Parks and Naps

-

We had a lovely sunny day yesterday and as I'd been feeling a bit sorry for myself, hubby suggested we go to a park to walk the dog together rather than our usual solitary round the streets walk.
He usually walks the dog in the morning and me in the evening.  There are two relatively new parks in our area and although we've been to one of them quite often now, we had never tried the other one.  It was lovely and is only 5 minutes by car from our house.   We really enjoyed it.  It used to be a council run golf course and it wasn't being used very much so it was closed a few years ago and transformed into a large country park.   We parked the car in the small car park and took the dog a long walk in the sunshine.  It looked stunning but was about 2 degrees in the windchill.  The dog loved it and we met quite a few people we know from walking the dog in our area. Clearly this is where they all go now!  It was lovely to be out in a place we've not been to before.  The views across Glasgow are great, especially on a lovely clear day such as it was.  It was almost like a day trip!  Well, an hour trip!!  I felt quite refreshed when we got home but only just managed to not have a nap in the afternoon!  I often feel a nap coming on about 3pm.  It's that after lunch slump and unless I'm busy I fall fast asleep for 20 minutes.  Strangely, I've now trained myself to waken after 20 minutes without the need for an alarm, it usually works unless I'm really very tired.  I read many years ago that to get the benefit of a daytime nap you must not sleep more than 20 minutes.  It's all to do with light sleep and deep sleep.  If you go into a deep sleep (which happens after 20 minutes) and an alarm wakens you from it, you feel sluggish and horrible however if you waken from a light sleep, up to 20 minutes from closing your eyes, you waken feeling refreshed.  


I set my phone alarm for 22 minutes (just in case!)  The extra 2 minutes to shut my eyes and relax.   However, although it's great to feel energised, I find I then want to go to bed later but I still seem to waken at 6.45, no matter when I go to bed, then I'm tired mid afternoon and before I know it I need a nap every day!  So I'm trying to not create that as a habit.  Occasionally is fine but I'm not quite ready for that yet! 

As this is a new park created from an old golf course the standing stones at the top of the hill are decorative and not historical but they look good!

Comments

  1. Treaders13 April 2021 at 14:51

    If you're a bit down just the act of getting outside does you the world of good doesn't it. And I know what you mean about naps. When I was working I would take a siesta at the weekends. They would last a couple of hours and I would wake up cranky. Now, if I ever want a nap, I lie down on my sofa where it's lighter, sleep about 20 minutes and wake up feeling good so I guess your theory is right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marksgran13 April 2021 at 17:55

      It does feel good to get out, particularly into nature. Although the photos look like it was all very open there were parts that were a bit wilder which I enjoyed. Yes, I discovered the best way to nap is not to get too comfy! If I lie in bed I find it very hard to keep to the 20 minutes, I tend to nap on the sofa too.

      Delete
  2. jj13 April 2021 at 15:17

    Gorgeous views!! I need to get to walking too, but I am so lazy. Hopefully as the weather warms up, I feel more encouraged. 2 degrees and I just say no thanks. And I love a good nap too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marksgran13 April 2021 at 17:58

      I wouldn't have been out either if it wasn't for the dog needing out! Having a dog forces you out whatever the weather! On a sunny day though it's nice to get to a park with him, just for a change of scenery if nothing else! A nap can make all the difference can't it! x

      Delete
  3. Caree Risover14 April 2021 at 23:11

    What a wonderful idea to change a golf course into a country park

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marksgran15 April 2021 at 10:04

      Yes, isn't it. We were very surprised they didn't take it over for housing as seems to be the usual way of things these days. x

      Delete
  4. Scarlet16 April 2021 at 19:38

    Gorgeous blue sky! Such a good idea to turn it into a facility that will be enjoyed by more people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marksgran16 April 2021 at 20:38

      I agree although I was quite surprised to be honest as it borders onto a large natural area that is already a national park, however this one is much more easily accessed by the neighbourhood and is clearly well used. We've had lovely blue skies this week. It really does cheer you up! x

      Delete
  5. Christie Hawkes18 April 2021 at 18:22

    Getting out in nature and physically moving are both great prescriptions for lifting one's mood. I also find going somewhere new like you did is an added bonus. I found your blog through a comment you left on Caree's A Retirement Blog. Nice to "meet" you!

    ~Christie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marksgran19 April 2021 at 14:28

      Hi Christie, nice to meet you too! I've found myself hankering for either green space or blue space (ie the sea) however I've hesitated to venture too far yet as I think everyone is feeling much the same and I don't want to end up spending a day in a traffic jam! I have a lovely garden and nearby parks and I'll continue to enjoy them in the meantime, but you're right finding somewhere new is a big bonus. x

      Delete

Post a Comment

I'd love to receive your comments, but please keep it clean and polite. Thankyou.

Popular posts from this blog

I Didn't Want to Just Disappear!

-
I hate it when bloggers just disappear!  I'm aware I am guilty of this so I'm here to say thanks for listening to my tales and for all the lovely comments but I no longer feel the need to let the world know my comings and goings.  To be honest I've even stopped reading most blogs now too hence the lack of comments from me.  I've taken more to watching You Tube if and when I have time.  In summer I always spend less time on the computer as I have too much to do in the garden etc  but I don't foresee myself coming back to blogging this time.  I've come and gone too often now and although we should never say never, I think this is it. We've been to Australia to visit with my son, his partner and their dog and we had a wonderful time.  Now, 3 weeks since we came home, it feels like it never even happened! I'll probably lurk around some blogs from time to time.  I hope you all keep well and stay safe. Bye for now. xx
Read more

LIfe Goes On.

-
Image
And so it continues - Covid has made its way to my family now.  My daughter has tested positive today.  Of course, sods law, she was the one who dropped her dog at our house this morning.  Normally her husband does it but she said the dog wasn't going to let her leave the house without him so she left early enough to drop him off with us.  Fortunately she's wasn't in for long and kept fairly distant from us but still...   She tested herself when she went home at lunchtime to check on her daughter who has tonsilitis.  At work she'd felt a bit ropey and thought a test would probably come up negative however that's her grounded now for the duration and I only hope she gets a mild version of it and that no-one else gets it from her!  Her hubby picked the dog up early this afternoon wearing a mask while waiting outside.  I daresay it will be this way for a week or so now. We have made the bold decision to go to Sydney to visit our son!  We ca...
Read more

Plastered

-
Image
 Well, we're plastered!  It's looking good.  As I sit here typing this hubby is at my door vaccuming some of the dust.  He's been going round smoothing off the bits that stuck where they weren't supposed to be and I've just watched him lol.  I feel I've hit a bit of a brick wall today.  I think we were so busy preparing for this and today is the first day I've really stopped and it's hit me and I feel exhausted!  I think hubby must run on Duracell batteries - clearly my batteries are cheap and nasty ones! While the plasterer was here we were 'trapped' outside the dining room which is effectively the middle of the house.  We call it the dining room but its the main room in the house - almost like a dining kitchen would be as the kitchen is off the dining room and the living room is off the dining room but we use the dining room most of the time, its where everyone congregates so it was awkward not having it in use.  Fortunately we can get out ...
Read more