Month: May 2012

Bargain for the Day – a must have torch, great for the power cuts in North Cyprus!

A busy day, Mal worked worked and even more work (exam marking). I tidied all the garden, emptied a load of junk out of the spare room and then went to the shops. A walk up to Westwood. I  found some freezer mugs in Poundland, yes a pound each and they even had a union jack on them. Some shopping in Sainsburys, especially as they had 25% off all their clothes. Then I caught the bus back, of course using my bus pass again! I do like this free travel.

We were planning a visit to Cardiff in July for Oscar’s birthday and I discovered a new site for Bed and Breakfast. Very interesting once you get the hang of the site and we have booked at a place just around the corner from Lou and Rhys’s. You can advertise your room on the site as well if you want people to stay. They have accommodation for the TRNC too!

In the evening we watched a film “Sweet November”. We resisted going into the clubhouse to join in with the bingo!

Thought for the Day -“Learn to smile at every situation. See it as an opportunity to prove your strength and ability.” ~ Joe Brown

An update on Pauline Read, it couldn’t happen in any other country! This is a first too – A British Politician in government flying into Ercan!

I know it is the Jubilee weekend first but have you thought about Father’s Day? Here is an idea for a present. There are a lot more ideas on that site too.

We had some very good news. While we were in Cardiff Tariq was playing football and there were people there from UWIC (Cardiff University) they were watching for young talent in football players and they get a scholarship. We heared today that Tariq has been selected, well done Tariq!

Another lovely sunny day and I did more of the cleaning out of the caravan. My plan is to return the spare bedroom back to a bedroom instead of a room full of “things we may need”. The problem is every time I come over, I spend all the time visiting and never get to grips with sorting out the caravan. Now is my chance.

We also have new neighbours in the caravan behind us, really nice people Crystal and Phil, so we had a long chat with them.

A storm in the evening and 10 minutes of rain. I do love the sound of rain on the caravan roof, it reminds me of holidays long ago!

Rhys called in the evening and he is taking the three older boys to their mothers for the long weekend and so they have decided to bring the little ones and camp here, well actually in St Nicholas at Wade,which is not too far. The site they are going to stay at is owned by the farmer who owns the cottage where Mal used to stay when the caravan park was shut down in February.

 

Thought for the Day – “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” ~ Buddha

Bargain of the Day – One day only – 24% off at Wallis. Another good one here, Mal and I have bought reduced price tickets already for the very popular Sweeney Todd Musical in London . This one is only reduced price for 48 hours.

Mal started his work very early and then late morning we went to Westwood Shopping Centre. It is a walk up to the top of the road, along the fields. We called in to collect my saucepans I ordered from M & S. Very good they are too. I was amazed at how many offers Marks have on at the moment. Take a look. It’s well worth a look online and of course you can order things and collect them from your local store for free.

We went to Sainsburys and they have 25% off all their clothing! Mal bought some new shorts and we also did some food shopping. I bought a pork joint which was half the normal price, at the moment it is £2.79 a kilo!! Really some of the prices I can’t believe here. All the shopping done which was quite a lot and we caught the bus back to the caravan park, of course using our bus passes!! It’s quite refreshing to let other people do the driving and it’s free.

I did a roast in the evening and the pork was so tasty.

Later we watched ‘Silk’.

I was sorting through some of the photos I had taken when we were on our travels and found this one amusing. Mal said the caption should read “Mal thinks there may be a malfunction on his sat nav”! No he wasn’t really paddling in the lake!

 

Thought for the Day – “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ~ Roald Dahl

Bargain of the Day – 20% off everything at Bon Marche

We gave the twins their breakfast in the morning. They have a lovely new play house in the garden. We then had to leave to take the car back to Stansted airport. Originally I had booked to return to North Cyprus today but as Rosie is no longer with us I decided to stay longer. But of course the car was booked to be returned. We discovered there is now a Budget agent at Manston airport (very near to the caravan) and called them and asked if we could return it to them instead. The answer was yes, of course, that will be £500 extra! I think not!

So, we returned it to Stansted and told them about the damaged number plate and he just said “Don’t worry about it”. Well, that was a surprise, so we didn’t have to claim off our insurance. Budget are usually very picky but not today.

Mal and I then got the train back to Margate, with our Senior rail cards of course!

It had been a busy few days and now Mal has to get down to some serious work.

 

Thought for the Day – “ It’s double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you’re blessed with twins.”  ~Author Unknown

Another day in the garden with Marion and Bryan, Luca, Layla and Jude. After lunch it was back in the car and off to Torin’s.

We had a quiet evening with Torin watching the Soccer Aid match.

 

Thought for the Day – “ A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.”  ~ Isadora James

Not surprisingly Mal and I were up later than usual. Going to bed in the early hours and too much to drink! Back to Rhys’s when we did surface. Sol was at Taekwondo when we arrived. We had a pleasant morning with them , had lunch and back in the car again.

Next stop High Wycombe to my sisters. She had three of her grandchildren staying overnight as well so a full house. Another BBQ in the evening and then Mal and Bryan popped to the local for a “quick half”..ha ha! I keep saying it but we have been so lucky with the weather.

 

Thought for the Day – “ Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.”  ~ Anthony Brandt

Mal and I both had a really good nights sleep, a comfortable bed and total peace and quiet. We got up at 7 and went for another walk all around the lakes and then into breakfast. We were really lucky with the weather.

Mal had haddock and poached egg for breakfast and I had smoked salmon and scrambled egg. We both had the fresh fruit first and also all the bread and rolls were home made. We then packed everything up and set off for Cardiff. A  nightmare journey, miles of road works with not a work man in sight and also 2 accidents. It took us 6 hours in the end. We were staying at the Travelodge, a bit of a come down from PowderMills. Rhys insisted that we took a taxi to his house as he was doing an enormous BBQ in honour of my birthday. So, we did. It woouldn’t have been so difficult under normal circumstances but the Olympic torch was in Cardiff and the city centre roads were all closed down! It was lovely seeing all the kids and having fun with them. Too much to eat and definitely too much to drink! Even Roddy (the dog) had his share.

Tariq had been to football and came home with two of the three trophies he had won for the season! He said he couldn’t manage to carry the third as well, so will pick that up the next time! I think we have a budding Rooney in the family.

It was a good night.

 

Thought for the day – “You don’t choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”  ~ Desmond Tutu