Clean Clothes Finally!

After Pete's fall last summer, it took a long time for him to get back to doing any sort of work and when he did do some work, it was on Carpe Diem, getting it ready for selling.

But one job that desperately needed to be done was the wardrobe doors.  The wood burning stove seems to produces soooo much dust, along with Tollesbury being the dustiest place on Earth (second to the Sahara perhaps).  Consequently all our clothes in the wardrobe were always covered in dust.  Clothes that were worn on a regular basis were okay, but anything else needed washing again before it could be worn.  We decided on sliding doors as they take up less room.  So Pete got to work and did his usual magic, transforming an area.  It was quite funny before the stops were installed, as every time the tide came in or out the doors would open themselves, first time it happened was in the middle of the night.  It made us jump as they are heavy doors that made quite a racket.  The doors are fabulous, yet to be painted, but they do have nice crystal handles!  I also took the opportunity to clear out clothes that really weren't worn or waiting for the day I could get back in to them, so the charity shop did well too.  Sorry the pictures are not so good, it is very hard to show the doors off to their best.  There are three doors on each side and the wardrobes are deep because they go underneath the decks.  The second picture is of my 'accessory' wardrobe, how posh does that sound!  But I definitely have too many shoes, bags, scarves etc I need to have a good clear out there xxx

Hello

I decided to take a short break from blogging, however I admit it has been longer than I intended.  I felt that the blog was just sort of drifting without any real direction.  Other blogs that I follow often have 'themes' or some great ideas and amazing photography.  My blog was a mish mash of shots of life here and I suppose when you are living the life, it doesn't seem that interesting.
Pete and I also seemed to just be drifting along; working, eating and sleeping.  For years our life had been about sailing, getting out as often as we could, going to new places and exploring.  We thoroughly enjoyed that time in our lives and have some great memories to look back on.   But for the past few years all our time has been taken up with the barge.  Carpe Diem (our yacht) suffered when we lived on it full time and then took a battering during a storm when it was put back on its mooring. It is now out of the water being renovated and will shortly be put up for sale.  We had to make a decision about whether to buy another (smaller) yacht or not.  We decided on the not, but still felt that we needed to do something to add some spice to life.  A campervan was our first choice, but to be honest, at the moment is a little out of our price range for something decent.  Another option was a caravan, but Pete didn't fancy towing it and again, if we wanted to take it abroad it would prove more expensive.
As you know, the last couple of years we have had some short breaks camping and have loved every minute of it.  Our tent was bought second hand for £40 and has served us well, but there were just a few niggles with it.  So we decided that for the next few years we would concentrate on camping.  As we are getting a little older (!) we thought that we should make it as comfortable & easy as possible.  So we have bought an amazing blow up tent that goes up in 10 minutes apparently, some super duper extra large, brushed cotton lined sleeping bags and a couple of beautifully padded chairs.  The new tent has a sewn in ground sheet, carpet, a porch for cooking and sitting under  and is big enough for at least a couple of grandchildren.  I cannot tell you how excited I am that we are going to be off exploring and looking forward to our adventures.  We plan on going away at Easter, though I think we may practise putting the tent up first so we don't look complete idiots!

I don't want you to think I am miserable because I am definitely not, life is actually good.  The grandchildren are all great and growing up way too fast.  I am very lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with all of them and have a great relationship with them.  We have another granddaughter due in June and my Mum and Dad celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary in July.  Pete reached the grand old age of 65 and now gets his state pension, unfortunately being 'considerably' younger than him and changes to the state pension age, I have to wait another 10 years before I get mine.  But I do get my teachers pension in two years and eight months, not that I am counting, and I have dropped down to part time work.  The government might think we should work until we drop, but blow that, we want to enjoy our retirement and enjoy it now!

So I have decided that my blog is just going to stay being a simple diary of a simple, but fulfilling, life along with all its ups and downs.  Nothing fancy but then that's me all over.  I am looking forward to catching up with all my blogging pals who I have neglected so badly in recent months, I have actually missed you all.  Take care and speak soon.  Oh, and here is a totally gratuitous picture of my wonderful grandchildren having a ball at Bobby's 2nd Birthday party xxx

Holiday comes to an end with a Bump!

We had a lovely time during the last week of our holiday.  We moved to a camp site near Hereford, which was very central to a lot of wonderful areas.  We actually spent quite a lot of the time in Wales and it is definitely an area that we would like to go back and explore more.  Our site was overlooked by the Black Mountains, which were magnificent.

