I swop the Morgan for a Megane!!

We'd arrived at Alicante Airport and the young woman at the car hire desk handed me a square shaped piece of plastic with a tag on it displaying the car hire company's name.

The scene from our hotel at Manchester Airport prior to our departure the following day!!!

Moraira

What on earth is this I said, to which she replied that I should stick it in a slot in the dashboard and then press the starter button to get underway. After considerable mental and physical contortion in the dimly lit car park the slot was found, I shoved the thing into the slot and the whole dashboard lit up like Blackpool Illuminations. You know I am finding it increasingly more stressful at airports without all this new gadgetry adding to my anxiety.

Moonrise over Ibiza. A view from our apartment...

....and another shot of the same event.

Anyway, it proved to be a pleasant car to drive, albeit that it could have done with a bit more clout to climb Puig de la Llorenca, the mountain on the side of which our holiday accommodation was situated at around 400 metres above sea level, overlooking the Mediterranian and just underneath the summit.

We had decided that we would escape the rigours of an English winter by visiting, for the whole of February, the only area of Spain that we hadn't visited before, the Costa Blanca.

Calpe and the Penon de Ifach (known as the northern rock by the Romans to distinguish it from the southern rock of Gibraltar)

We based ourselves in an apartment in Moraira, between Javea and Calpe and looked forward to some reasonable temperatures and sunshine, to recharge our stocks of vitamin D.

Alas, initially the weather was cold, in fact Valencia along the coast to the north had a fair covering of snow on our second or third day and I opened the front door on the day in question to a few snowflakes fluttering down.

Cycling team in training with Parcent in the distance.

The apartment was not geared for use as a winter let, but fortunately we found a couple of 'blankets' for the bed, went out and purchased four hot water bottles (12 euros) and an electric fire (19 euros) to bolster the existing air-conditioning/heating units.

The almond blossom was out in the Jalon Valley.

The low temperatures lasted only for a short while and for over three weeks we have enjoyed temperatures of 14-22 degrees, much higher than those at home, athough it has to be said that next time we will not be renting a property on a hillside, regardless of the view, as the temperatures at 1200 feet are somewhat cooler than at sea level.

Waiting for our 8 euro five course meals in the village hall at Parcent!

We travelled 500 kms plus in the Megane, particularly enjoying the Jalon Valley where we stopped for lunch on one occasion in the local village hall, five courses including a bottle of wine for 8 euros each, just wonderful.

Moraira Marina with Calpe and Ifach in the distance.

In Javea we added another Paradore to our collection, although only for coffee on this occasion, bringing our total of Paradore visits to 23, throughout the whole of Spain.

El Portent and beach, our favourite.

The cost of living is so much lower than in the UK and a couple of ex-pats who we met said that they lived well on a weekly shop of £70 !!! Certainly, we lived extremely well, enjoying the wine and Senor Torres's brandy and enjoying the competitively priced Menu del Dia's from time to time.

Climbing towards the summit of the Cap de la Nau.

But oh, it's just so nice to sit there in the sunshine watching the world go by.

Dawn from our bedroom balcony.

Yesterday, as I sat in the minimal surroundings of a local garage, with a single bar fire for company, waiting for the Morgan to pass it's MOT, I realised what a lovely time we have had.

A late Autumn pootle.

Having finished getting the garden into shape for the winter, during some lovely late sunshine, I thought that I would take the opportunity of getting 'Nellie' out of the garage and going for a spin.

The pictures tell the story.

Approaching the Cartford Inn and the toll bridge over the River Wyre.

The River Wyre snaking through the Fylde countryside.

 

Skippool Creek looking very attractive to a former yachtsman!

They look good anywhere, don't they?

There's something about old boats!

Proud to be an 'Old Fart'!

When I first set up my blog I was a little hesitant about including 'boring old fart' in the title, but as it is a description that has been levelled at me in jest, (who am I kidding!), on a number of occasions both by relatives and others, I thought, sod it, I'll go ahead..... that is probably what I am!

Today a relative sent me this and after reading it, I felt proud to be one!

'Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the National Anthem. Old Farts remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them.

Old Farts remember World War II, Dunkirk,Pearl Harbour, Tobruk, Kokoda, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing. They remember the Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam and Timor.

If you bump into an Old Fart on the sidewalk he will apologize. If you pass an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady.

Old Farts trust strangers and are courtly to women.

Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.

Old Farts get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies.

Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity. They seldom brag unless it's about their children or grandchildren.

It's the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country.

This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and decent values.

We need them now more than ever.

Thank God for Old Farts!

I was taught to respect my elders. It's just getting harder to find them.'

It's almost 7 years...

....since we placed our order for the Morgan and I thought that it would be a good idea to post a few photographs taken during those years of the memorable drives and special moments we have enjoyed.

....

And there are hundreds more, taken during 24000 great, fun-filled miles in the UK, Ireland, France and Spain. Long may it continue.

