What are you all up to
Comments
-
Millie, it sounds as if you are having a a wonderful time in Norfolk, and love the photo of the bus.
Happy anniversary mr and mrs tda whichever day it is, and that you have a lovely meal. Here's hoping that you have a great time away.
Fingers crossed that the garage are able to sort your car out WN and that it doesn't take too long. Hope all went well with Your hospital appointment.
TH 'open gardens' in your village sounds grand, B2.
Great story about your cat brue.
We had an easy 1 1/4 hr drive home and within 3/4 hr of getting back the first of 6 rounds of washing was out on the line, It has been another hot but breeze day which has meant that all of It was dry by 18:00. In the meantime I cleared out the caravan and walked Flyte. The car was too hot to clean so perhaps I will get up bright and early and wash it before the first of this week's appointments, OH's visit to the hairdressers.
1 -
It's been a busy week so far, and set to get busier.
We've done a bit more silaging (before the grass starts going backwards) and are now getting ready for a Bit Of A Do next week. Last year we were very honoured to win The Silver Lapwig Award (https://www.fwag.org.uk/silver-lapwing), and therefore we are the hosts for this year's award day. About 100 visitors will descend on us for speeches, food and a farm walk. The organisers arrange all the practical stuff - using our suggestions for local suppliers etc , but as with all farm open days there's a lot of tidying up to do. The only fly in the ointment and the one thing out of our control. is the weather - forecasted to break just in time for the big day.
Meanwhile I'm getting used to a new phone. We had a drive round the farm last night and I've at least worked out how to take a photo!
6 -
Went to pick up the car this morning as hospital appointment overran.
The dealers and Kia themselves are a bit mystified as there didn't seem to be anything wrong with the receptor or the fobs so they reconfigured everything, put new batteries in the fobs and are keeping their fingers crossed. They'll keep the record open so if anything goes wrong they'll have something to refer to. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed as well.
Got back to the house just in time for MiL to hand me the phone with instructions to speak to the woman on the other end. Long story short - Mil had an attempted money scam over the phone but put the phone down left it 10 minutes then rang 1471 and got the number and rang it. The woman was a senior inspector in the Serious Crime Squad in Sussex!
Didn't deal with scams at all and her phone number only accessible via the switchboard or colleagues. She was quite interested in knowing that Scammers were using her phone number! Anyway we left on good terms and I was proud MiL had the sense to handle it as she did. All our advice taken on board.Food shopping and library later on. Still hot, now getting a bit sticky.
1 -
Another hot day and a bike ride up to Newcastle then along the river to Dunston Staiths - the largest wooden structure in Europe we're told. Fans of Vera will recognise it. It's open on Wednesday and weekends 10 -5 so it looks like a repeat trip next week. Then on to Consett and back home scouting for more past locations. A record for this year of 37 miles!
3 -
And a set of past and present. Both on the C2C route. First is Brooms just outside Consett and the second is Annfield Plain - the pub in the centre is the same.
2 -
And again. Lintz Green station where the station master was killed in 1911 and the crime was never solved, well there was no Vera in those days.
4 -
Our last night away. Had a good day at Little Moreton Hall, very interesting place. Now happily parked up for free in a very nice pub car park on outskirts of Bollington. Food very nice in pub. Thankfully it’s cooling down a bit now after a very hot day.
Nice photo of a Blonde Goldie😁The redheads looked a bit too busy.
More great photos Corners.
Good to hear you back home safe Nellie.
Hope the car is Ok WN, and we’ll done to your MIL with the scam👏👏
1 -
Fingers crossed that the change of batteries will have resolved the key problem, WN, and well done to your MIL for her actions.
Nice before and now photos, CS, and well done on the distance of your ride. I guess it is not quite as not over in the NE as it is here in the west.
Hope your day goes well, Goldie, after all the hard work you and the family will have put in to make it a success.
Little Moreton Hall is certainly an interesting place, tda, did you manage to catch any of the talks and the demonstrations by the volunteers? Good to hear that you enjoyed your meal tonight, and have a safe journey home tomorrow.
Up early, well for me anyway, and after taking Flyte out for his walk, and our breakfast, I managed to get the car cleaned before it got too warm, with plenty of time to take OH for her hair appointment. It has been another pleasantly hot day, but still with the refreshing breeze.
1 -
-
Lovely photos!
I can never get my head round Norfolk in the east but seeing a sunset over there.
I've been waking early and it's strange to see the moon is rising along with the sun but apparently there will be a planetary line up tomorrow (for those who wake early..)
