Moselle Valley, 11 February

Not a good day for me; I really didn't want to get up, and it took me most of the morning to find the energy to have a shower. The Swan Whisperer went for a walk and found a bakery, so came back with a baguette and some croissants.

Once I was finally able to get dressed, we had lunch and then drive cross-country to Pont-a-Mousson, where we are parked up in the aire.  It was a seriously lovely drive!  France is beautiful, even at this time of year. 

It's the first time there have been other motor homes; we originally parked by the river, but the man in the office said to park up with the others as they were expecting more bad weather (which I don't think happened} and it was more sheltered up here, plus the electricity was stronger. So we moved, and have had a very comfortable night. 

Moselle Valley, 10 February

The weather was still horrible when we woke up, so the Swan Whisperer didn't go for a run. He did, however, go out for a blow just after breakfast, and to his disgust just failed to get a picture of a tug going through the canal tunnel.

There were services, but you had to get a jeton from the museum/tourist office, which was not open today as it was Monday. Fortunately we didn't really need them.

Really frustrating morning; I set the satnav to take us to E Leclerc, but when we got there it was only "Drive", i.e. Click and Collect. The main shop was about a mile away, but, of course, we went the wrong way at the roundabout and ended up driving for about 5 miles until we got there. Still, we did in the end, and now have groceries, diesel and gas!  I had a lovely time wandering round E Leclerc, and was pleased to get a tidier in-car charging hub than the one we used in the old van, which didn't really suit the new one. It's similar to the one in our car and sits riding in a cup-holder.

Then it was off on a long, long drive over to Contrexéville,; we stopped for lunch, but then not again until we got here. I put on music from my phone, which is random enough not to be predictable, knitted for a bit and then slept.  It was still windy, but infrequent showers and the sun came out for a bit. 

Once here, we had a cup of tea, and tried to do something about an annoying rattle - we got rid of one yesterday, but another developed today. I think we may have sorted it. But the ride quality is superb compared to the old machine, and much more leg room.

After supper, I enjoyed watching a film on my tablet - I have bought some sports earphones and they are so nice I don't  know I'm wearing them, and they don't conflict with my hearing aids, Although they do get muddled with them when taking them off! And now it is bed time, and the weather is distinctly better, although winds still very strong. 

Moselle Valley, 9 February

Going away in February is often a mistake. But we do it, anyway. Going away in the middle of a named storm is a mistake, but we do that, too.  And although we hadn't originally planned to go away in February this year, we really wanted a chance to get thoroughly used to the new machine. 

So yesterday afternoon we set off to Folkestone in howling winds and pouring rain, crossed the Channel in the relative peace of the Tunnel - the only route that was still working, and then another couple of hours' driving in howling winds and pouring rain, this time in the dark. It was the Swan Whisperer who had chosen our stopping-place, not me! I spent the entire time rigid with terror, no chance to doze off, but the SW seems to have enjoyed himself.

Then the aubergine I'd saved for supper was long past its best, but I found I wasn't hungry anyway, so the SW had most of my share. And it was stormy most of the night, with the van shuddering in the wind. I think I got a little sleep in the lulls!

Today it is still very windy, but it has, at least temporarily, stopped raining and the sun is trying to come out so the SW has gone to blow away the cobwebs before we set off on another very long drive, stopping at a supermarket en route. 

Shakedown Cruise Mark II

We could only get away for three nights for our shakedown cruise, and we stayed local to Sussex.  Furthest afield we went was Heathfield, where we discovered, to our delight, that we were only a few miles from some dear friends who moved to Robertsbridge some 3 years ago, so we rang up and were able to call in on them for coffee, which was lovely.  I do so miss them in London!

However, the cruise was really about getting to know the motor home, and what was wrong with it, and what needed to be put right.  First thing that happened was the Swan Whisperer broke the door shelves of the fridge, so he has ordered some more, which we hope will arrive before we go away.  Then he bumped his head on the handle of one of the cupboards, and broke it - that is easily fixable, it just wants a drop of glue, but it needs to be done!  Third thing was that he didn't close the water inlet properly, and the bung fell out and was lost.  This was easily replaceable, and he has learnt how to put it in properly.

The van itself is comfortable, but we still haven't quite fathomed out where to keep things yet.  That will come, of course, as it did in our old one, but it feels as though there is less storage.  I don't think there actually is, but that is what it feels like.  We are going to try using a system of crates in the hold, as it's quite easy to get stuff out of it from inside the van.  It also has, rather a nice touch, an outside shower so you can wash your muddy shoes or boots off before getting in!  And it was muddy!  The first day it rained and rained and rained, and although we were warm and dry inside, the van was muddy and so was the campsite!  This being England, we had to use campsites or certificated locations, so we did both.

