Getting Home

 The catch up continues as we get closer to the return of Bekir and Halil! Let's get to it.

Maisie was so filthy by this time

I had to treat myself to a Chinese

The Whisky I bought on Islay

Professionally packed boot

Mum loves her new chair

Dad's grave

After dropping Ryan at the station I went for a quick visit to the studio and then dropped past my mate John for a cuppa and a lovely chat sat in the sun in his back garden. Soon enough however I was back on the road and heading down south towards my mum's house. The plan was to stay a few days, get Maisie repacked and just chill before continuing my trip as unfortunately I couldn't head directly home. Maisie was absolutely filthy by this time, a month on the road will do that. I pulled everything out of Maisie into my Mum's front room (she was not actually home when I arrived, so that gave me a chance to get this done before she saw the mess I made) and then I spent a while packing everything back into Maisie which went very well. I even had some spare space! One of the items I'd brought from Bulgaria and left on my way past earlier in the trip was a gift for my mum - a swinging chair that matches one we have that she loves. With my repacking done I spent some time assembling it and since then she's had it blow away, fall apart, and also has had some lovely time sat on it. Soon enough it was time to move on, however, and I headed down towards the New Forest but made time to stop at the cemetery to see my Dad's grave. I do miss him.

A New Forest Pony having a roll

Memorial to the Royal Airforce in the New Forest

A robin came to say hello

Ryan driving (piloting?) his boat

Sun sets over the marina

Probably the best playground in the world

A StuG III

Yes, it's Fury!

Pitched up at Roundhill

This is where I camped with my dad when I was 11

I had planned to camp at the campsite where I had my first ever camping experience with my Dad (Roundhill) however when I called to book they had a problem with the toilets so I booked into another campsite which was really nice, but didn't have the memories. One good thing, however, was that just round the corner was the New Forest Airfields Memorial for WW2 so I strolled across some fields and spent some time looking around before going back to the tent to cook and sleep. The next day I headed over to Ryan's boat as our plan was to go for a sail before our trip the next day. Unfortunately, even though the boat was put back in the water after its maintenance without any problems it proved completely impossible to get any fuel so we just stayed in marina and chilled out. A shame, but it was great to finally get to see the boat. The next day we drove over to Bovvington Tank Museum and had an absolute blast taking loads of time walking around slowly and seeing every tank they had. I do love that place and I took MANY more pictures than I've put here. After this day out I dropped Ryan back to his boat then went over to Roundhill - yes they had managed to fix their toilet issues so I was able to spend my last night in the UK camping where I stayed with my dad. Brilliant! I took a stroll around the campsite and found the place where we first camped and had a great time remembering happy memories.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang out for a drive

Sitting in an early car

Beautiful Mercedes

Mr Bean's Mini

This art was so creative and clever

Cooking dinner at a services

The next morning I packed up the camp and headed a few miles from the campsite to Beaulieu Motor Museum. This was also a trip down memory lane as that first ever camping trip my dad and I did, we walked from Roundhill to Beaulieu only to find that the power was out so we were let in for half price. Shortly after, the power returned. This time I didn't get in half price but I spent many hours walking around slowly until I was exhausted, looking at everything that I possibly could. Even so I didn't exhaust all there was to see there - that place is incredible and worth a trip (though the ride on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at I think it was £100 per person was a bit steep!). I had lunch of fish and chips half way through my tour and walked all around and into most of the buildings and saw every car on display. Once I had no more energy I headed out to Maisie and got on the road towards Dover, though I diverted up to near Reading as there were road works and I really needed a few supplies so I dropped into the supermarket there. I had dinner in a services and made it to the ferry in plenty of time, getting over to the mainland and driving until I got to Belgium before parking in a services and sleeping in the car.

So good to see Cis and his family again

The sun rises as I head home

Beautiful Austrian Alps

Truck crash in cloudy Bulgaria

The next morning I was up and drove over to see my mate Cis for a BBQ. I was very early so found a secluded carpark in the village near him and read for a couple of hours before finally arriving, having a shower, then a lovely BBQ with his family and some of their friends. It was a very nice afternoon indeed and great to get the opportunity to see him again. I then headed back to a hotel near my work as I was in the office on the Monday for one day only which was great as I didn't open my laptop up at all. I stayed in the hotel again that night (and had a really nice meal with Stefan, one of my colleagues) but was up super early, about 4am, to start driving home. I missed the traffic around Brussels which was my aim and then decided to take a different route home to usual, going via the Austrian Alps, Serbia, Herzegovina and a few other countries I can't remember now. It was a very fast trip home (though very expensive with tolls) and I took only a few pictures the entire way, sleeping in the car for about 4 hours total and making it back in less than 30 hours including that sleep time. It was so good to be home!

So there it is. I'll do another couple of blog posts to capture interesting things that have gone on at home since, but mainly that is me caught up I think. Thanks for reading.

Grandma arrives

Today has been exciting for various reasons; you'll have to read on to find out why though.

Chickens get their breakfast

Bekir fills the hole for the overflow

Measuring and cutting for the trolley

This was my idea - it was a bad idea

The replacement wheels rotate and turn really smoothly

Bekir fits the floor

Side supports going on

This morning I took Rosie to school as Angela was getting ready to go collect my mum from the airport; as I left with Rosie the chickens had just been fed and were in their house. I got back to find the workmen in and Bekir up in the roof filling in the hole he had drilled for our overflow. This was a very quick job and after that they got started on the trolley that we need for moving the swimming pool around when it is disassembled. They worked out dimensions and cut wood then attempted to use the wheels that I had bought however even though they got them mounted they would not turn successfully at all; off to town they went and bought some new wheels with rotating mounts and brakes; these fitted much better. They made good progress despite the waste of time having to go hunt down the wheels and the trolley is nearly finished; just sides and the rope to add and we're done.

