Killin where we are based for the season used to have a railway station. There is an old railway line which is now made into a cycle way that goes all the way to Callander. About 21 miles it goes through some woodland and beside the river etc. It’s on my list of to do bike rides.

I wanted to find the old station which is off the main cycle way but still accessible by bike. I headed off on my bike joining the start of the cycle way and then took a detour up through the forest and further on and then rejoined the cycle way. Then another detour onto what would have been the original railway line.

The old station house is now a holiday let property reached by a track. The only bit left of the station is the old platform which is slowly being reclaimed by nature. The last train to leave the station was on September 27th 1965 and the station was closed on November 1st 1965. I had missed the train by nearly sixty years. Maybe I should not have taken that detour up through the woods.

I carried on along the route which would have been a railway line only stopping to rescue a baby lamb which had got its head caught in a fence and was crying for mum. As I let the lamb go he/she skipped off and stopped for a moment and looked at me with a look that said Thanks Mike and hurried off to mum. I did 24 miles in total.

We had to do a first aid course for work which was in Stirling. So up bright and early and off for the day. I hate anything like this, being stuck in a classroom all day having to watch videos and answer questions. Reminds me of when I used to go to school. I did go sometimes….honest. To be fair though the course was good and the guy doing it made it fun and the day went quick and we got out early on good behaviour.

We were sitting out in our compound enjoying a cold drink when a flutter of feathers made us look up. A pigeon had landed nearby and was looking a bit confused. It was a homing pigeon but was obviously lost because he didn’t live with us. I gave him some water and some bird seed which he picked out the bits he liked.

I started to do some research because I could see he had rings on to identify him. He was around for a few days and started to be a nuisance even trying to get in the camper so I told him he was not welcome anymore and needed to reboot his sat nav and go home. Anyway he left the next day.

Another thing on my to do list was to climb the mountain behind the park in Killin. I didn’t manage to do it last year. It’s more of a hill really but it’s a big hill. Nikki was not feeling to good and was happy to just chill at home on our day off. I had itchy feet so just made my mind up I was going to climb up the hill.

So on with my walking boots, water bottle in the rucksack and a couple of chocolate cookies off I went. The walk from the camper to Killin is all down hill and looking up at the hill it looked a long way. And yes it was. But what a view. With a lot of wows, burning legs, lungs doing overtime and a lot of photo stops I made it. I sat at the top eating my chocolate cookies and just thinking how lucky I was.

Looking at the tiny houses down below and Loch Tay stretching out to the horizon flanked by more mountains. The sound of silence. I could have stayed up there all day but had no more food so had to come down because there is no way Nikki was going to bring my lunch to me.

Going back down is also hard because you’re stopping yourself running away and then I had to go back up to base for the last bit. A five mile found trip and about 1500 ft of elevation.

Another visitor while we were sat outside having a cold drink was a bug, not as big as the pigeon but very impressive. A North American saw fly. He must have been lost also. He looked very dangerous but was harmless and I moved him from the camper step so he didn’t get trodden on and he hung around then disappeared.

Killin has a small tractor cruise every year. Last year some on their way to Killin went past our entrance. We were working so could not go down into Killin to see them. This year again some went past on their way to Killin but then a couple of hours later I heard the sound of them coming back up the hill and all of them cruised past our entrance. They do a different route every year and this year I got lucky as they passed us. Some lovely old tractors.

Another day off so a small walk planned for Nikki. We drove towards Tyndrum and parked up at Tyndrum community woodland and then walked along the river and through the woodland to Tyndrum and had lunch there. The weather was supposed to be sunny spells with showers but we struck lucky and avoided the showers and only got the sun.

The site is looking great with all the wild flowers coming out and the bugs and bees and butterflies enjoying them. We have had some rain so after the hot spell everything is growing like mad. A couple of photos below of the bugs and raindrops on leafs.

As I write this the rain is falling and has been for a week or more now just as we were getting used to all that nice sunny weather. But we are in Scotland after all. I just think of the day I was up the hill in the sunshine eating my cookie and life seems good again rain or shine.

We finally got water back on site after twelve days. It’s surprising how much we all take for granted such simple things. Turning on a tap and water comes out, flicking a switch and a light comes on but when these things fail we realise how well off we are and while people all over the world are getting bombed and have no running water or electricity for weeks, months to them it’s almost normal.

A walk was planned for us on our day off. A trip to Aberfeldy and there is a walk there called The Birks. Made famous by Robert Burns. The walk takes you up through woodland beside the Moness Burn passing various waterfalls.

Nikki not being a good walker had her doubts about the amount of up hill involved and at one point she was ready to turn around and go back down but she carried on. The path forks shortly after joining it, we decided to go anti clockwise. A steady climb with me saying just around the corner, nearly there and getting a look back that said just leave me here and carry on yourself.

We could see the top now and I persuaded Nikki to give it one more push and then it would be all downhill from that point. She did really well and we had a rest at the top. You go over a wooden bridge at the top and then start to go down the other side. But there are a lot of steps this side and some big drops to the side. More things Nikki is not good with so a lot of the steps were taken with her hanging on to me and not enjoying the view because it meant looking over the edge. We were glad we went anti clockwise on this circular walk because of the steps.

