tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329580352024-03-13T03:13:54.474+00:00Yizz's yawnYizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.comBlogger586125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-85091957025831173372023-05-24T21:45:00.002+01:002023-05-25T11:16:08.585+01:00End <p><span style="font-size: large;">Our finally day dawned bright, sunny and hot. We opted to spend the day by the pool,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> which disappointed those who had tagged along with us the day before, some of who then also opted to take the swimming and reading route. With a 6 a.m. start we took an early bed time having packed our suitcases ready for our return home.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">TUI has let us down the whole week, and did not redeem themselves on our last day. Insisting on a pick up before breakfast they had not told us we could order a packed bag of food to eat on the coach. We looked on as others sucked on the straws of their cartons of orange juice while dropping crumbs from their cakes plus a load of other goodies hidden in their large paper bags on the coach floor. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The hotel didn't seem to know we were booking out so had to quickly make up our bill. At least they bought us out coffee before we left.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We thought we were making good time. With no rep to distract our driver we sped through the pick ups, but then one lot of misfortunates were missing and then we hit a huge traffic jam. Finally after over 2 hours (honest it's a 1 hour run without the pickups) we arrived at Verona Airport. The queue for baggage check in was horrendous, the kiosks were in the part of the terminal being built, and none of the baggage conveyor belts were working. We waited and waited. I sat on the floor, another joined me. We waited some more. The only saving grace, sort of, was that our plane was 40mins late departing Gatwick do we weren't going to miss it. I asked a TUI rep if we would have time to get anything to eat as with no breakfast I was somewhat short on slow release carbs and it was getting on for 12 o'clock. He did apologise that we hadn't k own about breakfast which wasn't much help but we did manage to buy two croissants and a coffee.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Boarding was late. Then we sat on the tarmac some more because we needed the scissor lift for two disabled passengers. Verona airport only own one apparently, and it was being used for another flight. It eventually turned up nearly 35mins after we should have taken off after the captain had moaned rather loadly and sternly to the Italian ground staff. With the two dear old ladies comfortably installed in their seats, the doors were shut. Yet now we had lost our take off slot. We waited some more. Finally we took off nearly an hour after we should have done.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The agony didnt end there though. Directed to land at the South instead of the North terminal we had to be coached round to the other side and wait for our luggage to follow on. Having collected our cases we traipsed outside to find the shuttle coach to our car. Martin spotted it and waved to the driver, who promptly shut the doors in our faces and drove off. Another bit of waiting, 20 mins before another shuttle coach ferried us back to the South terminal to drop off a few new victims .. I mean holiday makers. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Finally we collected our car and collapsed exhausted into our much missed bungalow nearly 12 hours after getting up!</span></div></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-43705885648286818372023-05-22T21:32:00.001+01:002023-05-25T11:16:59.820+01:00Sirmione and lots of friends.<span style="font-size: large;">Sirmione was one of the few places I had wanted to go to before we even arrived. The photos our friends had put up last year looked amazing. We had worked out we could take the fast boat to Sirmione and then get the slow boat back, giving us 4 hours to explore the town. With the sun promising a hot day, after breakfast we made our way down to the lake to wait our tranport. As we sat enjoying the good weather, Dawn and Jason, the couple we has spent the day with in Garda strolled up. They were intending to return to Garda but when we mentioned our plans and that the internet had informed us it was market day in Sirmione they soon decided to tag along with us. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Minutes later our 'join us for a coffee' friends (who turned out to be called Jill and Allen) also arrived. Their idea of a good day out was to catch the ferry to one town then hike the 55mins to the next town and catch the ferry back. That was until they realised the ferry timetable didn't quite allow for that, and did we mind if they joined our little expedition. This was followed by a further two couples who also wanted to join us. I was going to need a large umbrella at this rate. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, once we reached Sirmione everyone was soon swallowed up by the hoards of people already there, leaving us to wander around with Dawn and Jason. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sirmione is a very busy bustling place jammed full of tourists and Italians alike. The roads are narrow, and packed. At first we believed them to be pedestrianised so were shocked to find cars coming towards us, barely able to squeeze between the buildings, leaving shoppers and sightseers to rapidly grab their tiny children and or dogs and sardine-like squash into doorways to avoid being run down or hit by wing mirrors.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Soon we came to the volcanic baths. Seeing no way to make further progress we turned and meandered down more people filled busy roads. We were disappointed that the castle was shut</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"> and we couldn't find a way through to the promised roman ruins. We queued to amble over a bridge that everyone else seemed to be crossing only to find ourselves in a large car park. We enjoyed the gold plated roller though.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We retraced our steps, found a bar and people watched while chatting nine to the dozen to Dawn and Jason. We seem to get on really well with them. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It appeared, on returning to the ferry that none of our party had managed to find the way to the ruins. A shame as from the boat they looked really interesting.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jason and Dawn had told us they had opted to eat in the small pizzarier near the ferry terminal by our hotel as the food was better and the drinks cheaper. We gave the hotel one more shot at feeding us, but the starter of 'meat' (undefined and unrecognisable) with apple salad (what??) even had Martin stumped, so after stumbling through the menu we strolled down the hill to spend a pleasant evening drinking wine and laughing and giggling with our new found friends.</span></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-56081086763826978442023-05-21T19:05:00.003+01:002023-05-25T11:17:41.763+01:00Salo<span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it amazing? Up until now the evening meals have been rubbish and even Martin has struggled to find something to eat. So we bought loads of snacks and stuffed our faces only to be offered all the good stuff in the dining room when we were too full to eat!!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This morning we opted for the later ferry and took the short trip to the nearest town of Salo. Some of the people we had spoken to had walked there, a 55 min stroll but we had also been told it wasn't a pleasant journey so the boat it was. It only took us 10 mins to walk around the shops and discover there wasn't much there we hadn't already seen in the other two towns we had visited although some of the buildings were interesting.<br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After that we looked at the few market/artisan stalls by the Quay.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We still had nearly 2 hours before the return boat was due so we sat, as almost everyone else was, having a drink and watching the world go by. We were opposite a stall selling ordinary polyester skirts, amazed at how many people stopped to spend an age searching through, feeling and holding up to themselves something from the meger 20 or so items on offer. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One woman, already wearing a very similar white skirt, picked out a plain white one and went in-between the two curtains to try it on. We gasped as unbeknown to her the mirror on the other side of the stall was angled right into her changing spot and everyone sitting at the bar could see..well everything!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This particular cafe was great for another reason, everytime you ordered a drink a tray of nibbles came with it for free, crisps, olives, crackers, carrots and small pizza slices. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We went for another stroll in the sunshine in case we had missed anything the first time round, pausing to watch an obviously inexperienced couple who had hired a small boat attempt to bring it into moor. They were making a bit of a pigs ear out of it so we held out breath as twice one of them nearly fell into the water making a grab for the mooring bouy. I'm pretty sure the boat owner was holding his too as was the guy anchored in the next bay when they came close to crashing into him.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we made our way back we noticed the couple who had asked us to join them for coffee the day before in the hotel bar, board the boat. Martin started chatting to them again, they had been to the gardens in Gardone as we had recommended. Again they invited us for coffee in the hotel bar, and we spent a pleasant two hours chatting to them as the rain, returning after a day of brilliant sunshine, splattered on the roof above us.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-2658654106919618932023-05-20T15:38:00.004+01:002023-05-25T11:18:12.297+01:00Drizzle<span style="font-size: large;">The trouble with the ferrys aside from how infrequent they are, is the inability to be able to hop on, hop off. Had we wanted to disembark at Salo on our return from Gardone we would have had to pay again to travel from Salo to Portese even though we had already paid for that leg of the journey. So instead we ended up returning to the hotel and playing a game of scrabble in the almost deserted hotel bar, returning to our room and after an hour or so reading our holiday novels enduring yet another strange combination of dinner offerings. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This morning, true to the weather forecast the mist had closed in and a persistent rain was falling. The lake, calm up until now had developed a definite swell and fairly big waves were crashing on the beach. We forwent the ferry and opted to shrug on our rain coats to explore locally.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Soggy veiw from balcony of our room. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Exploring did not take long. It was not possible to walk along the edge of the lake very far in either direction, just past the harbour a large hotel owns the private beach forcing you up into the hills onto a busy road with no walkway, the other direction simply had no walkway leaving you to scrabble over rocks and pebbles. Wet from the rain and somewhat despondent we retired back to our room. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike many of the Jet2 customers, TUI had failed to inform us that the rooms had no tea or coffee making facilities. Jet2 customers forewarned had provided themselves with travel kettles. We thought maybe the slightly larger shop on the nearby campsite might cater for us parched TUI customers so back out into the drizzle we went. We managed to get a corkscrew for the wine we had bought in Garda and a better selection of snacks but alas no kettle. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We are beginning to wonder what everyone does here, and if we are somehow missing the point. It seems we are not the only ones. We braved the elements one more time to go buy an expensive coffee from the hotel bar. There was only one other couple there. Where has everyone gone? There is nothing to do round here yet very few people had boarded the ferry as we had watched. The other couple, a pair from Rochdale, asked us to join them. I think with the place being so remote people are desperate for company as we have never chatted to so many complete strangers. We are all relentlessly asking each other for ideas of places to go and things to see. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After a pleasant exchange with our next new friends we returned to our room to watch Spurs inevitable loss against Brentford, and to look forward to our evening meal!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"> Soggy veiw in other direction from our balcony.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-65557202697996994212023-05-19T14:19:00.002+01:002023-05-25T11:18:47.888+01:00Gardens of Gardone<span style="font-size: large;">Dinner last night was even weirder than the night before. The starter, which again we had to remain seated and wait for, was thinly sliced beef with two tiny triangular cut cream cheese sandwiches. I opted for the salad which I was able to serve myself from the buffet. Strangely the seafish starter from yesterday which had to be served to us yesterday was now available as part of the help yourself selection. Odd. The main was even worse and even Martin who will try anything struggled. I ended up with two bread rolls with butter sneaked from breakfast (we discovered yesterday bread doesn't warrant butter in the evenings only the morning), and Martin had a mish mash of pork escalopes, salad and ham. It is really only the lack on the dinner menus that is letting this hotel down.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This morning dawned slightly overcast and a bit cooler. Our friends Jason and Dawn who we spoke to as we left the dinning room were walking the 50mins to Salo but we has already decided on catching the early ferry, bypassing Salo and getting off at the next stop, Gardone.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Coach rep (not our rep as we don't warrant one apparently), had told us The Grand Hotel here was worth a look at. He informed us it was now grade 1 listed as it was the first ever hotel built around the lake. It has been acquired by new owners and has been shut for internal renovations but could be open soon .... or in several years, no one knows. It is the building prominent across the bay from our hotel and the first building you see as the ferry docks. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The real reason we had come though was to visit Hellor Gardens, a two acre site crammed full of plants, trees and meandering pathways as well as many local artists statues. We had been told about it by the same English couple who had told us about the busses and ferries. We had no idea where it was but by following the signs for the cars travelling to it, we found it with only a slight detour up a steep but pleasantly plant lined road leading out the back of the town.