What are you all up to
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Spent a very enjoyable day at Wicken Fen, sunny but breezy. Lots of birds, a few Woodpeckers and even spotted a Buzzard. Plenty of birds on the feeders too including some Greenfinches.
Chilling back at the van now, cup of tea and keeping an eye on the Owl Box, if we are lucky there has been a Barn Owl hunting in the evenings.
Info for Oneputt and Bakers, we are staying at Slade Paddock CL Witcham. Field is waterlogged so on hard standing in the yard. Some noise from the units and lorries but site has an excellent loo and shower block, including dishwashing sink. Even had a welcome pressie of Home made chutney.
Triky hope you enjoy your weekend of R&R.
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We are now back at the van after a nice day in Cleveleys we had a relaxing morning and then headed out in the afternoon. When we arrived at Cleveleys the rain had stopped so we took a nice walk along the promenade blew the cobwebs away the place was deserted but was nice looking out to sea. Stopped off at some shops on the way back so SWMBO could pick up a few bits and pieces. Now back at the van not planning on venturing out again toniight . We are really enjoying this CL this is the first time we have visited but I think we will come back here rather than use the club site in future.
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Glad to hear that the wood mouse was released without harm, brue
We woke to a dry and less windy start to the day but just before we set out to catch the bus into Norwich it started to rain and that continued until we'd made it into the city and walked up to the Castle. However it was fine after that and we had a good wander round parts of the city, taking in the most impressive cathedral and the narrow streets before heading across to the market square. There we enjoyed a basket of chips while Flyte kept the pesky pigeons at bay before heading back for the bus. Managed to avoid most of the shops, and couldn't believe how empty John Lewis's was!! Had another walk after we got back to suss out where we'll be heading tomorrow, weather permitting.
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What a difficult and stressful time you are having Bakers2. I do hope things are improving and you can get arrangements put into place yourself. As others have said Social Services can be a bit of a minefield. I always get the impression that the various departments of the NHS, as good as they might be in their own right, don't speak to each other. If I remember correctly your son is in a profession that might enable him to give you advice and guidance on what might be needed in the way of equipment or support? Stay strong, stick with it and take care of yourself. People sometimes forget about the carers. We are all here for you so offload as much as you like. Just as an aside - after my Dad had a serious operation many years ago and they suddenly told me that they were discharging him, I insisted that they did an assessment as he lived on his own in an upstairs flat and I just wasn't sure that he was going to cope, They were not happy but did as I asked. I then got a phone call from some lady who told me that they had done the assessment and she said 'He can go up and down the stairs like a 2 year old'. Oh I said - one step at a time then. She wasn't amused. They still discharged him.
I am so glad you enjoyed Wicken Fen Helen. We love the place. So many lovely walks and such a lot to see. Also they are very welcoming to dogs. I have seen the CL you are staying on as we have driven past.
We went on a coach trip with our local U3A to Stanley Spencer's gallery in Cookham on Thursday. It absolutely threw it down all the way there - black skies, torrential rain, dreadful weather, and we were all getting a bit depressed as the day included a walking tour round Cookham but as we arrived the rain stopped, the skies cleared and the sun came out. It was very windy but a lovely sunny afternoon and we had a really great day. Cookham is a lovely village but one guy in our group looked up the house prices there on his phone
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H&T I've made the marmite & cheese sausage rolls. 😊 I must admit to being a wuss and doing half a batch of normal sausage rolls and half marmite in case we didn't like them.😄 I like them but I think next time I will use slightly less marmite. OH is preferring the normal ones but being polite about the marmite! Enjoy your CL in Ely. Hope it's not too windy there.
The wind is picking up here again. We came home yesterday after spending a short break at Center Parcs. It seemed windier here than in the forest there. We had a nice relaxing break walking through the forest, seeing the birds and wildlife. Ate way too much! 😮☺️. We had booked to try the segways but our class was cancelled due to high winds. (Branches and twigs falling from the trees.) We watched the previous group come back in and one lady misjudged the last corner and fell off quite spectacularly in front of us. She wasn't hurt but it did nothing for my nerves! I was glad our class was cancelled after seeing that!
