Chirk castle which is a national trust property sits on the land next to the campsite we are on now. Built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer De Chirk. A real Medieval castle. The castle itself is closed in the winter but I wanted to get some phots of the outside.

We walked from the campsite up the hill through the woods and across fields. As we walked my imagination was running wild thinking of all the invaders marching across these very fields towards the castle to invade it. Now it was just us and a few sheep looking on.

It really is a fantastic building. We will come back another day to look inside. The whole walk from the site, up around the castle and back to site was about three miles.

At the entrance to the grounds is a magnificent set of gates, all painted white with a red hand at the top. We have seen this red hand a lot around Chirk so we had to find out what it was all about. The story goes that the owner of the castle had twin boys, one was a little goodie two shoes and the other one was a bit of a rogue. The father could not decide who would inherit the castle and land so he organised a race. The first to cross the line would inherit the castle and grounds. The race started and the goody two shoes boy was winning which is what the crowd wanted, but as they neared the finish line the bad boy pulled out his sword and chopped of his hand and threw it over the line. We don’t know if he did inherit the castle but it makes a good story.

We drove out to our campsite where we will be working this year. It’s a fifty mile drive each way. We passed a lot of swollen rivers and flooded fields. It was a overcast day and some of the welsh mountains were shrouded in low cloud. I love Wales and the scenery is fantastic and will be even better on a nice sunny day. We passed a couple of big lakes and not a lot of traffic which was nice. The site was loverly with great views. We are both really looking forward to working there for the season and getting out and about in the area.

Last night we decided to treat ourselves to a beer and wine at a pub in the town. We decided to go to the Hand hotel after looking at the website. The hotel sits proudly in the town and as you enter you are almost thrown back in time, the decor pictures etc. The staff were so friendly and the prices very good considering we were in a hotel. A good late afternoon and early evening was had. This welsh dragon guards the bar area.

It was dark by the time we left the bar for our walk home. We crossed the railway bridge over the station and with the big factory in the background with steam belching out from it’s chimneys looked great against the dark sky. Another photo opportunity for my phone on night setting. Really pleased with the result.

We are now at Chirk, a small old fashioned town right on the Wales England border between Wrexham and Oswestry. A couple of pubs in the village, butchers, bakers but no candle stick makers. I love this greengrocers with stuff out side just like they used to be until Tesco and Sainsbury’s came along.

Chirk is famous for its aqueduct. It was completed in 1801, designed by Thomas Telford and built by him and some builders. It measures 220 metres long and is 21 metres high. Has ten arches and spans the river Ceiriog. It’s in two parts, one part is for the canal boats which must be quiet a thing to go across in a narrow boat. On one side you have the towpath and one the other side a sheer drop of 21 metres. You have to make sure you get off the boat on the right side.

The other part of the aqueduct is for the railway, and trains pass over to everyday. This part was built higher because at the time to travel by train was so much better so you could look down on the Canal. It amazes me how they built these structures all them years ago and even more that they are still standing and being used every day. If you walk across it, I did, Nikki can’t walk across anything high, her legs go to jelly and it feels like the ground is all moving under her feet. Me, I just love things like this so had to walk across it. The views from it are fantastic and you relies how high up you are and appreciate the builders work even more. When you walk across it you actually cross the border of Wales and England, so yesterday I walked from Wales into England. No wonder I slept well last night.

Another part of the canal is the tunnel which is 241 metres long and very dark. Known to the locals as The Darkie. It starts just by the railway station and exits at the aqueduct. It was one of the first canal tunnels to have a towpath. There is a handrail all along the length of it so you don’t fall in the canal if you choose to walk through it. I asked Nikki if she wanted to walk through it with me and her answer was a big NO. So I said to her I will see her on the other side as I went into the darkness and yes it was dark as I don’t normally carry a torch around with me. But the handrail was there to stop me falling in the canal. In the picture you van just a speck of white just above the handrail. There is light at the end of the tunnel. That was my goal to get there. I made it.

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Our time at Chester flew by. We had so much planned and never did half of it due to the weather. Thanks storm Dennis. We also looked at a car which took up two days, one to view and another to go back and pick it up. We do plan to go back to that site though and do all the things we never did this time.

