Confessions of a Clumsy Scot

I’m Glad my Mom Died – Jeanette McCurdy

Aug 31, 2026

By far my favourite book. I read this in 4.5 hours straight which is not like me when I read at all!

I grew up watching Jeanette on TV and really enjoyed her as an actress, but I loved the book so much more because the characters I watched really were nothing like her in real life.
I think it also really gives you an insight to reality, and those stars we see on TV can be portrayed totally differently. Her childhood was taken from her.

Jeanettes mum, stole her childhood from her, and made jeanette live a life her mother wanted. This turned into Jeanette resenting her mum, hence the title of her book.

I think the reality is, she did love her mum but they wanted two very different things in life, and Jeanette never really wanted to be famous, or on TV, or to be a singer, but she continued to do these things because it made her Mum happy.

I’d also like to mention that I remember a few years ago, some allegations came around regarding Dan Schneider (a director and writer of the shows Jeanette starred in such as iCarly and Sam and Cat). Jeanette mentions this in the book but clearly makes a point of not stating any names so I’m intrigued by the timeline of the allegations vs when the book was written. This is irrelevant to the book, it was just a point I found funny as again, I grew up watching these shows, and as much as I enjoyed them, the thought truly makes me sick now as an adult because these girls were just teenagers at the time.

I do also think anyone who doesn’t know who she is could really enjoy this book as like I said before, being a celebrity isn’t always what it’s made out to be and I think Jeanette really showcased this in her words.
I would love if she wrote another book, it’s honestly been one of my favourites to read.
Learning from potatoes

Aug 28, 2026

This year I had so many plans for the garden and honestly most of them fell through, except the potatoes.

I thought I’d give some potatoes a go, I did some research (clearly not enough) and learnt that you can more or less grow them all year round too!

I went to my local garden centre and picked up some grow bags, as I’d previously learnt from our old house mates if you stick them in the ground, you’ll probably never get rid of them, and some seed potatoes. I know one of the were Duke of York seed potatoes but honestly cannot remember the other ones.

My ADHD brain decided then that was it. I threw some compost in the grow bags, and chucked a whole bag of seed potatoes in each and covered them in a layer of compost.

The next few weeks is where I realised I messed up.

I learnt that as they grow you top them up with compost, which was fine and I did that a couple of times over the next few weeks and then came across a video online where someone had put like three seed potatoes in the grow bags for their magnificent harvest. I had obviously over saturated my grow bags with potatoes but then when I went to see if I could at least move some into another container, I was too scared I’d kill them or something like that so I left them.

I decided in July to pull my Duke of Yorks and I honestly couldn’t believe how many potatoes grew in those tiny bags, but in turn it meant I also grew tiny potatoes. So lesson learnt for next year to only put a handful of potatoes in each grow bag, which does mean I can have more containers growing potatoes which means MORE POTATOES!

I pulled the other white potatoes too a couple of weeks ago and they were the same although most were actually bigger than the Duke of Yorks, so maybe had I left them a bit longer they might have gotten bigger. I just assumed as the green was dying off I needed to harvest them!

This is why I started gardening though and growing things. To learn, and learn I did. I cannot wait to have potatoes coming out of my ears next year!
Sourdough Saga

Jul 24, 2026

About a year ago, I was seeing everyone’s sourdough baking on Instagram and Facebook. I love baking myself and my first thought was, ‘How hard can it be?’

Oh I was so very wrong.

Attempt one, after some research, I threw 50g of the first bag of flour I came across in my cupboard into a jar, with 50g of water. I repeated this for five days before very visible mould appeared on top.

Chucked it and started again.

The same thing, with an almost identical timeline happened another three times.

Four attempts, and four weeks later I gave up.

Maybe six months later I thought I’ll give it one last shot, where was the harm. This time I managed 12 days before mould appeared but absolutely no movement in it beforehand so I’d already moreorless given up before the mould appeared anyway.

Decided at that point, sourdough wasn’t for me and continued making my sandwich loaves which I loved but I felt seemed quite heavy and dense.

Fast forward to a month ago, I was searching some ready starters I could buy and wanted a better jar to go with it. So bought the kit which came with a fabulous little spatula, a jar with a crew on lid and a little shower cap, a banneton and various other little pieces. I thought Ill give the starter one more try before I buy one.

The package arrived, I cleaned it, and immediately threw 30g of bread flour and 30g of water into the jar, popped the little shower cap onto it and repeated this for a week.

I did it! She was doubling in size and bubbling away perfectly!

