Author: travurple

A busy week, starting early start of Monday morning, with a positive covid test for a Contact, so we had to work out the rules, which was 7 days of lateral flow test (“LFT”), but luckily no requirement to self-isolate, (unless we got a positive test) and Monday morning was a negative test for both of us. 

Then we headed up to London for a few days, staying at the Premier Inn in Clapham. (yes near Clapham Junction). Monday we went to see ‘The Feeling, with special guest Sophie Ellis-Bexter’ (yes, she is married to the bass player of The Feeling) for their Christmas charity concert at The Clapham Grand, a small intimate gig. Nic said she didn’t know any of The Feeling’s songs, but managed to sing along to all of them, including the festive covers. 

It was good to see most people were wearing masks, for most of the time. 

Tuesday (LFT negative) we had a plan to see a friend, third time lucky – it couldn’t happen on the boat in Uxbridge or in the Motorhome in Henley, and  sadly, given the ‘working from home’ requirements brought in this week, it could not happen in London either, so better luck next time, hopefully next year sometime!

As we didn’t have any other plans for the rest of the day, so Rog found the ‘TodayTix” app for last minute West End tickets, and managed to score cheap tickets for ‘& Juliet” (a Musical based on what would happen if Shakespeare’s wife Ann Hathaway re-wrote the end of his Romeo & Juliet play, making Juliet a more independent women, using pop music). We’d paid £25 for £85 tickets in a relatively small theatre – so had a fabulous view of a stunning performance. 

Wednesday  (LFT Negative) – tickets to the Imperial War Museum.  Interesting, if harrowing exhibition on the holocaust.  Then walked across London to the Victoria Apollo Theatre to see the matinee of “Wicked”  (the back story of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz). The Victoria Apollo Theatre is a large theatre, and we were in the cheap seats, so we have to say that our experience of ‘Wicked” was overshadowed by “& Juliet”. 

If that was not enough for Wednesday, we then walked down the Kings Road, to our friends for dinner. A lovely curry and a few drinks (Thanks – you know who you are!). 

Thursday (LFT Negative) – Brunch in Clapham Common, then the Tube to Kings Cross for the train back to York. Another great app is “SeatFrog” got a cheap 1^st class upgrade for £14 each, which included refreshments (sandwich and coffee).  Got back to Pocklington and checked into an AirBnB, our home for the next month. 

Friday (LFT Negative) – we both got ‘pinged’ by the NHS Covid app saying we had been in contact with someone on Thursday who tested positive  and “highly recommended’ that we got PCR tests, so arranged for test kits to be delivered. We collected some of our stuff from a loft, a garage and motorhome, moved it to our AirBnb to sort out  – also managed to put up a Christmas tree…..getting festive.

Saturday (LFT Negative) – completed the PCR test, and negotiated the finding of a priority postbox to send them off! Then picked up family from York Railway station. Had a good night in front of the telly watching Rose triumph in Strictly, although John would also have been a worthy winner.

Sunday (LFT Negative – final test day!) – had the family around for coffee, it is lovely to have somewhere in Pocklington, that we can host at.

Monday, we walked out for brunch before heading to Holyrood Palace, which was a little disappointing in relation to Christmas decorations, a couple of impressive trees, but not a lot else.  Walked back to the hotel, via the Christmas market. Even though it was Monday there were still a lot of people around. The market consisted of a fun fair, lots of food and drink stalls, and a few festive goods stalls. Had dinner in Pizza Express as Nic has a Pizza Express App with free dough balls and drinks, but as we are in Scotland, there is no promotions allowed on alcohol! Free Lemonade it is then!

Tuesday, as Storm Barra was heading in we decided to bring our travel plans earlier, and got a 10: 20 train, rather than a 3pm train, down to Newcastle, and managed lunch at a great independent restaurant called The French Quarter, before checking in to the Premier Inn (on the quay, right next to the Tyne bridge).

Wednesday, walked around Newcastle, went to the ‘Great North Museum – Hancock’ with an interesting collection of exhibitions, including Egypt, Hadrian’s Wall and local Nature. Called at the Grainger indoor market, where we had lunch at Fed’s Chicken, a small independently run stall doing their version of fried chicken on a sandwich, very tasty.

