How the other half live.
Time for tea.
A particularly nice boat!
Patriotic pudding.
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Location:Henley & Hurley
Location:Frogmill,,United Kingdom
Saturday 30 April 2011
30th April
Todays highlights included another sat nav situation (that almost saw us gatecrash a very posh wedding), a long walk along the Thames, a cream tea, laying in the sunshine, an semi-successful gas refill hunt, a puncture repair, and a nice fish BBQ to round things off.
How the other half live.
Time for tea.
A particularly nice boat!
Patriotic pudding.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
How the other half live.
Time for tea.
A particularly nice boat!
Patriotic pudding.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
Friday 29 April 2011
29th April - the Royal Wedding
Away again this weekend, and our first trip with good friends...
The Jordan's, experienced caravanners, have been educating us on the way to relax into this lifestyle. This mostly involves alcohol, it seems, which is fine by me.
Our royal wedding experience, despite us being close the Queens official home at Windsor, was actually limited to listening to the lead up to the ceremony on the radio. During the ceremony itself, I was racing Roger to get my awning up first; I won, but it didn't look as good as his despite Anne offering "Do you need a hand getting it up?"!
After the awning came the search for provisions at the Tescos superstore in Henley. Nice place, Henley. We saw most parts of it on our search for the shop before driving to Reading when I mistakenly entered RG4 9AH instead of RG9 4AH in the sat nav! Still, we finally made it and bought the essential three B's; Bread, Booze and Beconase (all you need for a long weekend in hay fever season).
We all decided on a quick walk with the labradors to build our appetite for supper, and the destination was the nearby pub. On the way, Anne told us to "Mind the dog" when a runner approached; I thought that was a bit harsh as no one looks their best when running on a hot day. At the pub, we sampled a couple of pints of Ferrymans Gold and had a quick chat with the locals before making our way back to light the BBQs.
Once well fed, we hopped online to check out the photo's of Kate's wedding dress before retiring for the night at least 30 minutes ahead of the 10:30 site curfew.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
The Jordan's, experienced caravanners, have been educating us on the way to relax into this lifestyle. This mostly involves alcohol, it seems, which is fine by me.
Our royal wedding experience, despite us being close the Queens official home at Windsor, was actually limited to listening to the lead up to the ceremony on the radio. During the ceremony itself, I was racing Roger to get my awning up first; I won, but it didn't look as good as his despite Anne offering "Do you need a hand getting it up?"!
After the awning came the search for provisions at the Tescos superstore in Henley. Nice place, Henley. We saw most parts of it on our search for the shop before driving to Reading when I mistakenly entered RG4 9AH instead of RG9 4AH in the sat nav! Still, we finally made it and bought the essential three B's; Bread, Booze and Beconase (all you need for a long weekend in hay fever season).
We all decided on a quick walk with the labradors to build our appetite for supper, and the destination was the nearby pub. On the way, Anne told us to "Mind the dog" when a runner approached; I thought that was a bit harsh as no one looks their best when running on a hot day. At the pub, we sampled a couple of pints of Ferrymans Gold and had a quick chat with the locals before making our way back to light the BBQs.
Once well fed, we hopped online to check out the photo's of Kate's wedding dress before retiring for the night at least 30 minutes ahead of the 10:30 site curfew.
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Location:Hurley Riverside Park
Monday 25 April 2011
25th April
We all hate packing up, but me more than most, so I tried to extend our stay with a late checkout. No chance! Busy week for camping at the Wild Duck.
So, off the pitch by 10am meant we were home for lunch and had the van cleaned then tucked away in storage by mid afternoon.
Cracking weekend in the glorious sunshine!
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So, off the pitch by 10am meant we were home for lunch and had the van cleaned then tucked away in storage by mid afternoon.
Cracking weekend in the glorious sunshine!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
Location:Going Home
Sunday 24 April 2011
24th April, Meg's Birthday / Easter Sunday
Woken at 7:45 by Meg jumping on the bed... "Do you know what day it is?"
I think we can guess
She was thoroughly spoiled with cards and pressies, and we all decided that today we wouldn't be going anywhere. Full English, swimming, 4-person pedal cars and a roast dinner were the targets for the day.
And I can report that all were achieved (the roast dinner, including Yorkshire puddings, most magnificent amongst them). We also met up with Rick & Wendy, my adoptive parents who have the static home at the Wild Duck.
Photos of this weekend to follow...
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I think we can guess
She was thoroughly spoiled with cards and pressies, and we all decided that today we wouldn't be going anywhere. Full English, swimming, 4-person pedal cars and a roast dinner were the targets for the day.
And I can report that all were achieved (the roast dinner, including Yorkshire puddings, most magnificent amongst them). We also met up with Rick & Wendy, my adoptive parents who have the static home at the Wild Duck.
Photos of this weekend to follow...
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Location:Wild Duck, Belton
Saturday 23 April 2011
23rd April
Today we awoke and readied ourselves for a trip to the beach. Great Yarmouth, about 4 miles and about 30 minutes away due to the traffic!
Stopped at Asda to fill up with diesel... £111!!!
Had a leisurely stroll along the promenade, and a walk along the sea front before heading to the beach (where Bailey chose the most embarrassing location for a toilet break).
I must say, we were quite unprepared for the sights of Yarmouth; so much tattooed flesh on so few women... I guess you can paint a bigger picture on a larger canvas!
On the way back along the sea front, we flagged down a horse and cart for a return trip. Upon hearing that dogs are welcome aboard, the four of us and two dogs hopped on. I tried to stop Bailey from panic-barking every passing person by feeding him treats, but he mistook the end of my thumb for a tasty snack and I spent the rest of the journey feeling faint and dangling my dripping bloody thumb outside the carriage.
