What are you all up to
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🤭 Sorry about the giant dog photo. I did resize it, but it seems to have reverted to Large. I got it to Small before I clicked on Post Comment.
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@nelliethehooker. I am so pleased that you are still able to look forward to and enjoy your lovely trips away but I think we are both quite a few years older than you! Time eventually caught up with us and we now don't have the energy levels that we used to have unfortunately (and frustratingly). We have some great memories though.
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@milliehull - I know exactly what you're talking about. I was absolutely creased after I had finished unloading the car and van on Wednesday and I'm starting to wonder how much longer we can continue. I say that, knowing we are a few years younger than @nelliethehooker - who I think does extremely well. At the moment, knee, hip, and hand and back pain are really hampering me and I'll be pleased when the medics have sorted out what's wrong! It's so frustrating!! I think, for starters, I'm going to follow @DSB 's example and do away with the awning in favour of just using the canopy.
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I've been reading but not writing much this last few days - we've been here and there.... Good to read what folks have been up to.
We're out in the caravan at the moment with a handful of other caravans.... local friends of ours. We're only about 20/25 minutes away from home..... at Conkers C&CC site. In many ways, the closeness to home makes it more complicated.
We arrived on Tuesday. I popped back on Wednesday to play for a funeral. Popped back on Thursday to vote, and to collect music for me normal Thursday night ptactice. Off out in around an hour to take my usual Friday U3A Choir (couldn't cancel it as we've a concert in a couple of weeks.....) I sometimes wonder if it would be better to go ,far enough away so that we couldn't 'carry on as normal'. At least we get chance to be with our friends at moments throughout the day, and evening BBQ's etc.
It's a bit cooler today, after some rain yesterday evening. Hope it brightens up for tonights BBQ
David
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@richardandros .... It certainly helps not having to put up a full awning. We tend to use the canopy between and around April to September (ish). Other than that, we just use the caravan and don't bother with the outside.
The only thing we keep outside is a slatted table (+ table cloth), two chairs, the Cadac and a small table. If we're out for round about a week, we put down a groundsheet.... just makes it feel a little more 'homely' and it means I can step outside with house slippers on for short moments.
The slatted table is kept in the wardrobe in the caravan (it doubles as a caravan table as our main caravan table is a bit heavy and awkward, so we leave this at home)... most of the time in the van, we use the pull out table from the front chest.
Chairs, Cadac, small table go in the boot of the car. I pack the boot of the car with tbe outside caravan stuff around March, and by and large, it stays there until around September.... the car packing then goes into 'autumn/winter mode... 🙂
What also helps is using serviced pitches. No more wastemaster to take, and a simple Colapz bucket and hose for fresh water (shich stay in the caravan)
P.S. I keep a photo of how to pack the boot of the car to remind me how to do it... 🤣🤣
David
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@richardandros the awning was the first thing we stopped using before we eventually sold the caravan. OH who was 73/74 years old at the time was just exhausted after erecting the thing, I was quite worried at times. We had an Isabella porch awning so it wasn’t large and it sounds like it was easier to put up than yours, even so it still needed sorting and pegging out, that was the killer! Then I, particularly, got so fed up with the packing and unpacking that I started thinking - why am I doing this? Sorry to hear about the aches and pains, I’m reconsidering my hip replacement that we decided to leave for a while; its been a bit rough for the last month, that will teach me for thinking that it’s ok for now.
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@richardandros It was about this time last year that we realised that with Margaret's hip we were not going to be able enjoy the motorhome as we once did. At that time we also didn't realise how serious her hip problem was. However as soon as it became apparent that it was going to be a long wait for an NHS resolution to the problem we didn't really see a way forward. I suppose had we pursued the private route six months earlier we may still have the motorhome?
On the question of awnings we gave up on those even before we retired and with the caravan we used Caravanstor's and when we moved to our first motorhome we had the luxury of wind out canopies. It was different when the boys came with us as one of them slept in an inner tent in the awning.
