What are you all up to
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Arrived at Melrose Gibson site yesterday. We've spent today having a look around the area... managed to find the William Wallace statue, Scotts View, Trimontium Roman Fort Site, and a little look around Melrose. Weather hasn't been too bad.... a little cloudy with the sun occasionally breaking through... a couple of very, very light showers too... but it didn't stop me getting out the Cadac and eating outside this evening...
David
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Have now almost reached the other side of the lounge, so need to deal with that doorway. Unscrewed the door, then could not move it, it must weigh about 50kg! Presumably a fire door, really solid.
OH came down to help DD sort out what she needs to order for all the work to be done, so one more task completed. Over to DD to get everything ordered up in good time.
Now watching Olympic opening and snoozing in my chair, more snoozing than watching I think!
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I haven't posted much lately, but I have been reading and interested in everyone's posts. Glad that all the trips seem to be going well and that all the illnesses/maladies seem at least to be being dealt with (there does seem to be a renewed sense of optimism about the future of the NHS - wonder why that is?
)This weekend we are celebrating our Golden Wedding Anniversary and we are treating ourselves (and Ralph) to a rather nice hotel on Dartmoor, a stone's throw from Castle Drogo for those who know the area. Nice and peaceful, no mobile reception but good WiFi! Today we walked along through the Teign gorge to Fingle Bridge, a lovely stretch of the river. And back to the hotel for a Devonshire Cream tea (although I have to admit that I did put the jam on first!) Great food and wine here too - but sadly and totally coincidentally my trousers seem to have shrunk around the waistline!
Planning to walk in the opposite direction to Chagford tomorrow and then climb Meldon Hill - well that's the theory anyway!
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Huge congratulations to you both. Have a great time.
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or should that be +50? 😀
Good to hear the Cornish tradition of jam first has stuck with you, M.
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Congrats Moulesy to you and Mrs.M.
We know the area well. I also remember my dear Father-in-Law ringing me from near Fingles Bridge one year to ask what he had to do as he had come off worst from a slight altercation with the bridge itself whilst driving. Beautiful part of the world to spoil yourselves in.
ps we're a jam first couple. Too messy the other way. Tin Hat on.
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All the best from me too, Moulesy, on your golden anniversary, and to both of the RKs for your birthdays.
Pleased to hear thst the graduation ceremony went well, Debs. Has your grandson a job to go to, more studying or research for him, as I expect there are fairly limited options for astrophysicists?
Well done with all the work you have been doing, Kjell, you will need another holiday once the project is complete.
We like the area around Melrose, David, as there are lots of interesting places to visit and some good walk too.
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Many congratulations to you both on your Golden Wedding Anniversary. The cream tea looks amazing! We celebrated ours during the start of lockdown and had a virtual get together with some family members I arranged to have a cream tea sent by post to each of them and we ate together during the ‘chat’. Didn't look as good as yours though. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Devon.
Congratulations on your grandson’s achievement DEBSC. Does he have a plan for his future career? Our son got a degree in Geography and economics and his first job was in IT (can’t remember how that came about now) which has stood him in good stead for nearly 30 years now!
Crumbs!!! you have hit the ground running after your holiday Kj. I think the snoozing through the Olympic opening ceremony was the best plan. 😉😂
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Many congratulations Mr and Mrs M. Absolutely beautiful photos. Lovely part of the world. The cream tea looks delicious but I must admit I am a cream first person. Years and years of holidays in Devon. Enjoy spoiling yourselves ( and Ralph).
Well done to your grandson DEBSC. I had to smile at your comment about him being very intelligent but forgetting some of his belongings. I do find sometimes that the more intelligent they are the more disorganised they are!
Pleased to hear that you are safely home KjellNN despite the confusion at the airport. I think sleeping through the opening ceremony of the Olympics was the best plan. We switched on and it seemed to just a procession of boats on the Seine with the athletes on in ponchos because it was teeming with rain so we decided we would rather watch Gardeners World. 😁
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Many congratulations for your wedding anniversary, Mr & Mrs Mousley, and to your grandson, Debsc. Happy birthday to Mr & Mrs RedKite, for earlier on this week. Great to read about the good news. All the best with your continuing work KjellNN. We didn't watch the opening of the Olympics... and from what I've heard, I don't think we missed much!! 😀
A dull morning here in the Scottish Borders - and we had some rain here over night. Fingers crossed it might brighten up a bit later... It looks like our best day might be tomorrow, which just happend to be our travelling day!!
David
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Congratulations Mr & Mrs M. Our 50th was just after lockdown and our grandkids asked us not to go out so it was a Chinese takeaway. We have been in Devon for 40 years but it’s still jam first.
I don’t think our grandson is up for more learning and unfortunately no job lined up as yet. His younger brother is working a gap year between college and Uni to save some money up but now they are talking about both working for a few months and then going to visit Australia for a couple of months. He is talking about a career in engineering, maybe for one of the car manufacturers if he can get in, a friend of his wants him to join him in finance, so we shall see. Our son keeps their feet all firmly on the ground telling all three of them that all this uni learning had better pay off with good jobs, he once suggested they all get apprenticeships as he did, he is now self employed, he has also taken them to work with him to show them how hard he works to keep them, which I think is a good thing, he did pay them for the days they worked though.
