Month: March 2014

Bargains – Debenhams Clothing – 20% off at debenhams.com & Currys Deals – Logik Jug Kettle for £4.97 at currys.co.uk& Debenhams Flowers Direct – £5 off at debenhamsflowers.com & Screwfix Lawnmowers – up to £100 off at screwfix.com

We were all up early, Torin to go to the hospital and us to go to the airport for our flight home. We dropped the hire car off and then checked in. They are making a lot of changes at Stansted, moving shops etc

The flight home was with Pegasus. OK, but I get so bored with flying and that journey is just too long and the planes too hot.

David was waiting for us at Ercan and then Kenny was at our house with Ellie. So nice to see her. David and Kenny have taken her to the vets three times while we have been away, with swollen mammary glands, following her being spayed. She seems OK now, bless her. At least we knew she was in very good hands.

 

Bargains – Bon Marche Sale – Free Delivery at bonmarche.co.uk & Dorothy Perkins Coats – 24% off at dorothyperkins.com & North Cyprus Holidays – 1 week 5* Full Board at Malpas Hotel from £459pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & Yale Alarm Systems – 20% off at screwfix.com & Weekend Away UK – Entertainment Breaks at britanniahotels.com & Marks and Spencer Nightwear – 20% off at marksandspencer.com & Marks and Spencer Clothes – 20% off at marksandspencer.com

Good old Marks and Spencer, time to shop…..20% off!! I will miss this when I go back to Cyprus, it will just be me ordering online!

We packed up and cleaned the caravan and drove to Torin’s house. It was really cold in Biggleswade when I filled the car with petrol and the hail kept coming down! Very different from last Sunday’s heat.

We had a very nice salmon dinner. Torin has to go to the hospital early tomorrow to have three lumps removed from under his chin, so he’ll be going to bed early.
Thought for the Day – “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. ~ Martha Washington

Bargains – Dorothy Perkins Dresses – Free Delivery at dorothyperkins.com & Marks and Spencer Home – up to 20% off at marksandspencer.com & Go Outdoors Voucher Code – 20% off at gooutdoors.co.uk & Cotton Traders Shoes – 25% off at cottontraders.com & Bhs Lights – up to 50% off plus Free Delivery at bhs.co.uk & Avis Car Hire UK – 3 days for 2 at avis.co.uk

We spent the morning delivering presents and visiting Mal’s sister Marion and the last bits of shopping to take back home.

In the afternoon we went to Herne Bay sea front. A very cold wind so we had to go into the Saxon Shore for a drink and warm up.

In the evening we met some friends and went to Bentley’s Lounge in Margate. We hadn’t been before and thought we must try it as Roy and Fred, who own our caravan park, also own Bentleys, so named as they have a Bentley amongst their endless list of cars! Coincidently Fred and Roy were in there, so we had a quick chat with them.

Bargains – The Hut Promo Code – £5 Off at thehut.com & Laura Ashley Sale – up to 50% off at lauraashley.com & Garden Bargains Promo Code – Two Fruit Trees for £10 at leadthegoodlife.com & Regatta Outlet Free Delivery at regatta.com & North Cyprus Holiday – 1 week 5* Half Board from £399 at mercury-direct.co.uk

There was a lot of rain during the night. We are not used to it beating down on the caravan roof! I went shopping to Westwood to buy the last of the Easter eggs and the next couple of family birthday presents.

There are countless places in the UK Mal and I haven’t visited, surprisingly we have never been to Bleak House in Broadstairs. This is the most popular view in Broadstairs and we even have a painting of it in Cyprus, that Colin Bradley, my friends father painted. So today we went along, first to visit the Smuggler’s Museum and then to look around Bleak house and see where  Dickens wrote David Copperfield. This was followed by afternoon tea.

