Summer in the UK

Thursday 26th June:  The smart car looks like a baby elephant on mum and dads drive, it’s got its grey cover on and its wing mirrors stick out like ears!
Unloaded the van once and loaded the washing machine many times!
Spent the day chatting to family and friends, wonderful to catch up with people and to chat on the phone knowing it’s not costing a fortune.
It’s really strange: it feels like we haven’t been away and the last six months have just flown by.

Friday 27th June:  Popped to Crawley with mum and was astounded how busy it was! Also at the fashion! And how glum every one looks. Feels like I have been living on a different planet! Stopped for a cappuccino and a cake (to share) and I nearly fell over backwards when I was charged £6.50!
I drove mums car, the last time I drove being last December.

Saturday 28th June:  Another experience: Morrison's on a Saturday morning. It was jam packed, felt like Christmas Eve.
Enjoyed a BBQ and sitting in the sunshine at mum and dads, seeing Bryan, Kimberley, Nats, Wills, Chris, Sam, Mollie and Maisie. About half my family I think!

Sunday 29th June:  Another Experience: Tesco at Gatwick. Where do all the people come from?
Paul polished van and did blokey things and I loaded half a ton of clean washing back in!

Monday 30th June:  Picked Vicky and David up at 7 o’clock (wonderful to see them, lots of squeals and hugs on the drive way) stopped on the M3 in the van for toast on our way to Taunton, Somerset arriving midday at Paul’s parents. Hugs and joy all around, lovely to see them and to catch up. Nel fitted nicely on the drive.
 

JULY

Tuesday 1st July:  Vicky and I popped into town to research the local fashion!
Off to Virginia’s in the evening and enjoyed seeing Dennis and Dan etc

Wednesday 2nd July:  Waving as we left mum and dad Strats, we stopped in Morrrisons in Taunton for a few bits not realising we needed a car park ticket. (Not that we stuck out like a sore thumb or anything.) Got away without a fine as I rambled on to the car park attendant about free car parks in France!
To the Blackdown Hills and beyond, to catch up with Tam and Grant, the last time we saw them was at Easter in Portugal. We watched in amazement as Grant showed us his new toy. A lemon Accelerator (don’t ask). Have never seen a lemon or for that matter, a tomato fly through the air so high and so far. (Don’t try this at home.) Again Nel found a lovely spot on their drive way.

Thursday 3rd July:  Off to Newton Abbott, Devon to see my cousin Dave, Thrine and Rosie, seeing them last in Portugal at Christmas. Took a wrong turning going up their lane and Vicky, David and I had to abandon ship as Paul was concerned we wouldn’t make it up the hill. We all jumped out narrowly missing the stinging nettles in the road side and we ran up the lane after the van in the drizzly rain! Thrine picked us up in the car; David being brave went with Paul whilst Vicky and I looked on in horror as Paul gunned the van up the steep slope to land next to Dave’s place. Off to a Charity BBQ in Tiverton.

Friday 4th July:  Large fry up at a little truckers cafe to set us up for the day (Rosie missed out as she was at school) waved Dave and Thrine off and back up to Surrey to take Vicky and David home. A whirlwind tour but absolutely brilliant.
Back to mum and dads and did some more washing!

Saturday 5th July:  Taxed the smart car for £35!! Paul drove Nel while I followed in the car and we set off to Eastbourne, eventually settling in to a great pitch tucked away in the corner of the site, right next to the river. Saw three herons in the field the other side of the river. Off to Julie and Martins for a fab Chinese. The second in 6 months.

Sunday 6th July:  To Claire ad Kiernan's for a lovely BBQ unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side today, wet and windy! Then off Julie and Martins for a fab roast diner! We are getting spoilt!! It’s great to see people and catch up and to be offered the use of washing machines, tumble dryers and baths!

Monday 7th July:  Decided to try not to eat so much today! We watched as a family of swans glided silently past us on the water, a mum and four young still with fluffy grey down on them. Then another family came past with three young!
Popped into the town and I was horrified to pay £3.50 to park the car! A smart car! Not a 6 metre van! Made appointments for tomorrow for eye tests. Had a Wimpy!!!

