Sun 13 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

After breakfast and dog walk we moved Bessie, tried to get her in the driveway but just a touch too wide to squeeze past the post. Parked in a different place a bit closer.

Tony suggested as it is such a good day that I go up and meet Pat at Victoria and spend the afternoon on a bus around London, so rang Pat to tell her then got the train up after lunch.

We got the bus to Shaftesbury Ave, walked to Coventry Garden, enjoyed lots of street performers and buskers, walked through the market, a really happening place.

We walked along the embankment, then to Trafalgar Square. We got the No. 3 bus back to Dulwich, Tony had nibbles ready for us of olives and bell peppers stuffed with feta and seed bread sticks.

We sat in the sun for a while then I cooked the salmon and crumbed cod with Greek salad that Tony had made.

Pat and I planned our day for tomorrow,  I booked the Buckingham Palace tour.

Great day, Tony went back to Bessie to sleep.

Sat 12 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

Jenna messaged to say they arrived home to a small flood in the basement, so had to cancel their plans for bbq at friends today and get a plumber in. Fortunately it is a sunny day so can take all their things out to dry, not the best way to spend your weekend.

We put out our washing for an airing, then successfully managed to lock the door and take the dogs for a walk.

After lunch, back to Bessie to get our food from the fridge, Tony met Linley from the house opposite Bessie, he said we should move her every 3 or 4 days, it doesn't have to be far, just down the road, maybe park the other way, leave a light on make it look like we are in and about. Tony gave him our card just in case with my phone number.

Tony will stay here overnight when Pat is here, we took dogs for a 2nd walk and met neighbour Alison just back from their holiday. Another lovely sunny day.

Pork steak and veg stir fry for dinner.

Fri 11 Aug 17° Dulwich House Sit

A warm sunny day, after breakfast we got the dogs ready for their morning walk.....we couldn't get the door locked......real knack to it.....finally did it and had a good walk around the park. On the way we met Heidi and Piers ex neighbours with their dog had a chat to Lynn and Brien who said they didn't move very far just downsized and still come here to walk their dog.

Pickle and Badger are very well behaved and come when called, being 7 and 4 respectively not too boisterous.

Treat time for good boys

Worn out...time for a rest....ohhhh it's a dogs life alright 😎

After the dogs back and settled,  we walked round the corner to Bessie to bring back some washing and the food for dinner tonight. While I did that, Tony walked back to Tulse Hill betting shop as yesterday they didn't have Ryan Fox on the list,  so he went back for his bet....reduced odds today and no more  £'s lying around.

First wash done and out to dry in the sun, prepared dinner, just got it on and going nicely on the induction hob.....first time used one,  they also have a Quooker...a boiling water tap, so no need for a kettle, great for cups tea, coffee, cooking rice and pasta , very safe too as it has an aerator fitted so any splashes don't burn.

Jenna rang, it was quicker to get here than they thought so had a bit longer with them. Great to catch up and beef stroganoff turned out very well for a first time in a new kitchen.  Had fun with the dogs..

Thurs 10 Aug 13° Dulwich House Sit

After a very wet night the sun is shining this morning.

Our park for 3 Weeks for house sit 8 min walk around  the bend of the road.

We walk round to our house sit to meet them. Heidi, son George, daughters Willow and Daisy with of course our charges Pickle and Badger, very well behaved, we'll trained staffie  cross dogs.

Our long walk across the park began right at the back fence that has a gate which opens into the sports ground. Around the edges and another gate which is kept locked but Heidi has negotiated a key so we go right into Belair Park. off the lead for a good run, but they never went far afield. Just across the road and you are in Dulwich Park so a very green area with woods a bit further on.

Back to the house, we left the family  to get packed and ready for their big sailing trip to Turkey.

We walked to Dulwich Village had lunch to a little Italian deli cafe, came out and asked directions from a lady who happened to be a real estate agent, who very kindly took us into her office gave us  a map and highlighted local supermarkets and marks and Spencer's.

Continued our walk to Herne Hill and sainsburys to get provisions for dinner as Jenna and Alex coming tomorrow after work, then back to Bessie, I got packed while Tony walked to Tulse Hill to the betting shop for a £ on the golf, when he arrived back he couldn't contain himself, he had found a £10 note lying on the pavement then a £5 in the gutter....no one around....so thank you very much.