Thursday, back on the train to London King’s Cross, and on to Tonbridge, a little strange being on the train going through York station, and not getting off.

Friday, Nic ‘s parents arrived in Tonbridge, for a pre-Christmas celebration.

Saturday, out for lunch  at ‘The Carpenter’s Arms’ with Nic’s family, as we will not see all of them at Christmas.  Good food and a few drinks. 

Sunday, a walk in to the centre of Tonbridge, to ‘Castlemass” (Christmas market at the Castle). Watched the dramatic end to the Abu Dhabi F1, then more food and drink with the family.   

A domestic start to the week, sorting and repacking to the motor home, so it can be parked up for the winter months. It will be at least mid-march before it is back on the road.  We also managed a hair cut each, Rog in the garden with a set of clippers, whereas Nic went for a professional cut. 

Rog had a covid booster jab, thank you NHS.

Catching up with family and friends. 

Friday, we caught a busy train to Edinburgh, walked to the hotel (Hub by Premier Inn @ Haymarket £127 for 4-night, bargain!) 

Lots of people in the city attending the Christmas Winter Wonderland, a lot more people than we have seen for a long time. Obviously, masks are compulsory indoors, however, at times, we have found ourselves wearing them outside. we walked to Grass Market and had dinner at ‘El Toro Loco’ for Mexican.

Saturday, we walked around Edinburgh, when the weather turned wet we visited the national museum of Scotland, whilst indoors it started to snow. Thankfully it did not settle, and had stopped by the time we left, it did make us fell festive though! In the evening we did a Beer Tasting at the Lost Close – plenty of beer and a few stories about Edinburgh. Dinner at a Kurdish and Middle Eastern restaurant.

Sunday, our wedding anniversary, we had booked ‘Purslane Restaurant’ for lunch, a small restaurant, which looked nice on the website. We were not disappointed, we had a set menu with accompanying wines. Wonderful food –  parsnip veloute, scallops, partridge, hake, venison, cheese, lemon curd icecream, panna cotta and petit fours.  We needed a good walk afterwards to assist the digestion.

Monday, we met Nic’s god daughter, and boyfriend for brunch in The Early Bird Café, about half an hour walk from the campsite, we worked out that it was 8 years since we have seen each other.   Great to catch up over good food.

We walked around Cardiff, seeing the sights, the Castle, City Hall, through some of the shops. Had Coffee/Hot Chocolate in ‘Barkers’ , a couple of pints in the ‘Head of Steam’ Pub, dinner in Mowgli (a small Indian street food restaurant chain, started in Liverpool).  We saw Deacon Blue, who were supported by Jamie Lawson (‘I wasn’t expecting that.’) at the Motorpoint arena. As we had booked tickets late we were sitting in the middle of about 80 empty seats, our own covid free bubble. Our first concert since the beginning of the pandemic, it was good to be out. 

Tuesday morning, we packed up the Motorhome expecting to leave, and those of you who read last week’s blog know that there was a problem that we were expecting to have to face again! And we did, as the Motorhome would not start! Thankfully a cycle hire firm on the campsite had a large van, and were able to jump start us again, the kindness of strangers,  at this point we still did not know what was causing this problem.

So, once the Motorhome had started we drove up to Cheshire, without stopping the engine, a quick change of drivers in the services. Whilst driving up we got the number of a friendly garage near Nic’s Aunt, and we drove straight there.  On checking the battery, it was found that the battery terminals were not connected properly, and that was causing the issue. It was thankfully an easy fix, so after 10 mins and a couple of washers on the battery terminals we were on our way. Because it was such a quick job, and they knew Nic’s Aunt the garage would not take any payment for the job,  again …the kindness of strangers. 

We finished the day off with dinner at ‘The Morris Dancer” pub in Kelsall.

Wednesday, we went to check on the Motorhome and it started – hooray! Had a walk around the village and helped out doing a few jobs at Nic’s Aunts.

Thursday, we had a walk in Chester, down by the river and racecourse, on another dry day, we have been blessed with good weather throughout our UK Motor Home trip. Then we saw the weather forecast for Storm Arwen, predicting 6 inch of snow in Derbyshire, for our next planned stop! So, after a couple of quick phone calls, we changed our plans to return back to Pocklington a couple of days early. 

