What are you all up to
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We have pretty much decided that we will not be taking the caravan abroad again, mainly due to the cost of insurance at my age, so OH is muttering about MHs again. We were discussing it with DD and SIL the other day, and they are keen on the idea of a MH, but have no money for one! The in-laws were also considering a MH, not sure how a "communal MH" might work though, especially on insurance with multiple drivers.
OH was looking at something smaller than we looked at 5 years back, quite a few around 6m available with drop down beds that can sleep 4 when necessary, and that have 4 travel seats, but DD has raised a question about fitting child seats.......do MHs have Isofix mountings?
A small MH would not entirely solve the problem of insurance abroad, but might mean we would not need such expensive cover as OH would be OK with driving, and both DD and SIL could also drive it, unlike the car/caravan.
DD was saying they would like to take the children to our (former) house in Norway ( still in the family and available for us to use), and wanted us to come too. A MH would mean we 2 could make a good holiday out of the long trip there and back, and they could fly and have the use of the MH while there to see more of the country. I doubt however that this would be before 2023 or even 2024, so plenty of time to consider the options. And unfortunately also plenty of time for things to go wrong health wise at our age!
OH was following SteveM's discussion on buying a MH on another thread, and this prompted her to raise the idea again. Our main problem is there are few dealers around here, and also that we would want an automatic.
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Automatic - no problem. Check out the current Fiat Ducatos. Proper 9 speed TC boxes.
3500kg with 4 on board- big problem.
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A truly lovely spring-like day here. Very warm in the sun but chilly in the shade. I'm eating a sandwich lunch in the garden bliss. First time this year, haven't even managed a cuppa before.
Still feeling jab reaction effects, I certainly don't want the full blown job thanks! It's been 9 full days now and it's pulling down my mood 🙁.
Put the dog in day care again she seems to enjoy it and comes home tired, just what I need 😀. Managed to do a couple of loads of washing - bedding dried and away now towels blowing gently. Did some admin work, that mounts up! Booked car's 1st MOT what happened to those years? Given up now as don't have the courage to tackle the renewal forms, all 30 pages!, for attendance allowance. Will have to gird my lions over the weekend as got an telephone appointment with Age Concern Tuesday to cover any bits I'm unsure of. When we 1st applied we had a lovely man come out and go through it all with us - not allowed in the current circumstances, but still expect a 2 hour conversation 😱 although it is 'easier' this time alledgedly............
One of those pesky delightful fluffy clouds has just covered the sun 🌬❄hope it shifts quickly, I'd forgotten it was February.
Nice to read of folks plans, we are not making any and will take our chances if we can at some point. If nothing else bed and board for harvest/baby help looks promising. I so miss not having our motorhome and self contained accommodation, so few dealers around here, I keep my eyes open and know what I want to check out in the flesh come the revolution. I just want to sit and chat, outdoors will do, face to face with folk. I've added lots of reflexology treatments, so many cancelled. Waiting to hear from the hairdresser as Monday's appointment won't happen.... that's enough planning for me for now.
DIL growing next generation rather well, too much fertilizer?, and is to have a consultant scan next week, still 6 weeks to go but off the scale 😱 bump-wise, trying to be a laidback as they are......
Right lunch over time for slow potter around the edges of the grass.
Tinwheeler I want an automatic, thanks for the heads up. I've got no clue on them at all....
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Beautiful morning. Had to go down to town to pick up my foot moulds (not a saying I thought I would ever be making
) so decided to walk. Arranged an appointment with Chiropodist for next week. He'll do a double check, firstly with my feet and then with my wallet.Picked a library book and dropped one off. Only C&C at moment but elderly lady in a bit of a state as she wanted to browse and couldn't so asked the librarian to check her reading habits online and choose some books for her which the friendly librarian agreed to.
Bought Mothers Day card. Remember all of you mothers to drop subtle (or not as the case may be) about the day, 14th.March or maybe threaten to check the contents of your will.
Decided to have a takeaway coffee and sat on church steps in sunshine enjoying the near normal experience of it.
Back home to defrost back up mini freezer and sort out some admin, including Mrs WNs car insurance.
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....who will grow and who need clothes, food and the bits and pieces of everyday life.
Your heart wasn't in it last time, Kj, and I suspect you're still not convinced it's a good idea. I think you have too many variables and imponderables in the mix and need to do a shed load of research into what's available.
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The best day of the year so far, frosty to start with but then up at 10C at midday. A lovely ride out in the back lanes around Beamish before talking the old faithful path back home.
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Same here Corners, but without the frost. We were a bit later in the day than we had hoped, but enjoyed our first ride out together this year. We had planned to do canal towpath into Sheffield, but one of the gates across the path has inexplicable been padlocked without a decent detour, so we ended up doing a different ride. That involved a lot of hills (it ain’t flat round us😕) but we had a lovely couple of hours out. Love the road signage, we have some proper Yorkshire names on some of our roads, must remember to take some photos. Do you use Strava?
