This time Sandra is opening the batting as it were, having made a start on this blog post way before me. It’s a pleasure watching someone type so fast and well – I can do both, but not at the same time. To get the letters in vaguely the right order I have to type with all the speed of an arthritic tortoise, if I type fast there’s no telling where the letters will end up and even if words are recognisable. To paraphrase dear old Eric Morecambe: I can type all the right letters, but not necessarily in the right order! Anyway, here we go:
Sandra recalls:
In truth, this week’s holiday’s origin started a couple of years ago whilst we were staying at Wirral CAMCS site. Richard had noticed the start of a few, at the time, minor cracks in the front of Patsy, particularly around the grab handles and above the middle window. We purchased some tubes of various glues and such like, heavy duty tapes and set about trying to stem the inevitable development of the problem.
We fast forward to Easter 2023 and after, as in Richard’s previous blog stated, we arrived at Somers Woods Site it was very clear that the time had arrived when something more radical and a permanent solution was required. We had, from time to time, discussed what/where/how/cost etc would be needed. I left Richard to return to Chester with a plan to find out what, if anything, was available near to me – mainly for 3 reasons:-
A. Availability of a firm who could undertake such work. (There being nothing local to Richard’s home town).
B. The normal cost differential between South and North England.
C. My ability to project manage and co-ordinate the operation
I spoke with my sister’s caravan service engineer – someone whom I rate very highly indeed – in fact he will be servicing Patsy in a few weeks time and on his recommendation, I made initial contact with the A&E Leisure Firm, some 20 minutes drive from my house.
We then had to plan the logistics of getting Patsy up to the engineers in a timely manner and ensuring that she would be ready to go again for the Whitsun Holiday Week.
A flurry of emails, photos which I had taken a while back of the issues and agreement was reached to go ahead. We opted to bring Patsy up north on the day of the Coronation, hoping (as proved to be the case), that the roads would be relatively quiet. We had not, however, factored in the M42 being shut for a bridge demolition that weekend!! It was clear that Richard could not do the tow on his own and ensuring that we arrived before they closed at 2pm that day. So on the Friday, I caught the train and headed south to Brighton – thankfully Richard was able to meet me off the train and a quiet chippy meal and early night saw us getting up, very early for me, not so much for Richard! We made our way to the storage yard and we were on the road by 06.39.
It was very nice of old Charlie to arrange the Coronation for that day, ensuring that the roads would be largely quiet. I was not looking forward to the trip, not least because we were on the clock but also very unsettled about the whole thing. I had committed a lot of money to getting her ladyship put right but if it was found that the wood frame under the front panel was rotten, costs would rocket further. I’d had a few sleepless nights wondering if I’d done the right thing.
Sandra:
Roads were quiet and Richard took first stint which went well and was dry. We swapped over at Beaconsfield Services at the bottom of the M40 and it was my turn to tow the middle section of the journey. Well it started out nice and dry but as we neared the turn off for the Coventry By-Pass and our pre-planned avoiding the M42 closure route, the heavens opened – maybe the floodgates would have been a better description. I soldiered on until on the outskirts of Coventry, the call of nature became one not to be ignored and saw me pulling into a layby and the fast sprint by both of us to Patsy and the bathroom! Visibility was now somewhat challenging and the road was, understandably, very busy. I managed to join the traffic again and eventually we ended up at the junction of the M42 which was the right side of the closure and we quickly rejoined the motorway network and pressed on north via the M6 Toll.
Our next driver swap was just off the M6 on the A5 – this was completed in the dry this time! We pressed on and duly arrived at the engineers at 12.29. Result – we were both tired but relieved that we had achieved this.
I was to spend the night in Sandra’s sister’s van in Chester, Sandra offered to drive, me having done the last stint but I decided I needed something to keep my mind off things, it must have been dusty as I had something in my eye as I handed over the keys and seeing her in the rear view mirror as we pulled away was painful. Soppy I know and non-caravanners may struggle to understand but she has come to mean so much.
A restorative beer and some lunch followed by a nap, then we had a nice meal out at the Red Fox, another Brunning & Price pub, where I got to try a couple more ales and topped off the meal with a gut busting heart attack inducing cheese board. It was delicious!
Sandra cooked a delicious early Sunday lunch and by early afternoon I was back on the road heading south, the Coronation meaning that I’d get a much needed extra lie-in the following morning.
