Year: 2019

A nice walk in the sun. Ellie loves all the dogs we meet along the way.

Mal and I then drove into Canterbury for a wander around and went to Chom Chom for lunch. They do the most delicious Thai curry and today it was HOT.  It did remind me of going there with Torin and the twins and the last time we were there, I filled Scarlet’s pocket with the jelly beans that they leave out with the desserts in big bowls and Torin said how naughty nanny was! They disagreed!

I did resist the desserts and just had fresh fruit salad.

Thought for the Day – “Impossible is just an opinion.” ~ Paulo Coelho

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A day at Demelza. Jack was on holiday and we had a really quiet day.  I bought a mac and also a fancy dress for Lou for a show she is going to in the summer. That boosted takings a bit!

Thought for the Day – A friendly word, a pleasant smile. Help someone feel his day’s worthwhile.  ~ Catherine Pulsifer

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Maybe it was the gin and tonics last night but I had the best night’s sleep I have had for about a year!

We had a lazy morning, taking Ellie for her walk a little later than usual. Mal had time to “play” with his birthday presents!

We had a full house over at Lou and Rhys’s as Mal’s birthday continued!  Lou cooked  all thirteen of us a lovely meal. This was followed by TWO cakes that Ollie baked! He is 12 and did a fantastic job. The chocolate one was of Grandad on his allotment!

It was nice to see the older boys and their girl friends. River and Sol had completed a half marathon in the morning!  River only has a couple of weeks left at Uni. How the time flies by. Tariq was home for a flying visit from the Marines. Back to base the following day.

For an old man, Mal did very well for presents and celebrations!

Thought for the Day – “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ~ Dr Seuss

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Mal’s Birthday! We had tea, he opened his presents and then we packed up and drove into Sevenoaks town to have breakfast. We both had eggs benedict and they were lovely.

We had a walk around the shops and then drove back to Lou and Rhys’s to collect Ellie then back home.

In the evening we met up with Violet and Tris in the Crispin. We took Ellie with us which Violet was pleased about. We all had the Caribbean menu but it doesn’t seem as good as it used to be. Even the white chocolate cheesecake WASN’T!! I gave Mal most of mine, can’t waste the calories on something like that when it is not extra special and it wasn’t. We have had it before and it was so good. Tonight it wasn’t even what we asked for. The waitress didn’t come and clear our table, Violet went and fetched the dessert menu…….not good for Mal’s birthday meal! We will have to try one of the other eating places in Sandwich, there are plenty of them. He enjoyed it anyway which was the main thing.

Thought for the Day – “In the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln

We walked Ellie and then took her round to Lou and Rhys’s where she will be spending the night.

Mal and I then went off to Sevenoaks as we were going to a Merry Hell concert in the evening. They have to be our favourite band and sadly they are a northern band who rarely come down south. This is their first time in Kent!

We booked into where we were staying overnight, so handy as it was 5 minutes walk to the venue.

Brilliant night is all I can say and although you wouldn’t notice it, Andrew was not well and slowly losing his voice.

They dedicated this number to us, for Mal’s birthday but for both of us. We both sat there with tears in our eyes!

We both really enjoyed the evening and to be honest it was just like folk clubs used to be “in the old days”. We didn’t want to leave! We walked back to our accommodation with the help of a torch. The villagers decided they don’t want street lamps!

Thought for the Day – “Be thankful for today because in one moment your entire life could change.”

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River, our first grandchild is 22 today. That doesn’t really seem possible. This is him when he was 15 minutes old.

He liked his presents, Rhys helped me choose.

Later Mal and I went into Deal to have a wander and never ending coffee in Spoons. The local one is the Norman Wisdom. We also mastered the new parking arrangements in Sainsbury!

As we arrived home, a guy we know who used to work in the Help the Aged charity shop was cleaning our street and he apologised he couldn’t do it too well today as there were a couple of cars parked there!! I’ve always chatted to him because he was always up early when I walked Ellie in the summer and would fill dog water bowls up outside his shop. I used to give them a donation every now and then because of it. I did wonder why the bowls are left empty now, obviously because he has left! It’s nice to have someone local looking after our area, than just any old person from Dover council.

Mal went to the allotment later in the afternoon. We tried a couple of tester paint pots on the wall, one is definitely too dark.

Not a brilliant day for me, grief strikes when you least expect it.

Thought for the Day -“Simple moments with your grandchildren often become priceless memories.”

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We took Ellie for her walk, extremely windy again and then took her to White Mill vets for a second opinion on her lump. What a difference. We saw one of the partners who has been there 40 years and she studied it and felt all around and said she thinks it is a mast cell tumour and because of early action it is likely to be benign. She explained exactly what it was . So we have registered with this vet and she will perform the operation next Wednesday. Mal and I both feel a lot happier having made that decision.

When we arrived home I phoned Eagle vets to cancel the surgery she was going to have there. I told the receptionist that I wasn’t happy that the vet we saw didn’t even look at the lump etc etc. The receptionist said “Yeah, OK”! I then told her we were moving to White Mill because of it “Yeah OK”! How that vetinary practice has changed over the years. I know I could complain to George, the owner who I have known for 25 years but what is the point? Customer service seems to be lacking everywhere or am I just getting old?!

Then it was time to meet the Red Hatters for lunch. We met up at Quex Barn, a rather overpriced place to eat. I had jacket potato which arrived cold and SMALL and expensive. I am glad it wasn’t my suggestion to eat there!!

There were fourteen of us today which meant I couldn’t talk to everyone but good to see new members! This is Queenie and I!

More planning for future events.

Thought for the Day – “To err is human – to forgive, canine.”

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