Month: May 2014

Bargains – Cheap Hotels in Bournemouth – 2 night break for 2 for £99 from Amazon local & Marks and Spencer Sale – 50% off at marksandspencer.com & Dunelm Mill Discount Code – 10% off at dunelm-mill.com & Travelodge Offers – rooms £29 or less travelodge.co.uk & Whittards Voucher Codes – 10% off at whittard.co.uk & Cheap Holidays to Morocco – 1 week all inclusive £299pp at mercury-direct.co.uk

Thank you to the person who rang our hotel room phone at 3.20 this morning. I believe the first morning we would have slept until a reasonable hour! It wouldn’t have been so bad if the phone was next to the bed and not across the room on the desk. Of course no one was there when we answered it!

Breakfast and then one of Mal’s fellow  examiners took him to the Uni, so I drove into Leamington Spa. Had it been a sunny day, I thought about going to Stratford upon Avon but it wasn’t sitting by the river weather! Rain and windy. They had a really good craft market in Leamington. I also love seeing all the dog walkers around and about from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Meanwhile look who is having fun on her holiday…………

Thank you so much David and Kenny.

In the evening we went to Coconut Lagoon for our dinner. We went to one in Stratford upon Avon years ago and the food was so good, not typical Indian food. This one was very average but again nice staff who even insisted on taking a photo of us together! A good thing we decided to drive there as it bucketed with rain on the way back to the hotel.

Thought for the Day – “Life is short. Kiss slowly. Laugh insanely. Love truly and forgive quickly.” ~ Paulo Coelho

Bargains – Whittards Discount Code – 20% off at whittard.co.uk & Marisota Discount Codes – 20% off at marisota.co.uk &Valueflora Discount Code 10% OFF at valueflora.com & M&S Picnic – marksandspencer.com & Coral Bay Beach Hotel – mercury-direct.co.uk & Simply Be Discount Code – 20% off plus Free Delivery at simplybe.co.uk

Whoops, awake and making tea at 4.00am again! I’m not quite sure how Mal is going to get his head around working today!

We had breakfast and then I drove Mal to Warwick Uni for his first days work. From there I went on to Leamington Spa. For some reason I became a little lost and ended up parking in a square, knowing I was fairly near the shops. It wasn’t until I was feeding money into the parking meter that I realised I had parked outside the flat I lived in about 43 years before! I found that a little spooky!

I returned some jeans I bought in M&S which had a faulty zip and I had only worn them once. They were very good and just handed me the £25 back when I explained I bought them cash, they fitted so I had no reason to keep the receipt. I was impressed!

I then discovered a shop I hadn’t seen before “Taking Shape”. They are evidently Australian and have only been in the UK market for a year. The assistants in there were lovely. I tried on two tops and couldn’t decide which one. They are quite pricey so resisted buying both!! By the time I arrived back at the hotel I had made my mind up that I will return tomorrow to get the second top. I then looked on the internet and  found out that you can get 20% off your first online order! So, I ordered one (or two!!) tops and they also have necklaces buy one get one half price AND free delivery!! A good days shopping but I did initially go out to buy a birthday present for my sister! Another day tomorrow.

Mal arrived back from his meeting full of talk from members of the exam board of how Gove is ruining the education system. I think we already knew that.

Kenilworth is a haven of eating places and so my choice tonight, Loch Fyne. I love fish and their Cullen Skink is so good! The staff again were so nice. I seem to be finding this everywhere I go and I am wondering whether I am just so used to north Cyprus’s take it or leave it attitude. That’s sad.

Thought for the Day – Two concepts for a truly happy life…………

1. Use things not people

2. Love people not things

Bargains – Large Men’s Clothing Sale – up to 35% off at premierman.com & Spa Hotels in Yorkshire – 1 night for £79 at amazon.co.uk & Boots Fragrance Offers – Online Shop at boots.com & The Ship Inn in Kyrenia, Cyprus at mercury-direct.co.uk & Brantano Discount Code – 15% off at brantano.co.uk

Typical, we were both awake at 4 am as our body clocks are still on Cyprus time. Mal remembered that he has to renew the internet at the caravan. His bank card had been blocked! A good thing he tried to use it or may not have known it was blocked. It seems one place he had used it “was compromised” along with some other peoples cards. So, he has to wait until he receives a new card! A good start on arrival in the UK!

We spent the morning with Torin and then drove to Kenilworth where we are spending the next few days as Mal is working at Warwick Uni. It poured with rain all morning! We checked into our hotel, a nice “executive room”.

