6th December - The Groves Annual Party

For the last few years we have held a big party at home with a theme which requires some form of dressing up. All of our friends are very willing to go the extra mile to make it happen and as a result we always have a great time.
The numbers were a bit ime for a various reasons but we still had a great time with twelve of us enjoying a Wild West Night. The party took place in Diamond Lil's Saloon bar which nestle's in the back corners of the house

Diamond Lil in all her glory 

What with Nachos, pork ribs  and beans and many other delicacies  and of course large quantities of the Red and White stuff. So here are just a couple of photos and the rest can be seen as per following link.http://noelgroves.phanfare.com/6755542

So saddle on up and enjoy the ride!!

Tuesday 11th November- A day out in London

Our plan for the day was to take the train to Waterloo and then the bus to Towr of London to see the poppies. Anyway we made it to Weybridge Station only to find the tickets that were purchased online did not work for the very simple reason that I has used the wrong date, Great start Groves..

We arrived at Waterloo and found the right bus but due to the heavy traffic a journey which should have taken 40 minutes tool almost double and so we arrived to late for the planned service. However there were still plenty of people around and we are able to get some good photos of the poppies.

The Poppies at the Tower of London

After that back to the bus and on to Soho where we planned to eat at the Tokyo restaurant where you can get good Japanese food at a reasonable price and typical Japan style, no tipping!.

WE then did some wandering around town and slowly headed to the Waterloo Imax where we were due to see film called 'Interstellar'  which was supposed to be very good. Anyway I poked my credit card in the machine only to find that it would not find our tickets and so after complaining at the ticket desk only to find I had booked it at the Natural History Museum Imax Cinema, how that happened I do not know anyway we were now to late to get to Kensington and so just took the train home. Great booking clerk Mr Groves... will watch in future as I reckon it was the computers
fault and not mine.

This is out of date Order- 16th to the 26th September-SPAIN

If I could find out how to insert in this Blog and item which is older than the rest I would but so far no luck.
I just realised that I failed to include in this Blog our annual visit to Moraira in Spain where six of us get together for a week, or more, of wine chat and laughter and eating and all of which we do well.
On the 16th four of us flow down to Alicante where we stayed the night and then drove North to Moraira where we had a wonderful time as per usual checking out the new and old local restaurants and bars We had a really lovely time as per usual and this time we also took a trip in the the country to a town called Muro du Alcoy which is up in the hills. We had a nice Hotel and found a good restaurant and so ate well

The gangs all here

On the way back to Alicante we stayed in a golfing Hotel near the airport where we had a small two bedroom suite including cooking facilities. So en route to the Hotel we stopped in Carrfour and purchased ham and cheese w and some wine and so we were able to have a dinner in the aprtment before flying back to the UK the next day.

This is an abbreviated report as quite frankly I cannot fully remember in detail what we did on a daily basis and next time I shall remember to do this when I am there.

Sunday 2nd November 2014- Back home

Well the traffic was not to bad for a Sunday although on the M27 near Southampton there had been a bad accident which caused the rubber necker' s to take a look and slow us down as well.

On the M3 and due to the delay we decided to stop in a service station and cheated and tasted a Burger king burger for only the second time this year and it it tasted pretty good. The M3 was pretty slow as usual but we arrived home in the late afternoon and put the caravan to bed and went inside for a nice hot shower.

This has been a great almost three weeks and its a shame the weather could not have been better in Looe, but you cannot guarantee the weather anyway, but we still had a great time and we would repeat the journey some time in the future. However we know fancy a trip up the East Coast of the UK at the end of next year, but lets wait and see how we do.

Saturday 1st November 2014- Shopping and sightseeing

Would you believe it, the water pump had started working again and so for us to shell out plus £ 140.00 for a new pump for the next night only did not seem worth it although we will change it for next year. We went to the caravan agents who sold the pump and decided that it was a different shape and size and may not fit, it can wait as mentioned earlier.

