Wednesday 15^th July 2009

A relaxed day, Jenny needed to drive over to Lichfield, I meanwhile started to pack up all our equipment ready for our move tomorrow. 2 bikes to fold away, the outdoor stove and camp kitchen to pack and the outside mats to clean before stowing away.  The hardest job was removing the hundreds of earwigs that had decided to squat in the cover we had put over the bikes, I have never seen so many, I don’t know the breeding cycle of earwigs, but whatever, they are very prolific.  Tomorrow we are travelling to Ashbourne in Derbyshire, hopefully if the weather is good we can spend some time walking the Derbyshire Peaks.

Thursday 16^th July 2009

Ashbourne, 53 10 87 N, 1 38 98 W, (45Mile).  Having decided to take the Fiesta up to the Peak District, Jenny drove the Fiesta, while I drove the motorhome, great I was able to have the radio at the volume I wanted it , very loud!  We decided to make our own way, meeting at the Fairways Garden Centre, just outside Ashbourne, as it happened Jenny was behind me all the way anyway. We had a nice lunch at Fairways, a garden centre we have been to a few times before, we both had the fish pie which was very enjoyable.  Jenny sorted Betty (for those who have not been following our tour, Betty is our Sat’ Nav’) out for me (Jenny is in charge of navigation) and she (Betty) duly took me in the correct direction for the camp site, (much to my amazement, she must have been in a good mood, or perhaps she preferred talking to a fella).  We soon got settled, we have got used to what we need to do as soon as we get to a camp site (in Jenny’s case putting the kettle on).  We then needed to get some grocery’s,  so drove back the 4 mile to Sainsbury’s at Ashbourne, bit longer shopping there as we were not used to the layout, we can go round a Tesco with our eye’s closed.  We also had a browse around the quaint old town, which we used to frequent a lot in the late 80’s when camping in the “peaks” with Rhiain and Michael, the old bakery still being there, must partake of tea and cake while we are here.

Friday 17^th July 2009

Although the weather forecast was not very good for today we (Jenny), nevertheless, decided we would go to Dovedale we have been many times but we still enjoy the walk up to the stepping stones and beyond towards Milldale.  We were sensible, we could tell the river level was up so crossed by the bridge near the car park up the right hand river bank instead of taking the more obvious path up the left hand side of the river to cross at the stepping stones.  We were right the stepping stones were underwater in the middle of the river, unfortunately for the people who had walked along the left hand path, they had 3 choices, get their feet wet, go all  the way back to the bridge or abandon the walk altogether.  We continued up the River Dove as far as Dove Holes, it was perfect timing, time for lunch and it had started to rain, so we were able to have our picnic in the shelter of the large cavernous opening.  We had taken our small picnic stove with us so a nice fresh cup of tea was most welcome, beats a flask anytime, we remembered the last time we had a picnic in a cave was when we were walking around the perimeter of Uluru (Ayres Rock) with Brian and Judy our great kiwi friends, that time it was sheltering from the intense heat, not the rain, Brian and I shouldn’t have been in there, the cave was a sacred Aboriginal site that only women were allowed in!  Jenny and Judy probably thought that Brian and I talk like a pair of old women anyway!

Saturday 18^th July 2009

Our usual Saturday habit, fetch the newspapers, the camp site reception orders papers for the week end so Jenny walked all the way up the camp site (100 yards) to get our Sun (for the free TV mag’) and the Daily Mail, bit different to the last 4 weeks when I had to cycle all the way to Kingbury village to get them, should have made her cycle the 4 mile to Ashbourne to purchase them, it was her turn!  The weather forecast today was not good, so we had decided to stay near the motorhome, however as we all know, a weather forecast can rarely be trusted and mid-afternoon the weather had improved enough for us to drive down to Carsington Reservoir.  A squirrel had “demolished”  one of our bird feeders at Kingsbury Water Park so we wanted to replace it, buying this time a “heavy duty” type with steel pegs, a problem we never had when living in Lichfield was “plastic eating” squirrels, no wonder Prince Charles wants to get rid of them all, so do I!

Sunday 19^th July 2009

A horribly wet day, a day to stay in the motorhome, reading, listening to music and in the evening watching the only 2 programmes worth watching (not just today, all week), Top Gear, and On Thin Ice.

