Summer Holiday, 20 August 2022

I didn't blog yesterday, as we were at a family wedding. It was a very happy day, and lovely to see so much of the Swan Whisperer's family, but, of course, not suitable for blogging about. 

We staggered into bed about 11:30 pm - not being party animals, we didn't stay to the end. Slept very well, but came awake before I meant. I do get a very dry mouth at night, and have a spray that helps. Unfortunately, last night I also had a spray bottle of Cologne on my nightstand - and, yes, the inevitable happened! So I leapt out of bed and rinsed my mouth out very thoroughly, and was awake for, if not the day, then at least the first part of the morning. 

Once we had redd up after breakfast, we decided there was no reason to hang about, so drove round the corner to the hotel where the rest of the family were staying (we were certainly not the only wedding guests on the campsite, though) and spent a very happy hour with them before they had to check out. We then headed on and went to a local Edeka where I shopped, and then we headed north. 

I knew nothing of the first part of the journey, but slept very soundly and didn't rouse up until we stopped for lunch, which I didn't really want. I then went back to sleep again until the SW woke me to be aware we were crossing the high bridge over the Moselle! I did stay awake after that as we left the motorways and drove to Königswinter along the Rhine. We decided that the Drachenfels has been rather spoilt by the modern café; it looks better from on top than from below! 

We were worried that the aire would be full, but there was room for us. The SW went out for a walk, and I caught up on YouTube etc - the signal here is brilliant; it was very poor at Altrip. I am still very tired, and plan an early night! And my cologne will not be on my nightstand! 

Summer Holiday, 18 August 2022

As had been being forecast since forever, it was a wet night and a wet morning. Not nearly enough rain, of course, but it is a start. We were in no rush to get up, and lingered over our breakfast before heading off to the local Edeka where there was also a Kik and a Tedi. There may have been some accidental buyage of shorts, but at €4 each, why wouldn't you? 

In Edeka, as well as the usual bits and bobs for lunch, there were huge crates of the local brew, called Karlsberg, 20 bottles for the princely sum of €8, so rude not to, really. It's actually extremely drinkable! 

The SW programmed the Satnav to take us on a scenic route. I do wish he hadn't, as it was very twisty and parts of it in very poor condition, mostly on the edge of a steep slope and unfenced. It was scary, and rather sick-making. Not my idea of a pleasant drive! 

However, we did stop in a very nice lay-by for lunch,

and we got here in the end. "Here" is Altrip, on the outskirts of Mannheim, and we are here to attend the wedding of the SW's niece tomorrow, which is why we are on holiday in August, which is unusual for us. We usually wait until the children are back at school. 

The campsite is next door to the hotel, and I sincerely hope the hotel is nicer! We had reserved, or rather, L had done it for us, and no problem finding us. It is a very cheap campsite, very basic, and I am not sure how useable the services are going to be, as the taps have no tops on them! I think we may be able to borrow one from Reception, at least, I hope so! As the SW said, the kids - who are legion - would probably leave them running the whole time, else. 

There is a lakeside beach, you borrow a key to the gate from Reception, with a deposit of €20. I did have a wander, and later on the SW sat on the beach and read, as being nicer than the camp site. The sanitaires are very small for the numbers of people using them, I thought. 

Summer Holiday, 17 August 2022

It did rain a bit in the night - enough to wet the windows, but not really enough to wet the ground or anything. The By the time we were up and dressed the sun was out.

The USP of Amnéville, where we spent the night, is a huge leisure area with all the attractions one's heart, could wish, from an indoor snow centre and skating rink (I am fairly sure we know people who skate there) to a zoo, via a casino, adventure centre, a plethora of hotels and restaurants, and, most relevant, the "Thermapolis" which is a huge leisure pool complex with various whirlpool baths, Jacuzzis and lazy rivers.

