Year: 2016

Our wedding anniversary was when we had the twins staying with us and so we postponed the celebration until today. What a day it was. We took Ellie to Rhys’s and Rhys then drove us to the station where we caught the train to London.

We began at Covent Garden. I have had a cough and bad chest and had forgotten that when we made the choice of the lift to ground level or the steps.  We chose the spiral steps. For anyone who hasn’t been, there are 193 steps, the height of a 5 storey building. I was OK until about three quarters of the way up and then couldn’t stop coughing but did make it in the end after a short stop.

The other thing that made me feel old as this is the first time it has happened to me is that every time I was on the tube, someone stood up and offered me their seat!! This is the first time it has happened to me but I felt rather privileged. I suppose there are some positives to old age!  I guess it was instilled into me at school that we were always the ones who had to offer our seats! Funny how things stick.

We managed a couple of Christmas presents in Covent Garden.

We then moved on to Oxford Street and a little more shopping there. I can’t say I was very impressed with this years lights. I remember as kids that was our treat to go and see the lights and also a visit to Hamleys to see Father Christmas.

In the evening we had a table booked in Mayfair at the Park Lane Hilton. It was a good meal, lovely staff and they looked after us well as we told them we had to get back to the Palladium by 8.00pm.
Then to the best part of the day….we had tickets to see Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. It was possibly one of the best concerts I have seen. Their voices compliment each other, they were amusing and in parts had fits of giggles but they were very serious with the more serious music. Even Mal said how good it was and he wasn’t very sure before we went, I just drag him along! We had excellent seats in the middle. The show was originally due to start at 7.30 but then they contacted everyone to say it had been moved to 8.15. This was because they were both appearing at the Royal Albert Hall in the Remembrance concert in the afternoon. Of course this meant the train we planned to catch back was a little more difficult as after 11pm, they only run one an hour!

They also had a “surprise”…..Rick Astley and he sang one number with them.

This was actually from the performance we went to.

After the performance we ran to Oxford Circus and managed to catch the train we intended. Rhys was waiting for us at the station at the other end. A brilliant day.
Thought for the Day – “Music is the language of the Spirit. It opens the secret life of bringing peace and abolishing strife.” ~ Kahil Gibran

I dropped Mal off in Wingham to catch the bus to the station. He only works half a day on Friday. Ellie and I walked all around the orchards on the way home. It was really nice and sunny.

She just loves playing with the rabbits.Well, she wants to play but they run into their burrows!
Later I went to Westwood and it was really nice that at 11am, everyone just stopped for the 2 minutes silence, Even the cars in the car park were silent. It always makes me sad that my grandfather died at the Somme 100 years ago, so my dad never knew him. His mother had a very hard time bringing him up on her own.

For once I found some clothes that I wanted in the shops. I usualluy go looking for something specific and never find it but I did today.

There was a lovely sunset as Ellie went for her evening walk.

In the evening we watched the England v Scotland game.

Thought for the Day – “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.” ~ Laurence Binyon

Bargains – Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk & Sports Direct Discount Code | 90% off | sportsdirect.com & Last Minute Voucher Code | 30% off Sale | lastminute.com & Look Fantastic Promo Code | 15% off | lookfantastic.com & Jacamo Sale | 70% off | jacamo.co.uk & Mankind Discount Code | mankind.co.uk

We went out for our walk, more cauliflower picking, cauliflowers everywhere.

At least it was dry.

Groupon informed us that our voucher for afternoon tea at Wyevale had not been used and that we only had two days left until it expired! Well, yes we had used it but Mal suggested we go again and ask them. So, we printed a duplicate voucher. When we arrived, the cashier scanned it and said no it hadn’t been used! They obviously can’t get the staff nowadays, so they served us up another afternoon tea but obviously this time it was free!

Needless to say Mal had most of the sweet things, including my left over clotted cream and jam!

There’s a Pilgrim’s Hospice shop in Wyevale, so we went in there and bought Ellie a secondhand teddy! She loves carrying them around.
Mal took Ellie out for her afternoon walk and it started with hail stones. They were drenched when they arrived home.