</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">The first of many statues.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">and one of many ponds.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">fish, bonsi, cacti</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">scary artwork</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">and odd artwork.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The only thing that spoilt our enjoyment of this magical place was the amount of foreign visitors who refused to give way on the narrow pathways to let you pass. All the English speakers stepped to one side but the rest just stood chatting ten to the dozen blocking the way, pretending they didn't understand when we asked politely to be let through until finally the only options were to tramp all over the planting or to rudely shove through. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The ferry back was 10 mins late and it started to spit as we waited to board. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">By the time we reached Salo people on the Dock could be seen sporting unbrellas or tugging up their rain hoods. We spotted Jason and Dawn as the boat pulled away and hoped they found a dry bar as it was 2 hours before the next ferry.</span></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-66536941041617636522023-05-18T16:07:00.002+01:002023-05-25T11:19:34.926+01:00Garda and new friends. <span style="font-size: large;">Blood sugars really didn't like the transition from Blighty to Italian lakes because not more than two hours after stuffing my face full of carbs from the last dive they took another jump off the deep end, leaving me to face some rather odd looks as I desperately tried to get the Italian only speaking dinner waiter to bring me orange juice (no not Fanta please) whilst ignoring the beautifully presented sea food starter and loading my plate with chips. Three am also found me rapidly cramming cookies down to persuade glucose levels to rise. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Life really wasn't promising us much when we had to get the maintenance guy to come sort out our room safe. So it was a pleasant surprise that the day actually turned out to be really fun. We overheard the receptionist discussing the busses out of the village with an English couple so we stopped to find out what they has found out. Turns out busses only ran once a day if they felt like it, take to the boats if you hoped to get back to the hotel. Erring on the side of caution we packed all the goodies we had strangely managed to aquire from our breakfast buffet and headed for the harbour.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We tagged ourselves onto another English couple who introduced themselves as Jason and Dawn from Lowerstoft who has previously lived in Sandwich. Since neither they nor we could make much sense of the timetable or had any idea of where we wanted to visit we decided to support each other in our ignorance and stick together for the whole day. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Garda was the first stop, further afield seemed to take over an hour with the only returning ferry allowing a scant two hours ashore, so we agreed the 40 min run to Garda was our best option for our first day. Although not large Garda is full of typical Italian terracotta and yellow buildings built close together to leave tourist type shops huddled in shaddy alleys beneath them. Dawn and I wandered along admiring the leather bags while Jason and Martin eyed up the wines and discussed golf. We stopped for a light lunch </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">beers and more chatting before returning to the ferry, enjoying Italian ice creams on our way back. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">Dawn and Jason were a great couple, making friends on holiday is a first for us so we're were more than chuffed when they gave us their room number and said we could come borrow their bottle opener for the wine we had purchased any time. Hopefully a few more hours of our holiday might be shared with them. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-48761561700826845262023-05-17T17:59:00.003+01:002023-05-25T11:20:01.833+01:00Lake Garda adventures.<span style="font-size: large;">Up at 3 am. What a bloody stupid time to start a holiday but needs must and up with the lark we set off on that wonderful journey known as M2, M20, M23 to Gatwick. It was reasonably quiet (well it would be at that time wouldn't it?). We dropped the car at airport parking (Gatwick purple summer car park..what a name) and got the shuttle to the North terminal. We haven't flown since I got ill in America back in 2018 and had no idea what to expect post pandemic/diabetic. I shouldn't have worried although anxiety levels were high. With far fewer travellers the staff didn't seem so stressed and there was none of that shouting to grab aa tray, take off your shoes, get into line etc. In fact everyone was very helpful and cheerful. Through and on the plane smoothly.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2 hours later it was equally as easy to find our TUI rep and board our coach but how come no matter where we go or how many coaches there are it's always ours held up for that one missing couple?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We were disappointed to discover that our hotel was so far away from the other hotels under the TUI umbrella that we didn't warrant a real live rep only a digital one (which basically was TUIs way of saying email or ring with any problems). This was even more annoying when the rep on the coach gave us lots of speil on all the hot tourist places to visit, punctuating every one with "Ask your rep for more information". We didn't even have a rep for the last leg of the journey as coach TUI got off at the hotel before ours. A tad worrying as he has been giving all the route directions to the lovely but slightly clueless coach driver. This driver didn't drive into one single hotel drive but dumped each client on the road leaving them to get themselves and their luggage to the hotel door. Of course guess who's hotel had the longest driveway?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ours may have had the furthest walk to drag our suitcases, but ours was by far the prettiest of all the drop offs, and our accommodation is right on the edge of the Lake. Once settled we found the water view bar for a drink and toasties where we enjoyed the views and the unexpected sun as it cleared the clouds.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA2anwEOmkNF4ueVWHxLNKEziGq4LAk5zBQIfz38999oKtHmzGH0wZPDHEBqnVKVlmnwadbr4EdlD8jdg_cgxyVgQQ4Tilb6Xm6H6xCBbozZYbF5RerbeL6tJdVTcLZCBryIPVNmuDV631-ph8pIjpRNKj60vBNNr1RwAF-UbKVPdwxmZsaw" width="400" />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We needed supplies incase of unexpected hypos for the diabetic in this group. The nearest supermarket according to Google maps was a mere 8 mins walk away. Except it was up a very steep incline away from the lakeside. Blood sugars took a huge dive as we struggled up the 1 in 8 and by the time we had purchased orange juice, biscuits and crisps I has to tuck straight in to replace the used energy. Martin went back in the very small grocery store to buy a second haul but apparently we had bought the lot already. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Aside from all that, and if you ignore the large burnt out building taking up most of the centre of the village and the long ago abandoned half built estate of holiday villas it looks like a great place to explore and have a pleasant break in. Next time out we will be walking DOWN the hill!</span></div>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-29602162433365975452023-03-07T17:25:00.019+00:002023-03-07T17:38:47.984+00:00Spend spend spend. <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The weather has turned cold and even though March is finally here after the tedium of January and February we are both still more or less confined to home as its far too cold to think of any outdoor activities, and we are bereft of ideas of what to do indoors. The people at the end of our back garden are putting up a very ugly extension as near to the boundry line as they can so we are desperate to get out and leave the builders to it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSw-qUxImQbDE97H44Wgppb21q4oWZ9jSggbFfDcHajzZHs1z7--3CBIRrHAnGzx2JnqQNrzvoFJqTFDNS4ZGEY9hY0zF0rKcJovfyh6X4_8VZSOcZ_wVbf_3fdurRSOB3eHJhz1HcA_QMR35Cl00xZ8OEj5oG0Q_KJ3F_wY7mKiDeCQacw/s4032/20230127_114255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSw-qUxImQbDE97H44Wgppb21q4oWZ9jSggbFfDcHajzZHs1z7--3CBIRrHAnGzx2JnqQNrzvoFJqTFDNS4ZGEY9hY0zF0rKcJovfyh6X4_8VZSOcZ_wVbf_3fdurRSOB3eHJhz1HcA_QMR35Cl00xZ8OEj5oG0Q_KJ3F_wY7mKiDeCQacw/w257-h193/20230127_114255.jpg" width="257" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> The furthest trip however has been to the local butchers to top up our meat supplies in the freezer, and this was our intended destination when, going out the back gate, Martin managed to drop his phone. Even with both screen protector and case, it fell face down and smashed the glass front to tiny cracks and holes. I bundled him into the car and we had a lovely afternoon sat in Three Mobile shop upgrading his phone.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This was the start of a winter blues spending spree. Flushed with the success of buying a phone, we decided to book the Woodee Experience day we had not gone on last year. Martin had attempted to cook a cake in the dutch oven during my Birthday celebration party but had failed dismally so whether he thinks so or not, he really needs the fire management course to learn that open fire and fire pit cooking are a far cry from bbq cooking. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oKYmhHsraDWqAcSH58yIiE9JOAuyWQcZz5kbeC27nE3ldjIlsxRgb_UwZ2AcfdKko8--KGR3ISRrE6aZCU6W6zx2lfKPyHREpKF0QtHVL0lu6ooDQLIZoRpMdwdpJGy2seLL_rTEGIuvmQEF9N-l0JksblvFYF945EHvYjj0Dcj8-ITuaw/s3641/314529872_630665182076184_6394626496506633467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3641" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oKYmhHsraDWqAcSH58yIiE9JOAuyWQcZz5kbeC27nE3ldjIlsxRgb_UwZ2AcfdKko8--KGR3ISRrE6aZCU6W6zx2lfKPyHREpKF0QtHVL0lu6ooDQLIZoRpMdwdpJGy2seLL_rTEGIuvmQEF9N-l0JksblvFYF945EHvYjj0Dcj8-ITuaw/w239-h424/314529872_630665182076184_6394626496506633467_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Still with 3 days booked in Hay on Wye and a week in Weymouth in an all singing all dancing barn convertion Martin still kept insisting I was stopping us from going away on holiday (how many does this man want??) so I finally capitualated and told him we could go to Lake Como (having seen the photos of my cousin's daughters wedding). There was little available to book there though so we have settled on a week in Lake Garda. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0lV_MOZUPfQh9J2kddsEE9g13QG5nZ16_qxGNJQp-NHHue8JvWr1n1ukeJV9bkr6-RLfRzJvIV7gEnbDXOLPytfxIsgoHdlI6MUc6EKuu6yNijFHtwg151Y3sIXvNECyfxZpKYMVZDaxjJFmWJmmZZk0QsCA_Twqz3GmKVkaBC7ktrbP3Q/s1024/VRN_72880_Park_Hotel_Casimiro_Village_1118_08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0lV_MOZUPfQh9J2kddsEE9g13QG5nZ16_qxGNJQp-NHHue8JvWr1n1ukeJV9bkr6-RLfRzJvIV7gEnbDXOLPytfxIsgoHdlI6MUc6EKuu6yNijFHtwg151Y3sIXvNECyfxZpKYMVZDaxjJFmWJmmZZk0QsCA_Twqz3GmKVkaBC7ktrbP3Q/w229-h152/VRN_72880_Park_Hotel_Casimiro_Village_1118_08.jpg" width="229" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In between all this holiday booking we did get out and took ourselves to see the newly opened converted Battersea powerstation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKJYkkldYM8RSUkej9V2qpwO8CR9jRg-BlZCxBaMyi9aYuRDhhxBULTXLahzjqQBenya1wENql3YdVI5euRFDD8SIFvDHExa1FcNqcSvwn088PS1yFEj68PMrIoFkGKLLMx62laUa6-TKNqpgbFCeTh5vwP_mZ_gpTAPQ1gKPgTUO0JsXGg/s4032/20230210_174000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKJYkkldYM8RSUkej9V2qpwO8CR9jRg-BlZCxBaMyi9aYuRDhhxBULTXLahzjqQBenya1wENql3YdVI5euRFDD8SIFvDHExa1FcNqcSvwn088PS1yFEj68PMrIoFkGKLLMx62laUa6-TKNqpgbFCeTh5vwP_mZ_gpTAPQ1gKPgTUO0JsXGg/s320/20230210_174000.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Although it was facinated to see inside the iconic building, and the restoration has been very well done, it does seem a wasted opportunity to witness such an historic and vast building turned into what amounts to a shopping mall. We weren't that impressed with their light installations either </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_cZKNaAV_Iu1l_zU6dNGoIsc44jTT3j7MfcaNUjELvE6SRGyRElL6fBxzKmYbRTosuhq8nEs6GpeW-uPv_fjivu1Ge2TGPpJYDIGiMoWaULps3SVHxCKe2ww0tJeGUaFW64NzixHwyjnoYwcR6GoOGGWhF3y7OFGQ4y4Io4dlicxMzGasg/s4032/20230210_170107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_cZKNaAV_Iu1l_zU6dNGoIsc44jTT3j7MfcaNUjELvE6SRGyRElL6fBxzKmYbRTosuhq8nEs6GpeW-uPv_fjivu1Ge2TGPpJYDIGiMoWaULps3SVHxCKe2ww0tJeGUaFW64NzixHwyjnoYwcR6GoOGGWhF3y7OFGQ4y4Io4dlicxMzGasg/w191-h254/20230210_170107.jpg" width="191" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and we refused to pay the extortionate price to take the elevator up the chimney tower to spend 7 mins looking at London from up high, especially when compared to the 30 mins you could get on the London Eye for only a fraction more of the cost. For half the price though we got to take the river taxi back to Canary Wharf, passing many of the buildings that London is famous for lit up in all their night time glory. Very magical. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9YToKNmP2LLXGlaHSr8lfOy4yUDIrzGaE29ldnBnpxYp6H5dYusgeUIm3heqBkWN_OeVXk5Xe5PZI02rmnWI4W2_SkGooV_RfwCxHb9t8oO8_5jaoFKG5LZHfxqL0UK7eXFUeF3Wzw75ag5KSKHu0GlCzEVEGhaKKGzG3AJapNVkzcUmmg/s4032/20230210_181344.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9YToKNmP2LLXGlaHSr8lfOy4yUDIrzGaE29ldnBnpxYp6H5dYusgeUIm3heqBkWN_OeVXk5Xe5PZI02rmnWI4W2_SkGooV_RfwCxHb9t8oO8_5jaoFKG5LZHfxqL0UK7eXFUeF3Wzw75ag5KSKHu0GlCzEVEGhaKKGzG3AJapNVkzcUmmg/w283-h212/20230210_181344.jpg" width="283" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9shgM3HkXDaEIhqww2ztcwROEmM-YbPXaYwZkUCVxCm4EdFE8q3aiw8Bg2P8NuZsiVUZPHod-iree1m3t7wNsEPN-f6m3KKBtdF0coOfaKZ2yDnu4ZDTzpcV67_AGPXcGnXD4u3_9EV7Ewl1CSmzSWQTqylriK4w6n5do21KIiIHT6MT2w/s4032/20230210_181445.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9shgM3HkXDaEIhqww2ztcwROEmM-YbPXaYwZkUCVxCm4EdFE8q3aiw8Bg2P8NuZsiVUZPHod-iree1m3t7wNsEPN-f6m3KKBtdF0coOfaKZ2yDnu4ZDTzpcV67_AGPXcGnXD4u3_9EV7Ewl1CSmzSWQTqylriK4w6n5do21KIiIHT6MT2w/w282-h212/20230210_181445.jpg" width="282" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> The teachers strike meant we also got to look after Beckett for a day. He decided he wanted to go swimming. We didnt realise he is used to going to the pool at Whitstable and booked for Herne Bay. We were dubious as we could not swim in the larger pool (seems lockdown/pandemic rules still apply} but we actually had a really fun time with him, and for the first time every that I have been there, they opened the flumes and he got to go on the large tunnel slide. Result. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Half term saw a small break in the freezing temps so Beckett and Finley insisted on taking me to Wingham Wildlife Park. We have yearly tickets but have hardly used them this year around, so it was a pleasant experience exploring all the new parts of the park and discovering all the new animals. Mind it was totally rammed with people, it took over an hour to get served a cheese sandwich each, which meant we were a tad late leaving the park for Becketts swimming lesson, No time to take me home and Beckett had to do the car wiggle to change into his trunks. Even so we still missed 15 mins of a 45 min lesson. He still enjoyed himself though and I got to take a few sneaky photos. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3aQiEw5iCEpJBJCxdkm-LoY_DdB92PaiAZq2qlGLVqM_QjyqPgfAlEj53PeRcKSNE2LPA7rGoams4pBFAGv7a1cgboZyqcZ1LavF5c2bf_dns3YCNU79MVMK6HxmwPazXRco0KaiQjcSUQ6s39KX9n8VS_f5qhWN5BjMl4A9CSglpvkGvg/s4032/20230213_160231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3aQiEw5iCEpJBJCxdkm-LoY_DdB92PaiAZq2qlGLVqM_QjyqPgfAlEj53PeRcKSNE2LPA7rGoams4pBFAGv7a1cgboZyqcZ1LavF5c2bf_dns3YCNU79MVMK6HxmwPazXRco0KaiQjcSUQ6s39KX9n8VS_f5qhWN5BjMl4A9CSglpvkGvg/s320/20230213_160231.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Half term also meant Laura dragged us all out for the obligatory walk. We did insist on having the meal first, and a great meal we did have at the Grove Ferry Pub before walking along the river stour and across some very windswept fields.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_OcWzt2JKeL0iho18X9isggrAUJ3F3ITpJ_QFGU6BPP5UT2ahnD8n2up1kS7sYQt4Gn8d7uryFUr-WVvEy-_6pvZtNWXkIVVi6XZ02lzwLmBauSnm_fgB73kSGWHyDLyh8pGyfm6ADVwhvbgkhOecVs_r8X8Gwp2KE1GhgaErlmfsU_HxQ/s4032/20230217_133906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_OcWzt2JKeL0iho18X9isggrAUJ3F3ITpJ_QFGU6BPP5UT2ahnD8n2up1kS7sYQt4Gn8d7uryFUr-WVvEy-_6pvZtNWXkIVVi6XZ02lzwLmBauSnm_fgB73kSGWHyDLyh8pGyfm6ADVwhvbgkhOecVs_r8X8Gwp2KE1GhgaErlmfsU_HxQ/s320/20230217_133906.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uIrobkipyXdBM11noZZFa4AnE_txM8Ks-onTZCXry7He_k577n3DJYh5oOV-H7zfTENWO45P8sd5owLTqVBhh_4OGdaVriIfWqW0aqLRUxAi-B0GGIfFf6yJjzU-5JjGxmTiR2QA_of4YbMvdA964yrpMtsVuheRfR26RnCJV1KsdPkaPQ/s4032/20230217_152535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uIrobkipyXdBM11noZZFa4AnE_txM8Ks-onTZCXry7He_k577n3DJYh5oOV-H7zfTENWO45P8sd5owLTqVBhh_4OGdaVriIfWqW0aqLRUxAi-B0GGIfFf6yJjzU-5JjGxmTiR2QA_of4YbMvdA964yrpMtsVuheRfR26RnCJV1KsdPkaPQ/s320/20230217_152535.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Once the boys had gone back to school we were again trapped looking at the same four walls with little to occupy ourselves. A Whatsapp chat with Kelly got us up off our backsides though. She dropped into the conversation that she had just purchased a new sofa. You've only just got one I exclaimed, but it seems it was already nine years old. So is ours. We looked at our offering. Maybe it was getting a little tatty. Maybe it could do with sprucing up. Should we just go out and sit on a few sofas? Well it would give us something to do ... except what we did was sit on one, fall in love with it and buy it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spend spend spend!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-89450495358413783552023-03-07T16:36:00.004+00:002023-03-07T16:36:42.523+00:00New Year update<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Christmas has come and gone, and we are now attempting to get through those
awful two dreaded months of January and February, where the weather is
too horrible to venture out in, and we are sitting around, bored stiff
with little to look forward to, and even less to do until Spring
arrives. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Actually
we have been quite busy, first taking the Christmas decs down and
putting them all back up in the attic. This is always a major job as the
bungalow always looks like an explosion in a tinsel factory in my
attempts to create Santa's grotto. The one year I got all sophisticated
and went for a subtle winter wonderland the kids all complained and
asked where the mismatched colours, glitter and kitch went. So it was
back to the mismatched tat. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Once that was
all cleared away I decided I wanted more desk space and better
organisation in the craft room, so I dragged Martin off to Ikea to get
some desk tops and new Kalex units. It took a while to get my ideas
across, but the falling apart Billy bookcase is now no more, the books
have had a drastic cull and everything is now stashed away, and I have a
work surface twice the size of the old one. Of course I then needed a
new computer chair (new upgrade computer next on the list) but I have
been much more productive in my new redesigned room and completed 6
layouts in January</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know I created that
many because I have taken a totally new approach to my bullet journal
which is working much better. Using a B6 size instead of A5 doesnt seem
much bigger, but believe me it has made a world of difference. Ive even
managed a playlist of songs each week, layout tracking, book reading
tracking (9 in Jan) newpaper headlines, steps, dates and highlights!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We
went with the boys, Laura and Wayne to Canary Wharf to see the Winter
Lights display. In other years this has been a successful evening (apart
from the year we went the wrong weekend and wandered around for an hour
before finding a sign with the dates on, or the year I fell over the
kerb in the dark and cut all my knees and hands). This year, the first
year I had persuaded Laura to come, was not so brilliant. I dont think
the organisers had taken into account Peter Kaye being live at the O2
just across the way. We certainly hadnt. We always park at the O2 when
going into town as its cheaper than catching the train all the way. We
usually plan our timings so we can eat there before catching the Jubilee
line to where we want to go. This time the place was rammed. We couldnt
understand why we couldnt get in anywhere, either massive queues or
fully booked. That was until Laura checked her mobile and muttered the
comics name at us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So despite my misgiving
since on previous occasions we had not been fortunate in finding
anywhere it was decided to go to Canary Wharf for food. Honestly does no
one eat in London. Loads of bars, plenty of very expensive pop up
street food vans but the few places we did find were again packed out. I
think this was mainly because the organisers had cut the event length
to one and a half weeks with two weekends involved. Everyone and his
wife (and kids) had come along to see the displays. Most years Martin
and I stroll around with hardly a soul in sight. This year we hardly had
elbow room. </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AkN9rrG-eT346K4oLPC5RNgJa4T38fObvA-5uIPlFwFsGn4QsM8KX5I0JL8-NEKNE3ciiMAigHVfYK3M5LNHCtFhrXDX293P4hLahTnYZoorDGdvreQ-GwZKQfkZ__ezTf4lwJKQmtzthn7yC0H8ruCtXQV5j1eO0KU6LM8s9Wh5GZiFdg/s3641/326302306_1185753708730407_3553924026757871707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3641" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AkN9rrG-eT346K4oLPC5RNgJa4T38fObvA-5uIPlFwFsGn4QsM8KX5I0JL8-NEKNE3ciiMAigHVfYK3M5LNHCtFhrXDX293P4hLahTnYZoorDGdvreQ-GwZKQfkZ__ezTf4lwJKQmtzthn7yC0H8ruCtXQV5j1eO0KU6LM8s9Wh5GZiFdg/s320/326302306_1185753708730407_3553924026757871707_n.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Still the few lights we did
see and the burger and curly chips we eventually bought from the burger
van were good, and I think in the main every one had a good evening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkI0xWdtlIg7GSAPfa3Ob0M-p58sI5nj3dpDvl_QC8bjRYLKrK8EB5GzwR7L2Iow-SQ3QURuUBMy5E2ZDtx1qTRdgHRpZS-DfLjFkPs0EUP800R43x7ezGuQ1WXjlgeFJPo1s-pusWpYPRhxmsuMQC4_ceAhj9l7X2xbp6MMFPQos7KArOg/s1440/FB_IMG_1674337809181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkI0xWdtlIg7GSAPfa3Ob0M-p58sI5nj3dpDvl_QC8bjRYLKrK8EB5GzwR7L2Iow-SQ3QURuUBMy5E2ZDtx1qTRdgHRpZS-DfLjFkPs0EUP800R43x7ezGuQ1WXjlgeFJPo1s-pusWpYPRhxmsuMQC4_ceAhj9l7X2xbp6MMFPQos7KArOg/s320/FB_IMG_1674337809181.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>. </p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-87287807266881498992022-10-10T12:49:00.001+01:002022-10-10T12:50:36.766+01:00Update for 2022 while new rads are installed<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Seems I cant keep pace with my bullet journal where I also diary so its back to dusting off the blog to keep my memory jogged.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today we are having the radiators replaced so there is little we can get up to apart from playing on screens or reading our kindles so Im sorting photo files on the laptop. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So what have we been up to since my last post in January? Mainly jogging on with post covid retirement which is not as exciting as it could be as everyone is still nervous and there is also a cost of living crisis to deal with. So far that is not having much.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We finished cleaning the bungalow out and put it on the market in March. After only a few viewings we excepted an offer from an older couple moving down from London to be nearer their son.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We had the boys for a few days (and a sleep over) for the feb half term, taking them up to Eltham Place. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3NC6m5pR5PcK3AH5xtf7wb5z7Jkl0Piasg0i2Y3Zouq_Tcxsa977RZX0NJ-h3zG4bKLecYNr7Jc4gZv_bgxiwMJ7l4X2wt60mEEDvGKcE21miVoqcncujYe9pXCveqEZXaK31jwnzBJ0jpAknwE3S_NyFK7AdyWep-bEM8NT0mFb9zLj8Q/s4032/20220217_121417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3NC6m5pR5PcK3AH5xtf7wb5z7Jkl0Piasg0i2Y3Zouq_Tcxsa977RZX0NJ-h3zG4bKLecYNr7Jc4gZv_bgxiwMJ7l4X2wt60mEEDvGKcE21miVoqcncujYe9pXCveqEZXaK31jwnzBJ0jpAknwE3S_NyFK7AdyWep-bEM8NT0mFb9zLj8Q/w191-h255/20220217_121417.jpg" width="191" /></a><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also took ourselves to Hole park to see the bluebells.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YVh-kyiC-ao6PINt7U_VLBVBQAGt9Cz97PIwDcv2PC9RUbZeLogvzJUPrUmw0Ks3XCOFQ7yxMNHez3CWZ1E1tE8YV9JcAGwO0oNexL9mElhWQXMFmE7c_lGlsKrCbgrfEWqpOboNRoE29TTewqCmJzX1rFrEo6fa4Q3s0oZWyNMY1nHU0w/s4032/20220418_121846.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YVh-kyiC-ao6PINt7U_VLBVBQAGt9Cz97PIwDcv2PC9RUbZeLogvzJUPrUmw0Ks3XCOFQ7yxMNHez3CWZ1E1tE8YV9JcAGwO0oNexL9mElhWQXMFmE7c_lGlsKrCbgrfEWqpOboNRoE29TTewqCmJzX1rFrEo6fa4Q3s0oZWyNMY1nHU0w/s320/20220418_121846.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We finally ventured up to London for a show, enjoying a really good cast perfoming Only Fools and Horses the Musical </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-pz7bXmtBSE2dxjo4LWZ47mqL0SBitxdCMp_rDM3NGoABKhqZSs1oXhShE2d0OA3UWeWtz2_ABzQagF5uvsXvAlQn5r4wuX5HYFvVTibTAoA5Muwz3YJ1MlpT4y3r70uX4IG3AtGCK00TOAv24or5JZ8tDOaoel-h3QOWJcXgF-2bZ4TMA/s4032/20220327_114924.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-pz7bXmtBSE2dxjo4LWZ47mqL0SBitxdCMp_rDM3NGoABKhqZSs1oXhShE2d0OA3UWeWtz2_ABzQagF5uvsXvAlQn5r4wuX5HYFvVTibTAoA5Muwz3YJ1MlpT4y3r70uX4IG3AtGCK00TOAv24or5JZ8tDOaoel-h3QOWJcXgF-2bZ4TMA/w211-h281/20220327_114924.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We booked a 4 week break so that we could go to the Malvern Spring Festival. We had lovely sunny weather and managed to visit a couple of wonderful gardens as well as the show. Sadly the hotel was a tad dissapointing but we coped with it and had a decent time.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRi1S6-x6sExfQoNFVKUY-INKMikDGP33oFn7uHtaDYgk29TQegcapV9HLdiEZsumLsvp4F0vq4aGll-RScWqlI6CWOH-DzsFHhU16LlFsdWMLWUHyR3NFT-l-wNQAOJtZo2sc1hQqw06OcbBnfY1pwMS_lI5ATd6ApooaOpctuMPSR4Vhg/s4032/20220505_104714.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRi1S6-x6sExfQoNFVKUY-INKMikDGP33oFn7uHtaDYgk29TQegcapV9HLdiEZsumLsvp4F0vq4aGll-RScWqlI6CWOH-DzsFHhU16LlFsdWMLWUHyR3NFT-l-wNQAOJtZo2sc1hQqw06OcbBnfY1pwMS_lI5ATd6ApooaOpctuMPSR4Vhg/w240-h320/20220505_104714.jpg" title="Mill Gardens" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mill Gardens <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlkzmJfya6RlRvhNHSrAnpcYSNr5dd84uelkCVxOnJXIpUopCh11_TLuYV2Lz7pHzLCOP-wTJqXKx_ygNOgiwn2L_TOPf1RQQq6aiq033gWT8n1yrFcT6bIOaEEdx5jIVbLupWRY-SSRI2hj-7A4RumbZduZY4DOCQ9tNniCW_vop593TGg/s4032/20220505_135314.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlkzmJfya6RlRvhNHSrAnpcYSNr5dd84uelkCVxOnJXIpUopCh11_TLuYV2Lz7pHzLCOP-wTJqXKx_ygNOgiwn2L_TOPf1RQQq6aiq033gWT8n1yrFcT6bIOaEEdx5jIVbLupWRY-SSRI2hj-7A4RumbZduZY4DOCQ9tNniCW_vop593TGg/w300-h400/20220505_135314.jpg" title="Hill Close Gardens" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stratford</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4eBNjhwgvwqLjI2nZW-GIxEFnbZEnjwAR5qcD8ixfpCLjLPXLl6IvNvGswxzSHEno-NKqy0L_9F_NHOZ_h6540M9pzBM-l9KJ25-zTfaLaQxqsKzeLFQ9i8z8IsldJ98OxZHtn8G9naiCt9UfVy_7Ir8TrUXsz93-cS_7bHEKcJeiLCWvw/s4032/20220506_125445.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4eBNjhwgvwqLjI2nZW-GIxEFnbZEnjwAR5qcD8ixfpCLjLPXLl6IvNvGswxzSHEno-NKqy0L_9F_NHOZ_h6540M9pzBM-l9KJ25-zTfaLaQxqsKzeLFQ9i8z8IsldJ98OxZHtn8G9naiCt9UfVy_7Ir8TrUXsz93-cS_7bHEKcJeiLCWvw/w240-h320/20220506_125445.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Malvern Spring flower show, 3 Counties ground were we treated ourselves to an heirloom peice from our inheritance money.I think the olds would have been pleased with this purchase.<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXVs8ZwR_HCXaQAo2K3jRAuYCEmLxNbj1QJh67hahWw6FUm6ctMoS2ojqASKtympaybo2NMISzOBtHy8-MELea3ICbZf4dftBh9zyaHEMU3Rup7FEShMUXGLwMA-cN5I0sHz0Bi8EEjH7294RFS9o1xvOuxvg05G8DNdTVA_2bixhvWJlHw/s1170/292076029_808932487149183_2376355339089591452_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1170" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXVs8ZwR_HCXaQAo2K3jRAuYCEmLxNbj1QJh67hahWw6FUm6ctMoS2ojqASKtympaybo2NMISzOBtHy8-MELea3ICbZf4dftBh9zyaHEMU3Rup7FEShMUXGLwMA-cN5I0sHz0Bi8EEjH7294RFS9o1xvOuxvg05G8DNdTVA_2bixhvWJlHw/s320/292076029_808932487149183_2376355339089591452_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The summer bought extremely high temps which I had problems dealing with. We had our annual trip to Westgate, and several more days spent either sitting in a much decreased temp hot tub or on Herne Bay beach trying to cool off. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGqbP_7W61FfYbiQR6e6qyGuMpS5GVvwRfW9RoTM2FsZFZKyur-r52DXrs0mqQca79PATYvWDJ_OgkmqYg7WnKhiUs-xBxGxdwVuJ-87Ct8vGtfL4dk-gbRp5XUb81HEtnd5OR9TwjDgnYqBn8_weDdU1Z9idYGgClRM5pYY3eb-z8IEegw/s3641/291516917_590610915755995_7547469681832932663_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3641" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGqbP_7W61FfYbiQR6e6qyGuMpS5GVvwRfW9RoTM2FsZFZKyur-r52DXrs0mqQca79PATYvWDJ_OgkmqYg7WnKhiUs-xBxGxdwVuJ-87Ct8vGtfL4dk-gbRp5XUb81HEtnd5OR9TwjDgnYqBn8_weDdU1Z9idYGgClRM5pYY3eb-z8IEegw/w226-h400/291516917_590610915755995_7547469681832932663_n.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We also shared a huge converted barn in Suffolk for a week with Laura, Wayne and the boys. We did something exciting every day, river walking, visiting many pub gardens, the races at Newmarket and a day on the river kiyaking|<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLO_ldxAHKJXRJY6e9gLmVb9dOle--3CVkPm9ZUOyKNE-UzJFzlhyJ9ydOiE7-0SJNo7RwGt4XlSsH4VpO3Z9yEh9Qnxd-xrdbDLs6kHrBi0Nvcrh_RdFZTyeR-EjXF-jlA_V11xmoOpjHE17wzIZ2lw2j3TYZ6hBADl3d6EvMabBAP8qLQ/s4032/20220814_132336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLO_ldxAHKJXRJY6e9gLmVb9dOle--3CVkPm9ZUOyKNE-UzJFzlhyJ9ydOiE7-0SJNo7RwGt4XlSsH4VpO3Z9yEh9Qnxd-xrdbDLs6kHrBi0Nvcrh_RdFZTyeR-EjXF-jlA_V11xmoOpjHE17wzIZ2lw2j3TYZ6hBADl3d6EvMabBAP8qLQ/s320/20220814_132336.