Tuesday 8th July:  The less said about today the better. Briefly – we are getting old, we both need reading glasses.

Wednesday 9th July:  Spent the day sorting the van out, visiting Halfords for bits and bobs.

Thursday 10th July:  I went back up to visit my mum and dad for the day
Paul walked to the harbour and then over the fields to the castle.

Friday 11th July:  Bits and bobs on the van, bit of fishing, sorting and tidying up.

Saturday 12th July:  Got pipe for waste water, Paul rigged it all up.
To Paul and Jane’s for dinner, great to catch up.

Sunday 13thJuly:  Walked to Car Boot Sale in field next door but one to us. Got the solitaire game that I had been after for months!
Its wonderful to see the two families of swans as they go up and down the river, the young changing colour on a daily basis. We also watch swallows as they skilfully skim the water to dip their beaks into the water whilst doing a fly past!

Monday 14th July:  Cleared stuff away from corner of site next to the river and cut down some reeds to make a couple of ‘Fishing Spots!’
Paul went to the Doc for an MOT.
Popped into town to get Airbourne Tickets.
Found a rake, raked the grass up.

Tuesday 15th July:  Picked up our glasses. Sat in van reading! We can see!

Wednesday 16th July:  Bryan came down with Kimberley and Nats, sat outside under the awning, a windy chilly day. Strimmed the grass around our pitch and raked up using our newly acquired rake!

Thursday 17th July:  Put tent/awning up and it spat with rain. Got more chilly as we continued to put it up holding on tightly as the wind gusted around us.
Paul put an outside extension plug in under the van well handy. Discovered slight gas leak behind the oven so emptied the cupboard next to it and Paul removed oven and sorted the leak out. Sat in awning but it was so windy the sides blow in on you, driving you mad.

Friday 18th July:  Cloudy, windy and chilly again.
Paul dropped me at Brantano, a mistake, fancy going to a shoe shop when on a tight budget and not being able to buy anything. It was torture! but I had fun trying on some outrageous high heels (I had trouble walking in them!)
It’s a strange feeling knowing I have got lots of pairs of shoes and boots in storage but have no need or reason to wear them. How can I wear my monster stiletto boots while living in a field?! I think I will get my wedges though; I just can’t go the whole summer with out wearing any heels!

Saturday 19th July:  Don’t mention the weather.
In the evening I had fun playing loud music due to the lack of any neighbours.

Sunday 20th July:  Went to Tesco with the rest of the world, still not sure why we went today!
Julie and Martin came round for a coffee, always nice to see people and to catch up and chat.

Monday 21st July:  Alarm off at 6.30 am. Paul went fishing with Martin.
I set off for Reigate, stopping en route for some cakes and round to see Daphne, a lady I used to play pool with, then on to mum and dads for some lunch. Just happened to have a boot full of washing with me!
Out for a curry with my friend Sue, still unsure as to who talked the most!

Tuesday 22nd July:  In the Smart car off to see my sister in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, stopping at the services on the M1, missing the van with its kettle and coffee!
I cried when I saw Nic! And was nearly knocked over by Jodie, Eli, Olivia, Alfie and Sonny as they greeted me! Saw Curtis later on and was glad to see he is not too old to give his auntie a hug! Enjoyed eating our dinner in the garden with Chris.

Wednesday & Thursday 23rd/24th July:  Made the most of enjoying the hot weather, sat in the garden, watched as the children had fun on the water slide, I had a go but my backside a bit too large, walked into town, went to the swings, ate in the garden and sat out until late in the evening. It’s great to be here and to see them all.

Friday 25th July:  Left at lunch time, hold ups on the M1 and M25, nightmare, took a wrong turning and ended up back at mum and dads having been on the road for five hours rather than the normal three. Quick cuppa, picked up (more) washing and back down to Eastbourne just gone 8pm to find Paul with bad tooth ache and new neighbours in the field the other side of the river. Sheep. Ones that bah and bleat all night!

