What are you all up to
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We had the Fret blowing in on a strong Easterly in early June here in East Yorks. No rain just the Sun barely showing its position, then the Sun momentarily peeped thru. . .Then gone again🤷🏻♂️
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Very wet here this morning in North Wales, hope it stops soon as we need to go out to see our friends in an hour or so.
Yesterday we went to the other side of the M6 to look at Adria caravans as the dealer there had a good stock of the various models, and one in the layout we could live with.
We were interested to see the basic range Alteas and the mid range Adoras, the equipment, and the size of the shower compartments. We did not like the Altea interior, far too grey and dingy, but the Adora was much brighter.
Plus points were the availability of a weight upgrade, good payload, the Alde heating, and a good size shower. Minus points were the lack of on board tank and pump, lack of places to hang towels to dry, insufficient sockets, Alde controls rather high up for we small people, small oven and grill, and apparent lack of provision for dish draining. Some of these points could be sorted by adding extra items, but the lack of a water tank, when we use almost exclusively own facilities, is a big drawback.
Looking at other brands, the 2 single beds layout is now rare, so not much choice. Bailey Cadiz, but payload is poor.
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Please you got across to NI Millie👍 And thanks for the information you sent me, will investigate further.
Hope others are enjoying their trips, some interesting photos. It’s grey and a bit damp here today, OH will be on his way shortly, I am up at Mum’s at the moment. At least I won’t need to do any watering at our gardens, other than my greenhouse and houseplants. 😁
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"Some of these points could be sorted by adding extra items, but the lack of a water tank, when we use almost exclusively own facilities, is a big drawback."
Kj - I wouldn't worry too much about that. Much to my surprise our Starclass didn't have one either - most unusual for a TA van of that size - and so well equipped in other ways. Our dealer fitted one before we took delivery and, I think, charged me about £300. Float valve in tank switches Aquaroll pump on and off as required. All the water is drawn from the inboard tank which has its own pump to supply the water to the taps, activated by the microswitch. It works extremely well - and especially useful in winter and brilliant on a serviced pitch.
That said, I am sure that with your capabilities, you could fit your own version in no time at all!
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"Hope you manage to get the car clean before heading off ,Francis, and that you have a safe trip home R&R."
Thanks nth - got back about 2-ish yesterday afternoon - a bit of a 'breezy' drive back from Malton, to say the least! Took the rest of the afternoon to unload car and caravan - washing on and then I managed to put my feet up for an hour or so.
Van all cleaned and polished inside this morning - so we're ready for the off again. Need to have a think where to - but it won't be far away until Ros gets a bit more comfortable sitting in the car.
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KJ - Bailey Cadiz, best caravan we ever owned, and we had a few. Everything on board that we needed and a good layout. The single beds were a generous size for a caravan. Only two of us but we never had a problem with being overloaded, and I don’t travel light! Large awning too. OH checked the loaded weight. I think we did put the awning chairs in the car boot. I would definitely recommend it for comfort.
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Mmm, quite possibly, not sure how that might affect the warranty though.
Main problem for us would be servicing, there are no nearby dealers. Closest to Glasgow would be Perth, though they do mainly MHs, and then Aberdeen. Not really convenient!
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Great pictures of Strangford Lough, Millie! I've got in the back of my mind planning a longer trip to NI some time next year, we enjoyed it so much last month.
Are you likely to get chance to explore Belfast at all on this visit?
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A visit to The Weir Garden near Hereford this morning, set alongside the Wye river. We all enjoyed a lovely amble with some interesting trees and bushes as well as a walled garden that had the most beautiful border of native wild flowers we have seen for quite a while. Wanted to get a shot of an American tulip tree flowering but the wind was too strong.
Quite blowy but only bout 15 minutes worth of a shower.
How did Ros cope with the caravanning Richard?
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No, not this time moulesy. it is just a short visit to see the family. Had a walk with them and their 2 dogs earlier and we are now watching grand-daughter play Gaelic football at the moment. The rules have defeated OH! Lovely view of the lough from here.
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Drive up to Lochfoot today to a CS that we used once before but didn't recognised the layout as it has changed quite a bit. Ran into a shower around Gretna but it was dry both hitching up and setting up. Still breezy but no more rain here. There is a walk from the site down to Lochrutton Loch but unfortunately it doesn't go all the way around. Plenty of birds singing in the reeds, Pied Flycatchers, Blackcaps, Chiffchats and Garden Warblers.
More grand photos, and glad you got home safe and sound R&R. Pleased to read that you got the van cleaned and ready for your next trip. Have a safe trip up to NEB Goldie, and enjoy your rest there.
