What are you all up to
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I was just going to mention Barnsdale to you😁 Needs a full day. Enjoy.
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Sorry to hear about your MIL WN, but good all ok and that she is back home. Great NHS service for both you and Milliehull.
Interesting re Haggerston Castle Nellie, it’s a good location for getting around, and that’s a fantastic bargain. Big sites can be great early season when they aren’t too busy. We had one of our worst ever stays on a Club Site interestingly enough, got the timing wrong, and had a week at Yellowcraig one BH. Nightmare, so busy, and the pitch we had was awful, end of a turn into another area, so traffic passing constantly, children everywhere😱 We were still in caravan, otherwise we would have moved on. Our fault, hadn’t realised it was Scotland school holidays, we usually love Yellowcraig.
We are out soon. MH ready, using our free night, so Club Site will be good value. Only a couple of nights, but boy is it welcome.🤗
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Wish our surgery was as good as that millie - the only way to get a same-day appointment here is to go and queue outside at 0800 in anticipation of them opening at 0830 - bit like being in a third-world country. You certainly wouldn't get one over the phone.
Pleased MiL is OK and back home WN.
Well I said yesterday was going to be expensive. Good news is that car got through its MOT on the second attempt. They had to fit a new fog light and we were both surprised that it hadn't shown up as a faulty light on the dashboard beforehand. New wiper blades, two new tyres and full service - just shy of four figures
. And this garage is usually half the price of a main dealer!!I've never had a car so long - nearly 9 years now. I've normally swapped them every three years or so but I have to say it's the best tow-car I've ever owned and since VW no longer produce the off-road Touareg, I'm reluctant to part with it - especially when one sees the cost of a new one!
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Today's walk was along the south shore of Rutland Water from Barnsdale to the visitor centre at Sykes Lane which features this modern sculpture of "the Great Tower" which when created in 1980 was, at the time, the largest bronze structure ever - not quite sure what the relevance to Rutland is though (modern art, eh?
).We had our lunch watching several kites and buzzards circling but sadly no sighting of the ospreys. Also a pair of grebes ducking and resurfacing, we'd hope they'd do that courting ritual with their beaks, but no such luck!
Then on to the most well known image of the area, Normanton church on the edge of the lake, now deconsencrated and used as a wedding/ entertainment venue.
Another bright day, though just starting to spit with rain now.
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Ouch Richard! At least it should be good for a couple more years now after that work. We are in the same boat re car changing. Our Sorento is now 7 years old and it’s been, and still is, a great car. We no longer need it for towing but it’s going very well and not costing us anything (hope that was safe to say !??) apart from the usual expenses so very reluctant to part with it just yet. What to change it to would be a bit of a nightmare at the moment as we haven’t a clue which way to go with a new one. Think that decision will wait a year or two.
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Good news Goldie re your Landrover, OH thinking of a change of vehicle and must be a 4x4 he has started looking around so far not happy with some of the technology on some and he is an ex IT bod oh well , our Landcruiser is 19 years old this November and still going well and he not one for change and he has never had a new vehicle.
It was 21.4C here today and seemed very warm after all the rain we have had and it loks like we will have more rain in the next week.
Did a skip run this afternoon after doing a couple of things in Cahors am but did get some lunch and stopped at St Gery not far from the river Lot and it is flowing very high at the moment so had a quick picnic lunch in the sunshine and hardly anybody around and 1 lonely motorhome parked up, watched a black kite flying around and trying to get away from a lot of jackdaws playing around it but it did fly away from them.
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Glad to read that both Francis's and Goldie's vehicles have passed their MOTs
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Glad to read that both Francis's and Goldie's vehicles have passed their MOTs
Nice photos, M, Rutland Water does provide lots of decent walks. Hope You get to spot an Osprey of two, as there are at least 3 around as Maya and 33's next had a visit today from Blue25.
Tda, I thought we had done well with our cost for the site but taking to another caravanner he had paid just £66 for a full week on a H/S non awning pitch with EHU!!
