It really can't be that we have been back in the UK now for over two months!
Firstly I thought I had done a very brief post before we left (now done!!) and secondly I can’t believe how slack I’ve been since we got back – my apologies to those who have been waiting with baited breath!!!
There was quite a bit of paperwork to arrange before we flew out; the office at Peakes Yard supplied the forms etc and Daniela, the office manager, made sure we had completed them all correctly – some in duplicate, some in triplicate and all with the correct form of wording!! We had to check out of immigration and customs in Chaguaramas in the morning before we left and Jessie James (Mr Fixit for yotties in Chaguaramas, now based in Power Boats Yard) organised a taxi to take us to the two offices and then back to Peakes to deposit a copy of the forms and then on to the airport! All went like clockwork and we were at the airport in good time to catch our flight.
We flew into Gatwick and caught the coach from there down to Exeter where Chris’s brother, Bill, picked us up - we were staying with him and Jane (his wife) for a couple of weeks while we sorted out a car and somewhere to live! As they had not long moved house we were really grateful, especially as it made it easy for us to go round some garages and find a smart little Fiat Panda that will do us very nicely for the time we are here.
We flew into Gatwick and caught the coach from there down to Exeter where Chris’s brother, Bill, picked us up - we were staying with him and Jane (his wife) for a couple of weeks while we sorted out a car and somewhere to live! As they had not long moved house we were really grateful, especially as it made it easy for us to go round some garages and find a smart little Fiat Panda that will do us very nicely for the time we are here.
Just before we left Trinidad, my brother and his wife kindly offered us the use of their house in the New Forest for a month as they were off away in Greece - two weeks travelling in the north of Greece and 2 weeks on their cruising boat in the islands. They have a lovely “Golden Doodle” (a Golden Retriever cross Poodle) called Millie, so we were able to return a favour and offered to look after her while we were there. |
Their house is in Beaulieu in a private road which runs alongside the Beaulieu River with their own wood and lovely garden - it was absolutely wonderful!! Very different to the dry landscapes we have been seeing.
I got in quite a bit of exercise walking the dog and one afternoon walked to Bucklers Hard where a large number of boats had been built for King Henry VIII back in the late 16th century and where boats were built right up until 1880. The New Forest, of course, supplied the wood – good old English oak
At the beginning of our stay, my daughter, Sarah, dropped in for a night and then she & I had a great day in Bath on our way to see my son, Rob, in Bristol. They went on the next day to see their Dad, Peter, and celebrate a SIGNIFICANT (!!) birthday with him and I had a great little train journey back. (Chris & I had gone to Peter’s ‘friends’ birthday meal during the week before.)
The Beaulieu River flows into the Solent and just round the coast and opposite the Isle of Wight, (IoW) there is a marvellous small village – Keyhaven – where the mud flats make a natural haven for small boats.
Chris’s son, Paul, came down for a visit too and we had a smashing few days with him, including a walk along the coast path there looking over to the Isle of Wight.
At Keyhaven, a spit of land sticks out towards the Isle of Wight and there is a castle, Hurst Castle, dating back to Tudor times there to guard Southampton and allow no passage between the Isle and the mainland.
There was a small ferry running out to the castle and we took it over to see the castle one afternoon. It was amazing!! English Heritage are custodians of the castle and in the old Tudor keep there was extensive information about its history and prisoners since Tudor times and in the ‘newer’ areas there were exhibitions and loads of information about the army that had been stationed there. For what appeared to be just a small castle it was really interesting and we wished we had had more time.
Chris caught the ferry back and I decided to walk with Millie (she hadn't liked getting on the ferry!!) back along the spit.
BAD decision – it was just like shingle beach so pretty hard going; still it tired the dog (and me!) out for the evening.
BAD decision – it was just like shingle beach so pretty hard going; still it tired the dog (and me!) out for the evening.
One evening, we were sitting in the living room when a movement caught my eye. I looked up and walking past the window was a young deer!! It seemed to round the back of the house and Chris went out to try to find it but it must have doubled back because I suddenly saw it down by their gate!! I went down the path and the deer crept into the wood. I opened the gate so hopefully it left overnight – well, we didn’t see it again!!
When Carol and Steve got back, we had a lovely weekend catching up. A quick trip down to Exeter for Chris to see doc etc and we moved on to the wilds of Wales!
We are currently staying in a lovely small-holding about 10 miles from anywhere, up a mile-long VERY bumpy and rutted dirt track.
We are currently staying in a lovely small-holding about 10 miles from anywhere, up a mile-long VERY bumpy and rutted dirt track.
Enough for now.
I’ll post again a bit sooner next time.
I’ll post again a bit sooner next time.