David
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Day didn't start well! I was due to receive a phone call from a Doctor sometime today, following up on a recent X-Ray. Decided to have a shower early on, 8.30ish. Halfway through the phone rang. Wife answered it. The Doctor. I switch off shower.
"Morning" he says. "How's the breathing?
"The hearing is not too good but I think it's just water in the ears"
"No, I said Breathing"
"Oh, that's not too bad lately thank you"
"Well, I'll put you down for a check up in a year. Best get someone to look at that water in the ears problem though"😂
Can't say I've ever had a phone call with someone whilst in the shower before. Glad it wasn't a Zoom call!🤣
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What a week. It hasn't let up. MiLs hearing test produced a problem on an eardrum so urgent appointment or e-consult needed. Fortunately we managed to get an urgent prescription for antibiotic drops. (Maybe I'll try some to solve the water in ears problem 😊). Carry on for 14 days after symptoms stop it says. As she didn't show any symptoms to start with how do we know when they stop? We'll give her the prescribed dosage then try to get another visit with the audiologist.
The ladies are out on another appointment at present. MiL has Physio at the local community hospital.
We were switched over to Digital Voice yesterday. BT is utterly useless. Supposed to send an adaptor to plug into the back of the web hub but still waiting. We've had to move the main phone socket to accommodate plugging into said hub which is bad for MiL. MiL doesn't do mobile phone so a landline phone needed. This device from them was due to arrive on Wednesday but the Postman has been today so we're still waiting.
Just finished a couple of hours gardening. Not quite as hot as recent and some of the garden was shaded. Pooped now though.
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@Wherenext I suspect we are going to be forced onto digital voice (VOIP) at some point in the near future as BT/Openreach have installed fibre optic internet to our small estate. We are currently with Plusnet with whom we would prefer to stay. However, BT, in their wisdom have decided that Plusnet in future will be their "value" supplier and they won't be offering VOIP. Like in a previous discussion I am keen to keep my BT email address and also my land line number so choices are fairly restricted. I could go back to BT but I don't like their overseas call centres or alternatively I could stay with Plusnet and have their FTTP fast internet and use a third party company for the landline. I don't think this option is any more expensive than going to BT but I do worry about the longevity of some of these VOIP companies?
David
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I think BT has changed, David.
PS No matter what size I choose for that photo, the system insists on it being LARGE.
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I had occasion to ring them this week. I spoke to someone in Scotland one day and someone in Cardiff the second time. You choose an option then they send an OTP message. You input it and they give you the call centre that deals with your query and I got through straight away.
@Takethedogalong mentioned the same problem TW. I had it last week but the system did seem to get back to normal the following time I posted a photo.
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We arrived on site early this afternoon for the bank holiday weekend just local but good to have the extra night and not too long a drive. Lovely and sunny here all day just cooked pizza on the Cadac. Not much planned tonight just watch the snooker in the van. Here’s hoping the weather stays ok for the weekend site is very busy.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend
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"@Takethedogalong mentioned the same problem TW. I had it last week but the system did seem to get back to normal the following time I posted a photo."
It’s just like old times, WN🙄1 -
We bought a canopy (Isabella Shadow) 6 years ago when bought the caravan, around £200 I think, for the 4m model. We wouldn’t be without it. Around 5 minutes to put up and very easy, even single-handed. Of course, it doesn’t offer the privacy of an awning, but it’s fine as a shelter, surprisingly good. I would consider myself as fairly able-bodied, but I can’t be bothered with messing about with an awning, especially as there’s only the two of us. Thinking about it now, the 5m version would have been preferable, but the 4m we have is fine.
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We do have a number of awnings, and a canopy which we no longer take with us but do have an open porch awning which we occasionally use, and hope to put out on this trip. However for most of the year we manage well enough without.
