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Writer's picture Caroline & Garry

Hello - It's Been a while!

Updated: Dec 28, 2024





It certainly has been a while since my last blog. Hopefully I can still provide an enjoyable read for any of you who are still interested. Life can take over, as it has done for me, but I hope to be able to post a few more blogs over the coming 12 months, to entertain, possibly to make you smile and perhaps even give you something to think about.


Thanks to all of you who have continued to read my blogs over the past couple of years even though I haven't been posting for a while.



Courtney Hedger Unsplash


2024 has certainly been a year to remember for us. It was our 40th wedding anniversary this year. Garry deserves a medal! We decided we would enjoy 12 months of variety and we have packed in as much as we could in celebration of this landmark event! (Lol)



Sorinda Bindia Unsplash

So where to begin?


Me - in a bush! Yes I am laughing.

We are still enjoying ‘life’s simple pleasures’ in Hygge our campervan. Even though our joints complain on occasion, we are sure the very physical nature of camping this way is keeping us agile and a little fitter - definitely more shattered by bed time!


We have camped by rivers in Yorkshire, next to the sea in Norfolk and on grand estates all over. Slept in an old apple orchard in Somerset (a first for us) and in a field of buttercups in the Cotswolds. Spent a few nights on a site in an old quarry in Derbyshire ( a County where there are lots of quarries) and we’ve enjoyed stays on sites in the centres of some lovely market towns.





We have cheated a little too. We treated ourselves to a stay in a wonderful hotel in Lanzarote, back in January.  We spent a few nights during one of the many storms we have had this year in a hotel in Fowey, Hygge was holed up in the carpark throughout. We rented a wonderful little cottage for a week, in Ludlow (probably 'the loveliest town in England' according to Sir John Betjeman), right next door to the very house 3 generations of my ancestors lived in during the 1800 and 1900’s. Ludlow is beautiful, full of Georgian splendour with numerous listed buildings, lovely friendly people, history, lovely walks by the river and a lot of pubs.



First two photos are the lobby and reception at the hotel. Then my drawing of a cactus there are many on Lanzarote! Thrussell's - Rook with a Book was commissioned to celebrate Daphne du Maurier's Novel - The Birds which was written in Fowey. The bottom three photos are in Ludlow castle from Dinham Bridge. An early 19th century etching of Ludlow Castle and a early 1900's photo taken outside my ancestors home in Ludlow.


One of the first things we enjoyed was to go stargazing with the wonderful Jordan Mansfield (Nova Stargazing). What a knowledgeable bloke. It was an amazing and awe inspiring few hours, the best time we have spent in a field in the dark! He managed to fit in so much before the inevitable clouds appeared, like they have for much of this year.




Another treat for us was seeing Elbow in Concert at the castle in Ludlow. Guy Garvey had managed to fall and hurt his leg earlier and spent most of the concert sat on a stool. Didn’t affect his performance at all. We really enjoyed ourselves, met some great people and for a brief time felt quite young again. Smile.




Over the summer holidays we got to spend time with our grandson. We took him to his first Shakespearean play, especially for first timers. In the Holloway Garden outdoor theatre at Stratford upon Avon, where they put on a shortened version of ‘As you like It.’ We wondered if he might be bored to tears, but he came away saying how much he had enjoyed it. Later on this year he got the chance to act on the stage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in a schools production of Hamlet, along with other school pupils. What an experience we thought, Harris seemed rather underwhelmed by the greats he was following in the footsteps of and complained about the time waiting around between his lines! Ohh to be 10 again.


RSC Theatre Stratford upon Avon

He has a real interest in history, so we took him to see Wroxeter Roman City and then to the amazing and free RAF Cosford Museum, where he got to try out fighter cockpits, simulator rides and transport carriers. He wants to go to Bovington Tank Museum next year - apparently.





We treated ourselves to a theatre trip too and went to see the RSC production of Tinuik Craig’s School for Scandal - in hot pink! Yes pink! It was hilarious.


Pawel Czerwinski - Unsplash

Like our grandson we enjoy history so we explored many historical locations. From the site of the early life of mankind at the magical Avebury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Tarr Steps -  a clapper bridge, with some stones dating back to 1000bce.  We stopped at Haddon Hall with its romantic and atmospheric 12th century origins and will probably be recognised by some of you as a filming location for many an historical tale. On to the Bishops Palace at Wells - how the mighty lived! Wonderful gardens. To Gressenhall Workhouse where the stories of the inmates come to life in all their shocking detail.

