Relaxation

Sometimes relaxation is relaxing. Other times relaxation is just relaxing. For everyone the difference may be subtle, but there is a difference. For me relaxing is a yin yoga class. Or a good book and a glass of wine in the garden. Time out from a madly busy week. It can even be a wild weekend with friends in Edinburgh; non stop busyness; just not work busyness. But then there are times when it is a little different. It may be a skiing holiday, or the beach in Koh Samui. It is also, for me, likely to be time well spent at a friends place in the countryside. The peacefulness, the quiet, the laughter, the drinks, and of course the Scottish banter.

Its very personal

When I think about what I find relaxing it usually involves yoga. But that is a central part of my life in Edinburgh and so it isn’t the ‘take me away from it all’ kind of relaxing. So a drive (or a plane if I am feeling a bit flush), to a place I know I am welcome in is an immediate calmer in life. It is a personal thing and everyone is different, but I feel just as relaxed heading off to the West coast of Scotland to friends as I do to the top most part of Scotland…as I also do to Thailand. Common denominator? Friends and time away the day to day normality.

Time away

This time it was West. Second time this year and planned as a result of enjoying friends’ company and a good mate hosting us the last time. I am also very lucky in that said mate has a gorgeous place in the midst of nowhere on the West Coast. Cows, swallows, butterflies (current Scottish 1 in 10 year phenomenon of bloody millions of them), dogs, cats and general country animals all add to the feeling of getting away for the weekend. Clearly wine was involved as was good weather (thank you Scotland I promise I will stop moaning about the heat) and good food.

Bliss. Just like a good shavasana at the end of a serene yoga class, getting away from the city and spending time with friends is good for the soul. No expectations. No demands. This meant that I had time to read my book, time to watch a movie (I fell asleep), time to have a walk on the beach, time to soak up the local culture (gala days and fairs), time to enjoy a coffee, soak up the sun and time to just be at a slower pace.

Affect / Effect

Whichever way you look at it, from a health or emotional perspective, time away from the hum drum of normality is good for you. Sitting back at home feeling a little knackered from the drive back to Edinburgh I am still feeling relaxed. I have a few pages left of the bloody brilliant book I am reading (‘A Fire Sparkling’ by Julianne MacLean). I am going to finish it tonight to end the long weekend and to keep the relaxation feeling going a little longer.

Tomorrow I will get ready to be busy again. A different type of relaxation on my fortnight leave from work. I will quicken the pace, get back in the Edinburgh zone and get ready to enjoy the Edinburgh festival. The fringe is an amazing time in Edinburgh and I plan to do loads. Just not tonight. I am still enjoying the effects of my relaxation with friends in the West Coast. Tomorrow will have a different effect and a different affect. A different style of relaxation.

A wonderful weekend to the West coast of Scotland

The West coast of Scotland is impressive. As an East coaster its somewhere I rarely visit but always mean to see more of. It is full of windy roads which isn’t great for a lover of motorways (me). But these windy roads lead to fantastic views of the sea, to gorgeous beaches, to the blossom covered lanes and to a few (possibly more than a few) bottles of bubbly with good friends.

Like most badly prepared travellers I rely on few details, the weather app and map on my mobile, to inform me of what to expect. So on Friday afternoon the postcode supplied was typed into the phone and off I went. By the time I got off the motorway (was in Glasgow when I left) I was pretty relaxed and happy to take my time on the roads; not even fussed when the tractors appeared to slow me down even more so than my consistent ‘granny’ speed.

Scotland’s West coast: Dumfries and Galloway

It is quite near to England. Carlisle is only a stones throw away but it definitely looks like Scotland. Not the stunning hills and lochs of the highlands but it is warmer as the weather benefits from the Gulf Stream on that side of the country. So on a sunny Friday evening driving past Dumfries and Castle Douglas I definitely felt like it was a holiday weekend. The place – not too far from Kirckcubright. The directions – well I didn’t get lost. The arrival – to a glass of bubbly on a patio overlooking green fields, woodland and a few cows meandering to their way with their calfs to some water. The evening – full of laughter, catching up and a little too much bubbly. The night – noises of the country. I don’t often hear a bull and cows mooing in Edinburgh. It was ok though…this meant I didn’t hear anyone snoring.

On Saturday we headed out for a walk and then to a local cafe for brunch which thankfully perked everyone up and then we headed out to a local beach. It is great place for meandering with inland walks and beaches that are hidden and pretty untouched. Beaches and the sea that have inspired artists and writers in the past and present. Robert Burns spent a lot of time in this part of the country (settling in Dumfries) and there are lots more examples. There are lots of quirky historical tales about smugglers, violence (the murder at the lighthouse) and troublesome antics of the locals. I had a look online when I got back home and found a couple of books which would be worth a read (Tales of Galloway; and Dumfries & Galloway Folk Tales) on the Kindle.

There are lots of walkers and cyclists and I can see why. The area has lots to see. The holiday lets overlooking the sea look fantastic but I am lucky enough to have a good friend in the area so I’m sure I will be back soon. It was a very relaxed break from the city with friends.