Tuesday, 29 April 2008
It’s a filthy sort of a day – rain, wind and cold, so the radio’s on, Pooch is snuggled up on his chair and, bizarrely, we’re preparing to out! Would much prefer to just curl up with a good book. We’re meeting up with a distant relative of Amanda’s in Truro for lunch. Rest assured it won’t be a picnic on a rug by the river. But it will be fun as Sue has a wicked sense of humour and fun.
Our time in Cornwall is coming to an end after nearly a month and time seems to have passed quite quickly, especially for me. I guess the truck training helped pass the time. The time here does seem to have done the trick though as both of us seem a lot more relaxed than a couple of months ago. I am certainly a little easier to live with, (although Amanda may beg to differ!) as I seem to be getting a handle on this systemic candida and my mental health is improving. I suspect again that the challenge of doing the training was beneficial in stimulating the brain a bit as well as the confidence boost it has given in passing the test. It can only be to the good.
As you can imagine we are chomping at the bit to be away now. France beckons and I have to say that I am so looking forward to being back there. We both have a feeling of affinity for France and the culture and people and feel comfortable there. It’s been a year or two since we were last there, so the withdrawal symptoms have been quite bad! I suspect not a lot will have changed there, particularly in the rural areas, which is still very ‘paysanne’ and community orientated. The culture is also a lot less materialistic and relaxed, involving good food, wine and conversation. Bliss. All the more attractive when you consider what’s happening in the UK at the moment. I honestly think that there is more bad news to come and it will take years to climb out of the mire. This government’s fiscal and social policies have been disastrous and the society that has been created is based so much on materialism and “look what I’ve got” that when money runs short, as it’s about to do, that society is not going to like going without. I truly hope that we can get through it all without any further breakdown in society values and moral conduct. Hmm, all a bit bleak this isn’t it? My train of thought is matching the weather – gloomy.
Anyhow, we’re back in the pub again to send e-mails and update the blog, so I’ll do that now as the quiz starts soon. £250 pot tonight although looking at the size and quality of some of the teams, we won’t be vying for it!!
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Friday, 25 April 2008
I Passed this time!
Yep, got it second time around! Well pleased as well you can imagine. Thanks to the guys at West Country for finding me a slot and juggling everything around for me to get some more training in and ultimately get me through. so that's it, all is in place for a great trip into Europe. We move off on 1 May, so just a few days left in Cornwall.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Friday, 18 April 2008
Just back from doing my Articulated HGV test – failed. Hey ho! Apart from two mistakes that were serious to fail me (hitting a kerb and a debacle at a junction), the rest of the drive went swimmingly. So double DOH! Now, unless I get another date next week, Amanda’s will have to drive the car behind the RV whilst away in Europe which is no fun at all for either of us.
If I’d had the presence of forethought, I’d have booked two test dates, in case of this eventuality. But I didn’t so I can’t. Such a shame ‘cos I actually enjoyed the whole experience and it would have been nice to come out with the piece of paper. If it wasn’t for the fact everything is booked, we might have stayed longer to get it sorted, but we made our plans in the knowledge that that might happen. We never make it simple! ;-)
The training itself was a great experience and it’s amazing how well you have to drive these things. I have renewed respect for Artic drivers. Even so it still seems faintly ridiculous to me that as a leisure driver who wants to tow a 750+kg car behind a 7.5t+ motorhome has to learn to drive an Artic, a discipline for which he will never have any call for and is miles away from the style of rig he’s driving. An Artic has a short tractor unit and a very long trailer with wheels at the back end. An RV is up to 40ft long with maybe a 17ft trailer, which is generally so much narrower that it just follows the RV and is just, essentially, extra length. I do think that doing the rigid LGV is a good idea to learn how to drive such a large vehicle. But Artic for a small car that’s just over the weight? Hmm. But, we are a minority and we have to follow the majority and the law is the law. It’s all a bit of a bummer. In the US, there are no restrictions! Mind you, the roads are bigger. Man, you should have seen some of the roads I had to negotiate – I’d have struggled with a MINI.
