Friday 13th November
Alarm goes off at 07:30 and it's still raining and blowing a hoolie!
Break camp and drive home in the most atrocious weather.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
November Holiday
Thursday 12th November
Off to Canterbury, first stop Chislehurst caves.
Chislehurst Caves are fantastic – 22 mile labyrinth carved out of the chalk. Used as an ammunition store in WW1 and an air raid shelter for ~15,000 people in WWII.
Join a guided tour complete with paraffin lanterns. How he knew where he was going we’ll never know.
In the sixties they were used as a concert venue with Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie both playing there.
From the caves we head on to Canterbury and arrive mid afternoon and decide to have a relaxing few hours in Hymie reading the paper.
Pretty dismal grey afternoon and the wind is picking up.
Catch the bus in to Canterbury just before five and wander through the streets heading for the tapas restaurant only to find out that it has closed and been replaced by an English restaurant. What to do we had both been looking forward to this all week. End up going in a Strada – an Italian chain and have a really nice meal despite the matter of a slight disagreement towards the end but ignoring that food was pretty good especially the olives.
Return to the campsite and it really is starting to get windy.
Have a cuddle and watch ‘Get Smart’ but the wind has really picked up and we could be in danger of the van being blown over.
End up having a very disturbed night once the wind died down the rains started so we end up getting very little sleep.
Next day break camp at 07:30 and head home arriving around midday and spend the rest of the day purchasing doggy accoutrements – wellies, toys, beds etc. Wouldn’t have been a very nice day had we stayed in Canterbury.
End of our week off – it’s been an unusual week having had a few technical difficulties but also had some fun outings. Really enjoyed Cambridge, Ely cathedral, St Paul’s and meal at Strada.
Off to Canterbury, first stop Chislehurst caves.
Chislehurst Caves are fantastic – 22 mile labyrinth carved out of the chalk. Used as an ammunition store in WW1 and an air raid shelter for ~15,000 people in WWII.
Join a guided tour complete with paraffin lanterns. How he knew where he was going we’ll never know.
In the sixties they were used as a concert venue with Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie both playing there.
From the caves we head on to Canterbury and arrive mid afternoon and decide to have a relaxing few hours in Hymie reading the paper.
Pretty dismal grey afternoon and the wind is picking up.
Catch the bus in to Canterbury just before five and wander through the streets heading for the tapas restaurant only to find out that it has closed and been replaced by an English restaurant. What to do we had both been looking forward to this all week. End up going in a Strada – an Italian chain and have a really nice meal despite the matter of a slight disagreement towards the end but ignoring that food was pretty good especially the olives.
Return to the campsite and it really is starting to get windy.
Have a cuddle and watch ‘Get Smart’ but the wind has really picked up and we could be in danger of the van being blown over.
End up having a very disturbed night once the wind died down the rains started so we end up getting very little sleep.
Next day break camp at 07:30 and head home arriving around midday and spend the rest of the day purchasing doggy accoutrements – wellies, toys, beds etc. Wouldn’t have been a very nice day had we stayed in Canterbury.
End of our week off – it’s been an unusual week having had a few technical difficulties but also had some fun outings. Really enjoyed Cambridge, Ely cathedral, St Paul’s and meal at Strada.
November Holiday
Wednesday 11th November
Lie in for me up early (ish) for Tina at around 08:30, fairly leisurely shower and breakfast though this new electric kettle is fantastic, so much quicker than boiling the kettle on the hob – why didn’t we get one sooner.
Catch the number 3 bus but due to a Remembrance ceremony it terminates at Lambeth Palace but the driver advises us to get off at Brixton and catch the tube. Charges us £4 but I’ve only got a tenner and he says he’ll give us change by the time we reach our stop.
This is a rather splendid bus as it has both a display and an announcement for each stop so you know when you need to get off. Reach Brixton and as everyone has been paying by Oyster card the driver still has no change so hands us back our £10 note – go him!
