Last Motorhome trip for 2018

Pearl and I are doing the final preparations to set off on our last motorhome trip of 2018 before:

1. The nights get so short.

2. Before Pearl has her puppies.

We are going to Warwickshire, to a campsite at the back of a pub.  This pub has an intriguing name "Cottage of Content". 

I have been there before; it is a lovely site in a charming location.  Unfortunately I can only stay 3 nights as it is fully booked for the weekend.  It was similar the last time I went so I have not done the long walk.  I plan on taking a bus to Stratford and walking back to the campsite via Stratford Way.  Let's hope the weather holds so  this last trip in the motorhome results in some special memories. 

I am not sure if I will stay at another campsite for the weekend or return home.  As usual I will see how the mood takes me and what unfolds.  This is the joy of a motohome: the ease with which one can up and move on.

I am considering going to another amazing campsite in Powys; Mellington Hall Caravan Park.  This too has a bar and restaurant attached; (rather the campsite is attached to the bar and restaurant).  Here the magnificent building "The Hall" is an hotel.  The campsite is set in part of the 270 acres.  Also on site are beautiful  landscape spaces and several acres of woods with special trails.  It is a fabulous place for dogs as well as people.  

I might just go there for a couple of nights as I need to complete the short walk this time.  I had a fabulous time last time I was there.

A Fresh Start

I have changed the title of this blog to Motorhome Musings.


This I think better reflects the content of the blog. 


I blog not just about my travels in the the motorhome;

Amber teaching Pearl motorhome etiquette 

also about my dogs.  

They are an important part of my motorhome experiences as I take them everywhere with me.




Motorhome Musings also allows me to discuss the writings and photographs which have resulted from my experiences and to discuss books I have read whilst out and about.

I have been very privileged to discover a means of continuing my learning and to discover so much.  I hope this blog Motorhome Musing gives as much pleasure to you the readers as it does to me. 

Help Protect the Wonderful British Countryside

As a result of my research for the forthcoming book I realized just how wonderful and varied the countryside is as these photos show.







The countryside is a precious and finite resource so we must protect it.





This is very difficult to do as an individual.  But, by joining other like-minded people it is possible to have a greater influence.



The members of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England are passionate about our countryside. A great many of them are volunteers with a wealth of experience of engineering, local government, planning etc.  
However at times it is necessary to pay for some services. 


    

    You can support the CPRE by making a regular donation.  
    I make a monthly donation of only £3.00 (the price of cup of coffee).  Having a regular   donation even just a small one allows the CPRE to budget.

My target is to sign up 10 people.  
I hope they in turn will sign up at least 2 other people.

Go to 
http://www.cpre.org.uk/how-you-can-help 
and click "Become a Member " tab and follow instructions.

I would like to thank all those who have sign up.
I hope you all continue to enjoy the fabulous countryside.

Pearl Gained a Certificate

Preamble:-
Pearl and I have been so busy I have not had time to update my blog.
What have we been doing?
Well:-


First there were Pearl's puppies to look after and find homes.



This was not difficult just time consuming.  People from all over were interested in them.





Second Pearl auditioned for a part in a play at the Ustinov Studio of the Theatre Royal Bath.  She was successful. As a result she had 20 performances.


The Ustinov Studio is an intimate theatre with only a small space separating the stage from the audience. Not once did Pearl leap from the stage to the audience.

When any of the family came to see the play it was essential Pearl did not see them enter the building. She did very well. Her entrances were brilliant though sometimes she was so excited she rushed about a bit too much.

She absolutely loved the experience.

The dog trainer the theatre used suggested I enroll Pearl with a specalized Film and TV agency.

The Film and TV training and registration weekend was just last week. Pearl and I had to do a variety of tasks. It was hard work but Pearl and I learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Pearl obtained her certificate and is now registered with the agency.

So


Pearl has an agent!!!!!

Will she get work?


Watch this space

Relief - Puppies Arrive

Ruby

Having had 4 litters; 2 with Ruby and then 2 with Amber and thoroughly enjoying the experience, I thought of repeating it with Ruby's great-granddaughter Pearl. So when she came into season at the beginning of August I set about finding a stud. All went well, (sort of but that is another story) and on Tuesday 10th October Pearl had 7 lovely puppies.

This was a huge relief.

