What are you all up to
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Thanks Kj, we are with British Gas for our Fits. They are pretty good now that it's all done through the app straight into bank account within days of giving reading. We don't have a smart meter, never been offered one they seem to miss the villages. Will be interested in how it works for you. As like you we produce far more than we use.
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You should ask for a smart meter, we will all have to have them eventually.
We resisted, despite nudging, until the SMETS 2 meters came along, they can deal with solar panels.
A smart meter will let you see what you export, help you decide what to do.
All suppliers are required to fit smart meters as soon as possible.
No reason for them to avoid villages.....send them a request!
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Hi Ina, yes it's going fine since we changed our plans. We see enough rain at home I can do without it on holiday 😉
We are on the Camping Robinson site, can't say that I like it much. The facilities are basic and lack hot water unless you waste an awful lot of water waiting for it to run hot. Pitches are a good enough size but the ground is more bare soil with weeds. The pool is a fun pool for kids not for swimming. It's the noise in the evenings that is getting annoying, if it's not loud music it's someone on a loud microphone shouting, goes on to 23.00. Lots of cabins.
We stay at Le Pepinierre these days, next to Neptune's. Romarin site is now being developed into a holiday village it's huge, such a shame no touring pitches at all. We prefer being there to here, so much choice of places to cycle, the small town down by the beach with it's restaurants and shops or cycle into the old town and along the Midi. The sites do have cabins but at this time not that busy and no animation team trying to get folk to join in with things. I know families like that kind of stuff but at low season it's all oldies who just want to relax and do their own thing. Rant over 🤐
Hopefully the weather will have improved in the rest of Europe by the time you come out.
Redkite, it certainly is different to last May, boy was it hot. Have a nice time when you are away.
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Thankfully they stopped playing music at the concert at 10:45 last night.
It has been a different day weather wise today, early rain followed by a period of dry then a few short showers and now more continual rain. We went to Croft Castle this morning and had a walk around the fish ponds, but the ground was rather muddy. Then after lunch visited the walled garden, which is one of the finest we have seen.
Helen, have a safe journey back home. You certainly seem to have been very fortunate with the weather.
Goldie, enjoy your stay at Englethwaite, it should be nice and peaceful there.
Safe journey over the the Humber, WN, and hopefully there will be lots of birds for you to see down on the flats.
Hope you manage to get away, tda, and have a good break, and I don't mean from a fall off your bike!!😄
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Plans still going well Nellie, I should be ok on bike, taking my MTB, not the new one. Someone hasn’t fitted a motor yet (I might trade him him for a new Soigneur🤣). Mind, he’s pretty good at First Aid, so I might keep him a while longer🤣😉
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We got home this afternoon from a great 10 day break at Chester Fairoaks club site. Weather was pretty kind to us over the time we were away and we enjoyed visiting various places in the area. We have been to Liverpool many times before but this time it was different the atmosphere around the waterfront area was great lots of things going on with the Eurovision events we took a tour of the Mersey tunnel brilliant very interesting and you get to go on to the car deck behind a barrier also go under he main road deck and see the workings of the ventilation system etc. Four and a half hour tow home today but not the best weather conditions for towing it poured from the moment we left Chester and didn’t stop until we got home. Van now back in it’s space and the Volvo cleaned van will need to wait to be cleaned as we have a lot on this week and won’t be away again now until the beginning of June as eldest son and family who live in New Zealand are arriving here on Wednesday for 3 weeks looking forward to seeing them and we have a few family gatherings arranged over the next couple of weeks so hopefully the weather picks up.
WN and Goldie enjoy your trips away
Helen - good to read that you have enjoyed Mull
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Torrential rain here tonight, just as I was about to go out to deal with the Smart. Forecast had been for thunder etc, but that never materialised, just the rain.
Earlier on I had plugged in the Smart to charge the battery, I think it really needs a new battery, it will be 10 years old soon, and was about to go out to unplug it when the heavens opened.
Tomorrow I plan to drive down to DD's, park in her driveway, and take the bus into town to get my phone battery replaced, it is in a bad way. Should be home again in time for a late lunch.