Saturday 26th July:  The herons have done a runner since the sheep have arrived; it’s a shame as we got used to seeing them and watching them through the binoculars, one day we had five of them. Normally there were 3 which we named Hickory Dickory and Dock – not that we could tell which one was which!
Julie and Martin came round for a BBQ; the lads enjoyed a spot of fishing while Julie and I talked about pretty sparkly things, handbags, shoes and David Essex. (Not really).

Sunday 27th July:  Loaded the smart car with dive kit and a bag of Whatifs - what if it rains - kags, what if I get thirsty, what if its hot and sunny, what if its cold, what if I need a hat, suntan lotion oh the list is endless but am sure it makes Vic The Skipper smile when I arrive with my bag of stuff!
Returning from diving, Paul rinsed dive kit off round the back of the van and managed to spray water inside the open window.

Monday 28th July:  Started the Special K diet which I aim to be on for the rest of my life.
It’s boiling! Actually sat in the sun! Not for long though as a mad kamikaze sheep had other ideas as he/she went down to the waters edge for a drink slipped and fell in with a loud splash! The noise she made was unbearable, with the help of a fellow camper, Paul managed to scramble down the bank and rescue Dolly as she was affectionately named. Someone had called the Fire Brigade and they turned up to see Paul holding a rope with the sheep tied on the end! None too pleased! Someone else had rung the farmer who said they would come and pick the sheep up.  We tied the sheep to a tree just behind the van and spent the whole evening waiting for the farmer to turn up, all the while the sheep bleating to its mother the other side of the river.

Tuesday 29th July:  A noisy night, the poor thing bleating all night. The farmer came along at 8.30 to pick Dolly up almost as if it was an inconvenience which we expect it was. We watched as she was reunited with her mother and Paul made a note not to rescue another one!

Wednesday 30th July:  Actually cooked dinner on the BBQ and actually sat outside to eat it!

Thursday 31st July:  Paul to the Dentist, luckily he was in less pain when he returned. Off to mum and dads picking Vicky and David up on the way for a BBQ.

AUGUST

Friday 1st August:  Went in to Reigate with mum to have a quick look around, seems strange to be back here. Back to Eastbourne early evening, stopping at the dive shop in East Grinstead on the way

Saturday 2nd August:  Paul and Jane came round for a BBQ, it was a bit windy though and we ended up eating in the awning as it got chilly.

Sunday 3rd August:  Julie and Martin came round, the boys fished and we burnt some cakes, no some CD’s.

Monday 4th August:  Paul dentist again. Off to sit outside McDonalds to use their free wifi, then drove up over Beachy Head, and round to Cuckmere: still one of my favourite places. Back to the van to watch a film and to eat some popcorn!

Tuesday 5th August:  Shame about the weather, we thought we would be doing so much here, diving, kayaking, cycling and so on. I walked in to Pevensey Bay to get a paper as had run out of reading material.

Wednesday 6th August:  Warm enough to sit out side, I did some sewing in the sun whilst Paul and Martin did some fishing. Julie and I went to the Congress Theatre in the town to an Abba Tribute Band. It was brilliant; we both enjoyed having a sing along! The costumes were great, I loved the sequined flares and platform boots! We drove along the sea front and was nice to see so many people out and about, walking along the prom and we could see lightening out to see. As I dropped Julie off we both realised the storm was getting closer and back at the campsite I sat with the fishermen as we watched the lightning over the South Downs in front of us. Martin packed up about midnight and had only just gone when the heavens opened! Paul and I sat for ages inside the awning as the storm raged on around us, it was fantastic to watch.

Thursday 7th August:  A lovely bright sunny day and off to Peter and Shirley's in the harbour for a meal, sitting in the garden all afternoon and most of the evening!

Friday 8th August:  9am and I had a boring appointment with the physio at the local hospital.  Rested for the rest of the day and watched the opening of the Olympics in between nodding off now and then!

Saturday 9th August:  Lunchtime up to mum and dads again, Nic, Chris and their family staying there as had gone to a wedding, so great to see them again! In the evening we went to Redhill Football Club to watch my brother Chris and his band ‘The Water Pistols’ play. Saw lots of old faces and blasts from the pasts! Was a great evening. I danced with one of my nieces in the way that only aunties can!
Mum and dad had a house full for the night, there were 15 of us all together!