We had a choice of going either West or East along the coast but decided to to go to the West and went out through Bridport where there was a very large and interesting street market taking place and it looked great and we made a mental note to return. We continued along the roads nearest to the coast via Charmouth and on to Lyme Regis where found a car park and had a good walk round this very attractive town which is on a steep hill and therefore not so good for my knees. We found a little coffee shop and tried the home made cake and then on to the sea front where the fish and chips were selling well. This is very nice town to visit and well worth a return trip.

We continued down the coast for a while and then slowly headed back to the caravan site where it had started raining a bit. Never mind we are warm and dry tucked up in our van.

And so to bed after another nice dinner.
Its strange I though I took some photos around Lyme Regis but cannot seem to locate them for some reason..

Anyway we leave for Weybridge tomorrow morning

Friday 31st October- Off we go again

To do the journey from Looe to Weybridge whilst towing makes for a long day on these roads and so we had planned to stop of en route in an area we did not know very well.

Anyway, we got up and would you believe it the sun was shining on a beautiful morning so do we stay or do we go. that is the question, but we decided to do what we had planned or it would muck up some other arrangements.

So we left the site around 0930 and went down the narrow lane praying that a ten ton delivery truck was not on its way and we made it safely back to the main road. Our route took us back to Plymouth, this time paying to cross the Tamar bridge, and then to Exeter and on to Honiton and finally arriving mid afternoon in our last site of the trip called Bingham Grange Touring Park which is is near the town of Bridport. See link Bingham Grange Touring Park

This site is quite large and also an Adults Only site and has a restaurant and bar, neither iof which we tried, and also the main Loo block had been closed as they were closing the site on the Monday. That's a shame because the other shower block was not so good. We set up in our usual efficient manner and headed down town for a little shopping on Lidl which was packed with shoppers.

We also had a minor problem with the water pump, Noels fault, which partly flooded the van, thank heavens not to much. The water pump stopped working and so a little time was spent trying to find a new one bet when you have poor mobile signal, we were in the middle of the countryside, it does make it difficult. After a lot of hassle we did find a place that sold them but we decided as it was Friday night traffic to forget till tomorrow morning.

So we had a nice dinner as usual of the pasties we had bought in Looe with baked beans, boy don't we eat well.

Then to bed after watching a film

Thursday 30th October- Time to leave the Hotel

We had a nice English breakfast in the Hotel and at about 10.30 Jennifer cam to meet me and we went off in search of excitement???. However we did  a walk around Looe  and bought some fish in the market and also some pasty for our next as we had decided that to stay on in this area with no views and and mist all the time makes no sense.

So we went back to the site and started packing up and notified the site owner of our intention to leave and also had to contact the next site to see if we could arrive early and there was no problem.
We had also realised that our original booking for the next site would mean we would be getting home on a Monday afternoon which is no good due to the bloody car parking in the road and so to arrive back on a Sunday would be much better.

We had a very nice dinner of fish and pasta and a bottle of wine and the evening was quite enjoyable and thank heavens for the very efficient caravan heating system.

Again no photos 

Wednesday 29th October 2014- Still very misty

The mist again this morning was very bad and it became clear that a game of golf was out of the question whilst one of our colleagues who had intended to play golf had been suffering overnight and was in no fit state to go out. 

To go touring was a bit pointless so I phoned Jennifer and the three of us ent back to the caravan for a cup of coffee and biscuits as neither of them had been in a caravan before. Needless to say they were quite impressed and enjoyed the experience.

We headed back to the Hotel and had a sandwich in the bar and then decided an easy afternoon was on the cards whilst Jennifer went of to visit Lanhydrock House which she enjoyed very much as you did not have to be outside in the mist rain.

The chaps met in the bar for pre dinner drinks and then a pint down-town and on to another restaurant which we had not tried before and would most likely not try again. The food was OK but not the menu which had promised a large choice of fish on their website but ver little available when we were there.

This time we all agreed on an early night whilst one of the group was leaving at 0730 to catch an early train.

Tuesday 29th October 2014 - Getting ready for the Biggles reunion

The weather was poor again but nevertheless we went for another drive and visited several new areas but quite frankly you could not see to much and what with the mist meant that you got wet pretty  much wherever you went.

