Month: November 2015

Bargains – Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Cotton Traders Discount Code | 50% off | cottontraders.com & Shearings Coach Holidays Late Deals | shearings.com & Genes Reunited Promotional Code | 25% off & Debenhams Flowers Discount Code | Bunch of Flowers | £5 off & Best Western Hotels UK | up to 50% off | bestwestern.co.uk

My throat improved, hadn’t gone but didn’t hurt so much and I was eager to get out in some fresh air. We took Ellie for a shorter walk. Anywhere there is a puddle….she loves putting her head in water and throwing it all over herself!

It was nice to get out. I didn’t do much else in the morning but planted some bulbs in the afternoon and also the Murray game. Mal cut the front hedge which he could have finished quite quickly but everyone stops to chat!

In the evening we went to Kent Uni to see Ralph McTell. I dread to think how many years it is since I last saw him and he hasn’t lost any of his musical talent or his voice, An excellent show. BUT he just carried on singing, there wasn’t an interval. We reckon now he is 71 he needs to get home early. Normally this would have been fine but with my throat I was gasping for a drink!

I think people will be amazed at the amount of songs he has written and how many albums he has recorded. He is not just a one hit wonder!

Thought for the Day – “A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. When you wake up, take a second to think about what a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy.”

Bargains – The Toy Shop Discount Code | 50% off | thetoyshop.com & Look Fantastic Promo Code | 15% off | lookfantastic.com & Dickies Work Trousers | dickiesstore.co.uk & Affordable Car Hire | easycar.com & Thomas Cook Discount Code | 40% off | thomascook.com & QHotels | up to 40% off | from £23.50pppn | qhotels.co.uk

Not a good day. I was awake a lot of the night almost choking with a sore throat. Mal did the dog walk on his own and then went to get me some medicine. I slept a lot of the day.

There has evidently been “sinking sand” on Margate main sands.

Thought for the Day – “Plenty of people miss their share of happiness , not because they never found it but because they never stopped to enjoy it.”  ~ William Feather

Bargains – Boots Discount Codes | 50% off | boots.com & Evans Cycles Discount Codes | £500 off | evanscycles.com & Kwik Fit MOT | Book Online | 10% off | kwik-fit.com & JD Williams Discount Code 20% off at jdwilliams.co.uk & Debenhams Flowers Discount Code | Bunch of Flowers | £5 off & Dorothy Perkins Voucher Code | 60% off | dorothyperkins.com

Not such a nice day but we went to Botany Bay anyway for a long walk along the beach. All the dog walkers were down there in the rain!

I happened to sign up for a M&S Sparks card when we were in Canterbury and I had an option of ways to use the card. I chose 10% off M&S Food for 12 days, so popped in there on the way to the beach, a few bits towards Christmas and I saved £5 already!!

Next on to see Mal’s sister Marion as it was her birthday. She is what we used to call “backward” but has come on really well since we managed to get her to college and also an allocated social worker, which we had to do when we went to Cyprus.  She is coping on her own very well., bless her.

We stayed quite a long time with her and then Mal’s other sister was due to visit in the afternoon.

We went to the farm shop and bought two massive sprout stalks, 50p each and we also bought some black kale. Some very “posh”recipes now have black kale in them so we are trying it to see if it is worth Mal growing some. In supermarkets it is very expensive but it’s quite reasonable at the farm shop. We had some for dinner, a little less sharp than ordinary kale.

Thought for the Day – “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow, the kind words you say today but the recipient will remember them for a lifetime.” ~ Thomas S Monson

Bargains – Designer Shoe Sale | Free Delivery | allsole.com & JD Williams Discount Code 20% off at jdwilliams.co.uk &MandMDirect Discount Code | 85% off | mandmdirect.com & Toy Sale UK | 50% off | toysrus.co.uk & TKMaxx Shoes, Handbags, Dresses and Boots | tkmaxx.com & Coggles Discount Code | 50% off | coggles.com

Mid November and a beautiful morning, the sun out, feeling warm and a clear blue sky and yes we are in the UK!!

We had a lovely walk and then went into Canterbury. There’s a small market in the middle of the city and some really nice shops. We went to Azouma to eat our lunch. It is an Arabian restaurant, specialising in Lebanese and Moroccan cuisine and is delicious. Lovely furnishings in there too. It does get very busy but we managed a really nice table in the window.

Mal had the mint tea after his meal.

We watched Children in Need in the evening, which  I am sure makes everyone think just how lucky we are.