Our friends David and Elaine were working there while we were there but we managed to walk down the pub with them and have a beer or two and some food. They are now gone off to their new site for the season. Another set of wardens we knew from Dulverton were also there visiting family. You just can’t get away.

Storm Dennis was a bit of nothing really in Chester area, yes it was windy and rained but not as bad as they said it was going to be. I know some places have had really bad flooding around the country and I do feel sorry for them.

At the campsite we are under a flight path to Hawarden airport so you see planes coming overhead. Nothing unusual there but there I was sat gazing out the window when this huge big plane come into view that looked like a flying whale. It looked like a Beluga whale. I jumped out the camper and took a picture. Not a very good one. sorry but it was up high and I had to act fast. Then I looked on google and found out it was actually called a Beluga airbus flying into Hawarden airport. They are used to transport wings for airbus planes and other large loads like Nikki’s wine supply. How did they know her glass needed topping up. They really are a weird looking plane. The picture below of one on the ground is not one I took but gives you a better idea of what they look like.

This was my attempt at getting a photo of it. Don’t laugh, it’s the best I could do in the circumstances.

After seeing the Beluga airbus the excitement never stopped because the next day we went to pick up the new to us car. We have never had such a new car, it’s four and a half years old. It will suit our lifestyle so much better. All went smoothly at the car supermarket and the payment didn’t get rejected, although the credit cards are now smoking in the corner. Nikki drove Timmy Toyota back to site and I drove Patsy Passat. Yes we named her Patsy Passat because she is absolutely fabulous. Remember the TV series. I know we are sad really….but we are happy. Yesterday I sat in Patsy pressing buttons and looking all round and trying to find out what does what while looking through the manual which is like a telephone book. Modern cars have so much in them now and so many electrics. All very nice when it’s working but a pain when it goes wrong.

Today we hitched up Timmy and Nikki got in Patsy and we headed out on the highway in convoy to Chirk. Only an hours drive and as we left the site I sung to myself. We got ourselves a convoy 10 4 good buddy. Chirk is just south of Wrexham. We are now officially in Wales.

I bring you Patsy Passat. For those that want to know she is a 2.0 TDI SE Business VW Passat.

While at Hollywood, or close to it the word was out there was a storm brewing and heading right across the uk. Storm Ciara was coming for us, batten down the hatches, don’t go out your front door, call the cat in, are sure you have enough food and water in the house for at least a month. I sat looking out the camper window at the trees and thought, could that one hit us, what if that branch fell off, shall I move pitch. We had some spindly trees directly behind us but I decided what ever pitch we were on there were trees around so it was going to be a case of hope for the best.

Storm Ciara came and went, yes it was windy and it did rain, a couple of little twigs fell of the tree behind us. No damage to the camper though. I know right across the country there was some damage but we were lucky. All we had was about an inch of flood water on some of our pitch. Well it’s not really flood water, it’s a puddle. It made a nice picture though.

The next day we had arranged to go and see our friends Jo and Tony, meet up for lunch and a catch up. They were are wardens at Cirencester last year. They live about 45 minutes away from the site we were on. So Nikki was doing the organising with Jo. All arranged Nikki said, great said I which pub we going to I will have a look at the menu on line. This is something I always seem to do when I know were going out. We’re meeting them tomorrow at 11am about twenty minutes away in a garden centre. A WHAT……..did you say a garden centre, yes that’s right a garden centre. We don’t even have a garden. A bloody garden centre. Is that so I feel like I am back at work surrounded by trees and bushes, plants and lawn mowers. I am only joking of course. We had a really nice time with them, catching up and a nice lunch. I know Jo follows my blog and knows my sense of humour. Next time we meet up jo, me and Tony decide the location.

Now we are at Chester after leaving Hollywood. Another motorway drive but it was another nice sunny day, dry roads etc. Got to site and checked in. While we were being checked in the sky went black and it started to rain and even a bit of snow. Got pitched up and checking the internet about the weather there had been a lot of snow in Wales. In fact the road that we will be taking to get to our workplace this year was blocked with snow and abandoned cars. Good job we weren’t going there that day.