We had a snack lunch and later in the afternoon Jennifer dropped me off at the Hannafore Point Hotel where the lads were meeting up for two nights of fun and chat and golf for some. We  had a great evening in Looe and went to one of our favourite restaurant called the Trawlers Quay which was quite busy. We chatted to a group on the next table for a while and then we went back to tone of the local pubs where this group joined us again. Unfortunately they were celebrating the end of the letting season and were not in a good state, particularly the three women, whom the taxi refused to take.

As it was a one way street we had to walk about 200 yards where we could get a taxi back to the Hotel for a quick nightcap. A loveley day really apart from the weather.

Monday 27th October- Where's everything gone

When we awoke it sounded like rain but no heavy and so looking outside of the van we could not see across the field due to the very dense fog and what we tough was r ain was in fact the damp mist dripping of the caravan. Oh dear we did not expect this.

So after breakfast we decided to go on a trip to see if the weather was better elsewhere and although the  mist was not so dense inland its was thick enough to keep down road speeds. 

Anyway we went in the direction of Lostwithial and then on to Bodmin where we had a quick snack lunch  and then took a slow drive back to the caravan site . We did not take any photos as the weather was poor. Oh well lets hope tomorrow is better.

Sunday 26th October 2014- En route to Looe in Cornwall

It was a bit cloudy when we awoke after an early morning birdsong which was great to listen to but no really at 0630. However we had a light breakfast and finished the last bits of packing and were on our way at about 0930 and headed back to the A 30 and turned west until we reached the A 386 which took us though Tavistock and on to Plymouth. 

Navigating Plymouth outskirts was fine and then off in the general direction of Looe and crossing the Tamar Bridge which is free going Westbound. The roads were not busy and finally we came off the main road and the roads got less wide as we got closer to Looe. The entrance to the caravan site where we had booked to stay was down a very narrow one way street but we got though that Ok and then found the rest of the road was also very narrow and there is no way that two caravans and sometime two car can pass. A slightly worrying time but we got to the site which was really very nice. The sun was shining and we parked and within the hour consuming our first cup of tea. 

The site was called Polborder House Caravan Park and its a place we would certainly return to, see link Polborder House Caravan Park

We had a nice evening and TV reception was good and we were looking forward to the next day so we could explore the area.

Saturday 25th October - A day relaxing

As we are due to move on to Cornwall tomorrow we decided to have an easy day around the site. The only real activity was Noel going down to the local fuel station for Diesel for the Land Cruiser. The fuel station however was quite packed as we realised it was a school holiday period and so the roads were quite busy as well.

The weather was not to bad today, not very warm but warm enough for this time of year. We carried out the usual caravan prior  movement checks of tyre pressures, check torque on the wheel nuts etc 
and then later in the day we tried using the two plate gas cooker outside but as we had not used it for a long time we had forgotten that it has limitations and so that's the last time we will do this. The plan was to use it as a sort of grill but the grill plate had holes in it which meant the gravy from the meat and sausages ran everywhere, Oh well back to the other one.

So the dinner went of well with a further half an hour cleaning the gas cooker ready for transit and then an evening of watching TV or a film, I cant remember. But looking forward to a good nights sleep.

24th October- Meeting up with Noels sister and husband

Noel's sister and husband live in Salcombe but we had decided to meet midway and enjoy each others company as e don't see them to often. We had agreed to meeting a very interesting place called The House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey. Its also a factory where they make glass ornaments and so apart from seeing all the colours you can marbles in there was a glass blowing demonstration which was also very good.

We spend almost two hours and then slightly North to a pub that Peter knew called The Cleave  where we had some really good food and its a place we would certainly try again. The Landlord and staff were a great bunch and made you feel most welcome. See link The Cleave Public House in Lustleigh

During lunch their was a bit of an upset as an older guy, apparently around 70 seemed to faint and there was some panic for a while until the ambulance arrived which seemed to take ages as we were quite some distance from the main town. Anyway we finished our lunch and continued in the bar for a while and then went back to Bovey Tracey whwre we went to a local cafe for a cup of tea followed very shortly by another Devon cream tea which was excellent.

