Albion Farm CL, North Warnborough

 Friday 1st

    Away again with Carol & John with Adie & Maria joining us for Saturday night.  It was a very easy, after work drive up the A303 & M3 as all the traffic is going in the opposite direction. 😀

zda-ró-vy

    Carol & John were already set up when we got there and it wasn't long before we were all having a cuppa together and catching up.      Carol was cooking pasties for dinner, Mike's favourite so while the dinner was cooking, Carol & I had a couple of Pornstar Martinis.  They certainly hit the spot just right!  
    Carol had just bought Ginnie (her dachshund) a comforter bed.  Of course, I had to try it on. 😂 It looks like I've been hitting the vodka - well I had! 

Saturday 2nd

    As it was going to be a terrible day weather-wise, we decided to go into Farnham for a look around.  After a quick coffee and a bit of shopping, the heavens opened so we took a slow drive back.  After a mad dash to the caravan, it was time to chill out in the caravan until Maria & Adie turned up.  Their campervan looks really great and well finished.  Mike feels a little envious.
    We'd booked a table at the Millhouse Pub and when it was time to walk over, Mike couldn't find his wallet.  Oh no!  We all had a look around but to no avail.  While we were in the pub, Mike phoned around to cancel the cards.  Oh well, at least they hadn't been used since Waitrose earlier that day.
    We all had a great time in the pub and laughed so much, we certainly missed meeting up with our friends.  It's been such a long time since normality.

Sunday 3rd

    While getting ready for a walk, Mike found his wallet!  It was in his fleece pocket. He'd taken his wet coat off at the back of the car yesterday to turn inside out and had put the wallet in his fleece in the mad dash to the caravan.   In the panic of the previous night, he'd checked his coat pockets in the shower (there is a reason it's in the shower 😂) but not his fleece in his wardrobe.  We hang wet coats up in the shower when we don't have the awning up.

    Much better weather weather today, so we walked along the canal towards Greywell.  On the way, we had a look at King John's Castle.  Apparently, it was made in the early 1200's!  There's not a lot left and it's fenced off.  Look at that blue sky!

    Apparently, King John was here before setting off for Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta!

    The canal ends at Greywell as the tunnel is blocked off  so we followed the path up to the Fox & Goose Pub.  Mike doesn't normally like drinking at lunchtime but having found his wallet (and the £200 cash) he decided a celebration quick pint was in order.

     On the way back, we saw an ivy in bloom and there were masses of butterflies on it.  The ivy was really fragrant and the butterflies were probably getting the last of the seasons food before the frosts.

    Mike cooked our evening meal and as usual it was lovely.  We had several games of The Game of Great Britain - our favourite.  We had so much fun and laughter is so easy with Carol and John.  Wish we could stay longer!

Monday 4th

    A slow pack up  to return home, I'm not sure when we'll be off away again as I've got a hip op sometime but hopefully fit one or two weekends in 😃.

Kentsford Farm CL, Watchet

 

Watchet August 5^th – 9^th 2021

   We returned to Watchet to the farmers field next to the steam railway and also had the grandkids with us.  The field is perfect for them to run around in and do what children do.

   The journey down to North Somerset on the Friday morning was very busy – so much unexpected traffic with the associated hold-up at the end of dual carriageways and of course, alongside Stonehenge.  We eventually got there 2½ hours later.

 There was much excitement with seeing the ‘Duckson’s’ again and we were surprised to also see geese, who later became known as the ‘Geeseson’s’.  Its so hard to tell whether they are moving out of the way of the car over the narrow bridge but they always seem to be OK.

   Setting up was fraught as the heavens opened!  We had to take refuge in the car whilst the worst of it moved away. We eventually finished the caravan set-up and Sophia and I made a cup of tea and lunch after which Josh and Mike set up the awning.  Mike had used screw in pegs on grass previously as they don’t need you to bend down quite so far to put them in so he used them again here, however, the ground was not so hard and the grass had been recently cut with cuttings left over and the screw in pegs didn’t work quite so well and got clogged up with mud and loose grass.  Lessons learned but Mike then had to resort to normal pegs.  Mike doesn’t like putting the awning up at the best of times and teamed with the bad weather and trying to hurry, it wasn’t a pretty site.  However, it was eventually set up along with storm lines, just in case (the weather was changing by the minute and you just didn’t know what was coming next!)

