What are you all up to
Comments
-
I know exactly how you feel, David. Our daughter's little lad is 3 in a few weeks time and he is 'non-stop'. We're currently staying with them on Lewis with Harris... Wayne is into climbing and it looks like little Euan may well be taking after his dad!! 😀
David
1 -
Well I've had an eventful morning - so far! The storm passed through, starting about 4.30 this morning. I'd have taken the awning down before it was due, but couldn't because it's been too windy to do that ever since we put it up! I have to say that the Veduta coped with gusts of up to 50mph extremely well - although I was a bit worried at times.
However, another couple on site didn't fare so well. He is 82 and she is 77 and in a tent! no less - but the storm flattened their tent and ripped the roof to shreds. I and the couple next door dashed out to help as soon as we saw it happening about 8 o'clock - and managed to rescue all their equipment and get it stored in their car. Biggest problem was that the elderly man couldn't find his hearing aids and they were buried somewhere in all the inevitable clutter inside the tent (we did find them eventually!). Sadly the tent is a write-off and I suspect that their tent camping days may have come to an end. Anyway, they were provided with a cuppa and breakfast and have now gone on their way home with the first load of gear and are coming back for the second load later. Feel more than a bit sad for them but they seem to have taken it in good spirits.
3 -
Felt a bit autumnal first thing. We had rain and very strong winds. Sorry for those who suffered damage but I do love strong winds, watched a couple of Marsh Harriers sky dancing, fascinating. Went to the beach and big waves rolling in, sand stinging the face but the lovely sound of gravel rolling in the waves.
Booked 3 additional days at Kessingland at start of our next trip so we can take the grandtwins away
0 -
"If you feel old Rufs, imagine how we feel as our only Grandson is 30 yrs old!"
Gawd i will be 86 yrs old when that happens, but as my old dad used to say
"you are only as old as you feel"
was at hospital yesterday, only check up xray for OH's wrist which is now almost healed, and bumped into the consultant that did my knees some 12 years ago, he was chuffed to bits that i am still cycling & Swimming and said he would do me a good deal if they ever wear out and need replacing
You know when it has been a rough night when the cruise ships are hiding behind the IOW, glorious now though but still a tad blowy
0 -
We have had a lovely day today with daughter and eldest grand-daughter. We went to Barnsdale Gardens for a wander round followed by afternoon tea. It was my 80th birthday present from them. My birthday was actually in the winter but we waited until the summer weather for our visit. It really is a lovely place. We were so lucky with the weather as after a very windy night it was settling down by the time we got to Barnsdale.
3 -
That poor couple. I feel so sorry for them. Thank goodness they had you and several other people to help them.
0 -
richardandros, well done you 👍
milliehull, I remember going to Barnsdale a long time ago, we were staying just outside Peterborough. It wasn’t long after Geoff died. I remember sitting in front of his bust (I assume it’s still there?) and feeling quite emotional. I bumped into one of his sons, he was the spitting image of his dad. The gardens were fabulous, I loved the different themes. Must try and get back there one day.
Last day here in Harrogate, so we went to Ripon. A really nice city (oldest in England, apparently) with a nice atmosphere. We visited the cathedral which became visible as we walked down a cobbled street. Sorry TDA, I couldn’t remember what you said (Hand Of God). Bought a couple of rather lovely jam/cream scones from a bakers in the market square, yummy 😋
1 -
Lovely photos, Millie, and pleased to re,as that you had a fine day for your belated birthday gift.
R&R, such a shame for the elderly couple but thankfully they were unhurt, by the sounds of it. Grand that fellow campers were around to help them out.
We were up early this morning to ensure we were about should we be the first on the boiler service engineer's list, and thankfully he was! The whole job was completed by 8:45, great service. It stayed dry for most of the day although rather windy, but we have had some more rain this evening.
0 -
Well done to whoever helped out the camping couple, fantastic commitment to still be out camping👏👏
Barnsdale is on my list of gardens to visit, and that afternoon tea looks very nice👍😁
We had a wild night here, but thankfully no damage. Quick visit up to Mums today, she was too tired to sit out in her chair today, so I got away early. Only for a bit of Aldi shopping, but it’s been a nice warm sunny day here. OH had a dip, but I missed out as a neighbour called in.
Sounds like you had a nice visit Freddy👍 Hope so, safe travels on tomorrow.
This is Ripon’s “Hand of God”. It’s a wonderful wooden hand that goes up and down, and looks as though it is blessing visitors🤣 Its actually a clever device used by the organist to help beat time for the choir singing in the Quire! 😁4 -
Spent most of today at our Guide Hall. We were to get smart meters fitted between 13.00 and 17.00, with the engineer contacting OH to give a more specific time, so OH asked me to go there in the morning and start fitting our new wireless linked smoke alarms.
OH came down just before 13.00 with a packed lunch and we waited….and waited……I finished putting up all the alarms…..and at 15.30 OH said she reckoned nobody was coming. A few minutes later her phone rang……Octopus had to cancel the appointment.
