Month: March 2014

Bargains – Thorntons Promo Code – 15% off at thorntons.co.uk & BHS Bedding – 20% off plus Free Delivery at bhs.co.uk & MandM Direct – Jack and Jones at mandmdirect.com & Glasses Direct Voucher Code – £20 off plus free second pair at glassesdirect.co.uk

We were up early again. Haddock and poached eggs for breakfast for me. Mal had the full English. We then went to Hastings and Leigh on sea and Bexhill. We stopped on the sea front for a coffee. Another day of good weather.

Back to Battle for a wander around. We didn’t visit the Abbey or Battle ground as we have done it many times before! We had some lunch and then went to my favourite shop Raggs. She always has such lovely clothes in there and yes, I did buy something!

We had a walk around the grounds before dinner. The hotel is “dog friendly” and the owner has 2 English Springers. This is Gemma, just returned from her walk in the woods.

Another delicious meal in the hotel restaurant in the evening. I had scallops to start and then Halibut. I do love fish! Followed by coffee and petits fours in the library again. Is it any wonder we keep returning to this hotel?!

Thought for the Day – “Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks.” ~ Marilyn Wann

Bargains – Ritz Hotel London – up to 40% off at hotels.com & Asda Mother’s Day Flowers – Free Chocs and Free Delivery at asda-flowers.co.uk & Tesco Sale – up to 25% off at tesco.com & Argos Toy Sale – 25% off at argos.co.uk & Cotton Traders Sale – £10 off at cottontraders.com & Screwfix Paint – Free Delivery at screwfix.com

Mal’s birthday and for some reason we were up very early (he doesn’t like breakfast in bed!) He opened all his presents and cards and we packed ready for a two day stay at PowderMills Hotel. We love it there. It is so quirky with excellent food and lovely walks around their lakes and in the woods. They even provide wellies if it is too wet and muddy! Best of all they are dog lovers, what a pity Ellie isn’t with us. Years ago when we had another Goldie and an English setter, we brought them here with us. They loved the woods.

This is Mal’s official birthday song, he has been playing it a lot this morning!

We drove along the coastal route to Hastings stopping at a country pub for lunch. It was such a lovely sunny day  and warm, couldn’t have been better for Mal’s birthday. But the seaside places were packed. We drove on to Battle and checked into the hotel. We sat outside for a while listening to their Jazz Band. We then went for a long walk around the grounds. It really was beautiful and not as muddy as we expected.

We had a lovely meal in the evening followed by coffee in the library. Mal said the perfect relaxing birthday!

Thought for the Day – “Today give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.” ~ H Jackson Brown Jnr

Bargains – Laura Ashley Furniture – 30% off plus Free Delivery at lauraashley.com & Asda Gifts Discount Code – Free Delivery at asda-gifts.co.uk & Debenhams Flowers – Free Delivery Discount Code at debenhamsflowers.com

We had breakfast with Torin, Scarlet and Jack and then watched a bit of Ninja Turtles which Jack is crazy about. Then we went to the dump with my suitcase! Goodbye to everyone, Torin was off fishing, with his lucky fishing hat on that I laughed at!  Then we drove back down to Margate.

We went shopping at Westwood after lunch but were both so tired, we didn’t get much. We did collect our big order from Marks and Spencer and a new phone from Tesco. In the evening we went to Toby Carvery. The last visit we had there we waited an hour and a half and then were told there was no food so I emailed and complained and they sent me a £25 voucher. We used that but as I was driving, didn’t drink all of  the bottle of wine so the waiter told us to take it home with us!

Thought for the Day – “There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.”  ~ Alexander Woollcott

Bargains – Marks & Spencer Sale – up to 50% off at marksandspencer.com & Argos Curtains – Made to Measure at argos.co.uk &Debenhams Furniture Sale – 20% off at debenhams.com & Bargain Crazy Discount Code – 15% off at bargaincrazy.com &North Cyprus Holiday – 1 week 4* Half Board from £479pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & Tesco Discount Code – £5 off at tesco.com

We were up very early as we were flying to the UK. David and Kenny collected Ellie and David ran us to the airport. At least we know this time Ellie will be very well looked after!