The company I trained with is Westcountry Transport Training Ltd (http://www.westcountrytransporttraining.co.uk/) and they are brilliant. Tim was patience personified with this old dog who has trouble with new tricks these days, the rest of the four strong team just so friendly and supportive, especially the lovely Liz who looks after the office. She was so upset that neither of the trainees passed that Friday bless her. If you want to train for your LGV, I couldn’t recommend them highly enough – especially if it’s for driving RVs as they understand that we are doing the training simply for leisure. That doesn’t mean to say that it’s no less intense!
Apart from the training, not a lot else happening. Wandered into Truro last Sunday – really nice town. Lots of eclectic shops as well as all the household names. Found a really good café called Tempo, which served great salad bowls and coffee. I know, strictly speaking I’m not allowed coffee at the moment, but it was a decaf skinny latte. Hey look, I’m speaking L.A.! Really want to go around the Cathedral sometime.
Took a blustery cliff-top walk above Newquay with Pooch the other day. He had a whale of a time, despite being set upon by a huge black raven. We think we were close to its nest and it saw Pooch as a threat. It was quite a display, trying to draw Pooch to the cliff edge, would you believe! Of course, Pooch being Pooch was being suckered into this tactic, so we got him on a lead before he went over and became raven and fish food. A great walk, fine views (some pics here or on the album page) and fun. Pooch had a whale of a time but suffered for it afterwards. Bless him, he’s just beginning to feel his age with stiff joints and has to sleep forever after a good walk!
Saturday, 19th April
Met up with friends John and Adrienne from back ‘home’ in Swaledale. They have a motorhome and have come down to Cornwall for a week or two, so we went to meet up. Had a lovely lunch (thanks!) and a cold and blustery walk to Boscastle. You may remember that in August 2004, Boscastle suffered severe damage after a downpour created a huge tide of water that swept down the narrow valley and took half the village with it. Scores of cars were washed into the harbour and out to sea, houses and bridges were demolished and miraculously, no one lost their life. It has gradually been rebuilt and an interesting visitor centre has a display showing the extent of devastation. Scary. Look at the picture of Boscastle here, particularly the white cottage to the right. The water reached the level of the guttering! OK, the blog wouldn't let me upload the pictue. Watch this place!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Another cliff top walk today, only much more spring-like. In fact it was a truly wonderful day and Pooch enjoyed himself immensely, especially as there wasn’t a raven in sight. We fou
nd a great picnic spot perched on a cliff top, where we ate lunch whilst seagulls wheeled overhead and we looked to out over a green blue sea and heard the waves crashing to shore below us. To feel the warmth of the sun was a joy and we laid out and dozed for a while, whilst Pooch wandered off into the undergrowth hunting out small furry critters. I took some video and stills of the seagulls (not easy) and had a great deal of fun. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed just doing that and I felt a wave of peace wash over me; something I haven’t felt for a number of years now and especially of late. I really think I may be on the mend after this last year. Amanda enjoyed herself so much too, although the aching muscles today could well have been done without.
Pooch, bless him, as old age approaches (12 next) has kinda slowed down. He
’s quite content in just running back and forth, sniffing every nook and cranny, rather than just running off never to be seen again. This means he can be off the lead for much of the walks we do now, as we don’t have to worry about the said disappearing act. It also means he enjoys his walks more without the restriction of the lead. We wandered down into the cove at Bedruthan Steps, where he played in the water, dug sand and tried to bite mussels off the rocks. Well he is French! He’s a funny little dog.
The Cornish coastline is quite amazing. It’s wild, craggy and so romantic. You can just im
agine the smugglers of centuries past rowing into the hidden, almost inaccessible coves and inlets to unload their contraband. A precarious occupation that could so easily have ended drowning in the sea or swinging from a gibbet. We have a friend who hails from Cornwall and if I remember rightly, she had an ancestor who was a smuggler. He was caught and went to trial. Due to circumstances I don’t quite remember, his court case was postponed and in the intervening time, the maximum penalty was changed from hanging to a lengthy prison sentence. He escaped with his life. Just as well, or Jill wouldn’t be here!