Monday 20^th July 2009

Gosh a better morning, we were able to have our breakfast outside. We needed to do a bit of map work this morning, we wanted to have a look at the CL and CS camping sites (Certificated  Locations and Certificated Sites) which are private camp sites run in conjunction with the Caravan Club and Camping and Caravanning Club respectively, they are normally just farm fields with basic facilities, which only allow approximately 5 caravan, motorhomes, etc, to stop at any one time.  Some do have extra facilities, water, electricity, waste water disposal, hard standing, etc and some with toilets and showers, the cost is obviously lower than the large sites dependant on exactly what the site facilities are.  We chose from both the club location books which ones we were interested in looking at and then marking them on the ordnance survey map to plan a circular route around the area.  Some we dismissed because of various reasons as we saw them, however there were 2 we particularly liked so we may go to one of those in the next week. Lunchtime we had a very pleasant picnic at Wolfscote Dale by the side of the river, before walking towards Milldale along the riverside path, we stopped when we reached the junction with Biggin Dale, saving the rest of the walk for another day, perhaps we will also visit Beresford Dale at the same time, Beresford Dale being one of the locations we went to whilst taking the landscape photography course in April 2007.

Tuesday 21^st July 2009

Disappointed today, Brian my brother was driving over to either go cycling or walking with us, but when we woke up this morning it was pouring down with rain and the weather forecast for the day was extremely poor so I sent him a text suggesting that he postpones until tomorrow. Good decision as it has not stopped raining all day, it goes without saying that we did not go out today, instead I concentrated on cataloguing my photographs and still have not finished it, not surprising there are 6,856 on file and it is not an easy task.  We have also decided to stay here until next Tuesday  (although we haven’t booked it yet), we are a bit concerned that with the heavy rain over the last few days the CL/CS sites may be waterlogged, the last thing we want is to get bogged down in a field and have to be towed out!  Although we don’t really like these “hardstanding” sites, much preferring grass, at least we know we can move off safely.

Wednesday 22^nd July 2009

Brian arrived at 10:00 am to spend the day with us, we decided after tea and biscuits to drive down to Wolfscote Dale and walk further along the dale then Monday. Despite the weather not looking too brilliant we did manage to walk as far as Coldeaton Bridge (no!  Brian it was NOT 15 kilometres), where we stopped for lunch and although it did rain for a short time requiring Brian to put his umbrella up (you would think he would have been a gentleman and loaned it to Jenny, no, he needed to keep his camera dry), it didn’t stop us enjoying a nice picnic, although we had to wait a long time for the kettle to boil (it isn’t used to boiling for 3 and it needed a new gas cylinder).  Brian did offer to carry the rucksack on the way back, no food, no water, an empty gas cylinder, why didn’t he offer to carry it on the way there?  Crafty eh?  We just managed to reach the car when the heavens opened, we couldn’t have judged it better, however it was only a heavy shower which didn’t last long.  I wanted to show Brian Carsington Water on the way back, he was impressed with the amount of activities that are on offer there and will no doubt be returning for a day sometime this summer.

Thursday 23^rd July 2009

Washing, cleaning, drying and shopping was the order of day, although whilst Jenny was waiting for the washing machine, she was talking to a lady who was waiting for her washing to finish, I in the meantime washed and dried ALL the breakfast dishes, (I normally do anyway). Sheila (the lady) invited us up to their motorhome (an American RV)  for a coffee where we met Barry her husband, they had been in their RV for the past 2 years and were thoroughly enjoying their retirement.  Thank you Barry, for all those suggestions and tips.  Meanwhile back to the cleaning!

Friday 24^th July 2009

I decided to clean the outside of the motorhome this morning whilst Jenny finished cleaning the inside.  We had intended to go out this afternoon but lunchtime the weather had changed and as well as getting colder, the rain  hurtled down and it was thunder and lightning. Definitely a day for staying in.

Saturday 25^th July 2009

A usual Saturday, I went to the local village for newspapers, whilst Jenny prepared breakfast, we then read the papers for most of the day.  Obviously I watched the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix practice, Alonso on pole, what a surprise.  Again the weather was disappointing so even after the practice finished we didn’t go out.  At last I am getting to grips with my photography programme on the lap top, I may be up to date with it shortly.

Sunday 26^th July 2009

A relaxing day, watched the Grand Prix, well done Lewis a win at last. More work on my photo’s nearly there!

Monday 27^th July 2009

Looked at some other CL/CS (see Monday 20^th July), including the 2 we missed last week, we are going to the small camp site at Thorpe tomorrow, it is one we looked at before, with the weather improving and having a walk in the camping field we are confident we will be able to get on (and more importantly get off) even if the ground is very wet, despite the rain over the last few days the ground obviously drains well as the lady at the house said that there were 2 motorhomes camped over the weekend and both managed to leave the field easily, we shall see.