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well I have it but I'm so slow, or rather I just stop when anything interesting reveals itself that Strava would have to run backwards (or at CAMC speeds) to track me. I do use Garmin and Garmin connect to record my route along with a few notes afterwards.
Yes I wonder who thought that name up, I couldn't see any Cranberries or bogs, and really it wasn't a road either.
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We don’t subscribe to Strava, but it’s useful for recording rides, looking at a bit of basic data such as climbing profiles and other bits and bobs. It automatically pauses if you don’t keep moving.
We need to start a general cycling thread, post photos and other bits of interest in there😁1 -
A beautiful day here in Devon. During the week I managed to book tickets for Nat Trust Arlington Court. We took our disabled granddaughter in her wheelchair, in our bubble. She hasn't been able to get out for a while. We all had a lovely time, lots of plants just poking through, birds all singing. We even managed our first takeaway coffee since this started, sitting in the sun. We all came away feeling so much better.
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Absolutely gorgeous day here after early morning frost so we went for a long (for us 😁) walk. So good to be out. We wstched the swans having a wonderful time taking off, flying around and then landing on the lake. It was a great sight. Gosh their wings make quite a sound as they fly overhead.
Going back quite a few pages on here I agree with WN as I dont like uncertaintly either. The only certainty at the moment is uncertainty as we are not really sure where we are going to be able to go and when. One certainty is that our planned short trip in March is now cancelled. We have quite a few things booked but who knows? Added to all this is the fact that I am waiting for a cataract op and have been told that I will have to have a covid test if and when I do get the call and then self isolate 😧. Also I dont know when I will hear about my second covid jab. I am finding it all very unsettling.
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We lost our sun until later today due to very thick fog this morning and a lot cooler, so did a bit of painting around a few areas inside and a bit more to do tomorrow, then will sort caravan out as we have decided as we are not away in it for awhile we will have a few nights in it just for a change of scenery in the garden on our own site ha ha.
As to the vaccine here looks like it will be April for our age group 65 to 74 years but only 3 weeks between 1st jab and 2nd hence not going anywhere yet as cases have gone up again too many folk out and about with school holidays and the PM said more news next week some areas are on weekend lockdowns for the next two weekends and may have more from next weekend just do not need another lockdown, they have tighten up on the curfew with the local gendarmes driving around at night time even around here.
May go out for a drive and picnic on Sunday if weather stays sunny as we know a few places away from the touristy areas.
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We've had a lovely day here today to, sunny and warm enough to work outdoors without a jacket.
OH tackled a bit of DIY outside also managed to get him to shift some of the old wood from past projects
I tackled the back garden, or some of it. I turned over the soil and tidied up the largest of the beds, then crawled underneath the big hedge and the silver birch trees to rake out the leaves. That corner now looks great, the crocus and snowdrops are out and the daffodils are in big clumps ready to open in a couple of weeks. If tomorrow is as nice as today I should get the long back border done.
This afternoon we took the bikes out again and did another 5 miles. Chilly as we went out the top of the village where its a bit more exposed to the wind coming off the hills, they are still covered in snow so the wind is cold.
Back home and we decided to have a nice cuppa sat in the caravan
it was nice and warm in there being south facing all day.WN, thanks we had thought of that but decided that should we not be able to get over to France in the Autumn, then Kent and the south of England would be our choice destination. I've got the Wirral booked for a few days in June, pretty sure we will manage to get some sites/CLs booked on the way down and back, if it was July or August then maybe I wouldn't feel the same. OH reminded me that last year we went away in July/August without booking in advance and didn't have a problem.
Kj although we love our MH it does not have the space the caravan does, especially in the bathroom. Ours is 6.36m long just a bit longer than the caravan. The cab seats turn round and we do have a small round table for that area so can eat there no loss of space, our beds are 6ft long and can be slept as singles or huge double either across or down the van. Its cosy for 2 but I would imagine a bit of a squeeze with 2 young children. I think it true to say most MH's have a compromise and its usually the bathroom.
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Very hard frost this morning and also misty over some of the lower fields ,but was rising and it has been quite warm since ,
many people have been out last couple of warm days, and the amount of litter has also increased, noticed more discarded face masks .also noted by another dog walker who suggested they may have come from our local CoOp ,giving masks to those who want to use the store but do not have a mask?
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Interesting to hear about the vaccine in France RedKite, hope you get yours on time.
B2, hope you feel better soon, I had all sorts of strange after effects from the jab, I think they've finally gone?! Hope the booster works out better than the first, we'll make sure we're both at home, not rushing off around the time it's due.
I know how challenging the attendance allowance forms are, I did three, my Mum, my Aunt and my Mum's friend but it was worth the struggle, in fact I don't think there's too much to worry about with anyone who has serious health problems it's just daunting at first when the forms are in front of you!
Millie hope it won't be too long before you hear about the op.
Nice to hear people have been out and about. It's been lovely here today after early heavy frost and fog. OH went solo fishing, first time since last year. I've ordered a few plants on line and have got lots of seeds to sow...two mice in the greenhouse had a feast on the first lot of peas and beans...re-homed to a nearby field. 🐭🐭
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Thinking of something this sort of size, or a little bigger
https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/swift-escape/
quite a few manufacturers have similar layouts.
