What are you all up to
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If it's Costa Rica Micky then I'm jealous.
We're just back from a single night excursion in order to view the Autumn colours at Bodnant Gardens, just south of Conway. Fantastic day, weather wise, and we took our time to fully appreciate every route available to maximise the enjoyment.
Some photos of the day. Mrs WN swears she was looking at a Buzzard overhead whereas I think she was making the most of the sunshine. Anyway she was doing a pencil sketch of the Pin Mill from the far end of the pond.
The small independent site we stayed at nearby was excellent. I'll post about it in that thread on UK section.
Back home now to a somewhat foggy day. Feels about 10º colder.
Glad to read you didn't have to escape through the windows Millie.
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As soon as the river started to go down earlier in the week we hot footed it to the caravan. It’s time to start packing it up for the winter in case we do get a bad frost, we’ve done a lot, patio furniture and bbq wrapped up, spare bedding etc in vac bags, some items placed up high in the shed for if (when) it floods, etc.Need to do the last cleaning and defrost the freezer before we go. We have also had some trips out and caught up with relatives, the weather has been lovely, and mild we’ve hardly put the heating on. We’ve noticed that the trees here are far more autumnal than at home, all very pretty. We intended to eat out a bit but when I realised what was left in the freezer that scuppered that plan as I can’t waste food. I’ve got bags of store cupboard food to take home, the pantry there will be full for a while.
The site has a big firework display on tonight as the tourer pitches and some of the site closes next week, we can hear excited children with their parents walking past. We will watch them from our decking later as it can get a bit crowded over there. We have to go home soon as OH has his RSV injection on Monday. We may just pop back in December for the Christmas markets as the site doesn’t close proper until early January, but last year the river flooded just then and we couldn’t, so we are packing up completely for winter in case that happens again, I’ll just leave our bed made up and cross our fingers.
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The joys of Leeds traffic for us today😱 An afternoon at St James Hospital, OH has got to have another Op, but he will be getting well looked after. Just a PITB having to travel, but it’s a stunning hospital, lovely staff. We had lunch in the Thackray Museum Building, which looks a fantastic visit, but we weren’t in the mood to view some of the grisly medical stuff from the past today. Lovely family made the journey less stressful for us, and thankfully no major hold ups on the M1. The hound had a pamper day with my Sister and Mum, so he is fine.
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Glad to read that you got away for a night, WN, and that you had a lovely day for your visit to Bodnant. Grand photos, and Mrs WN is obviously enjoying the sunshine.
Have a good weekend away, Francis, are you using your free night voucher?
Sounds like a busy few days at the caravan, Debs. Hope you are able to get back for a few nightsvin December. Enjoy the fireworks tonight.
Tda, fingers crossed that all goes well for you OH, just a shame that you have to travel to Leeds for it.
It was a misty morning as we packed up but not really wet, so we got away dry and had a comfortable drive around to another new to us CL near Whitby. It is nearly full tonight, unlike the last one where we were the only van on it for all the time we were there, which was quite a shame as it was a grand newish CL. This one is very convenient for walking on the old railway track from Scarborough. It has stayed misty over on this coast all day, with just an odd glimpse of sunshine.
I had a phone call from our doctor's practice asking if I could come in that day for a blood test. As we are away I was able to arrange to go in the day after our return home without any problem.
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You sound as though you had lovely weather for your trip away WN. Lovely photos, especially the one of your OH enjoying the sun/watching the buzzard.
Yesterday here was grey, misty drizzly and miserable. We passed the time by doing a big food shop as our son and family are arriving from N Ireland later today. We then went and had lunch in the local garden centre which is already fully equipped and decked out for Christmas.
I do hope all goes well for your OH tda. It sounds as though he is going to be well looked after.
I hope your caravan stays dry this winter DEBSC and that you manage to get to stay in it again before Christmas.
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Micky - that can only mean one thing, Costa Rica, and you'll love it. I'm very envious; we were there in 2018 and would love to go back one day. Some really memorable highlights - Tortuguero National Park, only accessible by boat, Arenal Mountain where all the hotel pools are heated geothermally, like having a bath that never goes cold, and, best of all, zip lining in Monteverde Cloud Forest, starting high above the clouds.
You must get back on here when you go to let us know where you are and what you're doing. Great to be able to look forward to it.
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Much better weather today, with periods of sunshine and with it warm temperatures, a bit of a contrast from yesterday. We visited one of Millie's favoured places, Staithes, walking in from the Cowber loop road. The council have had to put in a new road and footpath to the hamlet due to costal erosion, the old road having disappeared in places. We had a wander down to the the harbour, along the outer breakwater wall, and then around the village. 'Twas a fair climb back up to the car!!
The first photo is from the coastal path near the site yesterday and the other is of course Staithes from the breakwater.