Happy Anniversary

Forty eight long years ago on my wedding morning, I was awakened at 6.30 am by my apologetic newsagent father who told me that I would have to get out of bed to complete a newspaper round, because one of the Deliverers hadn't turned up!

I was delighted!!!! Anyway the rest of the day went well and as my lovely wife has put up with all my many foibles throughout the whole period, I decided that this year we would go away for our Anniversary and for once she wouldn't have to do any cooking.

A very murky Windermere

We decided that we should visit an hotel that has been recommended to me regularly by an old business acquaintance, the 'Gold Rill' in Grasmere, Cumbria,www.goldrill.co.uk, some 60 miles away from home.

The Gold Rill Hotel

View from our bedroom window

The wonderful spell of weather that we had enjoyed for most of September had changed for the worse and so it was with some surprise that a couple of days of good dry weather was forecast for our night away, which meant that we could go in the Morgan.

Grasmere Church and the Wordsworth family graves in the churchyard

We set off in glorious sunshine which we enjoyed until entering the Lake District National Park, when the sky became overcast but thankfully dry and it was top-down all the way, indeed it remained down for the whole period.

The River Rothay, Grasmere

We have been visiting the Lakes since childhood but it is always lovely to return and reaquaint ourselves with its many charms. So we spent a lovely afternoon with the large weekend crowds looking around Grasmere village, visiting the church, the Wordsworth graves in the churchyard and 'Sarah Nelson's celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread shop' www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk

Reflections

Later, having checked in to our hotel, we walked along the road skirting the western shore of the lake, meeting countless fellwalkers returning from the peaks, before returning for a swift G&T or two before dinner. Prudently, we never have our evening tipple before 6pm, but our well established policy is, that regardless of the actual time, it is always 6 o'clock somewhere!!!!

Towards our hotel with Helm Crag (Lion and the Lamb) on left in distance. This was the scene of a mighty family climbing expedition in the 70's.

 

 

After a beautiful evening meal and wholesome breakfast, we said our farewells and drove to meet friends of ours in the village of Finsthwaite near Lakeside, Windermere, travelling via Tarn Hows, a beauty spot that we hadn't visited for years.

The Langdale Pikes in the distance

Tarn Hows

Our final assessment of the hotel is that it is a lovely place to stay, although we both commented that, even allowing for our advanced years, we felt that we were too young to be there! The staff are wonderful and the food exceptional although an uplift to the existing smart, though somewhat dated, decor would improve the place immensely.

Broadland Memories.

Broads minded!

It was in 1954 that a young chap aged 9, stood with his family and gazed across Oulton Broad to a beautiful motor cruiser moored at one of the boatyards. Its varnish gleamed in the Spring sunlight and he could scarsely believe that he was to spend a week on board that beautiful craft, cruising the Norfolk Broads.

Our boat was hired from Jim Hoseason, who had taken over this small boatyard at the southern end of the Broad, from his father Wally B. Hoseason, and was in the early stages of developing further the family firm's hire fleet and booking agency, now a household name in the field of boat and cottage rental in this country and abroad.

The first sight of 'Mary Bridget' moored at Jim Hoseasons yard at Oulton Broad

Built by Herbert Woods in Potter Heigham, the 'Mary Bridget' had been privately owned and we were the first people to hire her since her acquisition by Mr Hoseason. To this day I can remember the excitement I felt on going aboard.

1954.....9 years old

I have always had a keen interest in boats,  I guess, springing from the fact that all my family on my father's side were from Brixham in South Devon and were closely associated with the sea, either working on the Brixham sailing smacks or in the navy, and it was at that moment, in 1954, that my love of Norfolk and the Broads was kindled. And it is to the Broads that both my wife and myself have returned regularly.

A peaceful afternoon on Belaugh Staithe by the River Bure

The last occasion was a week ago when we spent a delightful week in Barn House Cottage in Belaugh (pronounced 'Beela') between Wroxham and Coltishall on the River Bure. We chose the cottage from www.ownersdirect.co.uk as an alternative to our usual practice of hiring a motor cruiser and it proved to be delightful, providing a good base to visit parts of the region we had not visited before.

Coltishall Common...a short walk from our cottage

However, we did get afloat on two occasions during the week by hiring a Day Boat from Martham to cruise Horsey Mere and Hickling Broad and a second craft to cover the River Waveney from Burgh St Peter to Beccles.

Our Day Boat moored at the 'Pleasure Boat' staithe, Hickling

View of the River Ant from How Hill

We had a wonderful time and were able to view the Broads from a different perspective. It was while doing this at a well known house called How Hill overlooking the River Ant, on which we have cruised on countless occasions, that we spotted a lady painting the scene. To cut a long story short, we are buying that painting, once the paint has dried and it is framed, providing a lasting memory of that special moment in yet another wonderful return visit to my beloved Norfolk www.jennyshawbrowne.com