What are you all up to
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Great to hear that people are getting away. lovely photos @nelliethehooker I am really enjoying seeing them. Good to hear also that Mr & Mrs @Wherenext are enjoying their latest trip. I hope @Oneputt can get away soon.
Goodness @Bakers2 What mayhem in your house!! I hope the pheasant didnt cause too much damage or break too many things.
It seems to have been a very busy and quite stressful week here one way and another. I have said goodbye to my lovely friend Pat. We have been friends for 35 years so it was really difficult. She has decided to move down to Sidcup to be nearer to one of her sons. I shall miss her so much. She has sold her bungalow and hopes to move in about a week. She has decided to sell her car as she doesnt want to drive in that area so as my little old Clio is going over to our Grand-daughter in N Ireland. Her car is a lovely well looked after Kia Picanto. However it is an automatic which I have never driven before (!?). DIL has said she will take out in it until I am comfortable. The only other snag is that my friend is moving hopefully while we are on holiday and wants the car until she moves so we are trying to work out the logistics of that.
We met some friends for lunch today. We havent seen them for a while as one of them has been housebound with bad mobility problems with her osteoporosis. I was sad to see how bad she is but it was good to meet up.
I must now start to think about what I want to pack for our holiday in Devon with our son and DIL.
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@Bakers2 similar weather temp drop here as well, although it’s a good bit warmer than 11c. You must have had a right old time with the pheasant😱 hope it hasn’t broken anything. If I was closer, I would have the feathers, I sterilise them and use them for hats, Xmas decorations or my latest project, one of those huge Pheasant feather wall rings that cost a fortune to buy. My BIL, who beats and shoots collects them for me.
@milliehull I think you will love your automatic, so much easier than a manual, but you will think you have a spare leg for a while🤣 Sorry to hear your friend has had to move, it must be a wrench for you both.
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@Takethedogalong my DIL in N.Ireland would love the pheasant feathers as she is a milliner. Bit far away though.
Yes it is a great wrench that my friend is moving away but it is the best thing for her to be nearer family. She has been sensible to decide to do it while she is still physically and mentally able. Yes I am sure I will get used to the automatic in time 🤔 🤞
Yes it feels very cold here. A bit of a shock to the system.
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Ah, right. It’s just that we visited Villefranche (near Nice) whilst on a Mediterranean cruise. A lovely place to sit, have a drink, soak up the rays and take in the vista🙂 Many years ago we took the caravan to France, and as it happens we stayed near a village, Villefranche-du-Queyran, in the Dordogne🙂
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@milliehull and @Takethedogalong thanks for your concern over damage. Nothing was broken or chipped. Much to our amazement. washing up bowl was in the sinktge sink and seemed to have cushioned most landings. A bit of water on the floor and plenty of feather marks on the glass. Very lucky it hadn't left any calling card in its wake either! I collected to tail feathers together but the wind must have got hold of them. I left the smaller feathers, which are still blowing around, for the other birds for nests. Should it ever happen again I'll save them.
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Few photos to follow now that we have a decent signal. This one, and the few that follow were all found at a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve right on the edge of Doncaster town. It's a lovely "recycled" old industrial site, now having about 7 miles of walks to keep us nature lovers interested. I love these woodcut nature subjects.
A Great Crested Newt.
Guess what it is? Extra marks for identifying the correct name.😁
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Good journey down the A1 today to our site in the outskirts of Boston. An independent site, very laid back.
@milliehull - you'll wonder why it's taken you so long to drive an automatic. Mrs. WN welcomes you to the Kia Picanto Automatic club. She loves her Picanto. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Bit dull today but our weather has been great. Wonderful time to date. Having a smashing very early Birthday treat. MiL in fine spirits at home so all is well.
Lovely photos @nelliethehooker. Looks a lovely trip, apart from the ticks that is. Have a safe trip onwards.
Hope you're on the road again soon @Oneputt.