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Yes, M. This will be our second proper holiday to Costa Rica. We had called in once whilst on a cruise spending just one day at the Tortuguero canals, that was enough to convince us as to the merits of this wonderful country and it left us wanting more. Our first proper visit, not long after yours, pretty much followed your itinerary, I remember your photos and accounts well and our experiences lived up to yours.
On returning home from our holiday we were totally smitten and we have since longed to return. Now we have bitten the bullet for our 70s treat to ourselves. This time we will retrace some of our steps but will spend most of the time on the Pacific coast and in particular the Osa Peninsula, an area not previously visited. We are very excited and I will post of our adventures, I promise.0 -
just home after a great weekend away at Ayr Craigie gardens club site it’s closing next week so we won’t be down there again now until March. Weather was ok just nice to relax. Nellie we actually forgot about the site voucher until you mentioned it
. Easy half hour tow home today caravan back in it’s space. Not sure when we will be away in it again hoping to get another weekend in before Christmas but not sure as the next few weekends are quite busy for us we have a lot on. Plans This afternoon is to stay at home watching football Hope everyone else has had a nice weekend
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We visited one of Millie's favoured places
One of Mrs.WN's as well. I think a lot of it has to do with seeing so many videos of artists painting the various scenes plus it does happen to be very pretty. I tend to end up visiting the cliffs and Kittiwakes whilst she draws or paints something so we're both happy. Nice little tour you are on.
Had some lovely weather these last 2 days so doing plenty of outside jobs plus speaking to our new neighbours about the plans and works being carried out. Be nice, hopefully, to have a second youngish family in the close.
We hope to get away again later in the week but we'll have to see how MiL is as she's been off colour this weekend.
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The forecast was good for today and it proved to be reliable. Spent most of the morning in the garden tidying a few things up. I really need to do some weeding at ground level but my knees will often not co-operate!!! Cleared up lots of leaves but many more to come. Just not looking forward to it getting darker an hour earlier.
David
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Such lovely photos nellie. Thank you so much for sharing them. It is indeed one of my very favourite places. We have some very happy memories of wonderful family times spent there. Yes it is a very steep walk back up to the top. I am sure it is much steeper than it used to be 😁.
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Home now, not a bad journey, until we got to the North Devon Link Road and again it was closed, hope that it wasn’t an accident but more likely road works, the upgrade was supposed to be finished by this summer but no where near finished yet. We ignored the diversion and took the locals route down the back country lanes then picked it up again further along.
I bought some meat from a butcher there, very reasonable price and British meat, put it all in the cool bag with some frozen food and managed to get the frozen food home still frozen, just popped it all in the freezer and fridge. If the meat is ok then I might buy more next time we go, can’t get it for that price or looking so good here.
We stopped briefly at Gloucester Services, goodness it was rammed, long queues for everything except the loo. Mixture of good weather and half term maybe.I bought a fig loaf which we will have for tea in a moment with some cheese.
Well it was a good break, beautiful weather today, would like to have stayed longer. Caravan all winterised, we are getting quicker at blowing the water out of pipes with the Floe. Piles of bedding washing brought home, will start tomorrow. Garden absolutely covered in leaves from the wood, I will start that later in the week. Oh, and I’ve got a miserable OH who got home to a tax letter, I must say it is a bit steep and we’re not sure why so suddenly.
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We decided to have a few days away in the caravan. Weather was good travelling, but the sun was quite low in the sky, which made driving a little difficult.
Took a look at the forcast for the next few days... It looked better in the South East, so we've landed at Bearsted CAMC site in Kent... travelled down after church this morning. The traffic was fairly heavy on the M1 & M25... thought of you as we passed tbe signs for MK... 😀. Although the weather has been good and the forcast was reasonable, it may well change - know doubt time will tell!!
David
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Thanks, Millie.
It was a lovely start to the day, sunshine and a gentle breeze, ideal for getting the washing dried outside!! Drove around to Robin Hood's Bay, but it was so busy we just kept going and parked up on the Moors above, where we had a couple of walks. After getting back to the van, and a brew, I had an hour's walk down onto the coastal path before dinner. It started to rain around 18:00 and is still doing so at the moment, so it will be a wet walk out shortly. Today's photo is our lunchtime view, down to RHB.
Enjoy your stay down in Kent, David.
It's a shame you forgot about your free night, Francis, as it is way too late to claim it now unfortunately. Hope you have managed to fit it in this time, WN, having missed out last time around. Where are you thinking of going to this week?
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Great photos nth and glad you are enjoying your break away.
A few photos of Bouzies Church near the river Lot taken last month the stained glass are traditional and modern very different.
A better day today after a lot of rain over the weekend and now hopefully no rain for the next 10 days and getting warmer for this time of year.
