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Tag: scotland

Posted on13 February 202513 February 2025Everyday Life, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Citizen Frances

by Just Frances6 Comments on Citizen Frances

It has finally happened: I am now a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland citizen*. That means no more visas, no more immigration…

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Posted on5 December 202423 December 2024Everyday Life

My UK citizenship application

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on My UK citizenship application

Today I took one of the last steps towards becoming a UK Citizen: I enrolled my biometrics for my citizenship application which I submitted last…

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Posted on30 June 20249 November 2024Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Scotland with American friends

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Scotland with American friends

It’s been a busy month of entertaining American guests here at Castle Ryan. My first overnight guest, Jo, showed up the first week of June.…

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Posted on17 June 20249 November 2024Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Away with the fairies

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Away with the fairies

Tucked away in the woods on the outskirts of Luss lays a little gem of a fairy trail. Or “faerie” as they decided to spell…

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Posted on26 November 202316 December 2023Everyday Life

Indefinitely: My ILR visa

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Indefinitely: My ILR visa

Well, it has finally happened. I have finally applied for settled status in the UK. And let me just say, it’s not been without a…

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Posted on14 November 20234 December 2023Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Life in the UK: Testing my knowledge

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Life in the UK: Testing my knowledge

It has been more than 22 years since I first arrived in Scotland, and now it’s time to test my knowledge of this place I…

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Posted on18 September 20236 May 2024Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

An expat’s home dilemma: 22 years later

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on An expat’s home dilemma: 22 years later

Twenty-two years ago, I arrived in Scotland to begin a one-year study abroad programme. It is sometimes hard to believe that it was that long…

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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…

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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,…

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Posted on6 September 20204 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Castles and bridges in the Borders

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Castles and bridges in the Borders

I love going on new adventures, but sometimes it’s great to re-visit old favourites. Especially when I’m looking at the old stuff from a different…

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Posted on5 September 202016 November 2022Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A (long) short walk to Bolton and Gifford

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A (long) short walk to Bolton and Gifford

Yesterday’s adventure was a “short” walk to Bolton and Gifford to explore a couple of old kirkyards, with a geocache trail in between. The walk…

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Posted on1 August 20204 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Exploring the Thorntonloch Coast

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Exploring the Thorntonloch Coast

Because running a half-marathon isn’t adventurous enough, yesterday afternoon was spent in East Lothian exploring the Thorntonloch Coast with a friend. Of course, it was…

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Posted on31 December 201916 July 2021Academic Life, Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

A look back at 2019

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A look back at 2019

And with that, it’s time for another annual re-cap post. Although quite how we’ve got to 31 December 2019, I couldn’t tell you! Yet, here…

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Posted on24 December 201916 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A Christmas Eve walk to Allermuir and more

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A Christmas Eve walk to Allermuir and more

As has become a tradition, I went for a Christmas Eve walk in the Pentlands with my friend Adrian this afternoon. This year our mission was “simple”:…

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Posted on22 September 201916 July 2021Everyday Life

Culture weekends

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Culture weekends

The last three weekends have been quite busy for me, with fun activities to keep me busy. The first weekend was the annual Roslin Village…

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Posted on31 March 201918 August 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Fife in ruins

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Fife in ruins

I have enjoyed a lovely adventure day out to Fife with a friend today, which has left me both energised and exhausted all at once.…

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Posted on27 January 201916 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Another Rosslyn day out

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Another Rosslyn day out

One of the lovely things about living so near to the Rosslyn Chapel and the Roslin Glen is that I can explore them whenever I want. And…

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Posted on28 December 201830 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A cross in the Pentlands

by Just Frances2 Comments on A cross in the Pentlands

Tucked away in the Pentland Hills is a memorial to the Tytler family of Woodhouselee. It is so very near to my cottage, yet I have…

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Posted on26 December 201824 March 2023Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Climbing Castlelaw

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Climbing Castlelaw

For my Boxing Day adventure, I decided to revisit one of my favourite “quick” walks: Castlelaw Hill, in the Pentland Hills by way of the Castlelaw hill fort and souterrain. The…

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Posted on25 November 201830 July 2021Everyday Life

An adventure to the anatomical museum

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on An adventure to the anatomical museum

Yesterday’s adventure day out was a trip to the Anatomical Museum at The University of Edinburgh. The museum was never really on my radar, but I learned through last…

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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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