Take the Victoria line up to Oxford Circus and change for the Central line to St. Paul’s. On arrival have a tea and a coffee and Tina has a scrummy piece of carrot cake then we’re off to the Cathedral.
Take the audio tour as there are no guided tours till one o’ clock. All very interesting but whilst it is very impressive it wasn’t as atmospheric as Ely cathedral this one was too spacious and light.
It’s lunchtime and neither of us is sure what we want to eat so we opt for Hard Rock café and take the tube to Hyde Park Corner, having rung the restaurant first to enquire which was the nearest tube.
Have nachos to share followed by open steak sandwiches with mushrooms, onion and cheese, but way too much could have stopped after the nachos but we did have a nice bottle of Pinot.
Still only 3:00 p.m. so decide to go over to Harrods as it’s only one stop away. Go to Pet’s Kingdom and buy a very nice collar for our new doggy (still not sure whether to rename or not)
After a quick whiz round the jewellery department and the food halls where we purchased some baklava we headed back to Victoria station and the train home. We were knackered as we had been walking lots.
Texted the kids and Alex asked whether we had been to Crystal Palace Reptiles yet, which we hadn’t so when we got back to the station we walked up the steep hill and went to CPR – not all its cracked up to be a) it’s mainly an aquarium and b) all the interesting snakes are in small RUB’s + very expensive. Saw a couple of GTP’s. Also saw a python eating a rat.
Headed back along Crystal Palace Parade and Tina even commented that it wasn’t as far as she thought, but we were both pretty knackered by the time we got back and sat down for a nice cuppa tea.
Lie in for me up early (ish) for Tina at around 08:30, fairly leisurely shower and breakfast though this new electric kettle is fantastic, so much quicker than boiling the kettle on the hob – why didn’t we get one sooner.
Catch the number 3 bus but due to a Remembrance ceremony it terminates at Lambeth Palace but the driver advises us to get off at Brixton and catch the tube. Charges us £4 but I’ve only got a tenner and he says he’ll give us change by the time we reach our stop.
This is a rather splendid bus as it has both a display and an announcement for each stop so you know when you need to get off. Reach Brixton and as everyone has been paying by Oyster card the driver still has no change so hands us back our £10 note – go him!
Take the Victoria line up to Oxford Circus and change for the Central line to St. Paul’s. On arrival have a tea and a coffee and Tina has a scrummy piece of carrot cake then we’re off to the Cathedral.
Take the audio tour as there are no guided tours till one o’ clock. All very interesting but whilst it is very impressive it wasn’t as atmospheric as Ely cathedral this one was too spacious and light.
It’s lunchtime and neither of us is sure what we want to eat so we opt for Hard Rock café and take the tube to Hyde Park Corner, having rung the restaurant first to enquire which was the nearest tube.
Have nachos to share followed by open steak sandwiches with mushrooms, onion and cheese, but way too much could have stopped after the nachos but we did have a nice bottle of Pinot.
Still only 3:00 p.m. so decide to go over to Harrods as it’s only one stop away. Go to Pet’s Kingdom and buy a very nice collar for our new doggy (still not sure whether to rename or not)
After a quick whiz round the jewellery department and the food halls where we purchased some baklava we headed back to Victoria station and the train home. We were knackered as we had been walking lots.
Texted the kids and Alex asked whether we had been to Crystal Palace Reptiles yet, which we hadn’t so when we got back to the station we walked up the steep hill and went to CPR – not all its cracked up to be a) it’s mainly an aquarium and b) all the interesting snakes are in small RUB’s + very expensive. Saw a couple of GTP’s. Also saw a python eating a rat.
Headed back along Crystal Palace Parade and Tina even commented that it wasn’t as far as she thought, but we were both pretty knackered by the time we got back and sat down for a nice cuppa tea.
November Holiday
Tuesday 10th November
Have a lie in as we’re in no rush to leave but eventually head off around 10:30.
Slight moment of anxiety travelling down M11 as miss the exit for the services and we are running low on fuel and there doesn’t appear to be any exits, fortunately one appears in time and despite initially taking the wrong turning find a petrol station just after the warning light appears – phew!