   I returned to the caravan to do the little bit of washing up from our lunch – but no water!  The barrel was full, the pump was on so we didn’t know what it could possibly be.  Mike looked at the pump and tried to test it with an electrical meter but the battery had gone in the meter.  Time was getting on by now and we had to do some shopping so we went to Minehead and to Morrisons for food and a battery.

   The kids chose some foods they liked – Fajitas for dinner that evening and Cheerio's for breakfast.  Of course we also added a bottle of wine for the evening (for the adults you understand).  We also got a few large bottle of water which we would need to use if Mike couldn’t get the pump working.

   With the new battery, Mike was able to test the pump but with electric getting through to the connections outside but it still wasn’t working and remained a mystery.  We would have to be organised and boil kettles when we needed hot water.

   On return to the caravan, the kids and I donned our water shoes and headed to the stream where the ‘Duckson’s’ swam.  The water was F F F FREEZING!  Last time, we managed to get to the field on the other side but this time it was too deep so we kept to our side.

 Whilst sitting on the narrow bridge, which, incidentally, is next to the old drove bridge used in years gone by, the kids started throwing stones from the side into the water (the ducks were nowhere to be seen).  The farmer came and told them to stop and explained that it was a ford and they need to go through it to get to the field.  Fair enough.  (Josh & Sophia managed to get  photobombed by a duck)

   The kids helped make up their beds and find homes for toys.  In the process they spied the bubble rocket so we went outside to play with that as the sun had now come out! Great fun!  Then Piggy in the Middle then Velcro tennis – of sorts as we only had one bat but we managed.  I was pooped but so happy!

   We hadn’t actually heard any steam trains and were a little disappointed, however, Mike found out they were working over the weekend so looked forward to seeing and hearing them then.

   A late-ish dinner boil then kettle for washes, ready for bed.  Mike and I were a little jaded by that time so the kids settled down to some reading.  Sophia read in bed and settled down in her own time then Josh and Mike and I went to bed and read some more.  I think Josh would have kept reading if we hadn’t told him it was lights out.  They are both avid readers!

Saturday

   Mike was up first as we needed some more water.  The big (little) bottles of water from the shop didn’t last long when we were using it for everything.  On the way back in, he collected the pump once again to have another look at it.  There must be a simple explanation or the pump had had its day.  We could travel to Taunton to try to replace it but that would take precious time away from our fun.

   Then Mike had time to think and had a brain wave!  He removed one of the connectors, tested the circuit, found a small bit of corrosion, removed that, tested the circuit again and held his breath while he put it all back together again for a final test.  IT WORKED!  Mike is so clever!  At last we had running water.  It was so good running a tap instead of pouring a kettle or large bottle of water.

   We got washed and dressed and thought about what to do that day as the weather didn’t look too good again.  We managed to get tickets for Taunton Museum for the afternoon.  Until then we played a card game called Exploding Kittens.  Yes, I know what you are thinking but it was such a brilliant game! In fact during our holiday we had several games and each one was enjoyable!

   Taunton Museum was good.  We had been there before but the fossil section was a good preclude to the following day’s planned activity.

   Fish and chips – well, double cheeseburger for Josh and fishcake for Sophia, both with cheesy chips.  Mike had found the best fish and chip shop in the area (Watchet Fish and Chips) and they certainly didn’t disappoint!  In fact, Sophia called the cheesy chips “Cheesy bundles of joy”!

   Another late-ish bed time but we were all reading and settled down when we wanted to (again we had to tell Josh to stop reading and turn out his light!).

Sunday

   From the weather reports, this was to be the best day weather-wise so we ventured down to the beach to look for fossils.  We went to Helwell beach down some steps (yes we would need to come back up these!) to a shingle and rock beach.  The tide was out and the sea was quite some distance away.

