Back to England

So we survived our ferry crossing from Calais to Dover, although it was a little rough, and our night in a carpark, dockside, with the constant noise of rumbling ferries wending their way in and out of the harbour and our next test was to drive on the left hand side of the road. It is strange to think that this is what we have done for the majority of our lives but in 4 short months the right hand side became the norm and to be honest more logical. The change was quite difficult initially but we soon fell in with all the other traffic and found our way to Mayfield, Kent where we were going to spend a day or two with Kirstie, Gary's niece, and her beautiful family. It was so beautiful to have children around us again who seemed to enjoy our company and whilst we stayed in the cottage on their property we were visited regularly by all three of them to chat, play, fly???? (yes Freddie aged 5 likes to fly with his shirt tails as wings) and eat chocolate. It was such fun being with a family and we are very grateful to Kirstie and Henry to share them with us for a few days.
Next stop was Reading where we caught up with friends we met in Split and then in Dubrovnik - Cal and Jane. We had such a good time, strolling along the riverbank at Henley in the dark, admiring the Christmas lights, fabulous 2nd hand shops with arrays of things I would have loved to have bought, chatting away as if we had known each other for years. Back home to a beautiful steak meal - not only is Cal an ex-policeman he is also an amazing cook - washed down with copious amounts of red wine and happiness.Thankyou Cal and Jane for your hospitality and here's hoping it won't be the last time. Much love to you both.
Next stop lunch in Andover with Gary's friends Tony and Carol. Egg and cress sandwiches which
immediately transported me back to my English childhood and washed down this time with a very special German troken Reisling that Gary very cleverly found a case of. Unfortunately time flew by and we were on the move again and heading in Molly to Swanage. Thanks Carol and Tony for your hospitality too and sorry it could not be longer. Enjoy all the fab holidays you have lined up for next year.
We actually didn't make it to Swanage that night though opting to stay a night in a truck park for free.
The night draws in quite early and Molly was tired - her eyes were quite dim - so this actually was a good option. Molly was happy amongst her bigger brothers and we were happy with a good truck cafe on site and very clean modern toilets. Once again we went to sleep surrounded and woke up alone - the trucks had been leaving one by one throughout the night.
So to Swanage where we are now. We are actually at Ulwell, sandwiched between Bournemouth and
Swanage, and will be here for a few days yet. The weather has been quite good with a bit of sun thrown in now and then but unfortunately Gary picked up "man flu" somewhere so has been pretty unwell.We did manage a trip to Bournemouth yesterday but by the time we got home he couldn't stop coughing.
Ulwell has a cute corner shop that sells everything and the camp has a really nice heated swimming pool, which is open, a bar and restaurant, which is open, and a reception area, which is open too.
You know what? You cannot beat a British campsite!!!!!!
So we decide to meander around Devon and Cornwall biding time till Christmas and finally coming
within spitting distance of Landsend before the now infamous British storms of 2013 set in.
Walking many kilometres through woods, along walkways, through villages and along sea walls whilst eating bags of freshly cooked fish and chips, the Jurassic coast is very impressive - that is until a storm arrives driven from the south west. We have found some amazing campsites, as I said earlier,
and making our way to Kent for Christmas between storms we revisited our favourite place with pool, sauna, steam-room and the most amazing roast dinner ever. Unfortunately Molly had to be towed off our campsite as it had rained soooo much we had sunk into the ground. Hey ho - just another experience but Molly later confided in us that she was highly embarrassed.
Travelling on motorways now purely for speed and safety - next stop Brighton where, unknown to us,
the eye of the storm is there to meet us. The sea is huge, the wind is sooo strong and every man and his dog is heading to the same campsite to escape and shelter. Heading into reception we ask to stay for one night. "Have you booked"? "Er no". "Are you mad?" "Er no". Managing to find a spot for us we sat and waited for the storm to abate. It raged all day and all night with no respite. The winds were huge and there were times I really thought we could get blown over but we survived - again. Next day was as calm as - just all the flooding to negotiate. The sad thing is that a few people lost their lives that particular night.
Arriving at Mayfield, Kent on Christmas eve and armed with masses of ChrIstmas Chocolates it was
great to be on terra firma once again and we had the most amazing Christmas with 21 of Gary's extended family. Just sooo much fun, good food, champagne, company and small children - the perfect mix. Storms persisted on a day on, day off basis but we didn't care, we were safe.
Thankyou Henry, Kirsty and your beautiful family for such a fabulous Christmas. "The farmer's
daughter" lingers longer. Stuart you are a very dark horse!!!!!
Next stop Shropshire to meet up with Carol's family for New Year and once again making our run
between storms. Lots of renovations are being done here so it was full on getting areas ready for Carol's Scottish family to be accommodated as well as general clearing up of plaster dust and putting rooms back together so the hosts could relax and have some down time from all their hard work.
