After all the fun of the fair in my last blog post, the next two days in Cambridge, staying at the Caravan & Motorhome Club site in Cherry Hinton were quiet, helped partially by the rain.
In truth I didn’t mind, for once there wasn’t the need to make the most of every hour, rushing around sightseeing. I was more than happy to just chill in the ‘van with a book, coffee and the phone for entertainment, punctuated by a nap. Or two.
Tuesday evening I met up with a good friend, and we went for a curry at a restaurant in the High St. Cambridge is usually one of my ports of call at Christmas but with heading off to New Zealand towards the end of last year I’d not seen Pauline for at least eighteen months. Post nosh we stayed and chatted, having a great chinwag and catch up.
More of the same Wednesday evening, though this time the gap was even longer. Carole and I had remained good friends since working at CBS Office Supplies in the late nineties and early noughties, however life and then covid got in the way and it must have been four years since we’d hooked up.
I’d planned to drive over to their place, towards the north of the county, but soon accepted their offer to meet me in the pub just a few minutes’ walk from the site – the Robin Hood. It was a fab night, we talked, bitched and reminisced about the old days. Carole was able to go to the funeral of our old boss Nick, back in May, who’d died quite young after early onset dementia. I would like to have gone to pay my respects – he was always good to me, allowing time off for trips to Oz that Trev and I loved so much - but traffic on the day made it impossible.
I’m no night owl and it was the first time in years I’d heard the bell for last orders go in a pub. A sign that time had flown by – and that I’d overdone the Abbot – as it were. A fabulous evening was had though. Carole and Steve headed north and I headed, a tad wobbly, back to the site.
It had been a short stay in my home town of Cambridge – a three night stop is unusual for me, I generally like to get the legs down for longer, ahem – but I’d achieved everything I wanted to – the fair and meeting up with dear friends. Something I don’t do often enough.
Thursday 4th July
Next stop was Somers Wood caravan site near Meriden in Warwickshire, another old favourite of mine and an easy trundle up the A14 and M6. With just 100 miles to do and arrivals permitted from 1pm I didn’t have to rush off, which was just as well as I was feeling somewhat er, lethargic and glad I didn’t have to leave first thing. Pack up was necessarily slow and steady!
There was little of note to report on the journey – a broken down lorry slowed things down for a while on the A14, shortly before coming to the M6. I demonstrated my supposedly professional driving skills by shifting up from 2nd to 5th instead of 3rd. I watched, muttering dark thoughts as the rev counter needle returned to zero, the dash helpfully reminding me the key was still in the ignition. Normal service was quickly resumed though.
It was nice, once having set up and had a nap, to be able to unfold a chair from the car and sit outside for a bit.
Of course it was the day of the General Election too and for the first time in a while I could stay up and watch at least some of the results come in – normally work gets in the way. Had the polls predicted a closer result I might have made the effort but as it was I got as far as the Exit Poll then called it a night.
Friday 5th July.
A decent morning, weather wise, so I made the most of it by doing very little although, most unusually, watching a bit of the news on the telly. Around lunchtime though I was getting fidgety and decided to take a walk into the village, convincing myself it was purely for the exercise but taking a carrier bag ‘just in case’. Yeah right.
The site details a walk across the fields but the route along the road is shorter, which sounded better, Very overgrown along the footpath which in places were barely visible and the quarry lorries hurtling past – despite signs telling them not to use the road – were initially a little unnerving.
I arrived unscathed though and the pretty little village green has a plaque proclaiming Meriden to be the centre of England.
After a sit then a peruse around the Co-op it will come as no surprise that my return journey was accompanied by the occasional clanking of glass bottles. Well, Patsy was well and truly dry and we can’t have that can we!
An enjoyable evening was had in front of telly watching Minder, with a bottle of New Zealand Merlot for company - a surprise - and pricey find in the village shop.