So after breakfast we used the series and drove the kilometer or so to the baths. Which were absolute heaven! As you can see from my records,

you couldn't really swim, but you were whirled round (it was actually quite difficult to get out of the stream when I wanted to get out to spend a penny!) and there were places you could sit and the jets of water would massage your feet and ankles, and loads of places where the jets massaged your knees, thighs, bum and lower back, basically in that order. And one of those really fierce overhead showers that massaged your shoulders! 

The Swan Whisperer and I spent a very happy hour there (the workout record isn't quite accurate, as I think I accidentally paused it when trying to see the time), and afterwards I felt that I really had had a full body massage! Why, oh why, do they not have such facilities in the UK? I have used them in Austria, Germany and now France, but as far as I know, they do not exist in the UK, and they are so wonderful! This one was very busy, of course, being in the middle of the school holidays - children are allowed in from the age of 4, but must be accompanied by an adult. 

Anyway, after about an hour we had had enough, so got changed and went back to the WoMo, and headed on, first to a quick dash round Lidl (no decent coupons this week!) and then a stop for a little diesel and then a rest area for a late lunch. 

I realised, thinking about it, that much as we love Kehl/Strasbourg, going there would be two sides of a triangle, so we looked at the map and found that a town called Homburg was half way, and, better still, there was a free motorhome parking area. It is rather dull, actually, in the car park of another swimming-pool (which we are not going to as it might be rather a let-down after this morning). The easiest way to it was via Luxembourg, so we found a load of petrol stations where diesel was a bit cheaper than in France, and Germany, and called in there. After which I fell sound asleep, and didn't really wake up until we were almost here! 

Summer Holiday, 16 August

Today has been a driving day.  I rather stupidly said I wanted to go to the Super U,  rather than the E Leclerc we passed en route, which was a mistake as the Satnav took us a very long way round.  Anyway we got there in the end, and I did a shopping, and then we drove to Amnéville, near Metz,  where we are staying the night. It took a long time as we decided to go non-toll, via Chalons and  Bar-le-Duc and Vitry-Le - Framçois and Nancy. A lovely drive, but a long one.  We stopped at Toul services to have lunch. We got badly lost trying to get to this aire as either we or the Satnav made a nonsense. But we got here in the end. The SW cleaned the windows, and we were very amused to see the man next door doing the same - inspired by us?

I haven't taken any photos today, so here is one from Chamery last night. 

It is still hot, but rain is forecast for tonight - I'll believe it if it happens! 

Summer Holiday, 15 August

We actually left home yesterday. We did most of the packing on Saturday, bar the last-minute stuff, and then got up early on Sunday morning to load the car. I was preaching at Stockwell (you may read or listen to my sermon here), and as soon as the service was over we set off down to Sussex, stopping en route to buy a sandwich lunch. 

My younger nephew and his partner were there, having spent the weekend, although my sister was out with her friend. They were finishing their weekend, though and left fairly soon. 

The Swan Whisperer got the motor home and, because we had plenty of time, he made up the beds and did most of the unpacking/putting away. I came through to put my clothes away, and was delighted to find my cream-coloured blanket wrap and the penguin blanket I use over my duvet on cold nights.  I am unlikely to need either of them this holiday, but you never know! As it was, I changed into shorts, which was a mistake in the long run as my legs got cold on the drive. 

I had to take the Zoom service at "The other" Clapham, and the SW, my mother and my sister (who was back by then) watched on his computer in the other room. When it was over, we had supper, including "deconstructed Eton mess", which was basically a meringue, strawberries and cream! 

After supper, we headed on. I had discovered that one can spend the night in the car park of Folkestone sports centre, so we decided to do that and cross very early this morning. I am very glad we did, as the M20 took ages - for some reason they decided to send all traffic at 30 mph down the hard shoulder instead of letting cars go in 2 outside lanes at 50 and lorries on the inside lane and hard shoulder at 30. All 11 miles of it! Not fun. I was beyond exhausted when we arrived, and as I was slightly cold, hadn't really been able to nap on the journey. 