Wednesday we are looking after the little ones in the afternoon, in the morning I have my Covid booster
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Hi TG. It sounds like Camping Robinson has changed a lot since we were there, and not for the better from the sound of things
I'm sure there was no pool when we were there. As for the cabins, we did notice a lot more in that area in 2019. There is a site down from Robinson, along the main road, that had nothing but cabins then from the look of it. The last few times we were in that area, we stayed at Beauregard Plage, as I mentioned. At that time there wasn't a single cabin on that site, it was purely touring pitches, and we preferred that to Robinson. But who knows, that might have changed now.Friends of ours have stayed at Pepiniere in the past. We did have a look round it when we were at Neptune. Come to think about it, we did stay at Romarin once, many years ago. So that'll be another site without touring pitches, shame.
We're like you, don't like sites with entertainment etc, but as you say, it's what draws families in of course. Must admit, we too prefer Grau d'Agde area to MP.
Enjoy!
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Goldie, enjoy your stay at Englethwaite, it should be nice and peaceful there.
It's one of our favourite sites - we can be set up and relaxing in just over an hour from home. And near enough if we forget something - like the EHU cable a couple of years ago.
All we plan to do is sleep, eat, read and drink - in no particular order.
We'll be glad of a rest - our son is in London at the moment, as part of a panel answering questions on soil for a Select Committee at the House of Lords (or something like that!). He is representing https://www.nffn.org.uk/. And tomorrow just as we escape we have visitors from the Yorkshire Dales National Park, seeing how we manage nature and farming.
Not much cooking to do today - I think I over-catered for our Coronation Party on Sunday. There will even be some cakes to take away with us.
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We last stayed at Camping Robinson in 2015, it was our second stay there. On that occasion we had intended to use Beauregard Plage but there were full. We got there a bit late because we had to do a detour off the A75 because of floods that had swept part of the motorway bridge! Beauregard did kindly suggest we stay in their car park overnight to see if there was a pitch the next day. Some of the pitches looked a bit small as our then motorhome was getting on for 8 metres long with the bikes on the back. That is how we came to stay at Robinson for a second time. It was, and clearly still is, a fairly basic site but back in 2015 it was only 14 euros a night which I worked out as being £11.69!!! Even back then the prices they were charging for the chalets in the peak season were massive so I suppose you can understand why sites tend to invest in that side of their business rather than the campsite. We love the South of France but can't see us ever taking the motorhome abroad again sadly.
David
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Apparently our local A&E was busy on Saturday night when a member of our street party "dance team" hit the tarmac and broke a wrist! A five hour wait followed...so the last resident went to bed at 3am...
We seem to have thunderstorms lurking around just now, it's very humid and we've been trying to sort a few things outside before we go away.
I was reading TGs post and looked up the site I stayed at in Palavas le Flots when I was a teenager, goodness me how things have changed! I had a french friend from the Beziers area and enjoyed seeing Montpelier etc.
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All settled in at La Pepinierre, it's 15 euro a night and an offer of 7 nights for 6. Good sized pitches that do have grass on them. Weather cloudy today but still warm enough for shorts and T shirts.
Re Camping Robinson, some of the cabins look lovely, nicely landscaped gardens. The rest are not so nice just rows of mobile homes, some have a wooden platform above them giving them an elevated terrace facing the sea. The pool is very nice and lovely and warm great fun for families but no good for a decent swim. Below the pool there is a fun water park for the younger children and a big flume for the older ones. 6 nicely laid out boules pitches, a shop and restaurant/take away. The staff are all nice and pleasant, we would have stayed but for the noise in the evenings, at the end of the day I'd rather it be quiet. I prefer to read or watch a bit of TV but the noise was so bad you struggled to hear the TV. Their price now DK is 19 euro on Acsi so it's not gone up by much compared to UK prices. It's excellent VFM in fact on Acsi. The beach as you will remember goes straight from the site. I'm glad we tried it but I do prefer where we are now.
Goldie have a nice break at Englethwaite, we like that site to. It's a good stopover for us when heading up or down the road.
WN good to hear you are getting away again and that MIL is well enough and happy enough for you to do so.
Hope everyone else is enjoying their breaks away and those not away yet are not working to hard at home.
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If you're really interested in what's happenning at EFRA (not a miss-spelling!), here's the link (I may have described the meeting wrongly) - https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/efra-committee-mps-probe-links-between-soil-health-and-agriculture
And, you can watch it on Parliament TV!
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/045b726e-ef0e-437a-997f-b72084d401c9
But only if you've nothing else to do!