I then had to find a recipe for bread to bake without a Dutch oven! I found one that seemed beginnet friendly and started.

Might I add, I did not realise one loaf took so long before I could bake it which all the stretch and folds and proofing!

I followed my recipe to the gram. But honestly when I took her out of the fridge and shaped her, I didn’t have high hopes. She was very flat and wouldnt hold shape. I keep seeing on a Facebook group though, when in doubt bake it anyway and that I did.

And she actually came out amazing!

Loaf one, of many many more to come!
Depression fuelled productivity

Jul 21, 2026

So I’ve had so many posts lined up to post here but procrastination has got the better of me. I will sit down eventually and get them written up but instead, I had a useless realisation the other day that I thought I’d share.

I weed when I’m depressed.

So I’ve done posts on my garden and you’ll now realise I enjoy spending time in the garden, but there’s jobs I keep putting off. Mainly weeding.

Every night I go outside with Macey to play with her herding ball, and I’ve found myself pulling weeds between the slabs of the patio.

On Saturday, I had an event on all day and came home feeling tired and just burnt out. I was desperate for a shower but needed to wait for the water to heat up.
Popped outside to play with Macey to pass the time and for some reason, started weeding the part of the garden that has just been abandoned for about four years.
I started and I just couldn’t stop myself.

Three hours later, i can see our gravel again and found the kerbing we started relaying that I’ll need to finish.
When will my brain let me do that? Who knows.
The next few weeks are going to be hectic as we have family coming, I have RNLI commitments, covering work, legal stuff and what ever else gets thrown at me but this is an area I’d really like to finish now before summer is out!
Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet – Book Review

Jun 1, 2026

So I found this book on a blog on here, and I highly recommend you check her out if you’re a book person!

https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/8353950

I’ll start by saying it’s a relatively short book but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I spent a lot on time in Benbecula growing up as I have family there. Because of this I think it gave me a really good picture throughout.

Every page I could imagine being there, and hearing different points from characters really made it.

It just seems like a normal family working the croft, making a living and going through life as the norm back in the days that assume was set before the Highland clearances.

From childhood, to the setting and into ‘now.’ The hardships of living in the conditions they did and how they had to just get on with it.

Then describing Angus’ weapons was very spine curling, before going on to show his mindset throughout.

An author that I will certainly be reading more from!

(Also I do apologise for my book review, hopefully I’ll get better with them)
Campbeltown favourite

May 29, 2026

On the back on my post a few weeks ago (two posts back) just sharing some wee spots that we stayed/ate in and this is my second favourite from the trip.

The Ardshiel hotel just up from the old ferry terminal in Campbeltown.

We stayed here for one night, and chose to have dinner in the hotel too.

I’ll start by saying how cosy but upmarket it feels when you first walk in. There is glass walls full on old whiskey.

The reception area was small but considering you don’t spend much time there, I don’t think it matters too much!

To the left there’s a lovely little bar area that leads into the lounge and dining area. A really good selection of drinks including cocktails and mocktails! I had been feeling a bit under the weather so I tried a mocktail (I honestly can’t remember which though) before dinner and it was amazing!

The staff really were so welcoming too. They just seemed like a well gelled family working together! That goes for breakfast staff too!

I had a cosy wee room at the back and I couldn’t fault it in anyway, one of the best nights sleep I’ve had in a long time!

I started with soup, which was just what I needed! Homemade, and so nutritious!

I had a burger for main (my go to). It was amazing! The beef tasted really fresh and none of it lasted long at all!

If I come back to Campbeltown, this will certainly be my first stop!
Dear Mr. Mac

May 25, 2026

The handsome old man

This post is more of a just ramble and get some thoughts out.

It’s been three weeks since we lost Mac.

The most handsome, cuddliest boy that would go anywhere with us.

Mac was sixteen and he lived the most wonderful life. I told myself for the last year or so that when he told us he was ready to go, i would be ready too. I thought I had accepted it and I wanted to do right by him. I really wasn’t ready.
I wept with him in my hands as we said our goodbyes.

The best big brother to little Macey. He really showed her how to live life to the fullest

We were so heartbroken. I let myself get into some dark places in the while that followed. I wouldn’t process it at the time.
It just felt like he’d be here forever. It felt like he had been here forever.

One of Maceys first longer walks, happily following Mac on a new adventure.

The people that he met, the smiles he put on people’s faces and the fears he helped some of us over come will stay with me forever.
He was truly a once in a lifetime dog.

I just know that over rainbow Bridge, he’s found the biggest, muddiest puddle known to man with the sunshine just cracking through to have a nap in.

