Today is the day I got my first state pension payment. I have no idea how I got this far in life. I have asked around and googled it and still no answer to the mystery. But I plan to stay around for a long time yet.

So what’s been happening. Nikki went down to Devon to see her mum and sister leaving me home alone. With instructions on how to operate the cooker and dish washer. Luckily the weather was hot and sunny so I cooked on the BBQ which i can manage.

A big VW camper show was on about an hour from here so I went off there for the day also while Nikki was away. I must admit it’s great having a VW van in my life again.

Some really nice vans there that I could have happily lived with. If ever them lotto numbers come up I am going to need a big garage.

Tony and Anita our friends from Leeds who now live in the Yorkshire dales came to visit us for the weekend three weeks ago. They arrived by train. Was so good to see them and we had the great weather so cold beer and BBQ’s were the order of the day. It’s always good to see them and we always have such a good laugh. They loved it here by the canal as they have a canal boat.

The day after Tony and Anita left there was a bike show on in Oswestry which was a shame they had to go as Tony is a biker and would have loved it. I went along to it on my own. It’s put in by a local guy who builds Custom Harleys. Bikers come from all over and it’s well supported. Some of my favourite bikes below which were there.

Vinny the van is happy here because he gets looked after. He had the snow foam treatment at the beginning of July and looked very nice in the sun.

This weather is so nice but the older I get the more I want to get out the sun. I like it warm but not having any rain is nice. So nice weather and a van parked up and me with itchy feet I had to get away for a couple of nights. So man and van went to Snowdonia.

Stayed on a campsite we used to work on in 2020/2021 so it was nice to go back. It’s a great area and some great walks from the site. And a bike park just half hour away although I left my bike at home this time. The plan was to chill, hike and beer and I managed to do all three.

While I was there chilling a Robin came to visit me often which was weird because when i worked there I had a pet Robin. Maybe he was a relation to him.

I walked up to the Dam on lake Trawsfynydd which was a nice walk of about 6 miles. Going one way and coming back a different way. Shower and then a Hop, skip, and jump to the pub. It’s really that close from the entrance to the campsite. Beer and food was as good as it used to be.

After three nights away I came home. It’s only an hour and half away so it will be one of our go to sights. Next time Nikki will come with me.

The weekend just gone we had Nikki’s little boy (37) with his family visit. The weather held out once again and we had a great time. A nice gentle walk so they could walk across Chirk aqueduct which means you walk from England into Wales. From there we had a small diversion to the pub for refreshments. And then home for a BBQ. The BBQ is certainly being used this year.

The next day we went to the ironworks centre on the edge of Oswestry. There is always so much to look at there and we never got to see it all as some of the crew were getting tired legs. So a rest was needed. Another small diversion on the way home to the Stonehouse brewery and distillery.

Car keys handed to Nikki, a bench in the orchard and beer and food ordered. Then homeward bound where we sat out in our own beer garden chilling. And all too soon it was Saturday and they went home. Everyone had a great time though while they were here.

So that’s us up to date. Nikki went back to work today while I have another day off and go back tomorrow. Coming up the rest of this month we have a classic and retro car show to go to, Jo, Nikki’s sister visiting, Oswestry balloon festival and bank holiday two local pubs have music on. We like to support local so will visit one each day.