What are you all up to
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Pretty hot here today 32c 🥵🥵 not so much sun more overcast, think we will get a storm before long.
Been a fairly lazy day, bit of washing, bit of shopping and a nice long dip in the pool. Went for a bike ride all around the outskirts of the town.
We have suggested that our friends have a week on their own to see how they get on and we will meet up with them again afterwards. So we will leave them here tomorrow and head off further a field. They are staying another day then moving on. They like to take things slow and sit around a lot more than us. We like to get out and about everyday rather than sitting around.
The site we are on just now is Brit owned only 28 pitches but a lovely well kept place, nice and peaceful on the banks of the Dordogne. The swimming pool is right in front of our pitch.
Good to read of others enjoying their trips away.
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and a statue of a French bloke claiming to have invented photography (though I think Mr Fox-Talbot of Lacock might have a word or two to say about that! wink)
Seems that the French got there first, M......"Niépce is believed to have taken the world’s first photographic etching in 1822. Using a camera obscura, a box with a hole in one side which utilizes light from an external scene, he took an engraving of Pope Pius VII. This image was later destroyed by the scientist when he attempted to duplicate it. "
"Fox Talbot invented the salted paper and calotype processes, precursors to photographic processes of the later 19th and 20th centuries. His work, in the 1840s on photomechanical reproduction, led to the creation of the photoglyphic engraving process, the precursor to photogravure."
Love the photos, especially all the foodstuffs at the market!!
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Looks a lovely spot, millie. We had a similar walk today around the two lochs, Castle and Kirk, at Lochmaben. Lots of Swans out on the water but too far away to photograph. We did get caught in a short shower part of the way round but it soon passed over. I had a nice late afternoon 3 ml walk from the van around the local lanes, with lots of bird song but too overgrown to spot any.
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Looks like all those away are having a great time. WN - Love the car pics
Been a busy couple of days here yesterday afternoon myself, son and son in law headed down to London to collect my latest toy another classic Merc a lovely convertible one that’s 3 old Mercs now (SWMBO has put her foot down and the other two are getting sold so if anyone knows anyone looking for an 80s Merc saloon let me know) anyway SIL came as we were getting a few spares so needed him to bring them up the road in his car so he got a free night in a hotel and his diesel paid to take us to London. Collected the car this morning and it was as good as the seller described drove it home today 400 miles no issues it ran great although we did get held up on the M6 by an accident. Long day but worth it tired now but had a few beers to relax tomorrow will be spent cleaning the new toy getting it ready for some shows.
hope everyone else is having a nice weekend
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Evidently the night shift person ,who is the subject of our complaints and also it has been advised to me ,not the first complaint, is to be given more training?
OH was got to of bed to sit in a chair yesterday ,for her lunch and again for her evening meal
And one upside of my visits ,I have now been given permission to have meals in the staff only restaurant as long as I show my carers passport photo iD. , because of covid is still closed to visitors, which is more convenient ,rather than either the local Befeater or WH Smiths meal deals
Late start today as first bus for me is 0932 from here, usually at hospital by now
Nice to hear that those away are having good times
we still have sites booked in anticipation of getting away in the near future,,
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JVB semi good news on the night shift complaint. Let's hope it has more effect than 'lessons will be learned' 😤. Fingers crossed.
It sounds tough but the sooner your OH is 'moving' the better from a recovery point of view. The sooner you can get a care package in place to have her home. You WILL still need one because of your health.
Great news on the feeding yourself front, I found eating at both hospitals OH was in worked best for me. Broomfield hospital has an M&S so I could even do my home food shopping there and get straight on the bus for home. Had to remember a 15 minute walk to my door when I got off - but I was only eating light meals at home. The restaurant in Basildon was very good lots of choice and very reasonable, wasn't anything I considered badly cooked or served. Let's hope yours is the same.
Lastly don't forgot to take care of yourself. Sending you both my best wishes.
Lovely reading, not had time to post, still loving it here but the garden is growing like topsy! Got let down by a garden twice so kicked him into touch got someone coming this week 🤞 so much ground elder, ivy and goose grass. On the up side we have some lovely plants which I will post on here but typing is enough for now let alone resizing and only adding 5 😤
Beautiful here again. Just about to go off with the dog we generally do 3-5 miles through the lanes and fields to start our day. Very late this morning. Hopefully friend popping in on their way home from London to Northumberland later.