Sunday 10th August:  Back to Eastbourne by tea time, unfortunately I hurt my neck which was a real pain in the neck!

Monday 11th August: Off for more physio. Boring!

Tuesday 12th August:  Went to Matalan and got a handful of half price AA Guide Books for different countries only to find we already had half of them…back to Matalan for a refund!
Had great fun making a collage birthday card for Martin, using a Special K box and cuttings from magazines. We had to keep the door shut as being so windy outside the bits of paper kept blowing all over the place.
Had forgotten just how windy it is down here.

Wednesday 13th August:  To Halfords, the Fiat place, here there and everywhere doing bits and bobs then to Julie and Martins for coffee and to borrow their vacuum cleaner.

Thursday 14th August:  Mum and dad came down for a few days, we all squished in the van for lunch and dinner, while mum and I popped into the town in the afternoon. Watch out BHS & M&S!

Friday 15th August:  To Airbourne for the day, had a great time eating chips and were blessed by a warm sunny day. Less people than normal at the show as the council decided to charge people for it this year, the residents up in arms over this. Enjoyed a lovely meal with mum and dad at their hotel.

Saturday 16th August:  Walked through the fields, over the sty's and railway line to Pevensey Castle and had a pub lunch! Paul and I had a ploughman's and a pint as we had missed pickled onions while we were away! We all went into the Jail and the oldest, smallest courthouse in Britain Mum and I had an ice cream on the way back, I had bubble gum flavour. It was vom. Dad and Paul did a spot of fishing back at the van.
Met Julie, Martin, Paul and Jane in the other castle (the pub!) in the evening and went to the Joy Garden/Happy Dragon in the bay for a feast.

Sunday 17th August:  Had a rrrroast dinner at the Carvery was well nice! Another thing we had missed whilst away. Drove up towards Beachy Head to park and walk back down to The Winter Gardens and found a great spot to watch the Airbourne Finale of Fireworks at 10pm. As always a brilliant display.

Monday 18th August:  We all went into the town, dad and Paul going to The Way We Were museum whilst mum and I snuck off to the shops again!

Tuesday 19th August:  Not sure what we did my diary has a blank.

Wednesday 20th August:  I went back up to mum and dads to tie dyed the throws and really pleased with the results, had fun doing them. Wasn’t sure what they would look like and it wouldn’t have mattered if it had all gone horribly wrong as they were £1.97 each and slightly small since Paul tumble dried them in France.
Wills, Dad and I had a take away curry while mum, Bryan and Nats had Chinese – it was a tough decision as to which one to choose!
Had fun watching Wills eat a hot chilly.

Thursday 21st August:  Loaded the Smart car with more clean washing! And the tent and sleeping bags that I was forbidden to return home without! I went to the dentist in Reigate having booked the appointment last year. Back to Eastbourne through the lanes, unloaded and reloaded with over night bags, tent, sleeping bags, two chairs, air bed, pump, pillows and left again at 7pm to go back up to the M25 and back down to the west country to mum and dad Strats, arriving late in the evening. Lovely to be back again.

Friday 22nd August:  Had a lovely day chatting and eating, Ginny came round for the evening.

Saturday 23rd August:  To the Blackdown Hills again, this time for Tam and Grants party in a field, with Dave and his band, Smokey Joe playing.  Danced into the early hours, had a great time even though it was damp and chilly. Managed to rip the backside out of my fave pair of jeans and had a prickly time sitting on the bales of hay!

Sunday 24th August:  A bit worse for the wear, we packed up and back to Monkton Heathfield, Taunton to Ginny and Dens where we sat in the garden putting the world to rights.

Monday 25 August (Bank Holiday):  Leaving Ginny and Dens we drove down to Bournemouth to look at a campsite with view to living there for a year while Paul studies Maritime Archaeology at Bournemouth University. The biggest downside being no electric at the only site that is open all year.
Went for a long walk along the River Stour, both quiet in our thoughts.
Booked into Travel Lodge in Poole as couldn’t face another night in the tent!
Oh what a treat, what a luxury!

