Off to Norfolk

You'll have to check my Broadland blog now to keep up with our travels. Hope to see you over there!

Off to Hertford

A dry start and all surprisingly went to plan this morning. It began to rain as we left the site and by the time we made the M4 it was lashing down. Joy! After a couple of stops at Membury and Reading Services the satnav took us to the Hertford C&C Club site. I was very impressed with it as I had no idea which was the best way to go - brilliant idea of mine to get it!! We have a pitch near the toilet block again ...

The internet is working and I have a phone signal. No television but I guess you can't have everything!

What a Day!

It was all going so well. The motorhome was packed and we were ready to roll. We turned out of our cul de sac and I glanced at my mobile as it was flashing. Jamie was requesting that we take with us the long spirit level and a mitre saw as he’s in the throes of fitting a new kitchen. We pulled up by the harbour head on double yellow lines, grabbed the house keys and began the search in the garage for the things he needed. The spirit level was easy as it was hanging by the door but could we find the saw? No! Back into the house to get the car keys, moved it outside so we could have a better look and then we found it. Needless to say I was not happy! Why oh why couldn’t our dear son have remembered to ask us last night?? Back to the RV which thankfully was free of a parking ticket and we set off once again. Hamish took himself into his cage as soon as the key turned in the ignition …

After a lunch break at Sourton Services we arrived at Devizes campsite and were given our pitch. Hooked up and tea made we saw the lady warden approaching. She had apparently let us use a pitch allocated to someone else who had gone out and not left a marker. No problem we said, we’ll move pitch. We were now nearer the toilet block so less far to walk and the neighbours were friendly. While Mike had forty winks I took Hamish for a walk along the tow-path where we saw this lovely blue boat with ducks decorating it …

Further on there was this very unfriendly goose who kept hissing at Hamish …

We walked as far as the bridge but Hamish decided to take a look in the field and then popped out again under the gate …

We soon arrived back at the site and I got the laptop out – no internet connection! Then we had a power failure and after Mike went to find the warden we found out it was our fuses that had tripped for some reason – never happened before! The television signal wasn’t very good but at least we managed to get the England game so Mike was happy. I went out to photograph the sunset …

looked across to where we’d been before and the pitch was still empty!! The final straw was when I went to clean my teeth before bedtime, the tap fell off and I got sprayed with cold water!! Not the best of starts to a holiday but hopefully it can only get better.

ShelterBox and Disasters

I've just made a donation to ShelterBox again following the terrible disaster in Japan. Last year I made a similar donation and after receiving a letter from them with my box number on it, I tracked it and saw where it had been sent. At the time of my donation it was the Haiti disaster but my box finally had enough donations for it to be filled and then it was sent to Pakistan. I don't have loads of spare money and in this time of recession everyone is feeling the pinch but even the smallest of amounts will make a difference to somebody who is living in dire conditions. If you can spare a few pennies then please think about donating to ShelterBox where you know that your money will well used and not wasted.

A Host of Golden ...

Daffodils!

I went to the surgery with Mike this morning and while he was inside collecting his prescription I took these photos of daffodils in the field behind it ...

I just love daffodils!

Helston Boating Lake

We headed for Helston today for an appointment at the opticians. I know it's a long way from Portreath but I always went there when it was Batemans and so we've stayed loyal now they are under the banner of Vision Express. My father was an optician and he was manager of the G C Batemen branch at Hove, Sussex. I think it is very sad that they were taken over and I know that my dad would be very upset to see what has happened to the old company. After the sight test where I learned that I have the beginnings of cataracts - the joys of growing old! - we went round the boating lake on our way to the car. The trees were looking great and there was plenty of blossom ...

and although there were no boats on the water the wildlife were there ...

I just wish we'd known about the roadworks by the lake in advance and then we wouldn't have been late for our appointment! Hopefully when we return to pick up my new specs the work will be finished.

Smart and Helpful!

Hamish went to see his Auntie Helen today and is now looking very smart ...

He became very clingy in the afternoon and while I was comfy on the sofa with the laptop he decided to snuggle up close and help me with my family history research on Ancestry ...

The only problem was that the laptop kept doing things I hadn't asked for and it was all down to Hamish pressing keys!

Lanhydrock House, Gardens and Church

When Jo and Paul popped down to see Mike yesterday Jo made the suggestion that we all go to Lanhydrock as a birthday day out and with the weather forecast sounding very good, the idea was given a big thumbs up. With a picnic lunch packed we drove up to them and then all piled into their new car for the drive to Bodmin. We've been to Lanhydrock several times for their 'Rock Meets Blues' nights but had never been inside the house. We got there about 12.30pm so decided on lunch before the visit and then began the walk down to the house.

It's in a fabulous setting and although from outside it looks quite small, it is actually a maze of rooms and corridors once the tour starts.

We arrived at the Gatehouse where a buggy was parked in case we needed a ride back up to the carpark afterwards ...

The Gatehouse was open so we climbed a winding stone staircase to a room with loads of information about all the bats that live at Lanhydrock - apparently it is a hotspot for the mammals. Then we walked up to the house and typically for us we began at the end - the shop! We then went through the main door of the house to be greeted by a gentleman who explained the layout. Then it was off on our wanderings around this immaculate building.

We couldn't get over how clean and shining everything was - not a finger mark in sight! In the dining room we got chatting with one of the helpers who explained how the family tree worked and that although the last family had produced 10 children, there were no male heirs to carry on the name. It seemed very sad. She also told us about the fire of 1881 and how the wing was rebuilt. I took loads of photos of course but here are just a selection to give you a flavour of the place ...

After descending the staircase we exited through a door and found ourselves back in the shop where a few purchases were made. On the way in we'd spotted a notice advertising pancakes in the restaurant and so after looking at the yard buildings ...

we found the old servants' hall which is now the restaurant. Suitably refreshed after our coffee and pancakes we made our way up to the church ...

and then it was a stroll back to the Gatehouse passing the lovely gardens ...

and a walk up the hill to the carpark. To finish the day off Jo and Paul came down to Portreath for a meal at the Arms. It had been a lovely day out and definitely a place to visit again.

Happy Birthday Mike!

It's Mike's birthday and as usual when asked what he wanted I got the same answer of 'I don't know'!! Then out of the blue he suddenly said that he fancied a Kindle. We'd seen adverts for it on tv and after I researched it online we finally chose to get it from Amazon. With the problems that Mike has with his eyes he has been unable to read a normal book for quite a while now and he has really missed it. The Kindle gives him the choice of enlarging the script and if his eyes are tired he can plug in his earphones and the book becomes an audio book. I made the order in plenty of time and Amazon immediately emailed to welcome him to the world of Kindle. He could have ordered a book which would have been on the machine when it arrived but he wanted to do that on his birthday when he had it in his hot little hand! He did choose a lovely leather cover for it though which we ordered in advance and Pam gave him a contribution to it for his birthday present. I must admit I wasn't convinced that the Kindle was a good idea but having seen it I'm very impressed.

The cover has a built in light ...

When Jo and Paul asked for an idea of a present the obvious reply was books for the Kindle and so many thanks to them for supplying the Alexander Kent and Julian Stockwin books which have been downloaded.