Head on down to London and pass Stratford – Olympic site – lots being built. Then through the Blackwell Tunnel and on through Greenwich eventually arriving at Crystal Palace at 12:30 – one slight problem I’ve inadvertently booked Abbey Wood, which the wardens here think is most funny – I’m trying to contain myself as the sign outside says the site is full and I don’t fancy explaining this to Tina. Fortunately someone didn’t turn up yesterday and they do have a pitch available for two nights – now I can see how funny it was!
Set up on the pitch and don’t know whether to go into town for a boozy lunch or have toasted sarnies here and then go to the reptile shop.
In the end we decide to stay here and have toasted sarnies but it keeps raining on and off so we don’t know what to do.
Following a short break in the weather we decide to try our new bikes and go for a ride through the park.
Great fun, get to the other side and think we will go to the reptile shop but the steep hill is too daunting so we turn round and continue our ride round the park; one problem is that coming back it’s all uphill and we dismount and finish up walking back.
Spend the rest of the afternoon all cosy in Hymie, reading.
Later that evening we go for a short walk to work out where the bus goes from but Tina goes out unprepared for the leaves and puddles as she didn’t change her shoes and was wearing pink crocs.
Have a lie in as we’re in no rush to leave but eventually head off around 10:30.
Slight moment of anxiety travelling down M11 as miss the exit for the services and we are running low on fuel and there doesn’t appear to be any exits, fortunately one appears in time and despite initially taking the wrong turning find a petrol station just after the warning light appears – phew!
Head on down to London and pass Stratford – Olympic site – lots being built. Then through the Blackwell Tunnel and on through Greenwich eventually arriving at Crystal Palace at 12:30 – one slight problem I’ve inadvertently booked Abbey Wood, which the wardens here think is most funny – I’m trying to contain myself as the sign outside says the site is full and I don’t fancy explaining this to Tina. Fortunately someone didn’t turn up yesterday and they do have a pitch available for two nights – now I can see how funny it was!
Set up on the pitch and don’t know whether to go into town for a boozy lunch or have toasted sarnies here and then go to the reptile shop.
In the end we decide to stay here and have toasted sarnies but it keeps raining on and off so we don’t know what to do.
Following a short break in the weather we decide to try our new bikes and go for a ride through the park.
Great fun, get to the other side and think we will go to the reptile shop but the steep hill is too daunting so we turn round and continue our ride round the park; one problem is that coming back it’s all uphill and we dismount and finish up walking back.
Spend the rest of the afternoon all cosy in Hymie, reading.
Later that evening we go for a short walk to work out where the bus goes from but Tina goes out unprepared for the leaves and puddles as she didn’t change her shoes and was wearing pink crocs.
November Holiday
Monday 9th November
Ring Brownhills in Newark – nearest one and speak to the wonderful Alison who suspects that the problem is the regulator and to bring the van in and they’ll get it sorted.
Quick shower and off up the A1 we go (84 miles). Arrive at Brownhills just after 11 and book Hymie in and have a look at the vans on show. Like the Apache SE.
Then its lunchtime and we make use of the on site Bistro and have a pork hotpot – very nice but overdid it on the potatoes – three types: roasted, hot pot and layered with cheese plus some lovely leeks and carrots – very nice too many tats though.
Van finished about 13:30 so we head back to Cambridge and decide en route that we should pop over to Ely to see the cathedral, which is what we had planned to do today.
Interesting trip across the Fens but eventually arrive about 15:20 but despite checking that the car parks don’t have height barriers I hadn’t checked to see what arcane laws they have in Ely, which prohibits anyone parking a vehicle over 5.3m in length in a public car park. One phone call to the council officers later and I am advised that there is one space – ONE SPACE in the whole of Ely designated for camper vans. As you would expect I provide some feedback!
