On The Island

We went to see Mal’s sister Marion to take her Christmas card and present. As usual Mal had to help with sorting out things online.

From there we walked Ellie at Botany Bay, it was nice and sunny.

We intended going to the supermarket at Westwood Cross on the way home but cars were almost gridlock with shoppers and schools finishing early. When we were able to get out of the queues, we made a diversion and went straight home!

Drizzly rain in the morning for Ellie’s walk.

Lunchtime we (Kent Lavender Ladies) went for our Christmas lunch at The Anchor at Wingham. I enjoyed my lunch having monkfish but two of the others said it wasn’t too good. That’s a shame but we still enjoy ourselves whatever.

My ” scarf” along with some very pretty “Queen” brooches were given to me by Linda who lives in Australia (a fellow red hatter) and she always visit when she is back in the UK. Lovely lady.

This is Linda with her “Floating Floozies” chapter in Australia…….

 

I went into Faversham as I had something to collect. It was really funny, as I drove out of the supermarket Lou was driving round the roundabout so I messaged I would pop round later.

I also called into Cancer Research and the new manager who Jack trained was so nice (she trained in our shop) even offered me a job!! Ha ha.

I called in to Lou and Rhys’s for a coffee.

I went into Sainsburys on the way home. I can not believe how many rails of Christmas clothes are half price!! I even bought slippers for 70% off!! I also bought some Christmas drink including champagne.

Meanwhile Mal took Ellie for a walk and said she really livened up and wanted to keep walking, a good day for her. I think she is pleased to be home.

Lou drove us back to her house where we collected Ellie and picked up my car. We arrived home at 2.00am! A cup of tea, carry Ellie upstairs and sleep.

We were still tired when we got up , I did some shopping and then reminded all the Red Hatters about the Christmas lunch tomorrow. I had a lot of replies……..silly me it is not tomorrow but Thursday! Too tired! I apologised to them all.

Unpacking and making a fuss of Ellie as she seemed very quiet. I think she missed us, bless her. From now on, she will be coming on holiday with us.

In the evening we caught up with a couple of TV programmes.

Paula and Gilly left at 9am for the airport, so we said goodbye to them. Back upstairs for us to pack for our evening flight. After a cuppa!

It was sunny but drizzle in between and it was still quite windy. My last sangria , they make a lovely one! I will be driving some time later in the UK, so that was it with lunch.

We played cards until the driver came to collect us to take us to the airport. The plane was delayed and we were warned by the pilot that it would be a turbulent journey and most of it was. I gave up trying to read!

Lou was waiting at Gatwick to pick us up.

It rained all morning but at least we were able to sit and have breakfast outside under cover.

Sun in the afternoon but we were watching football. A waste of time as Hammers and Spurs lost!

Late afternoon we ordered a Bolt and went into Funchal to see the lights. First we went to the Farmers Market which was full of food and drink and then moved on along the front to the light tunnel and to see the rest of the lights.

By which time Paula and Gilly were worn out. Back to the hotel for a late dinner.

We were down for breakfast quite early, hoping the weather would improve…erm no! We saw Rob in the restaurant. He should have been at the airport to return to Wales but no, he was queueing to see the Tui rep. Poor Rob (and everyone else who should be flying home today). He sat with us and waited to be given whatever news. Not too bad in the end, his flight will go on Wednesday (!!!) and meanwhile he was to be checked in at a very posh hotel in Funchal from lunchtime and just a few extra days holiday. Good for him , apart from the fact his car is at Bristol airport, due to return today. Hoping the insurance will pay out.

It was far too wet and windy to do anything outside and so we sat and played cards and eventually at lunchtime Gilly and Paula joined us.  I think the holiday reps are having a massive job moving tourists around the island and finding them places to stay. This was the queue this afternoon at reception, stretching a long way outside.

I think it may be sensible to have an early dinner tonight! How gloomy is this?……..

We went to dinner at 6.30, just as well we did, as expected the place filled up very quickly with loads of new arrivals, mainly eastern Europeans.

After dinner the four of us went to find a seat . The only ones vacant in the lounge were a sofa and 2 chairs with cases piled beside it and a jacket on one and a top on another. We watched for a while but no one came, so we moved the 2 garments on to the cases and sat down. Paula and Gilly left their handbags on their 2 seats and went for a cigarette. Then a huge Russian man came and started shouting at us, grabbed Paula’s handbag and threw it elsewhere. Mal told him to put it back, they were outside smoking. He then started yelling at us at the top of his voice, with the whole lounge turning to look! Eventually a “friend” of his got him to calm down and they left!  Then a very drunk man, drinking from his bottle of red wine, was sitting next to Paula, so drunk he dropped the bottle on the floor!!

THEN the people watching the football realised they were getting wet….a leak from the ceiling! One of the staff came to look and then went away again!!

You can’t say our holidays are boring!