Mental Health – Some Very Scottish Adventures

Learning to stop always running from the places where bad things happen

When I visited my Dad in Ireland two weeks ago it was the first time I had been there since January 2020. Although only two and a half years ago, it feels like a lifetime ago. I vividly remember wandering around Dublin’s many city centre streets for the first time. I remember being fascinated byContinue reading “Learning to stop always running from the places where bad things happen”

Embracing my Inner Aberdonian

“Ye hiv tae ken faar tae look. Ye need tae ken a the different places tae actually see the good characteristics o Aiberdeen.” This was Leah’s wonderfully positive reply to a pretty negative question which I had tasked her with. It had come towards the end of a practice interview as part of my placementContinue reading “Embracing my Inner Aberdonian”

Pounding Aberdeen’s Pavements with Purpose

Bringing in the distant bells of 2021 atop Creag Choinnich, I felt truly hopeful. I didn’t know what the start of this year would bring, but I did have one definite purpose: To cycle, run and walk 300 miles between New Year’s Day and the 6th February. It had all started with a message intoContinue reading “Pounding Aberdeen’s Pavements with Purpose”

Running is Badass. Period.

While flicking through an issue of Runners World recently I came across images of toned athletic specimens in perfect fitting gear. Beside the images of barely sweating bodies are finely tuned weight loss regimes, 10K training plans and endless lists of foods to avoid. Although I often envy the kitted out gentlemen in these publicationsContinue reading “Running is Badass. Period.”

A Crash Related Ramble

Never do I feel so confident as when I’m going great guns on a bike or tearing down a technical hill side like an ungraceful mountain goat, just about managing to keep my balance. Those moments are blissfully rare insights into a fantasy life which could resemble total self-belief while anxiety remains absent. Reality doesContinue reading “A Crash Related Ramble”

Like Riding Through Treacle

It’s always difficult to get out of bed when you can actually hear the rain and wind battering your bedroom windows. Friday morning was no exception to this rule. Awaking early for my planned ride I thought, ‘it’s June, it can’t be that cold outside.’ Spoiler alert: it was pretty cold. Not only was itContinue reading “Like Riding Through Treacle”

Man Up – Re-post

I originally posted this on the 15th May during Mental Health Awareness week. I thought I would re-write in for World Mental Health Day which was on the 10th October. Reading the previous post I thought my writing could have been more concise and less sweary, so I decided to implement these changes. It wasContinue reading “Man Up – Re-post”

Daydreaming

Is daydreaming good, bad for you or a little bit of both? This is a question I have been pondering over recently, often when I’m actually daydreaming. Yes, some parts of my life are seemingly similar to the 2010 film “Inception”, though perhaps a little less complex and thrilling. Which is a relief because I’veContinue reading “Daydreaming”