Off to Norwich

Off to Norwich.   For a very good reason.  Tomorrow I start a two day Practical Caravanning Course at the Norfolk Training Services Ltd.  I am aiming to learn how to hitch the caravan to the car, and solve the mysteries of the jockey wheel and most importantly I am going to learn how to reverse the car with a caravan on the back.

The fact is, I never learnt how to reverse a trailer when living in Australia, finding it much easier to get someone else to do it for me when I took rubbish to the tip.  To be truthful I find it challenging to even reverse a car on its own.  But I am determined. I will be successful.

I am on my own too, well at least until tomorrow night, when Walter will join me.  He has a dentist appointment tomorrow, root canal work, very unpleasant, and will catch the train up here afterwards.   I hope he manges to hobble around okay, when taking the underground trains.

So I drove up here on my own, without any problems.  The caravan is so easy to tow, and as long as I can move forwards all is well. I left in heavy rain.  How can we have no rain for weeks and then on the day I take the caravan out it rains.  But luckily it stopped after Stansted Airport and the sun came out.  Perfect.

I stopped for lunch at the services at Stansted and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the drive through type of parks for caravans.   I had a chemical lunch.  A low calorie sandwich from the Waitrose shop.  It had a cheese spread in it, and it was better not to think too much about what it was made of.  I also bought a container of cut fruit that was no doubt sprayed with something nasty to keep it looking fresh.  This was washed down with a Starbucks coffee.  Terrible.  

It was great to see all the old familiar landmarks as I drove from Stansted to Norwich.  We used to drive along this road often when Aaron and Kylie lived in Norwich.  The last time was nearly five years ago, just before they moved to the Netherlands. Memories.

But there were changes, the pig farms were still there, but there were also acres of solar panels in the fields and a super dual lane road through the Thetford forest area, which also bypassed Elveden.  I missed the forest on each side of the road, but not the queues of traffic.

So now I am sitting in our cosy carvan, writing my blog.  I must also add that the warden very kindly gave me a drive through type of site, so I did not have to use the mover.  He also unhitched the caravan  for me. 

Why am I putting myself through a course, when there are so many kind and helpful people around?  Independence and pride! 

 And now I must go to bed, and get plenty of sleep so that I can put my full attention into unhitiching and hitching up, learning not to wind the jockey wheel out of its holder and most importantly, learn to reverse.

I hope the cones are soft.

A much needed diet.

I am on a diet.   What a bore.  There is nothing worse, than someone 'on a diet'.     

During the past year I have tried to convince myself that the trousers that have been slowly mounting in the bottom of the drawer have shrunk in the wash.   But when the stomach started to hang over the remaining trousers I realised that I had a problem.   And it was not good, and getting worse.   I was also carrying around extra kilos.   Why?   Just when I wanted to walk lightly and freely.

But how to do it.   I am not keen on soft drinks, chips, takeaways, fried food, ready meals or too many cakes either.   So no good giving up those foods.   I also did not want to take on any diets that result in digesting large amounts of chemicals.  Or pay to attend a slimming club.  And adding up calories using my trusty little book was just too arduous.   But the extra kilos just had to go.

One morning I discovered an app for the mobile phone called 'My Fitness Pal'.   Anything that is a bit technical always acts like a magnet.   So I could not resist downloading it.  The app contains English foods available in supermarkets plus meals available in chain restaurants. And there are plenty of homemade alternatives.   All I have to do is press on the relevant food, and up pops an array of food items to choose from, and the calories.    Of course the temptation is to click on the item with the lowest calories, but no cheating here.    The app adds the calories up, and deducts it from my daily allowance.    And the benefit of exercise is, that the more I do, the more I can eat.   All the dog walking is really going to pay dividends here.   Fantastic.   

The app does all sorts of other fancy calculations, such as calculating fat, sugar and carbohydrates in each meal.   However I am only really interested in the calories and exercise.   The app is free, and paid for by the advertisements that appear at the bottom of the screen.   This was a little off putting on the first day, as the advertisement was for funeral plans.  Did that mean that if I follow this app, go on a diet, then I will need a funeral plan!   Most appropriate.  I also mistakenly accrued an extra 1,800 calories due to walking up hill for two hours.   Unfortunately, I had pressed the wrong key, as I had only walked uphill for ten minutes.  A pity.

The best thing about this diet is that I can eat all foods, just in smaller portions, which is obviously where the problem started for me.   Oversized portions of food.    

After years of resisting the temptation to weigh myself, I went out and bought scales, just to keep track of progress.   Scales with a magnifying glass, so that I can see the weight loss clearly.   

Every onwards, with this diet.   Boring I know.

Shoes, shoes and more shoes

I have never been one to own many shoes.   A couple of pairs of sensible shoes for work, a pair of shoes for casual wear, trainers, sandals, walking boots and wellingtons, have usually sufficed for my needs.  Comfort has been a priority.

