On The Island

It was such a hot day (for the UK!) about 28 degrees. Mal was seriously into marking exam papers. For about the third time I went out looking for an outfit for Lou and Rhys’s wedding.  I went to De Bradelei Wharf Designer Outlet in Dover. I tried on a lot of things but I don’t want orange or lime green which the shops seem to be full of and neither am I a size 10!!  No luck. I did buy a new frying pan for the caravan!!

Mal started on his exam papers, I did make a small contribution helping him to tick boxes and other bits of the boring stuff and then I went shopping! I think it took Mal the whole day just doing preliminary paperwork. I always forget when I am here to stop talking to him! There are loads more parcels to come but the picture is how many there are just to start.

We said goodbye to everyone, including Torin’s two dogs along with him, Karen, Scarlet and Jack and packed our bags again and went to the caravan.  It was HOT!!

We opened the door to the caravan and there were parcels everywhere, all Mal’s exam marking. Ther office had put them in the caravan for us. In fact it was a long time before I could unpack as there was little room to move.

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We were up early again, packed our bags and headed for Torin’s. Jack’s chicken pox wasn’t too bad, so we took Jack and Scarlet out to lunch and had a trip to Toys r Us on the way home and then spent time in the garden.

In the evening we had a take away and sat in the garden with a few bottles of wine as it was so warm.

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We left Cardiff in the morning and drove to my sister’s in High Wycombe. Marion cooked us a lovely dinner after which the men sloped off to the pub!

MY 60th BIRTHDAY!!

We woke up to sun…in Cardiff!!  That is unusual but it was a really nice day.

Mal and I left the hotel and went to M and S cafe for our breakfast and then on to see the children. I really didn’t want to do anything special during the day it was enough being with them all. Seeing as we need new screens for around the swimming pool, we decided to go off to Ikea and buy some with Lou, Rhys and the littlies. We all filled our faces with hot dogs and ice creams!!

When the boys came home from school, they gave me my present and later we all went out for a family meal at Cosmo in Cardiff Bay. Brilliant meal. The food at Cosmo is amazing and as you can see from the pictures the kids love it there. It is an eat all you can but has a mixture of Chinese, Indian, Japanese etc foods and the deserts are excellent. I also had fresh cooked scallops. I think everyone ate as much as they could(!) and then we went for a long walk around Cardiff Bay, to walk off some of our excess! Josie even had her party dress on and then slept through the whole proceedings.

Thank you to everyone for all my presents, cards and birthday wishes. I am now looking forward to getting my bus pass, 10% discount in Boots and free eye tests!!  It is well worth reaching 60!

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Mal and I went to get breakfast and on the way Torin phoned. It had all been arranged that Torin, Karen, Jack and Scarlet were all coming to Cardiff to celebrate my birthday with me. I was so looking forward to it as with their busy lives, it is rare we are all together. So, Torin told me that Jack had chicken pox and they were going to take him to the doctors. They couldn’t risk bringing him to Cardiff in case he passed it on to Josie. Torin was upset as obviously had been looking forward to it as well. He had all the car packed and everything.

So, after breakfast we collected our things together, drove to Cardiff and booked into the hotel there. We the went to see Lou, Rhys and all the grandchildren. I walked Ollie to school in the afternoon and also collected him. Josie has grown so much since we last saw her. It was great to see the other boys too.

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