Friday, keeping an eye on the weather forecast for Saddleworth Moor on the M62, the highest motorway in England, and our route home.  We set off after coffee time, and got back to Pocklington mid afternoon. 

Saturday, we started sorting the Motorhome out , as it is to be parked up for a few months, and watched the news of the weather disruptions, including the M62 being closed with 120  stranded trucks. We were thankful to have made it back yesterday.

Sunday, Rog went to watch his nephew play rugby on a very cold day. Nic assisted the local Women’s Institute on cake stall at the Christmas fair. A busy day in Pocklington, lovely to see all the families queueing to see Santa, lucky it had not been planned for the day before!

Monday, we drove from Lyme Regis up to Cirencester, why Cirencester? For no other reason that it was in the right direction for our next friends/family visit in Cardiff and about half way(ish), whilst driving we passed the Cotswolds airfield, which was full of parked up commercial planes, British airways, Easyjet etc.. guess when nobody is flying you have to keep the planes somewhere. 

The Cirencester campsite was a Caravan and Motorhome Club site, the biggest we have stayed on, there must have been a couple of hundred pitches, only half the site was open but it was nearly full.

Tuesday, we walked around Cirencester, had coffee in the Abbey gardens, lunch in ‘Heather’s Café” in an old courtyard, then on to the Corinium Museum (Corinium being what the Romans called Cirencester), a nice museum with lots of locally found roman mosaic floors. Cirencester was a really pleasant surprise, we knew nothing about it, but it is a really picturesque town.

Wednesday, as the campsite is on the edge of the Bathhurst Estate, we walked across the Estate on the “Broad Ride” a wide bridleway through a forest.  We have never walked that far in a straight line, it was about 4 miles dead straight, to the Bell Inn at Sapperton for a very good lunch (Rog – Burger, Nic Steak & Chips) before walking back to the campsite. 

Thursday, we checked out of the Cirencester Campsite, drove to Tesco for a little shopping (mainly coffee beans), then moved to the petrol station to fill up with Fuel. Unfortunately, we were unable to restart the Motorhome, the immobiliser would not disengage!! After 20mins of trying to start it we final rang Green Flag breakdown, who dispatched an engineer, after another 30 mins the Motorhome started, before the engineer got to us, so we drove it back to the Cirencester campsite, cancelled the engineer, and arranged for an Alarm/Immobiliser specialised to come and fix the issue on Friday morning. What fun!

Friday, Mark the Alarm/Immobiliser specialist, arrived as planned, he only lived a mile away (and could have come Thursday afternoon, but his own van was in the garage for an MOT), after a couple of hours Mark had fixed our immobiliser problems! So, we could finally set off for the next stop at the Severn Valley Campsite, half a mile from the River Severn, and about half way between Cirencester and Cardiff.  That evening we drank the last of the Napton Cider, bought whilst we were on the boat. 

Saturday, we walked thought the small village of ‘Awre” (we never did find out how to pronounce it) down to the River Severn path, following the river north around a looping bend back to ‘Awre’,  spotting what we think were Otter tracks on the wet mud, (but did not see any Otters).  Then to ‘Severn Cider’ a local Cider and Perry producer. They produced a lot of different types Cider and Perry, so we had to taste a few. They had a limited selection of bottled cider, the rest were only available in 5 litres!, so we got a mixed case of Cider and Perry.  ( Nic decided that Perry was a revelation !). The Chap at Severn Cider confirmed they do have local Otters.

Sunday, got all packed up to leave, knowing that the immobiliser would not cause us any more problems, Nic attempted to start the Motorhome…. A deafening silence … nothing happened, a flat battery (we think). After reading the manual we finally found the battery under the floor in front of the passenger seat! (no not under the bonnet… we looked there first). Nic went to plead the ‘Damsel in Distress ‘again to the chaps who were building a new Shepard’s hut onsite. Actually, on one chap  who was building the hut, but his mate had just arrived on a motorbike, and thankfully his mate was a motor mechanic, what luck, so 5 mins latter they had jump started the Motorhome (call me (Rog) old fashioned but there is a +ive battery connection under the bonnet (nowhere near the battery) who knew!). So, we do not know if :

• the alarm/immobilised work has caused a problem with the battery, or
• we drained the battery, or
• the battery is ‘dead’, or 
• another problem. 