As many of you know the news from A & E Leisure was good; the wood was not rotten and after a period of drying out under cover the new panel would go on as planned. My retirement fund wouldn’t be dented any further.
On the first Saturday of the holidays it was another silly o’clock start to head north to collect Patsy and start our week away. By 5:50am I was on the road fuelled by a weapons grade black coffee, the car loaded to the gills with stuff I’d taken out of Patsy before her surgery, along with, thanks to the promise of a nice week, the canopy, chairs and tables. No long leather coats though. Okay, maybe one, just in case....
Traffic was kind and I made it to
Oxford services before my bladder called for a break in proceedings, where I
eschewed a promised fry-up for an uninspiring breakfast carnie and coffee which probably would have cost the same.
Tightness steered me towards the regular M6 rather than a toll and for half an hour I regretted my decision before seemingly everyone turned off onto the M54. As per usual when heading this way I turned off on to the A5 then up the A41, pausing at Grindley Brook to brim Hetty with (relatively) cut price diesel. For a while the garage of D.A Roberts has been a stopping off point and recently made a national newspaper thanks to his undercutting of seemingly every other garage. One wonders that if they can do it, why can’t the supermarkets with their vastly increased buying power?
I arrived at Sandra’s in good time and after another coffee we loaded her stuff into the car and headed off on the 20 minute run to get Patsy.
She was looking good, basking in the sun with her shiny new front panel, the old one leaning forlornly by one of their workshops – judging by the number of ‘vans there they were being kept busy with bodywork repairs – most a lot younger than Patsy.
Taking a deep breath I handed over the plastic, collected the paperwork, hitched up her ladyship then we were off. She was back and I couldn’t have been more pleased.
The journey took us west down the A534 where we were to join the A41 for a few miles before turning off at Malpas for the site. Except we weren’t to. The road had been closed for what turned out to be a fatal accident. We pulled across the roundabout into a layby to consult Google Maps. Sandra knows the area and knew how narrow some of the roads could be – many little more than farm tracks, however there was one that ran roughly parallel to the A41 that whilst a bit of a squeeze in places eventually brought us to the site entrance. I was more than a little relieved and couldn’t wait to get set up. It was a cracking day and it looked a lovely little site too – just 18 pitches.
In an attempt to over all eventualities I’d left the wheel clamp, hitch lock and leg locks with Sandra just in case the work on Patsy was completed early and they wanted her off site. I’d also left the motor mover remote and wrench. With space in Hetty at a premium I’d decided to leave all this at Sandra’s not thinking that I could well need the motor mover.
Well a couple of goes at reversing got her thereabouts then we man and woman handled her into position, only to find her leaning to one side. No matter, swiftly hitched up again, ramp deployed and all was good. Happy to report there was no eau de clutch in the air either.
Sandra:
As you all know by now, we picked up Patsy on the Saturday of the Whitsun Bank Holiday Weekend and made for our site for the next week – The Happy Pheasant by Malpas in South Cheshire. We had a pre-booked concert, a Treasure Trail and the third attempt to visit Dunham Massey Hall itself arranged plus a fair bit of downtime too.
We were
joined by Mike and Jan for the bank holiday weekend – not least as it was
Mike’s birthday on the Tuesday.
Saturday
evening arrived and having set up Patsy and the sun canopy – which certainly
earned its keep the whole week, we congregated for a drink or two (or
possibly more – Rich) and a good catch up.
We have met up fairly regularly since the end of COVID and we enjoy each
other’s company very much.
Prior to
arrival on the site, Richard and I had discussed what we might do to mark
Mike’s birthday and decided that a BBQ would be a lovely idea – no-one had to
drive, and it is a very sociable thing to do.
So Sunday afternoon saw us all congregating at Patsy again and a BBQ was
soon underway. We had all the usual
suspects, beefburgers, veg kebabs (absolutely delicious) and a green salad. Jan had purchased a lemon drizzle cake and
managed to find 1 birthday candle to light on it! Various comments were laughingly made as to
how inaccurate the number of candles were and the immense fire risk which would
have been present had the total amount been squashed on – Jan and I were firmly
of the view that it would not have been possible to put all the X number of
candles on due to shortage of space!!
Another great evening and we retired to our respective caravans for a
good night’s sleep.