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Please forgive this post as it’s not ‘What we have been up to’ recently as we have been away, but it’s certainly affected us in the past. Our granddaughter has posted (on Facebook etc) that it would be good, lifesaving in fact, if everyone knew how to use an EpiPen on someone else in an emergency. After Rufs helping out with the girls medical emergencies and both him and TDA being a Good Samaritan and so many on here being out and about I thought I would bring it others attention as well. Many know roughly how to do CPR but an EpiPen can also be lifesaving. Like our granddaughter many suffering from anaphylaxis go into shock so quickly they may not be able to administer their Pen themselves. She is asking that everyone looks it up online and knows how to administer one in an emergency so I won’t go into it but just three things, the Pen goes through clothing, don’t hesitate, and call an ambulance, if you say anaphylaxis that usually brings a paramedic immediately. Thanks for reading
Our granddaughter had her second trial treatment yesterday, she won’t know for a while yet if it will decrease the episodes, they can’t take her off the steroids yet and she was rushed in to hospital twice last week but we have our fingers crossed. We were amazed to hear that the trial medication will change her D&A very slightly.
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Congrats on the 50th Mr and Mrs M. I like the Norfolk cream tea, cream/jam/cream, but each to their own. We are now in Hampshire and after Thursdays wash out the weather has improved considerably. Yesterday evening we spent a pleasant 3 hours watching son and foster grandson play cricket at Clanfield.
All those away keep enjoying
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How lovely🥰 Many congrats M, that’s a lovely milestone to reach. And such a gorgeous place to stay. We love Drogo, and close by Fingle Bridge is one of our favourite wild swim spots. If you get a couple of cooler or wet days, there’s a great little Motor Museum in Moretonhampstead, and the Prison Museum in Princeton is very interesting. We really like Chagford, some brilliant independent shops. We had hoped to be down there in a cottage this Summer, but sadly our old dog isn’t up to the journey, or if it’s hot. Have a lovely time. Some great little churches, full of history scattered across the Moor. I think it would be my number one choice of where to live🥰
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The Olympic stuff did go on far too long, probably why I fell asleep. Felt sorry for both athletes and spectators in that continuous rain.
We are now down at the flat, SIL and DD have moved the heavy door, so we are now making progress with the floor.
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs M, have a good weekend, the scones etc look delicious.
Time seems to fly by these days, really does not seem long since our 50th, but we are now on 55 and a bit (I think!)
Yes, we will need another holiday once all this work is done, not sure where to head yet, south I think. While we were in Norway we got the sad news that the wife of my colleague in Wales had died after a short illness. He himself is waiting, and has been for 2 years, for heart surgery, some valve replacements I think, so if he is not in hospital in September we hope to fit in a visit. His surgery, which is to be done in Liverpool, has already been cancelled several times at short notice, so is now getting urgent as he is not in good shape.
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I didn't have much planned for the day but nevertheless through habit I checked the weather forecast with the Met Office last night about 10 p.m. It was a thoroughly miserable forecast, dry until 9 a.m. then heavy rain, 90% chance, through until 13.00 being replaced by lighter rain, 60% chance until 17.00 when it had a reasonable chance of staying dry. I was a bit perplexed by the pictorial depiction of the sun peeking out from behind the light cloud.
So when stepping out of the door to go for a walk this morning I took a brolly. It's now 13.22 and there has not been a drop of rain and the sun is shining! OK it was cloudy this morning but how do they manage to get something which is their "raison d'etre" so, so wrong within just a few hours? It's not like it was a long range forecast.
We recently had a carnival postponed by the council as heavy rain and lightning forecast the day before the carnival. Didn't rain until gone 18.00 and no sign of lightning.
With all of their modern computer models you would think that forecasting would a lot more reliable. I wonder how many people changed their plans for today due to that forecast? Fortunately we didn't.
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Wow!!! if that was Clanfield cricket club i played there must be 60 years ago, I was a Radio Operator in the Royal Navy for my sins and i spent some time doing training at HMS Mercury which was close by, it is a housing estate now i believe, i keep promising myself i will go and visit some of my old haunts but never do, you should be getting some good weather just now gorgeous this morning but some cloud sweeping in but ok for swimming i think high tide around 1700 ish so will be popping down for a dip, cut the grass this morning and successfully saved a Robin chick from the neighbours cat, i shot the cat plum on the side of the head, dont panic with a water pistol, they dont often come into the garden now.
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Many congratulations Mr & Mrs moulesy - hope you had a lovely day.
WN - totally agree about weather forecasts. I usually check the BBC one - and to be blunt, it's rubbish. Both last month and this month, our time away in the van were predicted to be washouts, whereas in reality, the weather was wonderful. I did read some time ago, that it was due to a lot of their staff working from home where they didn't have access to the weather 'super' computers - but that sounds a bit far-fetched to me.
