Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!,
originally uploaded by Phillip.

Well the end of my week off has been busy too. Thursday we pretty much spent chilling out with a short trip to my Mum's. Friday saw us in Brum (a last minute decision to get Florence some clothes for "the party season". Had a good day out, went on the train but the whole train thing was pretty bad due to the amount of people (I guess it was down to half term). Nate went to his first party on Saturday and he seemed to have a great time. Finished off the weekend end chilling (and of course sculpting a fine 2005 pumpkin!)

Last caravan trip of the season is over

...but it was a great trip. The weather was loads better than predicted, with most of the rain falling over night. We got some sunny half days, and a lot of dramatic skies. Not sure whether its the novelty factor or the fact that you're surrounded by all your own stuff, but holidays in the van seem to be longer than others, and we all felt like these few days were as good as the fortnight in Summer. There was a footpath which ran down the back of the site, which was a good safe walking spot for us all. There was a same brook which ran along side the path and the kids spent a lot of time chucking apples off the tree into the brook and seeing whoose would get the furthest downstream. Got the BBQ hooked up to the van and had some local (and Pembrokeshire) sausages for tea. On Sunday we went up to Dovedale and clibed Lover's Leap (which must have seemed very hard for Nate - but he managed). Spotted a couple of Dippers (which are not common in the UK), and some migrating goosanders. Had a great picnic lunch. Considering it was a Sunday in half term Dovedale wasn't too busy. It made us realise that the Peaks are a lot nearer to home than we remember and we should get out and about in the area a lot more. Called in to Ashbourne on the way home, but the famous gingerbread shop was closed on Sunday. Overnight there was a lot of rain, and we woke up to muddy puddles in the field. Monday we knew that Louise was coming over with her girls to see us and we'd planned a trip to Hartington, which also has a famous culinary shop - this time cheese. We needed a few supplies, so nipped to the Sainsburys in Ashbourne before they arrived. There was a pretty major flood, which had cut off one of the roads into town (up till then we'd not really appreciated how much rain had fallen, and you realise that in the Peak District places lower down are really going to cop for a lot of water!).

Lou and the girls seemed to have a good time and we also popped into the gingerbread shop on the way home for a coffee (and gingerbread teddies). Tuesday, after another night of rain and high winds we woke to even muddier puddles! The day was great weather and the sun came out - we went further into the peak district to Bakewell, and had some fantastic scenery on the way. As GJ drove we all got to see it too. Again there is bound to be a culinary connection!!, Bakewell being the home of Bakewell tarts and puddings. So we bought an original! Got home and walked off our fish and chip lunch down the footpath, which was really flooded. Had another great explore and we found a badger set - did some Ray Mears style investigating and found some tracks too. The babbling brook had turned into a torrent which Nate found very exciting. We had a "Summer Holiday Planning Session" when we got back and it is looking like a 2 centre holiday this year, with a week on the Isle of Wight and a week in the New Forest. Paid up with the farmer (our 4 nights costing a grand total of £26!). Wednesday woke to another fine and sunny day, so we headed out to the next village along from Alton Towers and had a walk in the woods. Got back and took the Awning down and generally got packed away. A great drive home, meant we were home in 1/2 hour. Shame it'll be our last trip this year.

Fungi at the front

Fungi at the front,
originally uploaded by Phillip.

Been quiet for a while for a number of reasons (but no excuses Mark!) Have been doing stints away from home 3 days at a time with nothing but dial-up (which I find depressing to use now, so if I can avoid it I do). We had a huge life laundry session that took up all of last weekend, but am settled to work the rest of this week from home now. Going to see Florence in the harvest festival this morning, which will break the day up nicely, and tomorrow Tasha has to go and have some dental work done.
This weekend going to the peak district so hope the weather isn't too bad, we can all cope with a bit of rain, but the heavy downpours are difficult.

Longhorns

Longhorns,
originally uploaded by Phillip.

Been away to Cannock Chase this weekend in the van. Great outdoors weekend - loads of walking in the woods, went to the arts project walk too (more photos on Flickr). Really relaxing, getting wuite into this going away thing now. Did some better manouvers this weekend too. Looking forward to our longer break in a couple of weeks time to the Peaks.

During the morning, the longhorn cows burst the gate and came into the next field.

Long Days

I've worked a couple of long days this week, which means that I've easily got my hours in without having to do anything today!! Unfortunately following a couple of meetings yesterday I have got a couple of hours work to do.

I also managed to speak with Candice yesterday and she is changing my phone for me (which should arrive with me this morning)

Going away in the van again this weekend. A little further a field and to a field - should be a little more extreme and may require my new ramps!! We've also borrowed the Fiamma
from GJ so that we can at least get our boots off in the relative dry and try to keep some of the sh!t out of the van. Everyone geared up for a good woodland weekend. We know all the best places in the chase after asking Martin.

Spam

I've been getting quite a few spam comments on my blog of late (I had 3 this morning alone). They just seem to have started the last week or so??

Spent a long day in the car yesterday travelling to a refinery at Coryton for a meeting. The meeting was pretty agressive at first but by the time it was over all seemed weel (although the sales guy committed to a bid deadline that he has no way of meeting)

That much time in the car messed my back up a bit, and was completed phased by the time I got home (the last hour driving in the horrible dusk light)

Well in the office today, hopefully get the last bit of out Karlsruhe travel arrangements sorted out