My caravanning year can roughly be divided into two – trips where I’m keen to get out and sightsee as much as possible – usually doing the colder months – and those which some might consider a more traditional caravanning holiday. Plenty of lazing about, chatting with friends, eating outside and generally relaxing. Yes to some sightseeing too but altogether much more relaxed. I thoroughly enjoyed our two evenings sat together under the canopy eating, drinking and chinwagging. I was really starting to unwind and it felt great.
Sandra:
Monday morning and a very leisurely get moving was in store. Being the Bank Holiday and the weather being amazingly good, I was not minded to move far and spend most of the day on the road stuck in traffic. Richard and I opted to visit Alderford Lake about 20 minutes from the site and possible to reach using the back roads if necessary. It is a place I have driven past on very many occasions but never visited – I am usually about ½ hour into my journey somewhere or ½ hour from my house, so it gets passed by. I was to be pleasantly surprised by what was on offer – just a quick heads up – it is not cheap, parking fees, entrance fees and the inevitable uplift of refreshment charges do not make for the cheapest of days out. However, as a one-off, proximity and the fact that it is level site with a pathway around the lake made it worth the cost. It certainly was very popular, and all sorts of water sports were available should you wish to take part.
I didn’t wish
to take part although it was fun watching folk negotiate the It’s a Knock Out style
course which inevitably resulted in a dip in the drink. I was in no way
distracted by the gaggle of fit young men in skintight black neoprene,
obviously…
The walk around
the lake was very pleasant and plenty of groups had clearly set up for the day,
many hauling a plethora of gear from the
car park on trollies. I’m sure I spotted at least one kitchen sink!
Before heading
back we called in at the little market town of Whitchurch. Historically
Whitchurch was a centre of Cheshire Cheese production with regular markets for
farmers to flog their wares. Belton Cheese is still present and the cheese I
have sampled from them is superb.
Whitchurch also became famous for tower clock making, maker J.B. Joyce being established there in 1690 and considered one of the earliest tower clock making companies in the world.
It being a bank
holiday, many shops were shut, so we sauntered up the high street to have a
nose at the church before heading back to the site, me unusually eschewing the
opportunity of a pint in one of the enticing looking boozers. The knowledge
that there were a number of ‘research samples’ back at Patsy helped.
Sandra:
Monday afternoon
we returned to the site and time to say goodbye to Mike and Jan – see you next
time! Given the enduring heat – we ended
up eating in the sun canopy each night which was delightful and relaxing too –
something which was very important. We
were to enjoy eating some of Richard’s delicious cooking each night – he is now
very proficient at many recipes.
Tuesday morning duly arrived, and we had a list of to do jobs. First off was to measure up the front of Patsy inside to ensure we could buy a new piece of beading – what we had thought would be a difficult manoeuvrer was easily accomplished by opening the front windows and it came out through them very simply. We had also had on the list, for some time, the need to replace the hanging rail in the wardrobe – I will leave Richard to explain but suffice it to say, what is up there now is not going anywhere fast!
So measurements in hand, a drill box and we set off to Chester. First stop was my house, Richard had very kindly agreed to drill and fix my TV bracket and put my new TV on the wall. Whilst Richard made coffee I also took the girls round the block. A team effort of drilling, hoover suction of dust and it was soon completed. Thank you!
A few years ago I’d treated myself to a new power drill. It was hardly an extravagance given that the existing one was nearly 30 years old. I’d got fed up of busting a gut – and drill bits – when trying to drill into lintels to put up curtain rails and the like.
The Bosch SDS
was a game changer and ploughs through masonry like a hot knife through butter.
It made short work of the holes needed for the sizeable bolts to secure the TV
bracket.
Sandra:
Next stop was B&Q – probably Richards’s second least favourite after a Garden Centre, (he should never have told me that). Armed with our measurements and me finding assistant after assistant to help, we left with all the items on the shopping list and made back to the site. The moulding at the front took moments to saw to the correct length – and yes we measured twice and cut once! At the time of writing we have yet to finish off the moulding, but it will soon be done at the next visit. I had also borrowed a reciprocating saw which made light work of the hanging wardrobe rail – and three brackets, (x 2 hanging and x 1 end) saw that easily finished.
Indeed I shouldn't. I'm still having regular therapy thanks to traipsing around garden centres behind Trev's Mum - A.K.A. HRH for hours on end.