Tuesday 28^th July 2009

Pike House Farm CL, Thorpe, Peak District National Park, 53 03 33 N, 1 45 52 W, (7 Mile).  Left the Ashbourne camp site this morning after topping up with fresh water and emptying the waste and were soon at Pike House Farm.  Despite there being a gravel drive through the gate to the field, the wheels were soon spinning on the wet grass and after a couple of aborted attempts to get into the field we drove a bit further up the narrow lane and drove through the “top gate” which enabled us to drive carefully down the field instead of trying to drive up it.  They are quite right about these front wheel drive vehicles, they have no traction on wet grass whatsoever.  Despite this awful wet weather we are enjoying the tremendous view from this location,  Thorpe Cloud one of the higher points around this area being easily visible about a mile away.  Hopefully we should get some decent photographs in the next few days (weather permitting), may even get a photo of a decent sunset!  Without power or toilet facilities, (what do you expect for £5 a night) we are finally “testing” fully our motorhomes own facilities, although we did try our shower at the campsite in Lichfield (Catherdral Grange camp site), when we weren’t impressed with the facilities provided, deciding instead to use our own,  You may have wondered why we have not returned there, being so much closer to our son, doctor’s dentist etc, a must for us when on any camp site are clean amenities, unfortunately this was not the case a Lichfield!

Wednesday 29^th July 2009

Well at least the weather forecasters got it right, its going to rain.  We have decided to take advantage of the Tesco vouchers in the Daily Mail (a £8 saving) and drive to our nearest Tesco at Uttoxeter about 16 mile away.  At the same time visiting Jenny’s Sister-in Law Betty, who lives in a beautiful  “old worldy” cottage at Stow-by-Chartley, just the other side of Uttoxeter. we had not seen Betty since before our trip last year so it was wonderful to see her again.  Passing through Uttoxeter on the way we past a “Frankie and Benny’s American Bar/Restaurant, now we had a £30 voucher for them so we decided to use that for our lunch on our way back. The £30 voucher is a long story, however to keep the story brief, I ordered Lamb Shank with vegetables and received Lamb Shank and salad WITH gravy on it, I complained and they then sent out a 2” piece of Sweetcorn as my vegetable, I was not happy, especially as I don’t like Sweetcorn, a stiff letter to head office ensued and I received a very nice personal letter of apology and the £30 voucher.  I must add that our meals today were perfect and Jenny had the Lamb Shank WITH vegetables!  Wow, fantastic news on the Chris Evans Drive time Show, Michael Schumacher coming out of retirement and  driving for Ferrari, Rhiain and I look forward to that!

Thursday 30^th July 2009

Market day at Ashbourne so thought we would go and take a look, very disappointing only a few stalls, mostly vegetables.  It was lunchtime so we found a nice café called Chimes, (how we wish we were in the “Chimes”  restaurant complex in Singapore) for a “snacky” lunch, which was good value for money.  We then drove back to the camp site, deciding not to go for a walk or bike ride, the weather still not being very good, when will it improve?

Friday 31^st July 2009

Again the gas supply is giving us concern, we thought that we had sorted it when we visited Gaslow, evidently not.  We checked it last night and the indicator told us it had switched over to the second bottle, the second bottle (which has a gauge on it) showed almost empty!  Although we didn’t want to move the ‘van, we needed to refill with LPG, we found the Shell station at Uttoxeter had LPG so we drove over to there, a round trip of 26 mile.  We filled up with gas and the bottles took almost 19 litres, the bottles hold 24 litres in total, so we did have some in reserve, we must try and sort it out, we will also fill up more often, even when we know we have plenty left.  At least we knew we were able to move the motorhome despite the ground being sodden and we easily got back on the field, learning from our first time and going through the top gate.

Saturday 1^st August 2009

Our usual Saturday, just venturing down into Ashbourne for the newspapers and reading and relaxing, good day for radio programmes too.  Just as well we had  not made any plans for today, (not that we do anyway), it started to rain last night about 8:00 pm and it has rained heavy for most of the day.