She was glad when we got to the bottom and back on level ground. It was only a three mile walk but a lot of elevation. We were going to have lunch in a lovely little cafe we had been in before but it was shut so we had a snack from the local shop.

The good weather continues and more and more flowers are popping up all over the site, the bees are buzzing and I have seen a few butterflies which is a good sign. The weather this year is so different to last year. And no midges yet but I am sure they are not far away.

Bertie needed taking for a drive. Bertie is the camper and I don’t like him sat still for too long so he has to go on a road trip every 6/8 weeks. We had arranged a night out with the staff at the other campsite down the road so we would take Bertie for a drive and then stay at that site for the night. That way no one has to drive after going out and we could both have a drink.

It’s always good to be out in Bertie and because when we travel in the winter Nikki is driving the car she doesn’t get to sit in Bertie much when travelling. Although she holds her breath on the first bit of road which is narrow, bendy and on a hill.

Only a short drive of thirty miles to get to the other site which is only a mile from us but it got Bertie up to temperature and keeps things moving. it’s not good just doing short runs in your vehicle if it’s not getting up to temperature.

We had a great night out with our friends and it was dark when we came home so a lay in was expected the next day. We chilled out until the afternoon and then came back to base and had a BBQ and more beer in the sun.

The bank holiday was busy on site which was nice and with the weather being so good everyone is happy which makes life easier. The weather is going to be nice for the next week also here in Scotland.

I went out on my bike to take advantage of the nice days and dry conditions. I went up in the woods at the back of Killin and dropped down on to the old railway line. I was actually looking to find where the old station was but could not find it but after getting back and doing some research I discovered I was nearly there but that day my legs were tired. I was only a mile away and now I know I will go back to do that route through the woods and do a big loop which will include going to where the old station was.

We needed to go to Crieff for some more birdseed and some plants and hanging baskets for the site. You travel along the edge of Loch Earn and the road twists and curves as if it was built when all the workers came out the pub. But it’s stunning. A new feature at the St Fillans end of the loch is the mirror-man. A sculpture of a man built from hundreds of mirrored tiles and he is standing in the loch. Makes great photos depending on the weather.

A couple of mornings ago I was just waking up at about 5 am, I lay in bed and could hear a cuckoo, a pheasant and an owl and just grinned to myself and relized how lucky I was to be waking up with a dawn chorus like that.

So that’s us up to date and as I write this it’s set to be another nice sunny day. Sunday is a chill out day on site, I don’t use any machinery. The last photo is a Dandelion gone to seed but taken very close if you could not work it out.

The run of good weather has come to an end but more will follow hopefully. It was unusual weather for us up here in Scotland and other parts of the country. It was a good chance to test the bbq out and what comes with a BBQ, beer and wine of course. Never one to miss an opportunity for outside cooking, the only time I do cook I will add, and sit with a cold beer in the sun with a view to die for.

We had five BBQ’s over the warm sunny days and these included, Burgers, sausages, chicken portions with skin on, chicken skewers fried eggs, mushrooms, bacon and even some lovely steak. Not all at once I will add.

I know what you’re thinking, will the egg not fall through the grate. No, we put the eggs in a small stainless bowl and they cooked a treat, same with the mushrooms. I have other ideas for future.

The cold frosty mornings and warm days were much appreciated and view from our camper was nice one morning with the snow capped mountain with the sun shining on top and hazy atmosphere.

I needed some new walking boots so a trip to Stirling was the plan for an our day off. Now whenever I buy something I have to do a lot of research so I am sure I know what I am getting. I got the choice down to three different pairs of boots so off we went only stopping for breakfast on the way at the Scottish antique centre cafe. Which do such a nice breakfast.

The lady in the shop was very helpful and had all the time in the world for me and my trying different boots on. Proper old school service which I like. Pair one were very nice and fitted well, pair two were two narrow so thrown out of the mix, pair three were not in the shop, these were the ones I really wanted. So I had to make a decision. Do I take pair one or they could order pair three and get them sent to our base to try. After a few minutes umming and arring I decided to get the others sent out to try on.

The other boots arrived two days later, all excited I opened them up and gave a wow they are nice and then tried them on. Left foot fitted like a glove, right foot too tight so a little sad face and back in the box they went. It was as if they were two different sizes. The following week back to the shop and exchanged them for the first ones I had tried on.

So the season had started and the lorry that empty’s our cesspits arrived, a different driver to normal. As he turned into the driveway he hit the big white boulders and ruptured his diesel tank. Quick thinking I got him to pull out the entrance and into the pull in area where he sat with about 400 litres of diesel trickling out his tank. He had only filled it up the night before.

Phone calls were made and a rescue truck was on its way and a clear up crew. The driver was very upset about the whole thing but he calmed down and as I said to him. These things happen and no one was killed or seriously hurt and every thing else can be fixed.

Nice day day off time to get out on my bike. Having not been out on my bike much in the winter I was not going far this day. Only did sixteen miles but was nice to be out on the bike in Scotland again. I took a route I have been before and a bonus was I saw some deer which is always nice.