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXnfz0hnCJybN1jDkPg25Ue-qQxOpttnsL3ass_1D_6gNzbnmXTu4l2GyvCsWHfpaTbUlwNW3YYUYAdduksnpEdNCxv18bVTV4Y3dCiqNt9fLhg3S4dNFXph1-E7Ppwf3DQCAiYTyt2iFfG8ARYu2m6OcxSqHngIVvM1ssbPze4bMRW5lBQ/s1080/FB_IMG_1660545706668.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXnfz0hnCJybN1jDkPg25Ue-qQxOpttnsL3ass_1D_6gNzbnmXTu4l2GyvCsWHfpaTbUlwNW3YYUYAdduksnpEdNCxv18bVTV4Y3dCiqNt9fLhg3S4dNFXph1-E7Ppwf3DQCAiYTyt2iFfG8ARYu2m6OcxSqHngIVvM1ssbPze4bMRW5lBQ/s320/FB_IMG_1660545706668.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdSOslZ6WTZL10JG1DwpyBpelD4wSTbNCZIrPtBLNEmt7g7fEbQ4aRvPCxjeTV33JVoWslI_ejYkJSudsWErSYcPh9MttE9iR0ni35PbfhlfmiytjKmxByfU-ND574j1sTf6B8-6mj2ERRY0rdqLtFxyWd6rS7FBCq_ijIvmSdrpj5K1oZw/s1923/FB_IMG_1660545872850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1923" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdSOslZ6WTZL10JG1DwpyBpelD4wSTbNCZIrPtBLNEmt7g7fEbQ4aRvPCxjeTV33JVoWslI_ejYkJSudsWErSYcPh9MttE9iR0ni35PbfhlfmiytjKmxByfU-ND574j1sTf6B8-6mj2ERRY0rdqLtFxyWd6rS7FBCq_ijIvmSdrpj5K1oZw/s320/FB_IMG_1660545872850.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Finley also started at Barton Court Grammar having passed the 11plus and secured a place at his first choice of school, so he had several trips into Canterbury doing trial runs on the bus. </span><p><span style="font-size: large;">September also made a slight change for me as the Drs finally allowed me to have a libre2 scanner system to check my blood glucose levels rather than the 12 odd finger pricks a day I was having to endur</span>e. <br /><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-23226126103967980492022-02-13T20:02:00.001+00:002022-02-13T20:02:34.911+00:00Nothing!<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Oh how I hate January and February! Cold weather, nothing to do or look forward to except weeks of staying in and doing nothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To be fair there has been some things to do but not exciting ones or even interesting ones. While waiting for probate to come through on the bungalow we have taken a few hours each day to clean one room at a time in the same. We have moved the dining room furniture into the conservatory and take the garden ratten suite out into the garage, turning the dining room back into a third bedroom. We have scrubbed to within an inch of its life and the place is now clean and sparkly, a great deal lighter and more inviting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course now my own home is dirty as we have had no time to clean it and a pesky dog messing it all up. Oh well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also had a family trip to the panto to see Alladin. Its not really the same without Dr Lee playing the dame and his famous two stooges making us laugh. This year although the singing and acting was very good the whole thing felt rather flat, with little in the way of jokes and only really rescued by the brilliant Ebananza.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Martin has been off playing golf and has started back on his exersice bike to try and loose a little weight while I have had a cold for a few weeks followed by a cough which I got from looking after Beckett for two days. Wayne and Craig are busy with the new building site so its all hands on deck for child minding duties. </span><br /></p><p><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-32528374272395684772022-01-23T19:36:00.000+00:002022-01-23T19:36:02.211+00:00Clearing and cleaning<p><span style="font-size: large;"> We have managed to fill a whole skip! Now with a 3 bed bungalow to clear, plus a garage and a shed that might not sound like too big a feat but since a huge amount of it went to "Metal Mickey" the metal scrap man, I can assure you in the end it probably was. Most of the stuff mum had left or aquired since dad passed really was rubbish, I dont mean just stuff I didnt want or that was too old fashioned to be of use, but mainly things that were chipped, broken, missing a part or covered in rust, mould or spiders webs. Dont get me wrong. There was still a bit of stuff that I have decided to keep, but not much for two lifetimes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was also several bits I thought aught to be there that were just plain missing - the glass rabbit shapped jelly mould that had graced many a childhood birthday party table has completely vanished (despite mum making a fuss about it returning to her home when I borrowed it a few years back). What has become of grandads slate based shove halfpenny board (that I know was there 2 years ago when we cleaned out the shed)? And why in the attic is there a box of expensive looking lenses and parts that obviously fitted on dads telescope - but no sign of the actual telescope?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne came over with his dads car and trailer to take the three sets of ladders, 4 plastic chairs and an assortment of tools over to the site, transporting a very heavy concrete wishing well back to ours on the way. He also helped move the repro old fashioned very ugly and very large cabinette out so Martin could finish the job of breaking it up (yes it was held together with a hope and a prayer) and lift it onto the skip too. We still have a3 seater settee behind the garage to get rid of but we run out of room and inclination. We are hoping that once we have sold the place the rest of the furniture can go to charity. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next task is cleaning, so thursday we started on the conservatory. The carpet had a track of solid mud running from the door to the lounge where the dog had been given free range to the garden while mum was bedridden, with no one to wipe off his paws. I honestly thought we would have to resort to mats to disguise this, but the rug doctor we had persuaded mum to invest in two years ago has come into its own and now you cant see a single mark. The carpet looks as good as new, and definately smells much better since I have wiped all the window frames and the furniture with a mixture of bleach and flash! There were a deal of very dirty bowls of water to get it that far though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Friday we tackled the lounge which wasnt in a much better state than the conservatory. I took the huge patio door curtains down, bought them home and washed them. Now they are hanging in our bedroom as they fit much better than the ones we have, and leave the lounge in the bungalow much lighter and brighter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow we intend swapping out the conservatory furniture for the dinning room table so that we can dress the dining room as a double bedroom when we market the place.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Talking of marketing the cheeky estate agent Kristy phoned to say she had a couple that wanted a bungalow but she had literally none to show them and would we sanction a one off veiwing. At first I was going to agree but then I started to think that if this couple wanted it, but we had not agreed to sell through this estate agent where would we stand, and we hadnt discussed fees or prices to say nothing of how long probate might take. And if we went with a different estate agent where would we stand if that particular couple still put in an offer? We turned down the veiwing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The law firm holding mums original will held us up for a week getting it out of the archives but they finally handed it over on thursday so Friday hopefully Sue our friendly probate agent will get the ball rolling.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The building society have also caused some stress, as having told them we wanted to open a seperate account for all mums estate monies, so could we have a cheque from all her closing acounts, they sent us a cheque and then told us we couldnt open an account in branch because of Covid rules!!! I was dumstruck but we have had to come home, apply on line and once approved have to return to the branch to put the cheque in. Madness! </span><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-19347387022904121052022-01-09T21:27:00.001+00:002022-01-09T21:29:14.462+00:00Goodbye my mummy<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>On 4th December my mum finally passed away after a three month fight with heart disease. It has not been an easy fight for any of us, especially as her wish was to spend her last days at home with her beloved dog, and her portal to keep herself in touch with her family and friends. With some tremendous help from both the NHS and Pilgrims Hospice we got through.</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>On Friday, having got Christmas out of the way, we gathered friends and family together to send her on her final journey. The service was held at Margate Crem, officiated by the wonderful Ashleigh. who gave a beautiful send off and farewell to my mum. There was a good turn out from family and friends and I was especially touched to see my Auntie Jean who suffers severely from Parkinsons arrive with her sister to help her in her wheel chair. </span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>At the start of December the Omicron version of Corona virus was increasing at a very fast rate so when Martin and I started the arrangements for the wake we were nervous of both the risk of the virus to our guests and ourselves by booking an inside venue, and also the problems that could arise if we arranged a pub "do" only to find ourselves back in lockdown or further restrictions. Jokingly while on messenger to Laura I had quipped we would be having KFC on the beach at this rate. Not KFC, fish n chips she replied, which immediately switched on a light bulb! Why not? Both my mum and dad had regularly (and I mean at least 3 times a month in the summer) taken trips to Deal to sit on the beach munching their fish supper (at lunch time), and there was nothing mum enjoyed more than fish and chips that someone else had cooked instead of her. </span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>So on a crisp winter morning Martin and I drove a test run from the crem to Deal, parked up and went in search of the chippie they always used. Imagine our surprise and disappointment to discover the chip shop shut and a notice of opening times informing us they no longer opened for lunches. It had seemed such a good idea. We came home very despondent. Unbeknown to me though, Martin phoned the manageress and spoke to her, but she said she would have to get back to him as to if they would open specially. He thought he had done a good thing but I was very displeased. Firstly because he had not told me, and secondly because making any kind of fuss of this kind was not my mum's way. He apologized and politely told the manageress we had changed our minds.</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>However we couldn't get the idea of fish and chips on the beach out of our minds, and so after a couple more days we approached the Sunset Cafe on our own sea front. Hats off to Sam the manageress there, she couldnt have been more helpful or kind. She was willing to put on extra staff, clean off all their table and chairs that had been shut up for the winter, put the tab on our card for the bar, and charge us takeaway prices as it was cheaper even though we would be getting table service.<br /></span><span>Everyone we invited thought it was a terrific idea, and even though it was freezing cold, they all refused to go inside the café because sitting outside would have been 'what my mum would have done'. To be honest I think she would have sat in the car with the heating on, but I was so overwhelmed that everyone toughed it out for the lady. </span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>So on Friday 7th January 2022, one day before her 86 birthday, we sat on Herne Bay sea front, twenty two of her friends, neighbours, nephews, nieces and appropriate spouses sat and enjoying beautifully cooked and served cod and chips in paper in the freezing cold, celebrating the life of both my mum and dad.</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>Oh and I do have to mention Jane and Neil who, unable to get back from Spain due to the pandemic, watched the live link via Wi-Fi and then found somewhere in Spain selling take away fish and chips, a sandy beach to eat them on (all be it in their shorts and tee shirts as appose to the rest of us wrapped in hats gloves and car blankets) and raised a glass of sherry to my mum!</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span>RIP Pamela Joan.</span></span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-64274838015669697152022-01-07T19:21:00.001+00:002022-01-07T19:21:44.850+00:00Can I keep this up?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I am finding it a bit of a struggle keeping up with my bullet journal mainly because senior moments cause me to forget I am doing it! I am determinded to continue though and have just spent half an hour getting next weeks pages prepped.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So far this week has been quite busy. Those death announcements took us the best part of a morning to hand deliver even though it was bank holiday. It also turns out that even though mum left a will because there is property involved we will also need probate. Martin took a look at the gov website and then decided to hand it all over to a profesional,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first step apparently is to get three valuations from estate agents so yesterday was taken up waiting for them to arrive and look over the place. Laura (a dab hand at selling properties) gave predictions on the valuations from each agent and although the prices came in at nearly 60,000 adrift she was actually more or less spot on for all of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We ordered a skip to help with clearing the bungalow. Laura and I spent tuesday going through stuff while we waited for the NHR to come collect the hospital bed, but found very little of use or value sentimentally or monitary so I think most of it is going to end up in landfill. Some will go to charity, her clothes already have, and the scrap man took quite a bit of metal away with him but there is still going to be lots of stuff. A different generation who kept anything and everything in case it came in useful.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet again nothing is ever straightforward for us though and the skip people never arrived. When Martin phoned up to find out what had happened at first the guy answering the phone told him it had already been delivered .. err I think we would have spotted a 6 yard skip sitting outside. But it turns out the driver in charge the day before had crossed out the wrong days work as having been completed, and of course that was our day. They send a skip round soon after that but too late for us to get started on the big clear out job.