Getting withdrawal symptoms waiting for the summer so decided on a couple of nights trip somewhere nearby. The canals around Southam area seemed to fit the bill so headed for some C&CC Cl's. Only spent one night away on CL near Napton on the Hill right by the canal. Tried a spot of evening fishing but the junction of Grand Union and Oxford canal was still busy with holiday makers, it was overcast, a cold wind and caught nothing. Moved on the next day and checked out a very nice looking CL behind the Green Man pub in Little Itchington for future away days. Then headed back via Ullesthorpe Grange, for one of their carvery lunches and a few hours fishing at Whetstone Gorse, which was much more successful, before arriving home late evening. Well it was a break at least.
Thursday 28 August 2008
Monday 11 August 2008
Brecon Jazz festival
Stayed at Brecon to join the jazz festival on our way back from camping with Jean and family. Only booked at the last minute so we used the 'official festival campsite' which turned out to be a large farmers field and organised by Tangerine Fields with a water point, portable loo's, frequent cow 'pats' and a bus service into Brecon. The 20 or so caravans and motorhomes were at the 'top' of the field where it was a bit flatter and the tents below. Entrance to the site was very steep and by the end of the weekend very muddy!
Very big and well organised festival with Jools Holland, Joan Armatrading, Courtney Pines and Sir Johnny Dankworth (to name but a few) performing in concert in large marques and venues around town. These were mostly sold out months ago. There was a parallel stroller program and also a breakaway fringe festival in the local pubs which was loosely jazz based. Most of the jazz was mainstream to modern with little 'trad jazz' quite the opposite to Abersoch.
We walked down into Brecon and Rosemary made the mistake of chatting to an old jazz enthusiast called Denis on the way - it took some time. We bumped into Denis many times! We had a Friday evening stroller, £10, and listened to a few modern trios, a bit of 'fringe Clapton' R and B, followed by Marcia Pendleton (missed her at Abersoch) before catching the bus back up the hill.
Saturday was forecast to be wet, and it certainly was, so we sat it out in the van, read and watched some TV while the wind and rain battered the new awning - which survived with flying colours.
Sunday was windy and showery so, armed with umbrellas, we walked back into town via Morrisons to get the Sunday papers of course, and had a nice lunch at the theatre bistro by the canal basin, which was also a jazz venue. Listened to a bit of jazz by the Watton marquee (don't really need a ticket to sample the strollers) and then went to see the Abram Wilson Delta Blues Project with a jazz gospel show entitled Roll Jordan Roll which was excellent.
After the concert we popped in to St Margaret's church for tea and cakes and then 'quite by accident' spent over an hour at the evening service in the Plough Chapel. This is an independent Welsh church built on the site of an old Ale house and had been hosting some if the fringe festival events and a flower festival. It was actually quite entertaining with a jazz group and much hymn singing in both English and Welsh ( 'we sing some in English to keep the language alive :-) ' )
We left early (well 10 is early for us!) on Monday morning before the expected rain and we arrived back home just after lunch. Would we do it again? Yes - but with earlier planning in order to see some of the concerts and a choice of campsites. Its expensive compared to Abersoch but with potential for seeing some top class jazz.
Very big and well organised festival with Jools Holland, Joan Armatrading, Courtney Pines and Sir Johnny Dankworth (to name but a few) performing in concert in large marques and venues around town. These were mostly sold out months ago. There was a parallel stroller program and also a breakaway fringe festival in the local pubs which was loosely jazz based. Most of the jazz was mainstream to modern with little 'trad jazz' quite the opposite to Abersoch.
We walked down into Brecon and Rosemary made the mistake of chatting to an old jazz enthusiast called Denis on the way - it took some time. We bumped into Denis many times! We had a Friday evening stroller, £10, and listened to a few modern trios, a bit of 'fringe Clapton' R and B, followed by Marcia Pendleton (missed her at Abersoch) before catching the bus back up the hill.
