Month: August 2023

We both had an awful nights sleep with Mal’s coughing and snoring all night. He really does have a bad cold/flu. We had our breakfast in the conservatory, (Ellie licking her lips waiting for her sausage!) Then we went for a walk in the grounds.

We wandered around Battle and discovered a shop or two closed “owing to Covid!”, so it seems to be still going in Battle. We then went to a coffee shop in Netherfield to have lunch. It was highly recommended but was awful.  Firstly did we want white or brown bread…brown but could hear them in the kitchen saying white, so had to shout out they were wrong.  Then they came and asked if I wanted the lemon (as on the menu) mixed with the cream cheese……WHAT??? that was to go with the smoked salmon! Did we want salad with it , yes please and only Mal got salad. And it just went on from there. Another disaster but Mal and I are now wondering if everyone around here has Covid brain.

Back to the hotel and Mal still not well, fell asleep!

Ellie and I went out and sat by the lake, fascinated by the pond skaters.

In the evening we drove to the Conquerors March in Hastings as there was a wedding going on in the hotel and it was very busy.

Thought for the Day – “There are no wrong turnings – only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.” ~ Guy Gavriel Kay

We were leaving for a couple of days break at our favourite hotel, Powdermills in Battle. We have been visiting it for at least 26 years. In the early days we brought our two dogs, a goldie and an English Setter. Sadly the original couple who owned it have both passed away and things have changed a bit but the beautiful grounds won’t change and they also love dogs!

Early evening we sat outside having a drink. Later,  it was very busy in the hotel and so we went to the White Hart at Catsfield to eat our dinner in the garden. Mal went in, asked for two menus and ordered two pints. He brought the menus out to the garden, we chose the food we wanted and he returned to order it, to then be told we couldn’t order anything!! The chef had previously said it was fine to order and we were then told they wouldn’t take our order.  The barmaid apologised and said she would ring a pub down the road and book us a table there! So, we left our drinks on the table (having paid for them) and drove to the Squirrel.  They were very dog friendly but we chose to sit outside. We chose the Fish Pie and the seafood basket. Both meals were £18 each, so we presumed it would be of a higher standard than “pub grub”. WRONG! The seafood basket was far too greasy and the fish pie was lacking in fish and had lumpy mash on the top. Not a good night for food.

Back to the hotel for a night cap.

Thought for the Day – “Failure is success if we learn from it.” ~ Malcolm Forbes

I took Ellie for a run over the fields.

Mal attempted to get a new handle for the upstairs WC  as the one previously bought was the wrong size and Carpenters in Sandwich no longer stock them.

Just a few pickings from the allotment. Loads of carrots, beetroots, raspberries, potatoes, lettuce  as well.

Mal went to his art class and surprisingly it rained….it wasn’t forecast.

I caught up with Levison Woods – “Walking with Orangutans” (Channel 4).  We are so ruining this planet.

Thought for the Day – “If everything was perfect you would never learn and you would never grow.” ~ Beyonce

My day at Cancer Research shop. Jack was on holiday and so Christina was in charge. I listened to THE (Lionesses)  match on the radio and Christina and I watched the penalties at the counter! It certainly didn’t sound like the best match.

Thought for the Day  – “Certain things in life are more important than the usual crap that everyone strives for.” ~ James Taylor

We went off to Kearsney Abbey. Ellie just loves it there, seeing all the other dogs and in and out of the water. We went for a coffee and got talking to a very good photographer, he takes loads of “nature” photos. He was really interesting telling us where to go to find different birds etc.  We both agreed that the Countryfile photos are not true photos! They have been messed around with. He even recommended a camera to me. A Nikon Coolpix p1000. I have to say his was far superior to that but nice to hear his recommendation maybe in the future.

In the afternoon we went to Margate Carnival. It seemed to take a long time to travel from Palm Bay. We stood waiting for an hour and a half! It did get a little chilly on the seafront. Not good as Mal had a stinking cold, hopefully the sea air did him a bit of good.

Thought for the Day – “Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.”
~ Grandma Moses

The battery ran out for my Rotary watch. In 2016 I bought a lifetime guarantee for the batteries at Timpson, an absolute bargain. I think it was £12 at the time, so I have saved a lot of money.  I think most people probably lose the very small guarantee but I keep mine filed away. In fact the guy in the shop said he had a lady in yesterday saying she had lost hers but surely he had it on computer….erm NO! You have to look after your own things.

I bought a lot of seeds in Wilko as they are ALL 70% off!

More runner beans for lunch and Mal went picking some more in between the showers.

I am so pleased the bees are enjoying all my flowers in the garden, particularly the sunflowers.

We looked for recipes and decided to make some cucumber relish. In fact Mal decided he would do the first lot to see what it is like.

Thought for the Day – “You make a life out of what you have, not what you’re missing.”~ Kate Morton

I walked Ellie over the fields while Mal mowed the lawn before it rained but it didn’t rain anyway!

We then left Ellie at home and visited Wingham Wildlife Park. The Orangutans are my favourite, they are such characters.

This one obviously wanted “no press”!

It is always nice just to have a wander around there (we have an annual pass).

Mal then went off to the allotment to weed and pick. We have so many runner beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, french beans, beetroot and more. In fact I have no idea what to do with the cucumbers as we have so many!! Mal is always amazed at how many runner beans I can eat. I love them and we frequently have runner beans with a poached egg for lunch.

Just for today!

Thought for the Day – “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ~ Joseph Campbell