Sorting the wardrobe rail has been on the agenda for some time – about two years give or take! Ever since one of the brackets that supports the rail from the ceiling broke, I’ve effected temporary bodges – sorry, repairs - with a succession of cable ties, with limited and temporary success. It was good to get it finally sorted. I’m feeling much more positive about her Ladyship again, after her repair to the front.
In the afternoon we returned to Chester for a river trip on the Dee. I'd not done this since 2012, with Trev in our first year of caravnning. It was distinctly warmer this time and it was very busy down at The Groves where you catch the boats. An icecream was on the agenda and judging by the queue it was on everyone else's too! We headed to the boat and had a fabulous hour on the water admiring the waterside homes - and wondering about flood insurance!
Sandra:
Another lovely home-made dinner and it was time to go and visit a local pub (no complaints from me – Rich) I opted to go to the Willeymoor Lock Tavern – about 15 minutes’ drive away. It is on the canal and the Sandstone Trail passes through too. A lovely olde worlde place and I am informed that the beer was good too.
Indeed it was. Another fabulous evening weather-wise too and the sun setting a bit later was clearly noticeable to me, living some 250 miles south. The temperature soon dropped considerably though, as the sun set.
Sandra:
Wednesday, another leisurely get up and breakfast, today was the turn of Dunham Massey (NT) near Altrincham. It had the dubious title of two visits prior and not once managed to get a look inside the Hall. COVID lifting was still in its very early days when we visited the first time, last time was at Xmas just gone for the light spectacular, so still closed. We were determined to tick it off the list this time round. We were not to be disappointed, and a very enjoyable hour was spent, first visiting the servants’ quarters, laundry, kitchen, cold store, butler’s pantry – anyone who has watched Downton Abbey or similar will readily recognise many of those rooms.
I very much like how the NT are starting to place chairs at strategic points round their premises so that you can rest a while. Our visit was started though with our usual planning coffee and as the weather was so good, there were many people there. We then moved onto the house itself – a very splendid Georgian style building with drawing rooms done out in extravagant detail, dining room, a State Bedroom, and a library with a very special carving over the fireplace that had been done out of a single piece of wood. The detail and craftsmanship which had gone into this was a sight to behold.
The wood carving was of the crucifixion by a fella called Grinling Gibbons who also did work for Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral and Hampton Court. It was stunning and given the tools available at the time shows an incredible amount of skill – and patience.
I always like libraries in these country houses and can imagine sitting there of an evening with a roaring fire, a suitable libation and a good book. And nodding off probably!
The shop also handily stocked some beers from the brewery in the village. More for the Ale Archive.
Sandra:
We then made our way back to site for a relax, perhaps a sleep too. Another of Richard’s tasty meals was consumed and this evening we decided that we would visit two pubs – again about 20 minutes’ drive from the site. First up was the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury – again like Willeymoor Lock Tavern, this is right on the canal and used to be used for transporting goods from the wharf nearby. Nowadays it is a leisure area, and you can hire boats from here. It has a cute little lift up bridge – as a child it was hand operated – nowadays it is electrically operated. As my great grandparents are buried in the village, we often visited to tend to the graves. My father would delight in winding his daughters up about how good a car might float in the canal, if the bridge was not down!
The second pub is the, probably better known, Cholmondeley Arms, pronounced Chumley! It used to be village school and my grandmother, and a fair number of cousins attended it from the early 20th Century right up to its closure at the end of the 20th Century. It has an excellent reputation for food and drink, often appearing in the Cheshire Live magazine. It is not your traditional pub, like the others we have visited but it has memories for me.
It has to be said, there are some cracking country pubs around here and I’m grateful to Sandra for being able to visit and partake of an ale or two – sorry, conduct some research.
Sandra:
We returned to the site for a relax, enjoying the almost silent ambience of the site. We were certainly sleeping well for the whole week.
Thursday dawned clear, bright and promise of high temperatures later in the day. We had not planned anything in detail for today. Richard asked about the possibility of visiting Shrewsbury and so travel sites were perused and we came up with a plan to drive to Whitchurch – 15 minutes or so and catch a train into Shrewsbury from there. There used to be a double track railway between Whitchurch and Chester – I can just remember the trains and level crossings – of which there were a fair few. Sadly a victim of Beeching cuts. So to get to Whitchurch from Chester requires a detour via Crewe or Shrewsbury – on this occasion this was to work in our favour and a nice relaxing journey was much appreciated.
