Archives for March 2015 | On The Island

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Tuesday 10th March 2015

Thank you friends for the kind messages, much appreciated. A walk along Minnis Bay always puts the world to rights, so that’s what we were doing early morning. We had to laugh because a very well groomed tiny white dog started playing with Ellie and so she chased around and around. The other dog wouldn’t leave her alone so she headed for the sea and of course the other dog followed much to its owners disgust as it came out looking very bedraggled. It started off being a Bichon Frise! He then commented “She has never gone near the sea before, I don’t think my wife is going to be happy.” It was having fun but obviously Ellie is a bad influence.

Another day a new beginning.I have just spent half the night worrying about how we get 2 x King size beds up the narrow cottagey staircase. I told Mal and he said it is his job to worry, so he will deal with the problem. Truth is he doesn’t worry about anything but it is now his problem, I have officially handed it over!

Mal went to the allotment and I went shopping. He brought some rhubarb home, lovely.

Funny how things turn out. The estate agent wanted us to go in this afternoon, so we could sign contracts and so would they, acting for the absentee landlord. They wanted to do it today so we had no more upset…..the cottage is now ours for 6 months but we can’t have the keys until Wednesday (18th). We have also been told when the owner sells we will have first refusal. That would be nice to “try before you buy”. This is the cottage…

After signing the contract we drove to the cottage and took Ellie for a walk along the road. Well, literally 2 minutes from our front door, this is what she encountered…..

She was very good and didn’t bark at any of them but I have to say, the wolves lined up to watch her walk by! We had a long walk and then decided to get a take away on the way home and while we were waiting went into a micro pub, The Hair of the Dog, in Minster. So many pubs are closing down and this now seems the way things are going. It was such a lovely atmosphere in there, we took Ellie in and she joined another Goldie and a scottie dog. We wished we hadn’t ordered the take away and we could have stayed longer.

Thought for the Day – “I believe everything happens for a reason. People change so you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they are right. You believe lies so that you will eventually learn to trust no one but yourself and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” ~ Marilyn Monroe

Monday, March 9th, 2015Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

Monday 9th March 2015

Sometimes things in life don’t go as planned. I kept our house move quiet because I didn’t want to tempt fate until we had signed for the property. We signed last week and then lunchtime today we had a phone call from the agent saying the farmer said he has changed his mind, something to do with the extended family. Funny that Mal had noticed it wasn’t his name on the contract but we think his fathers. Of course he pulled out before he had actually signed. The agent told us that he had never had this happen in the 30 years he had been letting properties. Erm, had to be us didn’t it?! The girl we had been dealing with at the estate agency was so upset but we told her it wasn’t her fault. S**t happens. Of course we gave our notice in where we are!

So a farmer, and his wife, hand shake means absolutely nothing. Years ago my dad warned me about farmers……..I should have listened. A good thing I believe in Karma!

I have to say the estate agent has been fantastic. They called later to say they had another cottage which other people had been shown but we were obviously in desperate need and also ahead of them as we had our references and credit check in place. Bless them they let us see it in the afternoon and rang before they left for the day saying we could have it. It is only for 6 months but better than living in Rhys’s garage….ha ha!! We can now look at leisure over the next 6 months. This one is next to Wingham Wildlife park, that will be good as they are bringing chimps back to the park. It literally is 2 minutes walk from the cottage. I’m feeling a little like a nomad at the moment!

Thought for the Day – “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell.

Sunday, March 8th, 2015Monday, March 9th, 2015

Sunday 8th March 2015

Another beautiful day. Early to Minnis Bay with Ellie and then we went over to see Lou. There was a food and drink fair in Herne Bay and so we walked along the sea footpath to the hall with the the three littlies, Lou and Tariq . Too much sun in the photo!

There were lots of samples to try and nice things to buy. We bought some wild garlic which came with a recipe to make pesto with it. Interesting. We bought lots of other bits as well.

Again in the evening Ellie and I watched Crufts. I was hoping the Flat Coated Retriever would win. I suppose at least it got reserve.

Our taxi driver who collected Ellie, Mal and I from Paris, bred two of these retrievers in the display team and his wife is in the team.

Thought for the Day – “Always end the night on a positive thought. No matter how hard the day may have been, there is always a reason to be grateful. Let tomorrow be a fresh start.”

Saturday, March 7th, 2015Sunday, March 8th, 2015

Saturday 7th March 2015

Bargains – Marks and Spencer Discount Code | 50% off | marksandspencer.com & Red Letter Days Discount Code | 70% off | redletterdays.co.uk & MandMDirect Discount Code | 85% off | mandmdirect.com & Hobbycraft Discount Code | 50% off | hobbycraft.co.uk & La Redoute Discount Code | 40% off | laredoute.co.uk & Laura Ashley Sale | 50% off | lauraashley.com

It was such a nice day we took a drive to Wingham and then on to Ash.

I think Spring has sprung from the flowers that are starting to come out.

On the way back we decided to have our lunch and a pint (for Mal!) out. We went to the Sportsman at Cliffs End. It is the first time we have been in it for years. It used to be a really grotty pub. Not any more and a really nice couple running it. It’s dog friendly and Ellie was even given a bowl of water and a treat and then she just lay under our table, so well behaved!

I suppose now is the time to reveal why Mal and I were excited. We have been looking for another house to rent. We are not buying a house yet until we make our minds up exactly where we want to live, that coupled with the fact that we believe house prices will fall. Maybe right or wrong but meanwhile it is nice getting to know other areas of Thanet. We have had a problem that so many people want rented properties and there are so few around. This has meant we have spent the last couple of months signing on and visiting hundreds of estate agents around the area. In fact we have been doing this daily! No they don’t phone you if a property comes up as they really don’t have to work, just too many people waiting. So, this has been really hard work.