Amber

When Pearl had successfully been mated, obviously I told friends and family. Many many people regaled me with stories of litters that had had problems. Some of these tales of woe were horrendous. Several people implied I was lucky to have had 4 trouble-free litters. I have to say this freaked me out. I became anxious about the impending event and worried about my pet Pearl. My imagination worked overtime. Every day it threw up a new catastrophic scenario ranging from deformed puppies to losing Pearl.


I knew this was just a reaction to the stories I had been told. As stated in "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman, using my "system 2" and examining the evidence I concluded things probably would not be as calamitous as I envisaged.

Despite my feelings of doom, I decided to replicated the behaviour I adopted with Ruby and Amber, who both had uncomplicated litters. I would not change the routine Pearl and I had.  We would take the same walks, still explore new places and most importantly for me we would continue to go out and about in the motorhome. I would treat her pregnancy in a matter of fact way and try to remain calm and not let Pearl know how anxious I was.

Pearl and her new puppies

This seems to have worked. Pearl is fine as are the puppies.  In fact she seems a little stir crazy. She does like to go out and does not seem too concerned about leaving her puppies.  She had the puppies relatively easily and they are at 8 days old all thriving.

On closer examination of this situation, it is a mirror of my experience of the recent explosion of news. It is wonderful knowing what is going on but most of the news is of difficulties and problems. Also there is little follow up of various stories.These events are rarely put in context of the bigger picture.  Hearing of such problems can cause a person to change their behaviour out of fear of what MAY happen. It is for this reason I am very very selective about what news I listen too.  It has nothing to do with fake news, it is all to do with TOO MUCH news.

I recently saw on the TV two items on programmes nothing to do with news but which I found life enhancing.

The first concerned an old man of about 80 who was evacuated during the war. He was sent to this big posh house with 29 other children. A school was set up and they were all given a plot to grow some food. This encounter changed this man's life. He was most grateful for having had this experience.

The second concerned Prince Charles helping to save a big grand house.  The restoration and end product had to offer work for local businesses, employment to local people and educational experiences for local school children. It was wonderful seeing the children dig up vegetables and make them into a soup. It was heart warming to hear of a couple of people whose lives had been changed after gaining employment because of the new house.

I would like to hear more stories like these to balance the current diet of doom and gloom that seems to pervade usual news. 

Enough of this seriousness.  

I hope you enjoy all the puppy pictures.

National Memorial Arboretum

Many people I speak to are unaware of the National Memorial Arboretum. This is probably due to its being created only recently. 

A tree commemorating a soldier

It was the brainchild of David Childs, who during a visit to Arlington Cemetery in the States was inspired to institute something similar in the UK.  

From the outset, unlike Arlington, it was not going to be a cemetery, it was intended to be a place to celebrate and remember the lives of people with the planting of living trees so creating an oasis of peace, joy, hope and tranquillity. 

 Also, it was felt all those who served our country in the many different ways, should be appropriately recognized and honoured.  The aim of  “..this living memorial is to offer families and friends of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country a green and pleasant land to remember their loved ones.” 

(http://www.greatwar.co.uk/organizations/national-memorial-arboretum.htm)

An Army Memorial

The Arboretum was to include everyone from all over the UK with no caveats. In order for people to feel the place belonged to them all pertinent groups and organizations have been encouraged to participate.

The Remembrance Centre  provides information. There is space for exhibitions, a restaurant as well as a cafe and delightful outdoor spaces,  “Heroes Square” and “The Boyes Garden”, where views of the arboretum can be admired whilst having refreshments. And of course there is a shop.  

Also to be found in the Centre is The Millennium Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness. This was created to offer all peoples of whatever faith or persuasion a place of calmness, peace and serenity. Every day at 11am An Act of Remembrance is held in the Chapel.

There is a charge for the Remembrance Centre. However, it is free to sit in “Heroes Square”, visit the shop, cafe and chapel and to wander around the grounds. Throughout the year a range of events are held both in the Remembrance Centre and the grounds.  Details can be found online at   http://www.thenma.org.uk/events-and-news/forthcoming-events/

WW2 Polish Forces Memorial

The Arboretum covers 150acres and more than 50 000 trees have been planted.  The Armed Forces Memorial is by far the largest and commemorates all those who, since WWII, have been killed whilst on duty or due to terrorist acts. 