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> The usual list of calamities are occuring all round, Kelly developed an ulser on her eye, tres painful and requiring drops at 1 hour intervals and lots of hospital visits. She went yesterday and was told that it is slowly healing but she will be left with scaring. In the meantime, I managed to drop a large metal pole on my foot ending up in deep bruising. And the potsy dog we have inherited continues to use my carpets instead of the lawn if he thinks it is too cold to go outside to squat!</span><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-86044797607479587262022-01-02T12:32:00.008+00:002022-01-02T12:39:03.017+00:00<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">New Year and Christmas </span></span><br /></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I grow older I am finding it increasingly difficult to remember all of lifes details as they happen to me and mine. Of course a lot of this might be because what with covid lockdowns and a reluctance to actually go do stuff when we are out of lockdown (how many of us have simply got out of the habit of going out doing stuff) there are no details to recall, life just blends into one?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever, even though I dont usually bother with all that new year stuff including resolutions, I have decided I need to open up a new bullet journal and throw some stuff at this blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The details for the start of this year arent that brilliant to be remembering though. Yesterday I started the new year with tooth ache. This is on a tooth the dentist took several hours building a half crown on, so I am a tad worried as it covers one of my back chewing teeth. I am hoping its a gum thing and not a tooth thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then I also spent some time yesterday writing out death announcements to send to all the people who knew my mum that I have not phoned (as many of them I simply dont know} and then some time this morning finding layouts with her in to take to the funeral and wake (I did this for my dad, it seemed I scrapped him a great deal more than mum who hated having her photo taken}.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We took the christmas decorations down yesterday, a bit early as I usually do it on 12th night but with the funeral leaving from our place the day after I thought I may need some time to get them down and clean the house.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway enough of the negative lets do the positive.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas (despite mum not being with us) actually turned out to be really good this year. Kelly and Ollie were spending the day at Ollies sisters so they both popped in to us to open presents before they went there. From them I got a Bothy cross stitch kit and Johanna Basfords Worlds of Wonder book. They left at 5 to 10 and then we went to Laura and Waynes where we were spending the day and the night. We had a relaxed time just the six of us sitting round opening our gifts from each other, again I did well, another Bothy cross stitch (not the same one), a set of knitting needles and accessories, a bullet journal and a set of stencils, some circle stitched stamps, nail stickers, and the christmas logo game. But by the far the best part of the morning/day/year was when Finley opened his present. He had been promised a PS5 for his efforts in the Kent Test but getting hold of one had prooved near impossible so he had accepted the fact it was not going to happen,. His reaction when he opened his last christmas present from his mum and dad reduced all of us to tears, Laura had secretly managed to get one when she was off sick. Finley sat and started at it, held his head and then silently tears of astounded joy and surprised welled up and fell down his face. Priceless!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0vJsK_lqFnqgEAEE4ETstMY_Az3hFQiyWYowU9-DbdIiILOTDo8N8hoCH1t1AfNcZnRSLCFi0jVs-uuH2N6t95IP5cCEpfYjopMYI7ZXNDEYRbLuDryp4Eg3tl_P_xzmQUZqNmQOhS2besfo9de5MQvDXkmsoAtPnVlVkx5mfVMHHK2gGrg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0vJsK_lqFnqgEAEE4ETstMY_Az3hFQiyWYowU9-DbdIiILOTDo8N8hoCH1t1AfNcZnRSLCFi0jVs-uuH2N6t95IP5cCEpfYjopMYI7ZXNDEYRbLuDryp4Eg3tl_P_xzmQUZqNmQOhS2besfo9de5MQvDXkmsoAtPnVlVkx5mfVMHHK2gGrg=w221-h295" width="221" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Later Waynes parents joined us for a fun christmas lunch. Laura had got silly face maskes to start the entertainment, the obligatory crackers, a silly parce the santa, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY0-rnQY9odTbEKqQjdvMmlOKQXyL8sOoLjPoxC_jmy7KtuwOzl1e94mPvgd2qMyr26JCYo_wcUMmRRFP2bkBF99ittYJisFgeUQ8VkoZhKg92EgnXmjKn_uyGV_8IJMGQBeTWXz-wAifoSjH51iUAoTaG4fivPEckp9Sot6ozDS48fUdiKw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY0-rnQY9odTbEKqQjdvMmlOKQXyL8sOoLjPoxC_jmy7KtuwOzl1e94mPvgd2qMyr26JCYo_wcUMmRRFP2bkBF99ittYJisFgeUQ8VkoZhKg92EgnXmjKn_uyGV_8IJMGQBeTWXz-wAifoSjH51iUAoTaG4fivPEckp9Sot6ozDS48fUdiKw=s320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">lots of forfiets and lots of laughs with a very tasty lunch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgXXw6sW2Dw9o79K5474chKqP4-FhzaERxqlr-zTwsCcZGNKLHrRAVhn4Jly1vtt4AZQw2PfGPqhGBRXeGMFuCy1cOPaBdlpEUxOwUshKsFR9mA2-t6bvUB8zHmecjA1pWT2MjkvwdqUVJ1mmXfLp7rz09fHrfu7VcSYPd0O_YlbA7ImEig=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgXXw6sW2Dw9o79K5474chKqP4-FhzaERxqlr-zTwsCcZGNKLHrRAVhn4Jly1vtt4AZQw2PfGPqhGBRXeGMFuCy1cOPaBdlpEUxOwUshKsFR9mA2-t6bvUB8zHmecjA1pWT2MjkvwdqUVJ1mmXfLp7rz09fHrfu7VcSYPd0O_YlbA7ImEig=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course the disasters which make our christmases struck as usual, this time the microwave deciding to pack up half way through warming our christmas pud!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3AQpPDZc4GL39UUMwCrqOCbBL0q-TFdTxf1sM0nkm9lzIqzGs6cJ3VBZ7fbF6aI5th7P4BgILcbOisrQx6rVwi-eEoTtku_sbuAuF-W2iivbmgcqC2fd4XdE04FNN5sUW4XBMkAjxfhokXMNmyXNrDkEPHQRI_CTuAi09RXApABsvjHz1Ew=s2944" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3AQpPDZc4GL39UUMwCrqOCbBL0q-TFdTxf1sM0nkm9lzIqzGs6cJ3VBZ7fbF6aI5th7P4BgILcbOisrQx6rVwi-eEoTtku_sbuAuF-W2iivbmgcqC2fd4XdE04FNN5sUW4XBMkAjxfhokXMNmyXNrDkEPHQRI_CTuAi09RXApABsvjHz1Ew=w209-h278" width="209" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p><span style="font-size: large;">After lunch we exchanged pressies with Di and Gra then I was treated to a lesson from Laura in making tea and coffee for all (LOL)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunatly all the excitement prooved a little too much for Graham and they had to cut their day short but as they left Waynes brother wife and daughter arrived so the boys and Chloe spent some time playing with the NURF guns the boys had had for christmas, or reindeer toss, which had us all giggling. We also got the kids doing tongue twisters which resulting in Beckett coming out with a rude word when he attempted peter pipper picked, and Craig nearly having heart failure from laughing.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPfv_3fOpExgaRxswjiy9LP4i1gsW7GLXxTDRhsd4thpFAqG5cMIfrVRkpqLvZpgPtXrrxwc49-fugrLgtoQ1tYYOKdrU2fZQ8siJnvarWxJnveJFoTyhC7bJDcb55GMuDw3P1hAqtdtB12k5ViBDpcSdVWLdbXkD6vE5MCY_uTrYYHV8qDA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPfv_3fOpExgaRxswjiy9LP4i1gsW7GLXxTDRhsd4thpFAqG5cMIfrVRkpqLvZpgPtXrrxwc49-fugrLgtoQ1tYYOKdrU2fZQ8siJnvarWxJnveJFoTyhC7bJDcb55GMuDw3P1hAqtdtB12k5ViBDpcSdVWLdbXkD6vE5MCY_uTrYYHV8qDA=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> More food as Laura layed up the tradition cold meat salad and pickle tea, and then everyone left. We had a game of reindeer stack which again left us in hysterics. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpktEhTh9AYPc6wfghz5cTsHAcU5y-6u5pTQXWUzqzqr5-sU37tJjz1dH-1ev9cqZJTnMm5VGU9skCYWl4A50EaYNHRQ_qDKfp2QXv2QwGNG-_GtSlO2pP8fUYZFRsG121Zv8oHQFJcGIdsSkqIU_xp2gG8p3oH6vjy78GgAFu5t7sjX726w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpktEhTh9AYPc6wfghz5cTsHAcU5y-6u5pTQXWUzqzqr5-sU37tJjz1dH-1ev9cqZJTnMm5VGU9skCYWl4A50EaYNHRQ_qDKfp2QXv2QwGNG-_GtSlO2pP8fUYZFRsG121Zv8oHQFJcGIdsSkqIU_xp2gG8p3oH6vjy78GgAFu5t7sjX726w=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By this time it was getting on for ten and although not that late for christmas day everyone had either had early mornings or broken nights sleep so it was off to bed with no board games. Yet it had been fun, we had laughed, eaten drunk and shared it all with family. What more did we need? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We needed more of the same, so in the morning we went home, tidied up, baked a ham and welcomed Laura Wayne and the boys back to ours for late tea and board games until late, when we tucked them up in our spare beds, tired but feeling all warm and fuzzy having had time together- a fantastic improvement on our lockdown zoom christmas of the year before.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-21389923321158689112021-02-03T14:30:00.003+00:002021-02-03T14:30:29.388+00:00Winter wreath<p> 2020 and 2021 bought three lockdowns. We were confined to our homes unless we were key workers, shopping or on medical business. All down to a world wide pendant which with flu like symptoms caused many many deaths. Most vunerable were the elderly, and those with underlying health issues. This meant that I was virtually housebound as my diabetes was classed now as type 1. All essential shops and services were shut down, shopping was online or by phone and delivery. </p><p>Once we had spent a year decorating the house, exercising, baking, gardening, doing jigsaws, lego models and reading books January bought a new kind of lethargy and with the heavens on permanent downpour even those of us who could </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />go out for a daily walk or bike ride didn't fancy it. <p></p><p>Fed up with dressmaking, cross stitch and paper crafting I turned to crochet and using a few patterns from Attic 24 produced a winter wreath to brighten our front door.January's lockdown crochet project. Patterns and idea from Attic24, crochet and knit 101 flowers book and a free robin pattern found on line.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3x61Py9SAs/YBqzaG1JFeI/AAAAAAAAm-w/FQlCHRRuFB0P1T-ueG5_zmq-YC-eS20UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210203_120906_124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3x61Py9SAs/YBqzaG1JFeI/AAAAAAAAm-w/FQlCHRRuFB0P1T-ueG5_zmq-YC-eS20UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210203_120906_124.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-65671387588764742652019-10-04T20:49:00.001+01:002019-10-04T21:02:35.703+01:00Blog revival and Croatia<span style="font-size: large;">I am regretting not keeping my blog alive.</span><br />
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Croatia 24th September 2019</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both Martin and I were awake well before the alarm, so we got up early and finished the last minute packing. After a cup of tea we loaded everything into the car and were off on the first flying holiday since America (2017). It was raining hard so we had to grab our wet weather coats at the last moment. The M25 was down by one lane due to an accident so we were half an hour late, and when we did get to Gatwick Martin told me the wrong address for the carpark so sat nav lady led us to a set of offices and not a car park. Searching for the correct place to leave the car set us back another half an hour. This meant we only had time to grab a coffee and a croissant before heading for the departure gate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were first on to the plane but this didn't mater because the bad weather had slowed everything down and we sat on the tarmac for another half an hour before we could take off. The flight only lasted 1hr and 38 mins as it was TUI's dream line, but while the flight was quick, loading the coach for the transfer to Poreč seemed to take an age to leave Pula airport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our coach took us to Poreč bus station and we had to collect our luggage and put it onto the mini van, then follow the TUI rep across the road to the harbor where we waited for the ferry boat to take us across to the island of St Nicholas and the Valamar island resort Isabella Hotel.</span></div>
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<b> <i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our TUI rep Sue</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i><b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walking from the coach station to the harbour</span></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>View across to the island</b></span><br />
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<i> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ferry</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Registration was very quick and in a minute we were looking out of our balcony at a beautiful sea view, the town of Porec and the swimming pool below us. </span></div>
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<i> Views from our window</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once we had claimed our luggage and unpacked we quickly changed into our shorts for a bit of an explore, in search of food and a drink. We had a toasted cheese and ham sandwich in the pool grill not realizing they were huge sandwiches complete with salad and chips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At five oclock we went to have welcome drinks with the TUI rep. We dont normally do this as we know their main theme is not to give out information but to sell the expensive excursions. However the receptionist had gabbled so fast we had no clue about meals and facilities so had little choice. As it turned out Sue was pretty good and didn't ram the excursions down our throats too much, and gave out some good info about other things we could do/go,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our next port of call was the local Spa shop in the town to stock up on munchies and tea/coffee (not available in our room despite it being 4 star). We also needed to get some more Kona from the ATM as the cheese </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">s</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3s1090vUHA/XZegHy4HudI/AAAAAAAAg9I/rOcyCdC6mrUAPTvrDlbfpaaJNWE4zEF-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190924_160919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">andwiches and drinks had been a tad expensive. Sadly the hoards had got there before us and there was no tea or coffee to be had, so we settled for beer, lemonade and crisps.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>One of the beaches (the only sandy one) </b></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Going back across on the ferry.</b></span></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the many crafty stalls on the harbour</span></b></i><b></b><i></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Finally we ended the day back in the main dining room for a buffet style 4 course meal and then forgoing the evening entertainment collapsing into a huge king double bed.</span><br />