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@milliehull sorry your friend is moving away but as you say seems like a wise move. You’ll soon get used to the automatic and I bet you come to love it. I have a full licence but have only driven an automatic for the last 40 years and wouldn’t consider a manual, to be honest I’m not sure I’d know how anymore. As long as you remember to just use one foot it’s so much easier. Let us know how you get on with it. Have a good time in Devon, the weathers glorious here at the moment, dry, unusual for Devon.0
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Hope your van is soon fixed as planned, @Oneputt and you are back out with it again.
@milliehull you should soon get used to driving the automatic and then wonder why you were so concerned!!😁 Enjoy your stay down in Devon with your son and DIL.
Interesting photos, @Wherenext, and good to hear that MIL is enjoy herself while you both are away!😉 Hope the weather stays dry for the great of your stay away.
Sounds quite a kirfuffle with the pheasant, @Bakers2 glad that there was no major damage done.
We have had another very hot, sunny and still day, a bit too hot for OH. We just had a couple of walks from the site through surrounding woods, calling in at the NTS Centre to view the short videos of the Glencoe Massacre and the construction of the Creel House. The site has been full all the time we have been here, with many leaving during the morning and being replaced in the afternoon.We are all packed up now in readiness for a relatively early departure tomorrow…onward and upward!
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@milliehull - I'm sure you'll be fine making the switch an automatic. I wouldn't drive anything else now. If it helps - I was taught, many years ago - that it helps, to start with, to take your left shoe off when driving. It makes you concentrate on just using your right foot.
Boy, did we have fun and games, yesterday and not an experience I would want to repeat anytime soon! We set off for our week away at the NYM site near Whitby. A trip I have done many, many times and it's normally quite a relaxed tow, albeit that there are some 'interesting' twisty hilly bits around Boggle Hole, just before you get to the site. Went around Scarborough, as I always do, and were on the A171 just approaching Burniston, for those that know it, when in front of us were barriers and a 'Road Closed' sign. Diversion sign, pointing to the left. So off we went. What I didn't realise was that we were about to embark on a 'lovely' 🙄scenic trip through Harwood Dale! For those that don't know it, Harwood Dale is a beautiful spot but the road is narrow, twisty, hilly, lots of blind bends etc etc with quite a few sections that are literally single track - the last place anyone in their right minds would take a caravan almost 27' long and 8' wide. And certainly not built for the 42 tonne artics we met coming the other way!!!! I haven't checked the map but I guess it was about a 5 or 10 mile detour - but it felt like 50! I had to pull over into a farm gateway at one point to let the 30 or 40 vehicles that had built up behind us, get past.
Anyway, we survived but I dread to think what my blood pressure was! Turns out that a water main had burst in a spot where it was impossible to use traffic lights to control the traffic, hence the complete road closure. I am hoping that it will be fixed before our return, next week😮
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@richardandros that sounds like an horrendous journey. Well done you. You are in need of your holiday. Certainly worth checking the situation before you head home next week.
@milliehull with regard to an automatic, you'll love it once you have had a few journeys in the driving seat. We still have a manual but should we have to change, I still say we even though OH not been allowed to drive since his stroke 6.5 years ago 😢, it will be automatic. My first experience of them was in NZ. At least they drive on the same side of the road! You must feel very sad about your friends move, as must she. It's very similar to our recent move we made years wise, but you do get used to it. Texts and phone calls help 😢. It is a sensible move but none the less hard.
It feels a light warmer,possibly comfortable this morning, bit thick cloud again.
@Wherenext happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 whichever day it is officially. Looks like you're having a great time.
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@richardandros well done for managing the detour! Not that you had a choice. NYM was always our favourite site, so peaceful, although we never went at busy times, enjoy your stay.
We have been catching up with the garden after all the decorating, it’s looking good now but of course in much need of rain as is everyone. Fingers crossed for the forecast Bank Holiday rain although I do feel sorry for all the events etc planned for that but rain is desperately needed.We haven’t quite finished decorating we have one small bedroom to do which shouldn’t take long (famous last words!) so hopefully we can get this done in the next few days.
The pheasant episode made me chuckle @Bakers2. (For some reason this won’t go red) I can just imagine the chaos! Glad you managed to get through it with no lasting damage.@milliehull as others have said you will be fine with an automatic. OH delayed for years thinking he wouldn’t like one but we took the plunge 9 years ago and now he wonders why as it’s so easy and relaxing to drive.
