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Published: September 2nd 2013
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Finishing off a glorious English Summer with hopefully a few weeks of lovely French sunshine
What a lovely summer this has been. I can’t remember when we last enjoyed such beautiful English summer weather. Hot but not too hot. Dry but not completely, not so much that the dreaded words “hosepipe ban” and “drought” started to be bandied about. And just enough rain to keep the garden alive.
We’ve really been very happy with our 2013 summer.
After our fantastic 2 week trip to California in June we settled down to a couple of months at home. Glass making for me and have to say that July and August have been really rather busy in the Joysofglass garage come studio.
Bob found it was too hot in the loft to work on his railway so has hardly been up the ladder. Not a problem as he had plenty of other things to occupy him, not least the arrival of daughter Jane from Bangkok with husband Jeremy and youngest daughter Lizzie. They have bought a house 20 minutes from us for use when they visit and when they return eventually to the UK.
We had a mini
break in the Tandy in Stratford with sister Liz and Graham and cousin Denise and Peter. A lovely 3 days and made extra special when we were joined by other sister Rosemary who happened to be visiting a friend in the area.
And of course I have been whizzing up and down the motorway on my fortnightly visits to Jenny in Gloucestershire to spend lovely time with Izzy and George.
The highlight of our summer at home was Bob’s birthday, a special one, 70, so worthy of celebration.
I managed to book him a footplate ride on the Churnet Valley Railway as a surprise. I took him for lunch to a local pub joined by his daughter Jane, Jeremy and Lizzie, and there I gave him his ticket. He was extraordinarily pleased and enjoyed his day immensely.
3 days later we managed to get all our 5 children and 10 grandchildren together, for the very first time as the last attempt was our wedding 18 years ago and 4 weren’t born at that point ! I cooked and prepared lots of food and we had a lovely party outside in the garden and only had to
shelter under the gazebos from a few minutes of rain.
And so to September.
We decided on a simple 3 week trip to France as we’ve had a rather extravagant time these last few months. So Plan A starts in Ypres, Belgium then down through Luxembourg heading for the Mediterranean just West of Toulon, along the Camargue to the coast above Spain, through the Pyrenees, a touch of Atlantic coast then cross country home. Sounds good.
Watered the garden pots, fed the birds and left supplies of mealy worms so Chris next door can feed our hedgehogs who visit every night, Mrs Hedge and Mr Hog. Don’t want them to go elsewhere especially as I bought Bob a hedgehog house for his birthday and we are hoping they will use it.
Tandy packed up and excited and also feeling happier having had new leisure batteries fitted as they almost died on the Stratford trip.
So today we set off. Monday morning, bright and early, at 6.30. Glorious sunny day and no problem getting to Dover and across to Calais. Then a short drive via Lille and into Belgium.
Bob wanted to visit Ypres as we had not been before. An excellent choice and a lovely town. We just had time for dinner before a stroll along the river into town where we attended the Menin Gate Last Post ceremony which is held every single day of the year at 8pm in remembrance. There were several hundred people under the Gate tonight all very moved by the ceremony. Ypres was completely destroyed in WWl but its lovely buildings have been immaculately rebuilt and the rebuilding included the new Menin Gate as a lasting memorial.
After the ceremony just time to buy some Belgium chocolates and then a drink before strolling back to the campsite where I was delighted to discover I have free wifi so this blog may make it to the internet tonight !
Campsite is Camping Jeugdstadion. Excellent spot. 10 minutes stroll into town, hard standing area for motorhomes and only €12 per night including electric and wifi. Bob had prebooked fortunately as it was full.
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