Sunday 2^nd August 2009

We were woken this morning at 7:20 am by the motorhome rocking, the wind wasn’t blowing but the motion felt familiar.  The last time it was rocking like that was at the Lake Murmorah camping ground in NSW, not a Wombat this time, a sheep!  Stuck my head out the window, shouted at it and waved my arms, it took no notice. Jenny then tried, it was last seen going over the Derbyshire Dales at 90 mph, not the first time Jenny has had that reaction first thing in the morning, feel like doing the same myself sometimes!  Needless to say we were awake, so after a cup of tea, shower and then breakfast, and I forgot to add it has stopped raining and the sun is shining, we decided to go to Carsington Water for the day.  We stopped  at the newsagents on the way for Sunday newspapers, we don’t usually purchase Sunday papers, however, “The News of the World” had a voucher for stopping at a campsite for a £1 (also in the “Sun” this week) and also a “Sunday Mail” for the “Beach Boys free CD. We had a lovely day, had a picnic, walked the 1½ mile to the Visitor Centre along the dam, wall and visited the Wild Life Centre, if you have never been to Carsington Water in Derbyshire, go there, it’s a great day out.

Monday 3^rd August 2009

A nostalgic Drive in the afternoon, to Wetton, the village we spent so much time in camping when the children were small in the mid 80’s, such great times we had there with the children and our Border Collie Meg, basic camping at its best, no camping there now the field just being left fallow.  We continued to Wetton Mill, by the side of the River Manifold and the Manifold Valley cycle track, the small café was still there so we enjoyed a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate cake, sitting outside on the bench. I had seen on a notice board whilst we were there a photography exhibition was being held a the Ilam National Trust building so we decided on the way back to have a look at that, very good, but I am sure some of mine are better, well I would say that wouldn’t I?.

Tuesday 4^th August 2009

A drive over to Lichfield early today, we were hoping that Michael would be having his day off today that was rostered, unfortunately he had to go in, we did however manage to see him before he went and of course Sharon and Charlie.  Jenny had a hair appointment a 11:00am so I dropped her off there and stayed with Sharon and Charlie until she rang, it gave me a chance to hold my grandson.  Dentist next, so we met outside and then chatted to Heidi the Receptionist before seeing  Helen the Hygienist. We then went back to Sharon’s for lunch (we bought McDonalds) and ate them before deciding to visit 2 local camp sites.  Both campsite were OK IF the weather had been dry, because of the rain we have had recently  we were worried we would not be able to get on them, we have decided (reluctantly) to stay at Cathedral Grange Touring Park which we know has hard standing sites.  Brian and Linda have invited us over for tea so we drove over to their house and spent a very pleasant evening with them, eventually getting back to the campsite at Thorpe just after 9:25pm.

Wednesday 5^th August 2009

A lot of noise when we woke up this morning, forgot to mention that they are filming part of Robin Hood on Thorpe Meadows next to our camping field.  Helicopters flying about, horsemen dressed in oldie worldly costumes, and a temporary village set up just down the lane, £150million the film is said to be costing and the local National Trust is reported to be charging £1 million for the use of the land.  Russell Crowe was in the battle scene but we didn’t bother to go and watch it, I would have done if Maid Marian was going to be there, Jenny said I could easily have got a part, as Friar Tuck! Jenny had washed our clothes, etc at Sharon’s yesterday and dried some of it at Linda’s, we did intend drying it at the campsite but it was so wet, we therefore went down to Ashbourne to the Launderette, however it was full,  Just as well by the time we got back the weather had improved enough to allow Jenny to dry it outside., great, saved us a few pennies.

Thursday 6^th August 2009

Brian arrived at 10:15 am to spend the day with us, we gave Brian the choice of what he wanted to do.   Decision made we cycled the short distance to the Tissington Trail and then continued along for about 6 mile before stopping for lunch.  We didn’t realise (although perhaps we should have done) that it was mostly uphill, not a particularly steep gradient, but nevertheless uphill for the total 6 mile.  Good News!  It was obviously downhill on the way back, much to Brian’s immense relief and after a short stop for an ice-cream (thank-you Brian) at the old station at Tissington we arrived back at our Thorpe camp site.  After a cup of tea at the motorhome, Brian, still wanting more exercise suggested that we walk up Thorpe Cloud the steep hill a short distance away, we never actually arrived on the “summit” of Thorpe Cloud, instead “summitted” (much to Brain’s delight) the mountain hill (unnamed, perhaps we were the first to conquer it?) which was actually 37 metres higher, no, on second thoughts we couldn’t have been the first, there was a pole already there, no not a Pole a pole (like what you put a flag on)!  We met some wild animals on the descent  way down, flying ants lots of them, hundreds, no thousands, well I didn’t count but at least a million and they bite, we had to take our shirts off (not a pretty sight) and wave them above our heads, to disperse them!  I should have mentioned that Jenny stayed behind at the motorhome to cook our tea, good job, if Jenny had  had  to take her shirt off it would have been rather embarrassing.  Problems when we arrived back at the camp site, Brian had mislaid one of his hearing aids and thought he had lost it whilst we were swotting the flying ants, although he thought that he had safely put both in his trouser  pocket.  Oh no!  This meant that we had to walk back up the hill, so after tea with  rain in the offing we set off, this time Jenny came to, thank goodness, we hadn’t gone far into the next meadow when Jenny spotted the missing hearing aid in the grass, what a relief, never again can she claim to have poor eyesight!  Brian had pulled it out of his pocket when we stopped to take some photographs, we never expected to find it so close, we were so sure he had dropped it while swotting the millions (well 1 million) ants.

