Motorhome Madness with the Walters

 The brilliant thing about dame Shirley Bassey is that we can now jet off whenever we fancy. We fancied a short jaunt over the bank holiday weekend. Looking at the club sites we found The Firs at Belper. Less than an hours drive away meaning we could go to the match before heading on down there. On the Friday of the Bank Holiday weekend Samwise arrived. Kathy and Einar were heading off to Oxford for Renchins graduation leaving us babysitting. Sam is a lovely dog, but he is just like a baby, needing the same time and attention. My favourite part was the Saturday morning when I let both dogs out. ‘Whatever you do mum, don’t let Sam eat his own poo!’ Were Kathy’s departing words as her and Einar headed for the hills. As soon as they were out the door both dogs squatted down. The dilemma! Which steaming pile to shovel first in order to stop Sam devouring his own, or another dogs, mess. Thankfully I am a super speedy shoveler and all was well. Some babysitting photos It was another hot ...

 We had been home only a couple of weeks before our next jaunt in Dame Shirley. With it being the football season most of our trips until next April would be centred around who The Millers were playing away. A visit to QPR enabled us to set up a visit to the Wyatts Covert CMC site near Uxbridge, one which we had stayed in many years ago when the kids were little in the old caravan. It was also conveniently located for a meeting with Heather and David. The best laid plans and all that. The weekend before the trip Ian came home from work with man flu. Just a cold we thought, until he decided on a covid test. Positive! Damn. No way did I want to give the coronas to Heather and David as they were both very ill last time. We ummed and ahhed whether to cancel. The decision was made when I returned from work on the weds at deaths door. Even thought the test was negative we decided not to go ahead with the planned meal out. After checking the governments latest guidance however, ‘stay off ...

 Ian is 60! 5th August 2022 was his 60th birthday, and also the day we sadly left for home. Vicky and Alex popped round before vickys shift with presents, balloons, and a banner. Although one of the presents was stuck in Devizes post office and another would take ten weeks to arrive! He did have a lovely wine table for Dame Shirley to open though.  Sixty? Me? After they left we had a bit of breakfast before battening down the hatches and heading for home. Kingsbury water park is not far from Rotherham and we were back by lunchtime, with Chris and Misty waiting for us. Happy Birthday arch In between washing we were glad to once again take Misty for a walk in our woods Once Chris got home  from work Ian opened his presents And look at this too! Then it was off out to W at Wickersley for a fabulous birthday meal. We were also treated to a photo cake, and got to blow out sixty candles. (Well sixty is a bit of an exaggeration.)  It’s good to be home but we can’t wait for ...

 On day 10 Vicky was volunteering so I dropped her off at the NEC. Ian and Alex had decided on a 50 mile cycle to Cannock chase to see the mountain biking. I toyed with the idea of tickets for some obscure sport, but decided to just laze.  Vicky had a very exciting day. In the morning Tessa Sanderson came to her desk to say that there would be royalty visiting  and could everyone be there to greet them! All the other volunteers, who have spent the whole time dashing off to watch the sports and leaving Vicky to man the desk, suddenly turned up at 1.30 to welcome the Wessexes. They had come from the netball (the Wessexes and most of the others!) and Tessa had organised a full behind the scenes tour. Unfortunately for her, they just wanted food and spent the allotted time in the canteen!  Vicky and her fellow ‘volunteers’ The hungry Wessexes and stressed Tessa Ian and Alex headed off to Cannock, Alex on my electric bike but with no intention of using any power. That jus...

 Vicky had a day off on the Tuesday, which meant a lie in for Ian and me as well. Her and Alex did need a lift to a station though, as they were attending the 3x3 basketball at Smithfield. The main things that occurred were the seats were terrible, Vicky got locked in the toilets, and a dog attended. Meanwhile, Ian and I watched some games, had a nap, then went to Harvester for a late lunch of proper food. I felt I had done nothing but eat rubbish for days. I had booked a park and ride fro the West Brom stadium, and as before it went very smoothly. We were at the Sandwell pool in good time. Then I needed the loo. None inside and the queue for the ladies was enormous. Hardly any queue for the men’s of course. Vicky and Alex made their way from the centre by free train and shuttle bus and arrived just in time for kick off. Vicky had acquired the tickets at a late stage, and because of this we were in three different locations. Alex was up in the gods with a great view of the diving p...