On The Island

The windscreen man arrived at 8.45 to replace the cover on the windscreen that he broke during the previous repair.

So the catch up begins! As soon as he left we drove into Asda, Canterbury so that Mal could order his new glasses.  We have been recommended to try Asda Optical.

Later I had to collect one of Rhys’s birthday presents. I had to order online from Next as they don’t keep it in the stores and then collect from the dreaded Westwood Cross.  When I collected it I asked for a gift receipt. “No, you ordered it online, so we can’t give you one” My reply “but you won’t keep Superdry in store. ” “Sorry can’t do it”. As I walked out of the door, the alarm went off!! I just stood there feeling totally embarrassed . One of the men came running to the door. Seeing as the package I had just collected was sealed, they obviously had to open it up. There was a security tag attached. I did complain but was told “nothing to do with this shop, it is our distribution that is responsible”. I did complain but it all falls on deaf ears. He removed the tag and apologised.

From there I went to buy a new Slow Cooker I had ordered.  Then I got caught up in the chaos at Westwood Cross. Both Sainsburys and Tesco had hideous queues for fuel.

It put me in mind of the Covid panics. It wasn’t  just the garages but the cars were queuing all along the roads and roundabouts. I just wanted to get home!

When eventually I arrived home, I had an email from LW Theatres (London Palladium ) with my priority booking. So, we have booked this years Cinderella for December. It is always brilliant.

My return to work. It was good to be back and I had a really nice welcome from the staff and a lot of the customers who had missed me! How lovely. Quite a busy day but I managed to last the day.  Jack bless him kept checking I was OK.

BUT I ended up in bed by 8, totally exhausted, which means I am not quite 100%. The good news is that in the second round of Cancer research shop closures, we are not one of them.

A quiet day! Sorting everything out on our return and getting our heads back in gear.

It was a little worrying, hoping that Nathan had done a good job on the car but it started perfectly and all warning lights gone. We headed for the port and we  were the last car on an earlier ferry.

We were back home by 1.00pm feeling very lucky that Nathan did so well. Such a shame he isn’t local to us!

I forgot to mention following the rudeness of the Manager re the lack of internet, coupled with our lodge not being properly cleaned, stains on furniture etc etc, we cancelled our booking for later in the year and rebooked at another Lodge retreat, off the island just in case we had any more car issues which may have meant being recovered on the ferry!! We pay an extra £ 70 to take Ellie so surely some of this money could be used to clean stains off carpets and furniture and clean windows and repair blown glass in the door. The retreat has gone downhill.

Quite a lot of post and one thing that Zoe sent me for Mother’s Day. She really is so lovely. It actually looks so much better than the photos. Such a shame the post office can’t deliver anything on time!

Again the problem with the car which had to be sorted.

This is the problem with diesel, if you do short trips it chokes up!!! If it ever did it at home, I take it on a long stretch of road, low gear and eventually it will burn off BUT all the roads in the Isle of Wight are narrow and windy!! I couldn’t drive it any more so we called out the rescue. They were useless and said they would book it in a garage on Monday!!!! We had to call the rescue back and they organised us being relayed all the way back home, on the ferry, everything. We then rang our garage and they are booked until 9th April!!!! So, even if I got the car home our garage couldn’t sort it until 9th. So  we then started ringing mobile mechanics. Of course many wanted a fortune for what we know should cost around 150.00. Eventually we spoke to a really nice man, Nathan, who came at 5pm l!!!! He said he knew exactly what to do and had a mobile diagnostic machine but as he was burning this off, it meant it would contaminate the oil, so an oil change and new oil filter. He was with us until 7.30. Mal was outside talking to him most of the time and learnt a lot from him (I have never owned a diesel before and probably wouldn’t again!!!)

Quite honestly a total waste of a day, trying to sort all this out. Thank goodness for Nathan is all I can say.

Not a good England game in the evening.

First no internet and this morning we read that there is a problem with water on the island! We had showers early just in case!

I can’t believe how lucky we are, we awoke to sun again and so had a woods/beach walk early. Just through the wood and on to the beach.

Ellie does make us laugh, once she gets on a beach she just keeps on walking. We were looking for sea glass but then had to catch up with her. Of course she is not fast these days.

She really is doing well just plodding along and a dip in the sea and roll in the sand.

She did sleep for quite a while when we were back in the lodge.

We then headed for The Blacksmiths Arms, our favourite place to eat when we are here but on the drive over there, my particulate filter warning light came on. If I am home I just run the car to Whitfield with high revs in a low gear. Not possible in the country lanes here. To be honest it spoiled our lunch as I obviously had to drive back to the Bay. I did have my favourite dessert, no one makes it like they do…..white chocolate and raspberry creme brulee. It always has a lot of raspberries in it.

We called a mobile mechanic who hopefully will come out tomorrow. This is the one thing I hate about diesel and I am seriously thinking of getting another car…petrol!

A sunny day but so windy and cold! We went to Osborne House. They only open downstairs in the house this time of year and anyway, dogs aren’t allowed in the house. The gardens are always beautiful and you can see why Queen Victoria loved this place.

The Swiss Cottage was closed as well, opening next week so maybe when we are back later in the year.

What a surprise when we returned to the lodge, the internet was back on!! Was it just us that complained or maybe others did as well.