Friday 7^th August 2009

Cathedral Grange Touring Park, Lichfield, 52 41 86 N, 1 50 57 W, (28 mile).  We would have liked to stop at Thorpe until after the weekend but unfortunately the camp site is only allowed to have 5  units camping at any one time and they were fully booked for the weekend, we therefore drove the short distance to Lichfield.  We needed a few bits of groceries so we decided to go to Morrison’s at tea time, what did I spot on the way there?  The local mobile fish and chip shop, but would he be still there when we drove back?  Thank goodness he was, I stopped in front of him like the police do in those car chases so he couldn’t drive away and we enjoyed Cod and Chips for the first time in an age!

Saturday 8^th August 2009

Jenny enjoyed herself today, Sharon wasn’t very well and Michael had to go to work, Jenny therefore went to their flat at 7:15 this morning to look after Charlie.  Looking after her grandson for most of the day was a delight for her and Charlie we are sure though only 8 weeks old also had a great day with Grandma.  Me?  I stayed out of the way, I don’t do nappy changing and feeding babies anymore, I concentrated on my photography on the lap top, studied my photography manuals and listened to music for most of the day

Sunday 9^th August 2009

After the wet weather over the last week or so and driving up the narrow wet and muddy lanes in Derbyshire the motorhome (must find a name for it, Brian and Judy in New Zealand call theirs MAMMAL and even the No Plate is personalised “Mammal”, they can do that in NZ, suggestions on a postcard please) was filthy.  I decided first to just wash it all over, then I thought I would wax polish the cab part, then I only had a small amount of polish to use up so continued doing the rest, finally at about 4:00 pm I finished it.  I then spent the rest of the afternoon recovering in the chair with a bottle of beer and yesterday’s daily papers, which I (would you believe) hadn’t time (yes really) to read yesterday, such a busy time, retirement!   We chatted for a time with the couple who had arrived on the pitch next to us, they were on the way to Edinburgh to take their caravan which they were exchanging for a 5^th wheel (one of those which has a pivot on a pick-up truck, rather like an artic). Mo’ and Georgina had been “on the road” full time for the last 3 years and were from Rowley Regis and Great Barr respectively,  what a coincidence, Georgina (who is the similar age as me) went to the same school and left at exactly the same time, if we had had mixed classes instead of Boys and Girls separated we would have been in the same class. as it is we may have met at the back of the bike sheds, but don’t tell Jenny or Mo’ that.  We did spend a pleasant couple of hours with them later in the evening  when they came to our “pad” for a cup of coffee, they are also thinking about stopping at the Kingsbury Water Park camp site (as we are) over Christmas, so hopefully may see them again.

Monday 10^th August 2009

Kingsbury Water Park Caravan and Camping Site, 52 34 14 N, 1 42 20 W, (15 mile), After a quick trip down to the town (Lichfield)  to take our prescriptions, purchase a newspaper and go to Jessup’s (the photography shop) to get some advice on my Nikon Lens, it has started to stick on the zoom , looks like it could be expensive they want £25, just to look at it and it will take 6-8 weeks for it to be repaired, wasn’t impressed though with the sales assistant , they used to be so knowledgeable, unfortunately the older guys seemed to have been replaced by young female sales assistant who quite frankly don’t seem to know one end of a lens from the other.  Timing was spot on to leave, the control panel flashed and buzzed to say that the fresh water tank was empty and the waste water tank full, so we sorted them out before we left for the short drive to Kingsbury.  After setting up (all of 5 minutes) we drove over to Jackson’s of Old Arley the camping store to take back our faulty picnic kettle (the handle won’t fold down) and after exchanging it we had lunch in the small café there, Cottage Pie, Peas and Chips for £4 and as usual for this café, very nicely cooked. After a diversionary drive to Tamworth to purchase some camouflage material, (all will be revealed at a later date, or not. . . . . . camouflage, get it?) we returned to the camp site.