What you looking at

I have told you about the drive from here to the lovely tea room before. It’s a great drive so we had to get our first visit in of the season. A lovely sunny day and we were off towards the car park where we parked up and walked through the woods to get to the tea room. The walks are graded, blue, red and black. None of them are very long but the colours indicate the incline and difficulty. Blue being mostly flat, red not so flat and black bloody steep.

Because Nikki was with me we chose to go to the tea room via the blue route. A pink route was not available. It was a nice walk and the early lunch at the tea room was nice. Nikki walked back on the blue route while I chose to go via a red and black route and meet her back at the car. Was it steep, did it make me pant was I glad I went back that way. Yes.

The next day another walk was planned but from the campsite which would take us across the fields down the hill around the western end of the loch and back up the hill to base. While telling Nikki about the route she did suggest we take the car into Killin and walk from there but I said I was going to walk because we would pass the Killin hotel on the way back I might like to stop in there for a couple of pints which I could not do if I drove down there. At this point she changed her mind and said that would be nice so we walked down.

We took a picnic and had our lunch on the edge of the loch as it was so peaceful. Then continued our walk and tried to go past the hotel but a strange magnetic force dragged us into it. We sat in the garden overlooking the river. I know Nikki was thinking all the time. We have to walk up that bloody hill after we leave here but she did it. I waited for her at the top.

After building a BBQ bench in our compound I was getting creative so where a tree had been cut down we had decided it looked like something so some eyes were burnt into the stumps and a off cut was used for a mouth. Meet Stumpy.

After the poo truck incident we thought what could possibly go wrong now. Spoke too soon as last Saturday afternoon our water pump decided it had had enough. Our site water is via a bore hole with a pump which has been on its way out for the last two years. So more phone calls and emails resulting in everyone on site having to drive down the road a mile to fill their water barrels from our other site. The pump people called but couldn’t get here until Tuesday .

When they arrived they confirmed the pump had died, no kiss of life was bringing it back. We had to tell everyone to leave the site and all the bookings for the next week were cancelled. So we have a very quiet Easter weekend. And the pump is getting fixed next week hopefully.

Apart from my tractor breaking down, a caravan wheel falling off just down the road coming to us, another caravan hitting some small rocks on our entrance and getting stuck and a lady shouting at me about the lack of water life is going on as normal on a campsite. Never a dull day. The red squirrel has been spotted on different parts of the site and we have seen him ourselves and this morning I heard the first cuckoo.

We are back in Scotland but first our last couple of weeks in England.

While at Chirk on the Wales England border we hopped on the train to Shrewsbury to meet some friends for lunch. Was great to catch up with them again and we both said how the years are flying by. After the lunch me and Nikki caught the train back to base.

One last day out before leaving Chirk was to go to Ellesmere, a loverly small town which we both like. The mere is nice and there is a canal there and a loverly cafe/ restaurant called the Boathouse so we had to go in there for lunch after a walk down the canal path and through the woods.

On the way back from Ellesmere there’s a house where they have had a tree taken down and rarther than just leave the tree stump there they have carved some owls into it which look fantastic.

Llandegla bike park is where I had my accident on August bank holiday 2023 so as it was only just down the road I just had to go back down there. It was great to be back there. I must admit and a bit scary approaching the part where I had my accident but I survived.

We drove out of Chirk and headed for the Lake District and a place near Grange over sands. Again a campsite we used last year as a stopover on our way to Scotland. We were only there for a couple of days and the sun was shining and it was warm enough to sit outside chilling which we are good at. The following morning the sunrise was spectacular at 6.45am.

So then it was time to head further north and into Scotland. A dry day with sunny spells and four and a half hours later we arrived at Killin our home for six months.

Our site had been locked up since we left last year and it’s a very wooded site so you can imagine what a mess it was in after a Scottish winter with the storms we had in the U.K. last winter. Apart from all the leaves, twigs, branches that were all over the place there were also some big trees that had come down. The site looked like a tornado had gone through it.

We could see we had a lot of work to do to get the site ready for opening in ten days. The tree surgeons were on site for threes days also. Our main aim was to clear all the roads and pitches so when we were open peaple could get in and around the site. The grass areas can wait and be ongoing clearing up. We stayed at another site a mile down the road for a couple of days because we couldn’t get into our compound until we had cleared it.

While at the other site we thought it would be rude not to re visit the Killin hotel for a drink as we could just walk to it. So that’s what we did. Was nice to be back in there and even nicer when the lady manager remembers you with a big smile and says nice to see you again.

After a couple of days we could get the camper into the compound and admire our loverly view and the peace and quiet of the site. The deer were on the site in the mornings between 6am and 7 am, I had put my bird feeders up so the birds were returning. The red squirrel hopefully will be back when he knows there is food for him.

My frogs were pleased to see me and the daffodils were out. There is at least six different types of daffodils on site which is nice.

The weather has been great to us until yesterday when it rained so I hope that was not our summer gone. It’s been cold in the mornings with frosts but turned out loverly. We had a dusting of snow on the mountains we can see from the site which always looks nice.

We finished early on one of the days because we were so knackered after having six months off and doing so much physical work all of a sudden and because the sun was out and it seemed like a good idea to sit in the garden looking at the mountains while having a beer and wine. I was also given an old BBQ which will live outside but it needs cleaning up and a bit of work. It wasn’t ready for the that day but I have got it ready now and the weather is looking good for our day off so the plan is to have a bbq then.

