Sunday 30th April 2023

We took Ellie for a long walk over the fields.

Later we went to “Sandwich Salutes the 40’s”. I have to say bigger and better than last year.

We had our lunch at the Quayside Bar and Grill, which has just changed hands. The lady who served us is a volunteer coastguard and she is another one who will be marching at the Coronation. She said she is getting so excited but has to learn to march this week as they are marching behind the Marines!

Back in time to watch the Spurs game…oh dear!

Thought for the Day“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” ~ Michael Jordan

Saturday 29th April 2023

I went shopping, early so that I could miss the crowds who seem to think Bank Holiday is a time when the shops will never open again! I bought a few plants for the garden.

We had some really lovely tulips from the allotment, that were dug up from my garden, so I took them round for Torin but I am really not sure that tulips will last that long round there.

The rhubarb has gone mad while we have been away and so Mal brought a lot home, the first lot and gave it to Louise next door.

She works at the Kings Arms in Sandwich and a deal has been made, we give them our excess rhubarb and we can go and have a free meal!

We watched the Hammers game, oh dear they lost.

A lovely sunny afternoon in the garden.

Thought for the Day“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” ~ George Addai

Friday 28th April 2023

We packed the car and drove to the port, not far from where we were staying. When considering if we come back to the island, I have to say the ferry is expensive. We paid over £200, as locals said they can fly to Spain for less from the mainland.  We arrived a little early so they let us go on the earlier 8.20am ferry.

Ellie really isn’t bothered by it at all.

We stopped at Ripley again, for a coffee in Pinnock’s Coffee House. They certainly are getting into the Coronation around there. Pinnock’s allows dogs upstairs where there have lovely comfortable sofas  and you can stay as long as you want, obviously one of the “keep warm” neighbourhood places.

We then took Ellie to have a run amongst the bluebells.

As we walked back to the car park, we walked past a really old fashioned cobblers and they had wellies in the window for £10 a pair. Mal’s allotment wellies have sprung a leak, so we went in the shop. Well, I tired but I had to go out straight away as it was packed with shoes you couldn’t move. The cobbler came to the window and Mal asked for the boots. Well we both said it smelt just like a cobblers when we were young and the cobbler must have been at least 90! He managed to crawl round to where Mal was and find some wellies. I can’t imagine what happens if he has to use the ladder! It gave us both a giggle anyway and Mal got his wellies!

After all that excitement we continued the journey home and managed to get back before the crowds flocked towards Margate for the bank holiday.

We had a washing machine and tumble dryer in the lodge, so I came home with no dirty washing. Excellent.

Thought for the Day“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” ~ Judy Garland

Thursday 27th April 2023

Sadly our last full day. The day started with Ellie barking at the red squirrel on our terrace! It really is so peaceful here and the only thing that wakes you is the bird song. Yes, we get it at home but there it is usually the sea gulls.

A day to relax but we are seriously thinking of booking again.

Today we heard new birds, a Dunnock and a Treecreeper.

We went to Dores Hill Farm Emporium, a fascinating place. Antiques and all sorts. We nearly bought some furniture and then decided there was no way it would fit in the car for the journey back.  Ellie even found a cat in there to play with.

We then decided we would go back to the Blacksmiths for our last lunch on the Isle of Wight. They were busy as usual and so we asked if they had a table where we could take a dog. The same lovely waitress asked if we would mind sitting in this room, just next to where we were on Sunday. We certainly wouldn’t mind, we had a lot of space and Ellie just spread out! It was lovely in there. I had the most delicious scallop starter.

Mal had their Newchurch pie which is the chefs signature dish. He said it was delicious.

In the evening we packed ready to leave the following morning.

Thought for the Day“The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.”~ Charles Dickens

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 26th April 2023

Our first visit was to Firestone Copse Wood, far fewer bluebells than we were hoping for but Ellie had a good run!

Then we went to Ryde and as it was so cold we had to change from our original plan and so went for a coffee in The Festival cafe to warm us up . Lots of memorabilia from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.

We then went on to Cowes. We had a wander along the sea front and ended up in the town looking for somewhere to have lunch. We saw this and so went in!

It only looks a small pub from the front but is huge inside and had a lovely barmaid, Rose who chatted to us a lot as it surprisingly wasn’t very busy.

The food was really good, I had really tasty sea  bass.

We finally went back to the lodge and another walk through the woods and to the beach. It is so nice having this all a couple of minutes from your door.

Thought for the Day“You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you.”~ Barack Obama

Tuesday 25th April 2023

We spent the day in Shanklin. Ellie had a good run in the park as soon as we got there. I know we have been here many times before but it is a lovely place. We did take quite a long while finding somewhere to have fresh crab for lunch!

We went to Pencil Cottage.

They raise money for a school trust in Gambia.

And they had crab on the menu so that is where we had lunch! Mal had an enormous pizza which he said was the best he had for a very long while but the crab was a bit of a let down, not enough white meat!

Back to the lodge for a walk in the woods. Then we sit on the terrace listening to the birds singing. So far we have identified blackbirds (the noisiest!), robins, goldfinches, blue tits and great tits, a woodpecker and a song thrush. We aren’t that clever to identify them all but use the bird song app!

Thought for the Day“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!'” ~ Audrey Hepburn

 

 

Monday 24th April 2023

We were looking for places we haven’t been before and came across Quarr Abbey which is very close to where we are staying. It is a monastery for Benedictine monks but it sounded like the grounds were worth the visit. They certainly were along with the Quarr pigs and the piglets.

Ellie was absolutely loving them, especially when they squealed at her. She was fascinated.

The grounds cover 200 acres and it takes a cost of £1.2million a year to keep it going!

There was an art exhibition , a tea rooms, information centre and a farm shop and the Abbey was beautiful. We spoke to the lady in the farm shop who makes all the chutneys, some so delicious and asked if she had a recipe book and she replied she didn’t have time! But she told us last year she made curried runner bean chutney and it was the best seller! We will have to try that.

We went to the tea rooms and then headed off to the Garlic Farm .  There is a lovely walk around the farm which of course we took with Ellie.

Of course we bought quite a few things there!