Year: 2014

Bargains – Debenhams Flowers by Post – Free Delivery at debenhamsflowers.com & North Cyprus Holidays – 1 week 5* Full Board from £299pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & The Good Life – UK Garden Bargains with £5 off and Free Delivery at leadthegoodlife.com & Argos Microwaves – DeLonghi Easi-Tronic Solo for £59.99 at argos.co.uk & M&S Sale – Digital Wall Clock for £13 at marksandspencer.com & Laura Ashley Sale – Extra 10% off at lauraashley.com

Well, a funny night. I was woken several times by Ellie’s wagging tail beating against the bed, I just stroked her and she went to her bed again. I guess she was just checking we were still here! Thankfully the rain had stopped and so we went for a long walk in the mountains. Back home and one of the black cats decided it would tease her, every time Ellie got close, it swiped her. She only wanted to be friends.

Lunchtime I met  Sue and Tanya at Nosheens to catch up with all the news. We were the only ones in there and by about three (we sit nattering and drinking coffee when we have finished lunch), the waiter came and gave us the bill and said he was closing! It was lovely to see them both and hear about their Christmas’s. Sue’s dog was in K9 Kennels as well and we think she was probably playing with Ellie. Ooops, didn’t mean to snap Tanya with her eyes shut!

Thought for the Day – “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” ~ Muhammad Ali

Bargains – Best Western Hotels UK – up to 50% off at bestwestern.co.uk & UK Garden Supplies – Victoria Plum Trees at leadthegoodlife.com & M&S Kitchen – 3 Piece Stainless Steel copper base saucepan set for £75 at marksandspencer.com & Boots Sanctuary – Luxury Travel Treats for £6 at boots.com & Debenhams Flowers Discount Code – £5 off at debenhamsflowers.com

Oh my goodness I was up at 4.00am! I have reduced the pain killers for my arm and I think that may have had something to do with it.

Much later we went to pay our water bill and also renew our post box.We did receive another electricity bill while we were gone and of course the entire bill is at the high rate, just as we expected. Well, we didn’t believe them at Kibtek when they said they would issue us two bills.

The rain started just after lunch and how it poured down. Suzann from K9 Kennels brought Ellie back, what a happy dog she looked. They have so much space to run at K9 and are not kept in their kennels. Even Ellie’s blanket came back in one piece, we thought she may have chewed it but no she obviously had a good time and when home, she remembered us! After all the excitement of coming home she lay on the sofa and fell asleep!

 

Thought for the Day – “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”  ~ Roger Caras

Bargains – Asda Offers – Morphy Richards 3 Tier Steamer for £24 at asda.com & Debenhams Home – Amefa ‘Austin’ 40-piece cutlery set for £36 at debenhams.com & British Airways Sale – Europe City Breaks from £129pp at britishairways.com &Tesco F&F – Ladies Knitted Slipper Boots for £5 at clothingattesco.com

We didn’t wake up until 8 but then we did go to bed late. I went out and tried the car which has been sitting there for a month, it started second time!

We went to get some shopping and then rang K9 Kennels, who have been looking after Ellie. I really have to thank Suzann for taking Ellie at such short notice. If she had not, then we would not have been able to rescue her so a huge thank you to K9. Suzann said that she has been very good and loved playing with all the other dogs. It seems I confused the dates she would be staying and so Suzann is bringing her back tomorrow.   We paid the extra 50tl for her to collect and return her, it seemed worth it instead of driving such a long way just before and after our flight. It now means I have to wait until tomorrow to see Ellie. Mal and I have missed her.

We may not have Ellie back yet but our house gekko was squeaking away and black cat has been for a visit too.

In the evening we watched the Christmas Downton Abbey, we really didn’t watch much TV in the UK.

