It’s fair to say that this part of the trip hasn’t
gone to plan so far, at least early on. Read on…
The school term finished on Wednesday 11th at lunchtime and by 2:30pm a fair few of us were installed in Wetherspoons in Brighton Marina. Ties were loosened – for some anyway, standards you know – and we set about celebrating the end of term properly. I was unable to attend the Transport department night out the previous weekend thanks to severe sinusitis so enjoyed it all the more and a good afternoon was had. Wetherspoons version of a beef madras soaked up some of the delicious porter that many of us opted for and a good time was had by all, a lift home rather than walking then waiting for the bus was much appreciated. Thank you Iain.
I had originally booked to go away on the Saturday but a largely free day Thursday saw me get my backside into gear and late afternoon I hit the laptop and brought forward my stay in Cambridge with Patsy by a day, arriving on Friday the 13th, thinking that the Dartford crossing might be quieter. Yeah, right.
Friday 13th December
There was of course the last-minute agonizing decision of what boots and coats to bring but by 9:15am I left the flat, turning off the water and gas, and was soon in possession of my click & collect order at Sainsbury’s near the storage yard. Hetty was topped up too and by 10:45am we were locked and loaded.
Google Maps suggested a journey time of around two and a half hours – allowing for my slower speed towing that would equate to just under 3 hours, give or take.
In the end it took much longer; a long wait at the Dartford crossing and again at the M11 turn off – for no obvious reason, but after that the Maps arrival time turned green and I was able to engage cruise control for a bit, something my troublesome right knee considerably appreciated.
I once again eschewed the usual trundle through the southern part of the city. There was a layby on the A11 soon after the M11 junction which would be handy to attend to a plumbing matter. Highways had seen fit to cone it off so I continued on, coming off and heading through the village of Fulbourn, before pulling up on site where thankfully, unlike last time, there was no queue.
Check in was friendly and swift, having already paid the balance and I was allocated a pitch – unusual here but not a drama. There was no way I could have reversed Patsy into the pitch – even if I’d have wanted to. Thankfully the ageing and recalcitrant movers grudgingly whined into something that could, with a certain generosity of spirit, be called action and Patsy was soon sited. I was relieved that no ramp was required. Legs down, leccy on, then before anything else I gratefully sorted the plumbing.
The inevitable nap followed the inevitable beer, then once I was feeling a bit more human I got busy with the Hoover, sorry, Morphy Richards.
Dinner was one of my batch cooked mini meatloaves followed by a quiet night in front of the telly. It seems caravaning is the only time I watch telly through an aerial these days!
Saturday 14th December
In the early hours there was the usual nocturnal visit to take care of the plumbing. While trying the usually simple act of getting out of bed I realised I've done something to my lower back and virtually crawled to the loo. I've tweaked the muscles in my left lower back in the past but it had never been as bad as this. I fumbled for a couple of paracetamol and made my way back to bed.
I had no particular plans for Saturday which was just as well really as any sort of movement was quite difficult. Settled in front of the telly to watch final score in the afternoon, I was pleased to see that a couple of my small football bets came in and was delighted to see that my old hometown team Cambridge United managed a tricky away draw.
Cabin fever had well and truly set in and I wanted to get out for a bit, so after something approximating a shower I got tarted up and donned my most sensible boots which to be fair doesn't say a lot!
I headed down to the shops walking bolt upright military style in an effort to keep any strain off my back. Snacks and painkillers, well wine anyway, duly procured I made my way back to the site. Progress was a lot slower as now my right knee had joined in the fun too. Great, I had a few things planned for the time I was here and was beginning to wonder whether I’d be able. Fair to say I went to bed grouchy and thoroughly fed up.
Sunday 15th December
Somewhat less grumpy thanks to a better night’s sleep, aided no doubt by painkillers of er, one sort or another, things clearly hadn’t improved much in the mobility department but the sun was making an appearance and I was going out for Sunday lunch. My good friend Pauline picked me up in her car thankfully – I’m not sure I could have driven safely even if I wanted to – and we headed to The Black Bull Inn in, a beautiful old country pub in the village of Balsham. The roast was every bit as good as promised and we had a good catch up, having not seen each other since the beginning of the summer. Pauline had had knee trouble – alongside a bout of covid – so we had plenty to talk about. I suppose it’s inevitable when you get older you talk more and more about health issues and related subjects like navigating GP Surgery’s automated telephone systems and trying to get appointments!