Yesterday (Thursday) were due to get our levelling jacks refurbed. The company have to branches, one in Liphook in Hampshire and the other in the Wirral about half an hour from where we are now. We were originally going to get them done at Liphook I November but they messed me about so I rebooked for getting them done while up this way. You know when you get a feeling things are not right. I emailed them three days ago just to make sure we were still ok to come over and got a email back saying yes all ok but if the job runs over can you stay overnight in our yard. The job they are doing can easily be done in a day. I would have been there for 8.30 when they open and they don’t close until 5.30. Nikki never slept on Wednesday evening with worry about it and what’s going on with her mum etc. I was concerned about it so I emailed them back and said forget it. We will now get them done some other time with someone reliable. I will not be recommending that company to anyone.

If you follow this blog you will know we have decided to change the car for something more practical for us. Now when I get a bee in my bonnet I do a lot of research so I know exactly what I want and I go for it. Over the last twenty years Nikki has raised her eyebrows on more than one occasion to this but is glad with the outcome. The choice of car was going to be an estate which would give us plenty of room to put some of the stuff we carry about, could transport my surfboard and when fitted with a tow bar and tow bar mounted bike rack would mean we could get to places to go off cycling. Also a better car for long drives. I was on the internet everyday looking for either, a VW Passat my first choice being a Volkswagen lover. I also looked at Audi, Mercedes, Skoda, and a Volvo X60. I found a Volvo, on budget everything about it was good. Made an enquiry about it, they deliver the car to you but only to your home address. Not much good to us when we are 300 miles away from home. So that was crossed of the list. Second choice, found a VW passat estate, fell in love with it, on budget etc etc, only half hours drive from where we are now in Chester. I looked at that car on line every morning, lunchtime and evening just hoping it would still be there when we got to Chester. We were in Brighton at the time. The price dropped, it was still there. We left Brighton to go to Henley, it was still there. We left Henley to go to Hollywood, it was still there. We left Hollywood to go to Chester two day earlier than we had planned, it was still there. Due to arrive in Chester on the Monday I said to Nikki we will go and look at that car on the Tuesday. Looked on Sunday evening. SOLD I could have cried. I never, well I might have a little bit but I did do a lot of stomping around and shouting to myself. I was gutted. I know this may seem weird to most peaple but I am very passionate about my cars and you must know the feeling when your really excited about something then it just doesn’t happen.

Back on the internet the next morning I find another VW Passat estate. Well I found lots really but most were to high mileage or too far away etc. Only 45 minutes drive away from Chester and a much better specked car. The excitement starts again. Monday evening I have an online chat with a receptionist about the car and she says she will get someone to ring me the following morning. Tuesday morning I keep shaking my phone to make sure it’s still working, no call. Nikki points out it is only 7am. 8am passes, 9 am passes, 10 am passes. I can’t wait anymore I ring them and make an appointment to go and look at the car the nest day at 11am.They also put it it on hold for you for 48 hours so no one else can buy it, giving me first choice. So at least I knew I would have first choice on this one.

The rest of the day I continue to look at it every ten minutes and read all the specifications and show the picture of it to Nikki at least every half an hour. Wednesday morning arrives, I am up at 5am, showered and ready to go. Nikki is not. She is very excited about the car but not in the same way. It’s a man thing. The car was located in what they call a car supermarket in Trafford Manchester. About 1800 cars to choice from but I only wanted to look at one. Into reception, get given the keys and told where to find the car. You can get in it, start it but please don’t move it. If you want a test drive let us know. We went and found it.WOW it was better than expected, even the colour seemed different. Even Nikki said WOW but maybe not as many times as me. So third time lucky we have found our new to us car. Over budget yes, but we are buying it as a keeper so wanted it all to be right. We pick it up on Monday at 11am. Will I sleep Sunday night, properly not but I will have sweet dreams.

We were due to leave Brighton and head for Henley on Thames on the Saturday but decided to extend our stay there an extra couple of day’s. The route from there was all motorway M23, M25, M4 so a boring journey. It’s an easy journey with our outfit but so boring and I hate the M25.

The six nations rugby also started on the Saturday which I always like to watch, although this year was not a good start for England, but we won’t talk about that.

We got to Henley on the Monday again in glorious sunshine. I must say the weather has been ok this winter for us. Mild and some loverly sunny days, although the temperature is not as warm as Spain or Portugal. And the beer is certainly not as cheap here. Tuesday Nikki’s eldest son came over with one of the grandchildren so we went down to Wetherspoons and had lunch. Wetherspoons never fails really, you know what your going to get, cheap beer and pub grub.