Back to the house for dinner, met Piers just in from work,  had a house tour, a 4 storey EdwardIan house , we were in the top loft bedroom with its own bathroom which was George's room, good exercise up and down the  stairs

Very social family meal of spaghetti bolenaise, then early night for the family as they had to be up at 3am for early flight to Turkey.

Wed 9 Aug 14° Great Abington to Dulwich, London House Sit

Short hop today, depending on traffic, into London, for our 3 Weeks house sit in the very nice Dulwich Village.

Very wet for our drive, not nice conditions at best of time, poor visibility and heavy rain but arrived safe and sound, drove up and down the suggested Street for us to park and found a spot by another moho beside playing fields.

We will leave Bessie here and check on her as we walk the dogs over the next 3 Weeks. 

Stay here tonight and go round to the house for meet and greet in the morning.

Tues 8 Aug 17° Horningsea to Cambridge to Great Abington

We had a lovely long chat with Jenna last night catching up and making plans for when we are in the house sit in Dulwich,  London.

Drove to Park and Ride for a day in Cambridge , £7 for 2 return tickets, 15 mins bus ride into city.

The sun came out and decided to go punting on the river to see the famous university city from the water. £14.50 each, 12 people to a Punt for this unique view of the busy city, very relaxing and we really enjoyed it, it made a change from the hop on hop off bus.

King's College

Bridge of Sighs, the bars stop students climbing in or out of St John's College at night.

New Court St John's college, nick named the wedding cake

College brewery

Wooden mathematical bridge

The circular church

We bought some fresh chicken for our tandoori dinner tonight.

Short drive to Great Abington Fourwentways truck park by services and Travel Lodge hotel for our free stop tonight.

 

Cambridge got its name from the one mile section of the loveliest stretch of the  river Cam and the only wooden bridge which together makes Cambridge.

Mon 7 Aug 18° Lincoln to Cambridge

After a leisurely morning we said goodbye to the family and followed Les to his garage to check out a loose hose Tony found when topping up fluids in the engine yesterday.

They said it was just there to flush out the diesel and nothing to worry about. Whewww.

Thanked Les and said goodbye as we head south.

Got a fill of diesel £1.16 £60 52ltrs. Just out of lovely old village of Bourne. Farmers gathering hay while the sun shines and rolling it into bales in the dry golden fields.

Terrible days drive......the wardrobe door decided to fling itself open,  so I got up to close it, then it did it again and again and again.....what is happening  in here......then the sat nav had a brain explosion.....zig zaged all over the place through country roads.....quite nice and scenic but not back and forwards north south east and west....imagine a compass spinning slowly not knowing where to go.....the co ordinates she could not compute and ended up in a farmers field in St Neots nowhere near where we should be, I just about threw her out of the window agrhhhhhhh. Thank goodness for Google maps.

Thankfully it was a lovely sunny day. When we arrived at our park for the night in Horningsea near Cambridge the only suitable place for motorhome parking was taken by a van with its driver sleeping. Rest of area very lumpy,  pot holes and high bumps but very pleasant outlook over the hay fields.

Pat messaged to say a letter for Tony  arrived,  to be opened immediately.......did we want her to open it...which we said yes......message back to say ring her when we have set up for the night.

We rang and after saying to Les  this morning that we always drive slowly........yep....first ever speeding ticket......36 in a 30mph......while we were looking for Sherwood Forest.......oh well you do the crime, you pay the Fine!   Buggar....still over 10,000 miles not a bad average........but a blot on an unblemished copy book.

Crumbed cod, little boiled potatoes and veges..........a stiff Dram didn't go a miss either.

Sun 6 Aug 15° Lincoln

Today Pat took Tony to garage to get moho Polish and tar remover, so another work day polishing up Bessie where she had her scratches buffed off.

I helped Pat in Ruby with her carpets which are fitted, dark blue so the dogs hair clings and is hard to get off so 2 hands make light work, good job done.

Tony polished the whole motorhome not just the sanded bits and she looked fantastic all shinny and new, we'll done guys. Another tick for the apprentice.