Monday, 21 April 2008
Weather back to normal – rain and cold. So sat in and went through paperwork and sorted out some loose ends. Had a call from Liz at Westcountry and she’s managed to get me another date for Friday. Wish me luck!
Just back from doing my Articulated HGV test – failed. Hey ho! Apart from two mistakes that were serious to fail me (hitting a kerb and a debacle at a junction), the rest of the drive went swimmingly. So double DOH! Now, unless I get another date next week, Amanda’s will have to drive the car behind the RV whilst away in Europe which is no fun at all for either of us.
If I’d had the presence of forethought, I’d have booked two test dates, in case of this eventuality. But I didn’t so I can’t. Such a shame ‘cos I actually enjoyed the whole experience and it would have been nice to come out with the piece of paper. If it wasn’t for the fact everything is booked, we might have stayed longer to get it sorted, but we made our plans in the knowledge that that might happen. We never make it simple! ;-)
The training itself was a great experience and it’s amazing how well you have to drive these things. I have renewed respect for Artic drivers. Even so it still seems faintly ridiculous to me that as a leisure driver who wants to tow a 750+kg car behind a 7.5t+ motorhome has to learn to drive an Artic, a discipline for which he will never have any call for and is miles away from the style of rig he’s driving. An Artic has a short tractor unit and a very long trailer with wheels at the back end. An RV is up to 40ft long with maybe a 17ft trailer, which is generally so much narrower that it just follows the RV and is just, essentially, extra length. I do think that doing the rigid LGV is a good idea to learn how to drive such a large vehicle. But Artic for a small car that’s just over the weight? Hmm. But, we are a minority and we have to follow the majority and the law is the law. It’s all a bit of a bummer. In the US, there are no restrictions! Mind you, the roads are bigger. Man, you should have seen some of the roads I had to negotiate – I’d have struggled with a MINI.
The company I trained with is Westcountry Transport Training Ltd (http://www.westcountrytransporttraining.co.uk/) and they are brilliant. Tim was patience personified with this old dog who has trouble with new tricks these days, the rest of the four strong team just so friendly and supportive, especially the lovely Liz who looks after the office. She was so upset that neither of the trainees passed that Friday bless her. If you want to train for your LGV, I couldn’t recommend them highly enough – especially if it’s for driving RVs as they understand that we are doing the training simply for leisure. That doesn’t mean to say that it’s no less intense!
Apart from the training, not a lot else happening. Wandered into Truro last Sunday – really nice town. Lots of eclectic shops as well as all the household names. Found a really good café called Tempo, which served great salad bowls and coffee. I know, strictly speaking I’m not allowed coffee at the moment, but it was a decaf skinny latte. Hey look, I’m speaking L.A.! Really want to go around the Cathedral sometime.
Took a blustery cliff-top walk above Newquay with Pooch the other day. He had a whale of a time, despite being set upon by a huge black raven. We think we were close to its nest and it saw Pooch as a threat. It was quite a display, trying to draw Pooch to the cliff edge, would you believe! Of course, Pooch being Pooch was being suckered into this tactic, so we got him on a lead before he went over and became raven and fish food. A great walk, fine views (some pics here or on the album page) and fun. Pooch had a whale of a time but suffered for it afterwards. Bless him, he’s just beginning to feel his age with stiff joints and has to sleep forever after a good walk!
