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.