  The cliff rock was full of strata and looked amazing.  Mike took Sophia off and I stayed with Josh. We all had our heads down looking for fossils, rocks and shells. 

It was Sophia who spotted the first fossil so we all went over to have a look.  It was an ammonite and looked wonderful!  It was about 3 cm in diameter and you could make out the segments of the shell.

   We continued our search, all with heads down and started to find more ammonites. Mike called us over so Josh and I headed for the section closer to the cliff (it wasn’t a huge cliff but as we approached it we could see it dripping water and weed).  There was a large slab of slate and on this was a large ammonite – approx. 35cm in diameter!  It was a brilliant ‘find’.

   A little sit down on a rock whilst the kids wrote messages in the little bit of sand there then a little more hunting.  The clouds were beginning to look a little dark by this time and the kids were thirsty so we headed back.  The climb up the steps wasn’t too bad at all – maybe buoyed with all our ‘finds’.

   We had a take-away lunch in Watchet and sat by the harbour to eat and drink.  Then we went to see ‘Yankee Jack’ a bronze statue of an old fisherman who sang shanty songs in his day.  The last time we came, the kids had their photo taken sitting on his lap so we recreated it this time.

   Ice-creams next!  Sophia had ‘Seriously Chocolate’, Josh had ‘Strawberries and Cream’ and I had a classic, ‘Rum and Raisin’.  Mmmmmm.

   After a little detour to the Coop, we headed to the Junk shop on the road towards Minehead.  It was a little drive (5½ miles) but when we arrived, Sophia was still eating her ice-cream!  Talk about savouring it!  The Junk shop was interesting and we saw the same metal rocking chair we have in our garden.  Little did I know it was ‘junk’!

   We played some games outside when we returned to the field then Mike and I had a well earned sit down with a cuppa.

   As the weather was so good, (shhh) we didn’t not want to take advantage of it so we all went for a walk along the path that runs alongside the rail track. I took my walking stick this time and when we sat down for a rest the kids took my stick and walked around as if they were 90!  It was so funny! (I wonder whether I look like that?).

   The walk was lovely along the leafy glade and we pointed out various berries and saw butterflies and moths.  The path eventually ends up at Watchet but we didn’t go that far (not sure I could these days) so we turned back.  Mike and Sophia went ahead but Josh and I lagged behind and we were glad we did as we heard the train coming and were there to wave to the driver and passengers – who waved back!

What a lovely day!

Monday

   Today was returning home day.  None of us wanted to go.  We were having a lovely time! Of course, we had to say “goodbye” to the Ducksons and Geesons!

   We all helped with the packing up.  Poor Mike had to find homes for everything we had out in the car and caravan.  Talk about a jigsaw!

   The journey home was much better than the one coming down, almost a straight run, with, of course, the hold-ups at the end of each dual carriageway.  Why don’t they insist on filtering?

   We took the kids home.  They were glad to their parents with such excited talking about their exploits.  It was so good seeing how they had really enjoyed their holiday with us.

 

The Firs Caravan Club Site, Derbyshire & Wirral Country Park Caravan Club Site

    We'd booked these sites up really early as there was so much uncertainty with Covid.  We don't normally use the CAMC sites just the CLs but since everyone seemed to be asking for money up front, we decided to stay with our choices of these.  VAT was also charged at the lower rate which a lot of sites didn't do.

 Saturday 4th

    A leisurely drive up north with a break at  the M1 services near Northampton.  We arrived around 3 o'clock and after setting up, we did some shopping in Morrisons in Belper.  The staff are really friendly there.

Cheers!

Sunday

    We decided to have a drive around Matlock Bath but couldn't get over how busy and noisy it was.  Motorbikes, police sirens and the sheer quantity of people.  We couldn't get  parked to go up the Heights of Abraham so we drove over to Ashbourne which proved to be more relaxing and lovely weather.  Time for lunch and sit in the shade.  We found Beaumont's Café & Bar and it was lovely sat under the olive tree in the garden. 

It was like being away in Greece. 😎 

    We certainly got the best weather.

