October Road Trip

Well, it might never have happened! I spent all day Saturday packing the Camper, bedding, food, water, tea, coffee, toilet roll, clothes, torches, dog stuff, everything but the kitchen sink.

I was waiting for hubby to come home and say he was ready to go.

4pm He's ready for the off, goes out to start the camper. It won't start. We all go back indoors. Nige has to change into his work clothes again and jack up the van, it's the Starter motor apparently, something come undone. Wait half an hour and he comes back and says it's fixed.

All pile into the camper and off we go.

First stop is dinner, bed and breakfast with our good friends in Reading. Have a wonderful evening, drink too much, don't slepp too well, though we do have lovely room in their house, they have foxes running over the flat roof intermittently through the night, this keeps me awake but Nige sleeps through it all.Didn't help that A told us about a ghost that rolls a barrell across the upper floor. There house is over 400 years old, so entitled to a few ghosts, but K said this noise was the foxes!

Sunday morning, rather hung over weheaded for Lechlade, a lovely Cotwolds Village at the head of the Thames. Great for Antique shops and a delightful Christmas shop.
We had booked ahead for a camp site at rear of a pub in the village. We were the only ones there. That night was a sharp frost. We sepnt evening in the pub and made our way back to the camper. Made our beds, Georgie up high, Nige & I on the double bed and dogs on floor ( Well Molly on bed). No heater in the van, we were freezing. made hot water bottles and had thick duvets and sleeping bags but sticking nose out caught your breath. Woke to frost on inside and outside of windows and one very cold daughter. We agreed she shoudl sleep down with us rest of week to keep warmer.

Monday we were near Bath, frosty start to night but woke to rain and much milder, so easier to cope.

Tuesday:Driving in long queues to Bath kept over heating, had to keep stopping to top up water.

Arrived in Wales and found our friends shop in Ammanford.


To be continued

Camper trip Oct half term

We're preparing to take the camper for another trip over half term.

It's going to be cold, apparently the heater isn't working! So will have to take loads of duvets , blankets and hot water bottles!

The plan is to leave Saturday afternoon and head to see our friends in Reading for the night. Then on to Lechlade, we love this place has lots of antique shops and an amazing Christmas shop. We'll camp at the pub there. Then on to Bath for the next night. Eventually arriving in S Wales on Tuesday to meet up with more friends. This time we'll stay in Travelodge, i'll be glad of a bath by then and cahnce to watch some TV. Another night we'll camp in the Gower and then head back home. Should be good fun -you think??

Camping in Norfolk

Whilst staying with parents in Dilham, decided to have a couple of nights camping in North Norfolk. We went to a camp site at Weybourne, nr Holt. The photo by sea is at Sheringham, where we had a lovely Fish & Chip supper.
First night went smoothly, but second night baby was awake most of night in their tent (we had camper and children had tents), turned out baby was very poorly , developed Chicken Pox later that week.

Bluebells 2010

Easter Walk

The FSW Easter Walk went very well, we had a lovely day for it, the sun was out , it didn't rain though was a bit breezey especially at the top of hill. Over 125 people were walking and many dogs!

Stan, E, G & I got down to Alfriston, in East Sussex for 10am, signed in and got a map, met a group of walkers from my church as well as many people I know from FSW & the diocese.


The first 4 miles were hard going as slow but steady incline up the hill to the top where the Long man of Wilmington is sited.
It was very blustery up there! We stopped in Wilmington, where refreshments were available. Wilmington is a very old village, the church is beautiful and in the church yard is a Yew tree that is over 1600 yrs old apparently, it is huge and all chained and supported to stop it falling over!.


The last 3 miles were downhill and on the flat so it felt much easier. We got back to Alfriston just before 1pm, so that was pretty good going. The dogs did well, Molly kept going more than Beth! It was Beth who started to flag a bit on the final part.

Bit achey this morning, but not too bad.

Baby sitting

I had the joy of baby sitting my little grandaughter yesterday, whilst the family went to see Alice in Wonderland.

Emilyn is over 5 months now, can't get my head round how quickly the time has gone. She is a proper little person now, takes an interest in everything. She is very active, shuffles across the floor on her back using her legs, and is beginning to crawl backwards.

She was really good for nana, so I'm looking forward to doing it again!

Miniture Iris

Forgot I planted these, such lovely little flower.

