What are you all up to
Comments
-
Another blue sky day, we went for an early walk together (most of the time we do solo walks, OH does more than me usually.) No-one around, quiet roads, one plane spotted in the sky. Just enjoying the last of the air pollution free days until the school traffic gets going once more. One week to go...
OH has gone to collect some potting compost etc from a local garden centre, asked him to bring back two more bird boxes as we have a lot of house hunters round here. Two blue tits have already started to make one box their home, lots of tapping round the entrance hole.
It's nice now but will it be the usual cold or snow at the beginning of April?!
Back to the van for me to finish the clear out and clean up. I did wonder, do we really need solar dragonfly fairy lights and a windmill.....
Have a good day folks, whatever you are doing.
1 -
Grey day here not so inviting to work out doors, so having a lazy day.
Will take a drive into town soon, need to drop something off at my sisters, go for a walk and pop up to Tesco to look for a new toaster. Ours seems to have a problem. When we put the bread down it won't stay down just keeps popping back up.
0 -
What another corking day.
It was lovely to hear so much different bird song this morning on our walk. We saw a few that were obviously pairing up. Jackdaws investigating chimneys, some Mistle Thrushes, Ravens, the male doing his acrobat bit to impress Mrs (no chance of me doing that without ending up in A&E).
Finished the car this afternoon. Polishing inside and glass cleaning and hoovering etc. Checked the roof work done recently. Seems satisfactory. Had a haircut. So all in all a good way to pass a day.
I haven't even thought about Scottish Power once today.
0 -
No not the fuse, it stays down for a fraction of a second and comes on then pops up. If you turn the nob adjusting how brown you want it to the highest, it then makes a noise. OH gave it a good clean out so there wasn't any crumbs causing problems, still popped up before getting brown. If I hold the lever down it works ok.
Doesn't matter now so much, we've bought another toaster this time 4 slice one
using up the vouchers we got for taking part in the ONS survey.0 -
Woke to frost on the ground and car windows frozen up. However the sun was up and all soon went. Had a pleasant walk around the lanes this morning before cleaning the caravan after lunch. Then another shorter walk for Flyte and myself. Looks like another clear sky tonight so more frost expected tomorrow.
0 -
Nellie I have great respect for you doing this all the time, I don't think I would have the same enthusiasm for touring if I was confined to the UK for much longer. Give me the ease of Europe any day.
TG, sorry about the delay in replying, I'd written one but when I went to post it I got the dreaded Essential Maintenance message 😵 so here goes again. Part of my enjoyment is the seeking out and finding both new and familiar sites to make up a decent trip. We find there are so many places we've not visited, along with those we enjoy returning to, throughout this country that we are not bother with trying to head "over there". The extra hassle required to take Flyte with us is another good reason, too.
2 -
Another glorious day here. OH hit the road for a bike ride, so the pooch and I went for a walk, up to Mum’s to collect a few bits for out tea party, and then I did the dirtiest garden job of the year, the sink pond. It suffers badly from algae as it’s in full sun, so after a complete empty, and a good scrub, put it all back together with new plants, fresh gravel and a clean fountain. Fit for amorous froggy doings now😂 OH is tackling big pond tomorrow.....that will be full of lurkers in the bottom. They go in a bucket, then carefully put back. Hopefully the dog won’t want to “help”.
1 -
I became eligible for the Covid vaccination today.
I received the NHS invitation letter this morning and booked appointments for both doses at lunch time. First dose is next Monday. Very efficient.
1 -
A bit cooler today but apart from a mist around lunchtime that threatened to outstay its welcome it's been quite sunny.
Got out to wash the little runaround today. Must be getting bored. Even spent an hour reading whilst sitting (indoors) in the sun.
Still waiting for Mrs WN to be jabbed. Looking at Doctors website it seems that they have prioritised other groups slightly before healthy 64 year olds so she'll have to wait her turn.
0 -
Lovely sunny day here, despite starting out misty.
Dentist for me at noon, tried to take the Smart nut the battery was flat.....again! Now on charge.
Had my broken tooth fixed and work started on the one that needs a crown, could not feel my nose or one ear for ages afterwards. 2 more appointments arranged for April, just as well our trip away then had to be cancelled.
Did some more work on DD's curtains this afternoon, it is a very difficult fabric to work with.
2 birthdays this month, number 1 and number 2 grandsons, so better get cards organised soon.
0 -
A sunny day here as well and upto 20.5C, shame we were painting in the bedroom but all finished now glad we are sleeping in the van away from the smell of paint. Interior doors to be painted next my job to do OH got some other chores to do in the shed.
0 -
Not so warm or sunny this morning but a bit better this afternoon.
This morning we took time out to plan a few mods to the MH, just little tweaks but should help make things easier to keep tidy and cosy.
