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Published: October 13th 2012
Congleton
Little Moreton Hall We have been home now three weeks and PMT is kicking in. Not the sort you associate with women of a certain age but Post Motorhome Travel. You wake up every morning and feel a certain amount of disappointment to see the same view from out of the window, the weather seems distinctly Autumnal and the urge to travel again is strong. The weather has been awful since coming home. Nothing but incessant rain. It feels as if we have run headlong from Spring straight into Winter again with none of the heady days of Summer in between. Perhaps next year will be better.
The washing of the outside of the van took three weeks to start. Waiting for a dry day in between the rain seemed like waiting for that bus or train that never arrives but finally the job was done. All that muck and dirt finally washed out of Suzys hair. She looked better for it. Clothes removed for washing, carpets vacuumed – where do all those stones come from? Throws thrown into the washing machine,cupboards emptied and cleaned in readiness for another trip. Cutlery and crockery washed and the remains of old crackers, chocolate and biscuits
Congleton
Window Little Moreton Hall thrown out. It is amazing what you find lurking in corners of cupboards. Hooked up to the electric, the fridge is emptied and cleaned, the toilet smells sweet and we are raring to go. Only problem work is getting in the way.
We still have little idea yet of how much tolls cost us in France and in Italy. Usually we are charged for the French tolls as we drive through so by the end of the holiday we know exactly how much we have spent. However this year the new charging system for us Brits means that we will probably not know the full cost until next month. We sent back the Italian box but forget to send the Viacard so had to pay extra to return the card. Up to now no bill has arrived for the Italian tolls. Reminder to ourselves for next year to send back the two together and not leave one in the van. We will probably still forget.
We intended to pick up the replacement door locker on our way home but as usual the company we bought Suzy from forgot to ring us up and we got home before the
Congleton
Little Moreton Hall call telling us that the door was waiting for us. They sent the replacement by post and yet again it was the wrong part. How many times can they get it wrong?
Our only consolation at the moment is reading other peoples blogs and making notes on places to visit.
And so to travel . Plans are afoot for the first of our 2013 trips. Holidays booked. We had planned on having the whole of May off again but unfortunately two work colleagues also want the last week of May off. As this is a Bank Holiday it was bound to be popular so choices had to be made . The whole of June became a choice but would have been even more popular at work and hotter in Europe or to move one week forward to the last week of April and three weeks in May. So its April and May then. Final destination Dubrovnik – well thats settled and we shall not be moving to Plan B or C. Our route will take us through 13 countries, Lake Bled will be a destination as well as the Trento region of Italy and into Tuscany again.
Congleton
Little Moreton Hall - wood detail We have enough Tesco vouchers for the trip so now we have the dates firmed up we can order our vouchers and book Eurotunnel.
However as the holiday feels a long way off we decided today to head out to Congleton to visit Little Moreton Hall a National Trust property.
Little Moreton Hall is a beautiful moated 15
th and 16
th century half timbered manor house built in the distinctive black and white magpie Cheshire style. It is believed to be one of the finest examples of a timber framed building. The building is very beautiful, small and perfectly formed. It sits on its own moat and is a higgledy piggledly affair. The building is very irregular and rambles around three sides of a cobbled courtyard. The house was begun between 1570 and 1580 and was extended to include a south wing, a gatehouse and a third story. The top story is an impressive 68 foot long gallery . The gallery was particularly heavy and the floors over time have buckled and the weight of the heavy roof has caused
Congleton
House and gardens the lower floor to bow under the weight. This adds to the charm of the building.
Lunch was taken in the quaint but small restaurant. Apart from the main menu there were a number of specials on the board including soup of the day, cottage pie and a hot pork sandwich. We chose the sandwich which included separate apple sauce,salad and stuffing. The pork was piled thick on the sandwich and melted in our mouths. We have never failed to be impressed with service with a smile from the staff and the quality of the food we purchase.
The gardens are small and set out in the Elizabethan knot fashion. Box hedges trimmed and untrimmed bordering the aromatic herbs. Ducks wander around the grounds.
A lovely day out in a beautiful part of Cheshire. Next stop five days in London next month.
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The Travel Camel
Shane Dallas
Post Travel Blues
You described that disappointing sensation of not exploring on a daily basis so well, it mirrors my feelings exactly. Glad that you've already booked for next year, it is a sure way to make that your days brighter!