Month: July 2022

After breakfast we went on the day long island tour. I have to say here that although Martin our driver was very nice, he just was a driver and  no tour guide! Previous trips we have been on, the driver gives you a running commentary of everything. Martin said nothing, we just found our own way around.

The first stop was Ryde and were surprised so many places were shut. I thought this was tourist season!

Next stop was Cowes, a really lovely sea breeze and some amazing yachts, no surprise there. We sat watching them for a while chatting to a family who were also in our hotel. Time to return to the coach and Hazel (one of the younger members of the trip, early 50’s,) then told us she had gone to the loo and the door lock jammed! Her husband was waiting outside , so she phoned him. He couldn’t open it and so he called the council whose WC it was. The reply “no one can come on a Sunday, call the fire brigade!” So, they had to, a fire engine with five firemen, one a female.  They couldn’t open the door unless they smashed it down so in the end she had to climb through a tiny gap, assisted by one of the firemen. That was her total trip to Cowes, I don’t think she will forget Cowes in a hurry! It did give us all a good laugh though. Then the coach driver hadn’t given clear directions of where we were to meet and so we were late leaving there, looking for people!

Next stop Yarmouth, only half an hour, not worth the bother as we knew from previous visits. Mal and I knew a tiny snack bar that  do amazing prawn sandwiches, so grabbed those and back on the coach and on to Alum Bay.  Many years since we have seen the Needles and a lot to do there.

But the best way to round off our visit.

Then back to the hotel, dinner and across to the King Harry. It’s a lovely bar, nice people, much cheaper drinks than our hotel and a huge garden. The entertainment in our hotel was a Stars in their Eyes winner. Not many people were impressed, nor us as we could hear it all across the road.

We packed ready for our return the following morning.

Thought for the Day – “A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.”

We had a coach trip to Newport, we found somewhere to have lunch there and some Pimms and stocked up with bottled water, we only had a short wander around the shops and then back to the hotel.

In the afternoon we went for a walk around Shanklin and then sat out in the garden.

After dinner again there was entertainment but the band across the road was better, so we went and sat in their garden!

We had the fan on overnight, right next to the pillows! At least with the windows wide open , it was very quiet.

Thought for the Day – “Live life to the fullest and focus on the positive.” ~ Matt Cameron

Having taken Ellie to Rhys’s the previous evening (for her holiday), we left early in the morning to catch the coach to the Isle of Wight. We had to be in Deal for 8.00am. We left the car in the station car park (pre booked and the cheapest place to leave it).

The journey was horrendous, it took so long, so much traffic, accidents, traffic jams and pick ups all over the place. I had migraine and felt awful on the ferry. However we arrived at out hotel, Holliers in Shanklin at 6pm

……..a crazy length of time to be travelling just to the Isle of Wight.

We were ushered into dinner as soon as we arrived after which we unpacked. We took a fan with us and a wide open window and that was fine against the heat.

They had a band in the hotel in the evening but we didn’t want to be indoors so went across the road to King Harry’s Bar and sat in the garden.

We could still hear the music and it was nice and cool and having had a rough beer in the hotel Mal said the beer was far superior.

This was the view from our bedroom window.

Shanklin is such a pretty place to stay. The tea rooms opposite, where we have often been, is up for sale. So many businesses going the same way.

Thought for the Day – “Happiness is the only thing that multiplies when you share it.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

We took Ellie to Kearsney Abbey so she could have a paddle.They open at 7am, so we were there early . All the other dog owners had the same idea so Ellie had plenty to play with.

We were back home by 9am.

Mal went to the allotment, planting and watering. At least the weather cooled down.

We had our first runner beans, my favourite…yummy!

Thought for the Day – “I realized that I don’t have to be perfect. All I have to do is show up and enjoy the messy, imperfect, and beautiful journey of my life.” ~ Kerry Washington

They say we are in a heatwave, yes, I guess by UK standards but our summers in Cyprus were about 15 more degrees! Then I used to get up about 3.30 to take Ellie, at least I have a lie in (!) here and don’t go out until 5.30am.  There are a few other people out with their dogs.

I love how scruffy moorhens nests generally are but I saw quite a tidy one this morning and still some chicks in there, a lot later than all the others.

Silly for a hot day but I decided we really should start clearing the loft, having put 2 homes into 1, with all the things we brought back from Cyprus. A lot we haven’t even opened, so it looks as though the charity shops will be benefiting as we have two of a lot of things. FOUR coffee makers, how did we manage that?! Mal is the coffee lover and spent a fortune on “a better” coffee machine. He has now decided Aeropress is better than any and he uses coffee beans!! So much to clear, bit by bit.

Some respite in the garden and Ellie and Mal enjoying themselves.

Thought for the Day – “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” ~ Suzy Kassem

Because of the heat during the daytime Ellie and I were up and out at 5.30 for her walk. It is a lovely time of the day, even the not so small ducklings were still fast asleep and huddled together.

It was ideal to have the paddling pool out for Ellie! If she is not in front of the fan, she can have a splash in the pool!

Mal had to go to the allotment for loads of watering!

Thought for the Day – “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” ~ Jimmy Johnson

Oscar’s 14th Birthday, where have all those years gone?!

We took Ellie for her Beach Buddies first thing at St Mildred’s Bay. There was a lot of seaweed, of course the retrievers didn’t mind at all, the smellier the better as far as they are concerned!

We took Ellie home and then met up with Oscar and the gang as he wanted his birthday lunch in Nandos.

We had a good time, lovely to see him on his birthday. Then back home to watch the men’s tennis final.

Thought for the Day – “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” ~ Elbert Hubbard