WW1 Memorial

However, there are over 330 other memorials honouring both military and civilian organizations. One of the newest additions is the RoadPeace Memorial dedicated to all those killed on our roads. 

Then there are the many trees planted in remembrance of individuals creating woodlands that now support an ever increasing diversity of wildlife.

Getting to the next campsite

I was on my way to the campsite near the National Memorial Arboretum. I intended to stop there just for one night on my way home from Lancashire. As the journey was about 3 hours I decided to leave really early; as close to 9am as possible. Then I should arrive at my destination, Alrewas by early afternoon. Time for a spot of lunch and a pleasant leisurely stroll around the Arboretum in the sun.

Unfortunately my journey to the campsite was so fraught I almost gave up and just continued homeward.

Well surprise surprise; 9.30am saw me driving through the entrance of the campsite on the start of my journey. I did stop to put some petrol in which was just as well considering the resulting problems. However, I did not arrive until well into the afternoon and by the time I had a very quick bite to eat and set off it was late afternoon and the sky was fast losing colour  making it difficult to take some interesting photographs.

The first part of the journey to and along the motorway was a breeze. I came off the motorway and had only about 20 miles to go along a lovely dual carriageway. At the first junction the road I wanted was closed. I was diverted back to the motorway.  Yes there were diversion signs. So many of them all pointing every which way I did not know which ones to follow. I set off along a minor road in what I hoped was going to take me roughly in the right direction. I took a wrong turn and a lot later ended up back at the motorway. Sitting in the services pulling my hair out I had a light bulb moment - I turn off my regular sat nav and used google maps on my phone, which seemed to keep up to date with roadworks etc.

Since I had hit the closed road I had spent ages and ages getting to this point. I was thrilled to see on google maps I was just 17 miles away 29 minutes.  Hopefully the end was near. I set off. (It was not easy as often google maps did not keep up with me and I reached a junction and did not know which way to turn. However I managed to keep more or less on route).

With my destination now only 10 minutes away I found myself going down quite a minor road with lots of traffic lights. I was sitting at some lights at a bridge thinking how nice it would be to finally arrive in a few minutes when it gradually dawned on me the van two cars in front was going very slowly. Then horror of horrors I realized he was having difficulty because the width of the bridge was very narrow. I was mortified.  He managed to get thorough as did the 2 cars behind him before the lights changed to red and I had to stop.

My Motorhome??????

It was then I noticed the sign indicating the bridge was 7 foot 6 inches wide.  My motorhome??? I quickly grabbed
the specs card I had made when I first got the van which I kept in the back of the sun-visor. I scanned down the list of measurements; width of van 7 foot 2 inches. I had 2 inches of space either side.

I felt it was impossible to turn around and find another route. Just getting this far had been so problematic and I did not know the area.  Also there was a queue of traffic behind me.  The road was very narrow.  I was not sure I would even be ABLE to turn around. I felt my only option was to try and cross the bridge. 

Whilst the cars were coming the other way I immediately pulled in the wing mirror on my side. The lights changed. I set off VERY SLOWLY.  I had forgotten the wing mirror on the passenger side. I stopped, unbuckled, got out of the seat ,wound the window down and pulled in the mirror.

I prayed the car the other end of the bridge could see me trying to cross and would wait for me should the lights changed. If not I did not know what we would do if we met head on in the middle of the bridge.  Very very very slowly I inched forward hoping I would not hear any scraping sound. It seemed to take an eternity but finally I got through the tight bit at my end.  The middle part of the bridge was a bit wider so I could go a little faster.

I breathed a sigh of relief because at least now the oncoming driver could see me and would know to wait. Then I came to the tight bit at the far end. Slowly, slowly slowly I inched forward. Finally I was through and no scraping sound. I had made it!!!  My heart was racing nineteen to the dozen. No need for me to do a fun run to increase my heart rate.

The road I was now travelling along was very narrow and the queue of traffic was enormous. Some of the bigger cars and vans spilled onto my side of the road and made it a tight squeeze. I had to mount the kerb but fortunately there were no barriers to worry about. On a couple of occasions I had to wait for cars to move over. As I passed some of the cars the drivers applauded me. It quite cheered me up. 