Ideally low mileage, maybe 2-3 years old, but automatics are not so common.
Would be interesting to see one once we can travel again
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Attendance allowance!! Gosh I remember sorting it out for MIL many years ago. I sat up into the early hours sorting it out as I darent leave it in case I lost my train of thought. We won in the end - I think. Luckily I had a friend who was sorting it out for her Mum at the same time and we helped each other negotiate it. Iam not sure whether it is harder or easier now. Good luck Bakers2. I also hope you feel better soon.
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I've got the Wirral booked for a few days in June,
TG, give me shout when you are down there as I'll let you buy me a pint if we happen to be around.
Only about 20 minutes drive from us. We have some of the first part of June pencilled in for a CL in the Peak District and towards the end we take MiL away for a fortnight to 2 cottage stays so you may be lucky and find us away.
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The new autos were only launched in 2020. Earlier autos were automated manuals and I’d not touch them.
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I remember having to sort one out for MiL when FiL was ill and staying here. When he moved into a Nursing Home I rang the department to tell them to stop the payments and that we had received a further payment that we needed to repay. I was told over the phone that the payment was in arrears so not owed back to them.
Well, we had an official visit from the Services and an official letter accusing MiL of fraud. She was in tears and totally distraught. I sent a letter with chapter and verse naming the person I spoke to, the date and the exact time and asked for a recording to be made a available to me and a full written apology to boot. Within 1 week we had an official letter and full apology from a Senior CS but it left a bitter taste.
Make sure you always get names, dates and times of any telephone calls Bakers.
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I remember sitting at the computer doing the Attendance Allowance for my Dad, just towards the end it all crashed. I sat up till one am doing it all again. So tired the next morning I was late to visit him,he had such a go at me for being late. It wasn't his fault, his dementia was just starting, but I'll always remember how upset it made me. Sometimes very difficult caring for a parent. As for the forms - slowly and surely gets you to the end of the questions.
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Thanks for your good wishes, I'm sure these reaction effects will pass. Actually I phoned our lovely chemist and had a whine, I then called in and bought the suggested tonic and took my first dose tonight. Pharmacist says anecdotally hearing more side effects with AZ and hopefully means its simulating my immune system - also added that 2nd dose tends to be more reactive 😱. If this tonic works, I'll ensure I have some to hand for 2nd jab. I certainly wont be planning much for a few weeks after!
Went on to collect dog from day care, big hold up which I was able to skirt around from the queue that was forming as I joined. Don't know what but heard, at the dog day care, 2 fire trucks and 2 ambulances at road crash 😢. I suspect the day care staff may have a later end to their scheduled day. Dog happy and tired and has eaten a really good meal. She's jolly fussy and rarely eats anywhere near her correct amount. I reckon she won't starve herself so don't over worry. I had a daughter who ate little and eventually read that only in the west did we have the luxury of worrying that our child wasn't eating enough - that put it in perspective!
I did look at the AA form briefly, and am cheered to know I can do the first 3 pages without over taxing my brain, name, address NI number, etc has he been out of the country etc etc. 27 to go I quit whilst I was ahead 🤣. I do understand they need to ensure money is correctly allocated but its daunting even when you know its deserved....... A very sad story on our local news tonight, an 8 week old baby brain damaged in hospital, damaged eventually awarded. Suitable home purchased to accommodate her needs, sadly she died, aged 9 years, sooner than expected and damages acted in for, so authorities have put in reclaim of 1/2 million pounds. But that leaves the family with insufficient funds to buy anything else, nothing to rent apparently and not qualifying for social housing. So sad on top of everything they've gone through.
We had a very heavy frost, apparently -3 one of the coldest areas according to the forecast tonight, expecting the same tonight 😱❄🌬
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I think the powers at large like to make forms such as AA and ESA long and convoluted so that it puts you off filling them in!
The ESA form asks a short question, the answer takes half a page!
So I sympathise with form fillers!
The broken tooth was extracted yesterday by the dentist couldn't repair it! So soft food is the order of the day!!
MH: hope the cataract procedure goes well!
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Wherenext I was Civil Service trained, telephone notes are clear with names dates times etc...... and I rarely throw
That was a very nasty experience you did well to get an apology in writing. I remember dealing with DHSS years ago on behalf of my dad and being told by delightful person on the other end of the phone when asking a why question ' I don't know I come in I do whatever I'm asked to do and go home' 😱😱. I took it further but gave up in the end without a satisfactory outcome 😤😤
It seems that attitudes are little changed these days either, guilty until YOU prove you're innocence with these identy theft universal credit claims. DSS are reclaiming by deducting money from salaries! Radio4 moneybox has had several articles about it. Some folk are losing money but can't sort as they can't pass the security questions because they didn't set it up. Hours and hours on the phone, no right of appeal. So stressful and frustrating.
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