Year: 2018

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I went shopping and while I was in the supermarket I had the car valeted. It really needed it after moving and filling it up with all sorts. It looks much better now! 

I think we are still on holiday as we sat out in the garden most of the afternoon making the most of the weather, just in case it changes very soon. Ellie is getting used to her new lawn at last. She wouldn’t pee on it for a week!

Tris and Violet came in the evening and stayed the night.

Thought for the Day – “Where a beautiful soul has travelled, beautiful memories remain forever.”

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We were both walking the grounds early and in spite of there being lakes everywhere, we have managed to keep Ellie out of the water for three days! Just as well. it would have been awful taking her back to our room covered in mud. However I am sure Julie (the owner) would have no objections, she is a true dog lover and has one of her own. She had two last time we were here.

Breakfast next and we both had the scrambled egg and smoked salmon. I have to say perfect scrambled egg. We had frequently seen Julie and chatted to her, a lovely lady.  Goodbye Powder Mills until the next time.

We packed up our things and had a slow drive back through the Kent countryside. Cats have been digging up some of my new plants in the raised bed garden. I guess they have been used to using it as their WC and Ellie wasn’t here to scare them away. 

Thought for the Day – “The best gifts in the world are not the material objects one can buy from the store, but in the memories we make with the people we love.” ~ Amanda Bogarshinov

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We had a really good nights sleep and were up early and out into the hotels woods with Ellie. She loves her early morning runs chasing the wildlife! 

Followed by breakfast…yummy! Guess whose breakfast is whose?! I have to admit I asked if Mal could have 2 sausages so I could take one back to the room for Ellie!

We then made our way to Hastings. What a warm summer day. We have been so lucky with the weather. It was warmer than the Canaries.

We walked all along the sea front, Ellie went in the sea and then we walked amongst the fish sheds (she liked that!!) We also went in the lifeboat station – they wanted to steal Ellie and they gave her two big treats!

From there was wandered through the Old Town. There are some really nice unusual shops there. One of them, Shirley Leaf and Petal co had some lovely silk flowers in for my Red Hatters hat.

It was the hottest April day for 69 years! Now that was a surprise. When we came back to the hotel we sat in the grounds.

What a lovely place to sit outside with Ellie and have our dinner.

Thought for the Day – “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” ~ Mark Black

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We took Ellie around the hotel grounds quite early . You can see all the wild garlic and also if you have left your wellies at home……

We then went into the Orangery for breakfast and the breakfast chef gave me a sausage for Ellie!

We went for a wander around Battle and of course I had to go into Demelza!! There was only one person serving, they were so short staffed. I ended up buying a couple of bits in there.

We went to the White Hart for a sandwich and a drink and sat out in their garden. 

Later we went to Battle Great Wood. We had been warned to take note of where we were going as it is huge and most people get lost in it.

Back to the hotel and Mal had a quick nap. I couldn’t he was snoring! I just read but it was lovely to do nothing much at all.

Another walk around the lakes and then we sat by the pool. We are becoming so relaxed!

 

Dinner in the hotel was as good as always. This was followed by a sneaky brandy by the pool with Ellie joining us.

Thought for the Day – “I am old but I am young at heart. We are always the same age inside. Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once. Do not regret growing older, it’s a privilege denied to many.” ~ Richard Gere 

Mal and I had three days booked at our favourite hotel in Battle, hoping that the booking would be after we moved. We booked at the beginning of December and thought it would be a nice “unwind”. We certainly needed it, the last 6 months have been tough to say the least.

So,after Tris left, having stayed the night, from the time we got in the car, we were on holiday! Mal had planned a stop half way in a forest, to give Ellie a run and us a break. As it happened we saw a Garden centre just as we were looking for the forest. We went in there, bought some basil seeds and some lilly of the valley,I must have that in my final garden, it usually flowers around my birthday. Then Mal decided we would skip the forest and have coffee here instead. We sat in their garden area and Mal went in to order. The girl who was in charge of the restaurant was so nice and Mal persuaded her to let us have afternoon tea for lunch and she only charged £10! 

We certainly couldn’t eat all the cakes! The girls name was Kathryn and she came out and chatted to us and it was really because of Ellie she let us have the afternoon tea she said, as she had fallen in love with her!! 

We arrived at Powder Mills  before check in time but they told us the room was ready anyway. We unpacked and then went for a long walk in the grounds. I can’t believe that the bluebells are so far behind this year. But the woods were full of wild garlic.

The sun was out and it was really warm but there was still quite a bit if mud about in the woods. Ellie’s feet were a bit muddy but they are really dog friendly. So many memories here, going back over 20 years and previous dogs that came with us!

We sat in the gardens after the walk.

In the evening we ate in the restaurant, a 3 course meal with a nice bottle of wine , followed by coffee and petits fours in the library. I had the wild garlic soup to start as it had been harvested from the hotels woods. We will have to collect some to take home with us. 

Thought for the Day – “Life goes by too quickly. So, laugh, love and try new things. Forgive, forget and don’t hold grudges. Choose to be happy.”

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I volunteered at Demelza for the day. Linda was on holiday, so we were one down but we weren’t very busy. I guess people chose to be out in their gardens rather than shopping in Canterbury!

I arrived home and Tris was visiting and later in the evening Jemma and Dom came round and so we all went to the Mermaids Locker. This has already turned out to be our favourite ale house! 

Thought for the Day – “Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire.”

Lou’s Brighton Marathon Day!

We had to be over at there house for 6am. From there Rhys drove us all to Gatwick where we caught the train to Brighton. The train was absolutely heaving with runners. It would have been sensible to put on an extra train or two. 

Lou prepared to run and that was very emotional for me, especially when I saw the back of her running top.

 
I try so hard not to get upset in front of the littlies. Lou set off and we walked to the 5km marker and nearly missed her going past as one of the stewards was telling us to move back. But she turned round and came to us to say hello!! We took the littlies to the pier and had some food and they played on the amusements. Rhys has done the London Marathon and said the organisation for the Brighton one left a lot to be desired! We tracked where Lou was and later Torin’s best friend Lee and his girlfriend Kellie arrived to show support. It was so nice to see them again.

Finally we waited by the finish line and Lou ‘s time was 4 hours and 46 minutes which was excellent for her first marathon. It could have been a bit quicker if she hadn’t stopped to say hello at 5km!!

So far she has raised an amazing £865. We are so proud of her. There is still time to donate.

There is an Indian restaurant in Brighton that has an excellent reputation, Chilli Pickle, so we all went there for a celebration. The food was so good!

We were all shattered by the time we arrived home and Lou looked surprisingly fresh! But we had walked a lot during the day!

We collected Ellie from Jo’s house on the way home. Her girls didn’t want to see her go!

Thought for the Day – ” I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.”