Blogs from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

D Day minus 5. Departure Day minus 5. 5 more sleeps. Whatever way you look at it there are just five days until we set off on our last European trip of the year. Destination the Iberian Peninsula. For some reason this trip seems odd. So much is going on in Europe it is hard to know what sort of trip it will become. Over the last few weeks migrants have swarmed all over the Channel tunnel complex, they have stormed the tunnel entrance . Our Prime Minister has allocated money to help the french defend the border . New fences have been erected. Migrants have been found dead in lorries which have been abandoned. The TV is full of nothing else. Hungary is overrun with Syrian migrants making their way from Turkey to what they ... read more

Suzy the motorhome is just starting out her adventure today. Our first trip of 2014. It started with the inevitable trip to the supermarket to buy groceries to fill up the fridge, moving her off the drive which was no mean task and filling her up with water. We set out just after lunch. The journey taking us a very different way to the Channel Tunnel. None of the half hour drive to from Wales to England and then another hour before hitting the M6. This time heading south to Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Robin Hood, Maid Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sherwood forest fame. Beyond that to Lincolnshire – flat, pig breeding country and into Rutland which was until government reorganisation in 1974 the smallest county in England. Its motto Multo en parva – something big ... read more

It has been about five years since we've seen our good friend Leti and her husband Alex. Far too long for our liking!! And this is why I'm loving our trip. Shane and I got up extremely early on Saturday morning to make our way to Oundle, near Peterborough. This old market town of 5000 people is gorgeous, and is home to Oundle School, where both Leti & Alex teach. We are so lucky to have friends in such beautiful places. The school was established in 1556. Leti picked us up at the train station and we finally got to meet Emma, their daughter. What a sweetie! We found Emma at a coffee shop with Leti's friends, who were looking after her that morning as Leti and Alex had to teach. Shane and I had breakfast ... read more

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So I'm cheating - I haven't left the country yet, but as I've left both jobs and am in the process of wrapping things up here, I thought I'd put my first entry on - more of a "this is what I'm leaving behind". My last day at work was strange - hadn't sunk in yet what I'm about to do but everyone was great - even people who I'd never spoken to in 6 years were wishing me well! I got loads of goodbye presents from my team - all really useful for the year ahead - but amazingly I didn't cry! (It was close a couple of times) - the two to set me off were Gail and Sarah - both renowned for it and in tradition, they roared but on the whole, it ... read more