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@milliehull I don’t think there can be any doubt that for many of us age brings a decline in our driving skills - not saying that’s the case for you of course - and having an auto makes driving so easy as there’s less to think about in terms of handling the car which allows more thought processes free to concentrate on the road. I’d not go back to a manual box.
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We've had an automatic 'main car' for years @milliehull - wouldn't go back to manual now. However, our second car (aka, the rust bucket! 🤣) has a manual gearbox... we tend to use it mainly in an emergency and should the auto-Disco be out of action.
Which ever car you have, it sheds loads of ££ these days. I love the auto Disco, although it's around 13 yrs old now. Next week it goes in for a coolant leak and brakes... so the 'rust bucket' will come in to it's own... 😀😀... mind you, I don't think that the rust-bucket car has much life left - it's 22 years old now...!!
David
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@Wherenext Happy birthday have a good day and weekend.
@Bakers2 Sounds like fun and games with the Pheasant think our last Springer would have chase it and possibly got it as he was from gundog parents.
@milliehull No problems with an Automatic OH has driven them for years and my is a manual but again I have no problem with automatic and would change to automatic next time.
@richardandros Gosh that was a hairy trip but glad to got to site with no issues, twice in UK I have had to take alternative route re accident 1 on A303 Wiltshire when car and caravan had just come down a steep hill and had overturned on opposite carriageway hence we were all turned off to first right turn that was interest found somewhere to pull in ie farmers gateway checked map days before GPS sat nav and realised there was a route around to get where I wanted to go again big lorries about and the second time going on A37 to Dorchester the Somerset end same thing an accident then turned off left and that was very narrow twisty roads but did see that I could get onto another main road and realised I had a white follow me all the way he probably thought she knows where she is going I follow her and when back on main route he went opposite direction me.
Another sunny day although not as warm as yesterday but a good breeze for drying the washing and OH putting his new garden kit together to try out after lunch so a bit of brush cutting I will stay out of the way and re pot some plants.
Have a good weekend folks.
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That looks horrifying @Francis. We had something similar a few years ago when the A50 was closed near Stoke. Fortunately for us we ended up following a Steam Tractor who was on his way to a show. Everyone got out of his way!
Apologies folks, birthday mention a bit previous. It's not until well into next month but I was told in no uncertain terms that ignoring it this year was not an option (70). So I agreed to a one week holiday but at a time of my choosing. I chose this week to do some birdwatching. Hence my "very early" comment. I'll keep the best wishes for then. Thank you.
Frampton Marsh on a cold gusty overcast day today but it was dry and we enjoyed it. I'll put a photo up of a gorgeous flower from a Horse Chestnut that I posted on What have you seen thread. I know there are posters that don't look there but thought the flower might appeal to them. Usually we only see them as Cone shapes on the tree but this time we were able to get up close and personal to it
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@Bakers2 that sounds like fun! We have pheasants that tap on the patio window for food, they are all called Phillip. They are quite daring. The squirrel got to the peanut feeder again so I put it just inside the kitchen door intending to put more tape around the bottom, I was in the lounge and thought I could hear OH in the kitchen but it was a pigeon who had wandered in and was pecking at the feeder.
@richardandros I hate road closures and not knowing what I’m up against, let alone towing a caravan, that sounds scary.😧
Very warm here today but as the end of the garden is shady I started to clear all the bluebell foliage away on the bank at the end of the garden, gardening on the bank is my least favourite gardening. If I leave the foliage it smothers the geraniums and the slugs hide under it all. Only managed the bottom half of it, did also give it a dig over, have left the worst bit at the top for tomorrow, difficult getting up there and back down lately with getting older. All the big jobs, like cutting big bushes and the lilac back need doing in the garden I could do with some help but OH hates gardening and he has a bad back at the moment, I think it’s time I looked at getting someone in for a few jobs.
