Friday 1st August 2008

Left home only five minutes later than planned at 1435 hours.

We had a good run down the M6 initially but around junction 18 we started on a long period of stopp start, seemed like mostly stop.

Got going again just before the toll road, which we opted to use. 

At the end of the toll road we met traffic again as we joined to M42.  this time we only were stationary for short periods at the start but we kept rolling most of the time all the way until we joined the M40.

We arrived at Richard and Julie’s at 1701 hours, about 160 miles.  Michael had driven all the way and we didn’t stop for relief or refreshments.

Had tea and watched the Tudors but I fell asleep most of the time.  Went to bed early for us.

Saturday 2nd August

Up washed and dressed for 0900 hours for breakfast.

We eventually left for Worcester at about 1030 hours, planned to leave for 1000 hours.  We were all in our Agila, we were going to pick up Richard’s BMW 5X, his ‘truck’ as they call it.  Nearer BMW dealers are not up to their standards.  We went via the M40/M42/M5

We got to the garage at around 1150 hours, had coffee and picked up the truck.  It wouldn’t start, the telephone wasn’t working and neither was the left-hand rear indicator.

We drove to the Worcester china outlet and wandered round looking for suitable china mugs for their new kitchen, which is beautiful and functional.

Eventually, after a long browse we had lunch at the Talbot, recommended by the car park attendant.  Very nice.

Afterwards we walked round the town/city looking for foot balm for Sue and eventually finished up having tea and cake by the river Severn.

We went home across country, the scenic route while Richard and Julie went back on the motorways.

We got lost trying to find our way to the A44 towards Evesham.  After a while we stopped on what appeared to be a council estate and asked the way to the A44.  Fortunately we asked the right persons one of the ladies wrote down the directions for us and they were spot on.   They were lovely, very helpful.

Sunday 3rd August

Budgeon’s is now Waitrose.  Julie took us down to do some shopping.  They have a new system where you have a ‘thing’ to carry round with you to record your purchases.  You put your credit card in and it recognises you.  Then you just scan the bar code wit heach of the things you put in your trolley.

Had a light lunch of muesli and banana.

Julie went for her walk nad Richard and  Iwent for a three mile bicycle ride, I on his mountain bike.

Richard organised a barbeque for tea but it rainedso he did the cooking outside on the thing and we ate the fruits of his labour inside.

We watched a bit of TV and went ot bed early at 2130 hours.

Monday 4th August.

Auntie Jean’s and the old queen mum’s birthday, both long gone.

Julie and Richard had left for work before we ventured downstairs.

We decide to visit Claydon House and Garden, which was reasonably nearby, National Trust.   On the way, we called into Tesco’s for £100 cash.

We arrived in time for lunch in the tea rooms.

We wandered round the garden first, taking a lot of photographs.

After looking round the craft shop, we went inside the house.

Sue was tired so she sat in the car while I walked down to the lake and took a few photos of the house.

Devon

Monday 11th August

Left Buckingham at about 1030 hours.  Filled up with petrol in Buckingham and bought a sandwich each.

Went wrong at Oxford by-pass roundabout!  Got back onto Swindon road.

Changed drivers at Leigh Delamere services.  Changed again at Taunton Deane Services.

Arrived Dorothy’s at about 1500 hours, approximately 200 miles.

Sunday 17th August

Left Dorothy’s at 1624 hours.  Michael Driving.

Filled up with petrol at Sainsbury’s.

Bad traffic from English Riviera roundabout.  Once passed Newton Abbott roundabout we had a clear run home.

Sue took over driving at Michael Wood services.  Michael drove again form Keele services.

Arrived home about 2130 hours, 178.2 miles.