What are you all up to
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We have decided on 14 days away, 8 nights visiting our friend in Wales, and a few nearby attractions, going straight down there, then 6 nights at Kendal on the way north, visiting several favourite places.
Nothing booked as yet as we do not anticipate sites being busy, but no doubt OH will be getting things organised soon.
Yes, I do leave her to organise these sort of things, deciding where and when to go away is above my pay grade! I just follow instructions most of the time.
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Out of the main holiday season, we always book last minute.... often on a Saturday to arrive the next day.... we do tend to be a bit flexible though - if one site is fully booked, we just try somewhere else.... Enjoy you break KjellNN...
David
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It has rained on and off for most of the day, but we did manage to get out for a while. We visited tge Town where the last Dragon in Wales was killed, being fatally shot with an arrow and then falling into the River Teifi. We had a dry walk along by the river and then up to the Castle. The dragon is remembered with a sculpture over the gateway to the castle.
Thanks, WN, we might managed to fit in a visit before it finishes. OP, I hope your brother is settled in his new residence. Kjell, hope your OH manages to get your tripped booked. We have stayed on a few THSs next to your chosen site at Kendal and it has appeared to be full at any time we were there, so you should have no problems getting on it.
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Still no baby news.........
After an extremely chilly damp week today has been beautiful. So Dora and I took advantage and doubled our walking distance to take advantage. Stood and chatted with the farmer who runs a suckler herd. His cows are so placid. Even his bull - he says its the quietest if the herd 😂. I always respect them but they're very happy with folk using the footpath. Dora isn't curious. He was just letting out 2 mums and their calf's out of the barn. One calf a week old the other a bit older but had been poorly. (There is another footpath with huge white cows plus a hefty bull on another farm I wouldn't contemplate a walk through the footpath. He puts them in a large field, 3 in one, and the footpath goes right through the middle. They run together all summer and are put in the barns once the ground gets wet, a stream runs through the fields, so a mucky walk when they are not there!)
Apparently rain stopped play again yesterday with 3 fields remaing. Hopefully the promised better weather this week will allow it to be finished. Might even aid the human harvest 😉.
Until I got rained off I gardened yesterday, pottered some more today. I'm still waiting for my waterbutt set up to fill, the 2nd of 4 is almost ready to offer some to no.3. It's only off the garage roof so not huge amount at a time. I did try to post a photo when the forum went awol.
Lovely surprise, see photo below, all pots of bulbs have been put behind the garage for the summer. Lifted out the surprise and placed it in the sun in the back garden where we can enjoy them. Not sure where the pot came from, must have been left by previous owners. I've written on the pot, several words that I now can't read, but the clearest one is BLIND. Obviously, they didn't perform in the spring...... Should I repot them once they've finished flowering?
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We had a similar sunset but photo didn't do it justice.
We had a rain out yesterday, only improved by a visit from Ttda and her OH for a few hours, we sauntered off to RHS Harlow today where I deposited the ladies and went for a walk to Harrogate. A beautiful sunny autumn day. They seemed to enjoy themselves, although Mrs.WN did say her mother had to stop and rest multiple times but judging by today's visiting demographic I'm sure she wasn't the only one. Have to find something with less walking for tomorrow.
At this rate B2 you'll be making a crib for the newborn.😀
Great to have a blather with the Ttdas'.
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We got wet yesterday at the York classic car show, a good turnout of vehicles though. Yes’ very nice to catch up with you all WN, we had a good drive home.😁
Newcastle Emlyn Nellie, we remember it well. The River Teifi had broken its banks and lots of places flooded out. We also managed to get to Cilgerran Castle, but couldn’t do the river walk, as it was under water. If you go, checkout this wonderful wicker statue…..The Greatest Knight, William Marshall. Photo is telling me we were there seven years ago, 2017.
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Bakers2 I was reading this article in the Guardian last week about cows and footpaths, not that I needed any encouragement but it put me off going anywhere near a field with cows in!!! I didn't realise that they were also the cause of quite a few farming accidents.