Today has been rather cloudy and no warmer than 17C. We paid a visit to "Castle Leoch", for the uninitiated Doune Castle, and there was an excellent audio guide spoken by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. As well as going round the Castle we had a couple of walks, one from the castle to the old Mill, over yhe new Bridge, and after lunch around Doune Ponds nature reserve. Some photos of the castle below.
The main entrance and the rear of the castle.
Inside the courtyard showing the kitchen tower.
The Mill Bridge
OH and Flyte taking a break on a fine carved seat on our walk around the nature reserve.
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I agree that we are a few years younger than you, thankfully time has not as yet caught up with us, and hope we have a few years touring left in us yet, enough to qualify for our 50yr club membership!!😁
@Francis enjoy your long weekend away, hope the weather stays fine for your stay.
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Here is my first post from my new iMac😀. It arrived yesterday lunchtime, so guess what I was doing all afternoon! First problem was that 'Migration Assistant', that is supposed to transfer all the data from my old machine to the new one, wouldn't work. I tried every work around - including a direct cable connection between the two machines - nothing - one didn't see the other at all. So - set to and did it all manually. Actually it wasn't as bad as it sounds because logging into both Apple and Google accounts took care of most of it. I just had to manually set up all the desktop icons for favourite sites.
As expected, it's so fast - gone are the frustrating delays of having to wait for web pages to load. Bit smaller than the last one, though because Apple, for whatever reason decided to abandon the 27" monitor in favour of a 24" one. How they manage to fit all the electronics into the back of the screen which is less than half an inch deep is beyond me - especially when I think of the monster towers I have used in the past.
Picking up on previous comments about VOIP - we now have ours working after more than a month of delays. Whilst I am a big fan of EE and their excellent customer service, I can't say the same about Openreach - it appears that the various departments just don't talk to each other and what should have taken 3 hours to complete, took them over a month!
@DavidKlyne - now that I have EE's "Plus" package (i.e. full fibre), I no longer have to pay for BT Premium Mail to keep my BT email address - so that's a saving of £7.50 per month.
Thanks for all your kind comments and advice re the awning. I think we'll stick to just using the canopy and the lightweight Sunncamp if the weather's really wet. That Thule Veduta is an excellent awning but it really is far too heavy for me to manage now.
Lovely photos @nelliethehooker - and I especially liked the one of Flyte and OH😁
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Hi Folks
Mysterious leak???
During the time my M/H has been laid up for winter the front passenger side tyre has slowly gone down a bit. I put air in the tyre and took it to have the slow puncure fixed yesterday, but there was a couple of damp patches on the carpet, near the bathroom door and the entrance door opposite! I left the door open and they have now dried, but has anyone any idea where the leaks may have come from as the inside of the van has no other leaks at all. Obviously the van was tilted when the wheel was taken off, so I assume that had something to do with it but I was wondering where the water came from that got onto the carpet?
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It's done it again! I type the highlighted name and then it freezes and won't let me go any further. I will try again.
Great photos again @nelliethehooker Especially good to see OH and Flyte. Both looking well.
[Moderator edit: Don't know what happened there, @milliehull, but I've managed to delete the blank post with the 'nellie tag' 🙂. (DSB)]
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@vbfg not being flippant but with the vast rise in temperatures lately might it be condensation? I sincerely hope it's nothing more. Glad you got the tyre fixed.
Expecting my brother and OH, our kids coming in, between new shoes for growing feet - don't miss that expense! And a birthday party. Probably lunchtime 🤣.
Has the grandson's for a few hours, Thursday. Fun but tiring. Great talk at WI in the evening Up the Garden Bath - wow that chap has soooooo much energy and a lovely vision. Buckingham Palace invite this summer.
FFriday Was finally cooler so able to get things done in the garden. Garden help too, so it all looks smart. As a result not so much in the way of home cooked cakes - but no worries!