We also had a hot air balloon go over us very early today. Gliding peacefully along, the views from it must have been wonderful.
Enjoy your farm gathering Goldie, all your efforts deserve such an event. The Cow picture has a positive glow to it, your camera skills will soon update!
So good to hear holidays are going well.
Biddulph Grange is one of my top favourites TDA, full of surprises.
Packing to go to a holiday cottage at the moment but can't seem to organise things without a van. Think I'm taking too much! 🤔
Have a good weekend everyone.
2 -
Lovely quiet night here in Bollington. All I can hear are Rooks and the gentle clip clop of a horse somewhere. Pub is lovely, great food and staff were very welcoming, made sure we were fine up in car park. It’s better than some sites😁 Not enough time today, but we shall be back to explore Bollington, small ex cotton mill town with a scenic canal. Reminds me very much of Hebden Bridge, but smaller. Sun is out but we have some shade at the moment, so not too hot.
We dodged the talks Nellie, decided to do our own thing as we left pooch asleep in MH under a big tree in shade, windows open. He was fine. Hard to believe the Hall is still standing, down to lack of money, but NT must work really hard keeping it standing, incredible place.. Lyme Park today we think, unless something else takes our fancy.
3 -
Couldn't believe it this morning - we were a bit late on the beach - but at 10am - not a cloud in the sky, 22 degrees and not another single soul to be seen. Meg was in dog-sniff heaven
Bet it's not like that this afternoon
If you look carefully, you can just make out the start of Flamborough Head through the haze.
3 -
It has been another lovely bit day here, with clear blue skies again, however we now Have some grey clouds and I fear that it will be a hot sticky night. The dentist has put in a temporary filling for me and I have to go back for the full treatment in July after our next trip. Although another tooth is quite sensitive to the touch she could not see anything on the x-rays to help identify the cause so I must grin and bear it until the time when I becomes unbearable, hey ho!! Our mid morning walk was along the sea front, where the council have installed a series of audio posts which tell the stories of the proms development and the wildlife that inhabit the area....very interesting to listen to.
0 -
It's when we get weather like this that I wished we were away in the caravan. We have got a little visit planned soon down to Wareham, to combine it with a visit to John Rose to have a new windout Thule fitted to the new van. Fingers crossed that the weather will keep good for our visit....
It sounds as if everyone is enjoying the good weatber. Great to read about folks visits anf journeys .
David
0 -
We are back home😁 Had a lovely three and a half days away, superb weather, nice places to stay, some interesting places seen. Will post more photos soon.
Our England tickets have arrived as well, so a drive over to Old Trafford on Monday. Sadly cannot rely on getting there by train or we would use public transport.🙁
2 -
Yes, a very nice break, somewhere different for us, bit of history, a couple of nice stopovers and some nice food.😁
CS at Mow Cop, very nice terraced pitches, excellent facilities.
Little Moreton Hall, so interesting and different.
Chinese Garden at Biddulph Grange.
Orangery at Lyme Park
Our secluded free pitch at Bollington!😁
3 -
Grand photos, tda,, and pleased that you had a good trip and got home safely. Enjoy the match on Monday.
We got up early again this morning as we were booked to have our Covid booster, which we had arranged on the phone, 119, while we were away, for 11:40. I cleaned the outside of the caravan, taking advantage of the cooler cloudy day, before we set off from home. Arrived 20 mins earlier than our allotted time as we were not sure of location and parking, however all went well, free parking at Health Centre, straight in and hardly had time to sit in waiting area when we got called in for the jab, Pfizer once more. Didn't feel the injection, and back at the car all within 10 mins, most proficient, and no after effects either. It has stayed full all day with just a couple of very short showers of rain, not sufficient to even wet the ground.
2 -
Coo, big thunderstorm here at 4am. Lots of rain, feels a lot nicer, less sticky this morning. Sun is out now.
0 -
I apparently slept through most of our thunderstorm last night yet the slightest noise from miles away can wake me up. Go figure.🤷♂️
Spent a large chunk of the day trying to find a suitable holiday cottage to take MiL to in October. She loves the Harrogate area and has specific needs so it's not like I have a blank canvas. Might have to jiggle a consultancy visit around if I'm successful. Came on here as I need a rest.
Have to try to arrange an autumn tour for us once I've sorted Her Majesty out.
Was your Bollington site a "PitchUp" one or Pub Stop Ttda? Looks good.