In the evening we had our dinner at Ego Mediterranean Restaurant. We had a lovely waitress Louisa. It made a change for the staff to be so nice.

Thought for the Day – “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” ~ Paulo Coelho

Bargains – Boots Sun Cream – 50% off at boots.com & Amazon Deals – up to 50% off at amazon.co.uk & Interflora Discount Code – £4 off at interflora.co.uk & Flying Flowers Discount Code – 10% off at flyingflowers.co.uk & Pia Bella Hotel Kyrenia Cyprus – mercury-direct.co.uk & Garden Bargains Discount Code – 20% off at leadthegoodlife.com

David took us to Ercan for our 8.10 Pegasus flight. It was a new plane and we also had leg room seats. The pilot even cut  10 minutes off the flying time which was evident the speed he landed at Stansted, quite a bang as we hit the runway and a lot of wobbling before that. I used to love flying, I don’t any more, done it far too often.

We collected our hire car. We booked through Easycar and it was a good price. We wanted to take Torin out for a meal but he was in Holland, not arriving back until much later. We went to see the twins first.

Mal and I had booked a table at The Croft Kitchen, which is literally 3 minutes walk from Torin’s house. It has been having good reviews, so we thought we would give it a try.

Quite honestly we were totally amazed by this restaurant. The food was excellent along with the service and even the background music. I think it is a fairly new restaurant and so they were offering a Travelzoo deal which we had bought. A 3 course meal and a Bellini cocktail for 2 for £35. We even had “amuse bouche” before our starters.  I think the whole restaurant was full of people with the voucher (you could only use mid week). A good move on their part as once you have eaten here, I am sure you would return. We both left the restaurant saying it was the best meal we had eaten in years. I have promised to take Torin next time we stay. He was at his firms Head Office in Holland, only for 2 days but typical it was when we were staying!

Torin arrived home just after us, he said he grabbed a burger on the way from the airport!

Bargains – Kwik Fit MOT – Book Online at kwik-fit.com & Sri Lanka Holiday All Inclusive – mercury-direct.co.uk &Thorntons Promo Code at thorntons.co.uk & Debenhams Promotional Code at debenhams.com & Bon Marche Discount Code – bonmarche.co.uk & Barcelona City Break – Hotel & Flight from £139 at lastminute.com

It rained during the night. As soon as we woke up we decided to go for a walk but it started raining again! We waited. We thought we may wait all day so went out. Yes, of course we got wet and because it is so warm with a mac on, you are wet on the inside as well. Of course Ellie got muddy so I showered her when we were home. She is good in the shower and so laid back when I dry her with the hair dryer, she just lies on the floor with her eyes closed. I think she likes being pampered!

It rained pretty much all day. Mal went and had his hair cut.

Early evening we went over and had a drink with David and Kenny, Ellie came too. In spite of her having a Scalibor collar on, I found a tick blood sucking her just before we left…disgusting things. I managed to get it off her. We often find dead ones on the floor. Yuk!

We left Ellie with David and Kenny for her holiday. They have again very kindly offered to look after her while we are in the UK. She settles in very quickly with Jekka and Loppi.

Mal and I couldn’t be bothered to cook, along with the packing and so popped down to Fast Food in Alsancak. Their food is consistently good and we have been going there for years. Ibo always makes you feel welcome.

Bargains – Debenhams Beauty – 70% off at debenhams.com & Trunki Sale – Free Trunki Purse at thehut.com & Tesco Direct Toys – 2 for £15 at tesco.com & Thorntons Hampers – £5 off at thorntons.co.uk & Jacamo Sale – up to 35% off at jacamo.co.uk & Asda George Clothing – Dresses for Under £10 at asda.com

It’s surprising how many people are up at 6 and out walking in the mountains! Making the most of the cooler part of the day.

 

Bargains – MandM Discount Code – up to 50% off mandmdirect.com & Debenhams Flowers – 20% off at debenhamsflowers.com & Wilko Free Delivery – wilko.com & Simply Be Discount Code – Free Delivery at simplybe.co.uk & Interflora Promotional Code – 7% off at interflora.co.uk & Marisota Promo Code at marisota.co.uk

A lovely walk in the mountains before it became too hot. We bought some cherries at Starling on the way home, first of the season and I love cherries. They were pre packed and 25tl a kilo.

Pool cleaning and gardening when we got home. We opened the cherries after dinner, some at the bottom were mouldy! I won’t be buying them again until I can select my own. No joke at 25tl a kilo and then we threw half of them away.Very crafty to hide them at the bottom.

Thought for the Day – “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” ~ Mother Teresa