This afternoon OH was fiddling with bits in his shed, also had to put the MH engine battery on charge again. Will need to check out the solar panel as it says engine battery fully charged but it wasn't it was flat.
I was as usual on my hand and knees in the garden, that's the side border done now in the back garden just the little bed to do off the back decking.
0 -
KJ: lucky you being able to get a repair to your broken tooth!
Today took son to deliver a "get well" card that he had made over the weekend for his keyworker at his daycentre who hasn't been well for a good wee while.
Checked the tyres on the car, yep 2 tyres needed, just as well as we're off to a Glasgow hospital for an annual at her specialist clinic next week. Good new is that Motability picks up the bill!
1 -
Got around to fitting the CO alarm in the MH that's been sitting on my desk for about a month. Then it was remove the old garden gate which tended to come apart in my hands and hang the new one that I bought from Wickes online. Fairly basic T&G on a Z frame. Joints were rubbish so I had to half rebuild it before I could hang it. All neatly done now so hopefully OH won't complain she can't get the gate open.
0 -
I agree lots of places we've not been to either, trying to do a few more this year while we are not able to go abroad. We want to keep doing that while we can, hopefully time later to do more in the UK once we stop going over.
Its the time it takes sorting out a route then trying to contact CLs, campsites etc. waiting to get replies (if they are not in to take phone call) then having to re arrange if no vacancies. Its me that does all that, OH has no interest in it, he would just go anywhere.
I can understand why some folk just book sites through the clubs as its so easy to do it (if more expensive) if we still had a dog I don't think we would be going over there.
Apologies if my post sounded critical it wasn't meant to, quite the opposite in fact.
0 -
No need to apologise, TG, I didn't think that you were being critical at all. I've been very fortunate with our booking, either on the phone or by email for both of our trips planned for this year. Apart from having to switch the first two because of not being allowed to get away as early as planned, all that we have contacted on line have responded with 24 hrs, some within an hour, an we've not had to go to a second choice. Even the cancelled one's we've managed to fit in at the end instead of the beginning. Even today I received a favourable response from an enquiry I sent last night. Just hope that the last couple work out, and then we can start thinking of our Autumn trip.
0 -
Another fine day here, not as much frost over night, but also not as warm as yesterday. Had a couple of decent walks, the second one this afternoon of nearly 4.5 mls. Spotted a Kestral chasing a couple of Jackdaws around the Abbey buildings, and heard a Woodpecker hammering away in the woods above. Spring certainly seems to be in the air.
0 -
"I can understand why some folk just book sites through the clubs as its so easy to do it (if more expensive) if we still had a dog I don't think we would be going over there"
Interesting statement TG, we have 3 sites booked May,June,Sept, September is for 1 month, I am one of those who does not like dragging the caravan around, would much sooner pitch up and then just use the car to tour around. We seldom use club sites, have had no problem booking commercial sites and give or take a few pounds are pretty much of a similar price to club sites.
We take the dog abroad, but have started using the shorter crossings Portsmouth - Caen, Portsmouth - Santander was a bit stressful if you could not get a dog friendly cabin, he sleeps in the boot no problems. But it is expensive especially at the vets to get him up to speed with jabs and paperwork required now.
Yesterday was a glorious day so gave her a shampoo finished off with some conditioner, that Fenwicks stuff, when we bought caravan some 10 years ago, 2 full bottles in the locker still using them
well you only use 2 cap fulls and only use it once per year. She is now sat waiting for the tyre man to come and put 2 new tyres on then we will be ready for the off 1 -
Not nice weather last couple of days ,dry but mist hanging arround, Iceland on line del tommorow,
Have had an Email from DVSA wanring comments on the updates going into the next addition of Highway code,interesting if anyone also wants to look. just go onto the DVSA website
Another Email about this Years Census 21st March?,it is to be mostly
on line ,but you must wait for letter advising of code (12 digit) to access
if computer available? ,but a written one is available if wanted? great as its a legal requirement to fill it in
0 -
We have not yet recieved a letter with the access code? and which may also give advise ,if a paper copy is required ,to be sent not a lot of time is there? ,and i know of numerous elderly who do not have computers in this area
0 -
Our dentist (NHS) has been pretty good with appointments since they were allowed to start taking patients again. They are not at present calling patients in for the 6 monthly checks, but rater concentrating on work that needs to be done.
Appointments are rather spaced out compared to normal, but they will see you sooner if you are in pain. They do also do private work, and if you go private you will be seen sooner, but hopefully I will not need to take up that option........it is expensive enough as it is!!
We are hopeful that we will be able to get away in the van as planned in early/mid June for 5 weeks, so have started looking at whether we can save a good bit by using CLs. Paying £25-£30 per night for a CAMC site if facilities are still to be closed does not represent good value IMO. Same with CCC sites, though they do usually tend to work out less expensive for us when we get the 60+ discount.
