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
Posted on25 January 201413 May 2024Crafting & Creating

Sew what?

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sew what?

After several weeks of mulling the idea of purchasing a sewing machine, but hesitating because my meagre budget wouldn’t allow for anything decent, I lucked…

Keep reading
Posted on21 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

On the other hand

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on On the other hand

(Updated September 2020; see the end of the post.) I was halfway over the Atlantic when I moved my wedding rings from my left hand…

Keep reading
Posted on18 January 20146 May 2024Culinary Arts, Everyday Life, Health & Wellness

Counting every penny

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Counting every penny

It’s time to start counting pennies again. Only this time, every little penny will count so much more than they have for the past decade.…

Keep reading
Posted on17 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Ten ways to win my heart

by Just Frances6 Comments on Ten ways to win my heart

If you asked me what my perfect man looks like, I couldn’t describe him. I imagine he’d be taller than me and I’d like to…

Keep reading
Posted on14 January 201422 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Thirty nine before 40

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Thirty nine before 40

My 30s are nearly over. Yes, in just 39 days my age will tick over from 39 to 40. I’m not stressed or upset about…

Keep reading
Posted on14 January 201422 July 2021Crafting & Creating

Stretching budgets by un-stretching skirts

by Just Frances2 Comments on Stretching budgets by un-stretching skirts

About two years ago, I bought a lovely skirt for about £5 at a charity shop. It was ever-so-slightly too large, but it was pretty…

Keep reading
Posted on10 January 201422 July 2021Crafting & Creating, Everyday Life

Fashion confessional

by Just Frances4 Comments on Fashion confessional

For most of my life, I’ve felt as if I’ve lived on the wrong side of fashionable. And, I’m sure, most of the people I…

Keep reading
Posted on9 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Why should I settle?

by Just Frances2 Comments on Why should I settle?

It’s been more than four years since my husband died and I’ve yet to enter into a new relationship. I’ve now had four first dates…

Keep reading
Posted on5 January 201422 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness

Two halfs, to start

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Two halfs, to start

I set myself a challenge in 2012 and 2013 to run a race each month but failed to achieve success because of illness, race cancellations, and life’s chaos. When it came…

Keep reading
Posted on4 January 201422 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Inspiration from writers

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Inspiration from writers

Tucked away in a wee close off of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is one of my favourite museums in the city. It’s the Writers’ Museum in Lady Stair’s Close and even though…

Keep reading
Posted on2 January 20143 May 2023Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

The way of the monks

by Just Frances7 Comments on The way of the monks

Another day, another ramble through the local environs. This time it was a 6K walk along the Monks’ Walk in the Pentland Hills near where I’m living…

Keep reading
Posted on1 January 201422 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Walking in the New Year

by Just Frances9 Comments on Walking in the New Year

Ah, a new year has begun. It’s such a wonderful feeling – especially when you’re boring like I am and don’t imbibe in booze the night before.…

Keep reading
Posted on1 January 201422 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

A new me for a new year

by Just Frances6 Comments on A new me for a new year

It’s a new year, so it’s time for a new me. OK, not a new me, but hopefully an improved me. Yes, it’s time to…

Keep reading
Posted on31 December 201322 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

2013: A year in (distorted) review

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2013: A year in (distorted) review

As 2013 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the year’s ups and downs. I’ve been thinking about the good points and the…

Keep reading
Posted on23 December 201322 July 2021Health & Wellness, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Preparing for together

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Preparing for together

Last year, I shared with you how I was preparing for a Christmas at home alone. I was home alone by choice, but it was still…

Keep reading
Posted on18 December 201322 July 2021Academic Life

PhD dreams: Month 1

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on PhD dreams: Month 1

Today marks one calendar month since I began my PhD. And since I promised an update, here I am to tell you about it. Well, about…

Keep reading
Posted on16 December 201322 July 2021Health & Wellness

Lumpy but normal: My (irrational?) breast cancer scare

by Just Frances2 Comments on Lumpy but normal: My (irrational?) breast cancer scare

Forward: I am sharing this story here because when I was looking for personal accounts from women who’ve found breast lumps that turned out not to be…

Keep reading
Posted on15 December 201322 July 2021Crafting & Creating

The Christmas star

by Just Frances2 Comments on The Christmas star

I decided to get a bit crafty this Christmas but wanted to attempt projects using only supplies I had on hand. So, I dug through…

Keep reading
Posted on14 December 201322 July 2021Everyday Life

A little bit of soul

by Just Frances4 Comments on A little bit of soul

When my friend first invited me to join her for the Edinburgh’s Got Soul concert at The Queen’s Hall, I really only agreed because it was a great…

Keep reading
Posted on11 December 201322 July 2021Culinary Arts

Experi-MINT-ing with truffles

by Just Frances2 Comments on Experi-MINT-ing with truffles

With Christmas just around the corner, I decided I’d do a bit of experi-mint-ing with my truffle recipe to use up some broken candy canes I had.…

Keep reading

Posts pagination

Previous Page Page 1 … Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 … Page 83 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-handedlentletterslibrarylighthouseslistsloch ness marathonlockdownloganlea reservoirlondonlonelyluxurymaidens cleughmanchestermarathonmargaritamartinimasksmaster's degreemaster's dissertationmemorial daymental healthmiamimindfulnessmini-breakmovingmummymuseumsmusicnaturenew yearnieces and nephewsnorth berwicknorthumberlandocdocean shoresold churchesolden daysornamentsparkrunparks and gardenspartners in painpaulpenicuikpentland 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 © 2009-2023, Just Frances. All rights reserved.  |  Privacy, Terms, & Conditions.
Amphibious Theme by TemplatePocket ⋅ Powered by WordPress