We will get £30 Compensation to the Guide account, but the first new appointment they could offer was while we should be on holiday, so no use. OH will need to arrange one for later in the year.
So, a bit of a wasted day, the 14 smoke alarms only took me half a day to fit, not an ideal situation when I could have been working in DD’s flat instead.
Off to Ikea tomorrow to pick up some stuff for DD and us, no meatball lunch this time, just a quick “click and collect” trip.
0 -
I know that many Members take their bikes on tour with them so I am asking for a bit of advice. I recently had a very senior moment and bought myself a Brompton folding electric bike. I need a strong, gold standard D lock but there are so many to choose from (and price is not always a measure of how good a product is) and I am also thinking of buying an electronic alarm as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
Val
0 -
We carry two electric bikes on our MH, expensive ones, so we invested in some serious bike locks. We use three locks to bolt the bikes onto the MH frame when travelling and if stored overnight on a site. We have two chain type locks and a U shaped one that goes through both frames to lock the bikes together. we use two personal attack alarms threaded through as well overnight, fine line is hard to spot, but would give a sneak thief a bit of a surprise. Thankfully never had any issues travelling around.
We always take at least one chain with us, unless we know we aren’t going to leave them anywhere when out for a ride. We seldom leave them without one of us keeping an eye on things.
At home, the two bikes we keep in garage (alarmed) are shackled to a concreted in motorbike post, and shackled with motorbike quality locks. There are another six bikes (I kid you not🤣) up in bedrooms and attic,
Keep an eye out in terms of site reviews around know bike theft hotspots. Clumber Park is notorious, the Club have invested in some good secure lock up facilities, and we always use them, but you do need to take your own securing chains and locks. Ferry meadows is another know cycle theft hotspot. On CLs, we usually have a word with owners, and if needed, most owners are very good about putting bikes away if you go out for day.
Dont forget to add your bike to House insurance, take some photos, and keep all receipts. We have lots of add ons to our bikes, special pedals, special seats, computers, etc….. so remove anything small if you leave your bike anywhere. Keep these receipts as well. Pedalsure is a good company.
0 -
There have been reports of really bad weather over this side of the country, with very heavy rainfall this morning and strong winds through the night. The road through Dumfries and Galloway was blocked which entailed an 80 mile detour, towing a caravan, to get to New England Bay as reported in FB. Thankfully the worst of it bypassed us at home and we have had a sunny and quite warm day. I was able to get the car washed again, after our last trip, and hope to do the same with the van tomorrow. We have just now had a belter of a thunderstorm however, and although the rain was heavy and the thunder exceedingly loud it didn't last very long.
1 -
We have had our most significant rain in almost a month today. The garden was in desperate need of it. Typical of course that it arrives on a Bank Holiday weekend!!! Difficult to believe the kids have only another week of their holidays left. We have some guys coming on Tuesday to put in some decking for us on part of the ground the motorhome used to be parked on.
David
0 -
Well - every cloud has a silver lining. After the diabolical winds on Friday, the orchard in the CS we are on was literally covered in apples and plums. Lots of free fruit
- courtesy of the owner of course, who is too busy on the farm to bother with them and most usually end up being fed to the horses in the equestrian centre. One of the huge trees at the side of the farm came down in the winds and partially blocked the road outside and Andrew and his son spent all day chopping it up and removing it. Would you believe that car drivers were removing the cones he had put across the road and attempting to drive underneath it
. Can't believe how stupid some people can be especially as there was a simple detour around it.0 -
Not sure about mixed feelings but certainly lots of memories and ghosts of several caravans and two motorhomes! I suppose in a way its being proactive in setting one part of our life behind us and starting a new project? We don't have a large garden and over the years it has been configured to accommodate either the caravans or motorhomes. So with them no longer in the garden it looks a bit strange. We don't have a large back garden so a paved area of some 10 x 35 feet looks a bit odd. The idea is to have a decked area so that we can have a permanent Gazebo on it to provide some height which is missing since the motorhome left.
David
0 -
How quickly the seasons roll on and with them the years. We are about to go on our last so called ‘Summer’ holiday of the season but to be honest the weather is distinctly Autumnal, wind, rain, chilly and how those nights are now drawing in. Longer evenings spent inside the motorhome I’d suppose but at least the grand children won’t be with us so books, films and cosy evenings at the pub are to be looked forward to. North Yorkshire Moors here we come.
0 -
If you are out still after bank holiday week, Tour of Britain is going across Northern area of NYMoors, Whitby and Saltburn Bank. Tuesday 3rd. Double climb at Saltburn.
0 -
Out this morning getting the last bits for our little family party later in the week, all done now, fingers crossed. Iceland let me down I decided to make things easier on myself and to buy some of the lovely frozen big gateaux that we have at Christmas, only to find they don’t do them in the summer! A selection of smaller items purchased instead. I planned just a small roast for the two of us this evening and relax. Granddaughters just phoned, ‘what are you doing, thought we’d pop over to see you’ Mentioned a small roast to be told ‘oh that sounds lovely, not sure what we are having’. Now a large roast for six, 3 granddaughters and one boyfriend!