Rosie and Grandma having a cuddle

I am soaked through

Unfortunately just at lunch time we had a call from the school saying Rosie wasn't well; I went to collect her and she was really unhappy with a temperature and a bad head. I got her settled and we relaxed on the sofa until she was feeling a little better and then she was bouncing around as usual again however even as she's gone to bed she's still got a temperature. Poor little thing. Angela and my mum arrived back safely and Rosie was so pleased to see Grandma. We decided to head out for dinner tonight but just as we were going the rain started to fall and it was torrential when we left the diner however very soon after getting back home a real storm hit. The pool cover was being torn off the pool so I ran outside to save it and dragged it into the glass room but got totally drenched in the process. Angela had a lot of fun getting the chickens into the house and I also went to help and we were both again drenched. All good fun, but very dramatic indeed.

So there it is; grandma is here and the weather is dramatic and here's hoping Rosie is better in the morning. Thanks for reading.

Grandma goes home, and sink installation

As often happens this is going to be a super long update, and as I sit here starting it, late, I'm knackered. Oh well. Onwards.

Early morning pile on with everyone

Buds are starting to appear

Grandma on our little picnic

Rosie laying down on the rug

Xena with the heavy ball

Trimming trees 

Rosie found some flowers

Going back to Saturday it was a lovely family day with lots of time outside. The morning was taken up with a trip to the vet with Xena, and then stopping for some shopping on the way back. It was such a lovely day that we had a picnic on the grass for lunch and then stayed outside the rest of the time, I was trimming some trees with the pruning saw and Rosie got to swing a bit with grandma pushing. She also found some flowers that were just coming up and we did a bit of hide and seek. Xena was having a lot of fun with Louise, and Thelma was barking at her kong.

Rosie helping to mow, with her bubble mower

I do love mowing the lawn

Rosie all bandaged after stubbing her toe

The moon rises through drifting clouds

In the afternoon I dragged the lawnmower out to do a section of the front that was starting to get a bit lush and Rosie was determined to help so she got her bubble lawn mower out and pushed it around lots. After that Grandma took her to play in the sand while I finished up. Later on Rosie stubbed her toe a bit but after she'd finished with her play bandages you'd have thought she was Little Miss Bump! The moonrise on Saturday night was something special and I got a picture to show Rosie as she loves the moon. It was a great day from beginning to end.

Early morning on Sunday

Just a little over frozen

Rosie with the Little Lady and her granddaughter

A mess of spikey branches

Now nicely trimmed back

Louise and Xena on the top bank

Just finishing up the mowing

Sunday started off bright but was forecast rain (though in the end it was only cloudy and didn't rain). Grandma was going to make me some crumble so we dug out the frozen fruit from the old freezer that I think is honestly on its last legs now. Mid morning we headed over to the neighbours for coffee and second breakfast and had a lovely time before we headed back home and Angela took Rosie and Grandma to the shops while I got the mower and pruning saw out again. I did most of the back bank with the mower and trimmed down the saplings at the bottom of my favourite tree and finished up just as they got back. I'm very close to buying a ride on mower to help keep on top of all of this more easily.

Grandma and Rosie bounce

Making crumble for me

The final bedtime story with Grandma of the visit

The afternoon was nap time and after that Rosie took Grandma on her trampoline and they were bouncing together for absolutely ages while I sat on the swinging chair and enjoyed watching and laughing along with them. After this Grandma went into the kitchen and made me the crumbles while Angela cooked an amazing roast dinner. At the end of the day only Grandma would do for reading bedtime stories as it was the last night before she would go home.

Lovely crumble for my breakfast

Angela paints the wall in Rosie's bedroom

Sat in the lovely warm sun for my lunch

Just getting onto the pass

Having a really lovely dinner

Saying goodbye at departures

Xena very happy to see me

Monday started with crumble for breakfast and it was lovely. While Rosie was at school Angela completed painting the shapes on Rosie's wall (she loved them!) and the day was so glorious I sat outside on the patio to eat my lunch and it was great. All too soon it was time to take mum to the airport. Rosie was sad she couldn't come with us and The Little Lady came over to say goodbye as well. The drive was very easy and we took lots of pictures to show Rosie including one of my giving her a thumbs up. We reached the restaurant in plenty of time and had a lovely relaxed and tasty meal before it was time for me to drive her round the corner to the actual airport. A hug, a kiss and a selfie and she went in and I headed home. When I got back I was mauled for about ten minutes by Xena who was super pleased to see me. It was very sad to see Mum go as the visit has been superb.

Rosie misses her grandma

A lovely sky this morning

Tiles piled out of the way

A long drill bit for this job

Halil sticking the metal through

Final violent exit point

Lump hammer to the rescue

Neat pipework

Boiler hung on the wall

Lots of water down these steps

And so finally we reach today. Rosie said morning to Grandma via picture and then headed off to school. It was a lovely morning though the forecast was for very heavy rain. The men were back in today and got stuck in to the fitting of a sink in the workshop. First off they cleared away the tiles and put them into the storage area under the stairs and then they headed out and bought a new drill bit that was nearly long enough to go through the wall but not quite. After first of all starting to drill in the wrong place they measured and put a hole in the right place but then had to resort to a length of metal and a lump hammer to break through the last few cm. With this done it was tidying up, then fitting the drain and then drilling another hole this time to take the water into the workshop. By the time I headed out to go and meet Lyuben the architect the boiler was in place and it was a really good day of progress. The threatened thunder and rain hit late in the afternoon and it was torrential in town. I did manage to pick up a unit that the sink can sit in, however.

So there it is; that was a long update! I should be back tomorrow; thanks for reading.