Of course, I didn't sleep very well, but we had to get up at 05:30 to have our showers and a cup of tea before we set off just after 06:30 to get to the terminal. The Satnav told us to go up the motorway and down again, and we couldn't think why, as all the signposts pointed us a different way. It wasn't until we got to the other entry that we found it was closed! You would have thought it would have said earlier, wouldn't you. We were not impressed! 

The terminal was absolutely heaving, and it took forever to get through French passport ontrol. When we did, though,  we found we could go straight on to the Shuttle, and, in fact, they triaged us on to the front coach! 

We ate breakfast on the crossing and, as soon as we arrived, we went to Cité Europe where Carrefour was open in spite of its being a Bank Holiday here. I did a shopping while the Swan Whisperer got diesel, and then we set off "properly". We stopped at a random "aire" on the motorway as the SW felt tired and needed ten minutes' sleep, and then drove on to Landrecies, where we stopped for lunch. We have been here before; it is just by a river

- the Sambre - and there are anglers, although what they hoped to catch with the sun beating down on the water, I do not know. 

After lunch, we headed on to Reims, where we used the services, while I walked down to the actual parking area (should have put my sandals on - it was a long way in my flip-flops, but I forgot!). There were no spaces, as we had feared there might not be, so Plan B was  nearby Chamery, another favourite stopover. There was room for us here! 

The vines are looking very green; so refreshing after the dry and brown of everywhere else. 

Trains, trains and more trains!

The Elizabeth Line opened while we were still away in Germany, so we missed the grand opening, and one way and another hadn't got round to visiting it yet.  The Daughter did use it on the first day, but the Boys hadn't.  Today, the older Boy had an Inset day, so his mother took a day's leave and exploring the Elizabeth Line was high on his list of things to do.  We met at Liverpool Street, and took the first train along to Paddington. 

At Paddington, we came out of the station because the Daughter wanted to see the clock where it looks as though a man rubs out and redraws the minute hand

and, presumably, the hour hand.  So we watched that for awhile and then headed back, this time all the way to Abbey Wood.  Such a pity Younger Nephew and his partner no longer live there.... 

So anyway, we thought it would be a bit dull just going back to Liverpool Street and, to be honest, there is very little to see.  So we didn't get out at Abbey Wood, but caught the next train back one stop, to Woolwich, which I'd never been to before, 

and then walked the few hundred metres to Woolwich Arsenal DLR, where we just caught a DLR train to Stratford International. 

It was lunch time by then, and the Boy wanted Mexican food, so we went to the food court in the Westfield, and the others all got Mexican food, but I got noodles as I'm not just so fond of Mexican.  The Swan Whisperer had to finish my helping, it was so huge!

After that, he went off and the Boy, the Daughter and I went round Westfield on a hunt for t-shirts for the Boy, who is just not quite big enough for x-small men but dislikes, with some justification, the pictures they will insist on putting on boys' t-shirts.  I don't think the shopping trip was a success!  I also wanted to go to Lakeland, which I did, but then was going to have an ice cream but the stall, which had been empty when I went into Lakeland, was rammed when I came out.

I thought I might take the Javelin to Paddington (okay I'd have to pay, but it's not that much), but it turned out I'd just missed one and the next wasn't for over half an hour, so I thought sod that for a game of soldiers and went back to the DLR station.  Changed at Canning Town on to the Jubilee Line and then at Canada Water to the Overground, and at Peckham Rye to a bus, which fortunately came along just as I reached the bus stop.  I was, and am, beyond tired, but it was a lovely day.

The Devon Pullman

This was my birthday present from the Swan Whisperer.  We had to get up at silly o'clock to be at Victoria Station for 08:00, when the train left.  We've done worse!  The train was going to Exeter and back, out via Acton, Slough, Reading, Newbury, Taunton, etc (with a most extraordinary wiggle to get it from the SouthEastern lines to the Great Western ones out of Paddington!), and back via Crewkerne, Salisbury, Basingstoke, etc.  