So that’s us up to speed. The site is now open and we welcomed out first guests on Friday and were looking forward to a good season with lots of sunshine and getting out and about exploring the area again and of course keeping you updated if you follow this blog which I hope you enjoy.

Some facts of our winter trip.

I drove the camper 1654 miles from leaving here last year to getting back here.

I used £446 worth of fuel.

Nikki done more miles in the car because she gets lost and goes around roundabouts twice. The car also gets used a lot more but I forgot to record the miles before we left.

Nikki even washed the car once.

Take care and don’t forget to check in again soon.

Our last couple of days at Broadway we went for a final stroll around the village. Looked at the pubs we didn’t go in and the shops we could have spent so much in if we had the funds.

We strolled through the gardens of the Lygon hotel, a hotel we could not even afford to enter the reception but the garden was there and inviting so we took a look.

How the other half live we thought. Maybe one day when my lotto numbers come up we might stay for a weekend. I loved the old cottages we walked past with their old wooden shutters on the windows, very french looking.

And so it was time to pack up and head off to Malvern to visit some friends. Only an hours drive away and an area we have been to many times. We used to go to some big Volkswagen events at the three counties show ground every year. Even before I met Nikki I was going there, although those years are a bit of a blur.

Hanley swan is a lovely little village with a duck pond, a post office and a pub. A typical village where everyone knows everyone and life goes on at a slow pace until there is an event at the show ground just down the road then it’s like living on the M25.

We had a great time with our friends and one night had an Indian takeaway which was ordered and delivered to us. Washed down with a couple of beers the evening was complete and a good catch up.

Time to pack up again and head further north and into North wales to a town called Chirk. It’s actually right on the border of England and wales. We have worked the site we were going to and know the area well. It’s an area we both enjoy.

Knowing the area is a bonus to eating places and pubs etc so on my list of must do’s while we were there was. To visit the Hand hotel for a beer or two, to visit the bridge inn pub for a beer or two and a fantastic burger, to get a takeaway from the Asian takeaway which is one of the best we have ever had and to get a kebab from the the kebab house.

So as I was driving along the M5, M6 etc licking my lips at the thought of all that nice food and beer and staring at my marmalade sandwich and water bottle next to me, I was thinking not long now.

Shock horror, after checking in at the campsite to be told by our friends that the Hand hotel is closed, just closed down mid January and no one knows why. The Bridge inn closed but some one else is taking it on but not going to be open while we are here. The Asian takeaway burnt down last year. Luckily the kebab house was up and running so the next day we had our takeaway from there before anything happened to that. At least I saved some money.

We contacted some friends who live in Llangollen and went over to see them for the day. Mark had been really ill but was looking so well now. They have just bought a big house in a great location which needs a lot of work but will be fantastic when finished. Overlooking the river Dee and the railway line which has steam trains on in the holiday season.

Again it was great to catch up with them and hear all their plans for the house etc. we had a lovely lunch out and a nice rainbow greeted us when we stepped out the cafe. Just need to find the end with the pot of gold.

Another day another place to visit. This time we were going to Rhos on sea which is up on the north coast near Colwyn bay. Our friends who we worked with two years ago bought a flat up there so we went to visit them and see their new home. It’s just over an hours drive away.

We were really surprised by the area. Their flat was loverly and in a great location with everything you could want nearby and at the end of the road a beach. Yes it would get busy in the summer but winter time it was nice and quiet.

The weather was not the best while we were there but nice and cosy indoors. We did venture out for a stroll in the wind and rain and to get some fish and chips. We walked along the coast path to a tiny chapel, the holy well chapel of Trillo, smallest one in the U.K. I believe with seating for six. It measured 11 feet by 8 feet. It dates from the 16th century. It’s open everyday and there were even candles inside which someone lights everyday. The walls are two feet thick and has been there a long time.

As we came out the chapel there was another rainbow over the sea but I still could not get to the pot of gold. Perhaps next time. On the drive back we both commented on how nice the area was.

The last couple of days have been warm and I have even been sat outside in shorts and T shirt. We have had some very windy days and a lot of rain also. Those days I was not sat out side. Today I take my bike to the bike shop for new tyres and tomorrow we are going on the train to Shrewsbury to meet up with some more friends for lunch.

We have another ten days here and then head into the Lake District for a couple of days before going on to Scotland to start work.

After doing my hike up to the tower and enjoying it so much I wanted to go up there again but go a different route. I also wanted the sun to be out with blue skies for better photos.

The weather forecast was looking good so I planned a route and off I went. The route was only about half a mile longer it’s just it was a different way. I could also get closer to the deer this time luckily and the sky was blue so that was a bonus.

I also did a third hike up to the tower going a different route. This one was a bit longer but such a lovely morning. I went across the border from Worcester into Gloucestershire and through a beautiful small village called Snowshill. There was no snow, just a local pub, a church and some lovely Cotswold cottages. I also passed the Lavender fields which in the summer would have looked flourishing but this time of year just looked nice in their rows.

The three routes were.

Route one = 5.5 miles

Route two = 6 miles

Route three = 8 miles

There was a cold wind on the third hike so eating my marmalade sandwich at the tower was quick. From there it was all down hill into the village of Broadway.