Peter and Annette left us about 4.30 pm and we headed back to the caravan for a nice evening in

22nd October- Time to move on to Devon

Lucky it was not raining in the morning and so we were able to rap up the caravan and pack away the new dry awning and we headed off towards our next caravan site ina place called Drewsteinghton which is another Adults only site.
Woodland Springs Caravan Park

This w as very different to last site and a bit more of a car park style but well laid out and the loo's and showers were also very good. You were parked  closer together and there was also quite a few vans  that presumably were used as weekend retreats as they were empty. We had a quiet evening and watched some TV and went to bed to the sound of the owls.

The following morning the weather was not so great but we had breakfast and went for a drive through Dartmoor and stopping in a nice town called Tavistock where we wandered around the old town and market place and found a cafe serving what turned out to be n excellent pasty.

 We then continued our drive up to Oakhampton where we stopped to do some washing in the local washateria.

Then back to the site for a an nice evening snack .

Tuesday 21st October- A tour of North Somerset

The weather was not too bad this morning and so we had planned a longer trip around North Devon which took back up to Minehead and going West along the coast  through Exmoor and all the way to Barnstable which looks like a big city. We like smaller towns and so decided not to stop. 

Ilfracoombe Harbour

Watching over the Harbour

We then followed the coast road along to Woolacombe and then Ilfracombe  and finally on to Combe Martin and then we had promised ourselves a last Devon Afternoon tea but a couple of places were closed and so back to Lynmouth and the cafe we had been to before where we enjoyed a nice tea.

From there we headed back toward Waterrow via Exoore and stopped in a lovely town called Dulvertown which really was a great place surrounded by superb countryside. WE did some shopping and then continued through the country and back to the caravan site.

We both agreed that this upper part of Somerset is much nicer than the lower part near Taunton and we would certainly return to this area again.

An evening of light food and TV and so to bed.

WE have both slept extremely well in the caravan as it is well insulated and warm what with the central heating system and all mod cons. We are very happy with this caravan.

Monday 20th October 2014- A quiet day and a little shopping

We decided to have a quiet day around the caravan site today as the last few days had been quite busy particularly as Jennifer had been with a bunch friends to the Isle of Wight for a few days whilst Noel had been in Boulogne with some fiends overnight and so one week later a little rest was due..

So we did some shopping in the local town called Witherow (Withy for short) and enjoyed the day and planning a day on on Tuesday.

Sunday 19th October - Lunch with the family

The wind had died down a but in the late morning and we were able to place the very wet awning in a farm building for a day where it could dry off. The site owners were very helpful and this makes a lot of difference to your stay.

Noel sorted out the poles and pegs and had a general tidy round and at about midday Joanne , Tim and Katherine arrived and so we gave them a walk around the site after obtaining owners permission as this is an ADULT ONLY SITE and so n kids allowed.

Following a nice walk we headed down the main road for about three hundred yards to the local pub called The Rock Inn. see link
The Rock Inn Waterrow

we had a really excellent lunch and at a reasonable price and so most enjoyable. The family came back for afternoon tea then they headed home to Shepperton. We had a quiet evening reading and listening to music

Saturday 18th October- A day out on the Minhead to Bishops Lydeard with a few stops

The weather was not to bad as we picked up Janne , Tim and Katherine and headed down to Minehead to get to board the West Somerset Railway which is a privately owned Railway fully staffed by volunteers. see link below
Link to the West Somerset Railway Site

We arrived at the station on time and waited for the train to be ready and then in a cloud of smoke we departed with about nine stops en route to Bishops Lydeard. We got off the train at a place called Watchet and walked through the small town to the port and then back through the town for lunch in a little cafe. We all had a good lunch and then back to the train which wandered through the countryside and finally arrived at Bishops, for short. There is actually not to much to do in Bishops and so we waited a short while and jumped on the train going back and we arrived in Minehead and then off back to the house in Dunster for the evening.

