Back again, though this time you may be pleased to note that my ramblings will likely be interspersed with more coherent and accurate recollections from Sandra who has now joined me.
Anyway, let’s get up to date.
Sunday, saw me haul – well Hetty did the actual hauling – of Patsy further north, to Chester. A trouble-free journey, I decided to throw caution to the wind – and twelve quid or so – and use the M6 Toll Road. It made for a very pleasant half hour or so and with very little traffic I wound Hetty up to cruising speed, stuck the cruise control on and sat back and relaxed – well to a point. I was so relaxed in fact that I missed my intended turning. Normally, when making the journey from the south I turn off on to the A5 and then proceed to Chester on the A41. After the M23, M25, M40, M42 and M6, A roads make a welcome change.
Anyway, the A51 came to the rescue and shortly before lunch I was pulling up outside Sandra’s house.
Now there is a reason why Patsy wasn’t spending the next couple of days on site. Months ago we’d booked a long overdue service for her and an exterior valet, so while I was trundling along the A51, Sandra was taking her sister’s caravan to a nearby site, in which we’d spend the next couple of nights, for security reasons. Sandra: Probably the shortest tow to stay on site!
Timings worked well and Patsy was soon being motor moved onto the drive by said sister – no easy task but she is a dab hand with the remote. The road slopes and the drive is such that the caravan goes on sideways – nose first. It would be impossible to do without a motor mover and is tricky anyway, however it does mean that it makes the ‘van very difficult to steal. The jockey wheel was set as low as possible and Patsy was inched across the road, angles and clearance constantly checked and direction corrected.
There was one scary moment when the movers became disengaged and Patsy started to roll slowly backwards. Luckily I was at the front and yanked on the handbrake, applied the movers – properly this time – and all was well.
I was treated to a lovely home cooked Sunday roast then Sandra and I retired to the site for the night.
Monday morning we were back at the house to await the arrival of Phil & Juliet – whom many of you will know from the Lost Weekends YouTube channel. Phil has set up a caravan cleaning business and although Chester is really out of his area, a bribe of bacon baps coaxed him across the border.
We were joined by good
friend and caravanner Mike and whilst the ladies sensibly kept out of the rain
indoors, Mike and I were on hand to give Phil words of encouragement and advice
from the safety of the garage, eliciting a number of short two-word replies!
By lunchtime Phil had finished and I must say, Patsy looked fabulous, much cleaner and shinier than she’s been in a long while, particularly the roof.
Another meal at Sandra’s that evening then we went out for a drink, lucking out at the first one, the Bunbury Arms, which was shut. Rake Hall was nearby though and we had a very pleasant evening during which more strenuous ‘research’ was carried out for the Ale Archive. We had had a meal there earlier in the year – another Brunning and Price pub – conveniently next door to Chester Fairoaks Club site. We were on a CL though which is nearer to Sandra’s house. And cheaper...
Tuesday, the day of Patsy’s service. I always fret about the damp readings, more so as she has gotten older – but I needn’t have worried. She was as dry as could be, with not one reading above the threshold that would trigger concern. Mike the engineer also installed my Wi-Fi puck on the roof so I don’t have to faff about with that every time I set up and pack up. It had been an expensive couple of days but worthwhile for peace of mind.
Sandra: Patsy has had a new lease of life and I am so happy to have been able to facilitate this – lower cost, availability of services and helping a friend and fellow caravanner with their business has all been worth the planning which went into making it happen – I am pleased to say that, as Richard has said, timings etc. worked like a dream.
That evening the caravans were swapped over so Patsy was now on site, then we had a lovely meal at a friend’s place up on the Wirral.
Sandra: For those of you young enough to remember the BBC sitcom ‘Butterflies’ and the infamous ‘butterfly maneuvering of cars’ – just substitute caravans and you get the idea!!
Sandra had things to do Wednesday morning so I spent some time pottering in Patsy. Sandra’s place had become a post room the previous week as I’d ordered another rug and some seat covers for the dinette whilst away. Sadly the new covers didn’t match the existing ones – they were supposed to – but no matter.
We had lunch at a nearby farm shop, Meadow Lea Farm in Guilden Sutton, dog friendly and virtually at one end of the Millenium Greenway which runs to Shotton in North Wales along a disused railway line – a delicious sausage and runny egg bap for me, then in the evening drove to Frodsham to meet Colin, another caravanner for a meal. We’ve been Twitter ‘friends’ for years but it was lovely to finally meet up in person.
Sandra: I had picked The Bears Paw in Frodsham as the last time I had visited – admittedly some time ago now it had been a beautiful old wood paneled coaching house turned into a pub with lovely old-fashioned furniture and fittings. I was disappointed to find that it had undergone a makeover and little remained of what I remembered. It was, it had to be said, busy and seemed popular with locals. The meal was average and we eschewed desserts as a result. The one silver lining was that Colin had decided to come via train – the station being almost across the road from the pub, so plus points for that. It was lovely to meet Colin – we had a good chat about police work and a very pleasant evening.
