What are you all up to

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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2852

    Realised yesterday that we had 4 nights of our trip, in April, that we had not booked.  Tried a few CLs in the area we fancied, but all booked up, turned out it is Easter Weekend.

    Days are much the same when you are retired, and Easter is fairly low key up here, so had not realised everywhere would be booked!

    Having joined the opposition last year for insurance purposes, but not used a site, we took a look, and have now booked the Cambridge site.

    Had to book a minimum 2 nights to start with on grass, all that was left, then the next 2 nights on HS, hopefully we can alter that once the site opens as the second  night did  have HSs available.

    Tried to ring, but the sitei is not open yet.

    Booking process is more clunky than the CC one, plus we had to pay a £50 deposit, but at least we will not be "homeless".

     

  • robsail
    robsail Forum Participant Posts: 1,441
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    edited March 2017 #2853

    A better day today! It was my son's first outing to his RDA centre this year, as the centre is outdoors it only operates when the weather is fine! Also he has had the cough that kept him at home!

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2854

    I think a lot of us have had "the cough", we both had it just before Christmas, and it is still not fully gone.

    Seems to be something really virulent that is being passed around.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2855

    I do agree with you on replacing CT,

    Take it easy, Kjell. We've just had a new website and a new rebranding. I don't think I could take something else changing.frown

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2856

    I am pretty sure you would save money in the long run by having a meter. We are paying no more than we did when water charges were based on the old rateable value and that must be well over ten years ago. We were lucky in that we did not have to pay for the meter to be installed. 

    David

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2857

    I sent a message to the boss yesterday evening to ask if I could finish earlier because there were no orders, so no point in hanging around. So he agreed I could go home 15 minutes earlier last night.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2858

    Brightish start to the day so will have a leisurely breakfast and chill listening to 'love songs' before going out to tackle more of the fence painting, lovelyyell

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2859

    I was intrigued about Kj's comments about water meters, especially having to pay for installation. I suppose the need to conserve supplies isn't as urgent in Scotland where's there's plenty of water. Down here water meters are installed where the water supply leaves the mains in the road and they're free. It looks as though Scottish Water regard this as an expense they can't easily recoup.

    We save a big amount by having a meter and I suppose this helps conserve water company stocks. In Scotland there's a plentiful supply so it's not so important to encourage less usage?

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2860

    Gosh Kjellnn, that's a hell of a lot of money! That's more than what I paid for a new clutch and flywheel for the Shogun but the car was fixed for that money, you're having to pay that for nothing!

    That's confirmed my belief about not moving into bricks and mortar and staying put in our caravan! When you're stung that hard, no wonder people end up homeless!

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2017 #2861

    Our water bill was rapidly approaching £1000 when we changed to a meter.

    We are currently paying £16 per month, but it's too low most months. I reckon it will be about £20 per month next year.

    There is no charge for installing the meter and you have the option of changing back within a year if it doesn't suit you.

    I'm afraid the lady in charge up in Scotland only appears to be concerned with one issue and not so much about the Scottish people's finances.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2862

    Regarding rates, this covers all the benefits of local services, education etc. Without contributions none of us would have a reasonable standard of life. I expect ours will go up, we're not far beyond Kj but on a middle tax band (and unlike Kj not in a big house.)

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2863

    I'm lucky in that my cousin has never asked me to contribute anything towards any of his household bills even though he lets us use his address. In theory, he could ask us to contribute something towards his council tax but he prefers his independence and paying all his household bills himself and as we are away in our caravan, the issue doesn't seem to cross his mind. When we get gaps in between deliveries, we sometimes visit him, chat for a while and collect our mail and he's happy with that.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2864

    Yes but you're indirectly paying all this when you pay your site fees whilst staying in your caravan because the site owner would have to pay business rates or council tax presumably, plus water and waste disposal and let's face it, the kind of money that Kjellnn is talking about would buy a huge number of site nights!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2865

    Raining here today, getting a few more jobs done and then having a day out tomorrow meeting up with friends in Hampshire. smile

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2866

    Today I will be emptying the M/H ready for its MOT and service in a couple of weeks , we've had it a year ,doesn't time fly ..........

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2867

    Well you can keep your rain there, brue. Please don't send it here! It may be a little cloudy but there are signs of the sun trying to poke through!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2868

    The time seems to be flying by now, HD,  but it didn't seem that way in January when it was dark by 4.30 p.m. and the days dragged by, living under artificial lights and not being able to see anything outside! 16 hours of darkness and only 8 hours of daylight doesn't exactly lift your spirits especially on the Charmill Cottage CS where it was pitch dark unless it was a clear night when you get some light from the moon and the stars! However, even the moon and stars don't give you enough light when it comes to emptying the toilet, filling your Aquaroll, emptying waste and all of the other outside jobs that are a necessary part of caravanning! The Club sites are better in that they are well lit at night.

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,449 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2869

    A few replies to previous posts - 

    Spice is nice as the saying goes! What will you have to drink, chilled white wine?

