[Video] Happy New Year from my ME flareup

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• Silent Valley • I’ve been wanting to do this walk for a very long time. Slept for several hours after and will take days to recover, but worth it. • • • • #silentvalley #silentvalleyreservoir #kilkeel #northernireland #norniron #ireland #discoverireland #ehlersdanlossyndrome #winterwalks #winterinireland #newyears #christmas #yule

A post shared by ☾Kitty Colbert☽ (@kittypotpie85) on Dec 30, 2018 at 1:52pm PST

If you follow me on Instagram then you'll know I was quite proud to visit a site recently that has been on a list of things I wanted to complete -The Silent Valley Reservoir/ Mountain Park. We walked for nearly an hour and I used only my cane. I had stories up throughout the trip on social media and took some pretty nice snaps with my DSLR.

It was tough, very tough, I could barely bend afterwards to get back into the car. But extremely glad I achieved what I wanted to; feeling quite proud.

Here's some photos of the day and a video of the aftermath, because it's really only fair to show both sides -I could make everything look pretty and shiny in my life through social media but we all know that's a load of bollox. I do myself and my conditions no justice by not representing the truth. On top of that it's harmful to any young, impressionable zebra out there (or anyone with chronic conditions) who feel like a failure for not living up to what many portray online. 

New years day

New years day walk // Stephenstown pond

🌞Sunset ~ Venus ~ Moonrise🌙

#LWIBloggies2016: Circus theme inspiration boards

In light of the blog awards being circus themed, I've went all girly and created some inspiration boards -styles I love, loosely based around the more vintage, creepy take on the circus. Perhaps even more reminiscent of a freak show than traditional circus. I plan to dress comfortably myself, as I can't wear heals unfortunately and I might not bring the wheelchair -so as much comfort as possible will be my main agenda. I have a few ideas in mind, a dress ordered online that I hope will arrive on time, but other than that I'm keeping my lips sealed. Although I promise you, it really is nothing too elaborate!

I know the night in general is meant to be "casual formal" dress but less face it -all you ladies are going to dress up to some extent! And sure why not? And just today they have released that fun dress up within the circus theme is indeed encouraged.

So fellow bloggers, what are you considering wearing on the night? (Guys too!). Will you incorporate the circus theme in little, subtle tones or go full steam ahead to be the belle of the tent? Or maybe you just aren't feeling it and want to steer clear of the concept entirely (fancy dress isn't your thing, or you're going super casual, or you've had an outfit already planned for ages perhaps?). Would love to know what everyone's thoughts are, so leave a comment 😃

If you haven't had a chance to consider an outfit yet, and looking for some circus-y inspiration, I hope these help.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ 🎪 ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

How my rescue dogs rescued me

Those who know me will know that I am the proud mama to three fur-babies -My dogs Emily and Louis, and my old cat Tubby (aka Tubbz/ Sir Tubbsalot).

Tubby doing a big, sleepy stretch.

I inherited Tubbz many moons ago through a housemate -A cranky, greedy little princess (the cat, not the housemate lol, I'm still close friends with her!) whose only desire is to wake me up at 5am screaming for food, and the odd cuddle under the duvet but only to steal my heat. A creature once referred to as "special needs" by a vet (he really is pretty dumb for a cat) he has only became worse with age (I think now he's slightly senile?) and resides in my bedroom, unable to leave the house as he can't coordinate with the world outside -and in general unwilling to even leave the bedroom, as that's where all his favourite  things are (our bed/ what he probably considers his bed, his cat bed on the large windowsill which overlooks the front garden aka his TV viewing on the world, his cat climber and of course, his beloved food bowls). Seven years after meeting his step dad Bicky, we can tell he still sees him as a visitor. The "second human" who feeds him, the "tall one who moves around a lot in bed and generally annoys him". I love him anyway, however. For all his poos that miss the tray, for all the crying in the night and morning (literally, like a screaming baby), for all his eating his food too quickly and vomiting immediately (usually on my freshly changed bed sheets), I do love him. 

Looking cute and innocent -I swear, he's actually a massive prick.

We've always wanted dogs -especially "the tall one" who I honestly believe is part dog. When we were moving to the countryside one of our main objectives was to find a house that at least had a small, enclosed garden. A safe place for a small dog (we were realistic -we knew that we would only have the energy and time for a smaller breed) to use the bathroom, so to speak. Obviously sleeping indoors would be something very important to us for the dog's comfort and well being. However, we felt it only fair that Tubby, now an elderly cat, have his comfort of the bedroom -he was around first and now that he's a full-time house cat, it would only be right. 

So it's 2012, we eventually find a place to rent in the countryside but also not too far from the town. A place that has a garden and allows pets. We're only in the house a couple of days and still unpacking, and so our minds are far from adopting a dog just yet. I find myself however, casually scrolling through Facebook, looking at the wee cuties on our local rescue's Facebook page, Dundalk Dog Rescue. Something I would often do, who doesn't like looking at pictures of dogs? And of course I would share pics too, help the pooches get some attention and maybe attract a new owner. When out of no where I come across a picture of a small, scruffy, square-headed yorkie. The description says they have called him Percy. I show him to Bicky and we coo and aww over the image. When I click next up pops a photo of a honey blonde, wiry terrier, a big silly tongue hanging out of her happy head. The description tells us that they have named her Saffy and that her and Percy are little friends.

The first ever photos of Emily and Louis from Dundalk Dog Rescue's Facebook page
-Formerly Saffy and Percy. 

Hopping on #Instagram

Well, well, well, I have yet again mounted the social media pony and went and got myself an Instagram. I never bothered before -I have Facebook (both profile and pages) and a Twitter account, surely that is enough cloud space for photos? But realising that everyone has one these days, particularly bloggers, I hopped right on. And it's slightly addictive... My ego, nosiness and social conditioning love it, while my insecurities and female brain tell me it's dumb, I'm a fraud and it's waste of precious time/ life. Kinda like watching Pretty Little Liars (which I did recently... Sooo many issues with it, fuckin' hell. Like the writers just made the story up as they went along, yeah? The midway/ summer ending of season 6? Oh what monkey cock, kill me now, and all of the characters. I think by the end of it *I* was actually A. It's still quite addictive for some reason though... another rant for another day). So, anyway, the reasonable human in me tells me to shut up, stop over thinking and I post pretty-ish pictures of mundane things I like, do, see... I think you probably know the complex workings of Instagram yourselves. Join me there, lets self loathe together.

So for various animal pics, mini adventures and probably some playing with my toys/ building forts, join me here:

Cripple Baby on Instagram

In case you've missed previous posts and info, you can add/ follow/ like me on my other social media outlets here:

@CardiganJezebel February photo challenge // Days 6 & 7

As previously posted, I'm taking part in a February photo challenge created by fellow blogger @CardiganJezebel

The rules are simple for anyone else wishing to take part -photo a day, posted on Twitter or Instagram, with the # tag and of course, her name tag.

Here's the themes and the tags, again:

See days 5-6