Today has been the poorest of this trip, with rain for most of the time. We did go for a drive to Budle Bay but as the tide was fully out all of the waders were too far away to see clearly.
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Fabulous price for a week Nellie. Not sure if you know about the Ad Gefrin Museum in Wooler? Might be open, not sure. There’s a very scenic drive across to Wooler from A1 over tops, skirting Chillingham Estate. We parked up in Hepburn Wood pull in, some nice walks. You end up coming out near LilburnTower. Decent circular drive, lots of interesting stuff. If you enjoy ice cream, there’s a great ice cream parlour on outskirts of Wooler😋
You get off A1 at North Charleton turning, and head West over tops towards Rhos Castle, just follow moorland road. Not suitable for big Motorhomes🤣
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What I didn't say above about the MOT - was that, once again, it got through without needing new brake pads. That's almost 50k miles since they were last changed which I find incredible - especially towing the van, although I do tend to use the gearbox in manual mode for long descents.
There was an 'advisory' on the front pads - to be done before next service so I think I'll get them all done in a few weeks time to be on the safe side.
Hearing about Goldie's LR and RK's Landcruiser makes me think mine's still a spring chicken - so why fix what ain't broke!
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MGB is 53
Motorhome is 23
Mini is 14
Wrangler is 10
MG doesn’t need an MOT any more, but OH does get it tested, as it’s a safety check. Other three sailed through their MOTs last time thankfully. The newer our vehicles are, the more problematic they can be. Stuff you can easily take apart, bang with a hammer, and put back together again, (if you have the know how like OH) is fairly easy to maintain. It’s all the electronic, computerised modern stuff that’s a nightmare. Cars have become as consumable almost the same as white goods nowadays. Trade off between more comfort, safety, high tech motoring and any kind of longevity. Our MG is moving into its “3rd era” at the moment, wings are off, windscreen off, undergoing a partial resto, and OH is replacing dash. Jeep had been giving us some grief around Xmas. Battery seemed to be draining overnight, even after a longish run. Auto electricians couldn’t pin point issue, but it clicks and whirrs for ages after you park up, computer doing its stuff, so OH a bit baffled. Nothing draining it on tests. OH looked at it a different way….bingo, it wasn’t draining, the alternator wasn’t putting the drive power back into the battery. He got this confirmed by AE. They wanted £600 to replace. OH got a new Wrangler alternator delivered for £200, fitted it himself, couple of afternoons, one to take old off, one to put new on. Bit of an old fashioned fix. He doesn’t touch auto electrics, nightmare.
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Glad you got through your Mot richard as you say service Mot's are expensive now and even here although CT(Mot) is only every two years, OH used to design brake testers and the headlamp aligners many years ago when he was working for Crypton i Bridgwater, this year the French are introducing CT's on some motorbikes and scooters which has not gone down well with the locals and in UK they have had them for years and OH did the design for brake testers for motorbikes then.
Ttda we have friends in Wooler and visited them a few years ago and love Northumberland and would to go again a lot more to see and they did take around a few places in our short stay.
Not sure if folks have been to Great Witley church in Worcestershire it is a baroque church and amazing inside we might try and go again whilst over there later this Spring.
Have a good day folks.
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We keep thinking of our Touareg as "new", but it will be 8 in September. Not a high mileage so will "see us out" as MIL used to say.
DD has OH's old Volvo V40, now that is getting on a bit, will be 22 come September, and various small things are failing. This week it is the tailgate lock, she now cannot open it , which is very inconvenient. We have suggested it may be time to order a new car before something major fails, but she is resisting. The car is so old that getting new parts is becoming difficult and expensive.
Another grey and wet day here, temperatures have been very variable. Very busy with GP duties as other grandparents have had a "day off" to enjoy a trip to Gleneagles Hotel, a 70th birthday treat from their 3 children.