Tuesday 11^th August 2009

A few little jobs this morning before going to Jessup’s in Tamworth as the guy there did seem to know what he was talking about (see above), just as we thought an estimate for the repair of the lens is approximately £150, as a new lens is about £300 it looks as if I may be having a new one.  Next stop was the storage unit to take a few things back we don’t need at present, then to New Oscott to Tesco for a weekly shop, stocking extra for the weekend as we don’t know what stores are in Malvern our destination for the weekend.  The rest of the afternoon we relaxed outside the motorhome, taking advantage of the warm and dry weather, not going to last we are told!

Wednesday 12^th August 2009

Spent most of the morning and early afternoon with Michael, Sharon and Charlie as it will be the last time we will see them before moving to “The Malvern’s” tomorrow.  We then drove over to Brian and Linda’s for tea, this is the last occasion we will be using the Fiesta for awhile, Ian our nephew is very kindly storing it in his garage until we return to the Midlands, Brian therefore drove us back to the Kingsbury campsite after a pleasant evening at their home.

Thursday 13^th August 2009

Kingsgreen  Caravan Park, Berrow,  Near Malvern, 52 00 12 N, 2 20 32 W,  (66 mile).  An easy run along the motorway’s to Kingsgreen, only stopping at the services to buy a Daily Mail and we arrived just after 12:00 pm.  A lovely site our pitch was in the shelter of a large apple tree (cooking apples more about them later) and at last the weather seems a lot more settled.  We sat down outside for a cup of tea (as usual we get our priorities right) when Pauline came to visit us.  I  worked with Pauline at CST before my retirement and she and her partner Derek have a permanent site at Kingsgreen, it was lovely to see her again, an avid reader of our web site, who often contributed to our “Guest Book” page, it wasn’t long before she kept her promise and we were soon at their caravan for (another) cup of tea, before they showed us around the camp site, specifically the 2 fishing pools which contain some large Carp.

Friday 14^th August 2009

The intention was to visit the Motorhome show at the 3 counties showground in Malvern today, however, I have “persuaded” Rhiain that she may like to see the motorhome show tomorrow and while she drives up she may as well bring her camera lens (it’s the same as mine which is now kaput) with her and at the same time drive us to the show!  We instead were invited for a walk with Pauline and Derek, they both showed us the destination, a white trig point on top of a nearby Malvern mountain hill, luckily Derek drove us most of the way up, the “summit” therefore was easily reached.  On our return we had lunch and  relaxed until I had a phone call from Pauline, she had caught a large Carp of 8½lb and asked whether I would like to walk down to the pool to view it.  A nice fish it certainly “wetted” my appetite to have a fish myself!

Saturday 15^th August 2009

Rhiain arrived just after 10:00am, so after a cup of tea and an introduction to Pauline and Derek, we left for the motorhome show at Malvern picking up the Saturday papers on the way.  It wasn’t long before we made our first purchase the September edition of the MMM Magazine (Motorhome and Motorcaravan Monthly) and the new magazine “Go Motorhoming”, what we didn’t know was that if we purchased both we got a window squeezie, enter the old Sherpa, me and after also purchasing a carpet runner and a length of mosquito netting (more another day), I soon needed a packhorse. Bright idea!  Take them back to the car on the assumption (correctly as it happened) that we would not be purchasing anything else.  We had lunch there, burger and chips and after a good look round the many stalls and a look (cos’ Rhiain wanted to) at some American RV’s and 5^th Wheelers we then left the show late afternoon as Rhiain needed to get back to Weston-Super-Mare tonight as she had an early morning flight to Corfu tomorrow.

 Congratulations Mark and Margie on the birth of your Son William (Will).

Sunday 16^th August 2009

At last, I have managed to find the time (difficult to imagine, I know) to do some fishing.  This afternoon I walked down to the fishing pool on the caravan site and dangled my worm (actually a piece of bread flake). Despite witty comments from Derek (who with Pauline was already fishing), I soon landed my first fish for about 17 years, thank goodness it was a small Common Carp, if it had been a big one, I would have xxxx myself!  Just like riding a bike, you never forget (unless you’re  names Brian) and I was soon “at one”, once again with my rod and reel and successfully landed 8 more Carp, the largest 5½ lbs, which on 2½ breaking strain line I was very pleased with.  We spent the evening with Pauline and Derek who had invited us to their caravan for a barbeque, we really enjoyed our evening eating and consuming  Derek’s homemade red wine.

