What a let down!

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Recently, the Mhinisteir and I managed to get away for a few nights. Due to the Mhinisteir’s work commitments we are unable to go away for a longer period so it is always a few nights here and there which is good enough.

On our last day, we decided to go to Cote for our breakfast before we headed back to the vicarage. When we entered the restaurant, there was only one other person. We were seated very quickly. The first thing I noticed was how dirty the table was. I took a quick glance at the other tables and they were the same. There were water ring stains, crumbs and other sticky bits! It was obvious the tables were not cleaned before they closed up for the night.

When our breakfast arrived, it was lukewarm. We never said anything about the table or the breakfast because we didn’t want to.

It was only after we left the restaurant that the Mhinisteir told me that we were charged separately for our hot beverages which were supposed to be part of the breakfast deal. It wasn’t a big deal but……

That experience has just reminded me that post Covid and post Brexit, things in this country are getting from bad to worse. These days, Covid gets blamed for EVERY single thing that goes wrong. The truth is things were only marginally better before that. For example, take the self catering cottage that we stay in every time we go away. For the past 3 years, we have had trouble with the shower/bath. 30 seconds into a shower, I would be up to my ankle in water. All the cleaners had to do was to clear the clogged up plug hole – a horrible looking mess.

I was initially reluctant to say anything because it is something that the cleaners couldn’t have missed! Surely it doesn’t take 3 years and more to wonder why the water gets drained at snail’s pace. We finally reported the matter.

Since the start of the year, the Mhinisteir has had the privileged to dine at one of the Ivy Brasserie’s not once but twice! He said that the service on both occasions were mediocre. He was quite shocked by the level of rudeness by staff to other diners.

Finally, another thing that I have noticed is that when we go out for lunch to different restaurants, instead of giving us both the lunch and the Ala Carte menus the waiting staff only give us the latter. The lunch menu only makes a grand appearance when asked. You can’t help but wonder if they are trying to rip you off!

CHANEL N°5

Photo by Kimberly Brianna on Pexels.com

On my recent holiday, I treated myself to my first ever bottle of CHANEL N°5 eau de parfum.

Previously, I had always thought of it as an older woman’s perfume and so have tended to give it a wide berth. Thanks to Covid19 and Brexit, I am no longer able to purchase perfume from the small trusted perfumery in France and so I had to find an alternative and that is when I started to look at the famous CHANEL N°5

I am delighted with my purchase and so am going to stick with it.

However, my experience at the CHANEL counter in John Lewis wasn’t as delightful When we arrived at the counter, there were no other customer so we got the undivided attention of the salesperson who looked like as she had seen better days. Sadly, she looked unkempt and her black outfit was covered in dog hair! Unfortunately, her colleague didn’t look any better.

Maybe I was expecting them to look like Coco Chanel🤣 or am still stuck in the past where salespeople were well groomed and going into a departmental store to purchase a bottle of perfume used to be an experience in itself.

Where was I?

In November 2019, the Mhinisteir and I managed to go away on a wee break before a hectic December.  I hasten to add that this was our first proper break since Easter.

We had a shaky start as our flight was delayed due to bad weather and health wise I was pretty shaky too.  It was almost midnight before we reached our holiday destination and so we went straight to bed.

My health continued to be shaky for the next few days. Despite that we had a lovely time away and it was so nice to see the Mhinisteir in his Shirt and Tie (yes, he doesn’t do casual) instead of his usual black clerical shirt and dog collar.

We were able to go for nice long walks by the sea and enjoy the most beautiful sunsets.  We also indulged in some lovely food.   It is a place we have been before.  It is a beautiful country with beautiful people so where was I?

Answers on the back of a postcard please(Just kidding!!!!).  If unlike me, you are serious and would like to guess the name of the country then please go ahead and drop me a line.  The first correct entry will receive a wee something in the post from Bean A’ Mhinisteir.  UK entries only please.

 

Brexit Stockpiling

I was quite adamant that I WOULD NOT be stockpiling until last week when I went into a mild panic.  I am so ashamed to admit that I now have a stockpile cupboard and it contains the following items:-

1 x 16 Andrex Quilted Loo Rolls

2 x Large supermarket brand bottled water

1 x 4kg Tilda Basmati Rice ( I don’t even like rice but this is for if the shops run out out of tatties !!!! How pathetic!!!)

2 x Napolina Olive oil ( 500ml each)

 2 x Persil Non Biological washing powder (40 washes each)

Do I no longer believe that God is able to provide exceedingly and abundantly more than we could even ask or imagine?

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? Luke 12:28