We also spent a day in the Brecon Beacons, which were stunning.  We got out of the car and walked and walked, the scenery was breathtaking.

I had forgotten to take my walking boots on holiday and walked the mountains in a really cute pair of cerise pink ballet pumps, which were immediately binned when we got back to the tent as they got so wet the sole fell off!

We also tried to get in to Merthyr Tydfil as I wanted to pay homage to Kier Hardy.  However, the place was packed and we couldn't get parked anywhere, so we gave up and went into the Welsh Valleys.  It was only later that we learned that the reason it was so busy was because Jeremy Corbyn was in town.  I really wish we had made more effort to find a place to park as I would love to hear him speak.  We really did have a lovely relaxing time on holiday and came back completely chilled, until......

.....my daft husband fell from the top of his ladder to the stony ground, hitting his side and back as he went down.  Having spent his entire life running up and down ladders, Pete is well aware of ladder safety rules, he always ties his ladder off.  Anyway, he had untied the ladder that was against the yacht when we went on holiday to prevent any theft, and was putting it back and was going to tie it off again.  The ladder slipped on the stones and down Pete went, about 12ft.  He has broken several ribs and punctured his lung and had to spend several days in hospital.  He is in considerable pain and will be for sometime yet, but he is also aware that it could have been a lot worse.  Pete is not one for sitting around doing nothing and I see problems ahead in keeping him down.  Please send all jokes that I shall save for when he is being particularly difficult!

I have had enough of Broomfield Hospital this year, what with mum being in for several weeks and now Pete (funnily enough they were both in the same bed, not together obviously!).  But once again, the staff did an amazing job especially considering the pressure they are under.  I am always in awe about how cheerful and caring they are.  So thanks again to the staff there.  Oh, and to finish, I bought the girls little Welsh National costumes and Bobby a flat cap and waistcoat, so here is Jessica modelling her outfit.  

Back soon ......hugs and kisses all.

More Exploring

Yesterday we took a trip north of Hereford to Weobley and Ludlow.  Weobley (pronounced web-lee) is a beautiful little village.  It is one of the 'black and white' villages and is so pretty.  The Delacy's had a castle here in the 13th Century but they upset good old King John I and he confiscated all their land.  All that is left of the castle are the earthworks.  Brewing and glove making were the Saxon industries, although there is no evidence of this today.  We had brunch in a really sweet little cafe that allowed Alfie in and served an excellent cup of tea.  As you can see from the photo, I think summer has departed as we have not had any sunshine, just cloud for days.

We then moved on to Ludlow, which is a medieval town with another castle.  The town had many really beautiful medieval houses and was bustling with activity.  There was a small market selling local produce and 'antiques' and Alfie got to taste his first Liver Cake - how revolting does that sound! 

We didn't actually pay to go in the castle, as we are getting a bit tight in our old age, however we did walk round the perimeter which certainly gave us an sense of just how big it actually was.  Set on the hill it was quite imposing. It is another of the DeLacy's castles; just how rich were these people! It is a mixture of Norman, Medieval and Tudor architecture and has a long association with royalty, becoming a royal palace in the fourteenth century.  The two boy princes lived here before they were taken to the Tower of London and mysteriously disappeared (their bodies being found under a staircase a couple of hundred years later), Mary Tudor, Queen of England, spent her winters here and Catherine of Aragon spent her first honeymoon here with Prince Arthur before she then married her brother-in-law Henry VIII and we all know how well that marriage worked out!

Ludlow was a typical medieval town with lots of little streets and courtyards and looking down into the little passages gave you a glimpse into bygone days.  This passage was such beautiful colours, but the phone camera is not so good at showing that.

Today we are off to explore the Brecon Beacons and its Neolithic history, more later xxxx

Wales

The campsite we are now at in Herefordshire is absolutely wonderful.  The best showers in gorgeous wet rooms that I have ever used whilst camping, a real pleasure.  It is also very central for a lot of veryinteresting places.

Yesterday we decided to check out Abergavenny as this is where Pete's grandmother was from.  Such a lovely town with a wonderful market.  It was a 'proper' locals market not one of these arty farty ones with exorbitant prices that claim to be town markets.  Anyway we also took a trip to the castle and a sweet little museum.  I love the Welsh National Costume.  I got my granddaughters some little aprons but have yet to find the tall hats in their size.  I got Bobby a flat cap that he will look really cute in.