Nikki was back now so we decided to go out for a meal and drink as we had not been out in Broadway. So I sold one of my kidneys to pay for the evening. Only joking I didn’t really but the cost of an evening out in Broadway ain’t cheap.

Two drinks costing £18.25. I had to go up to the bar three more times to make sure that was right and yes it was the same every round. Luckily Nikki had spotted a deal on their website giving 50% off main meals for that week. yes it was expensive even with the 50% off meals but it was a great evening and we do like to enjoy ourselves. So if you’re ever in Broadway make sure you have arranged a bank loan before going to the pub.

The next day we had a walk around the village via some back lanes looking at all the cottages etc. This was Nikki’s sort of walk. She wanted to get some bits from the Co Op shop so I sat outside in the sun waiting for her.

While sat there I witnessed something I have not seen in a very long time. A kid about 9/10 years old came out the shop with his bag of sweets picked up his scooter which he had parked out the way, not just dropped it in the path of everyone. He then sat on a bench eating his sweets and checking his phone. Then he put his rubbish in the bin. I was surprised at that but because there was a gentle breeze before he could walk away the rubbish blew out the bin. He then picked it back up and put it in the bin again making sure it would not blow out. I was so impressed. He then got on his scooter and off he went.

A couple of the lovely Cotswold cottages around Broadway which look so nice but they don’t have wheels so you can’t move them about.

I have really enjoyed being here in Broadway for three weeks. It’s a lovely village. I would like to come back when the steam train is running from Broadway to Cheltenham. The old station looks good and they are doing some refurb work now while it’s closed for the winter. But I would not want to be here in the summer when it gets flooded with tourists.

We move on again tomorrow, going to Malvern to visit some friends for a few days. Malvern will be stopover 15 from 18 which means we are only 3 stops away from our work base for the summer. I can’t believe the time has gone so quick along with the bank balance. But like I said before, we have done a lot and enjoyed ourselves.

The six nations has started now so it’s my turn to take over the tv on weekends. And having a pint or two while it’s on in the camper is nice and cheap but not the same as being down the pub watching it.

This last sign made me laugh while we were in a Laundry catching up with our washing.

The last few days at Cirencester were cold and dry, then damp, Misty and drizzly. I prefer the cold days out of the two but would much prefer to have some sun on my back.

I went for a nice long walk on one of the frosty days, up through the Bathurst estate and across the field’s, all in all about six miles. Saw some deer and a red kite, that’s a bird not a pice of plastic with a string attached to it held by a small child. The clouds as I set of were interesting.

The frozen fauna was interesting, called old man’s beard and funnily enough by the time I got back from my frosty walk I had ice in my beard. I felt like an artic explorer. The next day was also cold and started with a loverly sunrise while most peaple were still tucked up in bed.

The last week at Cirencester I was also home alone. Nikki had gone off to see her sister for two weeks leaving me to fend for myself. Luckily she had gone shopping before she left. Because she took the car any shopping I needed I had to walk a mile to the shop and carry it all back in my rucksack another mile. So I thought If I walk to the shop I might as well walk to the pub, eat in the pub and walk back. That would save me carrying a rucksack full of food and possibly hurting my back.

I arranged to meet some friends in a pub in Cirencester, I have known them for 40+ years and they only live about half an hours drive from Cirencester. So a time and place was arranged.

I got there early and walked into the pub and it was full of kids and very noisy and they never served Guinness so I walked out, messaged my friends and said change of venue. Good pub, good Guinness and good food. Everyone happy. Was really good to catch up with them.

Time to move on to Broadway. I packed the camper up and headed out on the road for the trip of nearly an hour north and into Worcester and to another Cotswold village.

Broadway is a beautiful place with all the Cotswold stone buildings and nice old shops etc. But is very expensive and touristy but at this time of year there are less peaple about. The site we are on is right next to a railway line which is not used in the winter and when in use it’s a steam train that runs. So you get a good view from certain places on the site because it literally runs along side the top half of the site.

I wanted to walk up to the Broadway tower from site. I had no choice really because Nikki had the car but I need the exercise anyway. The tower is a 18th century folly built of limestone and ashlar, four storeys high. Twenty metres high and is hexagonal with three corner turrets. It opened in 1799. From the site to walk to it and back is five miles including a hill so an elevation of 814 ft was covered. I plan to do the walk again and make a bigger loop of it.

You really need a clear day to appreciate the view from the top.

I got up to the tower at 8.45am so no one else was about. It was so peaceful. There were a herd of deer in the field next to the tower, a kestrel did a fly pass and a little Robin came and said hello.

As I walked back down the hill, much easier than going up, I walked through the village and gazed in the shop windows at stuff I could not afford. I went and bought a lotto ticket so you never know I might be able to go back and buy something after the weekend.

The Broadway Deli shop looked fantastic with its display outside and a fiat 500 in the window. A proper sweet shop with jar after jar full of all your old favourite sweets and a drinks shop which I took a lot of interest in so will have to go back for further investigation. I am sure when Nikki gets back we will walk into the village and she will want to go in the charity shops. Being a very rich area the charity shops are normally full of better quality cloths etc and don’t smell of wee.