We are currently on the camp site in Cardiff, and restarting the motorhome is a problem for Tuesday morning when we need to leave the site.

On check in to the Cardiff site, they have previously had bikes stolen from the site, so have a large shipping container for us to store the bikes in, rather than leaving them on the back of the motorhome. Anyone reading the blog carefully will have noticed that this is the first reference to our bikes, that’s because this is the first time we have taken them of the back of the motorhome since leaving Pock a month ago! (it is only a month ago we had to check the diary – we have done so much I feels like a lot longer).

The Cardiff campsite is in Sophia Gardens and Bute Park, near the centre of Cardiff, so we have just been for a walk along the river, saving the City Centre for tomorrow. 

Monday was our last day in Henley, we went for a walk to the north of Henley through “Estate” land, which included trees planted in the shape of flags (when viewed from the air – see google link). We then went via a deer park and into a forest of fabulous autumn colours, across a golf course and back in to Henley. 

Tuesday we checked out of Henley and drove to Stonehenge, there is a new visitors centre a mile or so from the stones, so we walked there, which gives you the context of Stonehenge in the wider landscape.  We did get the bus back. On the side roads near Stonehenge there are a few encampments (campervans, tents etc.) not sure if they are 6 weeks early for the winter solstice, or there to protest about the proposed tunnel for the main road (as tunnelling may damage the site). 

Wednesday we had a quiet day on the Stonehenge campsite (about 3 miles away), we walked in the local village of Berwick St James and had a pint at the Boot Inn, a traditional oak beamed village pub.

Thursday we drove down to Lyme Regis, via West Bay, Bridport to meet up with Nic’s cousin and family. We checked in to a campsite we’d used in the summer.  When we say ‘checked in’ and ‘camp site’,  we mean drove into the field and parked up.

Friday, we walked down in the Lyme Regis, had brunch in ‘Town Mill Bakery”, then walked up to Nic’s cousin’s (everywhere, expect the seafront,  in Lyme Regis is either up or down!). That evening we had a fabulous dinner in Tom’s Restaurant. 

Saturday, we were treated to a drive around the local area. We went to Abbotsbury and walked up to St Catherine’s Chapel, with views over the Swannery and Chesil Beach, had lunch in a traditional pub. Drove on to Maiden Castle, an iron age hill fort near Dorchester. Back at the house, Nic cooked a Ghanaian peanut curry. After a view drinks and a film, we walked back up to the campsite.

Sunday, we walked from the campsite, across a few fields trying to follow a footpath to Charmouth. It was a little wet underfoot. Once at Charmouth we considered walking back to Lyme Regis along the beach, however the tide was coming in, and we were not confidant enough that we had enough time, so chose the coastal path instead. According to our map the coastal path, went to the seaward side of a golf course, however a couple of golfers insisted the path wen to the landward side of the golf course (then cut back across the course) so we followed their advice, then walked down in to Lyme Regis via Dragon hill and the River Lim walk. 

Monday, we left the Motorhome in Tonbridge, and were on an early train from Tonbridge to London Charing Cross, when we say early, the first cheap train after anyone still commuting in to London has already departed, so the 8:31am train arriving at 9:15am.  We then walked The Strand, Covent Garden, Soho, then to Horse Guards Parade, where the mounted guards were on parade and heading towards Buckingham Palace, so we route marched through St James Park to beat them to Buckingham Palace. We managed to see the changing of the Guard at a distance and followed the Marching Band, down Bird Cage Walk to their barracks. They continued their parade, which included the ceremonial leaving of a band member (a euphonium player), and we happened to be standing next to her parents in the crowd, so not a dry eye in the house/pavement.

Then Leicester Square Odeon at 12:45 to see the new James Bond film No Time to Die (only £7:50 per ticket).  Both of us really enjoyed the film (no spoilers!) 

So, to continue the busy day, we got the train to Wimbledon, checked in to the Premier Inn then headed to Nic’s cousin’s house for dinner, Nic’s other cousin from France was also there. A lovely meal, catching up with family.