Recently we went to see one that an agent in Wingham had on their books. We made sure they knew us and Ellie by frequently going in the office. Finally we had it down to two properties. Last week we were due to see a landlord in Wingham but the day before a decision was made on a house we so wanted. Something we never thought we would get in the UK (without paying an arm and a leg) was a sea view. We were the first to see the house and coincidently the landlord walked in as the agent was showing us round. There were rumours that because of previous tenants who cost him £15 K to evict, he didn’t want dogs, so I asked him would he consider us. He said everyone on their merits. Fair enough. We told the agent we wanted it and he said he had another 10 people to show it to. We also had to give our notice in two days following the viewing or we would have to pay an extra months rent where we are.

That afternoon the agent rang and asked us to take Ellie down to meet the landlord as this is one of two cottages on a working farm and he wanted to ensure Ellie got on with his three dogs. So it all hung on Ellie!! We went to the farm and he came into the huge garden with his wife, his black lab, cream lab and a spaniel. The four dogs chased all over the place and loved playing with each other. The farmer , Guy, then started saying “if you want this or that doing to the house……..”, so I asked if we had it and he replied “well, the dogs get on.” That was it!!!

Credit check this week and contracts signed today. We get the keys on a very lucky Friday 13th!! The cottage is newly decorated and carpeted and we have views out over the bay. The Sportsman we went to today will be one of our locals. We have been told there are tunnels from the farm land which we can use. I think these are from the smuggling days. We just can’t believe how lucky we are and the bonus, it is £200 cheaper a month than where we are living.

The house we are now living in is expensive and in spite of that the landlady has not done repairs she should have done and she also burnt the entire lawn with weed killer. The back door is insecure and she has no intention of replacing it. I could go on and on………….. Also the village we are in, has nothing, even the pub closed down.

In the new cottage, from the front door we could walk to Whitstable one way and to Sandwich the other along the coastal path. It also has huge lobbies at the front and back doors…ideal for wet/muddy dogs! In fact it has everything we need.

Happy people!

We watched Crufts again in the evening. Ellie sat watching it with us, she seems to enjoy it!

Thought for the Day – “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Friday, March 6th, 2015Saturday, March 7th, 2015

Friday 6th March 2014

Bargains – Thorntons Voucher Codes | 50% off | thorntons.co.uk & Matalan Sale Online | 50% off | matalan.co.uk & Tucci Clothing | 20% off | Tucci Discount Code & Expedia Sale | 40% off | expedia.co.uk & Brantano Voucher Code | 50% off | brantano.co.uk & Bon Marche Sale | 50% off | bonmarche.co.uk

An early walk at Minnis,another lovely day. Ellie chasing her ball.

It looks as though Mal has done a good job, this photo was with the Panasonic Lumix and only a small splodge left, hardly noticeable but I can notice it. So, he is going to take it apart again and see if he can remove that too. I’m impressed!

A lovely day and 17 degrees forecast for the weekend. Mal made the most of the sun and went to the allotment while I went shopping. We have a lot of birthdays in March, so it was present shopping.

I watched Crufts on TV in the evening. Mal and I laughed so much because Ellie watched it with us, moving her head from side to side. I did consider going to Birmingham but we seem really busy this week and yesterday was gun dog day, which to me is the best day. I have been 4 times before. Perhaps I’ll do the London Dog show instead in May when life may have quietened down a bit.

Mal managed to sort my camera again and I think he has done it all now except one of the screws broke so is now missing one screw but it still works. Not many things are made to be taken apart nowadays. He keeps telling me to buy a new one but they are just not the same. As I have said before I still have the Canon which is a good camera as well as this.

Thought for the Day – “Never reply when you are angry. Never make a promise when you are happy. Never make a decision when you are sad.”

Thursday, March 5th, 2015Friday, March 6th, 2015

Thursday 5th March 2015

Sun again at Minnis Bay. Back home and a joint of lamb cooking ready for Lou and Rhys coming round. We haven’t seen them for a while, so it was a lovely lunch and afternoon.

After they left Mal decided he was going to try and mend one of my cameras. I have a very good Canon one for close ups but I also have a Panasonic Lumix which is much lighter and I can just put in my pocket. Unfortunately I have splodges on the photos if it is something like clear sky. With the help of You Tube Mal took it all apart and cleaned it I would just buy another but they don’t make that one any more and I don’t want the new model with all the extras on it as I have all that on the Canon. I can’t say Mal is a great handyman but give him his due, he does try and You Tube makes things easy.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015Thursday, March 5th, 2015

Wednesday 4th March 2015

Bargains – Boots Discount Codes | 50% off | boots.com & Thorntons Voucher Codes | 50% off | thorntons.co.uk & Maplin Voucher | £10 off | maplin.co.uk & Glasses Direct Discount Code | 50% off | glassesdirect.co.uk & Tesco Discount Codes | £15 off | tesco.com & The Hut Discount Code | 70% off | thehut.com

Sadly Shirley and Steve had to leave to travel back to Tewkesbury. Mal and I went off to Botany Bay. Bright sunshine but a cold wind. More dogs to make friends with!

Someone was digging in the sand and sticking their nose in the hole!

Later we went shopping in Sainsburys to get another 10p a litre off fuel and then we checked the car out a bit as we hadn’t had time until today. New car mats in it and all the other bits and pieces that I have been moving from one hire car to another.

Thought for the Day – ” Tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.” ~ Kalidasa