Saturday 6th July
The day of England’s Quarter-Final match against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 and, having ignored their previous two matches I decided a bit of sadomasochism was in order. The result is irrelevant now of course but it had all the usual ingredients – frustration, tension, extra time and of course penalties. I was – like many I suspect – expecting the worst but unbelievably this time they came through
Sunday 7th July
Legs up again as I headed north, to Chester and, more specifically to Sandra’s drive for Patsy’s annual service and hopefully a wash. The knackered motor mover struggled and wouldn’t have made it up the slope without two of us pushing. It’s nearly as old as the ‘van and hasn’t been good for a while but, given the expense I’ve kept putting it off. The motors had new brushes nearly six years ago but to be honest I think it’s just generally worn out.
A lovely roast pork dinner followed late afternoon – very tasty.
Monday 8th July
The service went well – nothing of note and, all importantly, all the damp readings were excellent. I should bloody think so given what she’s cost me over the last few years! I’m still relying on the Halfords battery charger to keep the battery topped up and, quite apart from the cost it’s such a faff to get out the onboard charger. I’ll get around to it, one day…
Whilst Mike was giving Patsy a good ahem, service we’d dropped my car off to have the brakes looked at. The MOT test in February had produced a list of advisories on the brake pads and discs. I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst which was duly delivered – new discs and pads all around and several hundred quid lighter. Ouch.
In the afternoon Patsy got a going over with the snowfoam – and so did I once Sandra got hold of the lance! I’d procured a long reach brush in the morning and was able to give the roof a fairly decent going over too, the first since Phil did it this time last year.
Sandra:
The snowfoam incident was a pure accident. It was windy and the foam, unbeknownst to me, flew in Richard’s direction. The usual black attire looked very snowy and festive indeed, especially given the hot and sunny day! No doubt I will have to pay the price at some point!
Accident? Hmm!
Tuesday 9th July
A rather damp day sadly but one that commenced with a very enjoyable cooked breakfast at the Chocks Away café at Hawarden Airport. Visibility was poor but we could see the giant ‘Beluga’ in the distance – although sadly the only action on the runway was support vehicles trundling back and forth.
The Beluga transports components for Airbus aircraft and its size allows it to accommodate wings, local school children gave it the name and the company added the features to the aircraft.
That evening we met with friends and fellow caravanners Mike & Jan for a meal in Altrincham. A good time was had by all, great food, ale and a damn good chinwag.
Wednesday 10th July
A visit to Costco – I know how to party – to stock up with some supplies, wary that there was limited space in the car with all the caravanning paraphernalia. Then, with Hetty running on fresh air by now, we joined the queue for cheap fuel at the filling station.
It was worth it – at least 11p a litre cheaper than anywhere nearby.
Then it was time for Patsy to vacate the space normally occupied by Sandra’s sister’s ‘van. The motor mover struggled again but thankfully most of the intricate manoeuvre was downhill. Swiftly hitched up, Patsy was whisked over to a nearby CL, just 3.2 miles away and thanks to lots of stop start and traffic, Hetty returned an unimpressive but unsurprising 16.7 mpg!
That evening I cooked up a simple corned beef hash which was well received, before settling down for the footy. Expectations were low and the performance was far from memorable but once again England came through, this time without the need for penalties.
Thursday 11th July
Today was the day that, in many ways the trip had been built around. First up was a run into Wales, to the Llangollen heritage railway. Going bust after covid allegedly thanks to some financial shenanigans the railway was reborn thanks to a group of volunteers. With parking limited at the Llangollen terminus we elected to pick the train up at the other end in Corwen. We nearly missed it thanks to an uncooperative parking meter. No cash option, the card slot was blocked off and the contactless pad stubbornly refused to read any cards, Sandra was having no luck using the app or phone line either. With minutes to go I located another machine which eventually and grudgingly issued a ticket. We made it to the train and they kindly held it whilst we both attended to our respective plumbing.
Today was the turn of the railcars to convey us to Llangollen and back. Fabulous views through the Welsh countryside, despite the rain.
Then it was time for lunch, at The Corn Mill, a Brunning & Price pub/restaurant overlooking the River Dee and, seated upstairs we had a great view from our table.