Saturday, 19th April
Met up with friends John and Adrienne from back ‘home’ in Swaledale. They have a motorhome and have come down to Cornwall for a week or two, so we went to meet up. Had a lovely lunch (thanks!) and a cold and blustery walk to Boscastle. You may remember that in August 2004, Boscastle suffered severe damage after a downpour created a huge tide of water that swept down the narrow valley and took half the village with it. Scores of cars were washed into the harbour and out to sea, houses and bridges were demolished and miraculously, no one lost their life. It has gradually been rebuilt and an interesting visitor centre has a display showing the extent of devastation. Scary. Look at the picture of Boscastle here, particularly the white cottage to the right. The water reached the level of the guttering! OK, the blog wouldn't let me upload the pictue. Watch this place!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Another cliff top walk today, only much more spring-like. In fact it was a truly wonderful day and Pooch enjoyed himself immensely, especially as there wasn’t a raven in sight. We fou
nd a great picnic spot perched on a cliff top, where we ate lunch whilst seagulls wheeled overhead and we looked to out over a green blue sea and heard the waves crashing to shore below us. To feel the warmth of the sun was a joy and we laid out and dozed for a while, whilst Pooch wandered off into the undergrowth hunting out small furry critters. I took some video and stills of the seagulls (not easy) and had a great deal of fun. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed just doing that and I felt a wave of peace wash over me; something I haven’t felt for a number of years now and especially of late. I really think I may be on the mend after this last year. Amanda enjoyed herself so much too, although the aching muscles today could well have been done without.Pooch, bless him, as old age approaches (12 next) has kinda slowed down. He
’s quite content in just running back and forth, sniffing every nook and cranny, rather than just running off never to be seen again. This means he can be off the lead for much of the walks we do now, as we don’t have to worry about the said disappearing act. It also means he enjoys his walks more without the restriction of the lead. We wandered down into the cove at Bedruthan Steps, where he played in the water, dug sand and tried to bite mussels off the rocks. Well he is French! He’s a funny little dog.The Cornish coastline is quite amazing. It’s wild, craggy and so romantic. You can just im
agine the smugglers of centuries past rowing into the hidden, almost inaccessible coves and inlets to unload their contraband. A precarious occupation that could so easily have ended drowning in the sea or swinging from a gibbet. We have a friend who hails from Cornwall and if I remember rightly, she had an ancestor who was a smuggler. He was caught and went to trial. Due to circumstances I don’t quite remember, his court case was postponed and in the intervening time, the maximum penalty was changed from hanging to a lengthy prison sentence. He escaped with his life. Just as well, or Jill wouldn’t be here!Monday, 21 April 2008
Weather back to normal – rain and cold. So sat in and went through paperwork and sorted out some loose ends. Had a call from Liz at Westcountry and she’s managed to get me another date for Friday. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Thursday 3 April.
Nicely settled in a Carvynick after the drama with the water tap. Ah, I see I haven’t told you about that yet. Well, the journey down here was long but uneventful until, that is, we arrived at Carvynick. Got on to the pitch, levelled up and sent the lounge slide out. For the first time ever, I forgot to check all was clear. Half way out, I realised something was wrong. I pulled it back in and saw the water tap for the pitch spraying water and an inspection of the ‘van saw a great big dent in the locker door. As you can imagine I was not happy; it was just one more sharp knife being driven into what is already a fairly fragile confidence at the moment. Amanda had her work cut out for her that evening dealing with me.
Today dawned the same as every other day since we arrived – foggy. In actual fact it is more like an over-enthusiastic sea fret and has usually got bored by lunchtime and wandered off to allow the sunshine to come through. Today was no exception and by 1pm we were in shorts and T-shirts enjoying a lovely long walk. Just as we got back, the playful fret came rolling back in from the sea, it went chill and we put the heater on and curled up on sofa’s and chairs to read. What a cracking day.
Nicely settled in a Carvynick after the drama with the water tap. Ah, I see I haven’t told you about that yet. Well, the journey down here was long but uneventful until, that is, we arrived at Carvynick. Got on to the pitch, levelled up and sent the lounge slide out. For the first time ever, I forgot to check all was clear. Half way out, I realised something was wrong. I pulled it back in and saw the water tap for the pitch spraying water and an inspection of the ‘van saw a great big dent in the locker door. As you can imagine I was not happy; it was just one more sharp knife being driven into what is already a fairly fragile confidence at the moment. Amanda had her work cut out for her that evening dealing with me.
Today dawned the same as every other day since we arrived – foggy. In actual fact it is more like an over-enthusiastic sea fret and has usually got bored by lunchtime and wandered off to allow the sunshine to come through. Today was no exception and by 1pm we were in shorts and T-shirts enjoying a lovely long walk. Just as we got back, the playful fret came rolling back in from the sea, it went chill and we put the heater on and curled up on sofa’s and chairs to read. What a cracking day.