Lovely visit from son DIL and grandson, with us doing lunch on the hoof, but first proper visit without the need for a job or 2 or them needing to get away for bed or swimming etc. He got his 1st shoes yesterday, not walking yet but making all the moves 😱. He's really coming on.
Then I went to a local village's chorale society event in our church. Lovely evening. Walked both ways, well i can see the tower from our lounge window 😉.
Time and tide wait for no one enjoy your day folks.
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Glad to hear some better news JVB and take care both of you.
Gosh a busy time Francis and glad you like your new classic, we have got around here 2 classic Citroen DS one grey one white, there was a classic car show locally whilst we were away which friends usually go to she has a 1976 2CV a bit small for us as OH used to have 4 classic Range Rovers those were the days even used one to go around some of the first war memorials and cemeteries in Northern France a few years ago all off road then.
Glad you are getting settled in bakers2 and enjoying the garden, ours still needs some work since our holiday but too hot and today 36C is the forecast but cooler for the next few days so hope to get some more done.
Spent part of yesterday putting items together for our above ground pool the steps were interesting especially getting through the doors to put in our outdoor place OH has done the all the pump bits as we had fun with our friends pump so a different reinforced piping has been put on as the original did not want to bend, today's chore is to put plastic bits on to metal uprights all inside as to hot already here.
Great photos Moulesy and yes we have been to Beaune many years ago enjoy the rest of your trip, must sort out some photos of our holiday.
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A long day yesterday - 05:00 till midnight.
The photos are a mixture of screenshots from my son's Instagram, and from our CCTV (note - the time is still GMT on that, we've not bothered to change it). Five o' clock came round very quickly.
Some Big Tractors for those who like that sort of thing!
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Two full days of gardening, lots cut back. An old clematis Montana that had grown right over the fence and over next doors shed had to be cut right back to the base, don’t think it will come back but it had to be done. No chance of next door cutting it back their side, they are not gardeners. I was exhausted last night and slept so well, very unusual for me, even overslept this morning.
Off later to Crow Point, where Anne Cleeves sets her Matthew Venn novels. Meeting daughter and two of the granddaughters, youngest wants to fly her kite with grandad, not sure there is any wind but she is determined. I will give granddog a really good walk and ball game, which we both need - well I don’t need the ball game!
Our Son and family are visiting our caravan for the weekend. Hope they remember to water the pot plants for us.
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Debsc your clematis montana will come back when we lived in Somerset I cut our back to about a foot high and just came back again so did it a couple more times and same result.
Great photos Goldie146 the old saying of making hay whilst the sun shines comes to mind, did see a lot of farm activity when coming back down through France last week and some very large green bales on one tractor and trailer.
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Haven't looked at this thread for a while. Sorry to hear of your OH's problems JVB but you seem to have got things moving in the right direction - our best wishes to you both. It's all reminiscent of my Op in January when I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I'm beginning to think the NHS is broken - or at least, large parts of it.
Everyone seems to be having a good time away at the moment. It's only two weeks to our 'big' summer holiday - off to Charmouth via the Cotswolds - providing the van comes back from its latest trip to the dealers in Cumbria to have the heating fixed - again! I suspect another big bill is looming. How is it these things happen when it's just out of warranty??
Thanks for the pics Goldie - yes - I do like big tractors - it's not as big as Jeremy Clarkson's though
- but at least it goes in the barn!0 -
Long day in the saddle for you so to speak Francis. You must have a very understanding wife.
Talking of long days in the saddle we set off on the bikes again today (gosh what a segue
). Had a long ride into a wonderful bucolic dream of a landscape. Plenty of other people out enjoying Sunday, all seemed in a happy mood. Lovely weather with a sunny morning and some cloud later on but always warm and virtually windless.Sitting here with a cold beer after a nice long shower so feeling refreshed.
Enjoy the rest of your day folks.