This truck conversion was also on site. Not to everyone’s cup of tea, it I love it. I could just see us down in Morocco in that parked up by the beach. Me surfing and Nikki sipping her wine under the sunshade and reading her book. That truck would get me to places other motor homes could only dream of.

I really needed a hair cut so the next day we walked back into Henley, I went into the barbers and Nikki walked right up the other end of town to a wool shop. I told her to wait until we get to wales where there will be plenty of sheep to get some wool from but she went anyway. After my haircut and her wool shopping we met up and decided to have lunch out again, spoil ourselves because our holiday time is running out. There is a pub in Henley called the Bull which we have been to before and really liked it there. So the decision was made, lunch at the Bull. And very nice it was. I loved this writing on one of the walls.

So today we hitched up headed for a campsite called chapel lane, just south of Birmingham. Not far from a small town called Hollywood, and you all thought we had got on a plane to go and see the stars. Loverly old Abby building near the entrance to the site.

And the blue sky is real. A ten minute walk away from the site is a farm shop and we had to go and check it out. We could have spent a lot of money in there but resisted. Only just though. They have a cafe which I am not going to be able to resist because they do a loverly full English breakfast. We are here until Monday when we hitch up again and head for Chester. I need to get the levelling jacks serviced and that’s about half an hours drive from that site. More expense but it has to be done.

This is where We would like to be sat right now, a nice pint of real ale, a large glass of Merlot for Nikki and let the day drift away.

After leaving Devon we went back to Wareham just to break the journey up to Brighton. I don’t really like big drives and we still have time on our side, so why rush, life is to short as it is. A chilled out two days at Wareham and on to Brighton.

The journey was good apart from the fourteen miles of roadworks on the M27 which seemed like forty miles. Arriving at Brighton in sunshine was nice and we got a pitch on part of the site we like so that was good. Another couple of days of chilling out and then a trip to Eastbourne to see Nikki’s cousin Caroline and her husband David who had said about coming over for Sunday lunch. Now when home made Sunday lunch was mentioned I was all ears. We don’t have Sunday lunch, I know a lot of peaple do but we are not one for tradition so we eat what we want when we want. But and it’s a big but I put my hand up to loving a good home made roast dinner. So my little brain was working overtime at the thought of a home made Sunday lunch. I think at one stage I even started dribbling at the thought of it. I kept saying to Nikki, I wonder if it will be beef, or chicken. Nikki said it will be roast chicken. I was secretly hoping it was going to be beef and roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings and must have gravy. Are you getting hungry now. I am having to move my iPad away from me while I type this because I am starting to dribble again. Anyway we drove to Eastbourne, found their house and on entering you could smell the dinner cooking. Something smells good I said. That’s the roast beef cooking David said. Result I thought. Really nice to see them and the dinner was spot on. We even had rhubarb crumble for afters. Yum yum.

The next day was a beautiful sunny day again so we went for a walk down to see the sea. Blue skies and sea are always good in my book. This seagul knew which way to go for his dinner.

And this guy I think has waited long enough for someone to rescue. David hassolfoff eat your heart out.

I walked right to the far end of the marina to see if any surfers were catching any waves. There were a few in, the surf was rubbish, just some wind swell, but when you live and work in Brighton it’s all you’ve got so you make the most of what’s on offer. The fishing boats were all in the marina waiting for the wind to pass before they ventured back out again.

Yesterday we went to Worthing to see my dad and Jane. Always good to catch up with them. On the menu this time was a Thai meal in a restaurant about 15 minutes walk away. Again we don’t go out much so to go out with them was really nice. I even put trousers on for the evening but you will have to believe me as no photos were taken. I did feel overdressed though. The meal was fantastic and the loverly waitress looked beautiful in traditional Thai dress. We left Worthing this morning to come back to Brighton and back to our camper.

So that’s our week in Brighton nearly over. Tomorrow is our last day here before hitching up and starting our journey northwards. Next stop Henley on Thames again to visit more friends and family. The search for another car is still ongoing but I have narrowed it down to six models now and of course we still need to sell our little tow car. We only have another five weeks of freedom left before we start back at work.

