Author: Maggie Daniel

I may be getting a new washing machine for Christmas. I put washing in this morning and the machine has given up on me. We have had it 5 years and so have decided on a new one. And seriously it will NOT be my Christmas present, I don’t do household appliances for presents!

So, we chose a new machine from Argos, who appeared to be the quickest way to get a machine BUT I told Mal we wanted it delivered, I wasn’t collecting and helping getting one into the car. Also we wanted the old one taking away. I know Rhys would collect it but he is busy at work at the moment so I didn’t want to bother him. All ordered and we would have it within 14 days. That would be OK I can use Lou’s machine in the meantime. About 10 minutes after placing the order we had a phone call from Argos. They were sorry but the model we chose would not be available until mid January was that OK? Erm, no! So, he offered to see what was available (a more expensive machine) and express deliveryand  take the old machine away for no charge as it was their error! Wow, can’t say fairer than that. It will be here on Tuesday! Excellent service from Argos!

We went to Minnis Bay much later than usual. I bought Ellie some different treats, Pedigree Schmackos, and her behaviour has changed. From a placid dog, she has started barking for not much reason at all. She also has gone a little mental when people come to the house. This morning she ran off down the beach twice, totally ignoring me, whereas she usually walks by the side of me or at least runs and returns when I call her. This morning she just wasn’t listening and seemed really hyper. I have heard this before about some Pedigree foods. So, the rest are going in the bin and I will make my own treats.

On the way back we went to the Winter gardens in Margate to collect our pantomime tickets which I had booked online.

In the evening we went to Lou and Rhys’s for a delicious lamb dinner. Of course silly Grandad was playing silly games with the little ones. Poor Sol had fallen off his bike a few days ago and grazed all his face. It looked a bit of a mess.

 

Thought for the Day – “To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid.” ~ Robert Brault

Bargains – Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk & Sports Direct Discount Code | 90% off | sportsdirect.com & Wickes Voucher Code | 50% off | wickes.co.uk | Free Delivery& Travelodge Discount Code | £5 off Hotel Bookings & Bhs Discount Code | 50% off | Free Delivery | bhs.co.uk & Pet Supermarket Discount Code | 50% off | pet-supermarket.co.uk

I phoned Marcello, my hairdresser last night to see if he could fit me in before Christmas as I know he gets so busy.  He told me to go early this morning, so after walking Ellie in the rain, off I went to Ramsgate. We always have a laugh as I have been going to him for years and he was  interested to hear the whole story of Ellie’s journey home (which I prefer not to put in print!)  Of course I heard all the latest about his daughters and Cuban wife. It really is far more than a hair cut there.

I then drove into Waitrose car park. It has always been if the barrier is up and the man isn’t in his kiosk then that is a day you don’t pay. So, I drove in, parked, a bit of shopping in the town and then quite a lot of shopping in Waitrose. It wasn’t until I had actually driven out of the car park that I noticed something stuck to the bottom of my windscreen. I stopped the car to discover it was an official “parking fine ticket”. I was so annoyed and couldn’t imagine how I had received it. I drove home really annoyed because I then realised it was for parking in Waitrose car park!!! I spent well over £70 in there and got a parking ticket?! It seems now you can only park for an hour and a half and I was there for an hour and three  quarters.  All the rules had changed in my absence. I guess somewhere it may have said but I didn’t notice.

Mal phoned Waitrose and asked why this had happened and the person said there is limited parking. Mal asked for how long. “I don’t know” was the reply. So Mal asked how customers should know if a member of staff didn’t know and then asked for the Manager whilst I am shouting that I will never be shopping in Waitrose ever again!!   The Manager said it is now limited to an hour and a half and had been changed  about 2 months ago. Mal put on his pensioner voice saying how unexpected and we would never have left it that long if we knew, poor old pensioners expected to pay a £70 fine etc etc. Mal never gets cross, unlike me! The upshot of all this, the Manager said he had leeway and he would cancel the ticket! We have taken his name and everything else in case we hear from the “Britannia” company again.

Later I heard from Torin and Charlotte has lost her job!! Just like that and she is very high up in her company. Great,  2 weeks before Christmas. It seems she was asked to do something illegal and refused. (In a very small nutshell.)

In the evening I spoke to my sister and she has had a rough couple of days (coming up to the anniversary of the death of her husband). Also Mal’s brother isn’t well, so he is going to train it down to see him for a day or two next week. Let’s hope tomorrow will be more cheerful and positive.

There was disruption in the UK skies after there was a computer failure at air traffic control. It sounded very suspicious to me. I will say no more.

A good programme on the TV in the evening. It was the start of a new series about Canterbury Cathedral. I love that place and when I worked in Canterbury I spent every lunchtime sitting in or walking through the grounds. The programme tells me a lot I didn’t know about the cathedral including how much money they have to raise to keep the cathedral from falling into severe disrepair.

Thought for the Day – “Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.” ~ Pindar

Bargains – Valueflora Discount Code | 10% off | valueflora.com & Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Sainsburys Deals | £15 off Code For First Order & MandMDirect Discount Code | 85% off | mandmdirect.com & Tesco Discount Codes | £15 off | tesco.com & Go Outdoors Voucher Code | gooutdoors.co.uk

I took Ellie to Minnis Bay in the morning, dropping Mal off at the barbers on the way, a new one he is going to try. Not his favourite occupation having his hair cut!  It was so windy, this looked like good fun on the beach.