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Well surprisingly the kite did fly! I took granddog for about an hours walk, away from the estuary and out to the ocean beach, about an hour. When I got back OH had taken the tail off it and then it was skyward. We all had a go, smallest granddaughter for just a few moments before she found something more interesting to do. We all enjoyed it though. Thought dog would be just a little bit tired after our walk but no, she still insisted on playing ball for another hour. Spaniels, do they ever tire! Only a few people walking, so beach quiet, very much makes a change, the season isn’t in full swing yet.
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Today we have moved on all of 50 miles along the river Dordogne, to yet another lovely site next to a Medieval village.
We were going to go to Beynac but its very warm again 32c and felt it too hot to walk around. Storm forecast for tonight, then temps for rest of week much cooler. Will move on again tomorrow.
Our friends are having a week on their own to see how they get on. It's been nice having company but it's very tiring planning things to suit others. This week we can please ourselves 😊 we've had a lazy afternoon by the lovely pools and a couple of swims.
Hope it's cooler tonight for sleeping, for the first time in many years we had the skylights wide open last night and a couple of the windows. Both fans were on above where we sleep, finally cooled a little bit around 04.30. We have more tree cover here and a little breezy now and again so should be cooler.
Francis, tiring day for you and the boys, bet you are itching to get stuck in to the new addition.
WN, lots of fun for you and OH
JVB, things seem to be getting a bit better for you and OH, as others have said don't forget to look after yourself.
Sounds like everyone has been having a good time away and at home. Stay safe all.
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Day 19 of OH being an impatient seems from conversations with ward staff OH did really well yesterday with bed to chair transfers
All went downhill today when the physio (inquisition) dept arrived as they tried to get her to walk with a frame and after three steps she had an episode and passed out lucky chair was still close, ward sister was also close by and took over, and she shouted to other staff to get oxygen mask and fed OH the supply and when she came round, was put back in bed with oxygen supply,, and one of ward assistants close by
I had on at least two occasions told the physio that she had lost muscle strength since her diagnosis for her other ailment and it had been noticed she was at times dragging her other leg when walking,
So I think from what was said to physio by sister another course of action to get her mobile again needs looking at
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Sounds pleasant in France TammyG, having vanned with friends know it's good to get some time to yourselves. Hope the heat disperses a bit!
Enjoy your new purchase Francis, there was a time when we had several older vehicles on the go, some in bits too and they didn't always get put together either.
A nice trip out Debsc, one week left before the crowds appear!?
Another set back JVB but I hope there'll be review.
We've had a busy weekend with the family, a quiet day tomorrow, sort ourselves out ready for another site.
Looks like you are having a good break WN, some nice countryside to enjoy.
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Sorry to hear of your and your wife's on going problems, JVB. Hope that they are soon sorted out.
TG, it sounds as if it would be too hot for us where you are, but pleased that you are having a good time.
RandR, sorry to read that you are having more problems with your caravan, a Knaus, isn't it? Fingers crossed that they soon get it sorted, that it's not too expensive and that it is ready for your planned trip.
Another good day by the sounds of it WN. 👍
Rather damp here today so didn't do too much. A recent walk from the van in the morning round the lanes mostly in the dry, and I managed another in the afternoon. It did clear up after dinner but then rained again. Last night here before we head back into England.
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Hi Brue. Hope your trip going well.
Must admit we've been really lucky with the weather, which looks like taking a turn for the worse for a while from Tuesday. The current area and the one before have been idyllic for us and the people have been super friendly. We've always liked tge Dutch.
Not sure about our next point of call. All areas in this trip are new. I suspect the next one will be the least rewarding plus it's a long public holiday, so a lot more people.
Anyway we'll find something to do.
Must go as the 9.50 pm bells have been sounded giving everyone 10 minutes to get inside the town walls. Old habits die hard.😂
Edit - Just seen your post Nellie. Anymore news on the procedure?
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I certainly like BIG TRACTORS Goldie, but I have to admit there is a tendency for me to go looking for the Steam Engined Variety !! With those a 5:00 start is usual , just in order to lay the fire and start getting steam pressure up before the profitable work can commence. I do have to admit though that even with a batch of Apprentice Steam Engineers they would not have a shine on 'em like wot yours do
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Edit - Just seen your post Nellie. Anymore news on the procedure
No, WN, nothing yet, apart from a follow-up phone call from my doctor to see if I'd heard anything! He did say that he would try to chivvy them along.
