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Published: July 12th 2016
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Hi,
I am writing this in very sunny and hot Casas Nuevas, we have flown out to the house for a week and the temperatures are in the mid 30’s.
However back to our trip in the UK!!
We drove from Wales to a small place called Foxhangers just outside of Devizes and just on the Kennett and Avon canal. We have stayed near here before but really like the area. The campsite had two large fields for pitching and then the block with toilet, showers etc was close to the farmhouse. The weather had been terrible but Friday night was okay so we set of and walked along the canal past the huge lock system at Caen Hill and had a cuppa at the top.
Saturday we decided to try out our new electric bikes and they proved to be a huge success, last time we were here getting up the huge hill had been a killer but the power assist just helps enough to make you feel like the effort is worth it. You still have to pedal but hills are much easier. We secured the bikes in Devizes and then found a gorgeous tea
shop. England were playing Australia in the second test and we then found a pub for the second half. It was about 100 yards from the Wadworth’s brewery but only sold fizzy beer despite the brewery producing lovely real ales! Another win for England and that was the series in the bag 2-0. Most of the route back from Devizes is downhill so no need for much pedal power. In the evening we cycled in the opposite direction to the Barge Inn which is quite a trendy foodie canal side pub. We then went up to the village pub, the Brewery Inn, and sat and had a delicious pint with some of the locals.
Sunday we cycled to Bradford on Avon and then onto one of the aqueducts just beyond. On the way back we had a pint in the Brewery Inn. We just got back to the van before the first real rain of the trip. Monday was the same and we packed the van up and headed to the National Trust village of Laycock. It is a fabulous place the home of one of the first people to develop photography and there is a stunning abbey. We
spent most of the day there before heading to our second housesit.
We spent two weeks in Trowbridge looking after Florence and Ruby, two dogs and two love birds. It was a bit like dog ER to begin with as Florence had just had a hysterectomy and Ruby had been diagnosed with a brain tumour which was causing fits. Gradually Florence got back to more energetic walks and Ruby was quite stable with her medication. We had to have both of our bikes checked out as the new wheels had quite loose spokes; this meant we were without them most of the time. We did have a trip to another National trust place but we got lost and ended up in Shepton Mallett! Our trip to Frome was nicer! I did manage to watch the third England v Australia test in the local pub and was delighted that we achieved the whitewash.
The housesit ended on a pretty crazy note though. We moved the van into the street on Friday so we could sleep in it on Saturday night, the girls arriving back at 1am Sunday. Saturday we had a quiet day then went to a local pub,
the Stannards (where the coal fire was on, 1
st July!!) and had a meal and bottle of wine back at the house. At 2.30 am the phone rang it was Abbie and Emma at Bristol airport.........we had got the day wrong. Eventually they got a taxi and we sorted out their room and moved the rest of our stuff into the van. How we made the mistake we don’t know but c’est la vie!! We headed home Saturday and just slowly worked out way north and got back to Newcastle in the early evening.
Sunday I moved from Vicky’s to Imogen’s house for the summer. Vicky has her daughter staying as there is a hold-up with a house move. Monday I had dinner with Keith and Imogen and Tuesday and Indian with Amy and Rob and heard all about their camping adventure. For those of you who know Amy it was quite an experience for her!!
Wednesday 6
th July we flew to Alicante and then to the house in Casas Nuevas. The weather is way too hot for me, I know I shouldn’t complain but I hate being stuck inside as even our evening walk round the village has been cancelled due to the heat!! After several nights of poor sleep we eventually bought a portable humidifier which cools better than a fan.
We checked out the fence we had put up out the back and to our disappointment it had been taken down and put on the back patio. Chris had maybe misunderstood what the owner of the land said. For us it is a real shame as the piece of land is useless to him but would have made a big difference to us. Plan B as they say. We had a lovely evening on Friday with friends Tony and Sue when we did the Pliego tapas trail; we managed all 6 bars and tapas. Sunday we had a delicious meal in the village and then I watched Andy Murray’s amazing win at Wimbledon. We spent the evening in a very busy Bar Teresa as people came either to watch the Euro 2016 final or to eat in the cooler evening air.
Tomorrow we are clearing up the house and heading to a hotel near Alicante airport as our flight is early which would have meant early morning cleaning. It also has the advantage of air-conditioning and we will find a place to eat and then set off to the airport about 7.30am.
We have a ferry booked for 8
th September from Newhaven to Dieppe so time for family and friends catch up.
More of that next time
Norma x
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