It was an incredible honour yesterday to attend a Royal reception at the palace of Hollyroodhouse with other Queen’s nurses. When I stepped through the doors of that care home 30 years ago I never imagined it would one day take me to a palace. #CareHomes #RoyalWeek #QNIS

Homeward bound after a productive few days in Aberdeen exploring meaningful activity. So time for some chapter editing on the journey home #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory

Laptop staying closed all weekend as it’s my birthday weekend and I’ve started the morning sat in the garden. Book, coffee, nature, sunshine = bliss and how cute is my bookmark that I got as a birthday gift from a colleague 🍄 #WeekendOff #NoPhDThisWeekend #Nature #Fungi #Relax #FifeMornings

Off to our managers conference today, a chance to connect, share ideas, showcase projects and gain inspiration. Looking forward to a day filled with insight, collaboration, and renewed energy for the work we do every day. #CareHomes #Teamwork #Collaboration

Two hours of chapter writing before work starts because it’s my birthday weekend and I am taking two days off from writing. So a few early starts and PhD power hours and I should still get some good thesis progress #EarlyStarts #PhDLife #Balance #CGT #ConstructivistGroundedTheory

Happy international nurses day to nurses around the world thank you to all the social care nurses who have inspired me and shaped my career. A special mention also to all my fellow Queen’s nurses who push me to be brave and step out of that comfort zone #IND2025 #CareHomes

#Renaturing by James Canton is an inspiring read. You will be surprised by how much renaturing you’re doing yourself. It was a term I had not heard a lot and now love because no matter how small your space we can all do something to support nature #BookRecomendation #Books #BookClub #NatureReading

Thesis writing is so much easier surrounded by nature. #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory #Nature #Fife #Scotland

On the train on my way to the Scottish dementia research consortium conference. Displaying my poster over the two days and presenting tomorrow. Two days of learning, being inspired and networking. @scottishcare.bsky.social @qniscotland.bsky.social #Dementia #PartnershipWorking #Families #CareHomes

Took a quiet walk in the woods this morning and watched the red squirrels. It’s important to take pauses during the PhD process. Came back ready to tackle Chapter 4: methods + the research journey. Sometimes clarity comes when you stop trying to force it. #PhD #AcademicWriting #CGT #NatureBreak

A wonderful day today gathering feedback on meaningful engagement and Andrew kindly shared some gardening top tips (images shared with permission) I of course managed to get some time in the reading room as well. I say it all the time but I do have a fabulous job #CareHomes #MeaningfulActivity

The sun may not be shining today but the view from the care home window is beautiful. #Nature #Scenic #CareHomes

Arrived safely in North Ayrshire my home for the next three days. It was a very early start to get here and as expected the last 14 miles was an adventure after taking a wrong turn. #NationalWork #RoadTrip #CareHomeNurse

A walk to clear the head before another 4 hours of reading and writing up. It’s been a productive morning though as I do feel like this chapter is nearly there #PhDLife #ConstructivistGroundedTheory #CGT #Balance #NurseResearch #CareHomeNurse #CPD

Today it’s time to get chapter three to a point where I am happy with it, highlighters are ready, the 3hr playlist is loaded, let’s go! #Thesis #PhDLife #CGT

Well I can’t put it off any longer the new printer needs set up, let the IT gods be on my side today. Let’s get printing or maybe not let’s see 🤣

Early start this morning listening to the bird chorus as I get some #PhD work done before work. Enjoying these little early morning sessions, because it means I can relax in the evening. It’s all about finding what works for you #PhDLife #Balance

Right Wednesday let’s get a few things of this to do list ✅ Have a wonderful Wednesday whatever you are doing and remember a small step is still progress. #InchByInch #Progress #WednesdayWisdom

The mid-week non-fiction read. Chapter 6. - do hard things, is resonating as I push out of the comfort zone this week #Reading #Confidence

Spent some time going through my @qniscotland.bsky.social journals this morning and found all the lovely little notes fellow Queens nurses had written me. A chance to reflect on a Monday morning on what’s changed since I started the journey and the next steps #MondayMotovation #Support #Kindness

After a beautiful day at the Daffodil Festival yesterday, today it’s all about Constructivist Grounded Theory. PhD life is all about time and balance #PhDLife #CareHomeNurse #NurseResearch #CGT

Beautiful morning at the Daffodil Festival #GetOutside #Nature #DaffodilFestival

Jumped on this trend, even got the Irregular Choice shoes #actionfigure

Love these lighter and warmer mornings a little stroll around the garden and seeing things start to blossom. Started early today so I can finish earlier and get some #PhD work done in the sun hopefully #PhDLife #Balance #WorkPhDBalance #CareHomeResearch

The new printer has arrived but I need time to prepare myself for setting it up. 🤣