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Very windy here yesterday as well, that has now calmed down a bit, but wall to wall rain today. Late morning for me, great night out with family up from London last night, lots of fun.
We dismantled a sofa yesterday, so it’s off to the tip with anything none recycleable. Another one to go today, then we are all ready for our new stuff in a couple of weeks. Dogs have been hilarious, treat the rather empty big room as some sort of play den, toys strewn all over, the old dog version of tail chasing, lots of flinging around and wriggling about on carpet. However........found a very dog shaped nest in one of our nice chairs this morning. Someone has taken to overnighting in comfort, and I think I know who...........🤔🧐
Have a good day everyone.
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The internet has been off here for two days, was partially back on yesterday ,but better today
Funny day yesterday ,used station car park at PBoro,cost me an extra £8 because I parked before off peak?at 1200 i went in at 1140
If any one is using Tfl Piccadilly line be aware it serves 4 Heathrow terminals so gets full of people with BIG cases
Spent just over two hours at Royal Brompton 50 mins in mri scanner (not pleasant)
We decided to try a different way back and did Tfl District line and caught new Thames link from Blackfriers to Peterborough 12 coaches in the rush hour1707 full and standing after we left Finsbury Park got back here just before 1900 But great train service if wanting to do London wonder full view towards Tower Bridge from Blackfriers station
B2 Hope things are still on the up with OH ,
Will now hav a wade through other posts as it is surprising how many there are
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Absolutely lashed it down for the last 3 hours but first thing we loaded up the van with most of what we need. No going for long so not much clothing and food to take.
Quite a bit poorer as we have just sent a hefty cheque to HMRC to top up our N.I. contributions. Mrs WN got caught up as a WASPI and despite "having" more years than is needed it would appear that some of those years are not counted as full years as I was Self employed and also contributing to a personal pension scheme. They don't make life easy do they?
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Went to a local garden centre this morning for a coffee and remembered there was a talk about orchids. Sat through a very interesting talk. Lots of plants passed around during talk. Speaker runs the British Orchid SOC web site so excellent info. Came out with an orchid which I can smell but OH can't, apparently some of us lack the genetic coding! OH could smell some of the plants so all is not lost.
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It has been pouring here all day today so we had a relaxing morning and then headed out for a walk around Lytham and then on to St Annes both very nice little towns. On the way back to the van we stopped of at The Kingfisher pub in Kirkham for dinner it was lovely and very reasonably priced I would recommend it to anyone who is in the area. Now back at the van good job we have 2 tvs in the van as I am planning on watching the football tonight while SWMBO wanta to watch The Voice. Hope everyome else is having a nice day.
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Woke to snow this morning, which was worrying as it was our local Guide coffee morning, but in fact the weather did not put people off and takings were even up a little on last year.
Money now ready for banking on Monday, still a bit of packing away of tables and cups etc to be finished tomorrow afternoon.
Hope the snow is gone before we go to pick up our caravan on Monday.
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Lovely day here did the cliff walk again this afternoon, feeling a bit tired now.
Just finished watching the rugby, what a great game England v Scotland
OH shouting his head off 
St Patrick day celebrations are underway here so we are eating in tonight
Not sure what we are doing tomorrow but I would think a bit of sunbathing is on the cards at some point
Hope the weather is on the turn for you all its sounds like you've had a rotten time of it.
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The tarpaulin covering our trailer was found a couple of houses away. I wouldn't mind but I put a housebrick on each corner and 1 each on front and back to supposedly keep it in place. Fortunately the housebricks didn't travel as far.
Made a Smoked Haddock chowder tonight. Had so much fish lately that I feel we've done our bit for plastic recycling.