The hospital in Exeter phoned yesterday with my radiotherapy dates. Fortunately it starts the Tuesday after the bank holiday so only 4 days to manage the travelling that week. Today I booked a caravan a few miles from the hospital for the second week, very basic but it’s only Monday to Friday, (they give me weekends off😂) Just hoping it’s not too noisy on site as it’s Haven, couldn’t find much else with vacancies. We might try to book a travelodge or something for a few nights the third week. Then just the Monday of the fourth week. So that broke it up a bit and worked out quite well. As I said before it’s 110 mile round trip so we just can’t do the journey each day for 15 days. A couple of my old work colleagues have said if they are working in Exeter the third week they will give me a lift. Just a shame it can’t be done just 4 miles away at our hospital. Still at least Im getting it done.
Just bacon butties for tea tonight as I’m shattered after all the gardening.0 -
@richardandros that sounds like a bit of a horror story, but it should put you in good stead for your trip to Devon!!😁 Enjoy your stay at NYM, and don't worry about the return journey as they will surely get it sorted out in a week, won't they?!
@Francis that photo reminds me of an encounter we had last year on the A827 just north of Kenmore on the narrow bend above the village when we met a lowloader with a digger on the back. We managed to edge past between it and an unforgiving stone wall, very, very carefully and slowly without mishap, thankfully, and got applauded by the driver of the car behind the load for getting past safely.
Hope all goes well with the radiotherapy, you certainly have done the right thing, in my opinion at least, in booking that caravan @DEBSC the daily journey would be very exhausting after the treatment.
Another hot and still start to the day, with the midges out in force again as they were last evening. Timed our trip up to Carrbridge, to one of our favourite CLs, to perfection arriving spot on 12:00. Fortunately here there has been a gentle breeze all day which has kept any of the wee beasties away, and it has not been quite as not either. This site is full tonight too.
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@Francis - at least everyone now knows I wasn't exaggerating when I said the route was horrendous! I feel sorry for the caravan owner. Looking on Facebook, it looks as if the diversionary route was also closed twice because of accidents and the bus service had to be diverted via Pickering. I just can't understand anyone selecting that route for the diversion.
@nelliethehooker - that was my reaction as well, with regard to our impending Dartmouth trip! Actually, whether right or wrong, I tend to adopt the HGV driver's attitude of "I'm bigger then you" and 'claim' my road and just sit there and let the others sort themselves out. If approaching a narrow section, I just sat there and let the cars / vans go around me and wasn't bothered about all the traffic built up behind.
@DEBSC - I think you've made the right decision - as I've said before, Ros found the radiotherapy very tiring, but what a pain having to travel so far. It will soon be over and we're wishing you a full and speedy recovery.
Weather here has been rubbish - thick cloud and a cold northerly wind and it looks as if we'll have more today but there is some sunshine promised in the next couple of days. The site is quiet, once again, although our bit on the grass pitches near the entrance (our favourite area) is pretty near full. Met some nice people on site, including one couple with a 25 year old Carlight which they have owned from new and it still looks good!
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@DEBSC I think you've made the right decision, booking a caravan. As it's Monday to Friday and not school holidays the 2nd week, I would have thought the site shouldn't be very noisy. It's such a shame it's so far to the hospital; as you say though, the BH has made the 1st week a shorter week at least.
I wish you all the best for the treatment.
@richardandros That sounds like an utter nightmare! The road you describe doesn't sound like a good diversion route; but I don't know the area, perhaps the alternatives are even worse?!? The photo posted by @Francis brings home just how tight that road is; no wonder it's been closed due to accidents.
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Moving day today, heading from Boston to somewhere between Ashbourne and Leek. It's a fair drive so we broke it up by calling into the Attenborough Nature reserve in a suburb of Nottingham, a sort of community based reserve built on former gravel Pits. No charge and good walks, dog friendly, just a fee for car parking. Cafe and shop on site. We had a good walk.
Then off to site. Just arrived, still getting electric cable out, when a 1940s Lancaster Bomber flew straight over our heads. Absolute beauty it was. First site we've been on that's full this week. All others have been relatively quiet. 3 Independent sites and 1 CL.
Sun came out this afternoon so we lazed,
Very best wishes @DEBSC keeping fingers crossed all goes well.
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Shame about the weather @richardandros hope it improves for the rest of your stay. I am surprised that the site is not busy as 3 out of the 4 of those we have stopped on have been virtually full all during our time on them.
