What are you all up to
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We got completly lost in Strasburg one year a couple of young local lads were also not sure where our hotel was , when this older lady said she knew where we wanted to be and walked with us for about a mile through some back streets which brought us out right in front of our hotel and with sweep of her arm said Viola! and then went back the way she had come
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Visiting Dublin and arriving off the ferry in the early hours, we (me and SWMBO) were desperate for a cup of tea so asked a passing little old Chinese lady, who was very stooped, if their might be a cafe open in the area. Her English wasn't good, but she managed to indicate that we should follow her. She led us to the back door of their restaurant, put the kettle on and brewed us a cuppa each. She wouldn't take any payment.
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Got home this afternoon after a nice 4 night break across at Berwick. Weather was ok while we were there rained overnight but was not bad during the day full but warm until this morning when it was bright blue skies and sunny typical on the day we go home still we it meant we could get packed up ok without getting wet. Has a nice day in Seahouses yesterday and visited Etal the day before. Drive home today wasn’t the greatest we were making good time until we got to Livingston when the M8 was closed due to a crash so that meant a detour down the A71 to Kilmarnock not a road we like but needs must it added an hour on to our journey though. Van back in it’s space on the drive only for a few days though we are off again on Friday just for a couple of nights to one of our local sites hoping the weather is ok for that.
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OH is still having problems with falls,told her to make an appointment at GP ,not keen? so i contacted at just after 1300 ,to be given appointment this afternoon at 1520,saw a new graduate doing her GP experiance she was very thorough,,
had phone call just now OH has been refered to another specialist clinic,and to contact GP if no date set by end of week,0 -
I have, over the years helped many folk but then again very many have helped me also and some stick in my mid particularly. Many not that recent however. Several in Yorkshire come to mind.
First one around 1970. My car was off the road after being rear ended by a car on Grosvenor Bridge in Chester followed by a coach and the combined load pushed me into the car in front. My friend and I were due to go to stay with an uncle, aunt and foster cousin in Hull. Just prior to the tip we were out in a local town and the top hose went on his mini. He bought a new hose but, despite my protestations decided to drive the 8 mile home to fit it. The next day we set off from Chester to Hull. We went via Snake pass and had to stop to take on water more than once. Arrived in Hull that afternoon and, as I had taken my full toolbox I started work taking the cylinder head off. Somebody living nearby stopped and , after admiring my Ab wool sweater shedding the drizzle asked if he could help. He was foreman at a local bus servicing depot, off work for a while following a heart attack and knew my uncle. He took the head, valve gear etc. Had the head reground, lapped in the valves and reassembled in a couple of days. Insisted on no payment and that the head skim was a favour from a local firm. As he was a tea total diabetic choices were limited. I bought a large bouquet of flowers for his wife, a large box of chocks for her and managed to source an ab wool sweater for him from Hull docks.
Around 1972 I had a steering ball-joint fail outside Hull. I took a walk and around a hundred arid around a corner found a car mechanic, too busy to help he said but if I was handy he would get the part within the hour, loan me a hydraulic jack and stand and arranged for me to get the tracking checked free nearby, Paid for the parts and left some beers after I returned his kit.
Around 1978 at about 5pm I sat our 5 year old daughter in the back of our estate car, brushed the Bridlington Beach sand off and tried three times to shut the boot. Found the problem my car key was in the way and resembled a cartoon exploded shotgun. Rather than phone break down at that time of day I walked around a local housing estate. Noticed a part open garage door alongside a bungalow. Inside I saw a small model making lathe. Knocked on the bungalow door and asked the chap if he could/would help. He laughed when he saw the key split into 3 parts along its length and splayed out. He braised it together and cleaned up with needle files. Drove me back to my car and the key was perfect. So much so that I used it all the time I had the car rather than use my spare as I found it heart warming.
Around 1982 in the Yorkshire Moors stayed on a farm CL. Ms and me having a cuppa when the bed collapsed. one morning. The tea seemed suspended above my cup and fell back inside as I hit the floor level. Went to local village/small town and called at hardware store. No timber and no brass screws but I got some adhesive. Spied a local builder working on a cottage and so went to him for advice. "Give half an hour and I am going home for lunch". Left family in local pub and the chap took me to his cottage, Provided spring onion and cheese butty and found me some matching brass screws. Off to local undertaker who made his own coffins and had right size matching hardwood strips to replace broken support strip. No charge - favour for a friend. Borrowed some drill bits, bib and brace and a countersink from farm and job sorted
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What a smashing day weather wise it has been. Full on sunshine.
We needed some food so sorted that out first thing with a quick trip into Devizes, home for a coffee then walking shoes on and up onto the ridgeway above the village and round the Alton White Horse, one of 8 different varieties to be found in places nearby.