The place was buzzing with talk of the upcoming show at the Pavilion, part of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and was the reason why we were having our main meal at lunchtime – they were booked out later on. The food was good, as it always is at a B & P joint and I got to try another new ale, pushing the Ale Archive a little closer to the magical 1000 entry mark.
Another mooch around town, noting how busy it was getting, the Eisteddfod certainly seemed to be bringing in the punters. I can’t imagine it would normally be this busy on a wet Thursday afternoon, good to see.
Sandra:
The International Eisteddfod is both loved and hated in equal measure. Each year, for a few weeks the town quadrupled In size and the normal day-to-day life of the residents is not possible. However on the reverse side without the not inconsiderable amount of money that this event brings into the town, Llangollen would be much smaller than it is today.
We headed back to the station for our return trip to Corwen and took our seats near the front, making sure we were the right side to get a different view on the way back – another rake of rail cars, hailing from the late 50’s that had been well restored. I googled the number of the car we were in – E50416 – to find out a bit of it’s history Built in 1957 it spent many years working out of Cambridge – my old home town, ultimately being withdrawn from service in 1981. There’s an excellent blog on it’s extensive restoration HERE
Once back at Corwen we returned to the car under leaden skies, thankful that tonight’s concert would be indoors – memories are still vivid of getting drenched at Ludlow last year!
Thanks to Sandra we had accessible parking at the pavilion and were only in the queue a short time, security took a little longer but I eventually got my first look at the venue:
There was already a decent crowd in by the time Deco took to the stage – the first of the support acts. Formed in Staffordshire in 2011, their upbeat late 80’s style dance/pop is very listenable and a perfect ‘hors d’oeuvre’ for what was to come. We first saw them in Scarborough in 2021 and they’ve certainly tightened up their act since. A really good start and well received by an enthusiastic crowd.
Before the next act, I went in search of grub and procured a couple of burgers for us, after a bit of a wait when they had to throw a load more on the griddle. It seemed to take them by surprise that people would choose an interval to go and get something to eat. They were at least tasty when they arrived.
Sadly I missed the first bit of the next act, queuing at the bar – where else – behind a group who were seemingly ordering for the whole crowd. When I did get back though, Sophie Ellis-Bextor was really whipping the crowd up. I’d never seen her live before and she can certainly put on a show. She did some of her own songs of course but also a couple of fantastic covers of Madonna and Abba, before finishing – of course – with Murder on the Dance Floor, enjoyed by a now very excited crowd who were clearly up for a great night.
At 8:45pm the lights dimmed and the background music was ratcheted up. An ecstatic crowd greeted Nile Rogers and Chic as they sauntered on stage, soaked up the atmosphere and took their positions. Nile asked us if we’d like to freak out – of course we did and they launched straight into Le Freak, setting the standard for what was to come.
And the hits kept coming and coming, not only from Chic but versions of songs that Nile and/or his late musical partner, bassist Bernard Edwards produced. Madonna, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, they were all there. One of the keyboard players joined Nile on guitar for a version of Beyonce’s Cuff It – another Nile Rogers production, then it was back into the archives for more funk drenched disco classics. As always there was a tribute to Bernard with Thinking of You by Sister Sledge. Chic split in the 80’s but reformed in the 90’s for shows in Japan, Bernard was unwell but soldiered on to perform the shows, but died in his hotel room after the last show, aged just 46.
Nile had said that after Bernard died he doubted that he ever perform Chic music again, then a young bassist by the name of Jerry Barnes sent him a demo tape. Jerry has been with Chic pretty much ever since and is a worthy replacement for dear old Bernard. It was noticeable that in the concerts we’ve seen Jerry has been more prominent, his bass solos and infectious grin are an absolute joy.
Every band member shined throughout the show, all getting time at the front of the stage, the two vocalists; Audrey Martells, a relative newcomer and veteran Kimberley Davis were superb as always. At the end it appeared that no-one wanted to leave the stage, feeding off the ecstatic response from the audience. It’s wonderful to see musicians at the top of their game loving what they do and they clearly enjoyed it. This was without doubt the best of the three times we’ve seen them, absolutely awesome and it created memories I will treasure for a long long while. A great day and a superb night. Roll on next year.