Bang up to date

We’ve been in the UK for two-and-a-half months now, already a little longer than we anticipated. However, Floozie2 is still awaiting her MOT after having had a very thorough fettling at M-Liner. We were heading to Scotland this autumn so decided to let them have a go at it as they’re based in Alloa. So far, everything has gone well, apart from the time element, which is not their fault – parts are hard to get, as always.

For the past three weeks or so, we have been in B&Bs in Scotland chasing Amanda’s family tree, visiting friends in Yorkshire and now we’re in Cumbria, staying with my parents whilst waiting for the van to be ready. We’re ready to get back into Floozie and hit the road, nice though it has been. We are missing home.

Other highlights have included:

Staying with our friends Miv & Jay the weekend we hit the shores. We had a great time with them, going to Leeds Castle and taking part in an attempt to break the World Kite Flying Record. Not enough people unfortunately, but good fun and good money raised for charity. A trip up the Medway for Sunday lunch was great too.

The Northern Motorcaravan Show, held at Pickering. A quagmire due to awfully wet weather just before the event. It seemed smaller than usual too, but we had a good nosy around and got a lot sorted on the van and for it. Also saw Des O’Connor in concert – don’t laugh, he was brilliant; witty, full of anecdotes and with his five piece combo he sang some wonderful Sinatra type songs.

Reeth. Back home. Having felt homesick for the place for the best part of the summer, it was good to get back. It was also good to realise I was no longer homesick! Lovely to get back, see my friends, and to realise that I didn’t need to live there. We can always go back and visit and driving away again after a few weeks was no problem. Happy. Will miss my friends though!

Scotland: On the hunt for Amanda’s ancestors, we found ourselves based at a great B&B in Turriff Deveron Lodge From there we found the chapel that the Morisons built and the owners kindly showed us round what is now their home. We also traced three generations of Morisons back to 1700 and learned more about the landscape and type of life they led. It was a great four days. Then to Aberdeen to see where another side of the family, the Duncans, lived. Another successful tour around the graveyards in this very fine city. Would like to go back. From Aberdeen to Braemar just to chill out. It snowed and looked fabulous, especially when walking in the glens. Had a trip out to Glamis Castle, which is always worthwhile.

From Scotland we came back down to Reeth, staying at the glorious Burgoyne Hotel We went to a Halloween party, then went to Haworth to see our good friends Giles & Jill and their boys Tom & Joe. Always so good to see them and we were able to spend more than a fleeting few hours which was really good. Also managed to watch Lewis Hamilton win the F1 championship!

Back to my folks in Arnside. We were only going to stay a few days but we both succumbed to back and neck problems, the result of sleeping in strange beds. As we get older, we don’t do strange beds well!! So, seeing as how we were on the doorstep of our cranial sacral therapist in Kirkby Stephen Kirkby Stephen Holistic Health Centre we have stayed here enjoying familial warmth and hospitality (thanks!!!). And now it’s today and we’re making plans to go up to the motorhome tomorrow for the weekend. We’ll be able to get her sorted out ready for the off on Tuesday.

We’ve still to book ferry tickets, waiting until we know we’re ready to go. We are having a chat with the Camping and Caravanning Club on the 20th about becoming Overseas Holiday Site Wardens, which would help with finances and maybe take us to places we wouldn’t normal think of going. We also still have friends we have to see before we leave. That said, we need to be on our way by the beginning of December so that we can meander down to Seefeld via our German friends in Heidelberg.

Up to date. Crikey!