So that’s us up to date, only a short blog but hope you enjoyed it. I am home alone until Sunday when Nikki comes home, hopefully via a supermarket to save my poor back. As I write this storm Eowyn is blowing and has been all night but everything is still as it should be. I think looking at the weather forecast there is even some sunshine due. At least we are heading in the right direction towards spring and the days are drawing out. Stay safe out there.

Happy new year to you all and thank you for reading my blog and I hope you continue to enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it. It’s been going for a while now and to be honest I only started it for myself so I have a reminder of places we have been, things we have done etc.

So as we start the new year we are still in Cirencester.

After taking photos of the fox feeding at night I saw him a couple of times in the daylight and really wanted to get photos of him in the daylight. A bit of patience and it paid off.

As you can see he is very healthy. Over the next few days he was always about in the day but very wary of people but it was so nice to see him in the daylight.

Xmas came and went, not as fast as I would have liked but it’s over now. I don’t like Xmas for a lot of reasons. It’s too commercial being one of the main reasons. Boxing Day we decided to go for a walk in the Bathurst estate grounds completely forgetting the Boxing Day hunt would be on. We wondered why so many people were out walking towards the town.

The hunt is what they call a drag hunt, no it’s not a load of drag queens out on a jolly around the countryside. It’s where a scented cloth is dragged along and then they follow it. As with all hunts there are protesters who are against it and while walking along one of these latched on to me and started asking what I thought.

My reply was as much as I don’t like cruelty to animals hunting is a tradition which has been going on for many years and will continue to. We turned off from the main event and walked around the back streets where there were some lovely old shops with matching names.

Our friends on site mentioned about going into town one lunchtime for a beer. There is a lovely little bar called the Hop Kettle. It’s a small brewery from Swindon who brew their own beer and have a great selection to choose from. Not being one to turn down the offer of a pint we strolled into town with them.

By the time we came out of there it was dark, not because it was late but because it gets dark early. Our friends left before us but I had to have another beer. As we walked up through the town towards home I was getting hungry and wanted to stop at every opportunity to eat but I resisted as Nikki was going to cook a quick meal when we got back. The market square was empty, just the lovely H van which is a coffee stall in the daytime.

For over a week the weather was really murky and damp which I hate along with wind and rain. My bike has not been out for a couple of months which for me is a lifetime. It’s just so difficult living like this in the winter when I come back from a ride covered in mud and the bike has to be washed off before being put away. I lose my MoJo at this time of year and just wish I could hibernate and wake up in the spring.

New Year’s Eve was another damp night and again glad it’s all over now and we are heading for better weather, not straight away but we’re going in that direction. Think positive.

On New Year’s Day Nikki’s mum was 90. She is in a care home in Devon and they made her a lovely cake and made sure she had a wonderful time. We rang her to wish her happy birthday and she seemed a bit confused with the whole thing.

As the mist and damp weather went it turned to cold frosty weather but brighter days. I like them, so on with my hiking boots and off across the fields for a hike. Through the Bathurst estate and out into open countryside where I don’t see anyone and just hear the bird song.

Passing ivy lodge which is in the grounds of the Bathurst estate, which you can hire out for weddings etc. It’s recently been restored but you need a lot of money if you want to hire it out. I made do with a photo of it.

As I did a big loop on my walk I came back from the fields into the Bathurst estate again and went up to a pond I like which was all frozen. Ivy house was in the distance. Passing some frozen thistles which looked nice. I was tempted to skate on the ice on the pond but with thin ice and my weight decided against it. I don’t like being cold and being cold and wet is even worse.

We were due to go to Moreton in Marsh when we left Cirencester but got a phone call from the site saying they were having some work done on site and it would be noisy. We decided to still go and shorten our stay, so we went there for a couple of days and then came back here to Cirencester yesterday.

While there we walked into the town which is a typical Cotswold old town. Really nice with nice old buildings and expensive shops. We had lunch in a small cafe. To be honest I could have stayed in there all day. The service and food were excellent. The market was on in the square but it was not very good mainly stalls selling big knickers and rugs and a few independent ones. Back at the site the workers were ripping up the roads and it was like being on a building site. We were glad we went to moreton in marsh but glad to leave at the same time. It’s only an hours drive each way.

Nikki goes off to see her sister in a weeks time leaving me home alone. She has promised to stock the fridge up before she goes but Cirencester is a good place for me to be on my own without a car. I have fields to wander around, I have trees to talk to and pubs nearby and a hopefully a fridge full of food. And I have Google to see how to cook the food.

I leave here in a couple of weeks while Nikki is away to go to Broadway which is where Nikki will come back to join me. Broadway is another old Cotswold town but we have never been before so will be nice to see it and there are some nice walks from there.

The last days at South Molton we knew that storm Darragh was going to visit us. Looking at the met office it was giving us 75mph gusts of wind. Around 7pm one evening my phone sounded an alarm with a government message warning us of the storm. It was really loud and made both of us jump. Apparently even if your phone was on silent it would still go off.

The wind started to appear and the rain also. We went into south molton to see Nikki’s mum and passed a fallen tree in the park and a small tent up a tree, no sign of occupants. It was windy.