David
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Tda, good to read that you were able to meet up with the WNs. Yes, it was Newcastle Emlyn castle. We intend visiting Cilgerran Castle tomorrow, and hopefully do some of the river walk. Will certainly look out for The Greatest Knight sculpture.
B2, I hope that the newest member of your family isn't too long in arriving, as you will be a nervous wreck should it's arrival be delayed much longer I guess.
WN, pleased to hear that the weather was much improved and that the ladies had a good time at Harlow Carrs.
What contrast from yesterday with the weather, as we have had nearly wall to wall sunshine after a very heavy overnight dew. In fact there may have well been some ground frost in the by the hedgerows. We drove down to the small car part at Pont Llaninna and walked along the beach nearly to New Quay. The council were putting a restriction on beach access due to an abandoned seal pup so had we gone further we might have had a long road walk back to the car. It was such a lovely day we just enjoyed our gentle stroll, and a picnic on the stones looking towards the town.
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Are you heading further South Nellie? We love Pembrokeshire, fantastic for Abbeys and Castles. Beaches are very like those in Cornwall as well (unsurprisingly).
Beware of the parking wardens in Helmsley and Pickering WN if you go. Uniformed Rottweilers sometimes. Browns is the shop I mentioned to your MIL😁 Joules galore🤩
Birthday lunch for my sis today. Home made lasagne, sides and then she had made a very tasty cake. Mum slept through it all bless her. Been a lovely day after the wash out yesterday. It’s vacc season here as well. Going to be like a pin cushion these next few weeks, covid, flu, shingles……..
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Yes I read that as well. No surprise to me, we have been chased a couple of times on NT land. I won’t go into a field with cows now, with or without a dog. Cottage where we stay on Dartmoor, owner keeps a small herd of Devon Reds. He was put into intensive care for weeks when he was trampled. I’ll happily pat a cow over a solid fence, but don’t want to be in the same field.
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It’s vacc season here as well. Going to be like a pin cushion these next few weeks, covid, flu, shingles……..
Yes same here Tda. OH has also been invited for a RSV vaccination to add to the list (although we had the shingles one a few years ago). Perhaps you aren’t in the right age group for that one.
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Having grown up in the country around farms with a few cows they are always given the utmost respect by me. Never had an incident touch wood.
All that said I won't go through a field of cows by choice, I'd rather walk out of my way! I'm not sure tgat I'm not more afraid of horses in a field
This farmer only keeps a few cows, used to have them as milkers apparently he was telling me, until the milk lorry refused to collect as no one else in the area had milkers. I know not how long ago. He didn't want to not have any so does this now. I can't think it brings it much of a living, but theres only him. Sometimes they are in his fields with a footpath, but once the calves arrive he keeps them out of those.
The footpaths are part of a widely used loop, 4.5 miles off road round from our village. When we first arrived, I always turned back if the cows were there, but allowed Dora to sit and watch them behind the gate. Gradually I have started to walk through - yesterday was the first time this year. Sort of forced to as 2 fields back the farmer was just coming down the field in a massive tractor with the cultivator, so sort of between the devil and the deepblue sea? Cows safely over the far side.
I always have Dora off lead but close. One less job to do should they come visiting 🤞. I can't run now and don't want to put it to the test! Luckily the footpaths are on the edge of the fields in both cases
The other field of white cows, charolais, I wouldn't even think of going near when they're penned, yes you can walk right past, in the winter! The fields they are always out in with the bull has footpaths through the middle. 3 fields have been joined, each with a footpath, which you need to complete a circular walk. I wonder why???
I am amazed that in this day and age a bull and herd can be put in a field with a footpath. With just a warning sign. Maybe Goldie could shed some light?
An aside, I listen to Ramblings, radio 4, and David Blunkett was one one. He lives near Chatsworth and goes out across the walks with, by the sound of them difficult, styles too and was trampled by cows whilst with his son. Broken ribs. A scary but fascinating listen....... It's availavailabe as a podcast on BBC sounds, no idea to link that!