After our earlier dipping of toes/paws in the surf, we had stopped for cockles and crab sticks and asked where the nearest proper fishmonger's was... "Lowestoft" came the reply! So it was off to Tescos to get some fish for a BBQ. Sea Bass & Trout with Langoustines was delicious; food is obviously a big part of our caravan adventures as it was with camping.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
Stopped at Asda to fill up with diesel... £111!!!
Had a leisurely stroll along the promenade, and a walk along the sea front before heading to the beach (where Bailey chose the most embarrassing location for a toilet break).
I must say, we were quite unprepared for the sights of Yarmouth; so much tattooed flesh on so few women... I guess you can paint a bigger picture on a larger canvas!
On the way back along the sea front, we flagged down a horse and cart for a return trip. Upon hearing that dogs are welcome aboard, the four of us and two dogs hopped on. I tried to stop Bailey from panic-barking every passing person by feeding him treats, but he mistook the end of my thumb for a tasty snack and I spent the rest of the journey feeling faint and dangling my dripping bloody thumb outside the carriage.
After our earlier dipping of toes/paws in the surf, we had stopped for cockles and crab sticks and asked where the nearest proper fishmonger's was... "Lowestoft" came the reply! So it was off to Tescos to get some fish for a BBQ. Sea Bass & Trout with Langoustines was delicious; food is obviously a big part of our caravan adventures as it was with camping.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
Location:Great Yarmouth
Friday 22 April 2011
22nd April
We're back at the Wild Duck site which is a historic location for us. My mate's parents have had a static van here for ages, and we visited before we had kids.
It was also the first place we went camping with children. Megan was crawling, but had sprained her wrist in a fall before we left and wasn't able to move. That was fun!
It was also the first place we camped with Tracey's cousin, and we've had many happy trips with her family since then...
So now we're back, and the weekend weather forecast is glorious!
After a slight delay packing the van (over 2 hours, so much for hitch and go!) we set off and despite the stereotype, we weren't the ones holding up the traffic... You should see driver's faces when a land rover with caravan in tow overtakes them!
We pitched up, bodged the awning, had a cuppa, re-bodged the awning, went for a walk to see how other people setup their awnings, had another cuppa and gave up on the awning for the night.
I made a pretty reasonable one-pot moussaka, then we played chess until almost midnight.
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It was also the first place we went camping with children. Megan was crawling, but had sprained her wrist in a fall before we left and wasn't able to move. That was fun!
It was also the first place we camped with Tracey's cousin, and we've had many happy trips with her family since then...
So now we're back, and the weekend weather forecast is glorious!
After a slight delay packing the van (over 2 hours, so much for hitch and go!) we set off and despite the stereotype, we weren't the ones holding up the traffic... You should see driver's faces when a land rover with caravan in tow overtakes them!
We pitched up, bodged the awning, had a cuppa, re-bodged the awning, went for a walk to see how other people setup their awnings, had another cuppa and gave up on the awning for the night.
I made a pretty reasonable one-pot moussaka, then we played chess until almost midnight.
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Location:Wild Duck (Haven), Norfolk
Sunday 10 April 2011
April 8th to 10th - "We can squeeze another break in here..."
A lovely Camping & Carvan club site in the forest. This was our first weekend where we spent a two consecutive nights in the caravan, but it nearly didn't happen...
"I'm just looking for the address on the booking confirmation, but I don't have it because... We haven't booked yet!" I said at 4pm on Friday the 8th!
Luckily, we got in and had a great weekend. No awning this time as then weather was terrific.
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"I'm just looking for the address on the booking confirmation, but I don't have it because... We haven't booked yet!" I said at 4pm on Friday the 8th!
Luckily, we got in and had a great weekend. No awning this time as then weather was terrific.
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Location:Thetford Forest
Friday 1 April 2011
Planning of our trips...
Since the whole justification for the caravan was that we could have weekends away without me having to take time off work (unpaid), we set about planning at least 10 such trips for 2011.
We wanted to go away with family and friends so organising dates and locations was not going to be easy. On top of this, leaving after work on a Friday means only places within about a 2 hour radius can be considered.
So far our list looks like this;
Bainlands, Lincolnshire - Done!
Wild Duck, near Great Yarmouth (this is for Megan's birthday)
Hurley Riverside Park, near Windsor castle
Hollands Wood (family favourite for Jake's birthday), New Forest
Tanner Farm Park, Kent
Spiers House (another forest holidays site), North York Moors
Sandy Balls, New Forest
Callow Top Park, Derbyshire
There is a few other places we like the look of, and more folks we want to go away with, so I fully expect we'll reach at least 10. And at an average of 3 days each that makes a whole month of holidays this year... Can't wait!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2
We wanted to go away with family and friends so organising dates and locations was not going to be easy. On top of this, leaving after work on a Friday means only places within about a 2 hour radius can be considered.
So far our list looks like this;
Bainlands, Lincolnshire - Done!
Wild Duck, near Great Yarmouth (this is for Megan's birthday)
Hurley Riverside Park, near Windsor castle
Hollands Wood (family favourite for Jake's birthday), New Forest
Tanner Farm Park, Kent
Spiers House (another forest holidays site), North York Moors
Sandy Balls, New Forest
Callow Top Park, Derbyshire
There is a few other places we like the look of, and more folks we want to go away with, so I fully expect we'll reach at least 10. And at an average of 3 days each that makes a whole month of holidays this year... Can't wait!
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Location:Home
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