Thursday and it was time to set sail again, down the A49 and across the border into Shropshire. The journey was straightforward enough although there was some concern when, at a roundabout, a car pulled alongside with the occupants gently tooting the horn and pointing upwards. I pulled into the next available layby, worried that I’d left a roof light open or something. All good there, we checked the lights again and circumnavigated Patsy more than once trying to figure out at what they were pointing. There was nothing, so no idea what they were on about unless they were having a laugh. If so, very funny. Excuse me, I’ve just split my sides. Gits.
It was to be mostly CL’s for the rest of the trip and Castle Hill Farm in Leebotwood had some great reviews – and as we arrived it was easy to see why. A quiet little oasis with trees on two sides and a field on the third, that was at the time occupied by sheep, who eyed us warily as we set up.
Sandra: We had several items on the agenda at the beginning of our week here – a trip to Ironbridge Museum, more of that shortly; a meal at another Brunning & Price pub – Woodbridge, ostensibly to use up our growing cache of loyalty vouchers and continue our tour of the UK visiting as many of their venues as possible. We had originally booked to eat here on the Friday evening following our visit to Ironbridge – thankfully Richard said, we had better check we can use the vouchers on a Friday night – we knew that weekends and Bank Holidays were a no. It was relieving to note that he had been right, so booking was changed and two trips to the area were organised.
Woodbridge was a beautiful building high up, overlooking the River Severn. It was their usual high standard and food was excellent. Unfortunately, not the staff’s fault, there was obviously a staff shortage that evening and some people had to wait longer than normal. The drive to the pub was a particularly picturesque one, taking in a fair chunk of the Wenlock Edge – itself an escarpment owned by the National Trust – there are some pretty views and a few parking places.
What a fabulous location after a lovely drive – well, Sandra drove as I had partaken of some er, ‘research’ in the afternoon. Service was a little slower than usual but the food just as good. Chicken, ham and bacon pie for the record. Yum.
Sandra:
Now to Friday, the day of the Ironbridge Visit – this was something I had wanted to do for a very long time , equally Richard had not been either. It is very advisable to book ahead.
The Ironbridge Gorge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – makes its claim to being the birth of the industrial revolution. Nowadays the Gorge is a living museum with the highlights being the Bridge over the gorge itself – installed in 1779 and the Blists Hill Victorian Town plus many other buildings. We knew that we would not manage to see everything in one day and fully appreciate all that is on offer, so we opted to buy a Pass – this gives you unlimited visits over a 12 month period starting on the day you first attend. Companion tickets for people with disabilities are also available.
Today we had decided we wanted to see the Blists Hill Museum and had originally intended to see the Dalby Houses, plus of course the Ironbridge itself. Unfortunately, the houses are very high up and, for me, not that accessible – another time.
The Victorian Town is very well laid out and with the more recent addition of an incline plane passenger lift, much easier to get around. A time travel journey back in time with actors playing various roles which brings it to life very well. It is also possible to buy produce from within the village – bread and cakes, proper fish and chips cooked in lard, an old style pub, sweet shop plus other more industrial style produce – plaster cornicing, crockery, tiling, ironwork etc.
There is a café at the front, accessed by stairs or a lift, a souvenir shop, our usual planning coffee was partaken. In the lower part we visited a Board school in the lower part of the town. The Victorians made sure their children could read, write and do maths but not much more – the reason being that they would stay put in the area as at that time they were much needed for the workforce in the Gorge – the boys that is, girls were expected to go into service in the main. At the far end of the site is a small train which takes you into the mine – a very evocative film is shown too and to realise that their attitude towards a child being killed there was very pragmatic to say the least – some very sobering thoughts afterwards.
Blists Hill reminded me to a degree of the Black Country museum in set up. It was more compact which my blimmin knee was thankful for. I do love these type of places, there’s an element of escapism from current events I guess – though sadly not the weather! Whilst it was largely dry, a shower just as we were finishing our baguettes in the pleasant little garden, meant a scuttle to the nearest outlet – a printers. Whilst sheltering we learnt a lot about the industry in Victorian times – all the re-enactors we encountered were knowledgeable and friendly.
Saturday and the day in which the trip had been mostly built around, for we had booked to see Nile Rodgers & Chic at Ludlow Castle. We missed out last year after seeing them in Scarborough in 2021 as we emerged from Covid. Anyone who follows me on social media will know how much I love this sort of music, and it’s my go to when feeling a bit below par – or above par for that matter. Fortunately, no videos exist of me dancing around the lounge and going arse over tit after getting entangled in the headphone lead…
Anyway, I digress. It was an open air concert – in the outer Bailey – and we had been keeping an eye on the weather forecast over the previous days – which wasn’t very promising.