Some of the locals had knitted/crocheted squares that had been sewn together and wrapped around trees in a 'knit the community together' project.  So colourful, fabulous idea.

We then went on to Raglan Castle, which really is worth a visit.  The original castle was partly destroyed by the Parliamentarians but enough of the castle remains so that you can see what a magnificent place it must have been.  A walk up to the top of the great tower via a narrow, stone spiral staircase results in stunning views across the Black Mountains.  I recently treated myself to a digital SLR camera and have been playing with that for a lot of the holiday. Unfortunately, I have to wait until I get home to put all my photos on to the laptop, so I can only show you some photos here that I took with my phone.  I will  post some of the mountains on my return, until then you have to take my word about how beautiful the mountains are or google it!

Raglan Castle.  What impressed me was that you could see all the many fireplaces at all three levels, the poor servants must have spent all their winter days just keeping the fires going to keep the place warm.  The size and grandeur of the fireplaces also depended on which room they were in, the differences fascinated me as you got a good sense about the use of individual rooms and the people who lived there.

Today we are off to Blackwood in the mountains to visit Pete's Aunt.  But I have to go now as Pete has just said that my breakfast is ready, veggie sausages, beans and toast.  It's hard work this camping lark!

Peterchurch

When Pete first told me about the village Peterchurch, I thought he'd looked at it wrong on a map and was really looking at a church, but I was wrong to doubt him, it turns out there really is a place called Peterchurch.  Obviously we had to go there and see the village that Pete says is actually named after him due to some heroic act (Pete is a great storyteller as all the kids will tell you).  So........

To be honest I think the sign should actually read 64 3/4! 

Peter has always been fascinated by the Battle of Rorkes Drift, he has read so many books about it and I don't know how many times he has watched the film (albeit a very romanticised version of a very bloody battle which ignores the massacre that followed it).  Anyway Private Robert Jones (aged 21) who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism at Rorkes Drift is buried in the local churchyard.  Robert Jones along with William Jones fought the Zulus off through the windows of the hospital.  They moved six of the seven patients to safety and all survived the battle.  The seventh patient refused to go and when Robert went back for him, he was being stabbed by a Zulu.  150 soldiers fought 3000 to 4000 Zulus that day.  Robert  returned to Peterchurch, married and had 5 children.  Unfortunately nightmares about Rorkes Drift plagued him (today it would be known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) and he committed suicide aged just 41.  Due to his suicide, his headstone faces the other way to all the other headstones around him, such a shame.

We walked the entire length of the village and were quite surprised at how 'new' most of the houses were.  We chatted to a lady who had lived there all her life and she said that most of the older houses were in the surrounding hills and that the village, as it is now, had grown in more recent years.  Unfortunately we were far too early in the day for Pete to walk into the local pub and announce 'I'M BACK......'!!

Holiday Snaps

We are having such fun exploring.  We have now moved to Herefordshire as I have always wanted to go to Hay On Wye.  Unfortunately  the book festival finished a while back, but I am sure I will still have fun browsing the second hand book shops.  We went to Bath and had a wander round - Abbey, Roman Baths etc.  It has been many years since I went to Bath and it has changed, but I had forgotten what a beautiful city it is.  I loved this art exhibition, just about sums up the British weather.

There was a lovely young lady advertising free samples of homemade fudge, I asked if they made vegan fudge and she said they did and gave me a huge sample.  Now, it would have been very rude not to buy a slab of salted caramel fudge.  I didn't know that fudge should be kept a room temperature, so instead of putting it in the cool box I put it next to my bed, Ooops it just seemed to disappear!  On reading the info supplied, it says that the fudge can last up to ten days, hahahahahaha!!

We also had the most amazing Turkish meal.  The Meze they served as a first course would have been sufficient but we had to plough through two courses of delicious food.  Note to self - hang head in shame at first Slimming World meeting after holiday!

Alfie is having an absolutely fabulous holiday.  He has even more freedom than he normally does and is walking around with a permanent smile on his face.  He is worn out by about 8, as are we, and is the first to bed every night.  As it is a strange place, he does get a little anxious if either of us disappear to the shower/loo and keeps a watch out until we return.

Today we are off to a very special village, but I will reveal more about that later.  And yep, that is me laying in bed waiting for my breakfast to be cooked and my third cup of tea to be served.  If I stay here long enough, the washing up will be done too, I could get used to this lark.