    

Now I know there are many people that have an abundance of shoes, and some that love shoes so much,  they cannot resist buying yet another pair.   Even if they do not need them. And need I say that some of the shoes people buy are quite frivolous to say the least.    Usually impulse buying of shoes is not really my style.   But I think I am joing this group, the people who cannot resist buying shoes.

When I first retired, I kept the sensible working shoes, but never wore them, so they finally went to the charity shop.   Then I went through a period of collecting flip flops, due to spending my time in warmer weather.   

But now I am constantly on the lookout for colourful flat casual shoes, and they seem to be popping up everywhere I visit;  the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.   Colourful shoes, just waiting for me to buy them.    So irresistible. 

All ready for summer.

And I must not forgot my new dark pink trousers, bought on a whim last October, when visiting Utrecht, Netherlands.   Perhaps I need a pair of pink shoes to match the trousers.  A good excuse.

The mid spring weather is just glorious, and warm enough to wear lovely colourful shoes, but instead I am wearing my sensible Merrill grey walking shoes.   Typical.  

The selling bug

Selling items, on Ebay, is an activity that I do not often participate in, due to being lazy.  It is much easier to take small items to a local charity shop, and hope that they make some money from the items donated.

However I knew that the charity shop would not be interested in our foldup bike.  Too large.  And there was no one who we could give it too either.  So we sold it on Ebay.

We bought the bike, together with another  one, when we bought our first motorhome in 2007. The two bikes were put in our 'garage' underneath the top bunk.

They were very trendy, and many a teenage boy commented on them.  Admiration of course.  Unfortunately they were not suitable for anyone with long legs.  I always felt that my knees were going to hit my chin when riding the bike. Most uncomfortable.

 So we bought grown up bikes when we traded the motorhome in, for one that had a bike carrier on the back.  We gave one bike away and kept one for guests to use, as long as they were of average height.

So while I was at it, I also sold the dress I wore to Donna and Patrick's wedding.  Someone advised me to keep it in case I went on a cruise.  Perfect for the formal evening dinner, I was told. But I am never going on a cruise, and it was such a pity to keep such a beautiful dress hanging forever in the wardrobe.  So it has been sent off to be used again.

I auctioned both the bike and dress.  It was fascinating to watch the bids being put in.  So now I have the Ebay bug.   I wonder if I have anything else to sell.   Perhaps another good clear out might be in order.

Broken Bones

Walter is currently resting, with his foot up on the stool.   Now I know this is not unusual, but it is for a reason now.  He has a broken small toe and a small crack in his ankle bone.    And he is wearing a very flash 'moon boot'. 

How did he sustain his injuries, you may wonder?  No, nothing dramatic, no sporting injury or even a fall at the gym.   In fact it occurred on the day he put the new shade cloth on the conservatory roof.  Yes, weeks ago.  He missed the bottom step of the ladder as he was climbing down.  And sprained his ankle.  After consulting Dr Google, ice was applied, and with a bit of rest, we thought all would be well.

So for three weeks he walked everywhere, including a whole day walking around Blenheim Palace.   He complained that the bottom of his foot was very sore.  Of course, I told him to just 'get on with' and it will get better in time.

In the end Walter drove himself to the minor injuries unit, where the foot was x-rayed.  The diagnosis; a broken toe and a crack in his ankle.   I went to the unit two hours later, having arrived by taxi.  Naturally he could not drive home.

The plaster has since been replaced by the impressive boot, which is so much more comfortable and he is able to walk easily, and without crutches.

I would like everyone to know that Walter is now being well cared for at home.

Life with the dogs. Always interesting.

Dog sitting certainly has its benefits.   Lots of walks in the woods, up and down hills, raises the level of one's fitness.   There is also the entertainment value too, watching three dogs and their antics, and their power play.

In the woods, the three dogs are on equal territory, although Bobbi and Jezzie tend to follow Poppy, in and out of trees, and to the foot of every tree that contains a squirrel.   Bobbi and Jezzie like to play fight, and Poppy will join in, and bowl them over because she is so much larger.   Mostly they run around, madly.   There is one activity they do not share. Poppy loves mud and water, and Bobbi and Jezzie hate getting their feet wet or muddy, so they do not follow Poppy when she bounces into lovely muddy puddles.  Well lovely for her anyway.

They are all interested in other dogs, and a fair bit of sniffing goes on, but I notice  they stick up for each other, if another dog tries to dominate them.   Sometimes one or other of the dogs embarrasses me, usually when they growl or snarl at another dog.   It is always better to believe that your dogs are the best behaved dogs.   The most embarrassing moment was when they bailed up a man, who was brandishing a stick at them.   It was a bit incongruous; a friendly labrador, and two small dogs who are minus  most of their teeth, surrounding a very large man holding a very large stick.   He was not impressed.

Back home, Bobbi dominates, and will happily play with Poppy when the mood takes her, but she can also curl her lip, revealing one tooth, should Poppy enter any space that Bobbi feels is her own.   And at the moment it especially applies to the spots of sunshine in the conservatory.

