As you all know, it was our anniversary earlier this week in the week, on a school night, we decided the celebrations would happen on the weekend.
So, after the cold start to the day (it’s also ending pretty cold too!) we headed out to Bluewater for a little light shopping and dinner, with the kids in tow.
Well, we got there and found a huge section of the massive shopping centre had been cordoned off… no explanation, but around a third of the mall, upstairs and downstairs was shut to the public.
What was going on?
No one was giving anything away, but there were police officers, as well as the Bluewater staff, guarding the cordon lines, and just shooing everyone away.
So, we headed off in the opposite direction. Surely if there was anything life threatening, the whole centre would have been evacuated!
I did ask another shop assistant whether they knew anything… (it’s me, I had to ask! Hubby Dearest was rolling his eyes behind me!) They were none the wiser, but told us there were several rumours flying around, from a small fire, to a baby being left, to the one no one wants to hear… about a suspect package… Still no one appeared to be panicking so we carried on with our business.
After loitering for around an hour, we decided that we would cut the shopping short, as all the places we wanted to go to were actually in the cordoned off area.
Time to find a place to eat. Now this is never an easy decision, as Lil Princess is such a fussy eater! So even with so much variety around us, we ended up at TGI Friday’s! Don’t get me wrong, I love me a bit of TGI’s! But tonight… was a flop from the off!
Firstly we were in a queue, but that’s to be expected on a Saturday night, and were told there was a 25-30 minute wait. Ok, no worries. The kids were hungry. We went to the bar for milkshakes, for the kids, a beer for Hubby Dearest, and the odd cocktail, for me… only to be told that they could make no blended drinks, milkshakes or cocktails, as their bar blenders had shorted, and there was a huge electrical fault!
But the lovely bartender made the kids a great fruit concoction, and even let them choose which colour it would end up. They were happy. My cocktail ended up as a Pepsi, as our table was ready early, and I didn’t have time to choose something else.
But the food tonight… what a let down!
The kids had hotdogs… how can you go wrong making hotdogs? Well Lil Princess’s one was burned, after being left under a plate warmer for too long! And my steak, which should have been well done, was medium!
Hubby Dearest was disappointed as his Fajitas were not sizzling, like they usually come.
Only Lil Man was satisfied with his food!
We showed them the problems, and they were rectified but it put a downer on the meal. The manager came, offered us free dessert, which we weren’t planning on having, so I requested a discount instead. Result! We got 50% off!
And as we were about to leave, the Manager brought over complimentary brownies, with an Anniversary message on it, as Hubby Dearest had mentioned that this was meant to be a celebratory meal!
Our ‘present’ from TGI Friday’s!
We left, thinking at 8.45pm, things might be calm. The cordons were still in place. Lil Princess needed the toilet, so as I went in, taking her, there was an announcement, that shoppers shouldn’t panic, but they might hear a small bang, as there was going to be a controlled explosion. Yikes!
Sure enough there was a bang that we heard, as we were about to leave the building…
Had we just escaped a foiled terrorist attack? I didn’t know, but I was glad to get back home.
The Internet showed stories about the part evacuation of Bluewater, and the suspect package… What evacuation? We were there the whole time, and there had been no announcements!
A colleague of mine works there part time, and the shop she works in had been shut about an hour earlier for precautions.
I still found it all very strange. If something could have posed a threat, why wasn’t the building evacuated fully? Within the cordoned area, there is a Food Court, and that was still running, with entry and exits via the outside.
Safe at home, I just found out that apparently it was an empty shoebox, with tissue paper in it… Oh well, you can never be too safe!
So there you have it, my Explosive Anniversary Celebration!
Thank goodness it was nothing serious… but I still am thanking God we got home safe and sound. 🙂
But I Smile Anyway... 
Nov 22, 2015 @ 18:54:46
Thank God it was nothing serious but you just never know unfortunately. What a shame the meal was so naff, but I liked the look of the brownie with the Happy Anniversary message, and the 50% discount was something at least. .
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 19:12:08
See sis… Every cloud, and all that!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 19:12:51
Absolutely. Most importantly, you are all ok
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 19:13:20
Yes, luckily ☺
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 16:00:13
Glad it wasN’t any worse. Why in the world didn’t they evacuate? At least you still have a good hubby in the deal and I know he he a gorgeous, happy wife. I remember that shot of your cute bum!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 16:01:29
Ha ha lol!!! Thanks Linda!
You know, it still bewilders me why they didn’t evacuate either!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 15:56:02
Happy anniversary!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 15:59:32
Thank you ☺
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:39:59
Happy Anniversary
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 13:00:05
After the slight sense of panic died down, the smiles came into play ☺
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 13:00:30
Sorry about that…wrong comment! Thank you!!!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:04:14
What a firework of unexpected outcomes and happenings! Wow! I am glad you are all safe. I think you won’t ever forget this special anniversary celebration. It was for sure pretty filled with surprises. But I found it very lovely about the complimentary brownies.
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:18:47
Definitely a memorable night sis! The brownies were a little extra sparkle!!! ☺
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:20:49
Oh yes, I am sure it made you all smile! 🙂 🎇
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:26:56
After the slight sense of panic died down, the smiles came into play ☺
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:50:45
Do you already have plans for next year?
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 13:01:00
Not thought that far yet sis!!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 13:16:16
Somehow I thought you would say that… 😉
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 15:43:06
😜😀😀😀
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 18:09:22
😃😃😃
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 07:46:57
Well at least the whole thing went with a bang. Happy Anniversary, Ritu.
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:33:56
Oh it definitely did that Chris! Thank you!!!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 04:42:50
Happy Anniversary. At least it wasn’t boring!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:32:49
Lol! There is that! A memorable night!!!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 03:22:24
well , wish you again a happy anniversary but i am hungry and i want that plate .. 😉
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:30:44
Thank you Bhavpreet! You would have had to fight my son and me for it lol!!!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 10:38:05
hahahahahaha … no i will say pleaaaseeee … bhuke ko khana do … 🙂
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 11:39:43
Well if you say it so nicely, then we would definitely share!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 11:48:22
yes i got i got i got … hahaha
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 12:17:16
😉😂😂
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 01:56:13
What a day sis that’s crazy. And happy anniversary again. Typically British attitude. It’s only a suspected bomb we don’t need to evacuate everyone just calm down and have a cup of tea. Lol
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:25:07
Seriously bro, it was exactly like that!!!! I was both intrigued,many flabbergasted at the same time!
And, thank you 😊
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 01:43:39
Prayers and blessings
As always Sheldon
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:24:04
Thanks Sheldon! 😊
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 01:38:24
Oh my, so happy for your anniversary…Congrats. But equally sorry that you had to meet up with the state of our current reality. At least it seems your family made the best of it. And the dessert message was a nice touch ! ❤️ 💛 💙 💜
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 09:23:49
See, every cloud has a silver lining!
Thank you!
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 00:41:45
Happy Anniversary! 😉
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Nov 22, 2015 @ 00:47:45
Thank you ☺
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