We made our way off the hill back to a couple of nearby villages and entered the churchyard at Alton Priors to find a magnificent sight of a 1,700+ year old living specimen in a Yew Tree, which looks like continuing for a few more years yet. It had been dated officially at this minimum age. The church contained a "Sarcen" stone as well and such a simple little church to boot. Photo of Yew Tree enclosed.
Called in a for a half of refreshing local cider by the canal then home along said canalside.
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I do hope you get the phone call soon JVB and that you get some swift help for your OH. It sounds as though you got excellent service from your GP surgery.
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Very interesting WN. It’s a fascinating area round there we found, all sorts of different little gems dotted around. It’s definitely somewhere we shall return to, and we fancy taking a good look at Salisbury and Winchester. We drove up to the Ridgeway (a wrong turn🤣) on our way home, trying to avoid going into Swindon, that looks very interesting as well. I couldn’t get over the size of the fields, immense. The canal is so busy, all through the day. I think at some point we will do a canal holiday, we have considered it a few times🤔
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We used to buy our caravans from a lovely chap at Harrington Caravans in Delamere and we asked one day what caravan he had.
Oh, I don't bother with them he replied. I have a canal barge that I holiday in, mainly taking it along the Leeds-Liverpool canal, sometimes going off at tangents elsewhere.
Personally? Not enough walking for me. Only so many times I could walk up and down the boat before Mrs WN threw me in.😂
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Glad you had a good day WN and better weather than here.
Went shopping to Villefrance today and saw quite a lot of motorhomes all French except for 1 with UK number plate at Lidl's so a quick chat and said that they had just come over the Millau Bridge but very wet and foggy so did not see much, had a lot of rain today so a quick dash back to the car and back home.
We have booked our booster corvid jab 1st December at the same venue we had the first two just slightly over 6 months so that will be something to enjoy again also after the 26th October we will be eligible for the flu jab so will take it this year as last year we could not get it anywhere around here as they had run out of the vaccine so we will get a letter each sometime in October, they have said we can take the vaccine and have both flu and corvid at the same time a very big no from me as said before not keen on needles so will be done at different days.
Looks like weather improving on Wednesday and Thursday so catch up with some gardening as I have a few plants to plant up before we go away on the 30th, OH had noticed the gas diamond shaped sticker had faded so ordered a pair from Amazon and they came today from UK so another little chore for him to do when dry.
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Contacted Greenflag first thing and they were quick to organise for a guy to come down from Bideford. However he thought that he was dealing with our car and was unprepared for the actual job, and left without doing a thing apart from suggesting alternatives such as a mobile caravan mechanic or a local caravan dealer. Eventually after phoning round numerous alternatives all of whom could not help being either too far away, or fully booked etc, it was one suggested by the site owner who is going to come up on Thursday morning and, hopefully, sort out the problem....fingers crossed.
If that was not enough troubles, Flyte has had an eye problem for the last couple of days so we decided to take him to a local vet!! After at least 5 phone calls we were able to get an appointment this evening in Bideford and it appears that he has conjunctivitis, so came away with an ointment for his eyes, and a relatively small bill.😁,
Apart from all that it was a fine day which past very rather quckly, with a couple of walks from the van.
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Hope you get sorted Nellie. Sometimes rescue services are a bit dim when it comes to actually passing on information to their mobile operatives.
Hope Flyte does ok, Choccy sends his love, and a hug from us!
We did consider a barge at one point, but they can be money pits, and having gone down the equine expenditure route for a good twenty years, we had a rethink. But a one off holiday might be nice.
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Apparently it can take all day to climb up the Caen Hill Locks. One thing we did notice.....the ladies seem to do all the winding and lock gate/ bridge pushing, leaving Captain Bligh on board issuing instructions😂
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Evening All
,Two nice letters in my mail today. First from BT for the latest lowdown on Pension Fund ~~ they have enough and to spare at present
.Second came from Surgery reminding me that it's that time of year again, when they extract the BLEEP to check on my kidneys
, also please make a booking for 6-monthly Diabetes check and six monthly Bloods check needing an appointment with Lady Dracula. So, as I try to be a good patient, I waited till half past two before phoning. Rang up and, after a three minute screed, got to 4th in the queue. Fifteen mins later got to First in the Queue. Another two minutes listening to some awful music Then BINGO got thro to a human being. Five minutes and call all over BUT I've only got one appointment and that's for a months time to do it all again except the water sample
. They are very short of the blood sample bottles ( I will require six of 'em 
) So I guess there might be a call from them organising flu' jab & possibly C19 booster, and please Mr A B M why have we not seen you as per the letter, Regards Sister Grumpy.Now I know why my preferred doctor has retired ~~ he must have realised what problems C19 and I would pile into his desk !! Do so hope he's had a pleasant couple of years without seeing my happy smiling face Grrrrrrr !!
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I got bitten by a dog last Sunday, the little b***er took a chunk out of my hand.
I knew I’d need a tetanus jab and being Sunday I wouldn’t be able to go to the GP so I rang 111 to see if I could get a doctor to come to me. The local 111 had a 50 minute wait and I was advised to go on line which I duly did.
