Saturday 31st December 2022

Crazy as we may be, we took Ellie to Minnis Bay in the pouring rain. A real breath of fresh air after a day in London! Yes we got soaked but it was worth it and we were the only ones on the beach!

In the evening we binge watched Strike which we have been saving.  At midnight so many fireworks and poor  Ellie was freaking out. She doesn’t usually bother too much but I guess she is getting older.

Thought for the Day – “Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.” ~ Michael Josephson

Friday 30th December 2022

We had tickets for the panto, Jack and the Bean stalk at the Palladium. As far as we knew the trains were still chaotic and so we booked a coach to London. We left Ellie with Lou and Rhys and Lou drove us to Whitstable and we waited at the bus stop in torrential rain and wind. The journey was not good, with accidents on the motorway and by the time we reached London it was much later than we had planned, so we caught a taxi to Argyll Street. The taxi driver was lovely . He told us he has made so much money this year and he didn’t know where the cost of living crisis was as it certainly isn’t in London! The streets were packed. We went up exactly the same day last year and it wasn’t that bad.

We quickly grabbed a seat at Wok to Walk and had a Thai, the only thing we had time for. As we were walking along to the Palladium I realised I had lost my wedding ring and engagement ring. When my hands are cold, as they were, they had slipped off. The streets were packed but we tried retracing footsteps, hopeless, then I looked in my handbag and they had slipped off when I put something back in there. You can’t believe the relief! I really had panicked.

We went into the panto.

Sad to say it was not as good as last year. Dawn French was not good and strangely we missed Donny Osmond who was in it last year. Of course Julian Cleary was very good and his costumes outstanding.  We made the decision not to get the coach back, checked to see if there was a train, went and had a gin and tonic and then caught the train back where Lou met us and we collected Ellie.

One way and another not the best day! A shame we had been looking forward to it.

Thought for the Day“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” ~ Will Rogers

Thursday 29th December 2022

Down to the beach with Ellie. The sun was out but quite a wind.

From there we stopped at the florist to get some flowers for our Queenie from all of the Hatters, as today is her birthday. I had already given her the present from me and I was going to have the flowers sent but this time of year, wasn’t sure how reliable they are for delivery on the right day.

We delivered them to her on the way home.

Mal went to the allotment in the afternoon to make sure the greenhouse was still in one piece.

Thought for the Day – “Spend time with your elders, not everything can be found on Google.”

Wednesday 28th December 2022

It was raining most of the day, so a wet walk in the morning. Lou popped round later to return our dining chairs they had borrowed.

I watched some fascinating TV on Orangutans and gorillas. I must have forgotten that Dian Fossey was murdered. I think the gorillas have far more sense than cruel humans.

Thought for the Day – “When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate on the preservation of the future.”~ “Gorillas in the Mist”

Tuesday 27th December 2022

After our walk with Ellie, as it was a nice morning, we decided to go to Wingham Wildlife. We bought an annual ticket again. It isn’t far to go. They seem to have a lot of building and improvements going on, a good thing. I think our favourites are the orangutan and the chimps especially poor Lucas.

Thought for the Day“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” ~ Michele Ruiz

Monday 26th December 2022

We went to Minnis Bay and it looked as though many were there for their Boxing Day constitutional.

The sun was out but it was a bit chilly. Ellie didn’t care, she still runs in and out of the sea.

Football in the afternoon and evening.

Mal’s son Kerry popped in on his way back to Brighton.

Thought for the Day – “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” ~ Franklin D Roosevelt

Sunday 25th December 2022

Happy Christmas to all!!

We walked Ellie and then went to Lou and Rhys’s for Christmas day and had a delicious lunch. River and Maddie were there and also Tariq and Alex. Ollie and Lou did a great job with the food.

Ollie is definitely another heading for catering for his career. He made the creme brulee for dessert  along with a lot of the other food.

This was followed by a very lively games evening.

A good time was had by all, except Ellie maybe, she didn’t like all the noise!

Thought for the Day – “Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.”