Fabulous photos and great to read of others news and doings. Enjoy your weekend, it's a bank holiday one apparently 😉🤣
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We have a VOIP system now for our landline. It has been running for 5 months now, mainly it has been working fine. The only problem we have encountered is it doesn’t like my sister’s telephone!!! We tend to have some fairly lengthy phone call at times and it will just cutout after anything from 4 or 10 or 20 minutes completely random, I can still hear hear her but she can’t hear me ; we have to redial and see how long we get. It’s fine if we use our mobile phone. Trying to get any help from the service provider has been useless unfortunately; I don’t think they know what the problem is. We have decided that it must be a compatibility between our VOIP and their VOIP system. Personally I prefer using the landline as I find long chats on a mobile uncomfortable and our signal isn’t always good here.
@richardandros good luck with your setting up I’m sure Apple is easier than some to get running. OH is very old school here he has to use his computer for most tasks, yes the great big tower thing, he doesn’t understand or can get to grips with iPads or phones to do much!!!0 -
We have a VOIP system now for our landline. It has been running for 5 months now, mainly it has been working fine. The only problem we have encountered is it doesn’t like my sister’s telephone!!! We tend to have some fairly lengthy phone call at times and it will just cutout after anything from 4 or 10 or 20 minutes completely random, I can still hear hear her but she can’t hear me ; we have to redial and see how long we get. It’s fine if we use our mobile phone. Trying to get any help from the service provider has been useless unfortunately; I don’t think they know what the problem is. We have decided that it must be a compatibility between our VOIP and their VOIP system. Personally I prefer using the landline as I find long chats on a mobile uncomfortable and our signal isn’t always good here.
@richardandros good luck with your setting up I’m sure Apple is easier than some to get running. OH is very old school here he has to use his computer for most tasks, yes the great big tower thing, he doesn’t understand, or can get to grips with, iPads or phones to do much!!!0 -
I don't mind flippancy at all, but it wasn't condensation as the van was very dry inside and I have never had anything like that prevously where a small area of the carpet was slightly wet, even when the weather has been very wet amd/or there has been some condensation due to weather conditons.
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Apologies for double + a blank post!! I tried to edit, pressed a random key and now can’t delete previous message. That serves me right for saying OH didn’t understand how to use an iPad!!! 🤣
[Moderator edit: I've deleted the blank post for you @heddlo (DSB)]
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We’ve had VOIP for nearly 8 years now. With Vonage. There will be more choices now, but it works well so I’m not changing! We hardly use the landline, but it’s the registered number for various official sites. We’re very “tech minded” here. With a high powered desktop, laptop (which I hate and never should have bought), iPads, mobile phones and a Kindle. Not to mention the dairy computer running the milking parlour and tracking systems for the cows’ health etc. And a Grandson at university doing a degree in “Cyber Security”. Maybe M&S would like to borrow him.
And in other news - the bluebells are at their peak.
The photo was meant to be medium.5 -
Photo sizing definitely playing up🤭 Just catching up again, lovely photos, interesting snippets from folks. I love the postbox topper @Bakers2 Nice photos @nelliethehooker we have yet to get inside Doune Castle.
Hoping we can keep going a good while yet touring, but I think we find it very easy simply because we do travel very light. (Well, bar the five stone dog🤣) We have ditched everything we don’t need, even to do 2-3 weeks away, and the only extras to the MH we take are two lightweight but very comfy chairs, and a lightweight fold up table. We then either have our bikes on the bike rack, or occasionally our Thule box if we are doing something non cycling. We value the 10 minute set up, 15 minute depart highly, and of course it makes getting ready to go, and getting back home very easy to deal with. We have watched some outfits take almost a day to set up, and do wonder at what comes out of the outfit/car sometimes, but that’s what choice is about. I suppose if a van is in storage it isn’t as simple.
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@vbfg re your leak🤔check inside the bathroom to see if the shower tray might be cracked, or if water has possibly got under the tray, and has run down towards the entrance door? Water has funny ways of finding its way about inside a MH. We had a leak on our heki years ago that took some finding.
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