She dropped me back at the site with a plan to meet up again later in the week for our usual curry, since it seem unlikely I’d be able to do much else.
Thankfully talking, eating and drinking wasn’t a problem!
A lazy afternoon and evening followed.
Monday 16th December
Another bright, if chilly, morning. The back was
slightly better again but it was still uncomfortable and, over a cuppa I
reluctantly cancelled my train ticket for the following day – to Stevenage!
Okay, that, on the face of it doesn’t seem much of a
loss but let me explain – having rediscovered my love of fairgrounds,
particularly the iconic Waltzer, in the summer, the plethora of ‘Winter
Wonderlands’ that had sprung up would give me the chance to add to my tally of
ten Waltzer’s ridden this year. One such
one was at Stevenage, right next door to the railway station and only 35
minutes or so on the train from Cambridge. I’d also pondered the one in Hyde
Park in London and smaller offerings at Bedford and Norwich, all accessible by
public transport, so I could have a pint or two as well.
There was no way though that I was going on a ride like the Waltzer feeling like I did though, they’d have to wait until next year.
In fact the furthest I got was the shops in the village, picking up a couple of bits and bobs which may have included a particularly effective painkiller – Merlot – and the sales assistant declared me the best dressed customer of the day. That perked me up a bit.
I decided to celebrate my new accolade with a pint in Robin Hood on the way back before lunch and a nap, and a lazy afternoon and evening.
Tuesday 17th December
Absolutely nothing of note to report, other than that
the back had eased a bit more.
Wednesday 18th December
Almost ditto Tuesday except that in the evening Pauline picked me up and we went for a very nice curry. Thankfully she found out just prior that it was BYO so a short diversion was made to pick up a bottle of Kiwi Merlot. I used to always go for a vindaloo but generally opt for madras these days as it’s more tolerable the morning after. Yeah, right.
Thursday 19th December
A slow, partial pack up, paused occasionally by Ghandi getting his revenge. I’ll say no more….
In the evening I got on a bus into town, pausing at the popular Old Ticket Office at the railway station for a livener, before heading to the Botanic Gardens for their light show. Undoubtedly the coldest night of the trip but the layers of dead cow helped and I had a pleasant hour or so following the trail. More understated than many I’ve been to but nonetheless worth it.
Back at Patsy the heating was cranked up and I started to thaw out whilst dinner was nuked.
Friday 20th December
Time to depart, but not for home as I was heading to Gloucestershire for the second stop of the trip. The stay in Cambridge had been disappointing thanks to my health issues – aside from bagging more Waltzer’s I’d hope to meet up with a few more people, but it wasn’t to be. I was very much looking forward to the next couple of weeks though now the back had improved considerably.
Surprisingly I was ahead of schedule and departed the site around 9:20am. Maps suggested a run of about two hours and with arrivals permitted from 1pm that would give me plenty of time for a leisurely journey and a stop.
Traffic was light and I ended up having two stops, arriving at Winchcombe Camping & Caravan Club site at 12:59pm. I was greeted before I had the chance to prise myself out of the car and, once checked in was shown a choice of pitches. There was plenty to choose from and the first impressions were of a smart well-kept site with tidy pitches, a number of which were overlooking a small lake. Perfect. The motor mover played ball and Patsy went nose in, a small climb up the ramp was needed but otherwise set up was smooth and swift.
