Sunday 23rd June 2019

Ellie met up with lots of dogs on our walk, there were also a lot of tourists around.

Later we went to Howletts as it was Member’s Day, lots of extra talks and discounts off the retail goods. A lot of the animals were sleepy because of the heat. Arina didn’t move the entire time we were there.

We did manage to talk to someone about the experiences as Mal bought me one for my birthday. I couldn’t decide what to do, it would be Arina but they said they couldn’t guarantee it would be her, maybe the other tigers. Decision made I will do it with the gorillas.

The lemars were very playful today.

Back home just in time for the Lopez tennis final! Yes, he won the singles. A short break and he won the doubles too!! The ladies won the football, which I was watching in between!

Thought for the Day – “I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.” ~ Khalil Gibran

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Saturday 22nd June 2019

Good weather promised for a few days now and so we took advantage and went to Minnis Bay with Ellie. The tide was way out and it was quite muddy but then Ellie loves the mud! Lots of other dog walkers out.

We have a fridge freezer in the utility room and a fridge in the kitchen. The kitchen fridge is now very old and we felt, in need of replacement. I wanted a slightly larger one but to fit under the top cupboard. We found one and were just about to buy it from a company who told us it would be up to 3 week delivery. AO were more expensive for the same item and then we noticed they had Price Match Promise. We called them and it is coming on Wednesday at the same reduced price!  Mal always laughs at how I always get the best deal. Years of practice bringing two boys up, working and never a penny maintenance.

I watched the tennis from Queens while Mal went to the allotment.  Feliciano López Díaz-Guerra  has certainly made his mark on this tournament. He won the semi finals singles, then on the same court finished off a doubles match that started the previous night with Andy Murray. They won that and this was followed 10 minutes later by another doubles match win! Not bad all that time on court for a 37 year old. It now means he is in 2 finals!

Meanwhile Mal brought home peas, broad beans, flowers and masses of strawberries.

Thought for the Day – “Kindness is free, sprinkle that stuff everywhere.”

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Friday 21st June 2019

The town has been without the toll bridge which quite frankly has left Sandwich in chaos for the last couple of weeks. This is today’s statement from the town council….

Toll Bridge Update

Here’s an update from Kent County Council Highways Asset Management Department to other Council Officers.

“Further to my email on Tuesday, a site meeting took place yesterday morning to review progress at Sandwich Toll Bridge.

Despite the very best efforts of the engineers on site, we remain unable to reinstate the operation of the toll bridge for the time being. A number of consumable parts have been replaced. However it has transpired that the root of the problem is far more complex than we had previously anticipated.

A detailed inspection of the entire structure is scheduled to commence on Monday 24th June with a specialist inspection of the mechanical and electrical equipment to follow during the first week of July. These inspections will give us a much greater understanding of the work required to repair the bridge.

As explained previously, a brand new secondary hydraulic unit to enable manual operation has been ordered however this will take around a month to build. As an interim solution, the engineers on site are refurbishing an existing unit. If successful, staff will then be trained to open and close the bridge manually so that the operation can be reinstated.

Finally, the possibility of temporary footbridge has now been fully investigated. Preliminary quotes have indicated a £275k cost but a lead time of 5 months [3 months design, 2 months mobilisation and installation] makes it an impracticable solution in the short term. Therefore the shuttle bus will remain in operation.

Thank you for your on going patience, please be assured that every effort is being made to reinstate the bridge operation as quickly as possible.”

Well, that’s no time soon then! If I explain this is one of the main routes into the town.

A beautiful day for a dog walk.

For lunch we went to eat at Chom Chom in Canterbury. They had Thai red curry on and theirs is really good. A lot of food there we like and it is an Eat All You can. It was a Groupon deal and really good value.

We then collected Ellie and drove to Lou and Rhys’s, left her there and went to the littlies school summer fayre. Lou and Rhys were working. We all enjoyed it. Then back to their house and dinner. Mal and I didn’t eat our lunch was plenty! The kids then played football out in the garden until Lou arrived home.

Thought for the Day – “Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” ~ Dennis Prager

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Thursday 20th June 2019

The seagulls are awake and squawking at 4.15. They have their young in the nests. So, 5am Ellie and I gave up and went for a long walk by the river. It’s better for Ellie anyway as she hates the heat.

I think the Guardian sums up what has just happened, very nicely…..Rory Stewart’s exit means the Tories have now given up on reality”

Mal and I went into Deal to the brewery shop. Rhys and Lou bought him a lot of things to brew his own beer for Father’s Day. The shop was shut even though it should have been open!

Later I watched tennis and a triumphant return for Andy Murray in the doubles.

Thought for the Day – “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees.” ~ Amelia Farhart

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Wednesday 19th June 2019

Storms during the night and a lot of rain, at least we won’t have to water the garden and allotment.

Ellie’s walk was in between showers but it was very humid.

I have been reading more Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, there are some new ones out since I last looked. My all time favourite book/film is her ‘Pay it Forward’ and I do try to do that. If only everyone had that philosophy.

We booked a holiday at Romney Marsh we really like it there with the whole of Greatstone beach on our doorstep to go with Ellie and then of course the lovely fish hut just up the road.

Of course in the evening we watched the ladies footie..England. A win for England.

Thought for the Day – “The memories we make with our family is everything.” ~ Candace Cameron

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Tuesday 18th June 2019

An interesting article today saying that dogs eyes evolve to appeal to humans. Hmmm, don’t know what they are talking about!

After our walk with Ellie I went to Westwood Cross to meet Rhys. We went into Toby. If you book, which I had, you seem to get the better tables.

This was followed by our wander around Sainsbury’s and then our relaxing coffee in their coffee shop. Then back to work for Rhys and I came home.

A bit of a bargain day, I had a birthday voucher for Toby and also a £5 off voucher for Lidl! Then with my Sainsbury’s shopping I received a £6 off £40 my next shop. It just goes on and on. Can’t they just reduce prices?!! I keep saying what a crazy world we live in now.

Mal has just been on to my mobile phone company and informed them that I want sim only as I have paid for my phone as per Reuters report!

In the evening we watched the debate for PM. What a lot of waffle. Rory Stewart appears to be the only one with straight answers.

Thought for the Day – “As she has planted, so does she harvest ; such is the field of karma.” ~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib

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Monday 17th June 2019

A really warm day and I was at Demelza. Not too many customers, I guess they were all making the most of the weather and out in their gardens! At least we managed to get a lot of work done.

Thought for the Day – “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” ~ Wayne Dyer

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