Tuesday 26th August:  Drove around Bournemouth and the surrounding area, Christchurch etc, stopped off at Poole harbour and went for a wonder. Back to Bournemouth - Paul had meeting with chap from the Uni.
Back to mum and dads to pick up the washing and drop off camping gear.

Wednesday 27th August:  Back to Nel at the campsite in Pevensey, unloaded loads of stuff from the car. How do we get it all in?!

Thursday 28th August:  Went to Lidl. An exciting time had by all. Laughed loudly when the lad on the check out did a massive yawn similar to that of a lion, scratched his head and carried on scanning peoples groceries! Unaware we think of how loud he yawned!

Friday 29th August:  Packed the van up ready to be on the road to refill our tanks with LPG – took ages to get ready as stuff all over the place. Great to be back on the road again.  The first garage we stopped at was all out of LPG, drove to Golden Cross, got the gas but couldn’t check the tyre pressures, so back to the garage at Pevensey.  Drove to Cooden on this warm muggy day. Walked along the beach and tried to work out where the sea ended and the sky started but couldn’t quite make it out in the greyness.  Sat on top of the beach for ages discussing spending a year in Bournemouth.

Off to Julie and Martins for a quick cuppa and back to site in Nel for beans on toast for dinner at midnight!

Saturday 30th August:  A beautiful bright sunny day! Paul put the washing line up and did all the jobs that needed doing now the van back in its pitch. I sewed a long line of fresh red chillies together that Ginny had grown and given me.
Paul got his dive equipment together and we drove round to the West Harbour to meet Martin and the skipper of Clarinnes a large fishing catamaran. I climber aboard in a most un-lady like fashion!
We motored out round towards Hastings and they dived an area in search of a lost propeller. Unfortunately they surfaced an hour later empty handed.
Such a shame, also the weather is going to change so they won’t have another opportunity to try again for a while.

Sunday 31st August:  Raining and windy and a pile of wet dive gear in the awning – not good!
I had visions of spending more time in the awning than in the van but the weather has been so poor and so windy – we had to un-attach the awning from van before it was ripped off by the wind. But the awning has been a great area in which to store fishing rods and so on!
I put the lovely tied dyed throws over the chairs in the van – they look really good.
Paul washed and sorted his dive kit while I sewed up my favourite pair of jeans with the big rip in the bum.
Decided to try out the bamboo steamer that has been cluttering the cupboard up for the last few months. It had lots of faults, it didn’t fit the saucepan properly, had no handles, was dangerous and the steaming slats too far apart so the carrot batons kept falling through the gaps. 8.30 pm: Paul launches the bamboo steamer out of the door!

SEPTEMBER

Monday 1st September:  Picked the remains of bamboo steamer up as it lay strewn across the grass!
Went into town, got some more dye for the spare throws and some vest tops form Primark with the idea of cutting them up and sewing them together to make many multi coloured tops!

Tuesday 2nd September:  To mum and dads in the van, spent the afternoon with Vicky and David helping me tie knots in the throws and dye them purple!

Wednesday 3rd September:  More washing! Day flew by, back on pitch in time for tea.
Cooked jacket potatoes in the oven! Its all very exciting as only used the oven twice I think, when we were away. Its great as not only does it cook the dinner it warms the van up too!

Thursday 4th September:  9.30 drove Paul to Drs to have a couple of moles removed. An hour later he emerged looking like a wounded soldier as he crossed the road to the car where I was waiting. He was told to take it easy and not stretch or anything. Back to the van I noticed water leaking in the cupboard under the sink, Paul looked and saw a slight leak where pipe split, off to the town for some pipe!
Paul heard from Bournemouth Uni that the course had been postponed until next year.

Friday 5th September:  Martin came round for a spot of fishing; we left him to it as we went off with a long list of things to do and places to go to, one being emptying our coppers into the Magic Machine in Sainsbury’s! What fun! To B&Q for hose pipe fittings and boring stuff like that then to Tesco to stock up on Nivea, Simple Make up Removers, quick cook rices, marmite, Tangy Pickle and squeezy Pickle, Heinz Baked beans and tomato ketchup!!!