Enjoy your next port of call, seems all gone well so far.
A couple of photos from my afternoon walk today. Rammerscales Hall, a Georgian house of about 1760 and a memorial to a previous owner, Major W Bell and his wife.
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"RandR, sorry to read that you are having more problems with your caravan, a Knaus, isn't it? Fingers crossed that they soon get it sorted, that it's not too expensive and that it is ready for your planned trip."
Yes, it is, nellie. We absolutely love the van and the actual van has been brilliant - but as with most makes - it's the third party equipment that lets them down. Why Truma have had to make this 'new' Combi 6e so complicated is beyond me. Even a lot of the staff at Truma aren't absolutely certain how it works! Apparently the heating elements - one of which had failed last time it went in only have a life expectancy of what equates to just over a year with the sort of usage that our van gets and at £320 a pair plus the labour to remove the boiler from the van to fit them - it's not a cheap fix.
This time, it's all pointing to a failed pcb - again not cheap - but hopefully that will be with the dealer in a couple of days and the van will be back with us by the weekend.
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Yesterday we left the Saone and joined the Rhone to continue our trip southwards.
We were moored in Vienne overnight, surprisingly busy for a Sunday in France! It grew out of a Roman settlement and there's still lots of evidence of their influence, plus a nod in the direction of Milton Keynes and the concrete cows!
High above the city there is a citadel with a fabulous view down to the river.
Today is a sailing morning heading down towards the Ardeche Gorge, apparently the European version of the Grand Canyon!
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Just passing thru whilst sorting out some routes. This is the CWD point makes dumping the poo so much more pleasureable
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We rolled back into home yesterday evening, after a great 10 days away. Been a very interesting and different trip for us, mainly in terms of how we have put together our tour, and where we have chosen to stay. Mostly very positive, but one or two things made us think a bit, and we shall be a bit more chilled about some of the unexpected aspects we came across. Our good tour prep, and a willingness to compromise came in very handy at times. We toured Dumfries and Galloway for 10 nights, with an average nightly fee of £12.30 per night. Mix of very nice CL, community Aires and Forestry Commission Stay In the Forest Sites. Thoroughly enjoyed the roaming around and not being tied to a tight schedule of having to arrive to somewhere pre booked. Will try and post something in Story section at some point or other. And a review for the wonderful CL.
Quick turn around this week now. We are back out in a few days, Gertie is our wedding accommodation not too far from home😁
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Nice. . .Your eloquence helps too😂
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Moulesy - I am so envious!! Not having looked at this thread for a while until recently - I've just realised what you are doing. We sailed our yacht from Calais - all the way to Marseille - must be 30 years ago now. What a wonderful time we had and the scenery was stunning. The Saone was, perhaps the best part of the trip from a navigation point of view - wide enough to be relaxing and without the strong currents of the Rhone - and the massive locks! Will never forget the lock at Bollene - the second largest lock in the world (23 metre rise/fall) and our 'little' 40' yacht was totally lost in there as we looked up into the sky to the control tower in the distance!
Happy days
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The area to the North east has a lake, Lauwersee, topped by Lauwersoog where we caught the ferry to the island the other day. There are reputed to be good nature reserves and watching all the way around the lake and we took in some of it yesterday on the western side when out with the bikes. The eastern side is a bit too far to cycle to and then go for a long walk in the forest at one point so we took the car out today.
We did indeed have a lovely long walk in the forest, making a nice change of scenery. Loads of different butterflies and dragonflies but elusive birds as too much canopy cover. However as it was quite sunny it did provide a good bit of shade for us.
We moved on after lunch and found a fantastic place overlooking the lake with extensive reedbeds. Had a wander and found ourselves watching a White Tailed Eagle (Sea-Eagle) hoisting a fish out of the water and flying off with it.
Eventually the weather started to become overcast as we made our way home. Got home unpacked and 2 minutes later it started to rain.
A really enjoyable day. The site filling up for Ascension weekend. One of those times when you definitely have to book over here.
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