Monday 31st December – day 72
Well here we are at New Year’s Eve, surprisingly rose later than intended to tea and bacon sandwiches. Then left for a walk up to the High Street, only got as far as Michael Thomas (butcher) and were invited into Jo and Stuart Wright house for tea and a view of the new kitchen. About 40 minutes later we set off again and reached the shops without further meetings or diversions. Made purchases as required and returned to Anne and Andy’s for a short rest, at 2.30pm off to St Mary’s Hall to decorate ready for tonight’s party. A team of willing helpers already there with more joining in to complete the works, everybody working almost without instruction and the decoration completed in record time.
Return again to Ann and Andy’s for supper prior to setting off for the night’s entertainment. Kick off is at 8.00pm and to the first house, Bill and Julie, at 9.00
pm everybody moves complete with bottles to Steve and Hilary, then all on again still with bottles to Jill and Martin at 10.00, at 11.00 every body moves into St Mary’s Hall for the final fling and continue on till about 1.30am dancing the time away to the sounds of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Left the hall with Art Robb to return to Ann and Andy’s for coffee and whisky, sat round gas bagging until 3.00am when knock on the door revealed three visitors (Jo and Andy Pennel and Andy’s brother) they joined the party and we stayed at it till 5.00am, bed and sleep at last.
Tuesday 1st January - day 73
Back to St Mary’s Hall at 11.30 to remove all the decorations, found that it had started at 11.00, still a reasonable amount still to do o pitched in. After hall restored the cleaners moved off to Al and Sue for coffee and nibbles, more general chatting then off to see some of our ex neighbours that we did not see last night. Pete and Marleen, then Patrick and Frances (unfortunately they were not in) then down to Val and Rob.
Arranged to see Tim, (Helen’s son,) for a meal and a movie in Swindon. A light meal in Benny and Frankies then in the see the latest Will Smith movie, “I am Legend” great film with lots of scary bits.
Back to Ann and Andy’s and bed.
Wednesday 2nd January – day 74
Still staying at Anne and Andy’s, bed to comfy to leave too quickly!! But a day of visits planned. Started with lunch with Margaret and Alan at the Old Bell, should have phoned to check whether it would be open, ala
s it was not, so we moved on for a lovely meal at the newly refurbished pub ”the Potting Shed” at Crudwell now owned by the Rectory. Sat until 3pm, then into Cirencester for some shopping and Tim collecting. On return to Malmesbury Chris went to visit a sickly Jem and Helen took Tim for a swift half before they headed off to Kit and Clares at Little Somerford for a fabulous fellowship supper. It was so good to see Brian, Sue and David there, and we enjoyed a lovely catch up evening together. Thank you kit and Clare for the lovely evening and comfy bed!!
Thursday 3rd January – day 75
Spent the morning at Clare’s kitchen table catching up on e-admin, booking sites etc. Then left there for a quick visit to Shelagh for Helen and a return to Clare for Chris to retrieve coats left behind (think this is the only time we left something which is quite an achievement for us!!)
Helen had hairdresser’s appointment, so Chris went off to busy himself somewhere else!
Then on to Fred and Sarah’s to stay with them. As supper was cooking we snuck out for a quick drink with Paul, our lovely tenant who we are pleased to say is enjoying his stay in Malmesbury.
Back to Fred and Sarah’s for a FAB supper of venison, yum, and catch ups until bed time.
Friday 4th January – day 76
Well here we are at New Year’s Eve, surprisingly rose later than intended to tea and bacon sandwiches. Then left for a walk up to the High Street, only got as far as Michael Thomas (butcher) and were invited into Jo and Stuart Wright house for tea and a view of the new kitchen. About 40 minutes later we set off again and reached the shops without further meetings or diversions. Made purchases as required and returned to Anne and Andy’s for a short rest, at 2.30pm off to St Mary’s Hall to decorate ready for tonight’s party. A team of willing helpers already there with more joining in to complete the works, everybody working almost without instruction and the decoration completed in record time.
Return again to Ann and Andy’s for supper prior to setting off for the night’s entertainment. Kick off is at 8.00pm and to the first house, Bill and Julie, at 9.00
pm everybody moves complete with bottles to Steve and Hilary, then all on again still with bottles to Jill and Martin at 10.00, at 11.00 every body moves into St Mary’s Hall for the final fling and continue on till about 1.30am dancing the time away to the sounds of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Left the hall with Art Robb to return to Ann and Andy’s for coffee and whisky, sat round gas bagging until 3.00am when knock on the door revealed three visitors (Jo and Andy Pennel and Andy’s brother) they joined the party and we stayed at it till 5.00am, bed and sleep at last.Tuesday 1st January - day 73
Back to St Mary’s Hall at 11.30 to remove all the decorations, found that it had started at 11.00, still a reasonable amount still to do o pitched in. After hall restored the cleaners moved off to Al and Sue for coffee and nibbles, more general chatting then off to see some of our ex neighbours that we did not see last night. Pete and Marleen, then Patrick and Frances (unfortunately they were not in) then down to Val and Rob.
