What are you all up to
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Glad that we decided to stay the extra day, as the good weather continued, although more cloudy than of late, and we had a couple of pleasant walks from the site. By the looks of the forecast we did the right thing by heading homewards. Although we are on an non-electric site it is full again tonight, so not everyone want the expensive all-singing all-dancing type of sites.
That sounds like a grand day out, Millie, and hopefully there will be more exhibitions of the Much Farm artifacts. Lovely photos, micky, Scotland seems to have had the best of the weather for much of the year. Enjoy the rest of your trip, and the same goes for Francis and OP. Glad you all got home ok, WN, and that you had a good time at Easingwold. It reads like an interesting and pleasant day Debs, and hope that the rain doesn't extend up to Stratford.
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There is lots of history, intrigue and family upset recorded between Wentworth Woodhouse and Wentworth Castle which are separated by only a few miles and once owned by lines of the same family.
My father was stationed at Wentworth Woodhouse during the early years of WW2 when it was a training centre for the Army Intelligence Corps before he was posted to India. My wife trained at Wentworth Castle as a teacher. The history which ‘blighted’ both houses is fascinating and local tales tell of much machinations between the rivalling parts of the families.0 -
A dull and chilly day here, total opposite of yesterday. Down to DD’s by 10 to continue with the velux work, but as she was in meetings and OH cannot really help, progress was very slow.
The area to work in is small and the scaffold is difficult to use in the confined space, so everything takes a long time.
Then DD had to go out for shopping after collecting Nathan from nursery, and was just back in time to collect Callum from school, so half the afternoon was gone by then.
We did however manage to get all 4 solar blinds fitted, and the 2 solar powered openers, so tomorrow will just be finishing off everything. Not an easy job at all!!
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Good news, I think, on the sale of DD’s flat, she now has 3 or 4 people interested in making an offer, so will go to a “closing date” on Tuesday.
This means that everyone interested in offering has to submit their best and final offer by a set time on that day, and she will decide which to accept.
Hopefully the offers will be good!
Things move more quickly up here than in England, so it should all be finalised by the end of October, or earlier.
DD is now planning how to allocate the proceeds left after paying the CGT. She has to repay what we have loaned her, pay for her new car, and wants to pay a chunk off their house mortgage.
Then they want to get some garden landscaping done next spring, and the house really needs a partial new roof, as it is 100 years old, so they will need to set aside a fair bit for that. Old houses are expensive to own.
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“Old houses are expensive to own.”
Indeed. The major problem is the damp and rot. 17 years ago we bought a Victorian cottage. On the face of it, it was idyllic. It had been refurbished, had a 200ft garden and in the country, heaven? No. It soon became apparent that there were damp and rot issues. I was glad to be out of it.
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Most of the problems she has had in the 6 years she has owned the place have come from poor workmanship, previous owners trying to save money, and water leaks.
So far a leaking mosaic tiled shower floor, on top of more tiles, just discovered before the floor joists started to suffer. A leaking roof due to incorrect tiles being used on a shallow slope, that was expensive as the roof had to be redone in zinc. And now a rotting soffit due to tiles slipping on the very old roof allowing water to get behind it. That should be sorted soon, but the problem with the 100 year old roof is ongoing as it is a shared responsibility with the upper flat.
Next thing will be the electrics. 😩
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Wentworth Castle is still a College! Now known as the Northern College, and offers a wide range of full and part time courses, including Teacher Training. Part of Uni of Huddersfield. I was a B.ED student at Wentworth Woodhouse. I recognised some of the volunteers on the TV programme, if I wasn’t caring for Mum, I would have volunteered, but just don’t have any time at the moment. WW is a fabulous resto project, will be ongoing for decades yet. They have knocked down the swimming pool, dance studio and 1960’s Education block now, that used to be up next to Stable block. Think this is going to be main retail and eatery area, possibly some car parking.
There are thousands of families here where I live with links to the Big House. My Great Grandfather had an Estate cottage, all his family including my Grandad worked for the Fitzbillies. Grandad was lucky, he worked on the Estate. The wealth and land ownership of the Fitzwilliam’s was simply immense. They still own all the Grouse moors at Strines, half of Old Malton in North Yorks, and then what’s down near Peterborough. “Poverty” is relative😉1 -
Amazing morning in Pompeii. Not often I'm lost in, well, amazement! Seeing original frescos and paintings on the walls. Walking where the Romans walk. There's even a brothel (where they sold soup) that had paintings on the wall showing various selections, customers merely pointed to what the wanted.
Wore out one battery in the main camera with over 800 photos.
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I know exactly how you feel Goldie. Nearly every post recently is about how folk are enjoying their breaks out and about - a d the weather is generally good too. It'll be mid/late October before we get the chance now.
Carol is recovering from an op on her hand, and one of the caravan seats has gone back to Belfield to be replaced (under warranty). Fortunately all our other warranty issues have now been done.... including new front blinds.
Enjoy your breaks away everyone. Looking forward to our turn... 🤣🤣
David
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Well OHs birthday is here, he wanted it kept low key and no mention that it ended in an 0. Let alone the first number (8) been trying his best to ignore it and refused a big get together, our grandkids were having none of it and plastered it and lovely photos and comments all over Facebook, the result was friends far and wide posting, which he did appreciate. He isn’t on FB but has now said that it can be nice. Grand kids call him The Legend, if they need anything fixed it’s him they come to, plus he will discuss music and football with them for hours and is very knowledgeable, even about the modern stuff. We went to Stratford Food Fayre today, the streets were packed. Left just as it started raining but brightened up a bit now. We are going out for a meal tonight, he doesn’t know but our son and grandsons will surprise him there and they are staying over the night. I’ve nearly accidentally let the surprise slip twice.
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Very happy birthday to Mr DEBSC. Enjoy your surprise at dinner.
Had the grandson since mid-morning. Overnight guest drove forth up the A1 and I shot down to grab grandson. He was coming after the party he's at - with granny so I miss a hall full of 3 or 4 year olds. Another 'here we go' overnight apparently but all calmed down again about 3pm. Granny called over late evening....
Had a short sharp shower with thunder. Now very humid and close. Just giving Dora a quick run. It was as glorious morning.
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Good to read others news and trips away. Hope the sky light gets sorted Nellie. WN - Glad you all had a good time DEBS - Happy Birthday to OH Bakers - Hoping you get some baby news soon.
We’ve had a good day today again drizzly so we went in to the town and SWMBO had a quick walk around the shops then we took a drive out to the Lindisfarne Inn for lunch a lovely place that we always visit when in the area as always the meal was lovely. Then we sat down the seafront for a while watching some people out in canoes looked very cold for that. Tonight’s plan is to have a few drinks in the van it’s just beginning to get dark but the view from our front window out to sea is great
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Easy drive back home, with a call in at the dealers for a word about our problem. Reassurance given that we can continue to tour with the problem taped over until the replacement part arrives, as long as we monitor the fracture, so hopefully we will get away again soon. All washing done and dried outside, RVS injection booked for next Thursday along with our 1/2yrly dental checkup on the same morning, and our flu jabs for next month.
Pleased that those that are away are still having enjoyable times, and grand photos, CS.
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On my bucket list, along with Herculaneum🤩 Have a lovely time, so envious. Keep the photos coming👍
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It's certainly worthy of being on anyone's bucket list. We were lucky enough to visit many years ago en route to Sorrento. I should add before the advent of digital photography so the photos are probably somewhere but not as easily accessible as being on the computer. From memory there are about three campsites right opposite the entrance but not quite up to CMC standards
David
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Belated birthday wishes to OH, DEBSC - hope you all enjoyed the meal last night.
I'll be busy loading the van and car today, since we go away on Tuesday. Not far - just to a CS near Thornton Le Dale but it will be a change of scenery. Weather forecast looks a bit 'mixed', though.
Good luck with the repair nellie - sounds like you have a good dealer taking care of things.
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I think Italy will be our first choice for a proper holiday when we get the chance. Not in the MH though, we fancy touring by rail, something different. Have to explore the logistics more though, although a friend has done it, and enjoyed it.
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TDA
There is always The Man in Seat 61? A few years ago I read Italian Ways by Tim Parks which chronicled his trips around Italy by train.
David
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Thanks, will take a look. I have just found a blog site about getting the most out of trains in Italy, sounds quite nice.
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Wow!!! so much going on out there and lots of folk having some decent weather for a change. We are still on site in Cornwall, set off home 1 week today, so we have had 3 weeks so far off above average weather, a couple of rainy mornings, but as we are late riser not a problem.
Have managed to get in some great sea swimming especially at Godrevy, even had the pleasure of 3 or 4 seals swimming with me, only youngsters and they were probably curious to see a bearded head popping up out of the water.
on one of our days out we drove past the club site at St Agnes head and was very intrigued to see this sign, I knows rules in rules but anybody that has tugged up to St Angnes head knows that you need a clean pair of pants handy and goodness knows where you would go, if you arrived early, in all fairness there is quite a large holding area before reception but if you are not allowed to wait there then it sure would be very difficult to find a safe stopping place.
Today we have been lashed by rain so took the opportunity to do some shopping in Sainsburys Truro, we try to buy local produce as much as possible from local stores but caved in this morning.
A couple of photies of Godrevy beach looking out towards St Ives.
Sorry re your van NTH, I have looked at trading my old Coachman in, but folk seem to have so many problems with new caravans that then seem to take ages to fix, i am very reluctant
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Just popped on to say
We have a grandson 😀. Born 0204 today, I presume during the storm - they heard nothing 😂. 3.44kg, 7lb 4oz to me. Mum baby and dad doing well.
Had the grandson yesterday and overnight. So no added disruption. We learned at 0700. We're still entertaining 😂😂
I'm tired 3.5 years, broken arm or not, they are tiring.
Seems like a long 22 days since the first false start 31 August, I feel I may have jinxed. It by saying hang on if you can until 1/9 for the school year. 🫣. Never mind all safe and well and worth the weight.
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Congratulations to you Bakers and also to Mum and Dad. I am sure it is a great relief to you that your grandson is here at last and that all is well. I hope your eldest grandson doesn't wear you out too much!
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Congratulations Bakers! That’s lovely news. Good thought on waiting on for the school year, so that baby will get a good head start at school instead of being the youngest in class.
You have been rather lucky Rufs, it’s usually wet in the West Country this time of the year. Our granddaughter called us on Thursday to say it was 25 in Plymouth and they were off to the beach, not here, much cooler, I had a jumper on. Usually the other way around. We were going home on Tuesday but it is very wet and forecast heavy rain all night and day tomorrow, so we have packed all up, just a few more bits to do and then got to load it into the car, which is no mean feat as we brought my car and not much room. We will see what the weather is like tomorrow, if the site looks like it might flood we will go but not keen on packing car and travelling home in heavy rain either.
Lovely evening last night a nice meal, OH double took when our Son and grandsons walked in, a nice surprise. We were going into Stratford this morning but with such heavy rain I just cooked them a big breakfast and they headed home mid morning.
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DEBSC belated happy birthday to your OH. I hope you enjoyed your meal yesterday and that he was pleased with his surprise.
After lovely weather yesterday we had a cracking thunderstorm in the middle of the night. I was woken up by a very loud clap of thunder. There was a lot of lightening as well. Very heavy rain this morning and quite cold as well. I think summer has definitely finished now.
I hope those away survived the storm OK.
.
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Good news B2 congratulations
Glad your trip is going well Rufs we like Cornwall a lovely area just a shame it’s so far away from home.
This morning we just relaxed at the van and then headed out early afternoon to the Berwick heritage centre in the town it’s not very big but has free entry and a nice way to spend half an hour or so. After that we took a drive along the coast to Seahouses had a nice wander around the harbour but it was very cold a breezy but a nice place somewhere we always make a point of going to when in the area got fish and chips and ate them in the car overlooking the sea. Now back at the van not much planned tonight I’m just sitting just now with a coffee admiring the view. I know there have been a lot of reports recently about sites not being busy but we have been here 4 nights now and each night there has only been a pitch or two empty it’s been busy maybe because of the view who knows
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I spoke too soon, next thing is not the electrics but a leak from the flat above…..again!
About 4 years back there was a leak due to one of their shower drains having come adrift. Their second bathroom is directly above Nathan’s en suite, but at that time Nathan was not yet born and DD was using his future bedroom and bathroom as a storage area.
The leak that time was not huge, as she happened to go in there for something and found all the water, and they quickly fixed it. This time it is a different matter.
SIL took Nathan to get dressed and came rushing back to say that there was water dripping at great speed out of the light fitting. A bucket was put in place and DD went to find out what was going on, assuming that it was likely the shower drain again.
Neighbours were away but the son was staying to look after the 2 dogs. He apologised and said he was busy mopping up all the water. Seemed like a lot of water for a shower and went on dripping for ages. Ceiling was quite wet, with more water seeping through the plasterboard joints. Stopped eventually but we were worried the plasterboard might collapse.
This morning the owner came down to inspect the damage and apologised profusely. Seems his son (age 25) had started running a bath and then forgotten about it, so water had overflowed . No much wonder there was so much of it dripping through!
DD asked me to come down and remove the light fitting and make a bigger hole behind it to speed up drying out, she already had her big dehumidifier running. Then she wanted another hole elsewhere to provide air circulation, so I had to come home and fetch my hole saw. Unfortunately there was still plenty of water lying up there as I then got rather wet.
We now know there is the upstairs floor, then under that a good depth of now soaking wet insulation, and under that an old ceiling, followed by wooden battens and then DD’s present ceiling. So plenty of wet stuff up there that could fall down!! Plasterboard is sagging a little in one place.
To help air circulation we have rigged up a fan and some plastic hosing to direct the air into the ceiling. Not much else we can do now than hope for a good outcome.
B2….. great news, best wishes to the whole family!
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