We had friends staying on site and had arranged to go down to the bar with them for a drink or two. At 2pm that afternoon the power went off. No problem we thought it would be back on in a minute. Nikki checked on line and yes the whole area was down like many places.

We started to walk down to the bar and were told that the bar was shut because of the power cut. No power, no bar, no food, life was looking grim all of a sudden. we went into our friends caravan where they were sitting in fleeces and with the gas cooker on for warmth. We needed a plan.

Liking my food, beer and warmth I made a decision. Back to our camper. Heating on gas, fridge on gas means cold beers. I always have cold beers in the fridge. Phone call to the kebab shop for a delivery of food. Sorted. Within the hour we were sitting in T-shirts with cold beers and a nice kebab. Life was good again. It was 36 hours before the power came back on. Luckily the gas lasted and everything went back on to electric.

Two days later we packed up and headed for Cirencester. It was a good journey and the roads were quiet, even the motorway. I had an idea in my head where I wanted to pitch up and luckily got one of the pitches. Nikki arrived about 15 minutes later.

While at Cirencester we were going to visit friends and family. The days out were planned. First visit was to go and see my sister and my mum which was about an hours drive away in Didcot. It had been a while since I had seen them.

Our route was altered a bit as the M4 at junction 15 was closed, this is where we wanted to get on so we had to quickly decide on another route which took us all through the country side and took us a extra 30 minutes. We got there in the end and was good to catch up with them and I promised not to leave it so long next time. We talked about how Didcot has changed with all the new houses going up everywhere and all the people that were not around anymore. Some of my school friends have passed away. We left in good time to get home before it was dark because I hate driving in the dark.

I went for a nice walk around the Bathurst estate which is right next to the campsite we’re on. It’s a huge big park and I looped around into the town briefly. Passing some new sculptures I had not seen before.

I don’t know what the connection is with a camel and Cirencester but he looked happy. The horse sculpture is up near the polo club so I get the connection there. They both looked very happy.

I threaded my way through the park and through the streets of Cirencester and covered 5 miles of walking which was enough for the day. The park is my favourite as it’s so big you sometimes don’t see anybody. I had a nice little spot to sit in the sun and reflect on life without any distractions. It was almost a shame to leave the bench in the sun.

Cirencester has a lot of markets at this time of year and Nikki wanted to go and have a look around so another walk through the Bathurst estate into town and a wander around. The market that day was not as we remembered it. The reason being we were thinking of a different market on a different day. We were hoping to find a stall we visited before which sold some lovely samosas. It was not there so we ended up getting a box of chips. They were very nice though.

About a ten minute walk from the campsite is a micro brewery which we have visited once or twice before while staying at this site. It’s in an old building and only open two days a week Friday and Saturday at this time of year and only from 3 pm until 8pm. No food only crisps and nuts. They only sell beer and wine and a local gin. Walked back past the pizza place which a has a fire pit outside and we were tempted to go in but Nikki had promised sausage sarnies when we got back so I was on a mission.

Another day another walk around the estate but going a different way this time via a small pond which looked nice in the sun. This time I think I saw about five people out with their dogs. So not too busy and plenty of room for everyone.

One early evening the sky was a really weird colour making everything look like it had a pink tinge to it. I like dusk and an added bonus here is that a friend has a seasonal pitch. He feeds the birds and his feeding station is like a vast array of different feeders. He also feeds a fox which comes around every evening, and is often seen in the day. Sometimes up to four foxes have been there in the evening.

I wanted to try and get a photo of the fox so went my friends caravan and sat outside about two metres from where the food bowls were. He feeds them dog food and scraps. I sat there camera ready and in the bushes was movement. There were two tonight. As they got more confident one came out and ate from the bowl. The pictures are not very good because they move to much but it was nice just to sit there so close and watch them. As I type this I can see the fox outside my friends caravan and it’s 9.30 am. He knows where he is fed.

Another visit was to my very good friend Tony and his wife Pauline. I have known Tony since I was a kid. We moved next door to him in about 1967 in Didcot. He is ten years older than me and had such a big influence on my life. He was a surfer/ skateboarder and drove a VW. He made me my first skateboard. A set of roller skate wheels and a shaped piece of wood. At this time no one knew about skateboarding really unless you were into surfing. In America skateboarding was a way to practice your surfing skills while away from the beach and on flat days when there was no surf.

So when I used to skateboard in Didcot I often got asked what was this thing I was riding. Tony went to America on holiday and bought me back some new wheels which made a better skateboard and again later a new deck which the new wheels went on. Into the seventies and skateboarding became a thing in England but by then I had been doing it for years and still do on the odd occasion when Nikki’s not looking.

Tony also got me into surfing and gave me a couple of his old boards and first took me surfing in 1974. I was hooked and had many a surf trip with him to Devon. And of course he got me into VW’s so my first car was a VW beetle bought in 1977. Tony took me out driving in it and after I passed my test I regularly drove to Devon for surf trips and eventually moved down there in my VW camper van. It was much easier than driving the 200 miles each way.

Tony was like a step dad to me after my mum and dad split up and was always there and to this day is still a great friend. Although he is not very well at the moment we still manage to talk about the old days, after all we have known each other for nearly sixty years.