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Yesterday was a bit of a wash out but today has been glorious again so it was up early for a walk along the Monsal Trail into Bakewell and back before lunch. The area has been badly hit by ash dieback and many of the mature trees along the way have been felled. On the plus side it means that the fabulous views on both sides of the valley have opened up. There are still several reminders of the old railway including the long platforms serving Thornbridge Hall.
Than, after lunch, a shorter stroll up to Longstone edge, meeting some curious observers along the way!
When we first got Ralph he would go quite frantic near sheep, to the extent that I had to use 2 leads on him at times. Now he doesn't bat an eyelid, even when they approach him. 🐕🦺👍The final view is walking back down to the village with the hotel at Monsal Head in view.
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Set off at 10 this morning in light rain but as soon as we dropped down out of Wales it stopped and we had a very pleasant trip over to the Humber area and our CL for 6 nights. I must admit to being a bit apprehensive as to how I would cope but as it turned out it was a piece of (GF) cake. Just about 3 hours of driving with a good break for lunch.
We were just about to pull into the services at Ferrybridge on the M62 for lunch stop when the car "pinged". Oh no! we thought but when I looked at the dashboard there was an image of a Cup of tea and a message that I might need a break, 2 hours into our journey! I am now being "nannied" by the car!!! Anyway it must have been thrilled that I obeyed it.
Not been on a 2 hour++ journey with it since acquiring it in March.Weather has stayed dry, apart from half hearted efforts since we arrived. Will probably take a stroll after dinner.
Hope your trip goes well Brue and nice to hear of your trip TG.
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Good to hear you had a pleasant easy drive to CL WN👍 Love the nanny car🤣 Is site busy?
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Hi Ttda
Site has 2 other units on but I think at least one of them is leaving, maybe both as they were here for someones 90th. birthday, one of the caravaners. Good on them. Since we were here last time thy've added a 5th.Hardstanding pitch and all pitches now have a water point. Seems they keep improving it bit by bit.
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Thanks WN, guessing the grass pitch has now gone. I think there was water to other pitches last time we stayed.👍
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Goldie, just to say I followed your link to the Parliamentary TV and watched some of the session, your son did well. I think it can be quite an overwhelming thing to do (a relative of ours once had a "go") but so interesting too.
We have literally been awash with heavy rain and storms, hoping it's going to quieten down now. Good to hear the various holidays are going well. Just been informed our planned journey needs re-routing due to road closures, Devon lanes need some careful thought!
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WN posted === it was a piece of ( GF ) cake.
You are so cruel, WN . I had to google GF and it came up with some large, delicious looking Choccy Cake
. Fought off the desire to dash to the very local 'Morrissons Daily ' { I can see it from where Im sitting 
} to buy myself a sample, [ Large, ABM for the teasing of ] !! At least I can argue with Nursey should she catch me out , that I read in a Sunday paper that Bought cakes virtually always have lower sugar levels than Homemade.And thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it
I'm allowed to go for up to four (4) hours without a break + Blood test but then must ensure Im above 4 units on my blood-glucose meter for 15 mins before driving on !
Hope You, yours and everybody else[s] are enjoying the same gorgeous clear blue sky that we are in Cheshire at present == forecast for next few days is more usual bank holiday super soggyness
Stay safe, stay dry if you can & defo enjoy being under the gentle care of Motor--Nanny
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We had a walk in Mortimor Forest today, and had just finished our picnic when a heavy dark cloud came over and it started to rain, followed by thunder and the odd flash of lightning. Thankfully the rain didn't last for long, but further over to the east we could see that they were having a downpour. There had been no rain on the site although it was only about 5 mls away, and it has stayed dry here at peaceful to now. All packed up and ready for our next move tomorrow into deepest Wales!!
Seems that you too have been fortunate to miss the worst of it too, WN, as it has been torrential down by Lincoln. Glad to see that you arrived safe and sound. Enjoy your trip away.
Goldie, your son certainly has a high profile theses days within the farming community, hope he was able to get their case across to the Peers. Safe trip up to Englethwaite and have a restful time. We like the site, having used it quite often when going up to, or back from, Scotland.
