In between catching up with family and friends plus sightseeing, I have started the onerous task of disposing of a few artefacts, memorabilia, heirlooms and other bits and pieces that, when I was last in the UK, I thought were important to keep. Mmmmm! Not an easy thing to do – and a task that will certainly not be finished on this trip but was lightened when I came across a few newspaper cuttings from my travels probably around 40 years ago
A telex from way back in 1985 also intrigued me
but I can’t recall what happened to this ‘enquiry’ or, indeed, if the goats ever got to Oman!
I’ve always been fascinated by old canals, partly, I must admit, because of the many hostelries along their way but largely as I have always been in awe of the engineering skills that enabled them to be built all those years ago. The Grand Union Canal – a 137 mile long stretch of waterway (with 166 locks) between London and Birmingham was built more than 200 years ago and passes very close to where we are staying which on a couple of (quite rare) warm-ish days, gave us ample opportunity for some pleasant walks along the towpath
and surrounding woodland
There was even a chance for Nokky to try her hand at lock keeping!
My son, Ollie, is a very accomplished golfer – as was his grandfather, Sadly, though, I was the generation in between that missed out on all such skills. Nevertheless, both Nokky and I do like a good ‘hack around’ so it was a pleasure when Ollie invited us to play at his local club on another pleasantly warm, sunny day.
I’m happy to say that we didn’t disgrace ourselves and had a lovely day.
Close to the village of Ivinghoe we stumbled across a ‘pick your own’ fruit farm
and for days thereafter, gorged ourselves on these most delicious of summer fruits. Hopefully the raspberries will be ready by the time we get back to the UK. So another visit will have to be scheduled.
My very good friend Luis, who has a big Jaguar car dealership in Sussex and who has helped me with transportation during our time in Europe, once a year (Covid permitting, of course) takes a stand at the Goodwood ‘Festival of Speed’ to sell his wares. This event coincided with the first stage of our journey south towards France and Spain so it was a good opportunity to drop by and witness what it was all about first hand whilst enjoying the conviviality of his company.
The 4 day jamboree is astounding – full of extremely fast and very expensive (and mostly impractical) cars. I was told that the one above was for sale with a price tag of around £1 million!!!
And there’s even a bit of racing on what was once the very famous Goodwood race track.
All in all, a very silly, noisy but fascinating half day was spent in the company of not only my good friend and his family but also thousands upon thousands of spectators enjoying not only the fine weather but also their fascination with the internal combustion engine. Recession? What recession?
Our brief skirmish with the petrol heads was followed by a leisurely drive to Brighton to catch up with another old friend followed by an equally leisurely crossing to France on the Newhaven – Dieppe ferry.
Some 5 hours after landing we arrived in Bressuire, south of the Loire river where my sister has lived happily for many a year. And it wasn’t long before we were put to work in her much loved garden
A very pleasant two nights later and we were on our way south again. A fairly stressful drive (credit cards not working at toll stations, going round in circles in cities with incomprehensible one way systems etc) got a lot better as we approached the Pyrenees
where all we had to concern ourselves with were a few inquisitive cows!
A trouble free journey through northern Spain followed and we finally arrived at our Benitachell house some 3 years after our last visit – thanks to Mr Covid!
Until the next time.
R
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