Year: 2022

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

We dropped Ellie off at Rhys and Lou’s and then Lou drove us to the station. A day in London and it was very  busy. We had a picnic in St James’s Park for our lunch. The main purpose was to go and see Tina Turner the Musical and what a fantastic show it was. The energy of the cast was amazing.

After the show we had a wander around Covent Garden.

We had dinner in a noodle bar and then caught the train home. It seems Marlene and Ellie are getting used to each other and playing together.

Thought for the Day – “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” ~ Marthe Troly-Curtin