Watchet Harbour

A really lovely day out and we were all tired and so we left early to get back to the caravan by which time it-had started raining and at times it was quite heavy.
By the time we got back to the caravan the wind blowing was blowing quite a gale as this was the leftover from the bad weather that badly hit the East Coast of the USA and and had drifted over the Atlantic and we were in its way. By about 11 pm as we  were thinking of going to bed the wind seemed to be getting worse and the awning was now in trouble and so eventually we gave in and went outside in the rain and strong wind and pulled the awning down and stuffed it in to the Land Cruiser and the poles underneath.
Oh well that's another job for tomorrow

Friday-17th October -Dunster, Katherine and a day out touring

We left the site around 10.00 and headed through the lovely countryside for about 45 minutes and  eventually arrived in the attractive village of Dunster. A cup of coffee and a breaif walk round and then we were off to do a coastal tour.

So from Dunster we drove via Minehead and up the famous Porlock Hill and on to Lynton and Lynmouth which was famous many years ago when the river flooded the old town of Lynmouth.

We visited the town museum which was full of photos and black and white video of the major damage caused . We had a nice lunch in the little cafe just down from the small port.

A small video of the area

Then a nice drive back and collecting fish and chips for supper and then we got home around 8.30 pm and a quiet evening watching the television.

Thursday 16th October 2014 Caravan trip to the West Country

We had talked about doing more caravanning in the Uk but somehow we never seem to get around to doing it as perhaps so much else to do. Joanne and Tim and Katherine were going to be in  in their country retreat in Dunster, North Somerset whilst Noel was due to meet some ex business colleagues in Looe in Cornwall for a couple of days and so it seemed like a good idea and combine the trip.

We had collected the caravan a couple of days back and so had spent some time preparing and cleaning the van again and so on 16th October we departed around the M25 and on to the M 3 in the direction initially of Taunton. We had a good journey without any problems until we reached a small village on the outskirts of Taunton where there had been a serious accident and the result was being delayed for about 90 minutes.

However we finally cleared the traffic jam and arrived at out Caravan site at Waterrow Touring Park at about 3.30 pm.The site was quite empty with about ten caravans and its a lovely site.

We chose our location and within one hour everything was done on the set up and the first cup of tea. We then decided to put up the small porch awning and that was completed soon afterwards except we would later regret having erected it.  We had brought food with us for the first night and tucked in and enjoyed the silence of the park. see link.
http://www.waterrowpark.co.uk/

This site is in a lovely setting and the loo's and shower block was very good and its certainly a place we would visit again.

Katherine 's garden party on 23rd August 2014

Te celebrate the birth of Katherine we decided that showers plan of holding what they call a 'baby shower' at her own home might make it a little crowded and so it was decided to hold the function in our garden.

So with many of Joanne s friends from work etc and also a number of other babies we were able to hold a party for about 24 people on a lovely summers day and thank heavens the weather was kind.

So with a bit of help from many people we had a lovely day with good food and sufficient plonk to keep everybody happy. Almost as good as having a Christening party.

Many photos were taken and follow the link for all the photo on our Phanfare Blog
http://noelgroves.phanfare.com/6616387_7656289

Katherine Louise Denovan-Smith arrives on 1st August 2014

We after waiting almost a couple of weeks,along came our new Grandchild in 1st August 2014 arriving just about breakfast time to a very tired but happy mother.

She is quite beautiful, but then again, every grandparent says that.  So that was the best Birthday present that Jennifer has had in a long while. So the rest of that day was wandering in a sort of dream-world and wondering how she might grow up.

So the happy grandparent opened a nice bottle of plonk to celebrate

So where have you been?

Well, you might well ask, what happened after the last Blog posting whilst you where still in France.
Well the rest of the stay in Normandy was great,we had the best weather ever and spent our time with the usual relaxing, shopping locally and down town Lisieaux and generally having a really great time. We were able to use the swimming pool quite a lot due to the excellent weather.
Howver all things must come to an end and we have to head home on the 4th July as our daughter Joanne and her husband Tim are expecting their first baby on 18th July and we want to be there at that time for obvious reasons.
 So we packed up and drove up to Calais and headed home to get ready for the Birth.