Month: January 2015

Bargains – Homebase Discount Code | 50% off | homebase.co.uk & Simply Supplements Offer Code plus up to 75% off &Cheap Carp Fishing Tackle | dragoncarpdirect.com & Dorothy Perkins Voucher Code | 60% off | dorothyperkins.com & The Hut Discount Code | 70% off | thehut.com & Brantano Voucher Code | 50% off | brantano.co.uk

It was very windy in the night and we woke to no electricity. We couldn’t even have a cup of tea as everything is electric. Nothing else for it so we went down to the beach with Ellie.

It was very, very windy, so windy that a man we were talking to lost his cap. He gave chase and so did Ellie. I wished I had filmed it. It was so funny and he even saw the funny side. Sand was blowing everywhere.
I have to say Thanet skies are quite amazing at times, no wonder Turner painted them often.

We met one of Mal’s old colleagues from school so we stood chatting to him for ages. A group of them get together once a month so we have been invited to join them.
By the time we arrived home the electricity was back on.

We have a lot of birds in the garden and have been watching a ring collared dove who is scrunched up under the hedge. He was hardly moving, obviously unable to fly away. It moved a little further under the hedge when the wind increased. We didn’t want to stress it out but it was obviously struggling in the wind and rain. Perhaps it was exhausted from the battering winds. In the end we made the decision to put it out of the weather into the shed on a sheet with some seed and water. At least it would have a place to recover if it could. Not a very good photo as I had to take it through the window so that I didn’t disturb him any more than need be.

Mal’s allotment key arrived today so we had to go down there so that he could measure the plot for his plans. The guy in the next plot was there and so that was another half hour gone chatting to him!

It will keep Mal out of mischief!! I am looking forward to the fresh vegetables.

Not a good game from Spurs!
Thought for the Day – “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face and may the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.” ~ Johnny Depp

Bargains – Marks and Spencer Discount Code | 50% off | marksandspencer.com & Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off &Thorntons Voucher Codes | 50% off | thorntons.co.uk & Millet Sports Discount | 50% off | milletsports.co.uk &Go Outdoors Voucher Code | gooutdoors.co.uk & Twinings Tea Chest | Free Delivery Discount Code

We had a really good nights sleep, so pleased that we have booked to come again. We went in to have breakfast and I took Ellie a bit of sausage back. Our room number 8. Next time Claire has booked us into the suite…number 7. Both have their entrances at the rear of the building, so we have access to the garden. It’s a lovely old hotel, very quirky.

We then went for a long walk all around Wingham. It’s a nice place with some good walks but Ellie got very muddy. A good thing we have thick covers in the car. Ellie sits on the back seat. I have a Ford C Max at the moment and we tried her in the boot which is huge but she didn’t like it as she couldn’t see out so well.

Back home in the afternoon. Ellie is getting quite a well travelled girl and seems to enjoy it.

Thought for the Day – “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breath, trust, let go and see what happens.” ~ Mandy Hale

Bargains – Select Fashion Voucher Code | 60% off | selectfashion.co.uk & Monarch Cheap Flights | £29.99 | monarch.co.uk & Holland and Barrett | Free UK Delivery | hollandandbarrett.com & Warner Leisure Hotels Special Offers 2015 | 50% Discount & Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk & Bhs Discount Code | 50% off | Free Delivery | bhs.co.uk

What a difference a day makes. We took Ellie to Botany Bay and the rain was torrential. We had to take our coats off to sit back in the car because they were so wet. It reminded us of the winter when every day was like this and that was when we made our decision to leave the country! As I have said before now I appreciate the rain a lot more.

After lunch we packed a couple of things and drove to the Dog Inn in Wingham. It’s only about 12 miles away but it was another of my bargains and the sister hotel of the Blazing Donkey, where we have stayed frequently. The deal is £69 for a 3 course dinner. bed and breakfast. It means we can have a nice meal and I can have a drink as I don’t have to drive home.

We checked in and we were not even charged for Ellie.  We then decided to have a drink in the bar and were told to bring Ellie into the bar, she was very welcome. She was in her element with everyone making a fuss of her. They gave us a downstairs room so it was easy to take Ellie out if need be.

Later in the evening we went into the restaurant for our dinner and excellent it was too. The price of the meal equalled the cost of our entire stay. The wine list is good and reasonable too. We got on so well with Claire, who seemed to be running the entire hotel that we asked rather than book via Wowcher, could we book direct for the same deal. It really is such good value and they love dogs! So she booked it there and then for us, the same deal, for £69 for 6 weeks time!! We also had a chance to speak to the chef who came from a top class hotel in South Kensington.

