Monday (8th September), Tuesday and Wednesday were mostly taken up with visiting the Champagne houses on the Avenue of Champagne in Epernay, drinking champagne and/or eating:
We visited:
Moet & Chandon
Mercier – including an electric train ride through their 12 Kms of Cellars
Perrier Jouet
Leclerc Briant
Collard-Picard
Le 17 Lounge bar
Restaurant Chez Françoise
Restaurant Le Sardaigne
Thursday, was time to start the trip back ‘home’, we left Epernay, truly champagned out, so much so that on our way north, we called at Veuve Clicquot Champagne in Reims and didn’t even try any!
We had an easy drive up the French motorways back to Le Shuttle, we arrived at check in early, but unfortunately there were some delays on the trains so we couldn’t get an earlier train. Eventually we got back to the UK, then headed to our overnight hotel, a Premier Inn in High Wycombe. The M25 was a pain!!
The Premier Inn was a sprawling hotel over three different buildings! Managed to get dinner in the restaurant.
Friday, drove our friends back to Widnes, we were all still talking to each other after our three week European adventures, so that was a bonus. We overnighted in Widnes with them, then drove back to Pocklington on the Saturday.
Monday (15th September) to Thursday was filled with the usual washing, unpacking and repacking, a few medical appointments for us, and family, and getting the car serviced and MOT’d. All interesting stuff!
Unfortunately the car had to be left at the Garage as it needed some work. So we set off from Malton, about a half hour drive usually, to get the bus back. Our first bus to York was half an hour late, the second bus to Pocklington took twice as long as usual due to traffic in York… we then had to borrow a car to get to our accommodation. We saw lots of interesting sights on the journey, including deer in the fields, but we were glad to make it back in the end !
Friday, we drove south back to Kent to celebrate a family 80th Birthday for the weekend, more lovely eating and drinking, including a very nice Sunday lunch at The Kentish Hare in Bidborough.
Monday (22 September) headed into Hampshire to stay at a holiday cottage at Gilbert White’s house in Selbourne. Spent the next few days seeing family locally and visiting family in hospital.
Friday, we drove back up to Pocklington, not a bad journey until we got stuck on M18/M62 junction for 1hr 20 mins following a nasty accident involving a motorbike.
Friday also saw us complete on buying a flat ! Yes, you read that correctly, we are once again property owners! It is a tiny flat in an ‘Over 55’ complex in Pocklington that we can lock up and leave, but have a base when we are back.
Saturday, picked the car up following it’s service and MOT, as it needed a little (expensive) work, but all sorted now.
We’ll be doing a some work on the flat and getting some furniture, (as we do not have any) so for the next few weeks, we have some AirBnB’s in and around Pock.
Our first one is near Brandsburton, a tiny old chapel on a working farm in the middle of nowhere. Well equipped, with lovely rural views, and lots of birds visiting the trees and bird feeders on the property.
Sunday, we started the furniture buying process, we have ordered a bed and some carpet!
Monday (29 September) as our accommodation is closer to the coast than Pock, and it was a nice day we decided to head to Hornsea for a walk along the coast. Also ended up at Hornsea Free Port for some non house related retail therapy, Rog finally managed to replace a light weight waterproof that he has been looking for for awhile.
Tuesday, a day at the accommodation doing more furniture research online and had a bit of a walk.
Wednesday, headed to ‘our’ flat, Rog started the decorating process with a little TLC on the bedroom window. Nic attended a funeral thanksgiving service of one of her secondary school teacher’s, who was also a teaching colleague of Nic’s dad.
Thursday, went to Beverley for a wander and coffee, also called at Wickes to buy paint, so do we get a prize if we manage to visit all DIY shops?
Friday, we moved accommodation again, back into Pock, to an AirBnB we have used in the past, as we want to get more of our flat sorted before moving in, and we currently don’t own any furniture.
Saturday, attended a Bedroom design appointment at IKEA in Leeds, we had a good idea what we wanted but it was good to get it designed, and obviously they then just give you a shopping list of all the bits you need, or it can be delivered! So we opted for home delivery, the 46 separate items are being delivered over two days next week! We also got a sofa and a chair.
Went out for a few beers, catching up with family.
Sunday, back to the flat for some more painting! We know how to live!
Travurple 