This afternoon I will be on Guide Hall duties as there are some storage brackets to be installed in the basement for stuff that needs to be relocated to allow insulation to be installed in the floor above, plus some other small jobs. Then over the weekend there is the caravan to prepare for going to be serviced.
It is 2 weeks since my operation, so now allowed to get water over the presumably healed wound. I say presumably healed as it is covered by 2 strips of some sort of white tape, so I cannot see what is happening with it. And there were no instructions given as to how I should remove it, or when.
Can anyone tell me whether this white tape will fall off when wet, bit worried about pulling it off! May need to enquire at the GP surgery.
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Kj said:-
It is 2 weeks since my operation, so now allowed to get water over the presumably healed wound. I say presumably healed as it is covered by 2 strips of some sort of white tape, so I cannot see what is happening with it. And there were no instructions given as to how I should remove it, or when.
Were you not given any instructions? There are wounds and wounds and often depends on what part of the body so somewhere that doesn't flex much might heal quite quickly but it gets a lot of stress, like a hand it could take longer. I think if you weren't given any instruction to change the dressing, other than keep it on for two weeks, I imagine you have to assume it should be OK to remove and carry on as normal? Obviously when you remove it you will get a good idea, if its dry and no signs of a inflammation it should be fine.
Talking of hospital things Margaret has an appointment on Monday to see the surgeon as a follow-up to her Carpal Tunnel operation. Today we get a text to tell her there is a letter online regarding this appointment. Worried that it might have been cancelled we opened the letter. Rather strangely it cancels the original appointment but then rebooks it for the same day, same time, same place so goodness knows what is going on!
David
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We like Wooler. OH loves this area for cycling, always takes his bike when we stay up there. We stumbled upon the Anglo Saxon Palace when out on a drive a few years ago, only boards at the time on the roadside, but it’s great that it’s got a Museum etc.. dedicated to it now. Lovely to get away from coastal crowds as well in this bit of Northumberland.
Thats another really good day out RK, Witley Hall, Church and the very nice tea garden close by. The Perseus and Andromeda Fountain there is really powerful, it had just been restored when we visited.
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Ttda I have somewhere some very old photos or post cards of the fountains and the buildings before everything got very run down.
Just come back from our friends and she said still got a very swollen stomach and still feels very tired and no energy to do anything but will see the doctor next week and the specialist the following week so hopefully she wil have more news of the outcome of what is next maybe have her gall bladder out, did ask her OH how old their Frontera is and 27years and still going well it is a 3.2 petrol engine looks like it could do with a repaint on the bonnet as the sun in the summer plays havoc with car paint, they are looking after friends small dog at present well her OH is and he does not like it too yappy he said but only there for a week and their cats are not too keen.
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No, just not to get it wet for 2 weeks.
DD brought me home from the hospital, OH had given her a short list of questions to ask when she went up to the ward to fetch me. One was about the dressing and stitches, but they released me before she came and I was already outside waiting when she arrived, so nobody to ask.
Will see how it goes when it gets wet, then seek advice if necessary. The wound has been fine, no leakage or pain, it is about 7cm long and in a wrinkle at the front of my neck so will be almost invisible eventually.
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Kj
Sounds very odd that you weren't given precise instructions? A lot of stitches these days just dissolve so there is no need to have them out. Obviously if you have any worries you just need to make an appointment to see a practice nurse who will decide if further action is needed. But from what you say it seems as if it will be fine.
David
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Yes, OH was very surprised, and annoyed, that, having said I had to be "supervised" for the first 24 hours, the discharge team gave me no information on the stitches or the white tape, and let me leave unaccompanied. And I was in trouble for not asking any questions!
Everything seems fine, and it feels like the white tape is starting to come loose at the ends, so I will put plenty of water over it in the shower tonight and see what happens.
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Thanks, tda, doubt we will be able to fit it into our plans this time, but always good to have somewhere else to visit the next time we are in the area. Another poor day weather wise with rain for most of the time. We did manage a wet walk at Spittal along the front, and a couple of short dry ones around the site this afternoon. Have just enjoyed watching the Under 20s Six Nations matches this evening, and a great win for the English boys to become this season's champions.