Enjoy your day folks
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One thing mentioned by a farmer in the article was that when they do put up notices to warn people they are often torn down. One does wonder if that is just a random act of vandalism or whether some walkers think they are there to deny access to the footpath? Is there any scheme to encourage/subsidise farmers to provide safe segregated fenced pathways across their land even if it does deviate from the footpath marked on a map?
David
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It doesn’t surprise me DK. There’s probably foolish folks on both sides of the issue. HSE offers this guidance…
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2024/03/25/stay-safe-around-cattle-in-the-countryside-at-easter-2/
I knew about Dairy Bulls, but our worst incident was on NT land, a coastal footpath near Coverack. I can’t recall seeing signage, but it might have been there. We were a mile or so into our walk, three dogs with us, all on leads. Saw a herd of bullocks right at the top of the steep field in the gorse, we stayed close to beach path, but they came flinging down the hillside straight at us. Let go of dogs, two ran off, but third one was terrified, wouldn’t leave me. We had to fend a couple of bullocks off with a long umbrella, and a flask, gave us seconds to scramble down a rocky drop onto the beach praying they wouldn’t follow. Thankfully no. We got lots of cuts and bruises, dog was fine, and we found our other two dogs luckily on the beach not too far away. That was walk over, got back to Coverack via the beach, and we have never attempted that walk again. To this day, I won’t go into a field of cows, with or without a dog. I don’t trust horses either, have dived over the fence when our own horse was “playing”😱
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Got home yesterday after a frustrating journey. The M11 had overhead signs indicating a 1 hour delay. Knowing the area well I decided to avoid the motorway and use the parallel road going through Stansted Mountfitchit and Newport. No warnings that there were 3 sets of roadworks on the route which took nearly an hour to navigate!
Brother has settled in the home fairly well, his next challenge is cataract operations which I will travel down for. Back home the garden isn’t in to bad a state. The runner beans and raspberries are going great guns. The big surprise is the sweet peas are blooming for the third time.1 -
Agree about Pembrokeshire, TTDA. The other thing is that, on the whole, the Pembrokeshire beaches tend to be more dog friendly, especially during the main holiday period.
I'll have to start chasing the vaccs up.... not had any 'invites' yet!
Happy birthday to your sister, TTDA ....and, did someone mention cake!! 🤣🤣
David
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We were walking above Kendal one autumn and entered a field with our Westie on a lead. It was a circular field and some cows were feeding from a feed ring. Nice and placid and autumn which meant they would have seen lots of walkers. Westie decided she didn't agree and slipped both her lead and collar and headed to the side of the field whilst we continued straight ahead to walk past them having been walking in cow fields of the Peak District all summer. When we were about 10 yards away they parted and stood standing in the middle was the Bull. Stay calm we said, more in hope than expectation but they just continued to stare at these mad humans as we continued at the same pace past them to meet our intelligent pet waiting for us at the stile.
Just 1 of many "What ifs..." but we're still here and still unafraid but very respectful of cows, especially those with calves. Now, horses are a different kettle of fish but we've only ever refused the once to enter a field with them in.
Maybe we are just stupid and lucky.
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What a lovely day, full sun from morning to night. Hope it's not Summers Swansong.
Off to Helmsley this morning. Found a decent parking space with plenty of room at the entrance to the small town. MiL had a ball. Clothes, clothes and some more clothes. Having been brought up on hand me downs and second hand clothes she has never bought anything from a charity shop, preferring just to donate yet I saw her buy a beautiful jacket from Oxfam that was wool and classy that must have cost a small fortune new. She's very fussy, clothes wise. Just shows, there's always a first time for everything. Many thanks? to Ttda for the suggestion of Browns as well.
I had a nice visit to the Church in Helmsley whilst they were in Browns. Lovely place with a Norman arch entrance. A first for me was the full piece granite altar in the small side chapel.
We paid a visit to Rievaulx Abbey afterwards and spent a good hour just wandering or eating ice-cream!
Back home via the back roads for views of wonderful Yorkshire countryside.
Hope others enjoying the sun.
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We have a problem……our preferred site at Kendal, Spital caravans, is closing at the end of September meantime, as Rachel’s mum (I think) has been diagnosed with dementia and they are struggling to cope.
I expect they will open again eventually. Meantime we need to find an alternative. Thinking CCC Kendal or Windermere.
Any other sites anyone can suggest?
Such a shame for them, it is an excellent site, dementia is indeed a terrible disease.
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We travelled home from Norfolk on Saturday - it was a pleasant 2 hour drive. We unpacked the car and I put a load in the washing machine and got it dried outside and we then fetched our little cat from the cattery. She has been very fussy with us since we got home! Yesterday I met some friends at a local garden centre for coffee. We are friends who all worked together and retired nearly 20 years ago. We meet once a month and are still great friends. Today I have been back on duty in the Cathedral shop. Much quieter now that the Summmer Exhibition has finished but we still had a steady stream of customers. I met some lovely people.
I love Rievaulx WN. We have had some very happy times there. It has such a lovely atmosphere.
I hope you get some baby news soon Bakers. The waiting is very nerve wracking isn't it.
Yes KjellNN dementia is indeed a dreadful illness. So very sad.
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Glad you had a good day. Helmsley church is a good visit. Rievaulx is our favourite Abbey, such a fabulous location, nice EH cafe as well. You do get some quality stuff in charity shops in Helmsley🤣
Quiet day for us, glorious sunshine and warm, so a bit of garden pottering. Evening scan at big hospital for OH, now back home for late meal.
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Are you heading further South Nellie? We love Pembrokeshire, fantastic for Abbeys and Castles. Beaches are very like those in Cornwall as well (unsurprisingly).
We were in fact due to head across country to a couple of booked club sites after leaving here on Thursday, and then down into Somerset, note the were!
We were sat in the van at 8:00 this evening and just when I switched a light on there was a loud bang!! What the heck was that? It turned out that the outside membrane of front sky light has split, from the bottom for about 4".😮
We will have to contact the dealers tomorrow to see what they suggest, but it certainly looks as if we will have to head home as we can afford to let any water get in. And after such a fine day today too!1 -
Just to prove we did have a good day today, before this evening's disaster, we visited Cilgerran Castle, as suggest by tda. We walked up from the riverside carpark, walked round the castle, and after lunch overlooking the river did a bit of the riverside path. Then restocked at Tesco and Aldi for our the next part of our tour before driving out to the Gwbert viewpoint overlooking the Teili Estuary. There are others Willow statues at the castle, of the Lady Nest and The Lord Rhys
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Sorry to hear this Nellie, hope it can be fixed quickly. Hate it when something like this happens. Safe travels home.
Enjoyed the photos, I don’t think Rhys and Nest were there when we visited. Always think William Marshall is one of the most interesting people from early history. Luckily his life story was well documented, it was usually only royalty that had such history written down.
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The CCC Kendal site is at the same end of town as Spital Farm. Just a bit farther up the A6, and handy for basic shopping (supermarkets etc) and for heading out for day trips. We've never been (too near home), but from the road it looks OK.
The Windermere CCC site is about 6 miles from Kendal (midway between Kendal and Windermere). It has a pub/clubhouse but I can't comment on that. We stayed a few years ago when we needed to be near home to visit my mother in hospital, but still "go on Holiday".
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Nellie, we had our front window on a Coachman Amara split when in Spain years ago. We duck taped it together until we got home. Wasn't pretty but it was effective. If you can get onto the roof or get someone else up there it might help prolong the journey until you get back home.
Mil a bit tired after yesterdays venture so we just paid a morning visit to Easingwold itself.
We came across a shop that might appeal to DK.
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WN - I wish I'd known you were going to Helmsley, beforehand. I would have recommended going to see Keith Pickering (aka "The Stick Man" as in 'walking sticks'). If you go again, he has a little workshop in the walled garden near the car park and he's the most marvellous craftsman and always happy to have a chat. His carved walking stick heads have to be seen to be believed - dogs - fish - birds of prey - etc etc. He takes commissions from all over the world and has made sticks for a lot of famous people (read the 'about us' bit).
Perhaps, next time?
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