New years eve and we were off to a private room at the Uttoxeter races for lunch and of course the
horse racing - all a new experience for me. Having a flutter or two on each race, once I understood the reasoning behind, I think I broke even, Gary dIdn't bet, and it was actually really good fun. Some though in our room, who shall remain nameless, did really well - was it just luck or good judgement? Mmmm - the jury is out on that one.
Anyway we all had a really fun day thanks to MerIol and Tom's super generosIty. It was amazIng.
That evening saw us all enjoying another Turkey Christmas dinner beautifully prepared by AlI and
seemingly produced out of nowhere with mountains of vegetables and all the trimmings before bringing In the New Year In style wIth kareoke, champagne and Old Lang Syne at mIdnIght. New Years day it was the Scottish New Year tradition of haggis and Angus beef pie consumed by all in the warmth of the dining room/kitchen which boasts a beautiful aga cooker/range where everything is cooked to perfection.Having brought the New Year in, in style, in a Shropshire winter we turned our attention to preparIng Molly for storage but not before making one last trip to London to say our goodbyes to Brenton, James, Sarah and Jim and Eddie.
Bussing to Victoria statIon from Telford was a good and cheap decision and actually thoroughly
enjoyable and stress free. FIrstly though Gary to the rescue agaIn - adopting two young boys for the trIp who otherwIse would not have been able to travel on theIr own. Arriving there we made sure our charges were reunIted wIth theIr father, bought a swag of traIn tIckets, had some lunch and proceeded to make our way to Covent Garden, which was our meeting point, but not before a few dramas with a lost day pass. Sophies was the place, a great venue, and eventually everyone arrived to share a meal, a few drinks and lots of chat. This was the inaugural meeting of the two familys' "London generation" and it could not have been better - everyone got on soooo well. Before we all left each other to head home the following day had been planned to the max, we had met most of the actors from the London Dungeons and also more people from Nelson who were acquainted with people we too knew in Nelson. Isn't life amazing?
So yes! Next day we set off from Lewisham with Brenton heading to meet with Sarah and spend time
in the dungeons - no better place on a miserable wet London day! This had all been kIndly arranged by Eddie of course and it was amazing - the acting was incredible and every person was true to character throughout. Knowing we would not be seeing Eddie again for a while swift goodbyes and hugs were given at the end of his performance much to the amazement of the crowd. Even this he managed to weave into his spiel. Thanks Eddie the tour was great and of course the prIce was even better. We have an amazing photo taken of the four of us on the last ride and I would love to share it with everyone but under the threat of death from Brenton I am afraid I cannot!!!!!!
From here we went via the underground to Paddington station right on the Thames where Sarah and Jim's house boat was currently moored. We had been busting to see this boat after our stint on the canals and we were not disappointed, it was lovely. Extremely happy with their lot and, after only a few weeks, well versed in the dos and don'ts and whys and wherefores of practical living on the Thames, we spent a fantastic evening chatting, eating and drinking beer together. We finally left for the trip back to Lewisham knowing they had made a fantastic decision to buy the boat and lifestyle and had managed a great deal in the process. Well done both and we will take you up on that boat trip next time through!!!! Now, just to let you know, Sarah has a photo - yes, the dungeon photo - on her fridge for anyone to view. (but I didn't tell you that).
Next day we had a blobout day with Brenton who invited two friends around for us to meet and cooked us all a fantastic chicken roast dinner. Brenton your roast potatoes are excellent - maybe even as good as your sisters?????So it became time for us to say our goodbyes again and head back to Victoria station for our coach back to Telford. I'm amazed how easy travelling has become for us. What was once a huge effort seems now so straightforward - that is until we arrived at the Victoria underground and needed to head to the coach station. Roadworks complicate everything!!!!!! Nuff said perhaps but what should have taken us 5minutes to walk the distance must have taken us 45?????
Finally back though at Carol's family house it was noses to the grindstone to get Molly cosy into her
storage place and us on the road, or in the air, to Thailand. Packing clothes and bedding etc in plastic
boxes, making sure enough dehumidifier granule bags were in place we, reluctantly, faced the final
moment. It was a very cold mornIng and wrapping her up in her breathable cover took a while but in the end it was all done and we were happy that Molly was cozy and content, protected from the elements, completely battoned down, hard and fast. Saying our farewells Gary mentioned, very quietly, that he could not find his phone!!!!!!!!! Yep you guessed it - inside Molly!!! Bless his little cotton socks and all that xx.
Next to pack, clean Carols flat, get to Manchester airport by prIvate car and head for warmer climes in Thailand. We are on our way back to our favourite place - Baan Pictory, Hat Noi.
Thankyou Carol, Ali, Andy, Corrine and Jess for putting up with us and making us feel at home with you. Without you all we could not have done what we have done. I am sorry we were not able to say bye to Corrine and Jess but I know they are aware they are both in our thoughts and hearts - as are you all. Carol stay safe and happy in Kenya and Andy and Ali keep those renovations going - not too far to go now. We love you all take care. X