Skip to content
Just Frances

Just Frances

Made with 100% pure awesomeness

Menu
  • About
    • Meet Frances
    • Copyright
    • The Small Print
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 2022 Goals
      • Rebel Badge Tracker
  • Browse by topic
    • Everyday Life
    • Academic Life
    • Widow Life
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crafting & Creating
    • Culinary Arts
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Health & Wellness
    • Musings & Ramblings
    • Travels, Adventures & Explorations
  • Gallery
    • Main galleries
    • Random photo dumps
    • Race photos
    • Just swirls
    • We forgot the tripod
  • Contact Just Frances

Category: Musings & Ramblings

Posts under this category tend to be reflective and at times a form of my own “talk therapy” as the act of writing down my thoughts and feelings can sometimes help me to work through them. I try not to be political or controversial in what I write, so you won’t find many of my “world views” shared here. (But in this COVID-pandemic world, I urge my fellow humans to wear a mask, social distance, and get the blood vaccine when it’s offered to you!)

Posted on21 May 2022Chronic Illness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Remembering red flags: Happy 17th anniversary, to me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Remembering red flags: Happy 17th anniversary, to me

Today marks 17 years since I became Mrs Ryan. And despite the absence of Mr Ryan, I like to mark this day as it was…

Keep reading
Posted on8 May 202217 June 2022Musings & Ramblings

Everybody’s mother

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Everybody’s mother

A few days ago, I shared a post about my mother and what she meant (means) to me. But she wasn’t just my mother, she…

Keep reading
Posted on26 April 202216 June 2022Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

13 years of missing Paul; of missing me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 13 years of missing Paul; of missing me

It’s now been 13 years since my beloved husband, Paul, died suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s a strange feeling, being this far from the immediate grief…

Keep reading
Posted on21 February 202228 February 2022Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Blessings at 48

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Blessings at 48

Today, I am 48 years old. And today hurts. Not because I’m 48, but rather because I am now officially older than my late husband.…

Keep reading
Posted on7 February 202227 February 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Home and heartbroken

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Home and heartbroken

I arrived home in Scotland yesterday, a month later than my initial plan. Home, and heartbroken… My holiday was meant to be a wonderfully happy…

Keep reading
Posted on2 February 20223 February 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Barbara Ann (Eberle) Cook

by Just Frances4 Comments on Barbara Ann (Eberle) Cook

My mother died on Monday, 24 January 2022 and I have missed her since her last breath left her body. I will miss her forever,…

Keep reading
Posted on11 January 202220 February 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

To move a mountain

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on To move a mountain

Winter in The Homeland means snow. Some years, it means more snow than others. And this year is one of the “more snow” years. Indeed,…

Keep reading
Posted on1 January 20223 February 2022Chronic Illness, Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

2022: Life, the Universe, and Everything

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2022: Life, the Universe, and Everything

It’s another new year, and I feel it’s going to be a chaotic one. Which is more reason for me to set some goals and…

Keep reading
Posted on31 December 202129 January 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

A joyful review of 2021

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A joyful review of 2021

OK, 2021: It’s time to say goodbye! I don’t know how best to summarise this year because it was filled with so many highs and…

Keep reading
Posted on31 December 20212 February 2022Academic Life, Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Goals 2021: Reviewing and recapping

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2021: Reviewing and recapping

As always, I had some pretty bold ambitions for 2021. And, as always, I had to let go of some of my goals along the…

Keep reading
Posted on12 December 202122 December 2021Musings & Ramblings

RIP, my 5-mile tree

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on RIP, my 5-mile tree

I lost a dear friend two weeks ago to Storm Arwen. Not a “human” friend, but rather a tree friend. My lovely, encouraging, and inspirational…

Keep reading
Posted on1 November 202112 November 2021Academic Life, Musings & Ramblings

The visa anxiety cycle

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The visa anxiety cycle

It’s been a month since I shared that the start of my job was delayed for a few days as I was still waiting on…

Keep reading
Posted on20 September 20219 May 2022Chronic Illness, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

ITP Awareness Week: ITP in a COVID19 world

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on ITP Awareness Week: ITP in a COVID19 world

Today is the start of Global ITP Awareness Week, an international event that takes place during the USA’s National ITP Awareness Month. And so, as…

Keep reading
Posted on18 September 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

20 years of Scotland

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 20 years of Scotland

Today marks 20 years since I first arrived in Scotland for “just one year” as a study abroad student. At the time, I never expected…

Keep reading
Posted on5 September 202113 September 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Running with nature

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Running with nature

A few years ago, I shared my thoughts on (and reasons for) running with music. Despite previously being a “no music” runner, widowhood meant that…