Saturday, 29 March 2008. First day of British Summertime and do you know what, today we could have believed it. It’s been a lovely, sunny day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The birds have been singing their hearts out and the lambs around and about bleating for joy! Life feels so good in the sun. It’s heading towards 7pm now and Amanda has just gone back into Floozie2 as she’s getting a chill. Have to admit, the light breeze does not have any element of warmth about it! But I’m making the most of being able to sit out in the late evening sunshine. Brrrrrr
Sat with a gin and tonic and a bowl full of olives and garlic. One part of this delicious combination is good for me, the other not so. Yin and Yang. Does it balance itself out??! Let me live in the lie!
Getting here to Harbury on Friday was interesting. It is only an hour or so from Dudley’s (where Floozie was getting some last minute repairs) and I had decided to take the A roads via Banbury, missing out the M40 motorway. Last minute, I decided I couldn’t be bothered negotiating said roads and went for the motorway option instead. BIG MISTAKE! Within a minute of joining the motorway there was a hold up. Then a sign saying the motorway was closed at a junction miles ahead. DOH! Managed to get off at the next turn-off, had lunch in a service station, then found an alternative route which took us, you guessed it, via Banbury. What should have been one hour turned out to be nearly six. Hey ho. We got here, got set up on this lovely site and settled in.
Sat with a gin and tonic and a bowl full of olives and garlic. One part of this delicious combination is good for me, the other not so. Yin and Yang. Does it balance itself out??! Let me live in the lie!
Getting here to Harbury on Friday was interesting. It is only an hour or so from Dudley’s (where Floozie was getting some last minute repairs) and I had decided to take the A roads via Banbury, missing out the M40 motorway. Last minute, I decided I couldn’t be bothered negotiating said roads and went for the motorway option instead. BIG MISTAKE! Within a minute of joining the motorway there was a hold up. Then a sign saying the motorway was closed at a junction miles ahead. DOH! Managed to get off at the next turn-off, had lunch in a service station, then found an alternative route which took us, you guessed it, via Banbury. What should have been one hour turned out to be nearly six. Hey ho. We got here, got set up on this lovely site and settled in.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008. The blog’s a bit behind in time as we don’t have a internet connection, but the date’s important so we’ll start with that.
First day of our travelling life and boy do I hope that the rest of our life isn’t like to today! What a mare!
It got off to a fair start despite my reluctance to get out of bed. Amanda took herself off to work for her penultimate shift and I got the last bits of the ‘van ready to go. Wandered into Reeth to recycle bottles and papers, met up with a couple of friends, then got ready to go by 10:45. First tricky task- get out of Orchard park. Nearly impossible without taking the fence down! Managed to dismantle one of Peter’s signs. Sorry Peter! Got a nice scratch from a branch too; not me but Floozie2.
Made my way to the A1, when my off-side mirror (the important one!), decided to come loose and drift inwards, effectively blinding me as to what was on the road. Finally found a safe lay-by to park up to fix it. Had every sized allen key bar the one to fit the mirror, so ended up gaffer taping it. Stood in some sh*t, didn’t notice and trailed it into Floozie2. Nearly got mowed down by a truck. Getting the picture yet?
Not much farther down the road, I indicated and pulled out in front of a car to overtake a lorry. Now admittedly, I didn’t give as much space as normal, but I still gave plenty. Our friend took exception to this, and overtook me then slowed right down infront, making me slow down. I cleared the truck, pulled in and he did the same (heading for a junction) but then slowed right down again, making me do the same and forcing the truck behind to braked suddenly. He then left the motorway, signalling his opinion with one hand, to which he received a similar reply! Now, you tell me. I may have made a small, but non-dangerous error of judgement. But this numpty’s behaviour could have quite easily have caused an accident, such as the tuck behind me jack-knifing. And all because he was a pissed off rep in a Ford Mondeo. No wonder there are so many accidents on the roads if his behaviour is indicative. I have never in twenty odd years of driving come across anything so utterly bloody stupid.