Monday 17^th August 2009

Westbrook Park, Little Hereford, 52 18 51 N, 02 39 93 W, (36 Mile).  I must have drunk to much last night, somewhere in the conversation I agreed to go on a bike ride with Pauline and Derek this morning, so Pauline was knocking at the door very early (well about 9:30 am). Seriously (who me?) after breakfast and preparing the motorhome for our departure we went on a ride along the lanes adjoining the camp site for about 6 mile, Derek promised a fairly flat ride, he was almost right, however what’s flat on a bicycle with 26” wheels is a steep incline on one with 20” wheels.  We did try and get our own back on our return, we invited them back to our motorhome for a cup of tea and cake, Jenny had made an Apple Cake with the cooking apples which had mysteriously fell off the apple tree in the middle of the night (me wielding a stick at the branches helped), we thought (Pauline and Derek have never tasted Jenny’s cooking) that we would use them as guinea-pigs, before eating it ourselves, the plan almost back-fired, Derek had a second piece!  We left lunchtime for Little Hereford, stopping for a short time at Tesco, Ledbury for some shopping, having to park on the road as the car park was rather narrow, saw Pauline and Derek going in shortly after we had arrived, presumably for some indigestion tablets for the stomach upset after eating Jenny’s cake.  Westbrook Park,  a camp site which we have spent many happy days at some 18+ years ago, I first came here with some of the lads from the fishing club, Adam and Mark 2 of the lads who fished here with me and kept me “company” at the Temeside Inn just through the orchard next to the campsite, many the time “staggering” back after a good night at the pub, a couple of “lock ins” also spring to mind, with the landlord and his wife and some of the locals.  Jenny started to wonder if I had got another woman in the village and decided to start coming with me, we had some terrific holidays here with the children and also some great fishing.

Thank you Pauline and Derek for your Hospitality

Tuesday 18^th August 2009

What a wonderful campsite and what a difference to the last time we stayed here, we are seriously thinking of staying here until next Tuesday, when we are going back to Somerset for a few days (more about that later).  After a relaxed morning we decided to cycle into Tenbury Wells for a newspaper, 4 miles of very undulating lanes to the town and the newsagent was at the other end of the high street, nice to see though that the tea shop we liked here had re-opened, it was closed last time we visited after the devastating August flood of 2007. we decided to go back along the main road, very busy, but flat almost all the way.  Had a funny phone call just as we got back to the camp site.  An automotive recruitment agency that I was registered with in 2002 rang me.  A Job? £100,000 per annum, Ferrari company car, 26 week paid holiday, Myleene Klass as secretary and 10:00 am until 2:30pm, 3 days a week, I refused the job, I only wanted to work until 2:00pm, anyway I prefer being retired, they only actually wanted to update my records, “that’s easy” I said, “delete me”!

Wednesday 19^th August 2009

We are so comfortable here we are stopping until next Tuesday, Jenny booked the additional days this morning whilst also purchasing my day ticket for fishing this afternoon. I started to fish about 2:00 pm and other than a break when I walked back to the motorhome for tea, I fished until 8:45 pm and didn’t catch a fish. Jenny sat at the top of the bank reading and listening to the radio and supplied coffee, I watched a Kingfisher and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, enjoyed the warm sunny evening and wonderful surroundings in the perfect company of my dear wife, not catching a fish didn’t matter!

Thursday 20^th August 2009

After a relaxed morning, due partly to the weather being rather wet and windy, however after lunch, although still windy the rain had abated.  We thought we would walk to Brimfield a little village about 3 mile away to purchase a newspaper and post a birthday card.  We walked firstly along the quiet roads with the intention of crossing the fields along the public footpaths, I was using the ordinance survey map and was looking for a stream which was just before the footpath, no stream????? must have dried up or I misread the map, nah, definitely must have dried up!  We therefore continued along the lanes before eventually finding another path over the fields to the village, whoops, rather wet from this mornings rain, Jenny’s feet got wet, mine remained dry, Jenny complained (especially as she also got stung by nettles negotiating a stile), I didn’t!  I do remember exactly where the small village shop and post office was, trouble was that was at least 18 years ago, now it was a house.  A notice on a board said the post office was at the village hall, so we walked up to that, unfortunately it was only open 9:00am until 1:00pm, Monday and Friday (no, not Monday to Friday, Monday and Friday), as it is Thursday it was obviously closed and not even a outside post box.  We made our way back to the camp site, Jenny taking charge of the map, thought it funny we went through the church yard, however she was right (as usual) and we found the gate at the end of the cemetery, winding through an orchard. Despite being “swooped on” by 2 young unidentified owls, climbing over numerous stiles, avoiding cow pats, nosey sheep and smelly pigs, oh and we ate some “bush tucker” blackberries, plums and whatever the cereal was in the fields before arriving back at the campsite,  Problem?  Still haven’t posted the birthday card, however the lady at the reception told us there was a post box on the main road near the pub, so while Jenny prepared a cup of tea, I walked up to the post box.  I am sure that our’s was the only letter in there, I just hope it gets collected (hopefully this month).  If you don’t receive your birthday card on Monday Linda, it wasn’t for the want of trying in the face of adversity and  if you don’t receive it remember “it’s the thought that counts”.  When I got back Jenny had the tea ready, plus a small piece of Apple Cake, it would have been a bigger piece if Derek had not eaten so much, still I did drink his red wine!