Monday

    We'd found that the market was on today in Bakewell so we thought that we'd take the pushbikes and have cycle on the Monsal Trail afterwards.  It was free parking but all the car parks were height restricted and we wouldn't have fitted in with the bikes on top.  Luckily we found a vacant bay outside the car parks.  Again it was quite busy and there were long queues to buy Bakewell tarts.  We didn't bother and we had lunch in the Farmers Feast café in the Agricultural Centre.  Lovely bacon butties!  The Monsal trail is on an old railway line so isn't too strenuous.  It was steadily uphill until a tunnel, I never thought that we'd need to use the bike lights during the day.  We got as far as as Monsal viaduct, there were some lovely views from it but not really any photo opportunities.

Mike is happy really, he's got a new saddle!

Looking over from the viaduct

The view back the way that we'd come through the tunnel

    Suitably refreshed, it was back on our bikes and hit the trail.  This was the first time Mike had been on his bike since our trip out to Gowerton.  This time he got a new saddle and hopefully, he won't be getting saddle sore this holiday.

Tuesday

    As we were so close to Denby Pottery, we thought a visit would be great.  I've been after another large mixing bowl after Mike broke the last one but after a good wander around I couldn't see anything suitable.  Very disappointed.  We did buy a bird weather vane for the garden though. 

    We then thought a drive to Dovedale and maybe a walk would be good.  After putting it into the satnav, we couldn't find it.  

Dovedale, somewhere?

    It just lead us up a hill with no obvious destination.  We went back down the hill and couldn't find anywhere to park.  Time for a cuppa, so off into Ashbourne and the same café as Sunday, at least we can rely on that. 😊

    After a meal in the Bridge Inn at Duffield, we went into Derby to watch a film a tribute to Peter Green.  It was excellent.  I'd seen an ad about in our local newspaper on at our local cinema but it clashed with our hols.  But we found that it was a nationwide thing.  Mike had been worried about Covid possibilities but in the end, the cinema was almost empty.  It was like a personal viewing.  (We bought the DVD when we got home)

Wednesday

    We decided to have a walk along the canal from Whatstandwell towards Ambergate.  We parked up at Whatstandwell railway station and started walking along the canal.  It was so peaceful and quiet.  The ducks were like mini ice-breakers having to forge their way through the duckweed covered water and leaving trails of where they'd been. 

     During the walk, we decided to catch the train to Cromford to have a look around there. It would save having to get parking there.  In Whatstandwell station there were some school drawings of Whatstandwell is famous for: the Betty Kenny Tree, said to be origin of  the nursery rhyme 'Hush a bye, baby on the tree top' and Florence Nightingale had a coffee shop cum reading room.

    The train came shortly after and Cromford was just one stop down the line.  Had another walk in Cromford and into the village where we had lunch in the garden at a side street pub.  

I quite liked the wood effect in the background for our BBQ area so we had a photo

    Back on the train and back to the caravan.  Mike had decided on a pizza cooked on the new pizza stone on the Cadac BBQ.  As he was transferring the pizza to the table, he misjudged the chair back, the plate caught the chair and the pizza carried and landed upside down on the grass!  Well, they say some things happen for a reason and this time it transpired that the pizza was burnt on the bottom.  A quick clear up, phoned the local pub - The Spanker Inn and they stopped serving food in half an hour.  A swift walk down the hill had us set up for the evening.  There was a quiz starting shortly in the other bar so we listened and tried answering as many as we could. We didn't do too bad but then we didn't hear all the questions.  The walk back up the hill to the caravan was a bit of an effort but it was worth it.  The evening had been saved.  Whilst we were sat in the awning afterwards, Mike noticed an alien from Men in Black behind me, I couldn't really see the resemblance.  All in all, a very tiring day.

Thursday

    We took the awning down in the morning then went into Belper for a look around.  While we were there, I saw a wonderful flower display.

    Whilst we were in the Belper North Mill Museum, the heavens opened up and didn't really stop until the evening.  It looks like we'll be packing up a wet awning tomorrow.  Never mind, it'll dry soon enough when we erect it again.