Tuesday, the train back to London, a walk from Waterloo to the Tate Modern.   Modern art is not something either of us would say was our thing, we both did enjoy individual pieces of art, Rog – the geometric pieces and an installation about Australian modern concept of land ‘Ownership’ verses the traditional land “custodianship”. Nic – a couple of pieces which were portraits of young women, simple but beautifully done.

Lunch at a Japanese restaurant, Nic ordered the Salmon plate (sushi and sashimi) you have never seen as much salmon on one plate! Nic felt as if she was growing gills!

More walking, including the obligatory walk around Fortnum & Mason food hall, and, we kid you not – Heinz Bake bean and white chocolate truffles, what next !! according to the sales assistant they are “not good”! She also offered us a taster of any of the chocolates, but after all the lunch we could not manage it. Yes, Rog refused chocolate, put it in the diary. 

Wednesday, was a quiet day back in Tonbridge. So nice to enjoy the space of a whole house!!

Thursday, we drove to Henley on Thames, a very swish camp site, with vehicle registration number plate recognition gate, the ultimate no contact check in.

Friday, we walked around Henley, and there was an outside chance we could meet a friend for lunch (the one who couldn’t make it to Uxbridge whilst we were on the boat), unfortunately this could not happen again (you know who you are – we will meet up at some point – but thanks for inspiring another boozy lunch) we had a fabulous lunch, spending 3 hours in Hof’s a South African & German restaurant

Bonfire Night, the local Henley fireworks were at the Showground, a 1 ½ mile walk on a busy road with no footpath and £10 each to get in, so we decided not to bother, instead watched some fireworks on YouTube. 

Saturday, more walking and watching a rowing regatta, morning coffee at the Chocolate Café in Henley, with a stunning vegan beetroot cake. Then met friends for a walk north up the Thames towpath, we saw a canal boat which we  had leap frogged down the Grand Union Canal in late August.

Sunday, walked south along the towpath to Hambleden Marina, and then back down the other side of the river, after a slightly dodgy section walking on the road with no footpath.  We saw lots of red kites circling overhead, a welcome site as they have been rare sight in the past.  As we were about to publish this blog, fireworks started just outside the campsite, so we headed out to watch, a good display.

Sorry, another delayed blog!

Monday (25 October)  we drove to Blickling Estate, a National Trust property, previously the home of Boleyn Family (i.e. Anne Boleyn the 2^nd wife of Henry VIII), then headed to a garage in ‘Wells Next The Sea’, to get the Motorhome engine light checked out, however en route the engine light went out and, after a discussion with the garage, we were advised that if the light had gone out everything must be OK. Result!

We then headed to Burnham Deepdale to  a campsite booked for 4 nights.

Tuesday, we walked to Brancaster Beach (and back), west along the North Norfolk Coastal path, a nice walk, mainly along a wooden boardwalk. Busy on the beach with families and their dogs, it was half term after all. On the way back, we had lunch at ‘The Crab Hut” lovely seafood baps. 

Wednesday, we walked east along the coastal path to ‘Burnham Overy Staithe’ and back. It was a very windy day. 

Thursday, we caught the bus back to ‘Burnham Overy Staithe’ and then walked further east to ‘Wells Next The Sea’ , on the North Norfolk Coastal path, but this time mainly on the beach, which was tough going. So, by the time we had got the ‘Wells’ we had definitely earned our fish and chip lunch from French’s, followed by an ice cream (in October!!). we got the bus back to the campsite. 

At the Campsite that evening, there was a Star Gazing event with Mark Thompson (an astronomer off the telly), we had previously been unable to book the free tickets, but managed to get some on the day. So, after Mark being unable to hook his laptop up to a projector,  the HDMI cable is always missing- we all walked out back on to the coast path, under a heavily cloudy sky, however as Mark started to talk, the clouds dispersed and we were able to see Jupiter, Saturn, the Milky Way and various constellations.  An enjoyable and informative evening. 