Then I did the whole bonnet with the tar remover and it came up almost as good as new,

Pat and I walked the dogs then came back to the roast gammon and crispy roasties  and veg for dinner........fantastic restaurant here.......thanks very much....mwaaaaaa

Pat, Ena and I played rummy cube, good fun while boys watched athletics.

Sat 5 Aug 14° Lincoln

Looks like another good day for our BBQ tonight.

Tony washed Bessie and Les got our his super dooper  elliptical,  orbital, detailer sander/buffer machine thingy and went over Bessie's scratches that we got from close encounters with trees in Cornwall. Took them all off and you would never know there had been any. Magic!

Wizard and his apprentice

Caution apprentice work

Before

After

Then Mr Fix it got his tar remover out for the bonnet which was covered in black dots...again came up like new.....gee whiz this guy has something for everything.....very impressive.

While up the ladder Tony noticed some sealer was disintegrating ....so Les went to his garage and came back with a flexible sealant and did all along the back roof join.....is there no end to this man's talent ...and abilities.

So we had to have some didn't we, Les ordered it for us and Pat and I walked up to the hardware shop to get the gun for it and a can of silicone remover spray....as seen Les use to tidy up another cracked seal.

What a productive day.

Then Pat and I prepared the food for the bbq and Tony set the coals and cooked the bbq delicious meal and great reward for everyones efforts, a mild evening good weather, great evening.

Fri 4 Aug 18° Lincoln

Pat and Ena out for morning appointment, Les up and out on his new electric bike so all active about the house today.

When they all got back Les and Pat drove us into Lincoln to meet their friend H for an all you can eat Chinese buffet £10 plus drinks. Had a good walk from the car park to work up an appetite and then after a very tasty yummy meal we walked back through the city.

Pat's very sharp eye spotted an almost new pair of welly boot liners for Les £1.50......bargain. Well done Pat.

A lovely sunny afternoon so we sat outside in the garden and relaxed, needed very little  feeding tonight.

Thurs 3 Aug 16° Lincoln

After breakfast Ena took Tony to re register at the Doctors for his medications then Pat took us to Asda and Lidl.

After lunch Tony mowed the grass and Roz and Paul arrived, put up their bivouac fishing tent and showed us all their gear, a great hobby for them.

Tony washed Bessie and Pat and Les friend H called in when he saw the driveway full with both motorhomes,  Pat helped Tony while H talked to me.....that worked out well haha.

All clean again,  relaxed evening watching women's football on TV and had a tasty creamy pasta cabonara for dinner.

Wed 2 Aug 15° Glossop to Lincoln

Wet again as we leave our quiet stopover and head East to Lincoln through the Peak District National Park.  Very pretty, wild flowers along the roadside, climbing high but the merky,  misty rain does not allow for good viewing or photos but would be lovely on a clear day.

50 shades of green, plumb and purple with rocky hills, waterfalls and little streams with sheep running free. One hillside with newly planted young trees as we drive into a forest area with huge pine trees on both sides, quite a bit of traffic too ,quite dark where the overhanging branches meet to form a canopy overhead.

Then in the middle of nowhere there appears Snake Pass Inn with a group of fluoro  suited,  helmeted people about to set off adventuring in some form or other.

Past Ladybower resevoir, over Derwent Valley Dams  then back into a town so filled up with lpg 60p ltr £10 for 16.8 ltrs. near Worksop. We decided to detour to Sherwood Forest for lunch......saw the sign......

kept on driving, no more signs ended up way past, must have missed it as we found ourselves almost in Nottingham at Arnold.  Turned back at roundabout....drove on until we saw the sign.....again.....different angle this time found the long and windy road that led deep into Robin Hood country. There was a week of Robin Hood Festival and lots of school children and staff dressed up as Maid Marion, Friar Tuck and of course Robin himself. Very busy so Tony went in search of a bottle of Mead, but found he was on a wild Mead chase as it was an alcohol free festival.

Onwards to Lincoln, Pat came out as we were trying to get between cars and Ruby, but traffic quite busy so waited till the traffic cleared a bit later to drive out and get a better angle.

Cuppa and a catch up, then a bit of maneuvering before dinner to get Bessie in and settled for the few days we will be here.

Lovely evening catching up and looking at maps of Scotland for our joint trip in September