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I am surprised KJ. When I had the by-pass Op in my leg, I had a wound that went from my groin to half-way down my calf. It also had that white tape on but before I was discharged, arrangements were made for the Community / District (whatever they are called now) Nurse to come and see me every day or so. I think mine was taken off after a week (and I looked like a leg of pork stitched up by the butcher!) but everything was done under close supervision. It also helped that our next door neighbour is one of those community nurses.
I can hardly see the scar now.
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Success! Tape now off. Gave it a good soaking and the ends came loose. OH suggested snipping off the loose bits so they would not catch on clothing, but on doing that it became clear that the whole tape was quite loose, so I just peeled it off carefully. All looks good.
Sunny today, OH is doing washing and I am off to help DD pick up some free bookcases.......since she cannot get her tailgate open.
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Not bad weather here today so I gave the caravan a wash as it was filthy after our trip to Blackpool all nice and sparkly again. Not much else planned for today. We finally booked our main summer break this morning after much debate we have decided on Somerset as it’s been a few years since we have been there hopefully we get a nice summer again the last time we were in that area we never saw one drip of rain over the whole fortnight
Hope everyone else has a nice weekend
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Decent dry day here today, very chilly though and last night was freezing. Had a good bit of rain yesterday morning but the afternoon was nice and sunny.
I've been busy at the sewing machine today making covers for our new Isabella chairs. They fold 4 ways like an umbrella and will be much easier to carry in the MH. The covers I made are padded and the cover can easily be removed for washing. The chairs are ok to leave outside even in the rain but I'll need to bring the cushions in.
OH washed the outside and cleaned the inside of the car. The MH can wait a bit yet. Yesterday he cleaned all the gutters out on the house. The benefits of a single story dwelling 🙂
If it's nice tomorrow we might go for a nice drive somewhere, starting to get the itch to go away now all the decorating is finished.
Have a good weekend all.
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We have had a reasonable week plenty of sunshine and warmth with the occasional rainy period, the forsythia, magnolia and some of the apple blosom is now in abundance. Dark and drizzily just now but again not cold,
OH not happy it was sport in your face for most of yesterday on the 2 main tv channels, ok for me, having some probs with ears so difficult to hear the tv, had one go at syringing, going back for second session next Friday when hopefully the Olive oil will have worked its magic, but i can just sit and watch the sport
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We had summer yesterday and it was good whilst it lasted but back to rain and grey skies once more. It was actually T-shirt weather during the morning with this big yellow thing in the sky - most unusual! Still, made the most of it and gave the outside of the van a thorough cleaning - even opened all the windows and cleaned the accumulated grime (especially the front ones) from underneath them. Then I set to and started polishing and after doing the front and the back, I'd had enough! Finish off tomorrow, I thought, since at that time it was forecast to be dry again today. Forecasters clearly got it wrong, so having a relatively lazy day today
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A local walk this morning for me. it was quite warm in the sun and good to see all of the new shoots coming through and hear the first migrant songbirds that have just arrived.
Gardening for an hour or so this afternoon. Ground still sodden so concentrated on hedge pruning before nesting starts in earnest.
I need to give our caravan a good cleaning too, Francis and Richard. On the to-do list. Surprising how dirty they get standing still.
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We had a fine sunny day yesterday before more rain in the evening. Visited Bamburgh and had a very pleasant walk of 3 ml or so along the beach before lunch and then another around the Castle walls in the afternoon.
Today started off grey and misty. We went to Cocklawburn for a couple of walks on the shore, where are some interesting geological features including a good example of limestone pavement. There is an old Limekiln now on a precariously position due to coastal erosion. When we got near it we spotted a seal pup on the rocks beneath it, so stayed well back. If one looks closely one can just about spot the pup. ( Better photo in Wildlife section) It was a mixed afternoon with periods of sunshine interspersed with an odd rainshower.
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