Had an 'interesting' afternoon, yesterday. I was getting quite worried about my arm which is now completely black/purple from my shoulder down to my wrist. It looks horrendous. Took myself down to our Doctor's and when the Receptionist saw it - saying "what on earth have you done" - she gave me an emergency appointment with our own GP. I thought, based on the advice from the Doctor I saw on Tuesday that I was heading for A&E in Hull - which is akin to spending Friday night in Beirut (or perhaps Gaza, these days!)
Our Doctor was wonderful (as he always is) and spent ages explaining what was happening and why he wasn't overly concerned - although he was a bit horrified when he first saw it. Gave me some good advice and sent me on my way with the reassurance that a visit to A&E wasn't required.
I have to say that although I have been critical of our surgery in recent times, I couldn't have received better treatment. I do think they do respond well when it is something potentially serious.
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Richard
Your story about your arm reminded me of when I had my hip replaced. I left hospital with a reasonably looking leg, colour wise. I think the next day I was black and blue from my hip to my toes! I appreciate totally different circumstances but frightening none the less!!!!!
David
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Thanks everyone for your good wishes. Today was the big day - when we got back from breakfast there was a bottle of prosecco and a dish of home made chocolate truffles waiting for us - so that was lunch sorted out!
We did walk to Chagford this morning but didn't climb the hill because (a) it was very hot (b) it looked very steep and (c) Mrs M discovered that there was a craft fair AND a farmer's market going on - fortunately she believed me when I said I'd left my wallet at the hotel.
This afternoon it clouded over but we thought that since we were here we really ought to walk up to Castle Drogo - and it's a fabulous place. The last castle built in England - spectacular views and the gardens are looking a real picture. We could easily have spent the whole day there - a good enough reason for coming back I think!
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I know this is a caravanning forum, but just in case anyone is on the lookout for a special place to celebrate a special occasion, I'd really recommend this hotel near Chagford. Very peaceful, (no mobile signal ) and lovely walks direct from the hotel - we haven't had to move the car since arriving! Great food & drink and the staff couldn't be more welcoming.
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Just to say congrats from us and glad you are enjoying your break away Moulesy, we had our 50th nearly three years ago.
Well it has got a lot warmer today and the next 3 to 4 days are going to be hotter and will be in heatwave mode from 12noon tomorrow so will not be doing much outside for my birthday except in the morning heyho and thanks Nth for your wishes.
We had put a few adverts for some garden items on a local website so garden furniture gone and today my old mountain bike which was free due to its age a very nice person bought it for his daughter and he bought his dad along as he was local and he is from the Drome a bit further south and they bought us a small bottle of Syrup of Acacia home made to use on fruit etc apparently it is good for you.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks.
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Lounge floor at the flat now complete, so tomorrow we start on the hallway, where there are 3 doorways to undercut, so progress will be slow.
OH asked us to re-measure for the staircase handrail as she was not convinced on the sizes, turned out she was correct, so another bit of handrail will need to be ordered on Monday.
DD will come and help me tomorrow too, then later on we have to go and pick up a free garden bench she has procured.
OH was left to look after the boys this afternoon as SIL announced, without checking that Gran was OK with being left with the boys, that he was off to see his Dad to watch football……football, and teaching, is what he lives for it seems.
When he announced to the boys that he was off out, Callum asked why he was going out. He replied that he was off to watch football with Grandad. Callum then asked why Daddy needed to watch football, which Daddy did not have an answer to.
Callum was not impressed , and when Daddy left OH reported later that the boys both barely even said bye-bye, which I think is rather sad. They just do not seem to have bonded with Daddy, but Mummy is very important and gets an ecstatic reception when she comes home.
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I usually only do jigsaws in the winter months but as we now no longer have the motorhome I thought I would have a go at one, rather than waiting. The jigsaw is made up of Lego bricks forming a multi-coloured puzzle. Quite a challenge, especially when yo have a full box of pieces
David
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If BBC staff are working from home so the forecast is incorrect due to them not having access to super computers, one has to wonder why they are allowed to work from home, especially as it is the viewers who are paying their wages, whether they want to or not?
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Not sure it should make any difference, see here https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4217606191651399
David
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The BBC switched their weather forecast supplier from the Met Office to the Meteo Group a few years back and the forecasts haven’t been as accurate since then.
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When the BBC switched we went over to using the Met Office but their own standards have slipped (see my post of yesterday as an example). Thinking about just wetting my finger and sticking it in the air.
Busy day today. Gardening for 2 hours this morning then visiting the tip. Now that we only have the small runaround for tip visits I will have to make another trip.
Our council has just voted to move general waste collection to a 3 weekly cycle from 2. The reason given was that they need to up their recycling percentage to meet the Welsh Gov's target as fines loom. I fail to see how this would help as the solution seems to lie with educating those people who do not recycle or don't do it well enough. Moving a general waste collection won't get the message across. It would seem we are paying higher council tax for a reduction in service, particularly as the recycling centres are now closed for 2 of the weekdays.In addition I can see an increase in fly tipping looming.
Lovely day here. Hope those away are getting some of it.
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My apology if I’ve posted this before.
Years ago, before centralisation, there was a Met Office based on an RAF station near where we lived. They had a piece of seaweed hung on the door and a poster which read "If all else fails, look out of the window".
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