 
A good evening. Ellie seemed very at home, lying on the floor at the bottom of our bed.
Thought for the Day – “Some people believe good things come to those who wait…..not me. I believe good things come to those who go out and make it happen.”

Bargains – Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Hobbycraft Discount Code | 50% off | hobbycraft.co.uk & Maplin Voucher | 60% off | maplin.co.uk & WH Smiths Books | 75% off | whsmith.co.uk & Garden Plants For Sale | 50% off | gardenbargains.com & I Want One Of Those Discount Code | Daily Deals 80% off

That was a surprise, the car was iced up and there had been a frost. We went to Minnis Bay at 8am and it was brilliant sunshine!

There was a lot of bait digging going on. What a lovely morning, especially as I have just looked on the forecast for Lapta and it has a “yellow warning for extreme low temperatures”. That really is not so good with no central heating. It even says real feel for tonight MINUS 7!! That has got to be colder than here in the UK.

Lou and Rhys came round for lunch, broccoli and stilton soup, home made of course, then slow cooked pork (from Birchington butchers!),which comes out a little like kleftico, then cheesecake. They had been to the farm shop in Sturry and so bought some vegetables for us including an enormous string of garlic for £3.50. We all eat a lot of garlic! I even make garlic soup.

Thought for the Day – “Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that you can make anything happen.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Bargains – Thorntons Voucher Codes | 50% off | thorntons.co.uk & Wilko.com Discount Code | Free Delivery | 50% off &Allbeauty Discount Code | 80% off | allbeauty.com & Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk &Wallis Discount Code | 65% off | wallis.co.uk & La Redoute Discount Code | 40% off | laredoute.co.uk

Early morning to Minnis Bay stopping at the butchers on the way back…get to know your butcher!  Ellie is getting so much exercise.

Decorations down and the furniture moved back. It all looks a bit bare now.

We have workmen on the village green outside our front door. We asked what they were doing to make sure they weren’t building a block of flats there. Well, the government seem to have turned a blind eye to building on green belt! No, they are sorting out the drainage.

Thought for the Day – “Use your smile to change this world. Don’t let this world change your smile.”

Bargains – Virgin Experience Days Discount Code | 19% off & Debenhams Half Price Sale | debenhams.com & Sports Direct Discount Code | 90% off | sportsdirect.com & Wallis Discount Code | 65% off | wallis.co.uk & Made Free Delivery | £10 off | Made Voucher | made.com & The Hut Discount Code | 70% off | thehut.com

Minnis Bay first thing and Ellie decided it was a day to bury her ball in the sand. It’s quite amazing just how many shells are washed up on the beach, a lot of oyster shells, some of which I take home because they are so pretty but now I am trying to think of something to do with them!

I stopped at the butcher in Birchington on the way back. They have really good meat and we have both really gone off supermarket meat. Wild Boar Sausages tonight. We must get back into the habit of just using the butchers and the farm shops, then maybe we can have food that tastes of what it should.

I went looking for a haberdashery shop in the afternoon. There used to be a great one in Ramsgate but it has closed down. I did find a small one in Grange Road, Ramsgate (not the best of areas). After that we walked St Lawrence Cliffs, another dog heaven. There are so many places around this area that allow dogs. All these places that we are re discovering!

A welcome return of Broadchurch in the evening.
Thought for the Day – “Life is an experiment in which you may fail or succeed. Explore more, expect least.” ~ Santosh Kalwar

Bargains – Amazon Local Deals and Amazon Local Vouchers & Warner Leisure Hotels Special Offers 2015 | 50% Discount &MyProtein Discount Code | 20% off | myprotein.com & Hobbycraft Discount Code | 50% off | hobbycraft.co.uk& Dorothy Perkins Voucher Code | 60% off | dorothyperkins.com& The Hut Discount Code | 70% off | thehut.com

The rain had stopped! BUT we had fog…..not my favourite weather. It was quite difficult to keep track of Ellie along the beach!

Mal and I went to the Garden Centre. I bought an orchid and some herb seeds and Mal bought some things for his allotment.

We stopped at Tesco on the way back as they bake fresh corn bread/Mediterranean and olive bread. All of it is very good. After that the best place was indoors watching the FA on TV.

Thought for the Day – “There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruski