We’re back, our last blog was in mid June, the rest of this blog will explain why the break and why we have not been focused on the blog. In mid June, we were in the Isle of Man visiting friends when we got a call that a member of the family had been rushed into hospital, so we cut short our visit and headed back to Pock.
Our original plan for the summer was to volunteer at some festivals. We had volunteering tickets for Glastonbury, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, Rewind (‘80 festival) and Carfest. We also had a week booked volunteering on the canals, helping with the reinstatement of an old abandoned lock near Stroud, part of a long term project to reconnect the west and central canal networks.
We had then booked a couple of months ‘rest and relaxation’ in a couple of different AirBnBs in the south (Cornwall and Somerset).
However plans change and we have spent the last five months in Pock helping out. Thankfully given our lifestyle we can be flexible, and we managed to cancel all our original plans with minimal financial impact.
For accommodation we spent the summer bouncing around local holiday lets, some we had stayed in before, and some new ones and one with a hot tub!, before being able to make a longer term booking at one of them once the ‘holiday season’ had ended.
Over the summer we did manage to attend the wedding of friends in the Isle of Man, celebrated family 18th, 50th, 70th and 80th birthdays and sadly attend the funeral of a good friend.
Nic joined a local rock choir, Singing on a fundraising recording. Rog did an introductory archery course.
Given the circumstances, we have spent a lot of time dealing with the National Health Service (NHS). Despite a couple of blips, All the in patient, out patient, GP and community treatments have been first rate in terms of the actual medical treatment, but also the speed of treatment and the fact that all staff have been communicative, friendly, pleasant and professional. (We do acknowledge that this may be because we have had the time to focus on it and assist in coordinating appointments, medication etc).
We know the NHS has it’s challenges, but from a personal perspective we are truly blessed that the UK has a free at source health care system.
As time progressed throughout the summer, the regular medical procedures became slightly more routine and more familiar, and with health improvements, life slowly returned to a little more ‘normality’, but treatment is ongoing.
Whilst in Yorkshire we have visited a couple of National Trust properties, walked around the walls of York, and visited cafes and restaurants….. a lot!
We have been able to go on a trip to Tunisia (our 66th Country visited), which was booked a long time ago. We went to an All inclusive resort hotel, which is different from our usual travelling style, but given the last five months it is nice just to stop, relax and do nothing for a while!
We are now back in Pock in an AirBnB, seeing family for Christmas, before leaving for new adventures on 29th December.
Below are a few photos from this year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Travurple 