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Yea, I got away this afternoon, on CL site with OH tonight😁 He had a horrendous drive down in torrential rain, I had a great drive down a few hours later. Lovely CL this one, only us and one other MH at the moment, very quiet and peaceful. Bike ride tomorrow hopefully🤞
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"How did Ros cope with the caravanning Richard?"
Kind of you to ask WN. She did remarkably well, considering. She had to sit in a chair and watch me set the van up and was very good at issuing instructions on how to put the awning up
- but she can manage to negotiate the steps into the van and once inside, it was easier for her than being at home (no stairs!). We did a lot of reading, eating and (some!) drinking and sitting in the sun (when it was there!) and not much else really. But it was so good just to have a change of surroundings.Her biggest frustration was she was looking forward to having someone else (apart from me) to talk to - but everyone seemed to go into the other field for whatever reason.
But - great news yesterday - we saw our GP - for the results of her blood tests and everything was normal - including a test which might have indicated bone cancer which the Doctor previously had a slight concern about. So that was a huge relief.
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Great news Richard.👍
Off out in a moment. Just waiting on MiL to shake a leg. Off to Berrington Hall and then to a local pub that has been recommended for lunch. Not driving far today.
Enjoy your cycle ride Ttda.
Hope one and all have a stress free and enjoyable day.
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Raining here today, not heavy just nice gentle rain that the gardens will have time to soak in.
Had a couple out last night to view the caravan, they went away to discuss it and messaged us later to say yes 100% 😊 will see if they are willing to give the asking price, if so they can have all the other bits and bobs as they are starting out anew. Had caravans years ago then bought a static. Sold that as the fees have just escalated.
Also had another enquiry someone OH knows, so we have a back up 😅
OH out getting the MH regassed, taking much longer than it should, hope nothing wrong.
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It's the first time we've seen heavy rain here for a couple of months, got defeated by it on a trip out to NT Barrington Court this morning. It was a case of put down brolly briefly and take a snapshot, we managed a coffee in the dimly lit semi finished cafe area with Thatchers working overhead.. everywhere was dripping!! All the old house areas are closed due to upcoming roof repairs and the lovely vegetable garden also closed. OH retreated to the car with the dogs and I went into the big secondhand bookshop. There was a large tray of donated unused OS maps..50p a go. I couldn't resist one from Warwickshire, near where my MIL was born all very local and interesting!
Lovely to see Strangford Millie, happy memories of our trip there.
Hope the van sells TG.
I wonder which van will suit the KJs?
Glad R&R had a successful trip and good news about the tests.
Hope those away are getting better weather than us!
Our holiday dog has settled in well, her owners are above the Atlantic just now heading for Jamaica.
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Not sure how many of you will have heard of the artists Boyd and Evans? They have a special significance to Milton Keynes as they created a number of well known murals depicting scenes from Milton Keynes during the eighties and became Artists in Residence. There is currently an exhibition of their work in The Gallery, CMK, which we went to see earlier today. They create what is called photorealist art, the paintings are created from their original photographs. I have attached a photo of the mural which hangs in our Central Library. The big photo is on the complete mural but if you look closely at the smaller picture of one section of the mural you will Margaret Thatcher waving from the steps of some flats and rather intriguingly behind her is Arthur Scargill!!! The PM did visit MK in 1979 but I don't recall the miners leader ever being here.
David
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While we did like one of the Adrias, it will not suit US as well as our present van, but would be good for DD and family, who however do not have a tow car. Will not be ordering a new one this year, after that we will see how the finances go.
Next summer we are supposed to be going to Norway for my sister's 80th birthday, so how much caravanning we would have time for is up for debate. As is how much longer we will continue caravanning.
This was just a fact finding visit to rule an Adria in or out. The search will continue to ascertain if there are more contenders.
Now on our usual site in Kendal, had lunch, so time for a bit of shopping over in Aldi.
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A bit subversive DK but that's what artists can do, I also noticed the big picture has a touch of the Seurat "bathers" painting.
(I like the pictures!)KJ I think if you do go ahead there are also a lot of nearly new vans around, our friends are trying to sell a newish van by brokerage in the SE and have discovered others have had the same idea following purchases after the pandemic. TG seems to be luckier with a home sale. It's always good to look and investigate first as you are doing.
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Rain here too for most of the day, the garden needs it as do the water butts. I see the lilies are out in your garden photos Brue, I planted some beautiful ones in our garden years ago but made the mistake of planting them too close to the washing line, so now, for a few weeks of the year, either I can’t peg washing out or I have to pinch out the middle of the lilies to stop the clothes getting yellow stains from the flowers, I can’t even move them as the plant has spread and is too big for me to dig out, they do look lovely.
Our granddaughter is getting very excited about her 18th birthday and all the family going to Alton Towers to celebrate. I wish I could get excited about it! It will be nice to be with all the family though.
