Sunday morning
Quick dash to M & S to pick up a "Dine in for £10 Meal".
Last few bits loaded into the car and caravan - including in the boot, a bucket, sponge and large can of water.
Drive very slowly down the lane and onto the road. As we headed off up the road, all the muck picked up from the lane flicked off the wheels and onto the front of the caravan. (The cows come up and down the lane every day and inevitably add a few extra messages to the mud already there).
We drive onto New Hutton Lane and pull in at a wider bit. Henry gets to work with the water and sponge, and clean and gleaming once again we head off up the motorway.
About an hour later we were set up at the Caravan Club Site at Englethwaite Hall. Everything connected, plugged in and switched on.
Mid afternoon I noticed an ominous gurgling noise. A quick look under the back seat confirmed the worst - the repaired water heater was leaking. We assume that something expanded and/or shrank as the water got hotter. So, Henry was back to wiggling and wriggling with the various connections, and eventually managed to isolate the water supply, so it bypassed the heater. We had water in the taps again, but only cold. Never mind, we have a gas cooker and a whistling kettle.
Sunday evening - enjoyed a nice M & S meal, watched a DVD and dropped into bed.
Monday morning
Up late. Leisurely cooked breakfast. Boiled water to wash up.
Quick dash to the supermarket to stock up on food (taking it all with us would be far to organised), then back to SIT OUT IN THE SUN! This was what I at least had come on holiday for. The weather held all day and we were even able to cook outside. (Chicken stir fry in a Wok on the barbecue).
Slight problem - we noticed the fridge light had gone out, and sure enough it had stopped working. It can run on electric, battery or gas. As it's easiest to just plug it in, we always just use mains electric. Henry fiddled about with with wires and fuses, but it stayed off. So, out with the instruction book and find out how to run it on gas. Very surprised when it worked! Ice on the go for G & T.
Tuesday morning.
Up late again and another leisurely breakfast. Not as sunny as yesterday. In fact no sun, just showers. Never mind. We planned a drive round the high fells to the east, stopping off for a bit of shopping in Hexham.
12 ish - went to start the car. No joy - battery completely flat. So, we made the most of the subscriptions we've been paying all our lives, and called the AA. They were very helpful, and kept us informed of arrival time etc, and in just over an hour we had an AA man on site (are they still called Patrolmen?). He connected his gizmo to the battery and confirmed it was dead. He connected some serious looking jump leads and checked that it was charging and that it was holding it's charge. He also confirmed that nothing was draining the battery when the car was switched off and locked. He reluctantly admitted that he didn't know what caused it. I think not knowing really upset him. So we thought we ought to get the battery checked at a battery place and went to ATS on the outskirts of Carlisle. We had to wait in line as they fixed/fitted various tyres on other cars. At this point I began to regret coming out without a book. When we got to the front of the queue, they too were puzzled. They confirmed the battery was OK and holding its charge, and couldn't say why it had suddenly completely discharged. They recommended an Auto Electric company nearby. They were very helpful, and as it was by now warm and sunny, I sat outside on a rock while they did their diagnostics. No obvious answers as to what happened, and we agreed with them that we wouldn't know if it was now OK, until it went again.
They day was getting away from us, so we whizzed down the motorway to Cranstons at Penrith, had a drink and cream scone, and bought some fish for supper. By we got back to the caravan the weather had reverted to showers so we cooked and ate inside (Salmon and smoked haddock in watercress sauce, with savoury rice). The TV reception was a bit erratic, so we settled down to a favourite DVD - The Italian Job. Can't beat it!
Wednesday morning.
Yet another lie in and leisurely breakfast (getting to be a habit!). A quick check of the car and it started first time. More and more rain, so we tried to escape it by car. No luck. It seemed to follow us. We drove through places we'd never been to before, but the rain never left us. We nipped into Waitrose at Hexham and treated ourselves to a ready meal - "Thali banquet for two punjabi". I was a bit worried that it might be too hot for one of us as it was classified as "two chillies". No need to worry - it was the least spicy Indian meal I'd had, and one of the most disappointing. Should have cooked ourselves again!
Thursday morning.
The final lie in (and only toast for breakfast - no eggs and bacon left) and then packing away ready to come home. As we disconnected the gas from the fridge, we tried the electric again. Worked first time! By 11.30 we were on our way and now the caravan is back in the Paddock (waiting to have the water looked at again) and I'm waiting for the Aga to be lit (it's a man's job) so I can get warmed up!
PS - I'm sorry for the hit and miss grammar in the post - I've been adding bits and pieces all afternoon, and it never really flowed.
PPS - another disappointment - the books I took! I ordered a set of books from The Book People that I thought would be light enough for holiday reading, but still at least slightly gripping. Wrong choice - 10 books for £9.99 might be a bargain - but not if they're Agatha Raisin books by M C Ballard. I shouldn't have believed the reviews.
