Rah Rah Rah

I am currently sat in the study of Nick's parents house in Southampton, enjoying the shade and the view out of the window. It has been a scorcher of a day and Nick, Den & I took the Punto with the roof down to Sandbanks in Poole for a lovely lunch at the Haven Hotel and a trip across the chain ferry to the long beaches. There is a nudist beach there but we didn't walk that far, I was very disappointed not to see it! >>>

Flash forward, as I was writing the above I heard the shout that dinner was ready so I've just consumed a half bottle of white wine and some quite tasty coronation chicken with rice and salad. As it's such a sunny evening we ate in the garden sat under the tree with the last of the sunshine on our backs. I've had a couple of menthols as well which is a bit naughty but there you go.

So to catch up again then, I think I let off when we were in Swansea which was the last time I had access to internet gubbins. We spent a week there and witnessed Ralph & Rowan's first birthday which was great, they loved the wrapping paper way more than the toys and were so full of beans it was wonderful. We left Wales on Friday 11th July and headed that night to a campsite known as "Old Down Touring Park", just south of Bath on the way to Glastonbury. We spent 2 nights there and on the Saturday went to our friends Marc & Gabie's wedding in a little village called Litton at the King's Arms pub. It was just the reception and didn't start until 5pm as they had a very private wedding and it turned out to be a great night. We caught up with Bob, Keely, Claire & James plus Helena & Matt, all really lovely people that Nick knew back in Exeter when we were at Uni. We had a geriatric taxi driver, Brian, who got utterly lost on the way there AND on the way back from our campsite to the pub and insisted on playing the Wurzels at full volume and getting maps out every five minutes.

On Sunday 13th July we left our gorgeous friendly campsite and headed a bit south to Clarks village in Street for some retail outlet action and then on to a little village called Somerton to stay in the field of someones house. It was just south of Glastonbury and we could actually see the Tor from our site. It was very peaceful, we had a barbecue and the whole site to ourselves, apart from the chickens. There was a white fluffy bantam that resembled a large cotton ball, quite something.

On the Monday we drove down to my Dad's cottage in Kennerleigh, mid Devon and spent a week there chilling out with the folks. We popped into Exeter a couple of times, went to the rather marvellous House of Marbles at Bovey Tracey (think massive marble runs with snooker balls instead of marbles), Trago Mills (for old times sake! Only bought a saop dish - very restrained)) and some great old school country pubs like the Black Dog and the Beer Engine. Met up with Shirley & John a couple of times as well. Nick had man flu for a couple of days and was laid up in bed so I went through a load of old boxes in the garage which contained my old school work and various other things from my childhood. I was thrilled to find my old recorder plus a couple of ocarinas and I have kept the ocarinas for the journey with the intent to improve my skills and also to teach Nick, who is not musically inclined. I also bought some Poi from a shop in Exeter, but they broke and I ended up taking them back so I will not be learning how to do Poi just yet until I find some more.

Now we are back in Southampton where we will be staying for a week or so until we head off to Europe. We popped to Salisbury last night to catch up with our old friends Alex & Jess at their new house and we met their doggie Matravers, or Matty who is a very exciteable 8 month old springer/pointer cross.

And that's about it. Since we've been back in Soton we've been to Bosham and Sandbanks (today obviously) and the weather is really really lovely for once. Life is going well, I have rediscovered cider as a drink and am getting very brown. I have also discovered Reggae Reggae sauce which you have to marinade chicken kebabs in before barbecueing! Very tastysome., om yom yom. I realise I am droning on about nothing now so am off. xxxxx