Skip to content
Just Frances

Just Frances

Made with 100% pure awesomeness

Menu
  • About
    • Meet Frances
    • Copyright
    • The Small Print
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 2025 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 on18 January 201720 August 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Dangerous widows

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Dangerous widows

In the early twenty-first century, a young woman’s choice in the West to live unmarried is widely accepted. Equally, thanks to the divorce law reforms…

Keep reading
Posted on15 January 20173 May 2023Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

The plastic planet predicament

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The plastic planet predicament

Anyone paying attention should know by now that the gloriousness of plastic is less than glorious. And, in fact, our planet is in quite a…

Keep reading
Posted on2 January 201729 July 2021Chronic Illness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Dating disclosures

by Just Frances2 Comments on Dating disclosures

Since (a few failed attempts at) re-entering the dating world post-widowhood, I have learned that there are many struggles to dating in the modern era. From the drama…

Keep reading
Posted on31 December 201628 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Bye-bye, 2016; you’ve been wonderful!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Bye-bye, 2016; you’ve been wonderful!

It seems that 2016 is a year that has left a lot of bitterness for people across the world, for so many reasons. I’ve lost…

Keep reading
Posted on7 November 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

I wobbled

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on I wobbled

Sometimes in life, you wobble. And no matter how strong and sturdy you thought you were, you begin to sway back and forth; wobbling. That’s…

Keep reading
Posted on10 October 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Finding calm

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Finding calm

My time at Serenity Lodge is coming to an end, and I am finding that the calming serenity I found here is starting to fade away,…

Keep reading
Posted on27 August 201628 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Third passport firsts

by Just Frances2 Comments on Third passport firsts

I received my new American passport yesterday. But despite this being my third passport, it will also mark several passport firsts in my life. But…

Keep reading
Posted on14 August 201628 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Fostering love

by Just Frances2 Comments on Fostering love

My life was forever changed on the day I opened up my home – and my heart – to a young girl who needed me. The year that followed…

Keep reading
Posted on6 August 201628 July 2021Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Will walk for whisky

by Just Frances4 Comments on Will walk for whisky

Yesterday was my first proper outing since breaking my ankle nearly two weeks ago. I admit that I probably shouldn’t have gone out and that I…

Keep reading
Posted on10 July 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Only the lonely

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Only the lonely

When you live your life without a partner, it can be lonely. Even if you fill your days with friends and acquaintances, it can be…

Keep reading
Posted on1 July 201628 July 2021Academic Life, Musings & Ramblings

Thesis summer

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Thesis summer

This summer is Thesis Summer for me. It’s the summer when I must, without excuses, get my head down and write, write, write! Luckily, July and August…

Keep reading
Posted on22 June 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Representations of me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Representations of me

I attended a PhD workshop the other week. It was one of those touchy-feely things where they wanted to talk about coping strategies for balancing…

Keep reading
Posted on21 May 201628 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Dream day

by Just Frances2 Comments on Dream day

Eleven years ago, I entered a beautiful dream world: The dream of happily ever after with my amazing new husband. And whilst being a Mrs…

Keep reading
Posted on16 May 20166 May 2024Academic Life, Musings & Ramblings

An undeserved first

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on An undeserved first

Last week was the School of Computing PhD Conference, where all PhD students were expected to present their research. It was a long, busy day – especially as I was…

Keep reading
Posted on28 February 201628 July 2021Academic Life, Musings & Ramblings

A funny(ish) Frances

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A funny(ish) Frances

Like many people, I fancy myself a bit of a comedienne. I like to crack jokes and I regularly have episodes of SUBS syndrome that I just…

Keep reading
Posted on21 February 201628 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

The answer to life, the universe, and everything

by Just Frances2 Comments on The answer to life, the universe, and everything

Today is a special day in my life. Today is the day I become the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Yes, today I…

Keep reading
Posted on17 February 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Dilapidated beauty

by Just Frances4 Comments on Dilapidated beauty

With my birthday just around the corner, I am more aware than normal that I am getting older. I am ageing; I am becoming more…

Keep reading
Posted on16 February 201628 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Defining happiness

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Defining happiness

As I (slowly) make my way through Tal Ben-Shahar’s book “Happier”, I am faced with questions of just what happiness is. I know that I want happiness;…

Keep reading
Posted on21 January 201627 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Happy milestones [or not]

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Happy milestones [or not]

I have decided to finally read “Happier” by Tal Ben-Shahar. It’s a book I acquired nearly two years ago, but I’ve never quite got around to…

Keep reading
Posted on10 January 201627 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Hopeful butterflies

by Just Frances4 Comments on Hopeful butterflies

I want to fly. I want to soar into the sky and touch the Heavens. I want to reach all of my goals; I want to…

Keep reading

Posts pagination

Previous Page Page 1 … Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 … Page 26 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

Subscribe to new posts

Enter your email address to subscribe to Just Frances and receive notifications of new posts by email.

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 marathondenmarkdinner partydrawingsdreamsdrinkdyslexiaeastereast kipeast lothianedinburghedinburgh half marathonedinburgh marathonedinburgh napier universityegoEllensburgenglandentertainmentenvironmentexpatexploringfaithfalkirkfamilyfashionfastingfearfoodfood preservationfossilsfoster kidfrancefreeze your fannyfriendsgadgetsgallerygeekgeocachingghost townsglasgowglencorse reservoirgoalsgolfgraffiti & street artgreen cleughgriefguest postgymhalf marathonhalloweenhandbagshandkerchiefshappy memorieshare hillhealthhealthy livinghillfortshippyhistoric buildingshistoric scotlandholidayshome and gardenhomelandhopefulhouse sittingimmigrationin-lawsindependence dayinspirationsinvernessinverness half marathoniPodisolationitpjewellerykamiak buttelabor daylake cle elumleft-handedlentletterslibrarylighthouseslinlithgowlistsloch ness marathonlockdownloganlea reservoirlondonlonelyluxurymaidens cleughmanchestermarathonmargaritamartinimasksmaster's degreemaster's dissertationmemorial daymental healthmiamimindfulnessmini-breakmovingmummymuseumsmusicnaturenew yearnieces and nephewsnorth berwicknorthumberlandocdocean shoresold churchesolden daysornamentsparkrunparks and gardenspartners in painpaulpeeblespenicuikpentland hillspersonal bestphantoms cleughphdphoto dumppkdplastic canvaspoemspretty 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 wallawashingtonwaterfallswest kipwhimsywhiskywidow blog (archives)widowhoodwinewordsworkworking from homewritingyakimayorkyorkshire

Archives by month

Copyright © 2009-2025, Just Frances. All rights reserved.  |  Privacy, Terms, & Conditions.
Amphibious Theme by TemplatePocket ⋅ Powered by WordPress