Quick dash to M & S to pick up a "Dine in for £10 Meal".
Last few bits loaded into the car and caravan - including in the boot, a bucket, sponge and large can of water.
Drive very slowly down the lane and onto the road. As we headed off up the road, all the muck picked up from the lane flicked off the wheels and onto the front of the caravan. (The cows come up and down the lane every day and inevitably add a few extra messages to the mud already there).
We drive onto New Hutton Lane and pull in at a wider bit. Henry gets to work with the water and sponge, and clean and gleaming once again we head off up the motorway.
About an hour later we were set up at the Caravan Club Site at Englethwaite Hall. Everything connected, plugged in and switched on.
Mid afternoon I noticed an ominous gurgling noise. A quick look under the back seat confirmed the worst - the repaired water heater was leaking. We assume that something expanded and/or shrank as the water got hotter. So, Henry was back to wiggling and wriggling with the various connections, and eventually managed to isolate the water supply, so it bypassed the heater. We had water in the taps again, but only cold. Never mind, we have a gas cooker and a whistling kettle.
Sunday evening - enjoyed a nice M & S meal, watched a DVD and dropped into bed.
Monday morning
Up late. Leisurely cooked breakfast. Boiled water to wash up.
Quick dash to the supermarket to stock up on food (taking it all with us would be far to organised), then back to SIT OUT IN THE SUN! This was what I at least had come on holiday for. The weather held all day and we were even able to cook outside. (Chicken stir fry in a Wok on the barbecue).
Slight problem - we noticed the fridge light had gone out, and sure enough it had stopped working. It can run on electric, battery or gas. As it's easiest to just plug it in, we always just use mains electric. Henry fiddled about with with wires and fuses, but it stayed off. So, out with the instruction book and find out how to run it on gas. Very surprised when it worked! Ice on the go for G & T.
Tuesday morning.
Up late again and another leisurely breakfast. Not as sunny as yesterday. In fact no sun, just showers. Never mind. We planned a drive round the high fells to the east, stopping off for a bit of shopping in Hexham.
12 ish - went to start the car. No joy - battery completely flat. So, we made the most of the subscriptions we've been paying all our lives, and called the AA. They were very helpful, and kept us informed of arrival time etc, and in just over an hour we had an AA man on site (are they still called Patrolmen?). He connected his gizmo to the battery and confirmed it was dead. He connected some serious looking jump leads and checked that it was charging and that it was holding it's charge. He also confirmed that nothing was draining the battery when the car was switched off and locked. He reluctantly admitted that he didn't know what caused it. I think not knowing really upset him. So we thought we ought to get the battery checked at a battery place and went to ATS on the outskirts of Carlisle. We had to wait in line as they fixed/fitted various tyres on other cars. At this point I began to regret coming out without a book. When we got to the front of the queue, they too were puzzled. They confirmed the battery was OK and holding its charge, and couldn't say why it had suddenly completely discharged. They recommended an Auto Electric company nearby. They were very helpful, and as it was by now warm and sunny, I sat outside on a rock while they did their diagnostics. No obvious answers as to what happened, and we agreed with them that we wouldn't know if it was now OK, until it went again.
They day was getting away from us, so we whizzed down the motorway to Cranstons at Penrith, had a drink and cream scone, and bought some fish for supper. By we got back to the caravan the weather had reverted to showers so we cooked and ate inside (Salmon and smoked haddock in watercress sauce, with savoury rice). The TV reception was a bit erratic, so we settled down to a favourite DVD - The Italian Job. Can't beat it!
Wednesday morning.
Yet another lie in and leisurely breakfast (getting to be a habit!). A quick check of the car and it started first time. More and more rain, so we tried to escape it by car. No luck. It seemed to follow us. We drove through places we'd never been to before, but the rain never left us. We nipped into Waitrose at Hexham and treated ourselves to a ready meal - "Thali banquet for two punjabi". I was a bit worried that it might be too hot for one of us as it was classified as "two chillies". No need to worry - it was the least spicy Indian meal I'd had, and one of the most disappointing. Should have cooked ourselves again!
Thursday morning.
The final lie in (and only toast for breakfast - no eggs and bacon left) and then packing away ready to come home. As we disconnected the gas from the fridge, we tried the electric again. Worked first time! By 11.30 we were on our way and now the caravan is back in the Paddock (waiting to have the water looked at again) and I'm waiting for the Aga to be lit (it's a man's job) so I can get warmed up!
PS - I'm sorry for the hit and miss grammar in the post - I've been adding bits and pieces all afternoon, and it never really flowed.
PPS - another disappointment - the books I took! I ordered a set of books from The Book People that I thought would be light enough for holiday reading, but still at least slightly gripping. Wrong choice - 10 books for £9.99 might be a bargain - but not if they're Agatha Raisin books by M C Ballard. I shouldn't have believed the reviews.
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