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<br />Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-90390409778184939952018-03-01T14:49:00.000+00:002018-03-01T14:49:17.379+00:00Snowy days and time to blog<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So once again I have been away from my blog for quite some time, despite wanting to get down to some serious regular posting. The reason is that I have been very poorly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In a final bit of celebrating for our joint 60th's we had booked a fantastic trip to San Diago ending in a week in Las Vegas with Laura, Wayne and the boys. We arrived to find a fantastic villa complete with swimming pool, water fall, hot tub, mini golf, climbing wall, slides outdoor kitchen, telly and bbq! I enjoyed it for four days before falling seriously ill and having to be blue lighted to the hospital. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It turns out I had pancreatitis caused by gall stones blocking the pancreatic duct. The pancreatitis had attacked practically every bit of my body including my lungs and in total I spent 4 days in ICU, another 17 days in the hospital and had to have my gall bladder removed whilst in the USA (thank goodness for good travel insurance). It took a while to be allowed back to England and then it turns out I still have a very large cyst on my pancreas but the NHS moves very slowly and I am still waiting to hear about my referral and although I have managed 2 days back at work, am still in pain and not any where near recovered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So blogging has really been the last thing on my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">However with all the snow we are having at the moment there is little else to do than spend time in my craft room. Kelly and I have been having mini crops together and joining in the virtual kits and classes run by ATDML. As we were unsure what the kits would be like we had contrived to do the classes sharing the kits but I think next month we are going to have whole kits to ourselves, as although we have managed, it has taken some thinking through and we have maybe lost a little in the attempt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here are my efforts from both January and February. </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hb2ObMP20OE/WpgOVgolrRI/AAAAAAAAZ9g/Ijt2QiOPPYo9CgJ-5QQqNJixGCPxgWj_gCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1422" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hb2ObMP20OE/WpgOVgolrRI/AAAAAAAAZ9g/Ijt2QiOPPYo9CgJ-5QQqNJixGCPxgWj_gCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I didn't have a kit for this one so used whatever was to hand. Me at my husband's 25 year service award dinner.</span><br />
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<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">January Class 3 Debbie Jewell. </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulOEr2U0M1Y/WpgNmqmwlWI/AAAAAAAAZ9A/oCllgEw3xw4YQDLsLKx1dXcfaLNndN4SwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulOEr2U0M1Y/WpgNmqmwlWI/AAAAAAAAZ9A/oCllgEw3xw4YQDLsLKx1dXcfaLNndN4SwCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="313" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Because Kelly and I shared a kit it took some time to work out how to cut the paper so we both got enough each for the class. Unfortunately we didn't take into account the directionality of the print on the blue tree paper so I ended up doing my LO mirror image. I still like it though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My mum throwing snowballs at Laura and the dog after taking Laura to physio for her back injury (I bet a snowball fight really helped lol)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">February Class 1 with Mel</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdSHcXDhQKQ/WpgNniKRyJI/AAAAAAAAZ9E/EH0-U8gqZ_4MT-9WHSpE4GT8BgNcmNKiACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1507" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdSHcXDhQKQ/WpgNniKRyJI/AAAAAAAAZ9E/EH0-U8gqZ_4MT-9WHSpE4GT8BgNcmNKiACLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="316" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i90iDZg9HS0/WpgNoJ_qO8I/AAAAAAAAZ9I/x4cIFu4O6p0M48hwLAMjvcyVTyDwGrseACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1411" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i90iDZg9HS0/WpgNoJ_qO8I/AAAAAAAAZ9I/x4cIFu4O6p0M48hwLAMjvcyVTyDwGrseACLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="318" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> I loved both these classes, but again cutting the paper proved a challenge and because I wanted the flowers to show but discovered my triangles were cut back to front again the LO was mirror imaged. I also put my photo in the middle as I felt it caught the eye better there. I also threw in a few of my own chipboard letters and stickers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My dad and Finley enjoying a joke together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Finley playing cars, both photos taken during the time that he and his parents lived at our house.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">February Class 2 Tricia </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFP1gSQNENU/WpgNok2hORI/AAAAAAAAZ9M/gmRTOa6A2MUJxhZ7UPu-zccjFLfZRK8MgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1444" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFP1gSQNENU/WpgNok2hORI/AAAAAAAAZ9M/gmRTOa6A2MUJxhZ7UPu-zccjFLfZRK8MgCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" width="316" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISs4oCm3JHs/WpgJbNCfMlI/AAAAAAAAZ8s/WRDQWspxXCw5YCBaEEPIhbinTWgzB_QNwCLcBGAs/s1600/1JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1499" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISs4oCm3JHs/WpgJbNCfMlI/AAAAAAAAZ8s/WRDQWspxXCw5YCBaEEPIhbinTWgzB_QNwCLcBGAs/s320/1JPG.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I loved the look of both these classes, but realise I do really dislike fussy cutting. Those swirly flowers took forever. All my LO's seem to be of Finley this time round but that is because I am working on my 2013 album before we were graced with Beckett so this time its a sleepy Finley and then a girly picture to fit in with the pink and flowers of my big girlie and a new born Finley. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGg1rLM6_Vo/WpgNmctU1jI/AAAAAAAAZ84/Yvq3sDZoLoo3N6YkkblvQsQP7rcTZjAsgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1276" height="313" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGg1rLM6_Vo/WpgNmctU1jI/AAAAAAAAZ84/Yvq3sDZoLoo3N6YkkblvQsQP7rcTZjAsgCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This one isn't a class from ATDML but a pagemap sketch with some papers in my scraps drawer, and yes another Finley photo for that '13 album.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-37705697766299689692017-09-07T09:55:00.000+01:002017-09-07T10:11:30.229+01:00August, holidays, airshow party and all that jazz.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our summer did not seem to be as rammed packed with events and outings as usual but then I went to write this post and realised we had actually been quite busy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Start of Martin's two week annual holiday</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet again we were staying at home for this - firstly we are off to the states for a big birthday celebration later in the year and secondly we wanted to see the South East (formally Herne Bay Air show.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We started with the boys staying for a sleep over and a meal out at the Rose in Bloom. Lovely pub grub meal spoilt only by the fact that most of the play equipment was broken leaving the boys with only the swing to play on (although they were quite facinated by the trains passing by) and Finley made a friend with the older girl playing there too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much of the first week was spent getting the house and garden ready for our 60th birthday garden bbq and party but we managed an 'adventure' with Laura, Wayne and the boys in a trip to Hastings. Worried about the poor weather we opted for the Sea Life centre there but as it turned out the weather was amazingly hot and sunny. After the sea life centre we had lunch (which again was tasty but took nearly an hour to get served) in a pub which had seating on the front pavement so we watched the world go by. Then we (stupidly?) took the boys on the peddelo swans!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbG_ILRx3Hc/WbEEuDLRXdI/AAAAAAAAX_E/ZT0MYbVUwjoGuheVKZsDJzicgjzacszkgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170808_143435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbG_ILRx3Hc/WbEEuDLRXdI/AAAAAAAAX_E/ZT0MYbVUwjoGuheVKZsDJzicgjzacszkgCLcBGAs/s640/20170808_143435.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We let the train take the strain back to the car park as some of us were wet from our boating experience and all had tired leggies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://c8.alamy.com/comp/C5WTHM/hastings-miniature-railway-on-the-seafront-departing-rock-a-nore-station-C5WTHM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="800" height="235" src="https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C5WTHM/hastings-miniature-railway-on-the-seafront-departing-rock-a-nore-station-C5WTHM.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we still had some time left but had run out of change for the car park we took a slow drive back to Folkestone Lees where we found the most amazing playpark. </span></span><br />
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The climbing frame </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XbsVpzeYV8/WbEGV-SOo8I/AAAAAAAAX_g/NyfMExsl8mgeNJJaPwlJYuoo3t7vbob_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/20170808_172902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XbsVpzeYV8/WbEGV-SOo8I/AAAAAAAAX_g/NyfMExsl8mgeNJJaPwlJYuoo3t7vbob_gCEwYBhgL/s320/20170808_172902.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As much sand as Beckett could possibly want.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the 12th it was the big party day. Kelly and Laura had been put in charge of decorations so there were lanterns, helium balloons )and apparently bunting which they forgot to put up). It all looked very festive. There was way too much food and plenty of drink. The boy's bouncy castle was put up by the hot tub and chairs were dragged from every room into the garden. The weather even stayed sunny and warm so we could all stay outside. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sadly there were many friends and family who could not join us but there were still plenty who did manage to come and it was fantastic to catch up with people from our past we had not seen in many years, to touch base with my cousins and to get to know the neighbors a little better. Everybody seemed to have a good time. </span></span></div>
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<br />Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-67004257218637654682017-07-31T17:13:00.000+01:002017-07-31T17:13:09.220+01:00One week down<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first week of the summer holidays seems to have flown by. I am having a hard time keeping a grip on what I have been up to. Now Laura and family live so much nearer they seem to be popping in and out or we are over there and its hard to not get the days mixed up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As well as our trip to Wingham Wild Life we took the boys to the Fun in the Park Day. Originally this formed part of the Herne Bay Festival and was really a stage for the annual dog show, then a problem with dates meant that a few years ago it became an event in its own right. The first year we went, we had only just moved in so we strolled down with our little 2 year old Finley and had quite a good time as he climbed on the fire engine and enjoyed the hook a duck.This year we again went down the hill with high hopes of a good time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The kids were enthralled by the sight of the Vintage Cars and the bouncing castle as we entered the park and looked down the hill. They became less enchanted when they came to realise they were not allowed to touch the gleaming polished-to-a-mirror finish cars or tractors and quickly turned away to look for more exciting interactive fun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They wanted to go on the bouncy castle but since we had only bought about £15 with us we said they must look first and then choose the one thing they wanted to go on. Then we walked to the other end, glancing at the stalls. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There wasn't much to excite the boys, most seemed to be promoting something and so only had leaflets to hand out, or were selling stuff like books or jewellery. Finally at the top end of the park was something for children, no not the play park that Beckett wanted to go in, but a long queue for free face painting (too long they wouldnt have the patience to wait) and Pip the magician. At first Beckett wanted to stay and watch and Finley didn't. Then Finley sat and watched for a while but Beckett wanted to see some more stalls. I took Beckett, Laura sat with Finley. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beckett and I passed a 'throw the tennis ball into rubber bucket' stall, a bread and cake stall, a biscuit stall, another jewellery stall, a hook-the-duck stall, another biscuit stall, the beer tent, the brass band. He cried, we walked back. It seemed the boys were right, the main choice was the bouncy castle. So that's where we went.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoying themselves whilst it lasted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were already 5 children on the bouncy castle but no one queuing so the boys had their shoes off and were on before we even got our purses open. £1.50 a go, reasonable I thought .... until I discovered they only got 3 mins for that price. And despite the fact that one of the bigger boys bumped heads with Beckett and left him in tears for some of that time, and the fact that unlike the others it took him twice as long to get back on his feet after being bounced over him being so little and all, and the fact that there were no more customers waiting for a go, the woman timed them all on her phone and made them all get off on the dot of 3 mins. I know they have to make their money back to cover costs but throwing them all off didn't get her any more customers and I wasn't the only person disgruntled by her attitude especially since there was nothing signed to tell us how long they would get. There were tears from several of the children.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We relented and said they could have a go on something else (we were hard pushed to find anything though). Finley wanted a balloon. Both the hook-a-duck and the throw-a-dart stalls were giving away balloons just for having a go. We lined up. We asked the price. £3 a go!! Okay maybe I am out of touch but £3 to hook a duck with plastic 50p toy prizes? Admittedly the dart stall was giving balloons with teddies inside away but .......</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to the white elephant stall where Finley was happy with his £3 Lego action figure and Beckett was happy with his £1 teddy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to the play-park!!</span></span>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-88043445696154739582017-07-28T08:18:00.000+01:002017-07-28T08:18:06.638+01:00Start of the summer holidays.