Gung Hey Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year,

I've just found out I am an Ox- 1961
This is what it says about the Ox:
The Ox of Chinese Astrology is no bull in a china shop. Steadfast and solid, this powerful Sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Oxen tend to be plodding and methodical; they approach projects in the step-by-step manner that serves them best, and they never lose sight of their goal. They are tireless workers who are detail-oriented and believe in doing things right the first time. The world may perceive Oxen as being far too serious or incapable of loosening up. This sturdy sort is less than social by nature and tends to become introverted in a crowd. To make things worse, they can't be bothered with what other people think and prefer to do what makes them feel best. Behind that calm facade, though, lives an Ox who can feel hurt, lonely and unable to connect with others. Friends and family are a great source of comfort to this beast, even if they don't always understand what makes the Ox tick. As a lover, friend, family member or housemate, the Ox makes a wonderfully strong, tender and affectionate companion who is protective and always reliable. Out in the world, though, Oxen tend to be stubborn, dogmatic, my-way-or-the-highway kind of people who have no concept of when to back down. Oxen don't care to be pushed, especially since they think they're the good guys of the Chinese Zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honorable. If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox. A good lesson for mighty Oxen is to strive to overcome a judgmental nature that keeps them from getting close to others. If they can learn to value their own good qualities, they'll have more room in their hearts to invite others in.

I do think I'm solid and dependable, not a great leader though, I enjoy being sociable with people I know, but I do not like crowds of people , I'm not a social party mixer, so that is right, always prefer to be in the kitchen,serving drinks and food, rather than trying to talk to others I don't know.I wouldn't call myself stubborn or dogmatic. I'm the least judgemental person and very open to others and caring- so some points match other do not.

Interesting though

Valentine's Joy & disappointment

Valentine's as a child was always a fun event. Father Valentine wouldcome round after dark and knock on the door and leave little presents. Each time there was a knock at the door my sister and I would run to the door and open it, no one would be there, but we'd look down and there would be a little package one for each of us. This would go on for 6-7 times and each time there would be a small gift.

I don't know where this tradition started, I was brought up in Norfolk and many seem to do it there, but hardly any one I know down here in the South of England has ever heard of it.

I continued the tradition for my children and they loved it, now my daughter intends to carry it on with her daughter as she gets older.

As a teenager Valentine's was a dreaded date to avoid. I was a very romantic soul and used to day dream alot about romantic gestures that boys might make but never did. I never received any Valentine Cards, it was such a disappointment to get home from school and see that the post man had not delivered any cards, doubly so as my younger sister usually got some!

My hubby is not the most romantic either, he's the type that says I was going to get you some flowers today, but I didn't get chance to...........story of my life!

Wendy Cope sums it up well in her little poem

Some men never think of it
You did. You'd come along
And say you'd nearly brought me flowers
But something had gone wrong

The shop was closed. Or you had doubts -
The sort that minds like ours
Dream up incessantly. You thought
I might not want your flowers

It made me smile and hug you then.
Now I can only smile
But look, the flowers you nearly brought
Have lasted all this while.


I've given up on romance and go for the unconditional love I get from my dogs now!!

Look what I found hiding under the leaves!

I went out into the garden to tidy up some of the plants after all the snow had flattened them. Started moving the leaves on one bed and found all these little Snow drops peeping through at me! Lots of other bulbs beginning to shoot up too, one brave little daffodil is even in bud!

I know we're due for another cold spell and possibly more snow, but the Spring is getting nearer and it lifts my heart with joy!

A glimmer of Spring is in the air

My hyacinths are beginning to flower indoors.

My little luxury

For 24 years I had my faithful old Teasmade my sister gave it to us for a wedding present and it was a Godsend. Every day without fail it would wake me up at 6.15am with a pot of hot tea, it doesn't get much better than that!

Then on Christmas Eve just gone, it made the tea but then there was a burning smell and a funny noise. I had to unplug it and admit that it had come to the end of it's life. I was quite distressed. How would I cope with mornings in the future?

My hubby, Stan, not wanting to be the one to get out of bed to make the tea told me to go out and buy a new one . Easier said than done! Argos don't do them, nor do Debenhams or any of the dept stores I went into.

So for a week I had to wake up without alarm and go down stairs in the freezing cold to make the tea. This was fine during the Christmas holidays, but once schools went back I needed to have an alarm again.

So on to ebay, and there I found a list of new and vintage Teasmades! Wonderful!
I ordered a new one, it arrived 2 days later.

Here it is-



It's is so cool! We had a few hiccups first few days trying to get it right, so once it didn't go off, another time I was woken with tea thinking that night went very quickly, only to realise it was only Midnight and I'd only been in bed asleep for 2 hours! We'd had a power cut and I'd put clock right but forgot to check the alarm setting!

But now all is well and we are back to having a morning tea at 6.15am without fail.

I love my new Teasmade!! It is my little luxury.
What's your luxury item?

Snowed in