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Tag: hopeful

Posted on24 January 202331 January 2023Musings & Ramblings

Missing Mum

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Missing Mum

It’s been a year since my mother died. A year without her laughter. A year without her smile. A year without her friendship. It’s been…

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Posted on1 January 202318 January 2023Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

2023: Simply me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2023: Simply me

Welcome to a new year and a new set of personal goals and objectives. My primary focus for 2023 is me. Of course, that is…

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Posted on31 December 202212 January 2023Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Reflections of 2022

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Reflections of 2022

It’s not fair to say that 2022 has been completely horrible. Don’t get me wrong, it was really horrible in a lot of ways. But…

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Posted on31 December 20227 January 2023Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

With 2022 quickly making an exit, it’s time for my annual goal wrap-up and review. And then, I am ready to move on! My overarching…

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Posted on27 August 202225 September 2022Everyday Life

A big leap forward with The Cadillac Three

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A big leap forward with The Cadillac Three

I took another big leap into The Real World yesterday, and I am not completely certain it was the right thing to do or how…

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Posted on14 June 20224 August 2022Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Fish ladders and falls

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Fish ladders and falls

Dad and I went on a little adventure across the state yesterday, racking up about 280 miles on the car. But only one geocache, which…

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Posted on11 June 202224 July 2022Everyday Life

Battle of the roses

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Battle of the roses

Way back in 2013, my parents took small rose plants to the cemetery for Memorial Day. There were two sets of roses (one white, one…

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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…

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Posted on1 March 20221 March 2022Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness

March motivation: A quarter in a month

by Just Frances2 Comments on March motivation: A quarter in a month

I had so many amazing plans for a motivated, positive start to 2022. But here I am, at the start of the third month of…

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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.…

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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…

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Posted on1 February 202221 February 2022Everyday Life

It’s our year, Tiger!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on It’s our year, Tiger!

Today is the Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Tiger. This is an important “zodiac” sign* for me because I was born in…

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Posted on21 January 202220 February 2022Health & Wellness

Escaping the plague

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Escaping the plague

It was inevitable, as they say. COVID19 has come home. I mean, it’s not come to my home, but it came to my youngest sister’s…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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Posted on5 December 202112 December 2021Chronic Illness, Health & Wellness

My COVID19 vaccine experience: Boosted!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on My COVID19 vaccine experience: Boosted!

I received my COVID19 booster vaccine last Sunday and am now fully vaccinated against COVID19 – and more! I don’t know if this makes me…

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Posted on26 November 202128 September 2022Academic Life

The dream job: Frances the University Lecturer

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The dream job: Frances the University Lecturer

I have a new job; one that I have dreamt of for more than 20 years. Yes, as of this week, I am a Lecturer*…

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Posted on22 November 202124 November 2021Academic Life

A new visa for a new future

by Just Frances4 Comments on A new visa for a new future

I have been holding my breath for the past several weeks, anxiously awaiting news on my new work visa. As I shared at the start…

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Posted on12 November 202112 November 2021Culinary Arts

When life gives you (smooshed) strawberries

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on When life gives you (smooshed) strawberries

I’ll cut right to the point here: Life is really stressful right now and I am struggling to see the glass half full (visa stress…

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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.

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