Thought for the Day – “A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” ~ Charles Dickens

Bargains – Wilko Venetian Blinds – 10% off at wilko.com & Bargain Crazy Clearance – 20% off at bargaincrazy.com & Thorntons Easter Eggs – 4 for £10 plus 15% off code at thorntons.co.uk & Richard and Judy Book Club – 50% off at whsmith.co.uk& Garden Bargains Flowers – 25% off at leadthegoodlife.com

We contacted Insurance 4 Car Hire for the reimbursement of our money for the smashed car window. All very straightforward and very efficient and they are going to email the claim form to us.

Well, they have tried over and over again but the news is telling us that Manston Airport is going to close down again!

A day out in Canterbury, my favourite city. We shopped in Siesta, I love that shop. We again went on the hunt for a suitcase but I couldn’t find one I liked. We ate lunch in Chapman’s Seafood Bar. We had a huge seafood platter for two. It was surprising how filling it was. I just love seafood.

After Canterbury we stopped at TKMax at Westwood. I found a suitcase, £80 and it didn’t  even have a lock and key with it!!

In the evening we went to see Lou, Rhys and the kids. River was out working and then Sol went off to Air Cadets. A busy family. At least we now have 7 Easter Eggs delivered!!

Thought for the Day – “You don’t choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”  ~ Desmond Tutu

Bargains – Debenhams Vouchers – Free £5 Gift Vouchers at debenhams.com & Butlins Big Weekends – from £79pp at butlins.com& Currys Clearance Laptops – save up to £150 at currys.co.uk & Dorothy Perkins Code – Spend and Get at dorothyperkins.com & Dulux Paint Offers – 2.5 litre paint, 2 for £25 at wilko.com & Mothers Day Flowers – £10 off plus Free Delivery at iflorist.co.uk

We heard from David and Kenny and Ellie has a bit of inflammation around her wound from where she was spayed and they have taken her back to the Professor who has given her 2 injections. We know she is in very safe hands with them and they will take very good care of her. Apart from that they say she is fine, having fun with Jekka and Loppi.

We had breakfast with Marion and then sat chatting until we decided it was time to go in search of a new suitcase for me. We were going to  McArthur Glen in Ashford. Well, that  was our intention. Around Maidstone, I was doing 70mph in the outside lane when my window exploded! it was the one next to me in the door, glass everywhere. I pulled over on to the hard shoulder and then we decided it would be far safer going on to the service station. We phoned the car hire company who told us to get in touch with Autoglass. They told us we would have a 6 hour wait for them to attend. Or we could drive the car to Rochester and they would try and fit us in earlier. We hire so many cars that we have an annual excess insurance cover, which only costs us about £40 a year, far cheaper than the excess the hire car companies who want about £9 per day!

So, we drove to Rochester. We came out of Autoglass at 4.30pm!! They were nice people in there and even made us a cup of coffee. £246, which we paid and then we claim it back from Insurance 4 Car Hire.  We then went on to McArthur Glen and couldn’t find a suitable case. By the time we arrived home, we couldn’t be bothered to cook so went to Archie’s Fish and Chips in Minster and ate our dinner there. We have to have fish and chips once while we are back. Archie’s is owned by a Turkish family.

It was a long day!

Bargains – Debenhams Sale Bags – 20% off at debenhams.com & Marks and Spencer Sale Make Up – £5 off at marksandspencer.com& Dunelm Bedding – 30% off at dunelm-mill.com & Dyson Vacuum Sale – up to £100 cashback at currys.co.uk & La Redoute Discount Code – 25% off plus Free Delivery at laredoute.co.uk & Interflora Discount Code – 5% off at interflora.co.uk

Early breakfast – kippers! Then we headed off to explore the 150 acres of the woods. If it is too muddy, there are plenty of wellies you an borrow!

A long walk, then we packed our things up, paid our bill and back on the road after a lovely stay.

We stopped for lunch in Tunbridge Wells and then on to my sisters. She cooked us a lovely evening meal.

Thought for the Day – “One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.” ~ Tenzin Palmo