Sandra:
Today was the day I travelled to meet up with Richard to spend Christmas and New Year together in the Cotswold’s. In addition, as we were both not on the other side of the world this year, sigh, I had my two Westies with me. They are now both 14.5 years old and Iona in particular is showing her age. Still, porch awning in tow plus all the necessary requirements saw me departing at 10.30am with about a 3-hour drive. A couple of stops were necessary, not least for the girls but me too! As I drove down the A41, I thought to myself, this is eerily quiet, hardly an HGV to be seen. Anyone who has used the A41 from Chester down to Newport and the A5, (avoiding the Cheshire/Staffordshire M6 section, aka the Car Park), will know that the HGV convoy from the M6 up to Holyhead Port is a rat run. It is, however, a small price to pay for potential motorway closures etc. on that section which can see you parked up for hours at a time! A lightbulb moment was had – of course Holyhead Port is currently closed and, at the time of writing this, dates for reopening are vaguely mid-January onwards. Very unfortunate for all concerned in the port, but for me it was a real boon as the road was very quiet indeed and I made excellent time. A short 2 junction trip on the M5 by Worcester saw me pulling into the site not much longer after Richard and Patsy pulled in.
For me, it is my first time staying at a Camping and Caravanning Club site. First impressions were very good and a nice site it is. We were all pleased to see each other and the rest of the day was spent unpacking and sorting things out. Unfortunately, a mini storm made its way through that day and particularly the following night when we lay in bed hoping the awning would not take off. We are very pleased to report that it stayed put and the hastily designed sound damper of a bar cloth to stop one side of the awning wall sounding like a football clapper on steroids, ensuring we did not sleep at all, worked very well indeed.
Saturday 21st December
Sandra continues:
An early start as we had a C&C
at Tesco in Cheltenham. These C&C
are very handy and a video call some weeks prior ensured we booked our slot and
equally had the choice of goods we wished to buy. To say it was busy, even 4 days before Xmas
was something of an understatement. A
Costa coffee from the nearby drive thru helped the situation. We then returned to Patsy and set about
getting the awning up. We managed this
without much difficulty in increasing strength of wind, but thankfully
dry. The last storm pole peg was
fastened and we retreated indoors. A
huge shower almost immediately appeared and we sat in the dry!! That evening we went for a drink to Ye Olde Hobnail Inn.
I’ve said before, I’m no fan of awnings and generally don’t bother but the extra space is invaluable when we have the girls. Fortunately the er, erection was swift and trouble free. The Kampa Rally 330 is certainly easy enough to put up.
However, early afternoon the winds increased considerably and I was initially at least a little concerned – not about Patsy as much as the awning. I didn’t want it to get damaged, particularly as it wasn’t mine! Some additional pegs seemed to firm it up though and were happy enough to leave it whilst we went to the pub.
A table right by one of the fires had just been located so Sandra and the girls staked our claim whilst I went to the bar. They had a Christmas ale on – Otter Elf – drawn straight from the barrel at the back of the bar. Combined with a delightful proper old country boozer with a real fire, I was as happy as a pig in – well you get the idea!
Sunday, 22 December
A mostly lazy day, however as dusk came we headed east, to Cotswold Farm Park for their light trail, chosen not least because they welcome dogs. With the wind still lively it was bitterly cold but a mulled wine part way through the trail helped immensely. The display was more subtle than some but enjoyable, nonetheless. We were all happy to be back in the warmth of the caravan afterwards though!
Monday 23 December
Rather foolishly, whilst we’d stocked up for the main Christmas meals we still needed to eat on other days, so drew up a list and headed back to the Tesco in Cheltenham. A mistake of course, the car park was rammed with cars seemingly abandoned and restricting the flow of cars arriving and departing. We got the hell out and found a Lidl in Bishops Cleeve, on the way back to the site. It was positively serene in there compared and a much more pleasant experience.
Sandra:
However todays main focus was the evening. Buying Christmas presents for anyone these days can be a challenge and, as I mentioned in my Twitter [X] post, dust collector style of presents are best avoided and so Richard very kindly treated me to a lovely pre-Christmas meal as my gift. We had reserved a table at the Hobnail Inn, requesting a quiet corner if possible to avoid the girls getting in the way or having their paws trod upon. They came up trumps and as the floor is a beautiful, but very hard floor, I took Iona’s lightweight bed for her to lie in. To say she spent most of the evening in it verified the choice. Skye, much more able floated around finding a spot from time to time to have a little nap. My girls have been taken out to pubs and restaurants from 4 months of age so are well used to doing this. Anyway, I digress, what did I choose – well you may be surprised – I had the most delightful scampi, chunky chips and mushy peas. Given the meat feast meals over the coming days, I was determined to have something different. It was delicious and a beautiful vanilla pannacotta to finish rounded off a very pleasant evening indeed.