Not a good flight. I ended up with migraine and felt sick and just wanted to get off the plane. Then we had to queue for ages at passport control which I really could have done without. Next we collected our luggage. I had wrapped up a bottle of brandy and put it in my case and yes, it had smashed! We collected the hire car and drove to Torin’s, where I emptied out my case and put my clothes in his washing machine. Thankfully my electrical things were in my hand luggage. My case stinks!

Our plan was to go out for a meal with Scarlet, Jack and Torin. Scarlet had been off school all day with a tummy bug and I still didn’t feel well, so we didn’t go!

Not exactly the start I envisaged to our whistle stop tour!

 

 
Thought for the Day – “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bargains – Garden Bargains Discount Code – 20% off at leadthegoodlife.com & Debenhams Promo Code – 20% off at debenhams.com & Thorntons Promotional Code – 50% off at thorntons.co.uk & Wallis Free Delivery Code – Sale Now On with up to 50% off at wallis.co.uk & Debenhams Flowers – £5 off at debenhamsflowers.com & Four Tops and Temptations – UK Tour Tickets for £35 at amazon.co.uk

A short walk in the mountains, Ellie has been overdoing it a bit I think and wasn’t quite as energetic this morning.

We went over to David and Kenny’s later.

In the afternoon I did some online Marks & Spencer shopping while their sale is on!!

Bargains –  Brantano Shoes Discount Code – 15% off at brantano.co.uk & Screwfix Tools – Special Deals at screwfix.com & Argos Kitchen Sale – Appliances Reductions at argos.co.uk & Wilko Wallpaper – Free Delivery at wilko.com & Thorntons Chocolate – Alphabet Truffles with £5 off at thorntons.co.uk & Eurolines Coach to Paris from £19 at eurolines.co.uk

A bit muddy in the mountains but the sun was out after all the rain.

I meet up with “the girls” once a month and find it hard to believe that another month has gone by. So today we met at The Merit Royal because it was so good when Mal and I went for lunch. The food was still as good but the service wasn’t a patch on what it was previously. We had to ask for everything, for a second drink , for coffee and I even had to ask for water to go with my Turkish coffee. To be honest there wasn’t any service, we spent the time trying to catch one of the waitresses eyes each time we wanted something. At the end of the meal four waiters, who had obviously been working in one of the hotels other restaurants walked in. One of them recognised me from the last time we were there. He came over and asked if we had enjoyed our meal so I told him the service had been rubbish and nothing like it was when he had been waiting on our table.

Thought for the Day – “People come in and out of our lives, and the true test of friendship is whether you can pick back up right where you left off the last time you saw each other.” ~ Lisa See

Bargains – M&S Sale – Clothing Discount Code at marksandspencer.com & Brantano Shoes Online – 25% off at brantano.co.uk &Thorntons Discount Code – £1 Delivery at thorntons.co.uk & National Express Funfare – £5 one way at nationalexpress.com & Laura Ashley Fabric – 30% off at lauraashley.com & Arguably the Best Dog Food – Eukanuba with 15% off at pet-supermarket.co.uk

We thought we would take Ellie to the mountains for a quiet walk, no chance, as soon as she was off the lead she made up for lost time!

I took Mal to get his hair cut, they even invited me in for a coffee!

Torin phoned as he was driving to Newcastle for a 20 minute site visit! At least he gets to take his dog Boo with him for the day. He often calls on long journeys as he has hands free in the car.

It rained later. In fact it was just a few spots when I took Ellie out in the afternoon. By the time we arrived back home we were like two drowned rats. At least she likes the hairdryer!

Thought for the Day – “So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.”  ~ The Eagles, “Already Gone”