Dot's Birthday Barnard Castle

Day one 7th of March

It was a miserable day as we packed up in York ready to move on to Barnard Castle for Dot's birthday. The van started OK, I had the battery on charge for two days before we were due to move.

It was overcast and foggy for the whole of the drive and it was also a lot cooler than it had been for the previous few days. The site had only been open for a week but there were a few vans already there.

We got set up and had sandwiches, so it was quite late in the afternoon before we ventured into town.   The path in is not very good so we had our walking shoes on, we had also started wearing warmer water proof coats.  Some of the shops were already closing when we arrived on the high street, so it wasn't long before we picked out a pub The Coach and Horses, to warm up in.

The path back was slightly treacherous in the dark but we had a very small flash light with us.

Day two 8th of March

We where going to do some walking while we were in Barnard Castle but the weather was just not good enough.

We did pop out later in the afternoon and did much the same as the previous day, only we had a look in The The Golden Lion pub first before moving on to The Coach and Horses again. We did intend to get back to the van before it got dark but failed.

Day three 9th of March

The view from the window says it all.

We didn't go anywhere at all, just watched TV and read books.  Didn't even drink much beer, even though there was plenty in the van.  We also had an early night after watching a couple of films.

Day four 10th of March

I did bacon, eggs and mushrooms for Dot's birthday breakfast, it was very nice.

The view from the window isn't getting any better.

But we ventured out for a birthday Sunday lunch anyway and we went fairly early, as you never know when these country pubs will stop serving food and it was also Mothers Day. We went straight to The Coach and Horses it seemed to be the best pub but we had not seen the food. Well the food was quite good, it was roast beef for me and roast pork for Dot. Dot also had the chocolate brownies with ice cream but the toffee sauce it should have had over the top had run out, not very good.

As we finished the food the England v Italy rugby was starting, so I treated Dot to the rugby.  She did pop over to Morrisons to do a bit of shopping while I watched the second half.

After the rugby the weather was looking better but is was bitterly cold. We set off to walk back the longer way, there was one pub we hadn't checked (we hadn't been in them all for a drink but had looked in the others). Dot remembered that when we were there for the Olympic Torch Relay and sat on the old buttermarket, people were getting beers from down the street leading to Bowes Museum. Anyway is had closed down, so we went in The Well Inn instead.

We walked back to long way to the site completing the round trip we did for our Barnard Castle Walk.

Day five 11th of March

The view from the window is getting better but the weather isn't getting any better.

I went over to the tap to get water but there was none, I walked to another tap and it was the same there, I do not think it was frozen I think it was isolated. I had to get some from the vegetable preparation room in the end. I took some more photos while I was wandering about looking for water.

After lunch the snow had stopped, so we took the chance to go walking. We though we would walk along the south bank of the river tees to Eglston Abbey. It was very cold but we were well warped up and the ground was mainly firm. We came to some falls that we didnt know existed as stopped for some photos.

All was going well until we missed a way point about half way there, at the static caravan park. It started to snow heavily again anyway so we made for the town and shelter in the shops and pubs there. You can see from the photos of Dot, the difference between the walk out and the walk back.

In The Coach and Horses the landlord was helping a farmer with a laptop problem, as I was getting served, I heard the landlord say "it looks like your file has gone sorry you've lost it".   I asked if they had looked in the recycle bin, it was there, good deed for the day (although neither of them said thank you or even acknowledged that it was me who found the missing file).

By now the snow was set in for the night, we sat in the warm The Coach and Horses, watching cars struggle to get up the incline out of Barnard castle.   For a time the traffic was at a stand still.

During a short break in the weather we walked back to the site.

On the way back it started to snow heavily again though and the door to the van was frozen shut, when we got back, I had to go in through the cab doors and boil water to free the lock.

Day six 12th of March

The snow we no worse that when we went to bed but the water to the site taps was still off.

The van started OK, again I had the battery on charge for two day before we were due to move, we will have a new one before our next trip, whenever that is.

We went straight home partly because of the weather and partly because of the battery.

My Birthday York

Day one 3rd of March.

Arrived at Rowntree Park, York, just in time to park up the van and shoot of to meet Nicole, Tim and the Twins for lunch. We would not see them tomorrow on my birthday, so this was my birthday treat.

We met up with them on Ouse Bridge and went straight into The Slug and Lettuce, just off the bridge. We couldn't get a window seat with a view of the river but the seat we got was good enough. The food was good as was the beer, EPA if I remember right.

After lunch, we all had a walk around the shops and after the others left for home, Dot and I retired to the Kings Arms, as usual.

Day two 4th of March.

After opening all my birthday cards and having breakfast, I set up the sat dish (hadn't bothered the previous day) in the nice warm sun.

The first thing we were going to do was take a ride on the York Eye, the big wheel next to the train station but not the same one as we went on a few years back, that one was long gone, this was the new one. we had a Groupon for the ride, £6.00 instead of £17.00, I do not think I would have gone on at the full price. After a light lunch we left the site via the back gate and walked along the cite walls to the station and Eye.

We did three rotation (I think) and it views were very good, although it did turn my stomach slightly at the top each time (see my face in the photo below).

The weather had closed in so that we could not see as far as last time but the immediate views over the city were great, especially of the Minster.