When I started work at 5am this morning I did it with the plan that I could be home, in the garden for a 2-3 hour #PhD session. Right now I am pretty glad of that decision ☀️ #NurseResearcher #CGT #Balance #CareHomeResearch #Sunshine #EarlyStart #PhDLife #Charmaz

I got the privilege of spending today in the garden at the care home with residents and families completing an outdoor garden assessment. Nature always lifts the soul and it turns out plenty feel the same way. #Nature #GreenHealth #Feedback #GreatOutdoors

The #bookclub started in January. The rules are easy choose a book based on the theme, these were my first four reads. The next theme is hat and I’ve got a couple of books to choose from. What would be your Hat themed read? #BookClub #Hats #Books #ReadMore

Today I am dementia care mapping. A chance to sit and observe for the day. The feedback a chance to listen and facilitate discussion and that is when it can be most useful as a quality of life tool in improving quality care together. #Observation #PersonLed #Communication #CareHomes

A lovely morning spent on our enriching lives team meeting. My favourite part was people sharing how they would describe their job. How would you describe your job in a sentence or two? #Inspired #Motivation #Team #Proudtobepartoftheteam

It’s the little things that bring joy. Facilitated a Namaste session before breaking off for a weeks holiday and popped into one of the services this morning to see the sensory room already taking shape #Teamwork #LearningIntoPractice #NamasteCare #Joy #SensoryStories

PhD power hour this morning before work. Goal, complete one of the 12 mini tasks left to do #PowerHour #PhDLife #CareHomeNurse #CareHomeResearch

Weeks holiday nearly at an end. The piece of PhD work I wanted to get done turned out to be much bigger and ended up being 34 mini steps of which I’ve managed 22. Have given myself a 2 week target to get it finished. #Progress #InchByInch #FirstGen #PhDLife #NurseResearvh #CareHomeResearch

I was so focussed on the #PhD yesterday from early morning that I forgot to do my Duolingo and Wordle the devastation this morning realising my streak was gone. #Failed #MorningBrainGames

Another productive catch up with my PhD supervisors. Now back to a day of analysis. A weeks holiday to focus on the PhD has helped. PhD life increases and uses so many different skills and time management is an important one, when working full time #ConstructivistGroundedTheory #PhDLife #Balance

A lovely day in Edinburgh yesterday. Took a break from study but back at it this morning determined to get this next little step in the PhD completed #InchByInch #Progress #Balance

#VisionBoard done for 2025 connect with nature, enjoy the little things and return to the basics. #Simplicity #GreenHealth

Lovely Boxing Day morning walk. A chance to catch my breathe after a busy Christmas Day #Fife #Nature #Walking #GreenHealth

The sky this morning was beautiful #ThursdayThoughts data collection afternoon but this mornings visit is to the care home where my career begun as a 19year old care assistant. Always got a special place in the heart. #CareHomeNurse #FirstGenPhDStudent #ConstructivistGroundedTheory

#PhDSunday what’s on my planner today delve into the 3rd edition of #Charmaz constructing grounded theory. There will also be some Christmas wrapping happening. My least favourite festive activity.

Beautiful sky tonight #Fife #Sky #Clouds #Moon #Scotland

So I’ve been attempting to learn a new skill and give my brain a workout. Although I am not good at it I do find it oddly relaxing and a little joyful that my daughter could recognise what it was supposed to be. Hoping that practice makes perfect comes along at some point. #Crochet #BrainHealth

A beautiful family evening and Edinburgh Botanic Garden Christmas lights #Family #OffDuty #ChristmasTraditions #MakingMemories

The kids have now reached their 30’s but their nursery decorations are still going strong on the tree each year. Make memories, they are the prized decorations each year ❤️ #Family #Christmas #Memories

The walk this morning was off today due to the weather warning and conditions. So a coffee and a catch up with our dementia carer of the year winner rather than a walk and talk. It had to be a festive drink. #Fife #CostaCatchup

Had to use the tartan on the latest poster. I recommend doing a yearly poster through your PhD study. Seeing the progress and how all those little steps have added up over the year gives you a boost onto the next steps. #PhD #NurseResearch #CareHomes #PartnershipWorking #ConstructivistGroundedTheory

It’s a #PhDWeekend but as we are moving into December it’s also Christmas decorating time so plenty festive filled breaks planned. First task design a new poster #PhDLife

Looking forward to this one arriving and seeing what additions there might be. #Booksky #GroundedTheory #ConstructivistGroundedTheory

Cold one last night and this morning but it does make for some beautiful clear pictures of the sky #Moon #FrostyFife

Gosh the roads this morning, left at 5:45am and only just arrived at the service. Looking forward to a day facilitating understanding dementia and stress and distress. #CommunityNursing #CareHomes