So, Saturday morning was spent lounging around in anticipation with occasional checks on various weather apps which all predicted the same thing – we were going to get wet!
It was a half an hour drive to Ludlow and we rocked up as the car park opened at 3pm. Sandra had been able to book accessible parking, just off the market square and only a couple of minutes’ walk from the castle entrance.
There was a half hour wait before the ticket office opened for us to collect our wristbands for the accessible area – the only part where chairs are allowed – so, seeking respite from the steady rain we repaired to a pub for a pint. The pub was heaving and I suspect much busier than it would normally be on a Saturday afternoon, with concert goers stoking up on what looked very tasty grub.
Wristbands acquired we proceeded to the castle entrance, just ahead of the 4pm opening. Lots of Hi-Viz attired security with walkie-talkies and earpieces. All they needed was black suits, sunnies, and to start talking to their wrists!
The forecast was proving to be accurate – bursts of heavy rain interspersed with bursts of light rain – but we’d come reasonably prepared – Sandra in a very sensible proper outdoor coat and me in a cheap and cheerful long raincoat that was at least black. No long leather coat was harmed during the evening as I didn’t bring one thinking, mistakenly, that it was summer!
Sandra: Leather trousers and boots were another matter entirely!
Gates opened, tickets scanned and wristbands checked we made our way to the accessible area – a portion of the grassed area off to the right near the back. We had a trio of portaloos to choose from and the various food and drink stalls were just a minutes’ walk away. Claims were staked with our fold up chairs and I must have sat for at least half an hour before venturing to the bar.
There were three support acts, the first starting soon after 5pm. The rain came, came and occasionally and briefly went – the respite was most welcome – although during the heavier downpours my pint of gold plated Theakston’s Pale was filling up almost as quick as I could empty it. Funny though, the taste didn’t change much…
Food was soon on the agenda and there was plenty of choice, we opted for burgers but decided a dessert of chips wasn't worth it as they'd end up too soggy!
At 7.20pm, the final support act came on – Ibibio Sound Machine. A “a clash of African and electronic elements inspired in equal measure by the golden era of West-African funk & disco and modern post-punk & electro” they were very good and an ideal precursor for the main event.
The crowd was swelling now, despite the dire weather, anyone who’d had the foresight to bulk buy a few gross of plastic ponchos would have made a killing. The light – such as it was – was fading, the clock ticked slowly towards 9pm, the air of anticipation was palpable. Folk were clearly determined to enjoy the night, weather be damned.
Then, in that way Americans do so well came the MC: “And now ladies and gentlemen, please get up on your feet and welcome to the stage, Nile Rogers and Chic”. On came Mr R and the band I love so much and launched straight into Le Freak. Fair to say it went down pretty well….
The next 90 minutes passed so quickly and it seemed in no time at all that it was time for the finale – the infectious Good Times, with one of the most sampled bass lines in the world. It had been another stunning show and we were both made up to have been there, but it was time to leave – we were utterly drenched, my coat long ago having given up any pretence of being waterproof. My old leather trews had repelled the rain for so long but were now also soaked and felt like they weighed three times as much. Hetty’s heating was ramped to max and the seats to regulo sizzle for the half hour run back to Patsy.
On our way back I reflected more objectively on the show and inevitably began to draw comparisons with the one at Scarborough nearly two years ago. All the big songs were there – Chic’s own and the ones Nile had produced for many others; Diana Ross, Sister Sledge and Madonna to name but a few. The running order was tweaked just slightly and the James Brown’esqe funky segue they did in Good Times was missing. The drummer Ralph did his usual piece whipping up the crowd before launching into a funked up version of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance. There was the regular tribute to Nile’s late partner in Chic; bassist Bernard Edwards with Sister Sledge’s Thinking of You. All crowd favourites and clearly very much enjoyed.
What was a little disappointing though was that the sound wasn’t as good. Scarborough was an open air theatre and designed for such events whereas this was a new venture for Ludlow Castle and I wondered if the setting had a part to play – the sound coming from the stage reverberating off the back stone walls. I remember remarking to Sandra during one of the support acts that I hope they cranked up the volume a notch or two.
I could have been over critical though – a friend mentioned – thanks David – suggesting that the rain may have had a part to play – and there was a lot of it. It was a very good point and made perfect sense.
All that being said and despite the conditions we both thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking eagerly for when tour dates are published for next year.
Sandra:
Indeed it was a superb concert – oh for some stands with a roof on – bliss. I particularly liked the lighting effects – an improvement on Scarborough I thought. As Richard says the acoustics were not helped by rain and walls – something for the organisers to think on going forward. We will be a little more circumspect in venue choice next time.
And that’s it for Part 3. As always, well done if you’ve made it this far – thanks for reading.
Cheers
Rich