Last night OH checked out a couple of CCC sites for our first stop in the Lakes, one had no vacancies, the other did, but was only about £1 per night less than the CAMC site, and not so well placed. I presume this is due to the way they push up prices due to demand. Not something we have fallen foul of previously.
Do not want to book anything we cannot easily cancel or change should the FM decide to keep us all locked up even longer!
0 -
Rufs said, Interesting statement TG, we have 3 sites booked May,June,Sept, September is for 1 month, I am one of those who does not like dragging the caravan around, would much sooner pitch up and then just use the car to tour around. We seldom use club sites, have had no problem booking commercial sites and give or take a few pounds are pretty much of a similar price to club sites.
OH doesn't mind towing the caravan, I on the other hand won't tow it. Happy to drive the MH though when I get the opportunity, which isn't often as OH prefers to drive than be a passenger, he's not good at that
We rarely stay any longer than 5 days even with the caravan, though our longest was 12 days on the south of France and that was with the previous MH. Things might change as we get older but with the MH probably 2 -3 days while touring is a good length of time.
0 -
Been busy this morning doing the ironing and housework, bit grey and cold this morning but the sun has just come out so might get out this afternoon for a walk/cycle.
We've had nothing yet re the census.
OH was at the dentist again this morning after breaking another tooth, he is NHS at the same practice as me (I'm Denplan) like Kj he had no problem getting an appointment to get it fixed, they seem to be working through their list quite well now. I've got an appointment for a check up in 2 weeks time but couldn't get the hygienist until the beginning of May.
KJ, when I last looked at the C&CC for sites I didn't have a problem getting availability in Cumbria/Lakes providing it wasn't the most popular sites. What I did have a problem with was their booking site was playing up. When you checked the calendar to see availability it showed there was but when you put the dates in it wasn't available, couldn't get through on the phone as they just said " lines are busy please call back"
as it happened with lots of sites I took it to be an IT issue rather than the sites were vanishing before my eyes I think we will look at more CLs/CSs for June or private sites, we have a few private sites booked for the west coast of Scotland in May and prices were reasonable. Definitely will be CLs/CSs for July and August. Fingers crossed France/Spain in September/October.
0 -
We've got C&CC bookings for Cumbria, booked last year and moved on to this year. If you do manage to get a booking write them down as their "my bookings page" hasn't been working for a long time.
I've just had a reminder for our dentist, had forgotten all about it, next week, denplan...hope it's not as bad as last time, it took nearly two hours, mostly waiting.
Our census details arrived today, I see you can do them before the actual day if nothing is likely to change with the house occupants. I had visions of everyone going on line on the 21st and the whole thing grinding to a standstill!
0 -
We haven’t heard anything yet about the census. We have a few sites booked beginning from the last week in April all club sites so far but we may change a few nearer the time if there is a suitable CL in the area that we can get in to. So far not had much issue booking although things do seem to be filling up now so we maybe got in just in time . Been a lovely few days here sunny and quite warm during the day so we have got a lot of work done out in the garden. Doing all these jobs now so that when restrictions ease we can make up for lost time and head away in the van
0 -
"Things might change as we get older" careful TG, i might take offence
Brilliant day again today, been out on bike round Tichfield Haven followed by walk with pooch, just wonderful and so peaceful. I sometimes wonder why we want to travel. Had to return early to help OH with facetime call to MH, who is now in a Carehome but they have 5 confirmed cases of the dreaded so no chance of visiting for some time yet. If weather holds up car cleaning planned for tomorrow
Have been checking the web cam at Glenshee ski centre, amazing how quickly the snow has vanished, we used to reckon some of the best snow would be around the Easter time, perhaps there will be another fall and the FM will let people free
0 -
KJ - I read further.back that you are maybe considering a motorhome. We had a motorhome for 4 years and enjoyed it the bathroom area in it was actually big (not as big as the one in our current caravan) but our MH was over 7 meters long so we found it difficult to park when away. I believe you have a smart car have you considered maybe getting a slightly bigger MH then towing the smart we done this and towed our Peugeot 107 around on an A Frame which worked for us and the upside was that if we were just heading off for a few days to a site within walking distance of a town we didn’t bother taking the car. Doing it this way May allow you to get a slightly bigger motorhome than planned therefore allowing more space inside. We had ours 4 years but went back to a caravan 4 years ago mainly because we wanted a fixed bed and we could get a brand new caravan for half the price that we would have had to have paid for a decent fixed bed motorhome also I missed having a big comfy car ao we sold the 107 and bought a Volvo to tow the van and cut down on maintenance costs as we didn’t need to MOT and Tax the caravan .
Hope this helps
1