There are other issues - I can turn the radio off, which the Swan Whisperer can't, but I can't turn the heating on, which he can!  We had not been able to resolve the thermostat issue, so took it back to the Sussex Caravan Centre, where we'd bought it, and they were marvellous - the man didn't quite know, but knew where to ring for advice, and it turned out that the wrong thermostat had been installed, so he quickly replaced it.  Now we can programme it to come on just before we want to get up in the morning, and even programme the hot water, so no more shivering into a cold van to put the water and heating and kettle on!  Even though, as the Swan Whisperer said, we do drink tea before we get up....  They also showed him the knack of emptying the grey water tank (we had both tried, to no avail).

Another thing we discovered is that it has a television aerial on the roof!  As it also has a television mount inside, I am seriously looking at buying a 12 volt TV (yes, these are a thing), although we managed perfectly happily without one in the old machine.  But then, it didn't have an aerial!  And it didn't have anywhere comfortable to sit and watch, either.  The best TVs seem to have inbuilt DVD players plus USB connections to one's tablet to watch the Amazon Prime movies one downloaded earlier....  We also think that we have a combination grill/oven; thus far it has only been used to make toast and cook sausages, but I worry lest I succumb to the temptation to buy too many tartes flambées and quiches rather than cook from scratch.  The Swan Whisperer cooked supper once and breakfast twice, and I cooked supper twice and breakfast once, so we are both getting used to the kitchen.  It is too small, but at least while you're cooking, you're not in the way of the other person getting dressed.

I felt that I used too much water in the shower, so am going to buy a trigger-operated shower head like we used in our last machine, even though this one has a proper mixer tap.

There is still much to learn, so in ten days' time we are going to the Moselle valley on a 10-day cruise, to try to get it to feel more like home.  But then, what could be nicer than lying in bed watching the stars through the bedroom skylight, or waking up to a view of trees (and rain) at the end of one's bed?

A New Adventure

As regular readers of this blog will know, we've had our motor home since July 2015. 

It was a 2003 registration, able to come into the London Low Emission Zone, but not the ULEZ or any of the increasing number of green zones on the Continent.  And a convenient moment arose to buy a new - or new-to-us motor home.

Unlike in 2015, we knew what we wanted, and just before Christmas we went to the West Sussex Caravan Centre to have a look round - and found our new motor home on the spot.  A Pacific Pilote, 2017 registration, slightly longer than the old one, but still reasonably compact; 4 travel seats and I think sleeps 3.  

We took delivery of it on Wednesday 22 January, and spent yesterday afternoon and evening trying - slightly vainly - to get it sorted out.  It's very different from our old machine - some things are much nicer, including the bedroom, and some things are less nice - there are only two burners on the cooker, for instance, but we think it's a combination grill/oven.  We are still learning about it, of course, and it is a very steep learning curve as so much has been modernised!  It took us some time to learn how to turn off the radio, for instance - and I still don't know how you programme it.... The radio plays in the bedroom, which is nice (although bags me not be the one to get up and switch it off in the middle of the night!).  

Bedroom is definitely superior - huge double bed, memory foam mattress (I think), so we don't keep rolling into each other; I even have a bedside table, complete with pot cupboard, and the Swan Whisperer has a shelf to put his specs and book at night and his tea in the morning. 

Best of all, there are steps up to it so I don't have to get the stool out!  And there are two big cupboards above the bed, so the SW can have one for his clothes and we can use the other for storage, dirty laundry, etc.  I can use the drawers under the wardrobe for my clothes, plus I have a locker where I can keep my toiletries, hearing-aid case, etc, when we're moving.   Best of all, though, it has a separate door, so can be closed off when we have visitors (useful to dump untidy stuff on the bed!) and also I was able to dress in there this morning while the SW was getting breakfast and not get in his way.  

Then comes the bathroom - loo and basin one side, shower the other. 

The loo door is two-way - you can either close it to make a private room of loo and basin, or it latches across to close off the main living area.  So with the sliding door closed, you have quite a large bathroom.  It will, however, need a bath mat to keep the floor in between dry, I think.  Not difficult - we have such a thing.  The kitchen I have already grumbled about - only two burners, and one very small;

sink is okay and huge fridge, also a grill/oven combination (haven't made friends with that, yet).   Lounge area seems more comfortable than the old one, and the cab seats swivel round so you can sit in comfort, but haven't worked out the best position for the table yet.  Cab itself all mod cons, including air conditioning, and a much more comfortable ride than the old one, except the blind rattles.  Oh well....  So all in all probably going to enjoy it, but it's not "home" yet the way the old one was.