1 -
I know where you are coming from David. We have a corner bungalow in a cul-de-sac where the front garden extends around the side and had part of it concreted over to accommodate the caravan. It used to be around the other side until we extended the bungalow to move the In-laws in 20 years ago (my doesn't time fly when you're having fun eh?
). I used to look out on it when in the extended kitchen but since selling the caravan that space has remained empty. The Van fits onto the front drive now. It's strange looking out of the kitchen window when preparing meals to see that space. The garden area is already getting too big to manage so I doubt we'll do anything with that space. Might set up a 1 unit CL, EHU provided with nearby water tap and sewer. Mmmm...Blowing 40mph+ here today with rain so yes, Micky, autumn does seem to have arrived.
OH lost a filling in her tooth this morning at breakfast so that will need sorting when they re-open on Tuesday.
1 -
My enthusiasm for the amount of rain we had yesterday and what it would do for the garden has proved somewhat misplaced. I have a couple of plants in my perennial garden at the front of the house I want to dig up as I don't think they really contribute, colour wise. I think that rain might have softened the first couple of inches but much deeper its still rock hard! No doubt we will get more rain.
David
0 -
We’ed stay🤣 Don’t need hook up, service pitch and happy to shove money through letter box!
Windy here, but still warm and dry. Busy weekend here, next door are fitting a balustrade to their huge patio space, so little twins don’t plummet 4feet into flower bed below. OH is doing an awful job clearing out a drain sump, filling the sump bit with concrete. Yuck🤢 I am on a bit of a house clean, in between potting on red hot poker seedlings, and when the hound wakes up, he’s going to be furminated!
0 -
Had to take back roads to go and watch Sophie play football. They played a boys team and lost 4-7 so they played pretty well.
The reason for the detour is today is the Truckers convoy is to take disadvantaged children to Pleasurewood hills for the day. Generally there are 80+ trucks involved
Lots of noise on the road last night, someone set fire tp a car last night, one car destroyed and two damaged
0 -
We should have had a big storm yesterday in the evening but it went around us and only had 1.8mm of rain so a bit annoyed as we thought we would have a good amount of rain so back to watering again and no rain this week either.
Now a lot quieter here as most folks have gone back ready for the schools when they open on 2nd September and the roads were very busy Friday and yesterday.
A hot day yesterday 35.6C and the air was hot as well so not much done outside but today much cooler 26C and a nice breeze as well.
Had a wedding around here yesterday as we had about 30 plus cars going by and all tooting their horns and waving as they went by.
0 -
Lots of noise on the road last night, someone set fire to a car last night, one car destroyed and two damaged
OP, there is a report of similar occurrences in North Wales. One wonders what has caused this to happen in two, at least, different regions of the country, and what the lunatics who are responsible get out of it?
RK, we would welcome some of that fine warm, 26C weather you are having here in the North West. It has been much more like November than August with strong winds and periods of rain today, cool enough to think about putting on the central heating!! (But we don't do that in August, do we?) It is even worse up in The Lakes, with flooded roads and a land slide blocking the Newlands Pass road. They even had to close the C&CC's Keswick site and have cancelled the Agricultural Show as the ground is that saturated!
0 -
Just popped in for a quick catch up.
We've been very busy with getting jobs done and visiting friends.
Great news about exams passed, congratulations to those involved.
Our grandchildren did very well. Eldest granddaughter got the results she needed and is heading off to Uni. The middle 2 (boys) both did exceptionally well getting A's in all subjects in GCSE. One of them is now back in school here in Scotland, starting his first year of Highers. Our youngest granddaughter starts her GCSE this year when the English schools go back, her brother starts 6th year.
We are starting our prep work for going away in the MH for our autumn trip. OH has been busy doing a few more Mods to the van, while I've been rearranging things and creating more jobs for him
Weather here hasn't been to bad. We've had some really nice days/weeks not the heat of down south but that is fine as we could carry on with our jobs.
Haven't been out on our bikes as much this summer so no doubt we will suffer when we get away. The garden is looking very lush, any rain we've had has been overnight up until today, when its been on and off all day. Everything looks nice and fresh. We have had wind but nothing out of the ordinary for us.
Haven't been away in the van over summer, but after this weekend we might just go away for a few days if the weather behaves.
0 -
OH lost a filling in her tooth this morning at breakfast so that will need sorting when they re-open on Tuesday.
Sorry to hear that, WN, your OH seems to spend nearly as much time visiting the dentist as I do!!
I too will have to try for an appointment on Tuesday!0 -
It teemed with rain all day yesterday but the garden was grateful. Today has been dry but distinctly chilly with a strong breeze. It started off sunny and bright but very grey this afternoon. We got some useful gardening done though.
Sorry to hear about the problems with teeth. Hope you manage to get them sorted after the bank holiday.
0