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JVB, I had no idea that we could catch a Thameslink train from Blackfriars to Peterborough. We must give it a go sometime. Well done on your MRI scan. Our son 'chickened out' out the first time as he found it too claustrophobic. I hope your results are good. Did you investigate getting a taxi to and from Peterborough station? The prices here are very reasonable and it might have been cheaper than the car park.
Your orchid talk sounds good brue. We have never been successful in reviving them once they die back unfortunately. Lovely photo.
It has been a wet and windy day here so indoor jobs this morning and rugby watching this afternoon. The England/Scotland match didn't do my nerves any good! OH now watching the football through closed eyelids
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Funnily enough yesterday was better weather wise after the rain, today it's been cloudy all day and the wind's now got up again, but we had no rain. Fingers crossed that the wind will die down by the morning when we move again.
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Spent a while on here sorting the paperwork for a seasons site bookings while watching FA cup with one eye & two ears.
Plenty of nasty sneaky little fouls from both Wolves & United -- cheats, cheats & more cheats.
And 20 mins to go Wolves grab the lead !! 14 mins left now it's 2--0
Still I'm waiting for EFL on Freeview 37 Quest in order to watch Crewe scrape a close run 6 -- 1 win
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Walked from the CL over to Whitingham Country Park and Nature Reserve today. Sat watching the model yachts going through their paces. I never realised the sort of speed that they can get up to in the high winds that were blowing. Got back to van in time to see Italy throw away a win against France before the other two matches. Have finished off the day watching the England Ladies hammering their Scottish counterparts.
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WN, we did a similar thing, building up OH's pension pot but it was well worth it in the long run. Fortunately I'd started to do so while still at work and they contacted me to say that extra was needed but the pension would be backdated if we paid the required amount before the end of that year. The back payment was well over the amount we had to pay!!
I think that you are fortunate in recovering your tarpauline. The way the winds have been it could well have ended up the the Dee!!JVB, Glad that you managed to get your MRI done. Hope that the results come through clear.
It's started to rain so it looks as if the last walk out tonight will be a wet one.
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The problem we had, Nellie, was that they used to just show how many years contributions you had made and I had sufficient up until they changed it from 30 to 35, the devious so and so's. As you know taking early retirement meant I wasn't contributing any NI, just income tax. Plus they never told me that certain years where I had contributed didn't count as full years. They just continued to send me my records showing years.
At the end of the day it's my own fault for not fully checking and just trusting HMRC were being square with me. So it looks like more CLs and less CAMC sites this year.😊
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Just out of interest did you complete a BR19 to get a pension forecast, this can be done years before you actually retire? I thought that when the pension forecast came through it highlighted any shortfalls and offered options to pay extra contributions.It's been over 11 years since we retired so perhaps the mists of time have confused that? Margaret was a bit short on years as she didn't work for about 12 years whilst the boys were young but they added most of those missing years back in. There was still a small shortfall but from her point of view it wouldn't have been any advantage paying more in just the get the same amount out! Fortunately the company we both worked for didn't contract their pension scheme out of SERPs so we both have quite respectable State Pensions plus our company one.
David
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Well yesterday was just a bit windy!
Decided a walk on the fens not a good idea so went for a wander round Ely. Cathedral not dog friendly 
so had to make do with the outside. Nice little market and found a fab pork butchers, very popular queues out the door. Watched some of the rugby in the afternoon with the van rocking in the wind, luckily the barn we are pitched near offered some protection. Didn't see the owl but several sightings of a kestral over the field. Visited the friendly local pub in the evening, they good take away pizza.
Today isn't as windy, site owner recommended a nice walk along the river so off to try it in a mo.
Enjoy your day.
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Lovely town Ely, lots of history and architecture. Lovely walks especially around the cathedral down and along the river. It’s 3 years since we stayed at the Heatherbield CL which we can recommend.
Just walked along the river to the beach. Enjoyed the walk but crikey wasn’t the wind cold, really brass monkeys 🐒
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