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Brue
Obvious a bit of artistic licence
On the subject of caravans and motorhomes being for sale I had a few emails from White Arches last week with some quite generous offers on new models so I assume the market is not as strong as it was. I suppose not only impacted by the after effects of the pandemic but also the economic downturn? I think I would be a bit weary of selling a motorhome privately but if you don't there is the risk you don't get as good a price doing by other means?
David
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Great news on Ros, R&R, glad things went well on the holiday.
Sounds like we have been lucky with our weather here, breezy but warm in a sheltered spot in sunshine. Only been to Barrington Court once Brue, but I did recognise the White Garden😁
Had a relaxing morning, spot of lunch outside, then worked out a bike ride for afternoon. At which point I found I had forgotten my cycling padded shorts🫣 Went for it anyway, lovely route along canal, then up (and it was UP😳) to Belvior Castle for a coffee. Back home via lots of pretty estate villages, picked up canal route again for a steady pedal home. Hoping to do Easton Walled Gardens tomorrow.
Hope Goldie got away ok. Interesting art works DK.
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Glad folks enjoying their breaks and days out.
Been busy outside OH has finished mowing the field today on the ride on and I did some mowing around areas he cannot reach with the electric mower really used it yesterday that the battery got flat but all finished now and strimming, then this afternoon I tackled two Buddleja shrubs as they got bashed around in the storm a couple of weeks ago so they looked tidy and no dead bits anymore but will do some more trimming of plants in the morning, OH put a new high level running light on the caravan as we lost one to a tree on site last week and he also did a few chores on the caravan and now it is parked on its usual parking spot by the hedge and will be in use in September when we come to the UK, as we do not do July or August here too many folks and prices dearer, prefer to have a few day trips out where it is quieter away from the crowds.
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Brue, I hope we are lucky. The chap from last night wants it but is having to sort finances out so who knows 🙄
We have had 2 other enquiries 1 of which we don't think will be suitable as they have 2 big dogs. The other one we are waiting for the person to arrange a viewing.
Rain went off mid afternoon and now we had a nice evening though it's a bit chilly.
Sewing machine out on the dining table as I have a few alterations to do and a couple of things to make, (always rainy day jobs)
OH got the MH aircon re gassed this morning, thankfully it's a 2016 model so the old gas, new gas twice the price.
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Good day out.
Berrington Hall in the morning. I love the collection and variety of the apple trees they have there. Oldest dated one I could find was 1665 and still going strong. Without the blossom they don't make great photos. Without the dedication and knowledge of the gardeners a lot of history would be lost. They must have over 100 different varieties.
We then went to lunch but the recommended pub was closed to accommodate a funeral gathering but the alternative turned out to be great. All of us enjoyed it.
We later on visited St.Bartholomew's Church in Richards Castle. A bit too big for me but some aspects were appreciated.
Hope your sale goes through Tammy.
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Enjoy Easton Walled garden tda. Very envious as it is their sweet pea season. We like Belvoir Castle as well. Sounds like you are having a good few days.
Best of luck with your caravan sale tda. I think we must have been lucky when we sold ours 2 years ago as it was very much a sellers market.
We had a trip into Downpatrick today and visited the St Patricks Centre. They had some really lovely things for sale in their gift shop but as we only have a very small case with us I couldnt get them home ☹️. We have just been out for a very nice meal this evening. Lovely sunny morning, but still with a very chilly wind, but a rather wet and dismal afternoon and evening.
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Mixed weather again but we managed to dodge the showers. Visited Threaves Castle this morning to view the Ospreys and Peregrines successfully, and then onto the Gardens where we saw a Red Squirrel, so a good day out. A few photos from today, but they don't do full justice to the colours.
Good to read that those that are away are having a good time and pleased to read of the positive result of Ros's examination, Richard.
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Ventured North Yesterday "Tring" well that is north now for us, we used to live there many moons ago The Natural History Museum was the private museum of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild; today it is under the control of the Natural History Museum, London. It houses one of the finest collections of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles and insects in the United Kingdom, one of our younger family members calls it "the dead animal zoo", not sure his school teacher was impressed.
Great day if you had webbed feet, it started to rain approx 1400 hrs and i mean real rain and was still raining at 2100 hrs when we arrived home, M25 & M3 motorways were awash with water, but on the plus side the garden this morning looks well washed and really fresh, the Fog Glove plants that appeared from nowwhere seem to have grown at least 6 inches overnight. Showers forecast for the next few days but temperatures on the rise
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Good news about your OH Rufs. Glad you had a successful time away in your van. 'Dead animal zoo' Love it 😅
Lovely photos nellie. Both you and WN sound as though you are enjoying your holidays.
Yes it rained here as well - we ended up with wet dogs after their walk on the beach yesterday evening!
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