Pleased that the day has brightened up for you @Wherenext , have a safe tow home tomorrow.
We visited Loch Insh to see the Ospreys there before heading to the Forestry CP at Feshiebridge for our picnic and a walk by the R.Feshie. This is the state of the subsidiary channel of the river this spring!!
Essential shopping on the way back to the site at Aviemore, and were surprised how quiet the town was.
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Last year while visiting a NT kitchen garden, I surreptitiously picked up a couple of fallen squashed tomatoes and wrapped them in tissue from my handbag. At home I put the seeds from them onto kitchen paper, folded it and stored it in the cupboard. Earlier in the year I put the seeds onto little containers of earth on the window call. OH said that they would never grow but I now have a small forest! I asked our offspring if they wanted any tomato plants but they refused, saying they didn’t want my ‘stolen goods’! 😆. They were just dropped squashed fruit. Youngest granddaughter wanted some, clearly not bothered how I’d come by the seeds. Today I planted 8 for me and 6 for her in containers. It will be very interesting to see what varieties we will get. I still have a small forest of others and hate to throw them away, wished I’d saved some seeds for next year now. Actually relaxed in our garden today to enjoy all my hard work, all looking lovely in the Sunny weather, especially the rhododendron.1
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Wish I lived closer @DEBSC as I love tomatoes picked straight from the vine.
Another smashing day, the last of our holiday. It's been wonderful. We've had regular updates from one of the carer supervisors about MiL, the weather has been great, sites good and nature watching has given us both such a fillip. Couldn't have been better plus we had a long chat with the @Takethedogalong and OH.
Paid a visit to a hilly, wooded reserve today in Staffordshire, near Leek, Coombes Valley. We managed to see everything we came for plus more plus ice cream! So happy bunnies. We've been coming here off and on for years, it always relaxes us. I'm sure everyone must have their own special relaxation place. Back to reality tomorrow.
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Well done @DEBSC recycling discarded fruit! Hope you and your granddaughter each end up with a plentiful crop.
Good to read that your trip was a success @Wherenext and that all seems well with MIL and her carers.
We have had a sunny day with a cool breeze which clouded up during the afternoon and is now definitely chilly in comparison to previous days. We did our usual walk from the site, but in the reverse direction for a change. Had an interesting chat with one of the Woodland Trust volunteers who look after the town's woods about the area and it's bird life. We might do a walk he suggested tomorrow. The town of Carrbridge has a Wood Carving festival in August and there are many examples of the craft scattered around the place particularly in the woods. This is a good example of the type of sculpture that are created.
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Great to hear that you had a good break @Wherenext - very much deserved, I would think - and that the weather was kind to you. Pity you couldn't send some down the NE coast! Looks like being another grey, cloudy one again today! Still, we haven't got wet!
Just can't keep up with your travels @nelliethehooker ! Ever thought of making a TV programme???? Just keep those lovely photos coming😃
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@Wherenext glad you managed a full week away, and that everything has gone well back at home as well. Our afternoon felt like a holiday to us as well, even calling into an “alien” Tesco on way home😁 We had a couple of hours at a classic car show yesterday, and are looking forward to lunch out later with some friends.
@nelliethehooker you have dropped for some fabulous Scottish weather! It’s been a bit cloudy here on and off in South Yorks, but sounds warmer and sunnier than where you are @richardandros
@DEBSC love the “stolen” tomatoes🤣 OH has three lots growing here, all different varieties. I have to confess to being a bit of a seed reaper. If I can find seeds dropped on the ground I will gather them and try to grow on the next year. Even better if I can find a gardener and ask for some, they are usually very obliging. I picked up some Nasturtium seeds from Harlow Carr last Summer, they are coming along, and I have Hollyhock and Delphinium seeds, different colours from all over…..Belton, Avebury, Nunnington, Clumber, Belvior, Charlecote, etc….. I do give back as well, our council recently renovated an old shrubbery patch near home, and it was seed bombed by “someone”🤭 Head Gardener at Renishaw gave me some Black Ball Scabious, which is lovely. I share with family, friends and neighbours.
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