Drive round Ely looking for aforementioned car park and the lone campervan space and after about 20 minutes find the right car park but the notice still says anyone fortunate enough to have a vehicle over 5.3m should go to hell and be damned, so I ring the council again and am advised that even though there is no marked bay I am able to park across two bays. Fortunately the car park is fairly empty so no problem finding a two suitable bays. I do however leave a little note for any traffic warden saying that we had phoned the council and spoken with Angela and she said it was alright.
Off up the hill to the cathedral, which I must say is pretty impressive, especially the octagonal tower.
Quick stop in the Almonry café for tea and lemon meringue expensive and a coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cheap. (£4.25 for the lemon meringue pie!!!)
Walk over to the Cathedral and it is now dusk and the drunks are out but we avoid a confrontation on our way round to the front of the cathedral. Notice part of the north wing at the front has disappeared but step inside and as it’s quite late we are pretty much the only ones in there and as it is getting dark it’s quite eerie.
Give a £5 donation and get a guide and wander around, it is a most impressive cathedral very plain Norman architecture for the most part with a long nave and uninterrupted view to the east window.
The central nave is spectacular as the original square tower fell down and was replaced with a fantastic octagonal lantern – hugely impressive. The transepts have impressive wooden ceilings and carved angels in flight. With dusk falling, low light inside and the choir practising nearby it creates a wonderful atmosphere.
Very impressed with Ely cathedral, more so than the local council.
Return to Cambridge and pleased to have a fully working heating system and cooker.
A quiet night, less alcohol off to London tomorrow.
Ring Brownhills in Newark – nearest one and speak to the wonderful Alison who suspects that the problem is the regulator and to bring the van in and they’ll get it sorted.
Quick shower and off up the A1 we go (84 miles). Arrive at Brownhills just after 11 and book Hymie in and have a look at the vans on show. Like the Apache SE.
Then its lunchtime and we make use of the on site Bistro and have a pork hotpot – very nice but overdid it on the potatoes – three types: roasted, hot pot and layered with cheese plus some lovely leeks and carrots – very nice too many tats though.
Van finished about 13:30 so we head back to Cambridge and decide en route that we should pop over to Ely to see the cathedral, which is what we had planned to do today.
Interesting trip across the Fens but eventually arrive about 15:20 but despite checking that the car parks don’t have height barriers I hadn’t checked to see what arcane laws they have in Ely, which prohibits anyone parking a vehicle over 5.3m in length in a public car park. One phone call to the council officers later and I am advised that there is one space – ONE SPACE in the whole of Ely designated for camper vans. As you would expect I provide some feedback!
Drive round Ely looking for aforementioned car park and the lone campervan space and after about 20 minutes find the right car park but the notice still says anyone fortunate enough to have a vehicle over 5.3m should go to hell and be damned, so I ring the council again and am advised that even though there is no marked bay I am able to park across two bays. Fortunately the car park is fairly empty so no problem finding a two suitable bays. I do however leave a little note for any traffic warden saying that we had phoned the council and spoken with Angela and she said it was alright.
Off up the hill to the cathedral, which I must say is pretty impressive, especially the octagonal tower.
Quick stop in the Almonry café for tea and lemon meringue expensive and a coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cheap. (£4.25 for the lemon meringue pie!!!)
Walk over to the Cathedral and it is now dusk and the drunks are out but we avoid a confrontation on our way round to the front of the cathedral. Notice part of the north wing at the front has disappeared but step inside and as it’s quite late we are pretty much the only ones in there and as it is getting dark it’s quite eerie.
Give a £5 donation and get a guide and wander around, it is a most impressive cathedral very plain Norman architecture for the most part with a long nave and uninterrupted view to the east window.
The central nave is spectacular as the original square tower fell down and was replaced with a fantastic octagonal lantern – hugely impressive. The transepts have impressive wooden ceilings and carved angels in flight. With dusk falling, low light inside and the choir practising nearby it creates a wonderful atmosphere.
Very impressed with Ely cathedral, more so than the local council.
Return to Cambridge and pleased to have a fully working heating system and cooker.