Brue, sorry to read that you have caught some of the thunderstorms, and hope that there is no flooding in your area. If you are struggling to sort out a route through the Devon lanes it will be very difficult for those towing large caravans!!😯
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I can't remember when we stayed at Robinson last, but it was quite a few years ago. Yes, some of the pitches at Beauregard are a bit small, we too had a nearly 8m long MH at the time and manoeuvring was interesting at times! I do prefer that to Robinson though, once we'd stayed there, we've not been back to Robinson. We've always made sure we got there juat bwfore 12, as it is very popular, as you say.
Sorry to hear you can't see yourselves taking the MH abroad again, but there are some lovely areas in the UK too. We've found that out during the last 3 years, when we've not been to France.
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Tammygirl wrote: All settled in at La Pepinierre, it's 15 euro a night and an offer of 7 nights for 6. Good sized pitches that do have grass on them. Weather cloudy today but still warm enough for shorts and T shirts.
Re Camping Robinson, some of the cabins look lovely, nicely landscaped gardens. The rest are not so nice just rows of mobile homes, some have a wooden platform above them giving them an elevated terrace facing the sea. The pool is very nice and lovely and warm great fun for families but no good for a decent swim. Below the pool there is a fun water park for the younger children and a big flume for the older ones. 6 nicely laid out boules pitches, a shop and restaurant/take away. The staff are all nice and pleasant, we would have stayed but for the noise in the evenings, at the end of the day I'd rather it be quiet. I prefer to read or watch a bit of TV but the noise was so bad you struggled to hear the TV. Their price now DK is 19 euro on Acsi so it's not gone up by much compared to UK prices. It's excellent VFM in fact on Acsi. The beach as you will remember goes straight from the site. I'm glad we tried it but I do prefer where we are now.
Pepiniere sounds good, we did say if we went back to the area we'd try that, after having a look round it. Good value too. Robinson did have a few cabins when we were there, as you came in, on the right hand side after reception. It certainly doesn't sound like the sort of site we'd want to use now though, from reading your description. Don't like noisy evenings!
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All this talk of campsites in the south of France brings back memories.
In 1982 we went down to a campsite somewhere near where you are (TG) I think. It was through Wigwam, to a ready ereccted tent. Us and three young children in a Mini Metro. It took us three days to get there and three back, but it was worth it for the two weeks of glorious sun. It was May, so the pool wasn't open (though they kept promising) but we spent hours on the beach, and visited Nimes and Aigue Mortes
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OH still coughing a little but now much better, I am now also coughing! Didn’t think it was catching but we are have been in the confines of a caravan.
Nice day yesterday, lunch at a nice garden centre and visited an outlet centre and I bought a nice summer waterproof jacket. My cousins comment recently was, ‘when are you going home, then it will stop raining and I can get on with my gardening’ she’s not wrong we always seem to get wet weather here.
We have caught up with friends and family, mostly here for meals, so I don’t feel so guilty now for eating at theirs so often. Despite saying I was putting no bedding plants in tubs here this year, watering is a problem when we are not here and not sure how often we will get here this year, I got too temped at the garden centre and some tubs are out, though not as many as usual, my lovely neighbour encouraged me by offering to water them, she says she likes to look at them. Off to my cousins later, only for a cuppa. OH and them love lardy cake so we will get some on the way, I hate the stuff.
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but it was worth it for the two weeks of glorious sun.
One of the main reasons people go abroad.
Great photo Goldie. Our first foray into France was to a ready erected tent in the Vendee, we have great memories of hot weather, large waves and beautiful towns but mainly just " La difference" of experiencing another country.
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Oh Debsc, how very could you
?!!?. Thats one of my treats when at Gt Dorset Steam Fair. Theres a Baker with a stall at the top of the market rows, adjacent to the large central bar who has oodles of freshly made treats like lardy cake etc etc . Sadly Ive missed them due to the pandemic and the GDSF not taking place this year, so like DSB and his jammy / creamy scone poser, I will have to find out if there is an acceptable substitute locally
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Hi Goldie Nice to hear that you and your other half are going to have a well deserved break.
I have a rather strange question for you. Nothing to do with caravans or M/Hs but as both yourselves and your son are involved in agriculture, I was wondering if you know why full size, Nadine potatoes have not been on sale for the last couple of years? I have been trying to find out but no-one seems to know why or know when they may be back on sale and it is very annoying as they were one of the few potatoes which makes really good, home made chips.
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