Arranged to see Tim, (Helen’s son,) for a meal and a movie in Swindon. A light meal in Benny and Frankies then in the see the latest Will Smith movie, “I am Legend” great film with lots of scary bits.
Back to Ann and Andy’s and bed.
Wednesday 2nd January – day 74
Still staying at Anne and Andy’s, bed to comfy to leave too quickly!! But a day of visits planned. Started with lunch with Margaret and Alan at the Old Bell, should have phoned to check whether it would be open, ala
s it was not, so we moved on for a lovely meal at the newly refurbished pub ”the Potting Shed” at Crudwell now owned by the Rectory. Sat until 3pm, then into Cirencester for some shopping and Tim collecting. On return to Malmesbury Chris went to visit a sickly Jem and Helen took Tim for a swift half before they headed off to Kit and Clares at Little Somerford for a fabulous fellowship supper. It was so good to see Brian, Sue and David there, and we enjoyed a lovely catch up evening together. Thank you kit and Clare for the lovely evening and comfy bed!!Thursday 3rd January – day 75
Spent the morning at Clare’s kitchen table catching up on e-admin, booking sites etc. Then left there for a quick visit to Shelagh for Helen and a return to Clare for Chris to retrieve coats left behind (think this is the only time we left something which is quite an achievement for us!!)
Helen had hairdresser’s appointment, so Chris went off to busy himself somewhere else!
Then on to Fred and Sarah’s to stay with them. As supper was cooking we snuck out for a quick drink with Paul, our lovely tenant who we are pleased to say is enjoying his stay in Malmesbury.
Back to Fred and Sarah’s for a FAB supper of venison, yum, and catch ups until bed time.
Friday 4th January – day 76
After coffee with Sarah, lunch with Fred and a trip to Cirencester i
n the hope of saying cheerio to Tim (but couldn’t see him) we set off for Exeter to stay with Carol and Gary. Travelled in torrential rain for most of the way and arrived at Exeter to find our way through Whipton barred by an earlier accident. We had to be guided home by Gary’s expert instructions! Another lovely supper, (we have been so well looked after by everyone it will be difficult to go back to self catering!!) and conversation that went on too late (!) we failed to make a larkish get up the next morning but no surprises there!!
Saturday 5th January – day 77
We left Carol and Gary mid morning to set off for Ilfracombe where our caravan had been convalescing. We were glad to be reunited with her, particularly as she looked so shiny and new, thank you Mullacot Caravan and Marine Centre for doing such a brilliant job.
The wind and rain were still doing their best to make travelling difficult but we made it safely to Tavistock where we had decided to treat ourselves to a stay on a proper site with heated showers and toilets (need to get back into camping gradually!)
As there is no food in the caravan yet we took ourselves off into lovely award winning Tavistock for a very acceptable meal at the curry house called Tarkis.
Sunday 6th January – day 78
Back on holiday!!!
It had stopped raining so spent the morning trying to find the bottom of the car boot before it goes in for its repair, but in the afternoon we decided to go up on to Dartmoor and get our walking boots wet again. When we parked the car we could see two Tors worthy of a walk up, but by the time we had zipped up our gaiters we could see neither of the peaks, so set off for a very boggy walk round the hill following a river that definitely looked at times like it was flowing up hill. We looked like drowned rats after just 45 minutes outside. This seems to be a regular introduction to Dartmoor. We made time to get to Morrisons to fill the larder again, so home for a choice of supper options.
n the hope of saying cheerio to Tim (but couldn’t see him) we set off for Exeter to stay with Carol and Gary. Travelled in torrential rain for most of the way and arrived at Exeter to find our way through Whipton barred by an earlier accident. We had to be guided home by Gary’s expert instructions! Another lovely supper, (we have been so well looked after by everyone it will be difficult to go back to self catering!!) and conversation that went on too late (!) we failed to make a larkish get up the next morning but no surprises there!!Saturday 5th January – day 77
We left Carol and Gary mid morning to set off for Ilfracombe where our caravan had been convalescing. We were glad to be reunited with her, particularly as she looked so shiny and new, thank you Mullacot Caravan and Marine Centre for doing such a brilliant job.
The wind and rain were still doing their best to make travelling difficult but we made it safely to Tavistock where we had decided to treat ourselves to a stay on a proper site with heated showers and toilets (need to get back into camping gradually!)
As there is no food in the caravan yet we took ourselves off into lovely award winning Tavistock for a very acceptable meal at the curry house called Tarkis.
Sunday 6th January – day 78
Back on holiday!!!
It had stopped raining so spent the morning trying to find the bottom of the car boot before it goes in for its repair, but in the afternoon we decided to go up on to Dartmoor and get our walking boots wet again. When we parked the car we could see two Tors worthy of a walk up, but by the time we had zipped up our gaiters we could see neither of the peaks, so set off for a very boggy walk round the hill following a river that definitely looked at times like it was flowing up hill. We looked like drowned rats after just 45 minutes outside. This seems to be a regular introduction to Dartmoor. We made time to get to Morrisons to fill the larder again, so home for a choice of supper options.
No comments:
Post a Comment