A quiet night, less alcohol off to London tomorrow.
November Holiday
Sunday 8th November
Woke up to find that the heating had gone off and there was hardly any flame on the cooker – a repeat of Exeter!
Tried the second bottle of gas but no joy, Tina looked in the manual and still no clues tho’ she thinks that this is a regular occurrence on Motor Home Facts and is something to do with the regulator.
Anyway cannot think about it without a cup of tea/coffee so go and ask another motorhomer if they can boil our kettle for us, which they kindly do and also suggest that it is the regulator.
Anyway after a shower and a cuppa things are much easier to handle so we agree that we will enjoy our day in Cambridge and sort out the van tomorrow and take it to Brownhills to get it looked at. Fortunately Tina had the foresight to bring the electric heater so at least we will be able to stay warm and if we buy a kettle in town will be able to have a hot drink in the morning.
Caught the bus in to Cambridge, which was very popular but on route had to take a detour as it was Remembrance Sunday and the main street was closed. Arrived outside John Lewis and the main shopping arcade just before 11 and on first impressions really like Cambridge lots of nice shops Gant and Ted Baker.
Decide that we need another hot drink and a cake before taking a look round. Up to the Brasserie in John Lewis and are tempted by the brunch menu.
Tina goes straight for the full English but I ask for a combination of two items: poached eggs and smoked salmon. Is this scrambled eggs and smoked salmon but poached eggs in lieu of the scrambled ones or is it eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and no hollandaise? Well it confused the waiter but we got there in the end and I even had toasted muffins instead of toast.
Then a wander round JL to buy a kettle, look at the Xmas decorations, jewellery, handbags and boots but only end up buying a kettle.
Then wander through the arcade and come across a Pia shop – 7th heaven for Tina and end up buying two necklaces very pretty.
Now we want to find the bus tour of Cambridge but first we need to find the Tourist Info, which wasn’t easy but we made it only to find that it was closed on a Sunday but the lady in the gift shop told us where to get the bus from so back we went to where we had seen the map to get us to the Tourist info office!
Caught the bus from outside Emanuel College and started off upstairs but it got too cold. Cambridge is very picturesque especially the ‘backs’ – lovely place to walk the dog in due course.
Do the round tour without getting off and return to the main shopping area in need of a hot drink and a cake.
Afterwards we have to have the inevitable trip to Lakeland and then it’s time to return as it is getting quite chillsome.
Back to the bus stop on to the campsite.
Cold tea tonight as no cooker.
Disturbed nights sleep due to noisy electric heater, which we eventually switch off.
Woke up to find that the heating had gone off and there was hardly any flame on the cooker – a repeat of Exeter!
Tried the second bottle of gas but no joy, Tina looked in the manual and still no clues tho’ she thinks that this is a regular occurrence on Motor Home Facts and is something to do with the regulator.
Anyway cannot think about it without a cup of tea/coffee so go and ask another motorhomer if they can boil our kettle for us, which they kindly do and also suggest that it is the regulator.
Anyway after a shower and a cuppa things are much easier to handle so we agree that we will enjoy our day in Cambridge and sort out the van tomorrow and take it to Brownhills to get it looked at. Fortunately Tina had the foresight to bring the electric heater so at least we will be able to stay warm and if we buy a kettle in town will be able to have a hot drink in the morning.
Caught the bus in to Cambridge, which was very popular but on route had to take a detour as it was Remembrance Sunday and the main street was closed. Arrived outside John Lewis and the main shopping arcade just before 11 and on first impressions really like Cambridge lots of nice shops Gant and Ted Baker.
Decide that we need another hot drink and a cake before taking a look round. Up to the Brasserie in John Lewis and are tempted by the brunch menu.
Tina goes straight for the full English but I ask for a combination of two items: poached eggs and smoked salmon. Is this scrambled eggs and smoked salmon but poached eggs in lieu of the scrambled ones or is it eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and no hollandaise? Well it confused the waiter but we got there in the end and I even had toasted muffins instead of toast.
