Today started suboptimally with an overnight migraine but settled by the morning, albeit with a slow start. Arriving at Nunnington Hall we were greeted by a very cheery welcome desk man who couldn’t find the annual membership form (reregistering as “someone” who is now 60 and gets a special rate). However he happily waved us …
Last evening ended with an owl singing us a lullaby and this morning dawn chorus at 5.30 We set off and met Rod & Viv at Rievaulx Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey from the 1120’s, partially destroyed as were so many during Henry’s reign just a few hundred years later. You can certainly understand why they …
Although the day started with a traditional bacon sandwich (with Mayo and a little ketchup!) and two mugs freshly ground Lazy Sunday coffee it was a slow start Rob had challenged us to drive up Sutton Edge in the campervan, we couldn’t resist, and in reality it was a cinch, sorry Rob!!! All practice for …
Having set off in what seemed reasonable time it soon became clear that the world and wife were on the move today and it deteriorated into diversions within diversions! However the van drove the 250 miles easily and we arrived around 5.30 The campsite is on Thirsk racecourse (beside it I suppose) and was full, …
As we prepare to set off to Yorkshire and beyond… The garden is looking pretty healthy and full of promise, I wonder what we will come back to.
Whilst camping in the New Forest, contemplating the next day of our unstructured tour (anticipating heading south west-ish) our daughter rang to say she missed the mountains of Switzerland (as you would!) and really fancied going to climb somewhere in the Peak District. It seemed silly to refuse, so we headed back to Newbury, and …
Setting off from Newbury, provoked memories of camping in the 60’s in the New Forest, but back then you could “wild camp” virtually anywhere, which mum and dad did, in some clearing in the woods, next to a stream/river, where Nigel employed his rope for some long forgotten purposes, and we tried to dam up …
Our final day involved a stop at Petworth House and garden. The house contains extensive selection of Turner, and Van Dyke, amongst many other, and particularly in Covid times, were concentrated in just a few rooms, giving a very intensive and easily digested tour. Notably two William Blakes were “hidden” in an archway, easily missed …
After a blustery night we set off for the Open Air Museum www.wealddown.co.uk But got distracted as we passed Goodwood Racecourse and stopped off at The Trundle, which we duly climbed despite the wind. After this The Open Air Museum, last visit ?35 years ago, Ying reckons she’d never been… Its a bit difficult to …
Due to other plans being cancelled/delayed, we decided on an ad hoc trip centred around Chichester, where I spent about 10 years, from 1963 to 1973/4, leaving soon after starting secondary school to go to Cornwall. Although not intended purely as nostalgia it seemed appropriate to revisit some of my memories for the first day …