Today is Mal’s birthday, so he was awake early opening all his presents. Breakfast and then we drove all through the beautiful Kent countryside to Battle. We stopped and had a walk through some woods on the way. I had booked to stay at our favourite hotel. They love dogs here too, so of course Ellie came with us. We did stop in Battle to have lunch in a pub. Unfortunately we weren’t impressed with the food. It was only a snack but even so.
We arrived at Powder Mills Hotel far too early but they said the room was ready, so no problem, we could go straight in. They took us to room number 16 which we have stayed in before. The hotel is very old and quaint. Room 16 for some reason has a bathroom with shower and bath and then another shower by the bed.
We went for a very long walk around their 150 acres of woods and lakes. Ellie loved it. At one point she sniffed out a pair of ducks and I only just managed to grab her before she followed them into one of the lakes. I could just imagine all that wet and mud all over the hotels plush carpets. We also came across the owner walking her two dogs. She is a lovely lady and stopped to talk to us.
Fungi in the woods
Owner + dogs
Forgot your wellies?
A long time ago, before moving to Cyprus we brought our last Goldie and English Setter here and now I am wondering how we managed to keep them out of the water. I do remember the morning when we were supposed to check out, we got lost in the woods and couldn’t find our way back to the hotel!
We had our dinner in the hotel. The food is always good here.
We had our coffee and petits fours in the library and Ellie joined us for that. She was lying down very comfortably on the floor but people kept coming out of the restaurant saying what a lovely well behaved dog she was and giving her a stroke. That was nice to hear. A perfect end to a lovely day.
Thought for the Day – “Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind it don’t matter.” ~ Satchel Paige
Mother’s Day and I had lovely presents and cards…thank you boys! Torin bought me a memory box and Scarlet said “when you lose your memory Nanny, you’ll be able to find it in this box”!! She is funny.
Torin took apart the most difficult of the beds, the one we had new. We actually paid Dreams extra to put it together and Torin discovered they have sheared some of the bolts and some of the fittings are bent. A good start!
Charlotte, Torin, Scarlet and Jack
Torin and co left to go home and then Tristan and Violet arrived. They stayed for lunch.
Violet and Ellie
We dropped them off at the station later and continued on to let Ellie have her run at Minnis Bay. The wind down there was very cold. Ellie was really disappointed when she arrived home and there were no children to play with!
A busy day but lovely to see everyone and Mal sorted all the meals and drinks.
Thought for the Day – “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” ~ Tenneva Jordan
We went to bed at 2am! The kids were up at 7! I think Ellie may have gone in and decided it was time to play with them.
It was River’s 18th Bitrhday, goodness only knows where all those years have gone. I remember holding him when he was 15 minutes old.
We took Boo and Ellie to Botany Bay. There was a really cold wind. The kids loved searching the rock pools and came back with pockets full of shells and “special stones”.
We took two very worn out dogs home and then went over to Wingham to show them the house (from the outside as we don’t have the keys until Wednesday.) Of course the kids love the idea that Nanny and Grandad live right next to the Wildlife Park! We had to go and see the emus!
We went to MacDonalds on the way back,yuk, it was for the kids really.
Back home and Scarlet and Jack were kept amused by some Hobbycaraft kits that were really quite good, a knight and a princess.
I forgot to say in all of this, that next doors son always parks under our front window even though it is owned by neither house according to our landlady. I have parked there 3 times in 6 months, each time to allow someone easy access to the front door. Twice for Steve who can’t walk far and last night because I knew the twins would be asleep and may need to be carried indoors. So, the nice neighbour boxed my car in. The next house along were appalled to see what he had done when they went to get in their car. I think he was a bit shocked too when he got a piece of my mind. Nice neighbour…..Good thing we are moving and have plenty of parking where we are going.
We have just discovered that we are moving into the electoral ward of Al Murray. Probably the most sensible vote. The others are offering nothing. I have even heard this morning that they are building housing on Ramsgate sea front. They have improved the harbour with EU money and were supposed to be building a huge leisure complex. No, more houses instead….and the rich fat cats get richer.
Lou popped round for a cuppa in the morning. In the afternoon Mal treated me to a “pre Mother’s Day Afternoon tea” at The Minnis. Everywhere just gets too busy on the day. I have to say the service at the Minnis was awful. Half an hour before anything arrived at our table! We’ll have a change of “locals” soon when we move. We had eaten some of the sandwiches!
Dermot O’Leary is a star, 24 hours non stop dancing for Red Nose Day. Now everyone should donate just for him. He is looking a little worn out.
Dermot the hero!
Torin, Charlotte, Scarlet and Jack arrived and so the kids went to bed at 10, with Grandad telling a story and the rest of us were very late. Thought for the Day – “We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.” ~ Ronald Reagan
We started packing some things and then Lou and Rhys came round for lunch. After they left we went to Westwood and Mal managed to find some new shoes. In fact one of his ex pupils (from about 20 years ago) served him. A shame we have to buy more shoes when we have been used to living in flip flops most of the year.
Sad to hear about Terry Pratchett. He had been collaborating with Steeleye Span for their album Wintersmith. Thought for the Day – “Forgive the person and their actions. Never give in to hate, let it go, set it free and karma will take care of what is meant to be.”
Down to Minnis Bay and Ellie carrying on her favourite occupation…blowing bubbles.
She used to do this in the swimming pool. We were back home by 8 as the landladies estate agent was coming round to take photos at 9. He arrived at 8.30. “Can you move the dog out of the way, can you move your car out of the way etc etc. ” We were quite glad to see the back of him.
Mal and I went into Canterbury , a nice walk along the river.
We then went and had lunch in Chapman’s Seafood Restaurant. Mal tried to buy a new pair of shoes, couldn’t find any he liked and on the way back to the car we stopped in my favourite shop Siesta.
The Duchess of Cambridge was in Margate today at the Turner Centre. Thought for the Day – “People say “everything happens for a reason”. That ‘reason’ is……………..To decide what you will do with what you have right now. Not what you thought you’d have, not what you were promised but didn’t get, not what you hope to have one day, but what you have right here, right now. The more you can keep attention on that, the greater the creations within your life will be. Make the most of every moment.” ~ Doe Zantamata
