.

It was my first full month living as 'The Lodger' and it's been such a relief to be back in civilisation Aberdeen!

Looking back through my diary and photos, I seem to have made the most of it by visiting numerous food and drink establishments around the city. There were lunch dates at Yo! Sushi (I think I'm becoming a bit of an addict) and Sweet Mumma's Kitchen; tea and cake at Cup; fresh, delicious vegan tacos of an evening at FoodStory; and scrummmy ice-creams at Cognito and the newly-opened Shake N S'cream.

Aberdeen esplanade
Cup Aberdeen - tea cake trend magazine

With all that indulgence, it's probably just as well that I got back into running this month too. I wanted to build myself back up to running 10km and I managed that successfully, even getting one PB and then beating it with another one.

I'm never going to be a fast runner, but I'd really love to cover more distance instead. I've set myself the goal of building up to half marathon length, this month conquering 15km along the esplanade and signing up to Pure Gym to work on strengthening my core and legs. I never imagined I could be comfortable in a gym, but it's been hugely cathartic for me in the short time I've been going and I even enjoyed a couple of classes focussed on Legs, Bums and Tums and Yoga.    

Chocolate brownie pizza

Elsewhere this month I spent a bit of time doggy-sitting, both in Aberdeen and back at my parents', and enjoyed the brief spells of spring weather with country walks and Geocache-hunts.

My dad came home from offshore and though we'd celebrated his birthday at CUE prior to his departure, I decided to mark it again with a monster of a "chocolate brownie pizza" (see above),  which was great fun to make and even better fun to taste! 

I got to spend a day in St Andrews with my lovely friend Eve, where the weather once again conspired against us, but we had fun eating lunch at Balgove Larder, munching on ice-cream and sorbets at Luvians, and then braving the windy West Sands to grab a couple more 'caches. 

The lovely Granite City Girl (Hannah) hosted a wee #Abzmeet session in her home one evening, generously pampering us all with donuts and facials and showcasing her make-up skills.

At church we had a brilliant Sunday at our little site where we hired out the local swimming pool and baptised three of our gang; while the last Sunday of the month saw all our sites gather together under one roof (in the cinema!), commission some leaders as they step into brave new things, and hear some powerful words about the spirit of adoption from our guest speaker, Krish Kandiah.    

These were all good things. 

But the month was also full of some pretty difficult things. An assessment that I'd been dreading for months, which brought about a diagnosis I just can't sit with. A brief overnight stay in the hospital. An ambulance ride or two. And another hospital admission, which I'm really struggling with.   

Unfortunately, that's where my month ends. Things are pretty dark and more than a little bit tough.. and I have no idea whatsoever what May might bring.

Just chillin' - golden retriever
Be my friend! Happy German Shephard

xo

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  1. Month reviews are my favourite kind of posts! Wow, that chocolate pizza looks TO DIE FOR. I must make one! (and eat it!!) - it sounds like you had a lovely month. I'm sorry to hear how it ended and I hope things look up for you in May xx

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