Janet and John have decided to take a short break. They have booked two nights in a De Vere Hotel a chain of Hotels they have stayed at before. John, who is very keen on special offers had previously booked rooms in December for £10.00 a night. They had enjoyed their stay at the Sunningdale Hotel  in Ascot so much that when De Vere e-mailed with an offer of £19.00 John decided to book the Staverton Park in Northamptonshire. The room they were initially given on arrival was on the first floor, it was fine but had a disabled toilet. Janet asked to move as the Bathroom was quite depressing, she wonders  if it really is necessary for those with disabilities to have to put up with such depressing facilities. The room on the first floor that they are given overlooks the Golf course and is great, as is the free coffee, tea and biscuits provided at the coffee stations. The Countryman Pub which has been recommended at Staverton is a short walk away from the Hotel. Janet and John have spent a most enjoyable evening wondering around the village, having a very good meal and a few glasses of wine.

Janet and John have been looking for a chair to go in their study area. A neighbour who has bought several item that Janet and John have admired suggested they visit a Dwell store. They have looked at their on line catalogue and seen several things they would like.  As they have decided to take a short break, they stop off at the Birmingham store but what a disappointment. There were items on display, but as a furniture store it was like a barren wasteland. Janet asked a  member of staff if they were moving in or out but apparently they were waiting for the new season items. It was such a strange shopping experience that apart from two cushions Janet and John didn’t really want to be there, or want to buy anything. As they left, Janet felt an Anne Robinson “What are they for” moment coming on. For anyone who is thinking of buying anything from Dwell after looking at their on line catalogue. Janet and John would suggest a trip to their store first.

When John woke up with something small round and hard in his mouth, he was obviously a little concerned! By the time he felt brave enough to open his eyes and look at what it was, he was besides himself. Janet felt his body trembling as he lay next to her, by the time she had raised herself up, John was holding a rather large filling with some tooth attached in the palm of his hand. Janet did what she always did in a crisis, she made some tea. John winced with pain as the hot liquid touched his exposed nerve, they had little choice, they both knew John wouldn’t make it through the week-end without a cold beer. They would have to get to a Dentist. With no car, the trip to the Dentist in La Cala did little to calm John down. Janet wondered if his nervous state was more to do with the possible cost than any pain he may experience. When the sole of his shoe started to peel away as he walked, Janet knew that in the order of things, this was a bad day for John. When they finally arrived at the Dentist, Janet and John were extremely impressed with the surgery, the staff and the Dentist at Policlinica Alen they were very professional, when the receptionist charged John the emergency rate of 20 euro for a temporary filling and told him he could have a cold beer almost immediately, Janet could see that John’s bad day was suddenly getting better!