Cooked breakfast at the Red Lion, and then over to Ann and Trevor's for lunch (baked potato).
Then a drive up North to Weedon Bec...
Up early-ish for a recreation of the Fareham Parkrun, here are some sights along the way...
The Mary Rose, favourite warship of Henry VIIIth, was first commissioned in 1511 and sank in July 1545 fighting the French in the Battle of Solent, just off the coast of Portsmouth. Her hull was discovered buried in silt in 1971 and after years of excavation and planning she was finally raised on 11 October 1982.
Leaving Tony and Avis behind we headed South to Stubbington, near Portsmouth, to visit Dad's cousin Ann and her husband Trevor.
On the way we detoured ever so slightly to check out Winchester Cathedral, which was excellent apart from an initial parking fiasco. Sat Nav took us to a staff car park that looked normal but on closer inspection was for staff only and had significant fines for invalid parking. The next nearest car park was a 5 minute walk but 11 minute drive! Then I had no coins and couldn't use my credit card, ended up having to call, quote the number of the closest pay machine (which I couldn't find) and the car rego (got that one). Anyway - got that in the end.
And just like that my 3 days in London is over and it's back on the train (via bike to Paddington) for the return trip to Winterbourne.
Look at this little cutie pie sitting on the chair next to me....
Unfortunately there were no deer (they had to be culled last year due to disease 😟), but the house and gardens were lovely.
Funny story though. Avis decided that the road down to the house was not scenic enough and that a side path route would be far superior. Only problems were
1. It had been raining and there was a fair amount of mud around
2. Avis had on ultra-slippery croc thong thingies
This proved a very bad combo.
Down she went, not one, not two, not three but FOUR times! Oh - we laughed.
Now - I wouldn't normally laugh when an 85 year old takes a tumble, but Avis isn't your average 85 year old and her tumbles were more of a gentle slide followed by a mud splat and she most definitely laughed first. What could I do, but join in? We laughed and laughed and Avis had to do a swift wardrobe re-assemble (pants rolled up, jacket back on) to hide as much of the damage as possible!
Here's a photo after two of the splats 😂😂
And here's some of the scenic route (I think it was worth the splats!)...
And remember I said Avis wasn't your average 85 year old - here's her Guinness Book of World records entry for being the oldest competitive canoeist ....
Go Avis!!
And today started off with UK Parkrun #3 - this one was at Clapham Common with around 750 other people! It was hot and humid and it was good to tick it off and have a shower afterwards...
Dinner
Another big day on the bike, but this time I was on Margot's - complete with squishy seat cover. Aargh - semi relief for sore botty bones.
First stop - Royal Academy of Art - Summer Edition, but first some sights on the way...
Today turned out to be a huge one for exercise, starting off with a 5km run with Avis. What makes this run truly remarkable is that Avis is a regular park runner and also happens to be a spritely 85 years old!! YES - 85 years old. If I am half as fit as Avis when I'm that age I'll be a happy camper!!
Here's Avis and I after the run. Think I look more tuckered out, certainly have a redder face (although it could just be t-shirt reflection) 😆
On the train for a 1 hr 30 mins whiz east from Bristol Parkway to Paddington Station, where Missy Margot was waiting 😀. So good to see her! And so began more whizzing - 3 days worth in fact - mainly by bike, but with a good dose of walking and of course the park run!
Here's some of the first sights - I started off on a Boris Bike - and blame that entirely for my sore bum!! Check the fabulous sculptures on the bottom. It's by husband and wife team Gillie and Marc. I recognised it straight away 'cos Emma has one of Rabbit Woman and Dog Man riding a scooter.
After a covid delayed departure we set off, 3 days later than planned, to visit Dad's friends Tony and Avis in Winterbourne, just outside Bristol.
We set off quite late because we were way too busy watching the Matilda's. They did a fantastic job but in my now expert opinion were outplayed on the day, still - goal of the match goes to Sam Kerr!
Look at all the pesky roadworks! That and some pretty ridiculous speed limits meant this too longer than the predicted 2 hours 30mins - not that I had anything to say about it 😎
We arrived in Winterbourne for our stay with Dad's old schoolfriend Tony and his wife Avis.
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My stay is short as I'm heading off to London to catch up with Margot tomorrow 😀
Trains are pricey - £78 return super off peak - which means no super early trains, so it's a 10:46 departure, plenty of time for a run before leaving....
Ok - slight return to the land of the living - and feeling well enough to venture out for a couple of hours to capitalise on the (gasp!!) sunshine.
Everything looks better in the sun - see....
Dad on the left, me on the right. Say no more 😡
Started the day with my second UK parkrun, not super rainy this time, but not sunny either!
Then it was off to Scoveston Fort, a sprawling structure built in the 1850's to provide land defence against the French and that was home to Dad and several other families from 1940 - 1947. No gas, no electricity, no running water! Incredible really. Nature has now reclaimed the fort but parts were accessible and we had a good look around...
A day of sightseeing today. Dad is full of a cold so stayed at home, but Dave, Michele and I ventured out.
First stop - Tregwynt Mill
Wales is world renowned for it’s weaving and textile heritage, and nothing exemplifies this more than the double weave tapestry bedcover, unique to Wales and our culture. Genuine Welsh tapestry is woven on large mechanical looms in one of the 12 mills still found in Wales.