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The holidays have started (not that I have noticed since I have had no work all term) and typical the weather has closed in after all that hot sunny heatwave throughout June. I knew it would the moment we went out and bought a 3.5m banana parasol to put over the new patio furniture. Oh well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Its not stopped us from being outside though. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">So far I have managed to walk up to Laura and Wayne's new house without getting caught in the rain, and on Tuesday Martin finished the final part of the new patio and dug out and laid the block standing for the refuse bins. The sun has not been good enough to dry off the very wet bag of kiln dried sand needed to fill in the gaps so that still has to be completed, plus I have a (very large yet useless for the job) whacker plate machine sitting on the lawn but I am very pleased with his efforts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have still been having fun with the boys too. Yesterday they took me to Wingham Wild Life park (we all have yearly passes) and we had a lovely time looking at animals - they always like to drag Nana through the reptile house as they know those are my least fav creatures, digging in the sand for dinosaur bones, climbing in the soft play house (a chance for the grown ups to have a quick coffee) and chasing each other up and down the sand hills. We were also fascinated to see the penguin keeper salting the water for her charges comfort. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The sand hills are always a popular play area.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjkSIt6CP_0/WXriQXeav8I/AAAAAAAAXks/fX9E3FCtxcMowfV-Z52Zt_pwzabHTQmVwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170727_151917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjkSIt6CP_0/WXriQXeav8I/AAAAAAAAXks/fX9E3FCtxcMowfV-Z52Zt_pwzabHTQmVwCKgBGAs/s320/20170727_151917.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fascinated and maybe a little nervous of the butterfly on mummy's finger.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura and I are also finally finding time to get to grips with our holiday together later in the year. We had already booked a pretty decent villa earlier, panicked that all the good places would be booked up. Although it was a large place with plenty of outdoor space, it was a bit of a car journey every time you needed a pint of milk, and the pool was not gated which with our little terror was a worrying thought. We had a full refund on cancellation clause so we were still vaguely looking, but finally, throwing a little more cash at the problem we have now booked a huge place right in the centre of all the activity, a mile from the beach, with its own pool and hot tub (gated) climbing apparatus and wall for the boys) its own putting pitch, bar, and outside kitchen/bbq/firepit with tv! Now we can start to look at all the other little bits and pieces we need (car hire, transfers, hotel accommodation for the final four nights before we fly home). We are getting excited. </span></span></div>
Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-45688085466724112442017-06-11T18:20:00.001+01:002017-06-19T17:33:10.547+01:00The rest of half term.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what else did we get up to over the rest of the week that Martin had off? Well we actually managed to pack quite a bit in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">After his usual round of sunday morning golf, Martin and I were going to have a chillaxing afternoon, but the kids phoned to say they were coming up for a cup of tea. Next thing we know we were scrabbling around in the freezer to find food for the bbq! We ate so late that the boys ended up staying for a sleepover. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We wanted to start tackling our list of jobs but we found we couldnt even start them before clearing out the shed as we couldn't find any of the tools we needed amongst the tangle. The boys had a great time as we tried to keep them amused with footballs and tents at the same time as sorting rubbish from good. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-thEAZ9Oehfw/WT198VfoH-I/AAAAAAAAXSo/ofw_QmOkZv4StI4Jw8oLta4wjeA0GcqWgCKgB/s1600/20170529_110434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-thEAZ9Oehfw/WT198VfoH-I/AAAAAAAAXSo/ofw_QmOkZv4StI4Jw8oLta4wjeA0GcqWgCKgB/s400/20170529_110434.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once the boys had gone home and we had put everything back tidily, Martin had several trips to the tip to get rid of all the unwanted shed stuff and accumulated junk from the attic. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main job we wanted to tackle was to finally properly lay the patio outside the back of the lounge. When we moved in the man selling the house had bought lots of block paving bricks to redo the hard standing for the cars. We had used most of them instead to create a patio on the left hand side of the garden, but we still had quite a number left over. In removing the decaying decking we had discovered quite a bit of concrete under it, and although we had removed most of it and grassed over, there was still a substantial bit on the right hand side of the garden. We had taken out the built in cupboard in the conservatory to allow access into the garden (who makes a built in cupboard across a conservatory door?) and had temporally put the blocks on top of the concrete but this all needed properly laying. We were also short several bricks to cover the whole area, so it was a trip to travis-perkins to order some more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We took the opportunity to also stock up on our weekly groceries before taking ourselves off to the cinema to watch Johnny Depp's next Pirates of the Caribbean adventure which we thoroughly enjoyed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ku7tbvQsRiU/WT2AsAdVQOI/AAAAAAAAXSw/As-Yu_pKroIublt81syu2munZLU65xVHgCLcB/s1600/pirates_of_the_carribean_poster_embed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="928" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ku7tbvQsRiU/WT2AsAdVQOI/AAAAAAAAXSw/As-Yu_pKroIublt81syu2munZLU65xVHgCLcB/s320/pirates_of_the_carribean_poster_embed.jpg" width="228" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin set to laying the bricks we did have while I spent the day in my craft room sewing up a storm and researching where we were going to go for our Finley and Beckett adventure the next day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finley had asked for another garden/picnic adventure and I had toyed with the idea of Hole Place until I discovered they had no picnic areas or facilities. At the last moment I opted for Riverhill Himalayan Gardens. It was a great choice. Lots for the boys to do and plenty of walking and exercise for the grown ups. Little in the way of formal gardens but a wonderful day out all the same.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPyG-Ko_7Bk/WT2CL4TlgxI/AAAAAAAAXS4/1Qsvwk8oPikH5SzDlo97PyOfD1oHTHjHgCLcB/s1600/P1040186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPyG-Ko_7Bk/WT2CL4TlgxI/AAAAAAAAXS4/1Qsvwk8oPikH5SzDlo97PyOfD1oHTHjHgCLcB/s320/P1040186.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">First stop the maze.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xScIEKq9giI/WT2CoAjfBSI/AAAAAAAAXS8/E4A6mNJNc18hJRh6vQHMBnlJq97FD7DzQCLcB/s1600/P1040191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xScIEKq9giI/WT2CoAjfBSI/AAAAAAAAXS8/E4A6mNJNc18hJRh6vQHMBnlJq97FD7DzQCLcB/s200/P1040191.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux6jz-II_hM/WT2CpnMQgHI/AAAAAAAAXTA/EdzmIzLr56sDQgGlxhcRg9sHTOxMUX7RACLcB/s1600/P1040190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux6jz-II_hM/WT2CpnMQgHI/AAAAAAAAXTA/EdzmIzLr56sDQgGlxhcRg9sHTOxMUX7RACLcB/s200/P1040190.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then some tree trunk climbing. You could go into the woods and make your own dens if you wanted too. The boys next choice was the play park though.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ivf6ClFB7c/WT2C7xzDKFI/AAAAAAAAXTE/5o-t1KVee4geZAaHUrI7_ue_7YxrYu_igCLcB/s1600/P1040195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ivf6ClFB7c/WT2C7xzDKFI/AAAAAAAAXTE/5o-t1KVee4geZAaHUrI7_ue_7YxrYu_igCLcB/s200/P1040195.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxR7yVpD3Ss/WT2DBht4kDI/AAAAAAAAXTI/bEg-7Dw2WkQadfuoLZ3rtru2SQdAO5wfgCLcB/s1600/P1040196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxR7yVpD3Ss/WT2DBht4kDI/AAAAAAAAXTI/bEg-7Dw2WkQadfuoLZ3rtru2SQdAO5wfgCLcB/s200/P1040196.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnWdZW0Ua-c/WT2DH_1-ygI/AAAAAAAAXTQ/g81kfwtPKxwI7N7PnD_dMnxV-pNmwm1tgCLcB/s1600/P1040202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnWdZW0Ua-c/WT2DH_1-ygI/AAAAAAAAXTQ/g81kfwtPKxwI7N7PnD_dMnxV-pNmwm1tgCLcB/s200/P1040202.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exhaRHy-8uw/WT2DGNQEuBI/AAAAAAAAXTM/XSROHCCTIhoooH4dBYKeAceEKDRbSH5FACLcB/s1600/P1040203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exhaRHy-8uw/WT2DGNQEuBI/AAAAAAAAXTM/XSROHCCTIhoooH4dBYKeAceEKDRbSH5FACLcB/s200/P1040203.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laura did have to use her teacher voice at some particularly obnoxious boys who kept bloking the tunnel slide by climbing up from the bottom instead of using the ladder.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course the whole point of the exercise is the picnic. Finley decided he wanted to go 'up' for this, and although it was rather a steep bit of a walk it was worth the effort as the north downs suddenly blossomed out in front of us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aotwoRZgGaM/WUfeJEGwKmI/AAAAAAAAXVU/SmcxuZ62TqYAYtVrVpGqJ89xshp44mQSwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aotwoRZgGaM/WUfeJEGwKmI/AAAAAAAAXVU/SmcxuZ62TqYAYtVrVpGqJ89xshp44mQSwCLcBGAs/s320/P1040188.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LLH2idWi6Ns/WUfeLaH9dCI/AAAAAAAAXVY/vg2-FwA_ST07gT_VgYSFItLoC5XVVITigCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LLH2idWi6Ns/WUfeLaH9dCI/AAAAAAAAXVY/vg2-FwA_ST07gT_VgYSFItLoC5XVVITigCLcBGAs/s320/P1040204.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sorry not the best photo but I was too busy enjoying to snap. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was still plenty to fill our afternoon too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wandering paths through the woods to explore, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42LTZo5v3YA/WUfenywWsfI/AAAAAAAAXVc/74FrnjuEXuU7GEe-821Mp3YPGzvyPqAAQCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42LTZo5v3YA/WUfenywWsfI/AAAAAAAAXVc/74FrnjuEXuU7GEe-821Mp3YPGzvyPqAAQCLcBGAs/s320/P1040206.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hidden boat swing </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDNcY8mN960/WUfeqSUfv0I/AAAAAAAAXVg/LE6RvlQJdswpuYAp8dZQih_sXt8yVjz2gCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDNcY8mN960/WUfeqSUfv0I/AAAAAAAAXVg/LE6RvlQJdswpuYAp8dZQih_sXt8yVjz2gCLcBGAs/s320/P1040210.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The formal garden </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-ucZ3qIBJs/WUfewYgvPII/AAAAAAAAXVk/SZ7Dgc-Jpkgt505QBPU6siEZVLZJK0Z1gCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-ucZ3qIBJs/WUfewYgvPII/AAAAAAAAXVk/SZ7Dgc-Jpkgt505QBPU6siEZVLZJK0Z1gCLcBGAs/s320/P1040215.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Complete with water feature</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">And a stick making craft activity which I think Laura got most out of since she made a hedgehog, and a stick..lady. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As if our day had not been full enough, we had agreed to meet Wayne who had stayed home for a parcel delivery, and go out for a pub meal with the boys. Randomly Laura chose the Royal Oak at Nonington. The weather was still beautiful and so we sat in the huge garden while the boys climbed on the climbing frame and just generally had a brilliant time. The offical time for food was after 6 and since we had forgotten to check this, we turned up a full 2 hours too early! The landlord was fantastic though and agreed to cook ours a tad early as the boys were getting hungry. And tasty food it was too! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friday</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had to stay in for the block paving bricks to be delivered, so we pootled about and once they did arrive Martin started to lay them. We were pleasantly surprised when two little boys heads appeared round the garden gate. Before long more fun was being had by all, a lot of water followed by home made pizza teas.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A84enYIhSNg/WUfiti8Dk5I/AAAAAAAAXWI/olxvZPlL1TwQiVOsNqpNOFuhGvRKa8AegCKgBGAs/s1600/20170602_154203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A84enYIhSNg/WUfiti8Dk5I/AAAAAAAAXWI/olxvZPlL1TwQiVOsNqpNOFuhGvRKa8AegCKgBGAs/s320/20170602_154203.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-42298101554109664022017-06-08T21:05:00.001+01:002017-06-08T21:05:16.371+01:00Chelsea - flowers and gardens and all that stuff.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week has been a busy week. Martin has had a weeks holiday and we have been having lots of fun but at the same time working pretty hard on catching up with all the maintenance house type jobs. But we started the week with a treat I had been looking forward to for some pretty long years - a visit to the Chelsea flower show.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the main reasons I joined the RHS (alongside cheap or free entry into gardens) was to get tickets to the Chelsea Flower show. Wayne had bought his mum tickets many years ago for a birthday gift but she hadn't</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> wanted to go or had been ill or something so he very generously gifted them to us, and we had a brilliant day out. Since then I had been hankering to go back. Finally this was the year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sadly for me I chose the year that many gardens had withdrawn through lack of sponsorship but at the time of booking the tickets I wasn't to know that. We had tried to book for the Thursday but all RHS tickets (not public) were sold out so we settled for the Friday - yes as it turned out the hottest day of the year so far, but again I wasn't to know that either.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We packed a huge picnic and set out full of enthusiasm expecting to have another brilliant time. I have to point out that I don't do heat very well and was already flagging by the time we got to Sloan square. We had to walk from there as the local bus service had been suspended for the day. I was surprised that although there was a noticeable increase of police presence as we walked along, once there security (in view of recent events) was not that fierce. Martin was jokingly asked if our picnic knives were for our picnic but that was it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the first time we had visited, the trade stalls were all over the place where as before they had been more confined to one trading street. Alongside the fact of the reduced number of gardens and the increase in plot size for the traders, and the fact that many traders had decorated their trade stalls to look like gardens it became difficult to actually find the designed gardens.