We have been back in Devon now for just over two weeks making sure Nikki’s mum is ok. It’s been a tough two weeks because both me and Nikki also came down with bugs, properly caught from the hospital. Mine was worse than Nikki’s of course as it left me aching all over so much so that even my beard ached, that’s how bad it was. So the whole two weeks has been spent driving backwards and forwards to the hospital. We have had no time to see friends while being down here. We have not even been out for a beer. That proves how mad it’s been.

Then the good news Mi Mi was coming home, although we were not convinced she was ready for that just yet. Our thought were proven right as on the first night home she slipped off the bed and could not get back up, so at 11pm we got a call from her neighbour saying she can not get her up. A dash through the night to her flat and to pick her up from the floor. We then stayed the night sleeping on the floor to make sure she was ok. We did manage to get up off the floor in the morning. Carers are now coming in four times a day so she is in good hands. She still has a way to go but is heading in the right direction. (Be strong MiMi).

Another thing we have been thinking is we need a bigger car. Doing the job we do we have so much more stuff to carry about with us and we are really not set up for this. Our little tow car has been great, it’s tows great and is nice to have when we get somewhere so we can get about easier for shopping etc. It’s not really a long distance car and my surfboard and mountain bike are impossible to carry on it, making it a real pain. But changing the car brings its own problems. It means when we travel to the next site we will be in separate vehicles. Not really a problem as this will only happen at the start of the season and at the end of season. Some of the boxes can travel in the car, because we are carrying to much weight in the camper. Having the small car limits us so much.

When we travel like this and get somewhere I have to take all this out to get my bike out, go for a bike ride then pack it all in again, it’s like a military operation. And if it’s raining it’s a pain.

At least the weather has been great this last week, really frosty mornings but nice clear blue sky’s in the day. The car may be frosty but inside the camper is toastie.

The sunrise this morning was fantastic. I don’t mind these sort of days and if we got them all the time we would spend more time in the uk in the winter. Well maybe.

So tomorrow we head out on the road again. We have to move on and MiMi is in good hands, although it is still hard to leave. We are heading for Dorset tomorrow and then on to Brighton before we start heading north to start work. We have to head north from Brighton obviously as we will be on the south coast there. My calendar looks a right mess because we had all the sites and dates planned before we had to come back to Devon. One of the reasons i don’t like planning to much, because you never know what’s round the corner. And all the best layed plans can be changed so quickly. Just hope the weather stays good.

We left Pembrey in glorious sunshine but with a cloud over us wondering how Mi Mi (Nikki’s mum) was going to be. She got her name MiMi because every time she rings up she says it’s Me, so we started calling her MiMi a long time ago and still do. The journey is virtually all motorway but it’s a long one, from Pembrey you go towards Bristol via the severn bridge and then head south on the M5 to Junction 27 Tiverton and then on the A361. It’s the Bristol Chanel that gets in the way. I suppose I could have got my surfboard out and paddled across the Chanel.

After getting to south molton where the campsite is I set everything up and Nikki went off to see her mum. MiMi had taken a fall and now has an infection on her lungs etc. She has good days and bad days. We are seeing her every day but it’s so sad to see her so weak and frail. Get well soon MI Mi.

While on the campsite I have been up the woods for walks and by the small river that runs through the site looking for photo opportunities The flowing river with a long exposure, almost looks like ice.

Yesterday I left Nikki up the hospital on her own while I went out and did a few things I had to do. Chores done I headed for the beach at Woolacombe for my lunch. Not in a pub, or a cafe, or some friends house. I had the best seat in the house as they say. Sat on this bench in the sunshine with my little packed lunch I had made earlier. Cheese and ham sandwich and a pork pie if your interested and water to wash it down with. Not as good as a nice big steak and a pint of Guinness but the location is good. I have sat on this bench many times gazing out to see, checking the surf out, thinking about life. What’s happened, what’s going to happen. The waves keep rolling in regardless of what’s happening, which is how life is I think. You have to just get on with life regardless of what’s going on. There will be hurdles along the way but you have to get over them.

The weather has been pretty kind to us at Pembrey and the time we have had here is not enough. I could easily spend a month here. I went out on my bike a couple of days ago, leaving Nikki still recovering from her fall at home. I went all along the coast path to Llanelli and beyond. About 16 miles in total. The only reason I never stayed out longer was it was colder than I thought when I set off being next to the sea, and my muscles were getting cold. Maybe I should put some long trousers on.

