Cheltenham Race Course

At the pub this morning, the young man cleaning out the animal pens, came across to chat. He intended to buy a long wheeled base Mercedes sprinter van, and convert it himself. He told us, for the last two years, he had been studying trading on the stock market, and that on the wall at his home, he had plans and information regarding building his van. We told him, just buy a van, and set off!

Today we are at Cheltenham racecourse, for a German based VW beer and drinking festival. Today's entertainment, tribute acts. The festival, has been on since Thursday, and the highlight was Saturday night, when the punters dress in Lederhosen, and sing German beer drinking songs, whilst drinking copious amounts of alcohol. When we arrived at the campsite this morning, the couple behind, were sat outside their van, still dressed in their Lederhosen!

After a couple of trips around the exhibitors stalls, we returned to Marge for lunch. All around us, the ritual of 'packing up the van' was going on. We were astonished at just how much some people packed into their small T4/5/6 vans. That's the great thing about Marge, she turns up, and is ready to go, and when it's time to leave, a turn of the key, and she's off.

Just after five thirty, this afternoon, Kylie, and her backing singers appeared on stage, (a tribute act of course). We'd never seen so many men, including members of the crew and security staff, surge forward in one go. It's amazing the effect, three semi-clad young women can have. Outside the marquee, there were a lot of dog faced wives and partners!

Later this evening, we will return to the marquee for the headline tribute, E.L.O.

We have had a good couple of days away, and are reminded of a slogan we saw on a van in Cheltenham yesterday.

'Don't count the days, make the days count!'

Cheltenham Race Course

A week ago, we had just returned from taking one of our grandsons Jack to Dorset, staying at the Ridge Farm campsite near Wareham. Luxury, Marge on a proper campsite with facilities, all very nice, but you don't get the views, and can't choose your neighbours.

(Please note non-alcoholic lager) 

Although the trip was to deal with some issues in Poole with our rental houses, we still afforded time for some leisure pursuits, including a maiden voyage on the river in Wareham, for our new inflatable canoe, bought especially to fit into Marge.

The mention of this trip, is also a record, that we changed our gas cylinder in the van. They usually last about  a month, so this one should see us through until we return to France in September, where the refill cylinders are much cheaper. 

This weekend we have come to Cheltenham to attend Dubtoberfest, a VW festival at Cheltenham racecourse.

But tonight, we have returned to the House in the Tree, pub near to the racecourse. We stayed here the same time last year. They have a small grass overflow car park, ideal for campervans, which they welcome.

The pub is very popular with families, as they have a large play area and a petting zoo. 

Tomorrow, is John's birthday, so this evening we enjoyed an excellent meal in the pub. Bean and vegetable chilli, and steak and ale pie. We had never seen so much steak in a pie! Both meals were excellent, and despite being quite full, we couldn't resist sharing the cheeseboard. 

Our table had been booked for eight o' clock, but was ready slightly earlier. Next to us two tables of four. At the table adjacent were Mr and Mrs Glum, who we'd seen arrive. After their meal, they set to playing cards with the other equally glum couple with them, perhaps a decider as to who paid the bill!
On the other table, four people who arrived in a classic Rolls Royce, neither of them smiled either. The wife of the car owner, a little rotund, revealing anatomy a builder should only be allowed to do, but surely not a lady who drives around in a Rolls Royce! Our conclusion of these four couples, money doesn't buy you happiness! 

Tonight, nestled in the countryside, we can hear the nearby M5 motorway. Is there no escape from noise pollution!

Longwick (Home)

On our last evening in France, we couldn't resist one last walk out.

The cockerels and chickens, in the rear garden of the nearby supermarket, were all cosy in their house, they made us smile, the cockerels reminding us of the one at Brindisi in Italy, who used to wake us at five thirty in the morning.

Opposite the aire, was a traditional Normandy house. The plants up on the ridge of the roof, looked like they may well have suffered from the recent hot spell.

Tuesday July 9th, has come around, where have the last nine weeks gone? We are asked, 'are we glad, or sad, to be coming home?'. Well there's only one answer to that question. Going through border control at Dieppe ferry terminal, we were asked by a member of staff where we'd been. Replying one of the countries we'd visited had been Italy, she was very keen to know if we'd bought wine or tobacco products there. Questions answered, Marge was then stopped for a quick look over, as were all the campervans, normally they only select a few.

The ferry was a lot quieter than when we came across, After lunch and coffee, we retired to the sun deck for a doze, before arriving back in England, and the final drive of this trip.

Marge is now safely parked up on the drive. How she remained unscathed, after all the near misses with other drivers, walls, barriers and rocks, we don't know! Someone must have been watching over her.

Back home now, we must deal with the list of jobs and problems that were waiting for us.

A few times in the last few weeks, we thought we might have to head home early, but fortunately, all turned out well in the end. In September, we'll be taking Marge to Spain and Portugal, she loves all things continental! We hope you'll join us as well.

St. Nicolas D' Aliermont

Last night, Marge was discreetly parked behind a house with an overgrown garden, in which was an apple, cherry and walnut tree, which overhung the fence. John was wishing it was October, when the walnuts would be ready to harvest.

Today there was a sombre mood in Marge. We'd have had such an adventure. In the words of the Queen song, 'don't stop us now, we're having such a good time'. Marge has been our home for the last nine weeks. She has kept us safe and secure, despite some doubting moments. Each day she requires a quick brush and wipe round. We've even got used to the simplicity of handwashing our clothes every two days, and we now don't find it such a chore. When we return home tomorrow, our outlook on life will be a little different we think.

As we left Honfleur this morning, we headed towards the Pont de Normandie, a large suspension bridge crossing the river Seine before it enters the sea. We have walked, cycled and driven over this bridge before, and each time you feel a little excited and exhilarated. Our destination for lunch, was the coastal town of Saint Valery en Caux, but there were restrictions for campervan parking everywhere, despite the town being quiet, and most of the parking spaces empty. So we ended up, in the car park of a school on the edge of the town. You would think, they would encourage visitors to spend in the local community, not drive them away to another town!

On route to tonight's stop at St. Nicolas D' Aliermont, we had to take a diversion. Stood at the side of the road, was a man around eighty, wearing a T-shirt and coloured lycra shorts, with a picture of a sunset covering his credentials. We have noticed, age has no boundaries when it comes to fashion, and with the French, anything goes!

Tonight's aire, is where we stopped last September, after arriving on a late ferry. It was dark, wet, and we didn't have a clue where we were. But this evening, the sun is out, so is our awning and chairs. We have bagged the end spot, so we have our own private garden, which has obviously annoyed the Germans who have just driven in, and straight out, realising we had the prime spot!

Next to us is a friendly French family, the lady, speaks very good English.

We walked into town, our last afternoon stroll of this holiday, passing a cockerel in a nearby garden. That's our morning alarm call sorted then!

The town has a clock museum, but we didn't go in, just photographed Angela outside by the sign.

Also an interesting church.

The main bulk of our expenditure has gone on Marge, and after a tot up this afternoon, we were happy that her fuel bill was a 'little' less than we thought it would be.

Around ten thirty tomorrow morning, with a little sadness in our hearts, we will drive into Dieppe, to catch the lunchtime ferry back to England. We have already started looking into where we might stay in Portugal, when we return in September.

The immediate problem when we arrive back in Newhaven, will be, can Angela drive Marge on the left hand side of the road? If all else fails, she'll use the driving skills of the Italians!