Saturday was forecast to be wet, and it certainly was, so we sat it out in the van, read and watched some TV while the wind and rain battered the new awning - which survived with flying colours.
Sunday was windy and showery so, armed with umbrellas, we walked back into town via Morrisons to get the Sunday papers of course, and had a nice lunch at the theatre bistro by the canal basin, which was also a jazz venue. Listened to a bit of jazz by the Watton marquee (don't really need a ticket to sample the strollers) and then went to see the Abram Wilson Delta Blues Project with a jazz gospel show entitled Roll Jordan Roll which was excellent.
After the concert we popped in to St Margaret's church for tea and cakes and then 'quite by accident' spent over an hour at the evening service in the Plough Chapel. This is an independent Welsh church built on the site of an old Ale house and had been hosting some if the fringe festival events and a flower festival. It was actually quite entertaining with a jazz group and much hymn singing in both English and Welsh ( 'we sing some in English to keep the language alive :-) ' )
We left early (well 10 is early for us!) on Monday morning before the expected rain and we arrived back home just after lunch. Would we do it again? Yes - but with earlier planning in order to see some of the concerts and a choice of campsites. Its expensive compared to Abersoch but with potential for seeing some top class jazz.
Saturday 9 August 2008
Wet and Windy Wales
We stayed in Carmarthenshire, Black Lion site near Cross Hands, with Jean and family for a few days from Sunday to Wednesday. The weather was cool and breezy when we arrived but we managed a BBQ (wind break came in handy) and were hopeful of a few days sunshine. Peter and Josh spent most of Monday fishing in the on-site fishing pond. Only caught one fish all day but it was lovely 5lb Koi Carp. Owners seemed quite excited - don't think it had been caught before as the pond is only a year or two old and not fished very much. We hooked another carp 'free lining' dog biscuits near the lily pads late in the evening but it broke the hook length in the lilies to get away.
Poured with rain overnight and Tuesday was a complete washout as it rained all day. Rosemary managed to do cooked breakfast for 6 - an impressive feat in a 2 berth motorhome, then Jean and Alan decided to take Adam and Josh home as their tents were really soaked. It was still windy and Peter had to catch Josh's pop-up tent later as it rolled past our van propelled by a strong gust. We met the others for a meal back in Llanelli later that evening and were locked out of the site when we returned at 10-10pm. Not very motorhome friendly barrier hours.
Wednesday was the last day and after packing up the tent we 'followed' Alan to a country deer park for a walk, picnic lunch and then back to Ferryside (near Pembrey Sands) to see the sea. Driving back down to the coast it was as close as I have come to sailing this year - it p***ed down again! Ferryside was like mid-winter, we had the beach to ourselves. The locals were having a hog roast with C&W theme that evening - they were not happy!
We all enjoyed the break - pity about the weather. Must arrange it in summer next time!!!
PS Where was the wettest place in UK on Monday? - you guessed it - Pembrey Sands!
Poured with rain overnight and Tuesday was a complete washout as it rained all day. Rosemary managed to do cooked breakfast for 6 - an impressive feat in a 2 berth motorhome, then Jean and Alan decided to take Adam and Josh home as their tents were really soaked. It was still windy and Peter had to catch Josh's pop-up tent later as it rolled past our van propelled by a strong gust. We met the others for a meal back in Llanelli later that evening and were locked out of the site when we returned at 10-10pm. Not very motorhome friendly barrier hours.
Wednesday was the last day and after packing up the tent we 'followed' Alan to a country deer park for a walk, picnic lunch and then back to Ferryside (near Pembrey Sands) to see the sea. Driving back down to the coast it was as close as I have come to sailing this year - it p***ed down again! Ferryside was like mid-winter, we had the beach to ourselves. The locals were having a hog roast with C&W theme that evening - they were not happy!
We all enjoyed the break - pity about the weather. Must arrange it in summer next time!!!
PS Where was the wettest place in UK on Monday? - you guessed it - Pembrey Sands!
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