As it was a Pullman train, the seating was very luxurious,

and even the loos were amazing! 

Brunch was served on the way out, including strawberry wine (I didn't have much of that, it wasn't very nice) a peach bellini (well, two peach bellinis), a couple of pastries (we needed blotting-paper by then), and, over the course of the journey, a plate of fruit with yoghurt, smoked salmon with a poached egg (I think a great many people would have preferred a Full English, but that was not offered),

and a rather peculiar choux bun stuffed with passion fruit.

all washed down with tea or coffee (I had coffee) and the aforementioned bellinis!

We arrived in Exeter at about 12:00, and had approximately 3 1/2 hours in the city before the return journey.  Of course, the train had just missed the half-hourly bus into town, but it came eventually and we got off to walk up the main shopping drag and then down to the river.  We decided not to visit the Cathedral, as we had done so with a professional guide (a friend) on our last visit. 

I wanted to see the mediaeval Exe Bridge and it was well worth seeing - and one could even walk across it, although it no longer spans a river,

Citymapper works here, so we were able to find a bus that took us back to the town centre and was almost due, so we didn't have to wait too long.  We decided to walk up towards the Central Station (not the main station in Exeter - that's St David's) and on the way stumbled across the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, RAMM for short, which is one of the Exeter must-sees, apparently.  And it is free, so we went in and thoroughly enjoyed the very eclectic collection there of artifacts from prehistory to the 20th century, and on the upper floors various stuffed animals, someone's collection of starfish and then a page of artifacts from around the world, including stuff from colonial-era Africa and so on.  Fascinating, but time was getting on, so we walked up to the Central Station to see if it was worth waiting for our train there (it wasn't), or even catching a train to St David's, but we have Freedom passes and a bus was due in a few minutes, so we caught it back to the station and then waited on the platform until our train came in.

This morning, our attendant had asked if it was true that simply nobody had any dietary needs - no vegans, vegetarians, gluten-frees, dairy-frees, etc.  We all agreed this was so - until we read the dinner menu.  The first course was scheduled to be baby beetroot, which I think almost the entire carriage said they didn't eat.  So we were offered heritage tomatoes as a substitute (and very good they were, too), except the people sitting opposite us didn't care for tomatoes, either.  Not sure what they had in the end!  Plus the pudding was scheduled to be rhubarb - no thank you!  I was offered a summer fruit jelly instead, which was very delicious indeed!

We started off with champagne, and our ticket included a bottle of wine, so we had ordered rosé, and I regret to say that despite two glasses of champagne, we managed to polish off the entire bottle between us!  Mind you, it was over about 5 hours, but even still!  There were a couple of nibbles waiting for us when we got back on the train, and they started serving our 5-course dinner about 4:30 or 5:00.  Started with the afore-mentioned heritage tomatoes, then courgette and green pea soup (one of my favourites - the trouble is, we don't usually drink soup in the summer when they are in season, so I seldom make it) followed by wonderful roast lamb and vegetables,

the cheeseboard, and the aforementioned rhubarb

or jelly.

And yes, it was as delicious as it looks! 

We got back into Victoria (after a wiggle after Clapham Junction to get to the SouthEastern lines) at our scheduled time of 20:37 and a quick trip down the Tube and we were home before 21:15 or thereabouts.

Although we did have a very great deal to drink, it's only once in awhile!  And the food, while delicious, was judiciously portion-controlled so we didn't feel bloated and stupid.  In fact, my only complaint was that I was cold - the temperature had dropped about 15 degrees since Friday's high of 32!  And all the windows were open on the train, which was lovely going down but really cold coming back.  Even the Swan Whisperer put on his jacket, and I wished for a cardigan rather than the light jacket that goes with my blue dress.... but London is a bit warmer than the countryside and we soon thawed out.  

All in all, a Grand Day Out!  Thank you, my beloved Swan Whisperer for a lovely day.