Keep reading
Posted on22 July 202121 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Older by a day: 47+

by Just Frances4 Comments on Older by a day: 47+

Today is not my birthday. But it does mark the day that I am older. Oh, sure, every day is a day that we are…

Keep reading
Posted on14 July 202127 November 2021Academic Life, Musings & Ramblings

The chaos of static change

by Just Frances2 Comments on The chaos of static change

Life has changed so much in the last 16 months, but life has also been very static. Yes, everything has changed, and nothing has changed,…

Keep reading
Posted on1 June 20212 July 2021Chronic Illness, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Re-joining society: The practical steps

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Re-joining society: The practical steps

Now that I am fully vaccinated and the COVID19 situation in Scotland seems to be improving, I am beginning to take baby steps back into…

Keep reading
Posted on10 May 20212 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Mental Health Awareness Week: Nature as therapy

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Mental Health Awareness Week: Nature as therapy

Welcome to Mental Health Awareness Week! This year’s theme is “Nature as Therapy” and is a theme I can really get behind. I mean, I…

Keep reading
Posted on1 May 20212 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

A mindful May for motivation

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A mindful May for motivation

It has been more than a year since my COVID19 isolation began. In that time, I have slowly lost more and more of my motivation…

Keep reading

Posts navigation

Page 1 Page 2 … Page 24 Next Page

About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

Search Just Frances

Recent tweets

My Tweets

Archives by month

Keywords

5K10Kaberdeenaberdourallermuir hillamericaanniversaryanxietyarbroatharranarthur's seatarts & craftsaunts and unclesbeerbikebillinghambirthdayblack hillblessingsblood & organ donationbloomsdaybraemar half marathonbroken anklebubblybudgetBurns Supperby the watercaerketton hillcambridgecanadacandycapelawcarcarnethy hillcastlelaw hillcastlescatholiccelebrationscemeterieschallengescharity shop findschildhood memorieschoreschristmascle elumcocktailscoffeecognacconcertconfessionconfidencecookingcopalis beachcousinsCOVID19COVID19 craftsCOVID19 shieldingCOVID19 vaccinecroatiacrochetdaddydatingday tripsdeclaration half marathondenmarkdrawingsdreamsdrinkeastereast kipeast lothianedinburghedinburgh half marathonedinburgh marathonedinburgh napier universityegoEllensburgenglandentertainmentenvironmentexpatexploringfaithfalkirkfamilyfashionfastingfearfoodfossilsfoster kidfrancefreeze your fannyfriendsgadgetsgallerygeekgeocachingglasgowglencorse reservoirgoalsgolfgreen cleughgriefguest postgymhalf marathonhalloweenhandbagshandkerchiefshappy memorieshare hillhealthhealthy livinghillfortshippyhistoric buildingshistoric scotlandholidayshome and gardenhomelandhopefulhouse sittingimmigrationin-lawsindependence dayinspirationsinvernessinverness half marathoniPodisolationitpjewellerykamiak buttelabor daylake cle elumleft-handedlentletterslibrarylistsloch ness marathonlockdownloganlea reservoirlondonlonelyluxurymaidens cleughmanchestermarathonmargaritamartinimasksmaster's degreemaster's dissertationmemorial daymental healthmindfulnessmini-breakmovingmummymuseumsmusicnaturenew yearnieces and nephewsnorth berwickocdocean shoresold churchesolden daysparkrunparks and gardenspartners in painpaulpenicuikpentland hillspersonal bestphantoms cleughphdphoto dumppkdpoemspretty thingsprioritising mepublic lecturespunctuationquirkyquotesracesrandomrantre-joining societyreadingreal ale festivalrebel badgesrecipesreduce-reuse-recyclerelaxingroot beerroslinroutinesruinsrunningscald lawscenic viewsschoolschrodiescotlandscottish half marathonSeattleself-improvementself-reflectionsewingshoesshoppingsillysisterssite adminsloveniasocial distancingsock monkeysspaspoiledstalkingstationerystatues, monuments, and memorialsstep countssteptoe buttestirlingstubbornsunsetsswirlsthanksgivingthe palousethe parentalsthe runner stumblesthesisthreipmuir reservoirtolvaptantraditionstrainingtravelturnhouse hilluniversity of aberdeenuniversity of glasgowuniversity of stirlingupcyclevalentines dayvenicevideosvintagewakefieldwaleswalks and hikeswalla wallawashingtonwest kipwhimsywhiskywidow blog (archives)widowhoodwinewordsworkworking from homewritingyakimayorkyorkshire
Copyright © 2009-2021, Just Frances. All rights reserved.  |  Privacy, Terms, & Conditions.
Amphibious Theme by TemplatePocket ⋅ Powered by WordPress
  • Go home
  • Contact me