Month: October 2023

Today, we should be flying to Madeira! Ah well, another time hopefully. At least Mal is still with us!

The sun came out and so we went to Kearsney and of course Ellie in the water again!

Thought for the Day – “In life there are some things you never “get over”. Sometimes the best we can do is just “get through”. But that’s OK, there’s still a lot of beauty to find on the other side.”

My volunteer day at Cancer Research. I think because it is half term, very few people were out early, so a quiet morning. We have a new volunteer, Chris, he is working on the DVD’s and books.

I took some donations in and a lot of bubble wrap that we had. Bit by bit we have to clear out the loft!

The poppies around Birchington are amazing, so many.

We heard from Lou and Rhys who are at their house in Spain, enjoying life there.

Thought for the Day – “We can’t just hope for a brighter day. We have to work for a brighter day.” ~ Dolly Parton

What a difference a day makes, sunshine and quite warm so we went to Minnis Bay. Of course Ellie in the water again!

Early evening we watched the Hammers game. They didn’t play well and lost!

Thought for the Day – “Do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” ~ John Wooden

Maybe it was meant to be our not going to Madeira!  (https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2023/10/bernard-depression-affects-madeira-and-mainland-portugal.html)

Yes, it was raining again but we went to Kearsney with our waterproofs. I did say to Mal if he didn’t want to go along with my adventures he could stay home but he insisted he wanted to get back to some sort of normality. Ellie likes being wet anyway! On Saturdays this car park is usually full. Obviously fair weather dog walkers!

That’s our water loving dog, at least she avoided rolling in the mud today!

We watched a good Liverpool v Everton game, I think the ref was biased!

Thought for the Day –  ​​”Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I’m not sure about the universe.”  ~ Albert Einstein

We had already decided that we would go to Deal as I ordered a welcome present for our new great grandchild! I ordered it from a guy called Mat. This is his story –  https://www.communityad.co.uk/exclusives/crafty-cat-crochet-in-deal/

And this is what I collected. I am very pleased with it.

But it was pouring with rain and I couldn’t park near and we had Ellie with us, intending to give her a seafront walk. So I got a little wet collecting it and then a walk along the sea front and we all got wet, not totally as we have waterproof macs. Of course Ellie was but she didn’t care.

I then went to Clarks for some new trainers. I had seen some at Westwood Cross, tried them on but they didn’t have my size.  I needed half a size bigger. Deal is a much smaller shop but they had my size! Lucky! So, I bought them.

Thought for the Day – “Nature has given us all the pieces required to achieve exceptional wellness and health, but has left it to us to put these pieces together.”~ Diane McLaren

Mal went to see the GP, an appointment made before he was rushed into hospital. Dr Drew didn’t know anything about what had happened and had to access the hospital files. Seems very convenient they hadn’t received his discharge letter. He said he would chase all things up and booked a phone call with Mal for 15th November to update him! I spoke to my niece and she agreed, you have to keep chasing them or you just get lost in the system. So, I phoned the ward Mal was on and they are now sending out more letters and copies to Mal, including Maidstone Hospital. Also where to get his catheter changed.

This all makes me wonder how other elderly people get on who don’t know how to progress when nothing happens.

Thought for the Day – “Do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” ~ John Wooden

Mal took Ellie for a little walk as I had an appointment with my dentist early. Canterbury is always a nightmare to get into but today was awful, with 3 lots of road works, so I was late for the dentist in spite of leaving myself plenty of time.  As it was she had an impression of my new plate, fitted it, said it was OK and that was it. Come back in 4 weeks for the proper plate. I was only in the chair about 5 minutes after and hour and a half journey to get there!  Then as I walked out the receptionist called out that I owed them £89! I went back and told her this was all paid for at the beginning of the treatment and just because there was an NHS price increase in April, I wasn’t paying extra when all the delays have been their fault.  To be honest I have no idea what the extra money was for.  So, the receptionist went in to see Teresa who just said, let her go we will sort it out another time! My next appointment is mid November. I am really not happy with this dentist and I am convinced they are trying to get rid of all their NHS patients. As it is the new plate being made should have three teeth on it and there will only be 2.

I popped into Aldi as I was driving past, just for milk and a few bits. I went to the self checkout and the assistant by the checkouts came over and said he had to validate my baked beans. He checked the two tins I had put in my shopping bag. I queried what he was doing and he said people are now stealing baked beans so they have to validate them!! I told him if I was going to take something it would be something more than baked beans. He then told me in another Aldi they have had to security tag every bar of chocolate as the schoolkids steal them.  The sad thing is he was serious about all this. What on earth is the world coming to?!

I went into Wingham farm shop on the way home. I love Jazz apples and they were selling their own local Jazz for £3.25 for 2 kilos. I won’t buy them in shops where they get them from New Zealand! We are surrounded by orchards so obviously I want English. I also bought a packet of Pearl Barley to take into work for Jack. We were having a cookery discussion on Monday and he said he uses the slow cooker a lot but never knows what to thicken the contents with. I told him to use pearl barley and he said he had never heard of it, so I said I’d get some and take it in next week. We have to pass these things on! He was also surprised I put cinnamon and cloves in apple crumble. All the grandkids know how to make a good apple crumble!

Just after I was home Steve (Mal’s brother) and Shirley arrived. It was so nice to see them.

Thought for the Day –  “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.” ~ Mandy Hale