Likewise I wanted something that wouldn’t feature in our upcoming menu in Patsy, so I had a lovely steak and chips. I greedily went for the large one and struggled to finish it. My dessert of choice was, once again, fruit. Of the merlot variety…
Tuesday 24 December – Christmas Eve
First stop of the day was a retail park in Evesham, more specifically Halfords. I know how to party. A couple of years ago, whilst on site, the on-board battery charger/12-volt supply unit failed. Thankfully I had a battery charger in the boot and was fumbling around in the early hours trying to extract it, with the minimum of noise.
The charger worked fine and I’d put off replacing the fitted unit – not least because they’re nigh on £180 but also because, thanks it’s placement it’s a pain to extract and refit, and I’m always worried about disturbing Patsy’s ancient wiring.
However it became apparent that the charger too had failed, hence the reason for a visit to Halfords to get another. I’ll get the proper one sorted, eventually..
Next up was Broadway, one of the most ‘chocolate box’ of the Cotswold villages, even in the relative gloom of a misty December day it still looked very appealing. It was very busy too but thankfully Sandra’s Blue Badge meant that we got a parking space with little trouble.
I smiled to myself as we walked around and sat outside a café with coffee and teacakes. Lots of expensive Barbour jackets and wellies accompanied the sort of accents that, working at a private school, I recognised only too well.
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Sandra:
A reasonably early start was in order, we needed to get the turkey crown in the oven. Richard was in full flow as Chef and the smells in Patsy were very appetizing indeed. Roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli, roast parsnips were cooked plus some delicious chicken gravy. It was an excellent meal and Richard was rightly proud of his achievements. His cooking skills are now of a very high level and we spend many happy times concocting food for him to have at home. It is reassuring to know that he has good, homecooked food at hand given the unsociable hours he works during the week. As I sit typing here, (NB. Well after Christmas Day), Richard has just put together a slow cooker pot full of turkey casserole – yes you read that right, we now take a slow cooker on tour with us. Last night we enjoyed a beef casserole with herb dumplings! Another first for Chef – the dumplings.
I was really made up with how dinner turned out. It was a bit of a juggle at times but everything was cooked through and hot. The previous evening I’d chucked the sprouts in the slow pot with a bit of oil and garlic powder and they were quite tasty.
Sandra:
We watched the Kings Speech – equally in awe of the beautiful building he had chosen to use this year. Then it was time for Xmas pudding. I had managed to once again obtain a nut free pudding. It is delicious and mid brown in colour. The supermarket ones nowadays are so very dark, strong and not really that pleasant tasting. This one tastes and looks like a pudding. No brandy sauce but a generous dollop of cream finished off a very pleasant meal indeed.
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
After a day in the ‘van we were all ready for a run out, even though it was hardly inviting with the lingering fog.
We headed for Tewksbury, parking up at the far end by Victoria Gardens for a walk along by the river and back through town, pausing for a much-needed coffee in one of the few places open. It was well patronised and welcomed dogs too. Result. I noted as well a number of inviting looking pubs, definitely a return visit was needed.
Friday 27th December
A short run to Toddington, more specifically to the heritage railway station on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway Network. Coffee and a cake was taken and we saw a steam train arrive and depart in what was a very murky day indeed. In the afternoon we took the girls into Cheltenham for a spruce up whilst we procured a few items for dinner. I must say they looked superb when we picked them up and they clearly enjoyed the experience.
For dinner it was turkey again – of course – though this time in a sort of fricassee with pasta. Very tasty. We returned to Toddington after dinner for a drink in the Pheasant, another nice country boozer that was dog friendly.