Saturday 6th September:  Back to mum and dads telling them we may come in the van: we arrived in the smart car after they had made space on the drive! We just had to park right in the middle and take up enough spaces for 4 cars!
Found our CD collection (didn’t realise how naff it was!) Copied lots of music onto the laptop for future discos.
Out with Vicky and David for a curry and a catch up.

Sunday 7th September:  Left good time with mum and dad to go to Nic and Chris’ arrived just in time for Alfie and Sonny's Birthday party. Had a hectic but fun afternoon.

Monday 8th September:  Heard from Paul that he managed to take the awning down with out it blowing away!
Nic and Chris went to Birmingham to see Stevie Wonder – I would have loved to have gone, they asked me when they booked the tickets but we were not sure where we would be in the world!
Dad and I took Jodie and Alfie to the drive Thro at McDonalds for a mega order!
N&C had a fabulous time as I imagined they would.

Tuesday 9th September:  Went in to the town of Market Harborough with Nic, mum and dad and I got my pedometer having tried in about 5 different Argos’ to get it. Went into Woolworths (still cant believe there isn’t one in Eastbourne) and got another headlamp - a right bargain – so we have one each now which will hopefully stop the arguments as to who’s turn it is to wear it to read at night time!
Vicky rang to say she had passed her driving test! Was on the phone to her when she had to go as there was someone at the door and it was Paul! (He popped in to see her for a quick hug en route to Nics.) Nel looks at home tucked up on their drive way.

Wednesday 10th September:  Left Nics to drive to Barnsley, Yorkshire as had booked the van in for a carpet refit. The old ones stinky and minging. Arrived at Kustom Sports (can highly recommend them) who fit carpets for all the new vans etc. Chose a carpet – shame but they didn’t have a bright pink deep shag pile – and Paul set to task removing the old one.
The lads left for the night having plugged us in to the electric, they locked us in their yard, giving us the key if we needed to get out.
The carpet is on the dash, behind cupboards – nearly everywhere so everything had to be moved, the cupboards in the cock pit emptied, dismantled and put outside, speakers removed and so on! Eventually had a quick cheese sarnie about midnight having completely trashed the van! Stuff everywhere, all over the place. We had electric but it was hard for Paul to work almost in the dark (with his new fetching head lamp on) stretching and bending and twisting into tiny cramped spaces to get to where he wanted to go bearing in mind he has two lots of stitches!
Eventually went to bed setting the alarm for 6am.

Thursday 11th September:  7am met Sean the carpet fitter and could see he was relieved Paul had removed the old carpet as saved him a lot of hassle! Drove into the warehouse, emptied half the van into a little corner and sat in Reception enjoying looking through motorhoming mags, drinking coffee and chatting to the ladies.
Carpet, binding and fitting complete we couldn’t believe the transformation!
Paul re built the cupboards – stretching and reaching – I tried to help but there just aint enough room!
Left about 5pm having chosen a site at Teversal in Derbyshire from the club book, booked in, had a quick tea and an early night as both so tired. Paul rested his war wounds.

Friday 12th September:  Back on the motorway to be faced with long delays. Stopping and starting, crawling along at a snails pace, we had a disco. I noticed a van next to us with two lads grinning, as we stopped, they went past us and so on, they over took us with the passenger wearing what looked like a Papa Smirf hat! I scrambled to the back of the van and put my deer hunter hat on with its ears sticking up and sat back down for us to over take the other van. You should have seen the fella’s faces! They fell about! We laughed for ages thinking they probably thought we were a couple of mad foreigners, the van being left hand drive and me wearing my stripy French top! We still laugh when we think of it now!
Came off the non moving motor way at Nottingham and everywhere was just chock 'a' block, being a Friday afternoon didn’t help.
Stopped in Cheddington (where ever that may be) for some provisions and back on the road, we drove though some beautiful country side in Stratford upon Avon through torrential rain and huge puddles, some like lakes across the road.
Pulled in to a site at Chipping Norton at 7.30 where they had had 4” of rain this afternoon and had struggled with mud, floods and so on. They managed to squeeze us onto their forecourt for the night. (Still charged us full price and we didn’t have any electric!)