We only had one item booked – a boat trip on the River Severn with Sabina Boats – a lovely way to sightsee in comfort and not walk. It was a very slick and well-run operation and refreshments were served speedily and did not get in the way of the tour.
We ambled down from the train station, pausing at for some er, refreshment on the way before devouring our lunch as we waited for the boat.
Having pre-booked we were allocated a table on the upper deck, open but under shade thankfully. There was table service and I continued the research with a lovely local golden ale whilst enjoying what was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip indeed. Starting at the Welsh Bridge we sailed anticlockwise along the Severn before turning at the English Bridge and returning.
Sandra:
Prior to this we ambled slowly around parts of Shrewsbury – there are still a good number of independent shops in business – Chester used to be like that, sadly it is no longer – full of cafes, eateries of all types and pretty much nothing else save a few national shops.
Charles Darwin went to school here and a bronze statue sits in a square outside what is now the council offices and a library, opposite the castle.
Sandra:
Friday morning and we started the pack up as obviously Richard needed to be away promptly in the morning. We also needed to go into Chester to pick Hetty up – she had been with a neighbour of mine all week, he is an engineer, in an attempt to see if he could get the heater flaps working again on the passenger side. Sadly it was not to be the case and the feedback was that to fix it would require the complete removal of the dashboard – was off putting to say the least. It is a massively fiddly job to undertake and that means only one thing ££££££ and lots of it. His recommendation was to live with it for the foreseeable future – Richard accepted this as Patsy was not a cheap fix. The pickup completed, we enjoyed a nice lunch in the sunshine, reflecting on what a fabulous week it had been, what we had achieved and equally what was to come later that afternoon.
We had hoped to finally get the Chester Treasure Trail done – it’s been in my caravan folder for some time. However time was against us, it would have been too much of a rush with packing up and the evening’s events too. No matter, it would keep.
Sandra:
Originally, some months ago – before Somers Wood and the need to get Patsy repaired, we had decided upon going to see an Eagles Tribute band in candlelight in Chester Cathedral – this is a relatively new venture for the Cathedral but given the sell out and obvious numbers present, it is a profitable one for them. The cathedral is sandstone in the main and upkeep is very expensive. Prior to the Reformation it was known as St Werburgh’s Abbey and lived in by monks – you can still see the Cloisters today and the Refectory where they would have eaten their meals. It was a fabulous concert and whilst the genre might not be to everyone’s taste – it was a very professional production of a high quality. Sometimes tribute bands can be a very hit and miss affair – this certainly was not that.
No, not my favourite genre but they were superb, it’s great to see musicians at the top of their game whatever style they were playing. The finale had to be Hotel California of course and it was superb.
Sandra:
Before attending the concert, I wanted to take Richard to the oldest pub in Chester – The Pied Bull coincidently only a few doors down the road from where we were to have our last day of holiday meal at Chez Jules. Equally only a few short steps to the Cathedral. For me the whole ‘package’ was excellent, food, drink and entertainment and a fitting end to a superb week.
Brewed on site and with, at the time of visiting, three to choose from, I chose the Black I.P.A. – quelle surprise. It was superb and will appear on the Ale Archive at some as yet unspecified point in the future.
Th food at the restaurant was superb too. French(ish) was the theme and very tasty. A nap would not have gone amiss after!
Sandra:
A short drive back to site and an unwind before eyes began to close and another silent night’s sleep.
Saturday and we were up bright and early, keen to get everything sorted so that Richard could leave as soon as the height barrier could be opened at 8.30am. Everything went smoothly – the lights behaving themselves still – front cover on, (no marks on Patsy’s new front)! It was time to say goodbye, a blow of the horn at the Malpas roundabout, me turning north and Richard turning South. Still we knew that we would be meeting up again in less than a week – Cambridge this time to see another play. Watch this space!
We were on the road by 8:45am, 244 miles to do for me. Sandra had prepped a couple of baps and I paused the journey to placate my bladder just before I joined the motorway – this time opting for the M6 Toll – and again once leaving the M23. It was start/stop at times (the traffic not the bladder!) but went reasonably well given that it was the end of the half-term holidays and a lot of people would be heading home.
What a great week away this was. Patsy was back 'on form' and nothing fell apart or went tits up during our stay. It's fair to say that my faith in old lard arse was restored. Bless her.