Saturday 28th December
Another damp and misty day and first on the agenda after brekky was the arrival of Green Flag to get my car going, me having discovered that the battery was totally flat a couple of days prior. I’d hauled it out and tried charging it but with no joy. The chap from Green Flag was prompt and Hetty soon came grudgingly to life. I gave her a run towards Tewksbury to get some charge back in and also to fuel up for the homeward journey.
During the day the skies cleared and with it the mist and it was freezing by the time we headed out in the evening for a meal in Cheltenham, at the Brunning & Price offering there, the Old Court House. Delightful surroundings and superb food as always at a B & P joint, they have a great offering, I wish there were more of them down south.
Sunday 29th December
We headed to Burford, another Cotswold gem that was very busy. Fortunately Sandra’s Blue Badge helped us secure a space in an otherwise rammed car park and, once we headed for the high street where coffee and brunch in the shape of a delicious bacon roll was enjoyed. I popped into the Co-op for a couple of bits for dinner and was complemented on my Peaky Blinders’esque attire, namely black suit, shirt, tie, leather coat and cap. Totally overdressed compared to the prevailing Barbour and wellies crowd from the Home Counties but what the hell. I wear what I like and I like what I wear.
A change for dinner, some cheap and cheerful beef from Lidl in the slow pot went down very well indeed, followed by an evening’s telly. Simple pleasures – once a dodgy mobile signal had been dealt with. This trip was a good reminder to me that caravanning isn’t just about spending every waking hour exploring every inch of the local area. We’d had a good trip out; good food and Patsy was as cosy as ever. Lovely.
Monday 30th December
A cold, crisp but bright day. We had a walk around the site with the girls then a run to Broadway Tower for an afternoon caffeine fix. Not surprisingly very busy and as we supped our tea I observed again the carry on by drivers of ridiculously sized cars trying to park who clearly have no idea. Quite amusing to onlookers though to be honest I wouldn’t be much better in Hetty. Give me a Ford Transit minibus any day, I can park that much better.
Tuesday 31st December.
First up, a trip to Honeybourne – I’d bought an awning! For a while I’d had in mind a porch awning for winter use and I loved the look of the Isabella Minor – a quality product without doubt but , new they were well out of my price range. However, a listing came up on Farcebook, my offer was accepted and off we went to collect.
I was very happy with the purchase, although it won’t see the light of day until February Half-term. We repaired to Winchcombe station for a coffee via a Co-op where I treated myself to an English wine for New Year. As If I hadn’t spent enough…
The wind was getting up again – outside that is, not thanks to the sprouts and the awning pegs were checked before we settled down for the evening. Nothing fancy, just some telly and nibbles and we saw in the new year, just.
Wednesday 1st January
A noisy and disturbed night, I got up once in the early hours to check around outside but the awning was holding up, it was very windy indeed.
Thankfully as dawn broke the winds began to ease and we could relax. With departure scheduled for the next day the awning needed to come down but after checking the weather we booked in for another night – neither of us needed to be anywhere else and as it turns out it was a good decision.
Having spent the morning in the ‘van we both felt like getting out for a bit and I’m sure the girls did too. Under leaden skies we drove to Chipping Camden which was pretty – and pretty quiet too. A dog friendly café was doing a good trade though and we settled in for a cream tea which was very tasty indeed.
The remaining turkey and veg pack had been thrown in the slow cooker earlier and went down very well indeed later in, back in a very cosy Patsy.
Thursday 2nd January
Bright sunshine at last and we were able to get the awning down and packed away dry – always a most welcome achievement.
In the evening we returned to Ye Olde Hobnails for another superb meal, providing a fitting end to a great stay.
Friday 3rd January
By 10:30 both vehicles were locked and loaded, we said our goodbyes and left. We couldn’t have stayed any longer anyway as the site was closing down until March. I eschewed the more direct route of towing through Stow and Burford, initially heading west to pick up the M5 for a short while, cutting past Swindon to jump on the M4. Traffic was kind, even the M25 was relatively benign and I was back at the storage yard in good time. Another trip had come to an end, one that didn’t start to well but that certainly got better.
February half-term is booked and for once it’s not London, instead I will be heading to Norfolk for something very significant.
Until then, thanks as always for reading
Rich & Sandra