Then it started to rain.
Then the traffic was busy and some more dozy drivers.
Kept pulling off to get some LPG only to find I couldn’t get at it. Finally got some at Northampton South services. Pulling out, I missed the A43 road and was heading for the M1 again. No problems, just reverse back into that roadway there and away we go. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a sign stuck in the pavement and reversed over it. That’ll be my first insurance claim in 22 years. DOH! Still haven’t checked the bikes properly, but hope they’re OK. Otherwise, not much to show for the carnage I left behind! Hey ho, I joined the ranks of the numpty drivers! That’s my third reversing accident with Floozie2, the others being fairly minor. I trust it will be the last. I finally arrived after 6 hours travelling – exhausted!
Right now, I’m a Dudley’s American RVs in Witney, Oxfordshire on the right side of dinner and a couple of beers. Amanda, I’m sure will be tucking into a Burgoyne Hotel dinner as I write! Pooch is tucked up on the sofa, very happy. I’ve promised him a long walk tomorrow – hope the weather’s good. We have waterproofs if it isn’t. 8pm – time for bed!
First day of our travelling life and boy do I hope that the rest of our life isn’t like to today! What a mare!
It got off to a fair start despite my reluctance to get out of bed. Amanda took herself off to work for her penultimate shift and I got the last bits of the ‘van ready to go. Wandered into Reeth to recycle bottles and papers, met up with a couple of friends, then got ready to go by 10:45. First tricky task- get out of Orchard park. Nearly impossible without taking the fence down! Managed to dismantle one of Peter’s signs. Sorry Peter! Got a nice scratch from a branch too; not me but Floozie2.
Made my way to the A1, when my off-side mirror (the important one!), decided to come loose and drift inwards, effectively blinding me as to what was on the road. Finally found a safe lay-by to park up to fix it. Had every sized allen key bar the one to fit the mirror, so ended up gaffer taping it. Stood in some sh*t, didn’t notice and trailed it into Floozie2. Nearly got mowed down by a truck. Getting the picture yet?
Not much farther down the road, I indicated and pulled out in front of a car to overtake a lorry. Now admittedly, I didn’t give as much space as normal, but I still gave plenty. Our friend took exception to this, and overtook me then slowed right down infront, making me slow down. I cleared the truck, pulled in and he did the same (heading for a junction) but then slowed right down again, making me do the same and forcing the truck behind to braked suddenly. He then left the motorway, signalling his opinion with one hand, to which he received a similar reply! Now, you tell me. I may have made a small, but non-dangerous error of judgement. But this numpty’s behaviour could have quite easily have caused an accident, such as the tuck behind me jack-knifing. And all because he was a pissed off rep in a Ford Mondeo. No wonder there are so many accidents on the roads if his behaviour is indicative. I have never in twenty odd years of driving come across anything so utterly bloody stupid.
Then it started to rain.
Then the traffic was busy and some more dozy drivers.
Kept pulling off to get some LPG only to find I couldn’t get at it. Finally got some at Northampton South services. Pulling out, I missed the A43 road and was heading for the M1 again. No problems, just reverse back into that roadway there and away we go. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a sign stuck in the pavement and reversed over it. That’ll be my first insurance claim in 22 years. DOH! Still haven’t checked the bikes properly, but hope they’re OK. Otherwise, not much to show for the carnage I left behind! Hey ho, I joined the ranks of the numpty drivers! That’s my third reversing accident with Floozie2, the others being fairly minor. I trust it will be the last. I finally arrived after 6 hours travelling – exhausted!
Right now, I’m a Dudley’s American RVs in Witney, Oxfordshire on the right side of dinner and a couple of beers. Amanda, I’m sure will be tucking into a Burgoyne Hotel dinner as I write! Pooch is tucked up on the sofa, very happy. I’ve promised him a long walk tomorrow – hope the weather’s good. We have waterproofs if it isn’t. 8pm – time for bed!
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