Saturday 13th September:  Bright and sunny, unbelievable! Drove round Oxford, through it and round again. Yes! I was map reading! Stupid map, stupid road signs and stupid road system!
Drove along some super A roads enjoying some stunning scenery and stopped off at Henley on Thames where we went into The Toad Of Toad Hall Exhibition and a rowing museum – can highly recommend both. Back to mum and dads for a take away curry as they are away, so no nice home cooking tonight! Watched a really stupid film that made us laugh a lot! Just what the doctor ordered after the last few days.
Oh yes! Booked the Ferry from Dover to Calais for Tuesday 23rd September (to coincide with hospital appointments etc).

Sunday 14th September:  Ali and Bert picked us up, we had lunch at their house, got the tube to Southbank for The Thames Festival, where there were stalls, food, music, sunshine, lovely atmosphere – we walked all along – lots of people, warm and sunny. Ali – Paul's sister is a tube driver and she waved at all the drivers at all the different stations we went to! Back to Tooting for delicious Fish and Chips (our first in over a year!!) What a brilliant day, we both really enjoyed it and it was great to be there with Ali and Bert, it was great fun. Arriving back at mum and dads about midnight, we decided to stay there the night.

Monday 15th September:  Packed the van up with more washing and left at 6.45am arriving at the Drs in Pevensey at 8.40 just in time for Paul to have his stitches out! Back to our pitch to swap van for smart car and off to the hospital to see my specialist for yearly appointment (for AS, boring, a stupid arthritic condition on my spine) to be told I need some x-rays. I panicked (I knew we shouldn’t have booked the ferry yet!) when the Dr said he would send me an appointment in the post! I waffled on about going away and the Dr sent me to x-ray straight away! Rang Paul who had dropped me off to say don’t know how long I’ll be, sat waiting and waiting to be called and Paul came in and found me!
Back to pitch to swap Smart car for van to take it in for MOT. What a day!

Tuesday 16th September:  Something doesn’t seem right. I realise there is no wind. There wasn’t any yesterday either. How strange! Paul did odd jobs to the van (mended the step which nearly collapsed each time you trod on it). To the town (again) for more last few bits on my list, to Asda to get some Euros. Paul washed van and smart car while I sorted all the cupboards in the van, trying to get rid of as much as possible so we are not too much over weight.
Water pipe came off under the wardrobe, had to pull everything out for Paul to fix it and then we had to dry everything – including our new carpet.

Wednesday 17th September:  The other pipe under the wardrobe came off, repeat of last nights mopping up.
Paul to the hospital for Allergy Tests, I stayed at the van putting everything back in order! He came back having confirmed what he already knew: he is allergic to cats, house dust mite and washing up. He sorted the leak out while I packed and tidied up.
Packed the Smart car up again and off to Taunton to mum and dad Strats, this time taking the scenic route through Worthing and Yeovil arriving at 4.30.

Thursday 18th September:  We all went out for a drive and to the well stocked caravan shop nearby, then into the town to look at electric hobs – having decided not to take the microwave away with us again I need a replacement!
Enjoyed another lovely dinner with Virginia who came over.

Friday 19th September:  Left at lunchtime for Plymouth to see Vicky in her new digs at Uni. Great to see her and where she is living, went out for a massive burger then back to mum and dad Strats for midnight and bed!

Saturday 20th September:  After an egg and bacon breakfast to set us up for the day we left for Chichester to call into the marina to pick up some ‘Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure’. Back to Nel in Pevensey at 6.30 for a quick change and off to the Castle pub to meet Julie, Martin, Paul and Jane for a Fond Farewell Curry.

Sunday 21st September:  Packed everything up (again), said goodbye to our neighbours, left at 10am, Paul driving the van and me following in the Smart car off to mum and dads. Paul spent the afternoon with David while mum and I did more washing!
Enjoyed a roast dinner – only about the 4th one this year.
I had a lovely relaxing foot bath whilst watching the telly! Heaven!

Monday 22nd September:  Paul worked on the van, taking the roof vent off and filling joints with ‘Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure’, he washed the smart car again ready for it to be tucked up in its little cover for the next few months.
Left a few more things in dad’s garage – thanks dad! Got rid of the microwave.
I had a lovely day with mum and dad.