On The Island

We were up at 6am to walk Ellie before the heat. We then went into Ramsgate, leaving Ellie at home in the cool. We had our breakfast in Spoons – eggs benedict, very nice and sitting next to the beach.

It was then quite humbling looking at all the Little Ships from Operation Dynamo and also the Standing with Giants display.

They had also managed to move a Spitfire model on to the harbour.

I understand it was borrowed from Manston.

There was also a Submariner association stall there (along with other forces) but we had to have a chat there!

The afternoon in the garden, being entertained by our little blackbird who wakes us with the dawn chorus at 4.30 in the morning!

My sister’s 80th. She has rented a house in Bournemouth for the weekend with all her family.

An early morning walk with Ellie and then a quick shop for some fresh food. it then started to get hot. I planted out some courgettes but the stems are so flimsy. I do much better with tomatoes! The tomatoes are now potted on, half of mine have already gone to the allotment. Some down there and the rest in pots in the garden. Of course more watering.

Virgin TV went down in the evening but we were out in the garden anyway.

Our hotel…

We took Ellie for an early morning walk along the seafront in the sunshine.

Back to the hotel for breakfast. We packed our things up ready for the drive home. Again we stopped in Ham Street Woods and Ellie had a long walk. The woods are shaded and so quiet.

Then on to the garden centre for lunch.

They have so many offers on there and a club you can join to get discounts. We just had the jacket potatoes which were so good!

They also had some amazing gifts and plants , I think we will have to come back here another day!

As it has been so sunny and warm it was back home to do a lot of watering and at the allotment.

 

 

Sadly, the beds were really uncomfortable, a shame because everything else was good.

We all went into breakfast quite early.  Then we went out walking. As it was quite warm , we decided to go and walk the length of the pier where there would be a nice breeze. We never imagined this….

NO DOGS ALLOWED!!!!

So we went past the pier and went for a drink in another hotel. There were a lot of street food stalls which it was a bit unfortunate as Ellie didn’t want to walk past any as she could smell the food. In fact, a few times she just sat down and wouldn’t move!!! That amused people anyway!

In the evening we walked round to the Mariner’s pub, highly recommended and we sat in the garden and ordered dinner.

It’s always a gamble ordering curry but I ordered a Thai prawn red curry and it was the best Thai I have had in a very long while.

We weren’t looking forward to the uncomfortable beds!

We packed up and headed for an Eastbourne  Hotel, continuing my birthday! On the way we stopped at Ham Street Wood so Ellie could have a little walk.

We then had lunch in Ham Garden Centre.   That garden centre is really lovely and the restaurant is so good as well. Surprisingly good. They have a section for customers with dogs.

On to Eastbourne and we checked into the East Beach Hotel and we had a lovely big sea view room on the ground floor, best place with Ellie! As with all of the hotels along Eastbourne sea front , they are all huge Victorian.

We decided to stay in the hotel in the evening, a drink or two and a snack.

Our view from where we eat.

And this is the “dog area” which we think is far better than the restaurant, we have the view!

I have to say the staff, all of them were lovely. And they all fell in love with Ellie. She just falls asleep in front of the fan in the room.

We managed our walk in Ramsgate park before the rain started but very windy next to the coast. It was quite heavy on the way home.

Words fail me, Spurs lost again!

My birthday but seeing as so much has been planned around it, I really didn’t mind going into work. The previous day was the best celebration being with family, quite rare nowadays as they are all so busy. So lovely to see Tariq as his work takes him away so often and to meet his girlfriend for the first time.

We were up at 6 and I have to say I was stunned by so many cards and presents, which Mal had squirelled away until “the” day! I am VERY lucky. Such lovely gifts and thoughtful cards. I am also lucky because Mal has worked hard to make my birthday special and extending it!  So work today was a pleasure.

Jack bought me a birthday cake and a card. His card really made me laugh…cheeky!!

Brenda gave me a lovely plant and card.

We were busy but a nice day.

In the evening we planned on eating out but I felt so tired after a busy day we decided to eat at home and have a bottle of fizz and we also had a cream tea to eat that Oscar, bless him, had sent me!! I could also spend more time enjoying my cards and presents.

It’s not so bad getting old!