UK tour 2007

Well it's over two weeks since my last posting and we've travelled nearly 2,000 miles since leaving home on the 11th December. We had a good trip up to Calais & the circumnavigation of Paris went like a dream. The only worry was when my navigator Babs asked, as we were entering a tunnel, did I think that this was the boulevard soleil? We arrived at the ferry 2 hours early and the check in clerk was already full of Christmas spirit as she allowed us on the earlier ferry with no extra charge. Our first night back in the UK was spent at Matthew's and it was straight to the local Indian restaurant for a long awaited curry.

Wednesday we headed north to Blackpool to stay with Barbara's mum for a couple of nights and do our first bit of Christmas shopping. Barbara was well organised and had ordered the majority of this year's pressys over the internet and Father M & S had made an early delivery to Blackpool so it meant that thankfully it was only bits & pieces we needed to pick up. Next stop on our tour was Scotland where we spent a couple of nights with N & A in East Kilbride. When we arrived on the Friday night it was warmer than when we'd left Blackpool, perhaps we should keep heading north. We had a great couple of days & on Sunday afternoon we headed south again and spent the rest of Sunday & Monday with C & S in Carlisle. As usual C had been busy baking & there was as always a great selection of cakes & by the time we get back to France I think we'll be getting the diet books out. We left Carlisle on Tuesday and headed over to P & C's loaded down with a delicious looking home made Christmas cake; thanks. On Wednesday we had a trip into Newcastle during the day and called over to see B & L in the evening. Thursday it was time to return south with a car loaded down with curtains (thanks Ca) and cakes (thanks Ch) and after a quick visit to S & J's we hit the A1. All went well until we hit the rush hour traffic entering the Blackwall tunnel, it's not a journey I'd want to do everyday & made me think of those quiet French country roads. Thanks to everyone who made our UK tour so enjoyable & we look forward to seeing you all out in France in 2008.

Once back in London we started what was a bit of a busmans holiday. We'd recently completed on a small flat in Tunbridge Wells & along with Matthew set about pulling the kitchen out & fitting a new one. It's amazing how much easier it is negotiating prices in Wickes & B & Q where they speak English, although in a very strange southern accent. Saturday we had to hit the shops in Ealing for the 'last minute' presents & food shopping. What fun that was & when we asked the local green grocer for a turnip and he said he only had 'Scottish turnips' & handed us a swede I thought we were back 'up north' where everyone seems to get their turnips & swede mixed up!

Have a great Christmas & New Year and if you're heading to south west France in 2008 make sure you call in and see us.