We watched The Apprentice in the evening and I am still astounded on how little business acumen these candidates have.

Thought for the Day – “This is not just another day for you, this is yet another chance to make your dreams come true.”

Bargains – This Is The Last Stop For A Debenhams Plus Discount Code & Find My Past Free Trial | 50% off & Expedia Sale | 40% off | expedia.co.uk & Wallis Discount Code | 60% off | wallis.co.uk & Blacks Discount Code | 15% off | Free Delivery | blacks.co.uk & Designer Bags Sale | mybag.com

Pouring with rain again. I dropped Mal off at Canterbury station to catch the train. The one he was supposed to catch was cancelled, a good thing he allows plenty of travelling time. Ellie and I stopped for a very wet walk through the orchards on the way home.

I can’t believe Trump is now President of the US. The only positive is that he has sent the world’s financial markets haywire and the Turkish lira is 4 to the pound as I write this! Apart from that it all seems disaster,of course only in my opinion.

Another day keeping warm indoors as I still didn’t feel 100%.

For those waiting for it…………….here is this years John Lewis advert!

https://youtu.be/sr6lr_VRsEo

Thought for the Day – “He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

Bargains – Marks and Spencer Discount Code | 50% off | marksandspencer.com & How To Avoid The Wait For A Kwik Fit MOT Offer Code & Hotels.com Discount Code | 50% off | hotels.com & Buy your Sorgenfresser Worry Eaters before they sell out! & Buyagift Discount | 50% off | buyagift.co.uk & Bargain Crazy Discount Code | 90% off | bargaincrazy.com

I drove Mal to the station so he could get the train to college and then popped into the supermarket. Ellie was in the car so I parked right outside and just did a quick run in for fresh vegetables. Ellie and I went for a walk around the orchards on the way home. The apricot orchards are looking really pretty.

I had a quiet afternoon as I have the cold that everyone else seems to have. So, I kept in the warm and caught up some TV I had missed, like the first episode of The Planet. I can’t say I liked the look of the racer snakes!

Mal missed his train connection in the evening so I collected him later than planned from Wingham.

Thought for the Day – “The older you get the more quiet you become. Life humbles you so deeply as you age. You realise how much nonsense you wasted time on.”

Bargains – Currys Deals | Sale Now On | currys.co.uk & London Discount Theatre Tickets | discounttheatre.com & This Is The Last Stop For A Debenhams Plus Discount Code & How To Use An Allbeauty Discount Code To Save Money & MandMDirect Discount Code | 85% off | mandmdirect.com & Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk

Torrential rain all night which woke me up really early. Typical when I was catching the bus to go to Demelza! Parking in Canterbury is horrendous so  the bus was easier. I drove to Wingham and caught the bus from there. The one from Preston goes through all the villages and so takes half hour longer.  It was so easy using public transport  but lucky that I took a spare pair of jeans with me as they were quite wet by the time I arrived.

I had another really good day in the shop, all the other volunteers are so nice.

Monday is also Mal’s day to get dinner so that was nice after a day on my feet!

 

Thought for the Day – “I like people who smile when it’s raining.”

Bargains – Boots Discount Codes | 50% off | boots.com & Buy your Sorgenfresser Worry Eaters before they sell out! & Cruise Fashion Sale | 90% off | cruisefashion.com & Cheap All Inclusive Holidays | mercury-direct.co.uk & Dorothy Perkins Voucher Code | 60% off | dorothyperkins.com & Now Is The Time To Use This Matalan Direct Discount Code

It was still a very cold wind when we took Ellie for a long walk but the sun was out which made all the difference. She did find the old ram very interesting and I think the ram is quite attracted to her!

Further along the walk Mal was “chatting” to the horses and was electrocuted. He didn’t realise the electric fence was turned on as they had taken all the signs down! He did jump and no of course I didn’t laugh.

Later we watched the Spurs v Arsenal game, another draw!

Thought for the Day – “Do not let the behaviour of others destroy your inner peace.” ~ Dalai Lama