Always happy having a paddle

We used a relatively local company that hasn’t long started up to cremate him and I honestly couldn’t thank them enough for their kindness and thoughts throughout. I knew Mac was in good hands, and now have him home and as a family can each have a little piece of him, and Mac will venture over to Australia at the end of the year to be with the rest out the family.

I would have loved to hear Macs thoughts or have had a conversation with him one day, I know that boy has seen and heard some fantastic stories. He reminded me of that old guy in the pub that’s seen everything, met everyone and has endless stories to tell.

Until we meet again, Mr Mac.

Ball daft as a baby
Eats around the country!

Apr 22, 2026

Sorry for being away! Life has been hectic for the last few weeks and the blog and my socials have been put on the back burner, but I’ve been doing a little bit of traveling in the last week and visited places that are not on the tourist map so I thought I’d share some highlights!

To start with, Food!

On Wednesday of last week, we stopped over in Arklow, Ireland. After a long day of sailing (Almost 14 hours from lands end up to Ireland) we were after some decent food and this lovely little place was recommended to us by a couple of people!

This is Asian Harvest Restaurant!

We were hesitant about what we were going to eat since we were back out on the boat on Thursday but we thought why not give it a go and I am so pleased we did.

We were met by a lovely lady, who I assumed was the owner and she could not have been more helpful!

I’m not picky, but I can be nervous of trying new food but I went with deep fried shredded chilli chicken and the portion was unbelievable! (I finished everything on my plate too).

The chicken was just perfect and the veggies throughout were sweet and crunchy. She gave us chips, noodles and rice as well as copious amounts of prawn crackers for the table too. Between us there was a big mix of different foods, from king prawns to chicken fried rice, every single ounce of food was gone by the end.

The price of it all was incredible too for the amount of food we got, as well as the boys having a beer each too.

If I’m ever back in Arklow, this will be my first stop!

*Images in this blog are not my own, credit goes to tripadvisor*

(I was far too hungry for photos!)
Being Cold is my own demise

Feb 28, 2026

So we can all get affected by seasonal depression but for the most part, I actually don’t mind winter. I adore snow! I act like a toddler in a sledge whenever it snows and I refuse to admit I’m cold.

We are now approaching the spring and as much as I’m still hoping for a dusting of snow, I’m really looking forward to the temperature rising just a few degrees.

Here’s the thing. I hate jackets.

I very rarely wear a jacket, only if its absolutely chucking it down with rain. And then the conversation usually goes, ‘I’m cold,’ ‘Well Put a jacket on!’ But it’s not my core that’s cold, its my hands! A jacket won’t warm my hands.

I’ve definitely felt the cold this past winter more. Maybe its part of getting a little older but the circulation in my hands has been awful and they’re just always cold.

But I can’t just warm up when I go home.

I actually don’t have heating at home.

Well I have an oil boiler, but I just don’t have oil. And haven’t done for almost two years now and truthfully I don’t miss it. We ran out and at the time it was the middle of summer and we just decided to not spend the money at the time to get more and we realised how little we use the heating because we just never topped it up.

I love having the stove. In an ideal world it could be bigger but it’s ideal for heating the lounge. It’s where we spend most of our time anyway, the kitchen has the back door open most of the time for the dogs to come and go and we had the radiator off in the bedroom because who likes a hot bedroom anyway?

Even when I’ve been out on the boat, Ill come home and change out of wet clothes and immediately light the stove. I’ll sit with my book in front of it and it feels so much nicer to warm up that way too!

I do have a dyson air purifier which also works as a heater so if its particularly cold, Ill leave that on low for a few hours to heat the rest of the house up but also since we’ve started mainly using the stove, we’ve both had an improved immune system as well as surprisingly saving money. I only really buy coal to keep it going. I get loads of wood from jobs I do and my granny has a whole shed full of peat which Ill take a bag of from time to time, but next year I plan to go and cut my own!
Simple Passion

Feb 26, 2026

Who are your favorite people to be around?

My favourite people to be around? Without a doubt those that care so deeply. I couldn’t care less about the topic.

Whether its a hobby, or a belief or a job, I love nothing more than listening to someone tell me all about their passion.

Never ever apologise for caring so deeply about something because listening to people is one of my favourite things. And the more you ramble the more I know you love it.

Happiness is contagious. Spread that far and wide.

Found a cool stone that you want to tell me about? Or did you go to space? Happiness is equal and beautiful. And I will listen to you talk about your happiness for hours.