After a walk in the park and a tour of the shops we went back to the The Slug and Lettuce for a birthday tea (it was Happy Monday all food half price). I had fish and chips, it was very good but I think a bit too greasy for me. After the food we when down the steps to the Kings but after a couple I felt a bit sick, so we had a walk in the cold fresh air to the Postern Gate. Where I was sick in the toilets, luckily this was before we ordered any drinks.

We set off back to the campsite but I had perked up a bit so we stopped off at The Swan but we only had the one, my hart wasn't in it, I do not like being 60.

Day three 5th of March.

A very clear but cold day and I was feeling much better, so we went for a walk tacking in part of the city we hadn't seen before. We walked right through the centre through Micklegate Bar and back out via Monk Bar, then down Monkgate to the river Foss. We then turned left and followed the river, all of this part of the walk was new to us and we probably walked a bit too far for the day after not feeling well.

Fro a rest we popped into a pub we had not used before, The Snickleway Inn, it was a lot better than it sounds and had several hand pulled beers to choose from.

Once again we went to The Slug and Lettuce but for supper this time, Tikka Tuesday (2-4-1 Curry night) and we went after beers in the Kings.

Day four 6th of March.

Last day in York before moving on to Barnard Castle tomorrow for Dot's birthday.

The weather had changed and was not as bright as it has been, on the afternoon we did the shops until we were tired.

That evening we had beers in The Kings, The Postern Gate and The Slip Inn, I did manage to find several new beers but by the time we were ready to head back to the van, it was raining.

Away for Birthdays

We are now away in the van for our birthdays (my 60th) and still have a few days to go before we are back home.  I have had many new beers on the trip but as we are only on mobile broadband it will have to wait until we are home to do the reviews and write up.

So for now here is a photo of me at 60.

Getting ready

Getting ready for a nine day trip, not going far but it will be good to get out in the van. Not sure yet but I may have to buy a new motor battery, I will have to see how it goes over the next couple of days.

The van is now over ten, and a few niggly problems are starting to crop up, so at the moment I am putting things right before the trip.

The fridge appears to have packed in but there is no way we can afford a new one, we will have to make do for now. Maybe we will just buy a cheap household fridge, again we will have to see how thing go.

Back to work in the van now.

Not much happening

Well there is not much happening with the van, I did sleep in it on Saturday night as we had too many young girls sleeping over. It was freezing outside but as usual it was nice and warm in he van.

We are however booked away for our birthdays in March, York for mine (as usual) and Barnard Castle for Dot's, a full nine days away from home. Our other usual early trip to Peterborough in April for Amber's birthday is off though, the campsite is fully booked, so we are booked into a hotel instead. For two nights in the hotel in the centre of Peterborough it was only £10 in total more than the campsite, makes me think, is it worth keeping the van.

We have no other plans for the van for the rest of the year as yet.

Internet Connection When Away

Many of us have become addicted to the internet and rely on it for keeping in touch and as the fountain of all knowledge.

I am not going to talk about all the different methods you can use to connect while away, I an just going to tell you how I do it.

Of course most of us now have smart phones that can connect to the internet from almost anywhere and I do use mine quite a lot. Also as my home broadband is with BT, I can connect using my phone (or laptop) via BT Fon WiFi, although I rarely get a connection that way.

Connecting abroad using the phone is a big no-no though, as it can be very expensive although I do use it if I can get free or cheap WiFi. On my old phone I paid my phone supplier for a certain amount of usage in France and it lasted me for a week, I did exactly the same with my new phone and it lasted a day. Too many things go on in the background of the new phone and it was too complicated to stop it all. So now I do not bother doing that any more.

Even though I use the phone, I do like to use my laptop, mainly for the bigger screen but also because I can do much more with it. When on Caravan Club sites I would purchase WiFi time from them and it worked well but now I have a much cheaper method.

I have a 3 dongle and an account with SIM from Samba. A dongle + SIM from Samba is £25 or £5 for just the SIM.

This is how it works, from the Samba web site

Samba is where you watch ads, and in return you earn mobile data for your tablet or laptop. But that's not all. At Samba you, the user, are in charge. You select what to watch and when to watch it. And we carry only high quality video advertising from leading brands, so you should always be entertained.

For every ad you view, we give you 3.5MB of credit. Most ads are between 30 and 60 seconds long. Some are longer, some are shorter. Samba mobile data is credited to your account, and you use it when you want. Free internet on the go, the Samba way.

I had the dongle, I paid £5 for the SIM, I log on to Samber, click on ads to watch and build up credit. Then when I am away, I connect via the 3 network and use the credit I have earned. I have used it Several times now and the only place I could not get a signal was at home.

Plans for 2013

Well unfortunately we will not be taking the van abroad again this year. As the previous two years we have managed to book mobilehomes for considerably less than taking the van. In fact this year we have paid even less than before, through a mix of different offers (Groupon and Tesco).

I would much rather take the van but our financial situation will not allow for now. Hopefully in 2014 things will be better, I have been trying to get work but I think my age is against me. Thankfully we have had ten good years use from the van, before my redundancy money ran out and inflation got the better of my pension.

However we do plan to try and use the van a little more than last year, maybe using Caravan Club Certified Locations, to save money.

In 2016, I would love to tour some of the places in France where my grandfather fought in World War One, to be in those places, exactly one hundred years after he was there.  I have his diary and know where he was on almost every day of 1916.   We did do Albert in 2006, partly for the same reason and it would be good to do Ypres in Belgium as well.