We visited the place which arguably was the first in the world to introduce industrialisation on a factory scale - Arkwright’s Derwent Valley Mills, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This guy was so wealthy he could afford to pay off the national debt and have change! Up the workers I say! Our third UNESCO site was Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Magnificant and atmospheric.





We have visited so many gardens this year on our travels, too many to name. The highlight for me being Felbrigg Walled Garden where you can lose yourself in quiet contemplation for hours. We were told about a lovely garden by a fellow camper in Sandringham called Natural Garden Surroundings. A visit there transported me back in time, to our gooseberry bushes, full borders and the orchard with so many trees to climb, at my childhood homes.


The following photos is just a small selection. I have included the Sweet Peas you could cut for yourself at Houghton Hall, they cheered up the van and us no end.


The last things to mention - I know I’ve gone on for an age, hope some of you are still left to read on, I have listed some of the many eateries we have visited over the year:-


The Dog and Rabbit in St Just, great vibe, tasty food, lovely owner.

Trellisick House in a grand room overlooking a wonderful view of the estuary - yummy cake!

The trendy Hidden Hut Cornwall - above the sea with beach view.

Melinsey Mill, Cornwall - delicious food. Quirky Quirky Quirky

Organic Cafe Fowey - Italian need I say more?

Caen Hill Cafe, Devizes - sublime cakes, fantastic views

The Twig - Bibury - Busy Busy very friendly staff

Lynwood and Co Moreton in Marsh - delicious breakfast

North Sea Observatory,  Skegness - Jaw dropping location on beach, wow views and great traditional English Breakfast - really friendly.

Harp Lane Deli  Ludlow - wonderful coffee and pastries, watch the busy market life play out as you relax

ICON Cafe St Laurence Church Ludlow - in the magnificent parish church of Ludlow, if you are lucky the vicar is the barista.

High Peak Bookstore and Cafe, Matlock -  And their Loo's with a view! I am in heaven here. Great Coffee, good food and BOOKS! What more could a girl want?

Hadden Hall Derbyshire - Wow their scones are amazing

Arkwrights Cafe at the Mill - Great bacon and sausage sandwiches

Tantivy, Dulverton - locally sourced food, friendly relaxing vibe.


Just a few of those eateries we have enjoyed this year.


We have packed in so much this year it really has been a celebration of 40 years together. We love exploring our wonderful Country. I feel blessed to be able to enjoy so much without leaving our shores.


Mark McNeill - Unsplash

A few things that will stay with me. Watching the RNLI lifeboat leave the safety of Fowey Harbour bravely ploughing into a raging storm, literally disappearing into the waves. Those crew members are the most amazing and brave people. I checked they came back. Sitting on Carn Gloose overlooking Cape Cornwall and the Brisons, as the bronze age people would have done nearly 2000 years before me. Cycling into Kinder Low and the lovely people we chatted with on the way.


There are just a very small sample of photos of some of our experiences this year.


.....................................................


On a more personal level in between all of our adventures this year we have had the usual bouts of issues and problems like everyone else. I feel as though the year has been tough for many people and it's quite possibly going to get tougher. This country does seem to be in a state of flux and a general feeling of instability and lack of control of ones' own destiny seems to be high in the minds of many people. I don’t know whether it is just me but many of us seem to be carrying a lot of frustration with the state of things.


Mei Ling Mirow - Unsplash

YET we have met so many friendly, kind and thoughtful people over the year. We have witnessed acts of kindness and experienced it ourselves, which always restores my faith in human nature. I am reassured our basic instinct of human kindness will always prevail.


On that note we wish you all peace this Christmas and New Year - in all of its many forms.

G and C x

Jon Tyson Unsplash

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Guest
Dec 18, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Great read, what an adventure you have had this year! If you are home for a well earned rest, hope we can grab a coffee at some point.


Wishing you a happy Xmas and safe travels in 2025


Mike & Mandy

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Garry and Caroline
Dec 18, 2024
Replying to

Hi Both lovely to hear from you. It has been a busy time and good fun, would be great to catch up. Will be in touch after Christmas. Thanks for reading the blog. Happy Christmas. Garry and Caroline

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benivanadventures
Dec 17, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

A lovely read, congratulations on your 40 anniversary, you have certainly got lots done this year

Still enjoying your videos over on YouTube

Thanks for sharing

Happy and Safe travels

N&Axx

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Garry and Caroline
Dec 17, 2024
Replying to

Hi Nige and Adele thanks for taking the time to read our blog. Lovely to see you are still on YouTube. Yes 40 years !!! We have had a fab year. Your French trip looks brilliant, reminded us of our French tour. How’s young Archie? All the best G and C x

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