Thankfully Ellie didn’t chase them, she was too interested in her ball and jumping in puddles of sea water.

Lou came round later to deliver our veg! I had some home made soup so she stayed for lunch with us.

Later in the afternoon Mal decided he had missed out on his walk along Minnis, so back down there and the tide was higher than it has been in a long while. We couldn’t walk on the beach and it was crashing over the sea wall. We walked along the grass walk at the top. Ellie is getting so much exercise, so are we!!

Thought for the Day – “Dear Santa, I don’t want much for Christmas. I just want the person reading this to be happy.”

Bargains – Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Simply Be Discount Code | 20% off | simplybe.co.uk & English Heritage Membership Discount | 25% off & Debenhams Flowers Discount Code | Bunch of Flowers | £5 off & Premier Man Discount Code | 50% off | premierman.com & Garden Plants For Sale | 50% off | gardenbargains.com

I didn’t feel 100% but a lot better than yesterday. We were up early and saw  the sunrise at Minnis Bay, not quite so cold as it has been.

I went present shopping and Mal stayed in for parcels that were due to arrive firom my online shopping. In the afternoon we drove to Fowlmead Country Park, we have only ever  driven past it before and never gone in.  It was about 3.30 by the time we got there and discovered we had to pay £1.50 for parking which would have been for an hour maximum!  So today we saw the sunrise (over Minnis Bay) and sunset (over Fowlmead) .

We left there and went to Pegwell Bay country park who also now charge, they never used to.  I always took my dogs down there. So, in almost dark we returned to Minnis Bay, the beach is free and the  grass walk is free. I think we will have to look into season tickets for the country parks.

Thought for the day – “Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Bargains – Allbeauty Discount Code | 65% off | allbeauty.com & Maplin Voucher | 60% off | maplin.co.uk & Millet Sports Discount | 50% off | milletsports.co.uk & The Hut Discount Code | 70% off | thehut.com & Go Outdoors Voucher Code | gooutdoors.co.uk & I Want One Of Those Discount Code | Daily Deals 80% off

I was sick during the night and so stayed in bed in the morning.Lou and Rhys were going to come round for lunch so we had to cancel. I lay in bed watching the big fat pigeons in the trees in the garden. Perhaps we should stop putting food out for them! Then somebody else came to visit…….

Thought for the Day -“Remember  This December,  That love weighs more than gold! ~ Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Bargains – Thorntons Voucher Codes | 50% off | thorntons.co.uk & Matalan Sale Online | 50% off | matalan.co.uk &Debenhams Discount Code | 70% off & Tesco Discount Codes | £15 off | tesco.com & Halfords Voucher Codes | 10% off | halfords.com & Go Outdoors Voucher Code | gooutdoors.co.uk

A walk for Ellie and then we went to the TAG (Thanet animal rescue that Mal’s sister runs). It was her day off, we should have called first but we found some Christmas plates and also a dog towel in the shop. We will go back another day and meanwhile phone Deb. We also called into my favourite shop in Broadstairs and ended up coming out with a leather sofa, not literally, they are delivering it on Wednesday!

Then on to Asda and Tesco. As it was a rare occurrence that Mal came shopping with me so I made the most of it and we bought loads of Christmas drink. Bottles and cans are heavy. We were surprised how many things we wanted, the shelves were empty!

Later down to Minnis Bay and it was cold.  Hats, gloves and scarf on. We decorated the tree in the evening. I think I had the start of a bug as I went to bed early with stomach ache.

Thought for the Day – “He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” ~ Roy L. Smith

Bargains – Wilko.com Discount Code | Free Delivery | 50% off & Blacks Voucher Code | 15% off | blacks.co.uk & Buy Electronic Cigarette UK | Halo Micro Kit – £.99 & Hobbycraft Discount Code | 50% off | hobbycraft.co.uk &Maplin Voucher | 60% off | maplin.co.uk & Garden Plants For Sale | 50% off | gardenbargains.com

A morning spent at home trying to unpack some more things. Last time we were back, things were just dumped everywhere out of the caravan. I need some more voiles for the upstairs windows at the front. The back windows overlook the fields so I won’t bother for those. But after my fiasco with Dunelm, I keep putting it off.

In the late afternoon we went to Botany Bay and then on to  visit Mal’s sister Marion. Bless her she was cleaning up ready for our visit and her rubbish bag had burst in the middle of the living room floor on the way to the outside bin! She is what they used to call “backward” but copes remarkably well nowadays. Of course Mal took the mickey out of her, as he has always done! She loves it when he does. She was so pleased we took Ellie round to show her.

By the time we left I said I couldn’t be bothered to cook and so we looked for a fish and chip shop but most are shut Sunday night. We went into Birchington and discovered Seabell. They had the best fish and chips I have eaten in years and the portions were huge with great chunks of fish and all freshly cooked.  It must be the best one for miles and there are some very good ones in Thanet. I can’t stand “Greasy” and these weren’t.

Thought for the Day – “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ~ Dr Seuss