Thursday 3rd January 2013

Bargains – Premier Inn £19 room sale & Kitchencraft Pasta maker £22 & Brantano 20% off sportswear & Hallmark 20% off personalised cards

It is Steve’s (Mal’s brother) 60th birthday in a few days and Mal and I have been really struggling to know what to get him for his birthday as he has had a really serious stroke but thankfully is improving slowly. So, we went into Canterbury to have a good search there. We did find some things that we believe he will be interested in but it has been difficult.

We happened to walk  past St Martin’s Emmaus shop. If I am honest I have never heard of this charity, it was just that they had a nest of bamboo tables outside which would look good in the caravan and as we were looking at them the assistant came out and told us everything was 30% off today, which made them £14! So we paid for them and said we would collect them on the way back to the car. She explained to us about the charity. It is an alternative approach to homelessness. They offer a home within a supportive community, the opportunity to work. A chance for out of work homeless people to regain their dignity and self respect. As my career was in housing and dealing with homeless, I felt quite ashamed that I had never heard of them before. They have the shop in Canterbury (47 Northgate) and another in Dover (Archcliffe Road) and they also have a workshop where they restore furniture and make stained glass windows made to measure. Of course they are always looking for donations of furniture, electrical and bric a brac. So, we learnt something today!

On our return to collect the nest of tables, we noticed a dining table with 4 chairs, not just a table but an extendable table which we thought would be really handy. Our present one has seen better days. Yes, we bought it!! AND they delivered it to us in the afternoon. If you are ever in Dover or Canterbury, a place well worth a visit. And they are lovely people. A successful day for us.

The Avis car is going back tomorrow so we stopped off at Tesco to get supplies and I really am amazed the amount of Easter Eggs they have in too!

Canterbury Cathedral
St Martin’s Emmaus, Canterbury
Easter Eggs In Tesco!!!

 

Thought for the Day – “People can be so apathetic. They continue to ignore the real people trapped in poverty and homelessness. It’s almost maddening.” ~ Daphne Zuniga

Wednesday 2nd January 2013

Bargains – Kettle £6.49 & Gluv Footwear Clearance Sale & £29 Days Inn Rooms & 20% off Brabantia

A bit of a dismal day after yesterday’s sun. We went into Herne Bay. I have realised that most of my dark smart clothes are in Cyprus and I don’t have anything suitable for a funeral. I used to go to a really good dress shop in Herne Bay called Indiana. I didn’t even know if it would still be there. Yes, it was and the same lady running it after all these years. I found something suitable. That didn’t take long but then Mal and I stood chatting to her and her husband for the next half hour. I’m so pleased she is still there. I’ll have to pop in again before we leave for Cyprus.

We also had a walk along the sea front.

Thought for the Day – “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”  ~ Frank A. Clark

 

Tuesday 1st January 2013

Bargains – 20% off Dorma Bed Linen & Morphy Richards Deep Fat Fryer £24.99 & Herbs and Planter £10.50

We went to Westwood in the morning, to get some food and also in our bedrrom there is a coat hook missing. We have one on the door and wanted another to match. I did have a shock, one to match was £9.99 in Homebase!! We found an alternative, with three hooks on it.

In the afternoon we drove into Deal where everyone seemed to be having their New Years Day “by the seaside” walk.  Believe it or not the sun was out and it was a really nice walk.

Back home and we had another roast beef dinner, the joint we bought was huge! We washed it down with a bottle of champagne to welcome the new year.

 

 

Thought for the Day – “A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.” ~ Edgar Guest