On this beautiful sunny day, Poppy took refuge in the comfort of Walter's chair.  No sunshine.

Bobbi relaxing in the sunshine on the footstool, and Jezzie, unseen in the photograph, relaxing on the chair behind Bobbi.    Total dominance of the conservatory.  I might add that Bobbi was not entirely relaxing as she was watching out, in case Poppy tried to take her chance, and lie on the mat.

And when Bobbi and Jezzie went back to their home, Poppy breathed a sigh of relief and took control of the sunshine in the conservatory again.   Bliss.

I must add that we also lizard sat too.   Jeff has grown somewhat during the past two years, and his old vivarium, now only used when visiting other houses, is a little too small.   But he had a good view of all that was going on, in the house, and did not appear bored.   I am sure he breathed a sigh of relief at being out of harms way, when it came to the three dogs.

Life is certainly not boring, when dog sitting.   Or lizard sitting.   I must not forget Jeff, the most placid of all pets.

North Cotswolds

More than a week has passed since we arrived back from the Cotswolds.   Life has been very busy, with no time for writing blogs.   But I am now becoming restless and the need to write is great.  Therefore I must put pen to paper, so as to speak.

Back to the Cotswolds, which is an area containing beautiful countryside and villages.   And from my estimation covers a large area, and includes quite a few counties, such as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.   In fact the distance from north to south is about 100 miles. We stayed in a caravan park, in Moreton-in-Marsh, which is on the edge of Warwickshire.

I have included a few photogrphs of villages and towns we visited, just to give a snapshop of the area.  One of the significant features of the Cotswolds is the colour of the stonework used for buildings and walls. The Cotswold stone is honey-coloured, and unique to the area.   Even in grey and dismal weather, the stonework adds character and charm to the villages.  And a little brightness.

The first village we visited, was Stow-on-the-Wold, which was the highest of the Cotswolds towns, at 800ft.   Once a busy and important market town, with a focus on the wool trade, it was now a centre for antiques.   Walter bought a pair of slippers here.   Not antiques!.    After walking uphill from the large and convenient carpark, we found the centre of town to be full of cars.  A pity really, as it spoilt the place, and we had to really watch where we walked, as the footpath was narrow.   

But I managed to get a good photograph of some of the buildings, minus the cars parked in the square in front of them.   The medieval Market Cross can also be seen to the left of the photograph.

The Butchers Lane?   Very picturesque, and quaint, but no butchers' shops now.   We were trying to follow the signs to the Tourist Information Office, which had been relocated to the Post Office, so we found out later.  But they forgot to change the signs.

The next town, Bourton-on-the-water, which rated very highly on the visitors' list of places to visit, according to our guidebook.  Even though it was early Spring, and quite chilly, there were about six coaches in the carpark.  It was often referred to as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds', because the River Windrush ran through the centre of town.  I could not see the connection.  However the centre of town was very pretty, and full of character.   One of the landmarks, which I only read about afterwards, were the five bridges all made of local stone, which cross the river.

Our final stop were The Slaughters, Upper and Lower.  Our minds immediately wondered about how many people or animals were slaughtered here, but in fact the name comes from  the old English word 'Slohtre' which means muddy place.  Not that it was muddy when we visited it.

We drove through Upper Slaughter, but did not stop. It was yet another pretty Cotswolds village, and was known as a 'sainted village' due to losing no one in the First World War.

Our destination was Lower Slaughter, which was one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds, and the most photographed too.   The fact that there were 'no parking' double yellow lines on each side of the roads through the village helped as well.

We parked in front of this lovely church, and walked into the centre of the village.

The River Eye, which ran through the village.  The building on the right was now a very large hotel.  What a setting!

A lovely old stone bridge, for walkers only of course.

The Water Mill, which was now a cafe and shop.

Such a peaceful scene, and no cars.

Another stone bridge.

An old manor house, now another hotel.   It was very difficult to stop taking photographs in this beautiful village.

A sunny day!   Morton-in-Marsh.   We walked along the High Street, which amounted to a few shops, on market day.   Very pleasant.    Fantastic coffee too, in one of the little cafes.

We were fascinated by this extremely tall chimney poking out through a domed roof.   A stately home with an extra large chimney?   Whatever do they burn here?   We had many discussions about it, on the way past, on our trips to other destinations.   There was a sign which indicated that there used to be a mill and factory here, but we did not not stop to investigate.    So we let our minds speculate on the uses of this tall chimney.  

However I have since looked it up on Wikipedia, and it was called Bliss Tweed Mill, built in 1872 and closed in 1980.   It has now been converted into flats.  Not so romantic or mysterious.

The mill was on the edge of Chipping Norton, another old and charming market town, which focused on the wool trade.   I love the name 'Chipping Norton', so traditional English in the sound it  makes, as the name rolls off the lips and tongue.

There was so much to see and do in the Cotswolds.   We saw only a small part of the area so a return visit will definitely be on the future agenda.