Hedge trimming to do this week and OH has started on our carport 1 H shaped post support put in and the ground was not rocky as we thought hooray just got to get some more quick setting concrete as 1 post used 1 bag yikes so a trip pout tomorrow to get some more just hope other post supports go in as easy as todays post, will get a friend to help with the posts as they are a bit heavy to carry from where they are stored undercover.
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Lovely photos folks.
Nellie - I've booked Southport site in December for a couple of nights. Not sure if it will happen as things need to be fluid here, as you know. But at least it's booked and we'll keep fingers crossed.
Shopping this morning, early, as it's half terms this week in Wales. Changed a calor propane gas bottle, we still had one of the "light" variety but now just have the normal one. Sun came out for a while so did some gardening but rain stopped play before long.
Hope to get off later in the week. MiL due out on a lunch date tomorrow. If she's well enough for that we should manage it. Probably Shrewsbury way somewhere.
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Lovely photos, RK, that looks a very interesting church with beautiful stain glass windows.
Hope you are able to get away this week, WN, and, fingers crossed, to Southport in December too.
Funny how things change on site this weekend, on Saturday it was full, with 4 caravans and 1 M/H, all Swifts and all had at least one dog in them . Last night there was only us on site but tonight it is full again, this time with 4 M/Hs and our caravan, all of different manufacture and only one dog, Flyte.
It is half term here too and Whitby looked to be heaving so we avoided getting mixed up in the traffic, motorised and pedestrian. We did however pay a visit to the Abbey, the information centre and the church yard before heading out to the Moor near the club site, where we had another walk after lunch. Called in to Sainsbury's to fill up with diesel, followed by Aldi for essential foodstuff,on the way back to the van, as we move on to our next destination tomorrow.
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Some lovely Yorkshire Coast photos Nellie. Glad the weather is being kind. Church windows are interesting RK, we want to explore France’s churches, large and small when we get the chance.
Discovered another interesting sport to watch now most of the road cycling has finished. We are hooked on the Cyclocross season televised from Belgium, World Championships as well next week. Found out there’s a local series of races not far from home as well, so if OH is ok, we might go and take a look at watching it live.
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Glad you're enjoying 'our' coastline nth - weather hasn't been too bad. We don't often go into Whitby and RHB, these days - they're always heaving - come rain or shine!
That said, finally managed to get the grass cut today - been threatening to get round to it for the last week but with the garden being north-facing, it hardly dries out at this time of year.
Having taken the hint from David (DSB) after his car battery experience a few weeks ago, mine went into the garage for a new one yesterday - and to replace two front parking sensors. What with the battery being almost 10 years old and winter coming on, I thought I would be pushing my luck to expect it to be OK for much longer. That said - not had any problems with it so far. I nearly fell over when I got the bill - three figures, all the same and all higher than 5
!! (Should explain - battery is under the front passenger seat - so it's a big job!) Been an expensive couple of weeks what with the new fridge last week.Doing the reverse trip to you, nellie, in a couple of weeks - van goes in for its annual service to ALV at Tebay. Please arrange the weather for me
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I had my battery fitted at Halfords, richardandros.... it was just a 'walk-in' job. I know you said yours was more difficult to fit, but I wonder if the standard charge for fitting at Halfords covers whatever the fitting. Gone are the days you can just fit it yourself. These days you have to 'reset the car compurer' to talk to the battery!!!
Oddly enough, I've just had a sensor replaced too..... 🙂
David
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With the budget tomorrow I thought I should fill up with petrol today
The last time I filled up was two months ago! Most of our motoring is in and round MK and I think I have done 275 miles in that time. I expect many of you do that in one trip? Most of our annual mileage was done in the motorhome and that used to return a reasonable 30 mpg. David
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Both our cars are full to the brim. We filled them up last week just in case. 😁
We find that Runswick Bay is just as pretty as Robin Hoods Bay and is not as busy.
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Glad folks liked my photos will have to find some more and OH does the process for me a bit too technical.
Now got more quick setting concrete 6 bags whilst at Villefranche so a bit of shopping pair of men's cheap jeans from LeClerc and now shortened as a standard length of 34 inches and OH now around 26/27 gosh he has shrunk ha ha. Popped into Lidl's as last week OH saw a small battery operated chain saw and they had stocked them again this week so now just been charged might be able to use it as well as very light and a short chain on it.
Another bit of work done on Carport more to do tomorrow.
It is a national holiday here Friday and noticed today that some stores are opening just for the morning very unusual and some even open on the 11th November not seen that before around here.
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It must be a day for car batteries as we had ours replaced today for just the reasons you mentioned Richard. Ours was nearly 8 years old and working fine but when the garage did a test during the recent MOT it was only about 30%. Glad to say our Sorento was rather less expensive than yours R&R but after just having a big full service plus the new battery it was quite enough!
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