Friday 21^st August 2009

After the exertions of yesterday, today we have been really lazy, we did sort out all our magazines and pulled out the useful bits, before taking them to the laundry room for others to take and read, we in turn found a book each to read. Jenny cleverly sorted out the waste water system on the pitch, these pitches are “fully serviced” that is they have water, electric, TV aerial and waste water drainage behind each unit.  We had not however fathomed how to reach the waste water drain from our waste water outlet without a flexible pipe, we, or rather I did not realise a part of the system “moved”, hey presto, we now have our waste water draining straight out without having to store it in our waste tank for draining later, Jenny has her uses!

Saturday 22^nd August 2009

Another bike ride late morning to Tenbury Wells to buy our normal Saturday newspapers, but at least this time we were prepared for the hills and we had already decided it was safer despite the gradients to return via the quiet lane, rather than the busy, albeit much flatter main road. It was also an unanimous (well 2 votes) decision to have lunch at the “Tabs” the tea room/café  that we like here (see above), Jenny had Haddock with “trimmings” whilst I had Cornish Pasty, very nice they were to, nicely cooked, nicely presented and a reasonable price. It was sunny enough when we arrived back to wind the awning out, we sat underneath that for the rest of the day reading the newspapers.

Sunday 23^rd August 2009

Didn’t do an awful lot today (well why should we), the television for some reason last Friday (14^th) “broke”, I checked the fuse in the 12 volt socket and it had blown, when we went to the Motorhome show we managed to get a replacement, put it in when we got back, still no power.  I have always reasoned, fuses don’t blow without there being a underlying fault, so I wasn’t surprised it didn’t work, West Country Motor Homes will have to luck at it Wednesday. We haven’t missed it, (if it hadn’t have been “free of charge” when we purchased the motorhome we wouldn’t have bothered  having one), however I did want to watch the Valencia Grand Prix, Radio 5 Talk Sport and “live timing” on the lap top simultaneously was the answer, an excellent commentary with the Ex’ GP driver Anthony Davidson and the ability to see on the lap top exactly the same information as the pit wall crew, satisfied my needs and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Happy Birthday Linda, Best Wishes, XXXX

Monday 24^th August 2009

Well today didn’t go as planned.  The intention was to go fishing but the weather was so wet for most of the day I didn’t bother.  When it did dry up late afternoon we stowed the items we leave outside, chairs, table, windbreaks, bikes, etc.  We want to be away fairly early in the morning to drive down to Somerset.  There are a few items that need rectification work under warranty on the motorhome, we have therefore booked it into West Country Motor Homes for Wednesday and Thursday, while it is there they are also going to Waxoyl the underneath to protect it.  I also took a sadistic delight in emailing everybody we know in Australia, mentioning (well not just mentioning but stating in large capital letters) that England had won the ashes, plus Mark Webber did not score any points in the Grand Prix, took all of 8 minutes to get the first reply, no, I can’t tell you what it said, to rude!

Tuesday 25^th August 2009

Cheddar, Somerset, 51 16 67 N, 02 47 51 W, (104 Miles).  Away from Little Hereford at 9:30am, deciding not to return a similar way to the M5 motorway near Malvern, instead driving along the Wye Valley through Hereford, into Wales at Monmouth.  We then continued along the M4 to the second Seven crossing, (the first time for us) before joining the M5 motorway at Avonmouth, isn’t it funny that it is free to leave Wales, but you have to pay a toll to go in?  Wonder who gets the money?  Not the English I bet,  Oh, Rhiain just told me something interesting, France gets the money, why doesn’t that surprise me and evidently they also get the monies for the old Severn crossing as well!  After a short stay at the small campsite at Cheddar, Rhiain came and picked us up to spend the rest of the day at her home at least I will have a fast internet connection to catch up on emails, banking and the website.