Thank You For The Thank Yous

Yesterday, we had a totally unexpected package delivered addressed to The Monkeys at Riverside Towers........

.....the sort of package that instantly ignites a frisson of excitement, gathering you all round the table, as you just know it contains something very special ........

...... especially when it says "Please Do Not Bend" on the back!

It was from our beloved friend, Pharmacy Michelle in romantic Southport, well Ainsdale to be exact, as per our Ainsdale in Bloom calendar for 2026.

We opened the large envelope first, which featured, what else but a very cute hedgehog amidst little pink flowers. Inside Michelle thanked us for the Advent Box we sent her on 1st December, which contained a whole plethora of choice bits and pieces to use throughout the festive period and, hopefully, some beyond.

And then, in a small box, obviously not meant to be bent, there were four envelopes, each with our name on, the tension, as you might expect was mounting.

...... and inside each envelope was a card featuring both hedgehogs and owls, there was obviously a very pertinent theme going on .....

..... again thanking each of us personally for our gifts and wishing us a Happy New Year, needless to say it became emotional. 

However, once we'd pulled ourselves together, Alice arranged the cards on our shelves, it was so lovely to have something to replace all the Christmas ones we'd just put away, they really cheered the place up.

This year we had no concrete plans to visit Southport or surrounding climes, but we're thinking about it now. Darrell did have a cheeky little perusal on his Trainline app (four changes, so a proper adventure!!!) and Booking.com  ......... perhaps, when the weather gets better, the sun is shining and we are all in buoyant mood in May (?????) we might just climb on board ...... and let Seaside Karen know as well!