There’s light At the end of the tunnel.

The next day was rest day and Nikki wanted to go into Llanelli to have a mooch about. For such a big town I was surprised how run down it was. Most shops Nikki goes in I stand out side watching the world go by and looking around, above shopfront height, the paint was peeling, green alge streaks, running down the walls, and the gutters were growing their own roof gardens. The indoor market was nice but a lot of stalls closed up. By lunch time we had seen enough the rain was starting.

Looks like reindeer.

So tomorrow we set off again, this time heading for North Devon which is an about turn, we were supposed to be heading for Henley on Thames. But how things change. Nikki’s mum was taken into hospital last night after a fall. (Get well Mi Mi) so we are going to Devon to see her and make sure she is ok to go home etc. Hopefully she will be home soon and our uk tour will be back on track , it just means we will be going a different way and have to change all the dates of seeing friends and family.

Today has been a sunny day and very mild. Had time to wash the bike off and pack everything up ready for travel tomorrow. And of course one last walk down the beach to smell, listen and watch the sea.

Some fungi in the forest.

After our Christmas Day pint on the beach. Ok I admit it was two drinks, you have to have a balanced diet and one is an odd number. That’s my excuse anyway. Boxing Day was a miserable day weather wise so we just had a chill out day inside.

Staying in is not good for me as I get cabin fever and so it’s not good for Nikki because I get on her nerves and tend to wind her up. We wanted to go out on the bikes so I said whatever the weather tomorrow I am going out on my bike, are you coming. Yes she says. Nikki has not been on her bike for a year, the last time being in Spain and the weather this day was not like being in Spain. But she got wrapped up and off we went along the coast path which would have been really nice if we could see anything through the misty drizzle. We biked to Burry Port, the next small town along from Pembrey. On the way back Nikki took a corner wrong and the front wheel went down a pothole in the grass and yes, she was off, lying on the floor groaning. I stopped and asked her what she was doing down there and to stop doing all these tricks. Joking aside she did hurt herself and think she has cracked a rib or badly bruised it and hurt her knee.

The next day we went to Carmarthen to visit some friends. A couple we met on the campsite in Cirencester. When they knew we were going to be at Pembrey they said we must come to visit. Really nice to catch up with them and the home made soup they made for lunch was loverly.

The next day we went to Gowerton to visit some more friends. They are also wardens and we met them when we were working at Tredegar. They are babysitting a site. Was nice to see them. It’s hard work this four months off you know. Going here going there.

Yesterday I went out on my bike, on my own all around the forest tracks. Only a short ride around but managed to do fourteen miles. (Without falling off). Nikki stayed at home. Then when I got back she said she was going to go for a walk down the beach. I can’t stay away from the beach for long so I went with here and walked another four miles.

Pit stop on the forest tracks

And the one that Nikki didn’t falloff thank god.

Today we went to Kidwelly to visit the castle. The castle is right on the banks of the river Gwendraeth. And this very castle was used in the opening scene of Monty Pythons film the Holy grail. Now you know where the blog title comes from. I love old buildings and castles etc. Kidwelly is only a ten minute drive away. Another small town. We got there early so no one else was in the castle. It amazes me how they built these castles all those years ago. Wales is home to so many castles. Some are just outside walls that are left but this one was looking good seeing how long it has been stood there, and all the things that have happened to it through it’s life.

Can you imagine what life was like peering out a window this size and seeing the enemy coming towards you. Today you look out at the church.

We were there about an hour wondering around, I went up as high as I could climbing a spiral stone staircase which was dark and damp and as low as I could climbing down into the bottom of the castle which would have been where the prisoners were kept. Some great views from the top.

After we got back from the castle and had lunch I was off out again to Burry port. I wanted to get my hair cut and had spotted a barbers while we were there the other day. WARNING do not get your hair cut in Burry port. The lad that cut my hair looked like he had just got off his paper round and found some scissors, or got some for Christmas and decided to play with them. Luckily I came out of there with my ears still attached to my head. I think I would have been better off going up into the Welsh hills and finding a sheep farmer with a pair of shears. Hope he finds another job soon.

So that’s us for another year. The last two months since we finished work have flown by. We still have another two months off before we start work. And more places to go and more peaple to see. So we wish you a happy new year and a prosperous 2020.

The king of the castle.