Maggie & Mal's Adventures in North Cyprus, the UK and Beyond
Rhys’s Birthday!
We walked over the fields with Ellie, she didn’t seem too energetic. We also watered Torin’s flowers and rose trees on the way.
At lunchtime we drove to Rhys’s for his birthday and Ollie leaving for his new job with Rick Stein BBQ. Lou’s dad and step mum were there also (little)Torin , Lizzy and our great grandson Arlo. Also Maddie and River and of course Ollie, Oscar and Josie. May favourite photo…Rhys, “little” Torin and Arlo.
Another nice sunny day and so we walked along the sea front in Deal.
We then went to the Captain’s Garden at Deal Castle as it was their open day and we haven’t been there before. It wasn’t as exciting as we imagined. We thought it would be a thriving community garden. It appeared a lot of wasted space. They did however have some beehives there and we bought some of their honey.
We also discovered all about Deal Community Hop Farm. A few hops here, then people have others in their gardens/allotments and then all come together when it is time to collect the hops and they then send them to a brewery. We had thought they would brew it themselves but no!
Also tea and cakes for a donation and I was given some Cerinthe seeds, which are supposed to be very attractive to bees.
And then there was the “band”..
By the time we left Deal was so busy……a sunny Bank Holiday by the seaside! The rest of the day in the garden.
Not quite so sunny first thing but down to the Viking Ship as the cafe has just opened for the season. The Viking Ship overlooks Sandwich Bay.
The ‘Viking Ship’ Hugin – on permanent display on the Pegwell Bay cliff top at Ramsgate is a replica Viking Longship. It sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949. This was to commemorate the 1,500th anniversary of the A.D. 449 landing of Anglo-Saxon chieftains Hengist and Horsa at Ebbsfleet, and the betrothal of Hengist’s daughter, Rowena, to King Vortigen of Kent.
Of course after the walk we stopped for a coffee.
I planted some cherry tomato seeds before we went away, as there was just an odd tomato or two in the fridge. By the time we returned they had all shot up so I transplanted them and at last found some Piccolo tomatoes in Lidl of all places. All the other supermarkets have gone over to Piccolata, probably with no one except me noticing. I found some and so used one of the tomatoes seeds for some more. I end up with far too many plants but we do eat a lot!!
Mal decided as it was Easter we had to have a leg of lamb and so he is cooking it! A slow roast for 5 hours, so in between he went to water the allotment.
What a shame that Hammers lost their game on penalties.
We decided we would actually walk around Sandwich and go to the Easter Saturday market. Six stalls and that was it! Not as magnificent as we expected. I did have a wander round the shops while Mal sat in the churchyard with Ellie.
We then went into Teaport which is somewhere we have been meaning to go to for quite some time. The waiter was so nice , from Hong Kong. Mal had coffee and I had the hot Ginger drink and it was delicious.
Ellie was spoilt with dog treats and a bowl of water.
There are a lot of new signs going up around Sandwich to encourage tourists!
What a shame Arsenal lost their game to Southampton …yes, a touch of sarcasm there!
We walked in King George VI park. Right next to the sea and very windy.
We still seem to be catching up with things after the holiday. Today was sorting passports as they are expiring soon!
Following the incidents that happened in Next this week, I made a complaint and had a phone call today as my case has been “escalated” and “Carol” is looking into the whole incident and apologised and will call me after Easter when she has had a chance to speak to the store Manager as to what went wrong. At last, some customer service!…….
“Dear Mrs Daniel
I hope you are well and looking forward to the Easter break. It was lovely speaking to you.
First please let me apologise for the experience you had recently in our Thanet store. I do understand how embarrassing it must have been, being stopped when the security alarm went off. There shouldn’t be any tags at all on items from the warehouse, so I’ll be looking into how this has happened.
I’ve already contacted the Store Manager so as this can be thoroughly investigated.”
The sun was out and so we went to Kearsney before the Easter chaos. Ellie was very enthusiastic to go into the stream. Today she loved it.
We then went for a coffee at the cafe and she just stood next to us. We had thought she would want a rest!
Mal went to the allotment in the afternoon.
An early morning walk across the fields with Ellie.
It was nice not to come back covered in mud!
I phoned Pam who has now returned from her 16 day cruise around Norway. The first week good, the second horrendous with gales and getting thrown around the ship! She has also come home with a really bad cold. Poor thing.
I know it is April Fool’s Day and I loved this one from our vets…
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