Friday morning, we left Deepdale campsite, which had really nice modern facilities including individual wet rooms with underfloor heating. We drove, including for the last couple of miles over some terrible bumpy country roads, to see friends, just outside Ely. (Thanks, you know who you are, thanks for a great weekend) – Friday evening was more eating, drinking and catching up.

Saturday, we had a quick trip into Ely, then helped out with harvesting and bagging lavender, whilst watching international horse eventing from the south of France, involving friends of friends. More eating and drinking ensued that evening, (Nic likes nothing 

better than to be allowed to get stuck in , in someone else’s kitchen, and we even managed a bit of “Strictly” watching of the Halloween Special….Thank you J)

Sunday, we waited out a storm before leaving Ely, as we didn’t fancy driving the Motorhome in 55mph gusts. We drove to Tonbridge to see Nic’s brother and family.

Monday, we met good friends for coffee in Castletown (where our last Isle of Man home was!), who kindly took us up to Douglas to catch the ferry to Liverpool. A little lumpy crossing, but not too bad. Where we were met by other friends and taken back to theirs in Widnes, for a light supper of soup and bread, after seeing our food and drink exploits last week!

Tuesday, we all took their dogs for a walk to Victoria park in Widnes, followed by lunch out at The Tavern (more food and drink!) and then back to theirs for a few more drinks!

Wednesday, we got the train from Widnes to York, after a quick change of plan following an email from the rail company cancelling our originally booked train, so we got a different train 20 mins earlier, so we could still make our connection in Manchester. Rog’s Dad kindly picked us up in York.

Thursday, Nic’s Dad retrieved the motorhome from storage, so we could finish packing it.

Both of us had our flu jabs, and finished the day off with dinner with Rog’s brother and family.

Friday morning, we set off on the road trip, driving down to Norfolk to see Rog’s old school friend. After two hours driving, we pulled into a service station to switch drivers and an engine warning light came on, so we stopped to read the manual, which said it was Ok to continue driving with that warning light on, easier said than done as the immobilizer would not disengage. Whilst Rog was still trying to start the motorhome, Nic spotted some Army chaps in large lorry, so decided to chance the “damsel in distress” look and ask them if they could help, when, all of a sudden, the motorhome started. Hurrah we were off again.

So, our luck with motor vehicles appears to be continuing (see earlier blogs on the Van saga).

We got down to Norfolk only slightly later than planned. 

Saturday, we walked from the house to Reepham across the fields and along an old railway line, for lunch in the Station café and returned via Salle village. 

Sunday, we drove to Cley on the north Norfolk coast, walked around the Salthouse and Cley marshes to a café for tea & cake, shock horror the people in front of us in the queue bought the last scones.

Back to the house for a homecooked roast chicken with all the trimmings, to cap off another wonderful weekend catching up with good friends (after far too long), filled with good food and plenty of drink (but not too much – no hangovers!).

On Monday we attended a family funeral, a sad occasion but a celebration of life and chance to meet up with the wider family. 

On Tuesday, we travelled to the Isle of Man, from York by train via Preston, Lancaster then the ferry from Heysham to the Island. The journey took all day but was enjoyable. The trains were not too busy, but not many masks being worn.  We were collected from Douglas Sea Terminal after passing through the Isle of Man Covid boarder control (we are both double jabbed so all good). We had a lovely dinner with friends, unfortunately one was not well so unable to meet up. 

Wednesday,  after a walk around Colby, we each had a trip to the dental hygienist and our financial advisor, all of which were OK.   

Thursday, Rog met up with previous work friends for lunch, then “after work” drinks, then the bus back down south to Port Erin. Nic had drinks with good friends. We moved to stay with different set of friends for a couple of nights, and Rog remembered which house to go to at the end of the night, so not too drunk!

Friday started with a walk to Port St Mary (see photo), followed by brunch. Spent the afternoon watching a dodgy film with friends, then a curry night with another group of friends, involving more beer and a card game called Pig!

Saturday, we moved back to Colby to stay. Saturday night had another dinner and more drinks with friends, including the one who had recovered from Tuesday.

Sunday, again started with a walk around Colby (see photo), then lunch at The Abbey Restaurant in Ballasalla, a wonderful meal as always, and a few glasses of wine. 

So essentially our Isle of Man visit consisted of lots of eating and drinking.