0 -
It is Castle Camping Ltd K, very friendly place. Lots of room for children, some nice walks. The facility block was excellent. It had a family bathroom with lots of room, shower and loo, five shower rooms, five separate WC’s, two wash rooms, an indoor small laundry wash sink, two undercover pot wash sinks, fridge and freezer, little book swop/lending library, books and games for children. CDP point was easy to use, recycling. We had the choice of HS or grass, both with or without hook up. We paid £15 for a no hook up site, and used the facilities, given how good they were, we thought this good vfm. (£20 per night if you had a hook up).The two places we had come to visit were on our doorstep as well. There was a decent looking pub serving food a few hundred metres along in the village proper at Mow Cop.
1 -
Poachers Arms was a Britstop WN, although in truth, I think any MH or Campervan would be welcome. It’s on Searchforsites as well. In truth it was probably our best night, even though the camp site was lovely. Very very quiet. Might be a bit busier at weekends, but after 10pm we never heard a thing except the birds. We had loads of room, shade (which was needed,) decent dog walking, and delicious food. Popping a stop like this into a tour makes for great value, we averaged £10 per night. Staff were lovely, made sure we had all we needed.
Funnily enough, I am just searching for a pitch up around Harrogate, hope to get back to Harlow Carr before schools break up. Not an area we know for cottages. If you do get across, make sure you are above Pontefract if using A1, traffic holdups for major road works South of Pontefract are horrendous.
1 -
Now on CCC site at Canterbury, very nice with lots of trees. Not inspected the facilities yet, but the buildings look modern. Good pitch down the bottom end in a small cul-de-sac, and close to water and waste point, as requested. Site is quite busy, but very peaceful. Arrived about 13.05 to a queue of 3 outfits.
Good journey from Suffolk via A12, M25 and A2/M2, just over 3 hours. Most traffic seemed to be going in the opposite direction, only a couple of slower roadworks areas to negotiate.
Good, free, wifi, despite the trees.
Not so hot today, but very humid. Thunderstorms forecast for later.
2 -
We usually default and head North on A1 from home, but after our last time up to Harrogate, we have gone in other directions since. We can go out through Doncaster and bypass it all, but it’s a longer journey. M1 is very busy as well with extra traffic dodging the roadworks.
0 -
We have had a good few days, not been far just relaxing. Cousins for the afternoon and evening for a bbq, then to friends for a catch up and an evening bbq. Yesterday they had DJs and singers, bar and food van outside the site clubhouse by the river, we went over for an hour, DJ was very good, I even managed a little boogie, in my seat of course. Very busy, its all on the other side of the site so still nice and quiet on our side.
Today our son and family came for Father’s Day, granddaughter working so just our two grandsons. They are both well over 6ft now, eldest has dislocated his shoulder playing rugby, so no big hugs. Youngest has just finished his first year at college doing film and media studies. His final presentation was a film he directed, he got 5 distinctions for it, so we watched it, 10 minutes long, and it scared me half to death. Very imaginative though. He’s wanted to be a director since he was tiny, so maybe an Alfred Hitchcock in the making.
0 -
Not long back from two weeks away in the van. Skegness Sands, Catton Village, Lower Wensleydale and Clumber Park. Think the latter was a mistake as its an almost complete black hole as far as phone signal is concerned and the free site hotspot only just worked! Also a site that takes on a different perception at weekends, I will leave you to figure that out! Will put something in the Story Section at some point.
David
0 -
Cloudy cooler start to the day. Managed to get the outside of the caravan Bobby Dazzled before it rained, but thankfully only for a short while. It stayed dry all afternoon but around 6:00 the sky darken and secessionist able to fit in a short walk with Flyte before the storm came. We had very frequent flashes of lightning and thunder before a very heavy downpour, and although the rain is no longer pouring down it is still raining so it will be a wet last walk out shortly, the first one of those in quite a while.
0 -
Garden had some welcome rain in the night. I could hear it sighing.
Did some food shopping this morning. Spent this afternoon sorting out a few CLs for the start of our Autumn tour, moving a dental appointment out of the way first, then also booked a cottage to take MiL away when we get back.
Quite noisy at the moment as next door has builders in and 2 doors away not long moved in and busy knocking it about.
Thought we were going to get a thunderstorm but it seems to have skirted around us.
Wonder if ABM got to the Tractor and Steam Engine fair they had at Oswestry this last weekend. Hope he's alright as he's gone AWOL for a few days.
0
Your mini tour sounded nice. A lovely way to spend your anniversary.
