Four go on an adventure

Very quick update to say that we have arrived back "home" in Glenrothes where we will remain for a few weeks before continuing the next leg of the trip.  Watch this space for further exciting episodes.

It's been a few days since I put finger to keyboard to update you all on our progress. We travelled from Gnosall into Wales (by about 200 metres but definitely in Wales) and spent a couple of nights there at a small Fishery. We just have to take their word for it that it was a fishery because we never saw anyone actually catching any fish. There were plenty of people with more kit that the GB Olympic team put together. But I never saw a fish. Plenty of claims to have caught some earlier when the weather was brighter/duller/warmer/cooler take your pick. Fishermen spin the best yarns. Judging by the amount of kit on show these guys are either (a) not married or (b) their wives are glad to buy the stuff to get them out of the house for a while. From there we made our way to Chester where I had a gig at the Raven Folk Club. We arrived early on the Sunday morning and had a chance to wander round Chester for a bit. Wow, Chester is a really nice place. If you have never been, I recommend ...

Probably quite a short post but who knows. We were leaving Stafford behind and were checking where we would stay next when I spotted on the map the town on Gnosall. By the way who knows how to pronounce Gnosall?  We were clueless so decided to ask the wifey in "The bakery" which might not have been a wise move because "The Bakery" was some way short of what one might expect of an establishment with such a name. It did have some bread and some buns but was sadly laking in the baked goods which were promised by the name. Alas I digress. How do you pronunce Gnosall. Well according to the aforementioned wifey in the aforementioned bakery it is No as in the word no and sall and in the start of the same Sally. No-sall.  OK having sorted that out why were we stopped in Gnosall? Well I happened to know a guy who, in combination with others, runs an open mic night in the Royal Oak in Gnosall. As it happens it is on a Thursday night so we decided, having plenty of time to get...

  After a few days of "radio silence" we are back. I had a very busy few days of work there and we were camped by the side of a fishing lake although there was not much actual fishing going on and we never saw any fish getting caught so maybe we should just call it a lake. Oh and on that front I guess it was really pretty small so maybe a pond would be better so all in all I think Seighford Fishing Lakes might be better to be called Seighford Ponds. Mind you it did have quite a selection of birds including a fine flock of Canada Geese. A tad noisy but otherwise they were good neighbours. It was, as previously indicated, a busy work spell and so we did not manage to do that much except work but it was notable that our journey from Banbury to Stafford took us (deliberately) through Fenny Compton. Now here is a test for you, where do you know that name from. Fenny Compton. It is a tiny village in the middle of England with not much happening. I can hear you know thinking, I know...

So we have now left France behind us as we end our third week on the road. In actual fact we ended it not in the motorhome but in the home of our good friends Karen and Michael Moffat who now live in Banbury. We met them a long time ago in Bahrain and have remained close friends ever since. More about our Banbury adventure in due course. We left France via the Channel Tunnel. This is our second crossing using this route but the first time with the motorhome. I really recommend it. It is fast and easy. I was a little uneasy about driving the motorhome onto the train because it goes inside the carriage but we were behind two buses so I thought, if that guy can get his big bus in there, I can get my comparatively tiny motorhome on safely. I am delighted to report a straightforward boarding.  Approaching the train We're going inside Inside the train, you drive through all the carriages to the front Getting off was fairly easy too (for me) because I was lucky to get the benefit of ...

I have had a busy couple of days working but we have still managed to move twice. Firstly to the really pretty town of Honfleur which is right at the mouth of the River Seine. Who knew the Seine flows northwards and discharges into the English Channel? Not me anyway but I know now. It was another leisurely journey avoiding the motorways and most of the traffic. Weather in Honfleur has been amazing. Really sunny and also quite warm 18 degrees today. Here are a few pictures from Honfleur. Below, the hedges are cut to look like boats Big towery tower This is where the women used to gather to wash their clothes. A "Steamie" without the steam! Old buildings So after leaving Honfleur this morning we have again travelled north. France is famed for its cuisine and it seems that French people have an especial attachment to a particular ITALIAN dish. They seem to be infatuated with PIZZA. Now where do they buy these pizzas I hear you ask. In fancy pizza restaurants? Nope have you ever ...

We have moved again a little further north towards our channel crossing. Today saw us take a leisurely drive north through rural France. No motorways (and no tolls). It probably ends up costing more in fuel and wear and tear but hey ho, it is a pleasure to drive the country lanes and pass through villages and actually see a little of how French people live. Some of the villages are really pretty and some not so. It was really noticeable how many crosses there were in this region and several scenes depicting a full crucifixion. Several crosses and many statues onlooking. If I see another one I will make a point of stopping to try to get a picture. We have made it to a very small village called Joué on the edge of another called Valanjou. This spot only has room for four motorhomes but it is quiet and seems perfect for a couple of days. I have a lot of work tomorrow so will be busy. We had a quick walk into the hamlet to get a picture in case there's no time tomorrow. Of course every...