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pBcrK_5uUE/WTmpO9PmWlI/AAAAAAAAXRE/Cg_XM8bL4e0soDEDB6ylMcroVqchAadygCLcB/s1600/P1040113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pBcrK_5uUE/WTmpO9PmWlI/AAAAAAAAXRE/Cg_XM8bL4e0soDEDB6ylMcroVqchAadygCLcB/s320/P1040113.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We wanted to buy this but didnt have enough cash, they didnt do credit card and neither did they do shipping. Plus we didnt want to carry it around all day. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">None of the eight show gardens inspired us in the least. There seemed to be a perchance for 'weeds' as they all tried to show us how to encourage green into grey Britain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6jKqEQ35xU/WTmleKnksuI/AAAAAAAAXQo/QxXPd3d5a5w-PvmSqWhWSnffouXsDAAxgCLcB/s1600/P1040120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6jKqEQ35xU/WTmleKnksuI/AAAAAAAAXQo/QxXPd3d5a5w-PvmSqWhWSnffouXsDAAxgCLcB/s400/P1040120.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0DyNcliFS_A/WTmmimdAnhI/AAAAAAAAXQ4/MgG7BUTGgjMNeaNBlOo8BXnlV0DVFZpQgCLcB/s1600/TELEMMGLPICT000129220418-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQfyf2A9a6I9YchsjMeADBa08.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0DyNcliFS_A/WTmmimdAnhI/AAAAAAAAXQ4/MgG7BUTGgjMNeaNBlOo8BXnlV0DVFZpQgCLcB/s320/TELEMMGLPICT000129220418-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQfyf2A9a6I9YchsjMeADBa08.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">On our previous trip and to garden shows and visits to RHS gardens, the viewing gardeners had been very polite but all we seemed to meet were rude and ill mannered impatient members of the public who pushed and shoved to get where they wanted with no thought for any one else. Poor Martin never got to the front to see even one of the gardens. Maybe it was the hot weather but this was not something I had encountered before and I found it very off putting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">After only an hour we were ready for lunch but finding a shady spot was really hard. Every bit of dim lit space seemed to be taken. Finally we found a small spot behind one of the trading sheds, not a picturesque place but as least cool. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back to the fray and I really wanted to see the much publicised Radio 2 gardens. These were at the other end of the show (well they would be wouldn't they?) and by the time we got to them we were very hot and sweaty. They were a total disappointment. They had seemed huge on the TV but were not much bigger than the Artisan gardens (which were tiny). Not only that the gap to look into them was no bigger than the average 5 bar gate with 40 or so people trying to squeeze into the space to view them. And to my mind they honestly were not worth viewing. I have seen better simply walking along our road - which is saying something as they are all old age pensioners who do not garden round near us! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mary Berry's edible garden. I found it very messy and difficult to understand all the vegetables ripe at the same time. I grew up in a time when the whole of the back yard was usually given up to veggies and it always looked far neater and interesting than this.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sound garden.An interesting concept, speakers under the water made different ripples in the tank depending on the frequency. Trouble was I had expected sound in the garden. It was silent. I also think 'garden' was pushing it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This was the biggest disappointment.Sarah Raven's cut flower garden ... except where were the flowers? Sarah was actually working in the garden when I got to the front, but came out to go off someplace. She was waylaid by some woman and although she was not actually rude to the lady praising her books, it was obvious she didn't want to stop and talk to the public. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We took another drinks break. Opting for a half pint from the bar as all our picnic drinks had been warmed up in the 30 degree heat, we tried to find some shade and a seat at the band stand. On our previous visit we had been treated to a rag band and then a jazz band. This time it was an opera singer who was promising us 2 whole (boring) hours of opera and musical songs. She was very good but </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39-UUbQ4IS4/WTmso-b5CuI/AAAAAAAAXRk/2caCXgZcVX8A41wmOBHALs8L7MqKRQ8SgCLcB/s1600/P1040172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39-UUbQ4IS4/WTmso-b5CuI/AAAAAAAAXRk/2caCXgZcVX8A41wmOBHALs8L7MqKRQ8SgCLcB/s320/P1040172.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We had to sit in full sun too as there was no shady spots available. NB I did love her gown.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our final stop was the Pavillion. I had been looking forward to this part best. Sadly it was so humid inside the tent that after only half an hour we had to make our way outside again. It would also seem that all the wonderful displays made from flowers were a thing of the past and it was straightforward tables of samples of flowers/plants lined up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dK8uc0IyxyI/WTmtuuuN0CI/AAAAAAAAXRw/ZCr9dwGvkWk1CyBk8hIMv2FYXUjAcaaogCLcB/s1600/P1040179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dK8uc0IyxyI/WTmtuuuN0CI/AAAAAAAAXRw/ZCr9dwGvkWk1CyBk8hIMv2FYXUjAcaaogCLcB/s320/P1040179.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fed up by only 2 oclock we made our way home. I doubt we will be going again.</span></span></div>
Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-52544968003250951062017-05-17T08:19:00.000+01:002017-05-17T08:33:43.989+01:00Start of the celebrations.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As part of starting to celebrate that both Martin and I will reach our 60th year this year, we went with all the family for a meal at the beautiful old pub in the woods, The Rose and Crown. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_OajpEkrIw/WRvxMceTFPI/AAAAAAAAXIg/f-qV9kRP8MoBXYKvnD6XlDkm_A3MYx97gCLcB/s1600/Rose-and-Crown-Perrywood-Selling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_OajpEkrIw/WRvxMceTFPI/AAAAAAAAXIg/f-qV9kRP8MoBXYKvnD6XlDkm_A3MYx97gCLcB/s400/Rose-and-Crown-Perrywood-Selling.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5drF9vASOEo/WRv66vqtbNI/AAAAAAAAXJ4/xOvqlDuCNX4ZFq8dKiYo_viNNh2fmPuJQCKgB/s1600/20170430_122918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5drF9vASOEo/WRv66vqtbNI/AAAAAAAAXJ4/xOvqlDuCNX4ZFq8dKiYo_viNNh2fmPuJQCKgB/s400/20170430_122918.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before the family arrived, and since Martin was still having his round of golf before joining us, Laura Wayne and I took the boys up into the woods for a bit of a walk first. They both had a fab time climbing hills covered in roots, shuffling along huge fallen tree trunks and even stepping up into the wide branches of an accommodating low slung tree.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although the service in the pub was a tad slow the meal was very tasty and there was plenty of food. A great start to all to come.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We continued to celebrate Martin's birthday with an overnight stay in London. We chose the Kingsway Hall Hotel in Covent Garden and Kinky Boots from a deal on Groupon. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhg43P2V56c/WRvxo8om7SI/AAAAAAAAXIk/YqGicbV4Lzcc8fo7JLPb0yqsrGcpEEknQCLcB/s1600/Kingsway_Outside_the_Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhg43P2V56c/WRvxo8om7SI/AAAAAAAAXIk/YqGicbV4Lzcc8fo7JLPb0yqsrGcpEEknQCLcB/s640/Kingsway_Outside_the_Hotel.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not having used Groupon before we were unsure of how or even if it would work but we had a great experience. We included train travel in the deal so we wouldn't have to worry about parking, our upward journey covered by the high speed rail due to engineering works. We arrived in good shape (even though we had forgotten to bring our Oyster cards) thanks to Laura giving us a ride to the station, and had soon covered the underground transfers and walk to our hotel. Situated between the Strand and Covent Garden the hotel was although a little tired, very comfortable and the staff very pleasant.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j4_g4hlZ5H8/WRv7JoQnbQI/AAAAAAAAXJ8/8lxeTyaqsrcl1lyPNdGTQ6q9RdfCs8NtQCLcB/s1600/Kingsway%2BHall%2BHotel%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j4_g4hlZ5H8/WRv7JoQnbQI/AAAAAAAAXJ8/8lxeTyaqsrcl1lyPNdGTQ6q9RdfCs8NtQCLcB/s320/Kingsway%2BHall%2BHotel%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">After dumping our luggage we decided to walk back to Covent Garden but found (as usual) little going on there and continued walking to the Adelphie theatre to find out where it was for later. As we were standing outside a political protest march organised by the trade unions passed us so we spent some time watching and waiting to be able to cross the road. A little unexpected show for us while we were there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tni_lJmfKD4/WRvwocuRiQI/AAAAAAAAXIY/9V3bmIY2Fi8fCkf6sIzX2XuSOoVC4U_FgCKgB/s1600/20170501_140218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tni_lJmfKD4/WRvwocuRiQI/AAAAAAAAXIY/9V3bmIY2Fi8fCkf6sIzX2XuSOoVC4U_FgCKgB/s640/20170501_140218.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We treated ourselves to a meal in TGI Friday (our fa<span style="font-family: inherit;">v. </span>place to go when in London as we <span style="font-family: inherit;">don't</span> have one near us and got the taste when we were in Florida) before wandering over the river and checking out the London Eye as we had booked to have a ride on it the following day. We also finally find where all the eating places are (in the past I had bemoaned the lack of restaurants around theatre-land). We had always headed to Leicester square and made our way to Covent Garden but it seems all the eateries are on the other side where we had never walked before. Now we know and will be having lots of gastronomic choices next time we are up. I was a bit <span style="font-family: inherit;">disappointed</span> that there <span style="font-family: inherit;">didn't</span> seem to be anything going on to celebrate May Day. I had thought the place would be full of morris men and may fairs but it may as well not have been a bank holiday. Oh well. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had no idea what Kinky Boots was about having chosen a musical at random, but it was really good, some fantastic singing and we had a wonderful evening. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a Full English the next morning at the hotel, we followed up with a stroll through the sunshine, over Waterloo Bridge back to the London Eye. We walked along the river for a bit and had a drink in a pop up open theatre/bar. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-2oMuOFUbI/WRv04RyefYI/AAAAAAAAXI0/1u0U_j0ogI4ZGtms_lyuwloJEZqX2h8CwCKgB/s1600/20170502_110926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-2oMuOFUbI/WRv04RyefYI/AAAAAAAAXI0/1u0U_j0ogI4ZGtms_lyuwloJEZqX2h8CwCKgB/s640/20170502_110926.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was only when we joined the queue for the London Eye that Martin spotted we had booked the tickets for the previous day. I had bought them on the 2for1 railway deal online and had had trouble with the site timing out. At one time I had spotted it had changed our booking time but did not notice it had changed my chosen booking date!!! Martin, who had not been on the Eye before and was looking forward to it, decided we would stay in line and bluff our way on. Surprisingly our tickets scanned, no one noticed the date and they didn't even check we had rail tickets to confirm the 2for1 deal. So Martin got his ride </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">and really enjoyed the views. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTp-EO92c98/WRv09hdfAEI/AAAAAAAAXI4/Ys6h4f-u7gIRmisU_uoNor8sJXeTlaOvwCKgB/s1600/20170502_121458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTp-EO92c98/WRv09hdfAEI/AAAAAAAAXI4/Ys6h4f-u7gIRmisU_uoNor8sJXeTlaOvwCKgB/s320/20170502_121458.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our trip did not finish there though as we had decided to pop over to Camden Market for a look around there. The contrast between Camden (North London) and the West End was very <span style="font-family: inherit;">noticeable</span> and from quiet strolls along the river bank to the vibrant and colourful Camden High Street was an exciting shock to the system. I was fasinated by the decorated shops. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The market was huge and like a rabbit warren, we aimlessly wandered up and down various alleyways, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells. Although we had hoped to find a watch for Martin we eventually only ended up buying a new hat for me! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I reckon we walked around 8 miles in the two days so exhausted but having had a really good time, we returned home. More celebrations to come.</span></span>Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32958035.post-55965777250053990682017-04-02T14:05:00.000+01:002017-04-02T14:05:21.871+01:00Ice cream and other ramblings<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have just made a delicious batch of ice cream and stored it safely in the freezer. Is this a big deal? well yes. Back end of last year having done nearly a term of full time and four day weeks of work, I decided to treat myself to a new Kenwood chef mixer and then went a little mad buying all the add-on applications as well. One of these was the ice cream maker attachment, but lack of time, suitable ingredients and then later, inclination has left it all sitting gathering dust (although I had at least put the ice-cream bowl in the freezer).</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well no more. Today, as I browsed Morrison's for my weekly shopping, I had a sudden thought. Why not make some ice-cream rather than buy it? So I scurried back to buy some cream and some vanilla extract. It was brilliant. using <a href="http://chefinyou.com/recipe/eggless-vanilla-icecream" target="_blank">this</a> recipe which demands no eggs, and bunging all the ingredients in to mix, the ice-cream was finished by the time I had put all the groceries away. it was so amazingly easy and tastes fantastic. So many more flavours to come me thinks. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh by the way, hello blog reader. i am finally back with my all new singing and dancing laptop so am wasting no time getting my bloggy back up and going (see previous blog post.). I have been very busy installing all the replacement software and sorting out 10 years worth of photos. Sadly the new laptop refuses to talk to poor old cricut so still that problem to overcome but other than that this is one happy lady as this new monster is soooo super duper fast and whizzy!</span></span></h3>
Yizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12832930707428482317noreply@blogger.com0