We didn't take it out last night - we had thought of taking my mother for a drive, but by the time we'd finished putting stuff away, it was supper time, so she came over while we cooked salmon with broccoli, mashed potato and a lemon-parsley sauce, and drank the bottle of Wiston sparkling wine that the caravan centre gave us as a thank you for buying.  My mother found out later it was worth at least £25 a bottle, but it was delicious and between us we drank the lot!  

Then we went to bed, and slept okay, although I was a little anxious all night.  Today we went to Dunelm to try to find a smaller sauté pan, unsuccessfully, although I did buy a new frying pan, and also a new table cloth and cushions, as the old ones really didn't go with the new décor!  And one of the cushion covers has perished slightly, anyway, plus they were rather large.  We also drove back to the caravan centre to ask them to check the thermostat, as we are not quite sure it is working, but they said the two thermometers probably were out of sync and once we knew how badly, we could adjust the thermostat to suit.  And then we put it away and came back to London, but we'll be going on a proper shakedown cruise in a few days.  I'll report back....

WWMG Innsbruck - the homeward journey

The Games officially finished on the Sunday, and those who had to be at work next morning left at once, or even earlier.  The mountains reappeared, briefly, on Monday morning to bid us goodbye. 

but soon went back to bed again!

There were still plenty of us around on the Monday morning, and a fair few of us on the 10:40 to Munich!  The Aussies, and Sue from NZ, were going to spend the day sightseeing before catching their various planes in the evening; Phil and Bettina were rushing straight to catch a train out to the airport.  We had just under an hour between trains so didn't leave the station, but bought a sandwich and ate that and then went and stood on the platform, where the train was, until boarding started.  I was annoyed, because the DB site had warned that the train might be very full, so I had obediently gone to the ticket office in Innsbruck and reserved us two seats - only to find that the train didn't really fill up until Stuttgart, and meanwhile our seats didn't have a window!  So it was an unnecessary €7 wasted, and we could have sat in much better seats.  Oh well....

We arrived in Köln in good time, and of course the Ibis hotel is in the station itself, so no distance to walk.  Like all Ibises, it was clean, comfortable and soulless!  We went back to Schweinske's, in the station, to eat - I chose a schnitzel and the Swan Whisperer had lasagne.

This morning, we went back to Schweinske's, yet again, for breakfast which was marginally cheaper than in the hotel.  And very good it was, too.

 I recommend Schweinske's - it is very pork-heavy, but there are vegetarian options, too (I had the jacket potato with mushrooms on our way). 

After breakfast, we put our bags in the hotel's left luggage, and went out.  First port of call was the Cathedral, which we have seen so many times, but had never been in. 

Then the Swan Whisperer wanted to visit the Altmarkt, and it's not my fault we went slightly the wrong way through the shopping streets, is it.... We had a brief look round the Swarovski shop (not a patch on the ones in Innsbruck) and the 4711 shop (expensive - you can get the shower gel for half that in Müllers!).  Then we did find the Altmarkt, and walked back to the hotel, with just over an hour to wait.  We were a little worried, as rail traffic had been being badly disrupted due to an unexploded wartime bomb that had been found on the other side of the river; however, the nice man in the station information booth had assured us that our train would run, although it might be diverted, and, in fact, by the time it was due, the bomb had been safely dealt with and the bridge reopened. 

We sat in the hotel lounge until 20 minutes before our train was due, then reclaimed our luggage and went up to the platform.  The train was ten minutes late, but arrived at last, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch with the end of our food from Austria.  In Brussels, we had two hours to wait, and check in for the Eurostar doesn't open until an hour before departure, so we went to the nearest Prets and the SW had coffee and I had orange juice and we sat there until we could go through.  And then an uneventful journey to London, and the Tube home.  I was tired, and would have liked to have taken a taxi, but the SW pointed out that the Tube would be quicker (he's right, of course), and we cleverly managed to find the short way to the Victoria Line and not have to navigate all those tunnels.  And as we came out of the station at Brixton, a 35 bus came past!

Then it was just a matter of unpacking, putting on a load of washing, and sorting out things for tomorrow.

WWMG Innsbruck, 19 January

Today was the last day of skating, but we had friends in every class, so spent the entire time at the rink, watching some very memorable routines, particularly in the pairs.  It was snowing quite hard, so this wasn't actually a penance!

Midori Ito, partnered by Leigh Yip, did a very beautiful  and moving routine to Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. Diana and Geoff did a routine based on a baseball song (why can't they play cricket like the other ex-colonies?) and Karen and John did a very amusing "Bear necessities". Our Aussies friends, among others, were in the singles earlier and did very well.

After it was all over, we came back to the hotel and I spent my usual quiet afternoon, while the Swan Whisperer went out for a walk. We had supper, as the first night of the holiday, at Frankies, just across the main road. I had a grilled chicken burger and wedges, and the SW had spare ribs.