    A.Thomas Dakin Gin (and Fevertree Tonic)

    Goldie I loved my parents Rayburn, coal fired like your Aga, so I know where you're coming from! It could be VERY temperamental especially when the wind was wrong and it blew back 😣. But we all still miss it always warm and cosy somewhere to lean against etc. It was replaced with an oil-fired boiler and radiators, house is warmer throughout but kitchen has lost its soul. Mind you mum wouldn't be able to manage it these last 10 years or more.

    A.I manage the cooking n the Aga - but my husband manages the filling, riddling and emptying.

    I'm sure your prawn tartlets will bring delicious.  But I am surprised you used cereal bowls when you couldn't find your tin. Either you have small cereal bowls or large tartlet tins 😯

    A.Shallow bowls - but the results were a bit in the large size. Only one each instead of two.

    Hope the pastry isn't too hot Goldie, I used to put cayenne in cheese straws for a bit of a kick.....but not too much!

    A.Perfect result!

    Goldie my parents had a Rayburn. It took my Mum a while to get used to it. She loved it for slow cooking - stews, fruit cakes etc and in the end used it for most of her cooking in the winter but had a conventional oven as well for the summer. The Rayburn kept the kitchen and the living room which led off it lovely and warm. We didn't have central heating.

    A.It's our only cooker - no "conventional" or microwave - but it serves us well. It also heats the hot water. It's in the room we use as a "living room" - the rest of the usual kitchen stuff is in the pantry. A bit bigger than a normal pantry. It does have a sink, fridge and freezer though they don't show on this photo.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #2870

    However, even the moon and stars don't give you enough light when it comes to emptying the toilet, filling your Aquaroll, emptying waste and all of the other outside jobs that are a necessary part of caravanning! The Club sites are better in that they are well lit at night.

    I prefer sites with little illumination. If I need to see in the darkness I use a modern invention ............ a torch wink

    Some low level lighting around Ellsen point, toilets etc is fine

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2871

    Having a very indulgent Sunday. I got up and put my dressing gown on rather than straight into the shower and get dressed. I've pottered at paperwork and we've had plenty of cuppas. Hubby has just started on ceiling in little bedroom. It's past noon now and I'm still in my dressing gown. It seems I never know when to dress which is why I very rarely use it 😄. I'm going to make a fruit cake and wrap the tin on the outside to see if it will assist it not to cracked.  Tip from Lake land assistant yesterday. Might as well get that in the oven before getting dressed. Hope no one knocks at the door 😯. Very mild here but grey. Actually wanted the forecast rain to check motorhome habitation door. Never clambered for rain before!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2872

    The rain held off until we left for work and didn't start until we got past the M23 on to the A23 to Brighton. It rained the whole of the rest of the commute increasing in intensity until we arrived in Worthing at 12 noon on time to start work. We are now doing our first order, a Subway order. It's still raining!

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited March 2017 #2873

    Had a great night last night, singer in the pub was very good, had us all up dancing and singing along.laughing 

    Having a lazy day today, recovering embarassed   Stew is simmering in the slow cooker for later.

    Weather seems to have brightened up, may go for a walk, just got to get motivated!  

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2874

    No such luck here, H&T. It's grey, wet and miserable outside. No chance of a walk unless you like getting wet or covered in mud if you go on Broadwater Green! We just settled for a £1 cup of tea and a sit down in Subway in between deliveries, at least it's warm and dry in there!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2875

    Orders are coming in now at last!  We just did a Macdonalds delivery and now we have a Brio order. So I'm parked on The Steyne in the loading bay next to Chatsworth Hotel awaiting collection. I will need to drive along Goring Road and turn right on to Shaftesbury Avenue to go over the railway bridge, through the Boulevard and then on to a new build block of flats in the Durrington area for delivery. 

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2876

    Doing two more Macdonalds orders now. Parked on Liverpool,Terrace awaiting collection. You can see the sea front from where I'm parked and people walking along the promenade despite the weather!

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
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    edited March 2017 #2877

    Just returned home from a flying weekend visit to Plymouth.(family wedding) .5 hour's travel each direction I can live with considering we have to take the London orbital car park into account .laughing

     

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2878

    Another two Macdonalds orders. Parked on Chapel Rd. awaiting collection. What is it that makes everyone so excited about Macdonalds? I remember delivering an order to a group of students at Lancing College. They were literally jumping up and down with excitement when they saw us arrive!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2879

    "WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES EVERYONE SO EXCITED ABOUT MACDONALDS?"

    I presume this is one of this years leaked A level philosophy questions and to get a grade A  you will really need to think about your response..........or phone a friend? 

     

    wink see previous page before answering....

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited March 2017 #2880

    Just done a Brio order to collect from the Shoreham by sea Brio to deliver in Lancing.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2881

    WHY would anyone get excited about a McDonald's? 

    Perhaps it was the sight of Malcolm and his smart car?