Then a wander round JL to buy a kettle, look at the Xmas decorations, jewellery, handbags and boots but only end up buying a kettle.
Then wander through the arcade and come across a Pia shop – 7th heaven for Tina and end up buying two necklaces very pretty.
Now we want to find the bus tour of Cambridge but first we need to find the Tourist Info, which wasn’t easy but we made it only to find that it was closed on a Sunday but the lady in the gift shop told us where to get the bus from so back we went to where we had seen the map to get us to the Tourist info office!
Caught the bus from outside Emanuel College and started off upstairs but it got too cold. Cambridge is very picturesque especially the ‘backs’ – lovely place to walk the dog in due course.
Do the round tour without getting off and return to the main shopping area in need of a hot drink and a cake.
Afterwards we have to have the inevitable trip to Lakeland and then it’s time to return as it is getting quite chillsome.
Back to the bus stop on to the campsite.
Cold tea tonight as no cooker.
Disturbed nights sleep due to noisy electric heater, which we eventually switch off.
November Holiday
Saturday 7th November
Off to see the puppies in Alfreton – long drive A34, across to M1 and up to Jct 28. Odd numbering in the road but eventually found the right house. Met mum (Zeus) and dad (Jack) who was a massive GSP – they were both gorgeous.
Had a look at the puppies, which were little bundles of love. Decided there and then to have one and picked one out that had a little white smudge on his cheek.
Left and headed over to Lincoln to see Connor the 16-month old puppy – and oh no what a dilemma he was really placid and appeared to have a very good temperament even allowing us to take him for a walk.
Despite this being the obvious choice and providing us with an instant dog we had already put a deposit down on one of the puppies and clearly we couldn’t have both so decided to give a ‘cock and bull’ story that we felt we weren’t right for the dog and surprisingly we met a great deal of resistance and great efforts to talk us round, though we couldn’t tell them that only a few hours earlier we had put a deposit on the puppy.
Eventually agreed that we would think about it and would call them later that evening once we had arrived at Cambridge. So we headed off and arrived at Cherry Hinton around 5, just as it was getting dark.
Nice campsite, in an old quarry plus it had a resident owl.
Glass of wine and spag bol together with much discussion on what to do about the dogs. Tina got quite merry even starting a second bottle.
Eventually decided that Connor the instant dog would be best so texted Sally at Riverside Stud to advise.
Off to see the puppies in Alfreton – long drive A34, across to M1 and up to Jct 28. Odd numbering in the road but eventually found the right house. Met mum (Zeus) and dad (Jack) who was a massive GSP – they were both gorgeous.
Had a look at the puppies, which were little bundles of love. Decided there and then to have one and picked one out that had a little white smudge on his cheek.
Left and headed over to Lincoln to see Connor the 16-month old puppy – and oh no what a dilemma he was really placid and appeared to have a very good temperament even allowing us to take him for a walk.
Despite this being the obvious choice and providing us with an instant dog we had already put a deposit down on one of the puppies and clearly we couldn’t have both so decided to give a ‘cock and bull’ story that we felt we weren’t right for the dog and surprisingly we met a great deal of resistance and great efforts to talk us round, though we couldn’t tell them that only a few hours earlier we had put a deposit on the puppy.
Eventually agreed that we would think about it and would call them later that evening once we had arrived at Cambridge. So we headed off and arrived at Cherry Hinton around 5, just as it was getting dark.
Nice campsite, in an old quarry plus it had a resident owl.
Glass of wine and spag bol together with much discussion on what to do about the dogs. Tina got quite merry even starting a second bottle.
Eventually decided that Connor the instant dog would be best so texted Sally at Riverside Stud to advise.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Off Again!
Off up North tomorrow - going to see some GSP's (German Short Haired Pointers) as the Vizsla puppy we were going to have died. Going to see some 2 week olds at Alfreton and a fourteen month old in Boston.
We're then off for the week touring round: Cambridge, London and Canterbury. Yay!
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