My 69th birthday and we're at Priestfield Grange, Old Brampton, Chesterfield. The sun is shining and the sheet of ice that covered the paths yesterday is nearly gone, except for where they are shaded by trees.
This entry is not much more than a list of the places we have been since our return, with an occasional comment.
17.09.2012: Once off the ferry we made straight for the Dover Road Park & Ride at Canterbury which has, as previously mentioned, the UK's best - probably only - continental-style aire, staying from the 17th to the 20th September. It was there, on opening the rear box in which we store our hoses, cables etc. that I discovered my Brompton bike was missing. I had last used it at Grand Fort Philippe and had not put it away when we got back to the van. We had gone in for dinner, night came on and I forgot to put the bike away. In the morning, as it wasn't there, I never gave it a thought. D thought I'd put it away. Too late to do anything once back in the UK, I was very, very upset.
21.09.2012: Chesterfield
22.09.2012: St. Anne's
23.09.2012: Treales. Excellent fish and chips dinner at The Derby Arms and permission to stay overnight in the car park.
24.09.2012: St. Anne's. Opposite KEQM school. Sadly, overnight parking at Cleveleys no longer permitted. Whilst here, called at Apple Bikes, discovered they had two immaculate, barely used black Bromptons. Bought one!. This one has the same handlebar style as D's - not as sporty as flat bars but less tiring on the wrists. No Brooke's saddle either, but a very nice bike. Now I need a new saddle bag, lock and lights. Aaaargh!.
25-27.09.2012: Greenhalgh, Kirkham at Oak Farm, the Shellikers.
28.09.2012 - 02.10.2012: Chesterfield. One night outside Roy and Sue's, then Priestfield Grange.
03-08.10.2012: Hull, layby's at Bishop Burton and the end of Hutt Street. Swapped the gold Omega Genève wristwatch I'd bought at Dover earlier this year for a pair of opal earrings D had spotted in a jewellers at Hull. Birthday present solved. Treated the van to a stainless steel exhaust.
09-11.10.2012: Beverley, Willow Lane site.
12.10.2012: Grimsby, layby.
13-14.10.2012: Saltfleet, Pete and Patsy's caravan park. D bought me a Autoharp in advance of my birthday.
15.10.2012: Chesterfield, Beeley Moor layby.
16.10.2012: Chesterfield, Roy and Sue's.
17-19.10.2012: Hull, layby's at Bishop Burton and Sarah's. R's Awards Evening went well, and I lost my leather gloves.
20.10.2012 - 11.11.2012: Chesterfield, Priestfield Grange. Had a belated birthday lunch for D at the Devonshire Arms, Beeley.
12-14.11.2012: Kirkham, Greenhalgh, Oak Farm. Our tenant was supposed to move out on 12th but didn't, of course.
15-16.11.2012: Liverpool, Melling , a certified location site. First train journey for years. £3.20 each for return ticket to Liverpool from local station. Museum visit and Albert Dock.
17.11.2012 to 04.12.2012: Chester, Guilden Sutton, Belle Vue Farm. A CL we'll use again. Pub a pleasant 10 minute stroll, bus stop a 10 minute walk and the Boughton Park&Ride 4 minutes drive. Whilst here tried some old pubs, walked the walls and by the river, struggled against and were swept along by the heaving masses and did all the other tourist things. On the 4th had phone call from our agent saying that Social Services "may" have foun our tenant, who now is some £3000 behind in rent, a four- bedroomed house, in which case eviction won't be necessary. We'll see.
05.12.2012 to 17.12.2012 Enjoyed my birthday. Good meeting up with friends. Couple of visits to the Fox & Goose, Wigley - once with Chris and Pat. Had a bit of an eBaying fest .... three! possibly four snuff boxes, two (or will it be three) Crummles Staffordshire and a (new) silver one for £20 less than the "Buy it Now" price. Also a saddlebag, a bit of a disappointment as it's tiny - but only a fiver including postage. Might attach it to the handlebars. D bought me a lovely little silver spoon from the antiques showroom at Bakewell to ladle my snuff from container to box.
On Sunday the 16th we walked to the Fox & Goose, setting off at 2.00pm and getting back at 3.30. Walking to the van we saw the nearside corner of the front bumper had blue paint on it. In the short time we were out someone had bumped into us. I asked at the to other vans if they had seen anyone driving on the site. Both said not. Strange that one of them should have a blue 4x4. I looked but couldn't see that it was marked .....