Thought for the Day – “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Bargains – Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Whittards Voucher Codes | 10% off | whittard.co.uk & Warner Leisure Hotels Special Offers 2015 | 50% Discount & Last Minute Voucher Code | 30% off Sale | lastminute.com & Expedia Sale | 40% off | expedia.co.uk & Look Fantastic Promo Code | 15% off | lookfantastic.com

Ellie so loves her walks in the morning. We do too because of the amount of exercise we get. This morning it seems she wanted to try something different and decided to paddle in a disgustingly muddy stream……

As I have  previously mentioned we are lucky to have a back door with a tiled floor and easy access to the bathroom. Yes, straight in the bath for Ellie!

One of the many reasons Mal wants to join the Parish Council, is  along with other areas countrywide,they are now building 75 houses in our village.

A ‘blott on the landscape’……

The work has started at the end of the village. They have already taken all the hedge down. The roads are already a mess.

Shirley and Steve came round in the afternoon. A bit unexpected as I was gardening and Mal was at the allotment. They came to drop off their sisters birthday present for us to take round on Saturday  and also for a bit of technical help for their computers.

Thought for the Day – “An essential component to being happy is being grateful.”

Bargains –  Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & JD Williams Discount Code 20% off at jdwilliams.co.uk & Sainsburys Deals | £15 off Code For First Order & Allbeauty Discount Code | 80% off | allbeauty.com & Wallis Discount Code | 60% off | wallis.co.uk & Joules Discount Code | 20% off | joules.com

A lovely walk, we can’t believe how warm it is for November. We are so lucky the walks we have directly from our house. We have orchards everywhere but there are also cabbages and cauliflowers in a few of the fields.

We met another of our neighbours this morning, she was dog walking too. She had just returned from India where she sources all the clothing and goods for their company Mantra.

We then went to Westwood for Mal to collect his contact lenses. It was the opticians in Tesco and prior to Christmas they always have new, very cheap glasses just for the festive season. So, yes, I ordered a pair for reading. They have my prescription there from July.

The Village Society had a meeting in the evening. It’s a nice evening in the pub, nothing too formal in fact the end of the agenda often gets lost after a few drinks! Nothing like our SOS meetings used to be in Cyprus. In fact along with the other girls on that committee we were so well organised. I think we all loved helping SOS, particularly the outreach families and just hope we made a difference where it was really needed.

The VS is really about organising social events within the village and encourages a bit of community spirit. There are several other organisations in the village but this one suits us as it is a relaxed affair. I was asked about becoming clerk to the Parish council and said yes initially as I thought they were desperate. I have now been told it is going out to advert and I should apply. Having seen the job description and the pay, I don’t think so!! It was interesting that Lidl’s have their rate of pay on a big poster in the shops. Their pay is more than the clerk to the parish council!!! I’ll stick to volunteering, I don’t work for that sort of money!!  Interestingly Mal showed an interest in being a member of the Parish council. We were in Cyprus the first meeting he was asked to attend. Now it seems that there are others interested and so they have had to write a  “CV” of sorts. I can’t believe how long it is taking to make a decision, another reason I no longer consider being “clerk”, I’m not impatient but I do like to get things done!

At least during the meeting we organised the most important thing, a VS Christmas meal which we will be having in the same pub at the same table we have our meetings, in the “snug” and to bring along a secret santa pressie.

Thought for the Day – “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” ~ Charlie Chaplin

Bargains – Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Select Fashion Voucher Code | 60% off | selectfashion.co.uk & The Toy Shop Discount Code | 50% off | thetoyshop.com & Hawkins Bazaar UK Discount Code | hawkin.com & Buyagift Discount | 50% off | buyagift.co.uk & Bargain Crazy Discount Code | 90% off | bargaincrazy.com

Evidently last night was the warmest November night on record!

A long walk with Ellie and she managed to get lost in the woods. We whistled and called her, sometimes we think when we are at a distance, she really can’t hear. Torin came to that conclusion when he was looking after her and even thought she was deaf but if you rustle something near her, she hears, it is just at a distance she is not so good. Maybe that is how she was lost in Cyprus. Never mind just our good luck that we have her now and we will look after her whatever.

Mal went to his allotment and I did a lot of work in the back garden and cleaned the horse brasses.

In the evening we met up with Shirley and Steve who are renting a house in Margate for a week as they have been to a wedding here. It was really nice to see them. We went to a pub in St Nicholas at Wade and met Ben, Steve’s publisher and his wife.

Thought for the Day – “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” ~ Gail Devers