Just as google maps stated in less than 10 minutes I was pulling into the campsite.  The owner was not surprised I was late.  Apparently he had heard on the news that several roads had been closed because of reported bombs under bridges. When I parked up I felt a stiff drink was in order. I made do with tea instead as I did want to get to the Arboretum. 

It was worth making the effort. A lovely walk and soothing.

PS I did not take any photos of the bridge. I was too worried about being able to cross it.

A New Project

As I mentioned in my previous post I decided not to go away over the bank holiday. When the offer of work on bank holiday Monday came up I jumped at it.  

Also I was correct about some of the campsites being full, especially as the weather turned so nice. I decided to play it safe and book the next campsite in Wales (Lleithyr Farm Caravan and camping Holidays) for after the bank holiday. I was surprised to discover they were full until Wednesday. I will have to work hard to find and complete all the necessary work.  I hope the weather holds so I can get some decent photographs.

Even though I have been unable to gather more information for my book I have not been twiddling my thumbs. 

Writing a book is only part of the process. It then has to be made available for purchase. In short it needs to be marketed. This too is time consuming.  My plans to market my first book "My Friend Ruby" were derailed when I was awarded a book contract.  I knew I would not have the time to do both. If I want both books to achieve reasonable sales I need to have plans for marketing both. An idea occurred to me as a result of attending the book launch of my friend Amy.


Over the weekend Amy and I met up to set plans in motion and begin preparations. During 2018 we are hoping to attend some book festivals with the aim of "introducing a variety of non-fiction books to a wider audience". We are thinking of having 12 books, one for each month. Amongst the 12 will be my book, possibly Rita Cosby's "Quiet Heroes" and Aileen Orr's "Wojtek; The Bear". 

It will be immediately obvious why I chose them as all three are personal to me. Nevertheless they may interest you. I will post in this blog updated plans of our project as and when including the other 9 books on the list.

Photographs

After the excitement of the past couple of weeks I thought of completing my campsite research. However, the overcast weather indicated photos would be rather dull. It is difficult to take lots of interesting photos when it is cloudy. One or two as here is an enjoyable challenge. If the overcast weather is prolonged the impression created of the campsite is not very favourable. 

As it was necessary for me to return home at the end of the week I decided the couple of days I could squeeze in going away would not allow me to complete my research satisfactorily. 


Going away this coming weekend is also problematical as it is the bank holiday weekend. I assume most of the places I need to visit will be busy so probably won't have space for me.

I have made good use of my time. I have completed a second chapter; the one of campsites in Scotland and am well on my way to completing a third. My problem now is to choose the photographs to accompany the chapters.

I thought this would be easy as I only have to select 4 photos for each campsite. Not so. Because I take so many photographs it is proving very difficult to select just 4, especially if they all come out half decently as this one.

It was whilst trying to select the photos for the chapter about Scotland that I realized I had accidentally deleted all the photos I took during the last couple of days. Of course it is much to far away to go back to take more relevant photos. 

With September fast approaching I am making plans to complete my research. I do hope we get a bit more sun to make taking photos easier.

Time to Consolidate

Burnley

I am now back from my last expedition to Scotland and North Yorkshire and the abortive time in Burnley. (I did manage to take some photographs at least).

It is time to pause, collate my notes and endeavour to complete some chapters of the book. This is more difficult than it sounds. This has been partly due to my having caught a cold.  Might be the summer but I still caught a cold. The worse thing about it was the cough. Anyway all is well now.  Back to producing something.

Each time I re-read what I have written an idea occurs to me which requires further editing. Hopefully these changes will make it a better read. Surprisingly the most difficult task is selecting just 4 photographs for each campsite.  

Pearl with her wooden friend!!!!

Another reason for taking a break was the change in the weather; more rain less sun. How fortunate I was in managing to visit so many campsites during the good weather in May and June. 

I also took a break because of Pearl. First she scraped the pads of her paws so had to wear boots. That made me laugh so much. Then she came into season. This is not a good time to be out going to places I do not know and meeting strange dogs so we stayed home. 

It is nearly finished so I am hoping to go away early next week. Not quite sure where. It depends on the weather and the availability of pitches. 


By this time the harvest should be in and all the hay and straw wrapped up as the machine is doing in the photograph. With all the rain this may not be the case.