So that’s up to date. The good thing about visiting family and friends is the old photos come out and one photo my sister found out was of me and my first VW, with a surfboard on of course. Taken in 1977 outside my gran and granddads house in Wales, my dad’s parents. Where have all those years gone. Don’t laugh at my flares.

We left Winchester and headed for Devon. Our annual visit to what used to be home. Nice easy drive, A34, 303, M5, and the A361. The roads were surprisingly quiet which was nice. Not a journey to do on a Friday.

With the heating still not working it was time to get the motherboard out from the boiler and get it sent off. This was speeded up when we woke up and it was only four degrees and that was inside the camper. The motherboard is a printed circuit board with fifteen differant connections. I don’t like electrics at all. A three pin plug will confuse me with three wires.

But needs must so get prepared. Glasses, phone, torch, screwdriver, torx bit driver, yoga book and a big hammer on standby. Glasses because I can’t see anything without them doing stuff like that. Phone to take photos of all the wires so I remember where they all go when putting it all back together. Torch to see, it’s dark in that area. Screwdrivers to undo the three screws, one which was in the most awkward place. Yoga book to see how to bend in certain positions to get to the part. Big hammer in case it all got too much.

With a lot of swearing, a bad back and shoulder and a bump on the head I got the part out. Job done. Nikki packed it up and got it posted off and tracked. Checking the tracker the next day it had gone to the wrong sorting office but was being rerouted. In the meantime we ordered a small electric heater and picked it up so we had some warmth.

In contact with Alde heating and they confirmed they had got the part after its travels, the part was broken and under warranty so they would replace it and a new one was in the post. Yippeeee.

I fitted the new part and can confirm that it all went back together and is now working as it should. Not too many swear words were said, but am pleased I did the job myself.

So we’re down in Devon. We see Nikki’s mum while here. We get the camper serviced and mot and the same with the car, we see the dentist and visit friends. The site we stay on has a club house which is very good for food and beer but a bit too close, even though we are on a pitch the furthest point away from it. Again you have to support local business. So a few beers was had with some friends for me. Unfortunately Nikki came down with a bug so stayed at home. Camper in for mot and service for the day so we go out for the day. We decided on going to Woolacombe and having some lunch and looking at the sea.

The dentist was first after dropping the camper off for a check up and I had a tooth which was giving me a bit of pain now and then. Check ups done but I needed a big filling and had to come back the next day. Lucky me.

The place I chose for lunch was called the porthole on marine drive and was very good with a great view. Not many people about which was nice.

After lunch we had a stroll around Woolacombe and as we had time to spare we found a nice spot to park up and watch the sea crashing onto the beach. It is a wonderful spot woolacombe but gets so busy in the summer and expensive.

Time to head back to get the camper and the not so good news. I have had an engine management light on so asked them to investigate. The problem part is the throttle body which they ordered but that was faulty. They could get one the next day and fit it so the camper would be ready for lunchtime. That’s ok but we live in the camper so we had to book in a hotel for the night. Nikki loved that part especially as we had to go to the pub for food and drink to drown our sorrows.

After our meal and one or two drinks we walked back to the hotel the long way. Passing through the streets of the town and just seeing how it had changed. The old pannier market has been renovated and looked really nice at night. A lot of different shops and a lot had gone.

The next morning we went back to the garage only to be told they could not do the job because it looked like the bolts holding the part were going to snap. If that happened most of the front end would need to come off and that’s a couple of days work. We left it to think about. We have it back and it drives like normal but just has this annoying light on the dash. They are giving me a price and timescale. Decisions decisions.

We went back to the campsite and then I had to drive back to go to the dentist for my big filling and big bill.

Up early the next morning to take the car for mot and service. Nikki stayed at home while I left at 7am, dropped the car off and walked into Barnstaple along the Tarka trail which used to be the old railway line from Barnstaple to Braunton. As soon as I got on the Tarka trail a big smile came across my face. The sunrise was spectacular.

Facing east as I walked along and taking photos as quick as I could. These moments don’t last long. The tide on the river taw was high and still so the refections were also fantastic. Hope you like the photos.

After going and getting some breakfast I wandered back to the river Taw to eat my bacon and sausage roll and admire the scenery. There are some new flats the other side of the estuary and this morning they looked fantastic reflecting in the river. So in between bites of my roll more photos were taken. I could not put the roll down because the seagulls would have taken it and no one wants to see a grown man cry.

I continued to wander around along the river bank and through the town doing about seven miles of walking in total. I visited the Barnstaple museum which was really interesting. Then it was time to go and get the car, pay the bill and then drive up to the garage where the camper was done and pay them. All in all a very expensive couple of days. And there’s more to come.

Some facts about this trip. After leaving our site in the middle of September I have driven 931 miles to get to Devon and used £194 worth of fuel. It will be less miles on the way back up north because it’s more of a direct route. Nikki has done more miles because she keeps getting lost but luckily her car uses less fuel.

We are leaving here on Monday and heading for Cirencester. Another site we have been to many times and actually worked on six years ago. But for now we are ready for some bad weather coming in. Winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour have been mentioned and of course lots of rain. Good job the heatings on but the camper will be rocking. Life in a tin can. Sunday roast with friends on Sunday so looking forward to that.