Retail Therapy

So much for not wanting to wake up early this morning, I heard my son leave for work at 6.30am and then that was it, yes I was awake! Isn't it funny how 6.30am on a weekday you are just feeling so tired that you can't possibly think about getting up for work, and yet 6.30am on a weekend has a totally different meaning. By 9.20am I was fed, watered, showered and changed and my husband and I left for Trostre Retail Park in Llanelli. www.parctrostreretailpark.co.uk It was a great journey there and we arrived at 10.10am. The car park was already pretty full, but in all fairness Trostre has over 2000 parking spaces and the good thing is that they are free! The sun was shining although there was a cold wind but that didn't bother us as the shops were lovely and warm. We started one end of the shops at BHS and made our way round to the other end where you finish with Tesco Extra. We called in most shops, not all of them as some are specialist ones such as EE and Thompsons Holiday, although it was tempting to call in and book a holiday, I think that's why we carried on walking past! I was surprised at the number of shops still selling off some remainder of Christmas items, Boots had some gift sets 1/2 price and BHS had a display of Christmas bits and pieces that were left over. I have to say there were some good sales on, especially in BHS and Debenhams. It was also nice to see all the summer clothes and shoes are now out, it makes you feel good especially with the sun shining as well. We also called into Pets At Home whilst we were there as we have a tropical fish tank so we went to look at the fish, I must say there were some lovely ones there but we felt that an hours journey home was too much for them so we will call into our local store in Haverfordwest. My husband loves going into Pets At Home as he loves looking at the "furry animals" I must say there was a rather scruffy looking grey guinea pig which we did fall in love with. Regarding spending I was very good, I did treat myself to some Winnie the Pooh pyjamas from Asda which were £13, and I also bought some cards from Card Factory and also a box of 40 walkers crisps on offer for £4 in Tesco's. The final thing I bought was 3 Karcher wash and wax sachets £4.60 each for my pressure washer from B&Q! I can honestly say that in my head I spent an awful lot more! It was then time for lunch, the one advantage of Trostre is that there are plenty of places to eat, we decided to opt for KFC and we shared a Family bucket which we thoroughly enjoyed, at first it didn't look like you got a lot, but we were wrong as we certainly were both full by the end of it. After spending 3 hours at Trostre we were then ready to head home as we didn't want to get caught up in the Scarlets rugby match traffic. We arrived home safe and sound at 2.30pm after having a lovely time at Trostre, a quick clean of the house and then it was time to nip to Sainsburys in Tenby and get a few bits that we needed. I have to say I am a Tesco shopper usually but Sainsburys sent me 4 weeks of vouchers where if I spend £30 I get £6 off, an offer too good to miss. Heading to the checkout is one of those moments where you are thinking "have I done it, have I reached £30" well the answer was yes, as I reached just over £33 so with the £6 off I only had to pay just over £27 so the voucher was worth having! I have got 3 more weeks of vouchers to use and then at the end of it I have a voucher to get an extra 500 Nectar points, I have no idea how much they are worth but they have to be worth having I'm sure! So then it was time to head back home and unpack the shopping, my husband Gareth is cooking me tea while I catch up with writing my blog. Tonight I think we are just going to crash out and watch a film. Plans for tomorrow include cleaning the fish tank, ironing, Sunday lunch at my In Laws and then rehearsals. We are both members of our local amateur dramatic society and in May we are performing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Gareth is the main male lead and I source the props as well as being secretary. Its through this society my husband and I got got together, Gareth was playing the part of the Pirate King in Pirates Of Penzance but I will tell you this story another time as I have to go now as my tea is ready. Its been lovely catching up with you and I'll be back again soon. x

It's nearly my Birthday!

A week on Monday is the 2nd March, this is an important date to me as it's my Birthday! Yes that's right a week on Monday will see me turn 39. It's quite sad in a way because I seem to have already bypassed this year and I'm already planning a party for my 40th which I'm hoping to have at the hotel where I had my wedding reception 8 years ago. When someone asks you if its a special one, the answer is always yes as every birthday to me is a special one. As to regards what I would like this year for a present, I have decided to ask for money so I can get a cd hifi player for the lounge.  I have seen the one I want, it's an LG CM3330 I have to be honest and say I never used to consider buying LG appliances but recently it's my favourite make, hence I have an LG phone, TV and blu Ray player, it's even got to the point that if my husband and I are looking to buy something electrical we ask "do LG make and sell it!"  The CM3330 has been discontinued but I have managed to find one which was being sold by a third party seller on Amazon and I had it delivered last week, I'm being very good too as I'm not going to open it and set it up before my Birthday, although I have to be honest and every so often I think about opening it but no I will wait! 

I'm enjoying the lead up to my birthday, last night we went to our local Chinese Dragon Palace to celebrate Chinese New Year, we had a brilliant night, the food, service and entertainment was 1st class, we really couldn't fault any of it.  The Chinese dragon dance was spectacular and well worth seeing.  I admired the way he made it around the tables without knocking anything over! I can honestly say we have never had a bad meal here, you're guaranteed good food and service every time.

Tomorrow I'm off to Trostre shopping centre in Llanelli with my husband.  We haven't been for ages so I'm really looking forward to it. It's a really great shopping centre with lots of top names including BHS, Lakeland, Card Factory, M&s and Tesco's to name but a few but they are all the shops I love visiting! And with my birthday approaching I feel a bit of retail therapy coming on.  We won't be having an early start as I feel the need for a lie in but then again we won't leave it too late as there is a rugby match happening tomorrow between the local team The Scarletts and Munster and the ground is directly opposite the shopping centre so you can imagine what the traffic will be like. 

Im going to call it a day now as it's been a busy week in work and I'm now feeling tired, so I'll leave it now and get a good nights sleep so I'm refreshed for my shopping trip tomorrow. I'll be back tomorrow night to let you know how I got on.  My pre birthday celebrations will continue next week including a stay in Bluestone which I've got to look forward to! #excitingtimes x