Although we’d been down to see Sue & Vic for an overnighter, this was a good week for them to come up for a few days and have a bit of R & R in the soothing environs of their own watery home – despite the fact that she can’t find anything in the galley as I’ve re-arranged it to suit my cooking style!

On Sunday we were all looking forward to a pint and a Sunday roast at the local (G and I had had a superb meal when we ate up there with Gill and John last week). Sadly it was an almighty let down – started with an ‘off’ pint of Doombar and deteriorated from there with totally raw parsnips and cabbage and a ropey old piece of tough beef. The waitresses appalling attitude to our polite complaint only served to p us off even more! As Sue said, if it wasn’t her local she would have refused to pay. I escalated it to the manageress and she knocked 25% off of the bill, but it was poor compensation. Hey ho, you can’t win them all and the company was first class as always.

Meanwhile I’ve been enjoying sunny skies, the local scenery and the splendid sunsets in between the ridiculous amount of appointments for our MOTs. I now, of course, have had a couple of pints of Doombar, fish and chips and M&S Chinese ‘take away’ – I love their Chinese crispy lemon chicken; the last time I had any was when Vos and I went to M&S in Paris.

So far, apart from Sue & Vic, we have only caught up with loads of friends that we met in France, all of whom are back in the UK at the moment for a variety of reasons. Next week our MOT appointments start to ease off and we can catch up with some of our British mates.

Meg, Penny, Muttley and Baxter have been as good as gold together and Muttley really enjoys Penny’s company on walks – he can still keep up with her for an hour or so, despite the fact that he’ll be eleven this year.

Still bemused by the amazing array of towns and shops within a short drive from here; I’m really not used to it and the local availability of just about anything you want is a delight.