Better in than out

Friday 10th 

    It looks like a lovely day to set off for the Wirral, certainly better than yesterday.

    There's no direct route across the country and it proved to be a quiet uneventful journey. 👍😀

Saturday

    Today, we cycled to West Kirby and Hoylake using the cycle trails.  Mike's happy with his saddle now.  At the West Kirby Marine Lake, we watching the wind surfers, we saw one that comes out of the water on an extended keel.  We've never seen them like that before.  It made me a bit envious when I used to do a bit of windsurfing.

These trees have grown like this probably because of the wind

Hoylake Promenade Drinking Fountain erected in 1901 for Queen Victoria's Jubilee 

This made us chuckle

    When we got back, I decided to wash the towels.  Never again, The tumble dryer must have been broken.  I spent £2 on it and they were as wet as they went in.  I went to complain and I was asked 'what do expect me to do about it?'  I was fuming, I got my money back and we were left with wet towels and we still hadn't had a shower after cycling.  Mike turned heating on full , opened the windows and they were soon dry after a couple of hours.  Sod 'em, he said.  We won't be going on another big site anymore, we much prefer CLs.

Sunday

     Decided to go to Liverpool and Crosby Beach.  We took the tunnel under the Mersey and carried on towards Crosby past all the old docks and industries.  

You can see where all the money is being spent is in the centre by the Albert Dock.  Outside that area it's all depressing, there's no regeneration  there and masses of empty buildings.

    Crosby beach had free parking and it was fairly empty.  The Antony Gormley sculptures stood out and were a bit disturbing as if people were just walking out to sea. 

    We drove past the Liver Birds, but didn't stop as there wasn't anything that we were particularly interested in.  Covid restrictions aside.

Monday

    Today, we cycled along the Wirral Way to Parkgate.  We had a bite to eat in a lovely café cum restaurant.  Then back again, Mike went to our caravan while I carried on to the sailing centre and saw cars down on estuary probably collecting mussels. There were plenty of rosehips around so must pick some before we go home.

Tuesday

    Off to Chester today.  We took the Park n Ride into the city.  We walked the roman walls before we got too tired and thought that it would give us a feel for the place. There are plenty of old buildings but wasn't cohesive with the new buildings. 

    

    While we were having lunch, we saw a couple of Roman Centurions with some new recruits.

 I'm glad that we went but I still prefer York.  I know Mike does but then he's biased as he's from Yorkshire.

Wednesday

    Had a walk to the sailing centre, along the beach, coffee in the café then back.  Not much else - just read and relaxed.  

I found the Wirral equivalent of the Gormley statues. 😉

    In the afternoon, we took the awning down as it was such a lovely dry day.  Thoughts of going back early tomorrow but decided to stay until Friday.

Thursday

    Same as yesterday but the other way around and no café.  We did collect some rosehips though.  Lovely hot day although rain was forecast later on. While I was enjoying the sun, I noticed a strange orange fly on the arm of my chair.  Apparently, it is a Scarce Orange Legionnaire fly which is quite rare. 

    Loud music in evening until midnight - must have been club at end of drive.  Glad to be off home tomorrow.

Cross Keys Inn, Lydford on Fosse

Friday 10th July 2021

We were supposed to be in Southern Ireland this week but that got cancelled because of Covid and we lost our ferry tickets (£500) for the car & caravan due to travel restrictions.  They did give us vouchers but had to be used by the end of the next year.  I don't think that we'll be going now.

  Back to the Cross Keys Inn with Carol & John.  We decided to  take things easy and not do too much.

Saturday

    We didn't know what we were going to do so we just drove into Shepton Mallet with the possibility of visiting the Prison Museum but we didn't bother after seeing the prices of £15 per adult.  I didn't think that there were any robbers left there. ;)
    A visit to Kilver Court Shopping Village for a cuppa and lunch had us find out about Kilver Court Gardens. It's well worth the experience, we didn't know about it.  Its certainly a secret gem of a garden.

    

    After getting back to the pub, we didn't bother go into the pub grounds as the football was on.  So after a little snoozette, it was time for another evening of fun & frivolity.