I chatted (by text) with someone, answered a few questions and then was referred to a page where I was invited to part with a fiver for the pleasure of talking to a doctor ( I could have a season ticket for £38). I certainly wasn’t prepared to hand over five of my hard earned, much less my bank details even though they said the money was refundable.
I thought sod this and took myself off to A&E waited three hours, got my hand washed and dressed and the aforementioned jab plus a course of antibiotics.
The Emergency Nurse Practitioner who looked after me was very nice and said she was sorry for my wait . I said I’d only come for the tetanus jab and I understood that you now had in the arm. She said yes that’s right I wouldn’t have to “get my bum out”
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Good that you got the jab, A&E or minor injuries units are the only place to go at weekends...at least you're protected for future events! 🐕
I had a yearly medical review yesterday and for the first time everything was done at the same time so I said goodbye to three lots of blood samples which usually requires another appointment. Joined up thinking for once!
An evening at the theatre followed, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, audience asked to wear masks. An uplifting but strange experience. Got home and discovered OH had left a large sticky label on the back leg of his his new jeans...so anyone who saw him at the theatre will have noted his waist size and leg length....
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Any sort of injury sustained now, which you can't deal with at home, it seems you need to go straight to A&E or a Local Walk In Centre in you have one, especially at the weekend. On the last day of 2020 I accidentally shut one of Margaret's fingers in the car door. We were fiddling with a screen cover at the time! My initial thought was can I put a plaster on that! I was being over optimistic! We phoned the surgery and they said go to A&E which we did. They patched it up but as it had nicked the top of the bone she would have to have plastic surgery on the finger. Not long after we got home we got a message from Stoke Mandeville to be there at 10.00am on New Years Day for the operation. By early afternoon we were back home, all very efficient. BTW, did you know the dog in question?
David
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Shhh! I'm having a quiet week this week after all the drama of last week.
Our grandson 'arrived' early last week whilst I was out in the caravan at Carlisle. As the baby was early, they flew our daughter, Ruth (who lives on Lewis/Harris) to St John's, Livingston (between Edinburgh and Glasgow). Her husband, who was away working in Switzerland, got an early flight back to Edinburgh. In the meantime, my wife, who had gone to visit Ruth (to keep her company whilst Ruth's husband was away - especially so close to the birth) was left on Lewis looking after 3 dogs!
I managed to drive up to Livingston whst I was in Carlisle, to visit, after the birth. They eventually arrived back on the Island from hospital yesterday, so hopefully Carol will be able to get a ferry in order to return home soon. Mother and baby are fine..... and I'm having a quiet week on my own!
David
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Yes congratulations from me too.
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Congrats to one and all but especially the mother and baby as they did the hard work David. A bonny lad by the look of him.
Had a long drive to get to Avebury today as several roads suddenly closed. Should have taken the best part of 12 minutes but eventually took 45. Anyway at least we didn't arrive before the car park at the Stone Circle opened. Had a quick look at a few large rocks some inconsiderate fly tippers had dumped in a field quite some time ago by the look of things then set off on a lovely circular walk that took in The Sanctuary and West Kennet Long Barrow. Weather was kind to us again.
Home for coffee time in the afternoon after finding a quicker way home.
We feel the need for a more relaxing day tomorrow so think we may head to Bowood House and Gardens.
Tried to arrange a flu jab for when we get home but was told the surgery do not have any 65+ jabs available just for 50+ so arranged one for Mrs WN. She was really pleased.
The local pharmacies at home are fully booked as well. Great. Will try to call in to a chemist locally.Hope one and all keeping well.
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Congratulations to the happy family David. What a beautiful baby. You must all be so delighted. So pleased all went well despite the early arrival.
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Thank you for your good wishes and lovely comments everyone. He is quite a large prem baby..... 5lb 11oz. Looks like Carol will get the early morning ferry on Friday, so hopefully will be home Friday evening..... fingers crossed.
David
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Congrats to all involved one way or another in the bonny baby's birth, David. Love the hat!
After a misty start, which the sun soon burnt off, the rest of the day has been sunny and warm. Drove to Hartland Abbey where we had a walk down to the beach, via the Summer house and Gazebo, where we had our picnic. Returned to the Abbey and walked up to the walked garden before going round the property. Called in at St Nectan's Church on the way back to the site. If anyone hasn't been to Hartland Abbey it can be seen both outside and throughout the property, and the surrounding area, on the Children's BBC series Malory Towers, adapted from the Enid Blyton books.
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Delighted for You and Yours David, Hope the Happy Parents get a few good nights sleep !!
z z z z .Strange really, I never, ever see a photograph of a new born crying ~~ why is that do you think
David, don't forget to do the tidying up before the Home Inspector gets back !!
Brue, could you not get me a carrier bag of those blood tubes, I could get a ten year long set of favours from My Surgery for such a goodly number of 'em
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