 Thought for the Day – “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”  ~Orhan Pamuk

Bargains – Dunelm Sale – Dorchester Oak Living Furniture Range with 20% off at dunelm-mill.com & Debenham Sale – Red Leather 3 Section Shoulder Bag for £24.50 at debenhams.com & Boots Star Gift – Champneys Facial Cleansing System for £19.99 at boots.com & Tesco Sale – V-fit 2-in-1 Cycle/Cross Trainer for £150 at tesco.com & M&S Home – Percale Duvet Cotton Rich Cover From £9 at marksandspencer.com & Screwfix Offers – WDH-122H-12R 12Ltr Dehumidifier for £99.99 at screwfix.com

We were up early and had our breakfast with Scarlet and Jack, packed again and scraped the ice off our car and headed for Stansted for our flight home.

Our car hire this time was via Easycar and we ended up with Green Motion who are not actually on the airport but at the Hilton Hotel. BUT it worked out at £10 a day for a Honda Jazz, which was a very good price and the Jazz has a very large boot. We returned the car with no problem and caught the bus into the airport. The flight (Pegasus) was on time and OK but we and people around us all said we have never been on a plane so hot, not even in August!! And of course as always, we ended up with the person next to us with a streaming cold! Doubtless we will have caught their germs. David was waiting at Ercan airport for us and we drove home and a surprising temperature of 14 degrees at 10pm!

Thought for the Day – “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”  ~ Dr Seuss

Bargains – Brantano Discount Code – 25% off at brantano.co.uk & The Hut Sale – Redken Hair Products with 3 for 2 at thehut.com& Cotton Traders Discount Code – 10% off plus Free Delivery at cottontraders.com & Interflora Discount Code – 5% off at interflora.co.uk & Debenhams Home – Denby ‘Alfresco’ tumblers for £12 at debenhams.com & Wallis Knitwear and Coats – 20% off at wallis.co.uk

We cleaned out all the caravan and packed and then drove to Torin’s house. We had the most amazing sky just as we were driving into Biggleswade.

We played with the kids, Scarlet insisting she had some nail varnish on, which we bought her for Christmas and Jack just wanted to play with his lego.

Scarlet and Jack insisted Grandad read them their bedtime story.

Thought for the Day – “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~ Mahatma Ganghi

Bargains – M&S Home – Bailey Nest Tables for £99.50 from marksandspencer.com & Avis Car Rental – from £12 at avis.co.uk & The Hut Voucher Code – 20% off Beauty at thehut.com & Mercury Direct – 2 wks B&B from £181pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & Garden Bargains Discount Code – 10% off at leadthegoodlife.com & Dorothy Perkins Sale – 20% off for students at dorothyperkins.com

Sadly, Brian Self has passed away, our thoughts and condolences go to his family.

I went off for my mammogram in the morning as I had to cancel the previous appointment because I couldn’t lift my arm after my fall. Very handy as they do it at Westwood, 2 minutes from us. More shopping, things to take back! I have had name tags made for Ellie, on Ebay, much cheaper than Pets at Home. Of course she also has new lead/collar and toys I am taking back. All from Ebay! Everything we had for Rosie was either given away or thrown away.

Beaches ARE free in North Cyprus.

In the evening we went for our last visit to see Lou, Rhys and all the kids.

Thought for the Day – “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.”  ~ John Lennon

Bargains – Argos High Chair – Mamas & Papas Flip Folding Baby High Chair for £29.99 at argos.co.uk & whsmith Kobo Mini Ereader for £29.99 at whsmith.co.uk with free delivery & Premier Inn Sale – £29 Spring Rooms at premierinn.com & Dunelm Towels – 20% off from £1.19 at dunelm-mill.com & Debenhams Blue Cross Sale Discount Code gives an extra 10% off at debenhams.com & Argos Travel Cot – Baby Start DeLuxe Travel Cot for £49.99 at argos.co.uk

It was a very windy day. We went into Margate in the morning, followed by Westwood. We have not quite got our heads together for things we want to take back to Cyprus. It has been a busy time! We also bought birthday presents for the next few months!

In the evening we had booked to go out for a tapas meal at Cafe Bee in Birchington. To be honest if we hadn’t booked it, I don’t think we would have bothered we were both so tired. We were glad we did as it was very good, washed down with a nice bottle of wine.