Weekend fun

Having enjoyed a run of just over 5 miles through the woods around the Remedy Oak Golf Club yesterday, I was out and about early this morning for a bike ride before the clouds took over and the wind started having more of an affect.

I headed to Wimborne St Giles and then onto Gussage St Michael and Cashmore, crossing over to Farnham and Chettle. By the time I got home I had 21 miles under my belt and am feeling perfectly ready for the 100km ride which will happen as soon as the sun shines, the wind drops and conditions are easy as can be.

Alison has been busy in the kitchen cooking all morning, preparing for our trip to Leominster and beyond, with plenty of buns and cakes for snacks. She was also keen to use the allotment potatoes, spinach and runner beans for the dinner. All very good.

I have been sorting the motorhome again and bought an inexpensive pocket hanger which has some 24 pockets in clear plastic to pop bits and pieces in for easy retrieval e.g. torch, multi function tools, matches, remotes, keys and so on. The clear plastic means you know exactly what is where at a glance. I also got a pill box which has 7 compartments and have put spices in each one, a space saving way of having easy access to the means of sprucing up many meals. I've gone for Indian spices in the main but also tumeric which is supposed to have lots of medicinal qualities.

We are off tomorrow for the week, heading to Hereford and then on to Leominster for time with family at a cottage which has been in Kate's family for some time. It has a generator and no mains electricity which will be interesting! There is no internet, no wifi, no mobile signal and no TV. On the other hand there is plenty of garden and fields to play in and a river at the bottom of the garden in which we can swim and investigate the wildlife. I am very much looking forward to it.

Vegan food prep including from the allotment

What a lovely day we have had with the children at the allotment. They've been up and down to the pump helping fetch water for the plot, harvested potatoes, spinach, beetroot and radish which have added to the runner beans and raspberries from the garden at home It is always a pleasure going down to the allotment, even for just a bit of weeding or watering.

I'd put pulses in to soak overnight too and so we ended up having a bit of a feast of home grown produce and putting by other foods for later in the week.

For lunch we had spinach, runner beans and beetroot to go with previously frozen kidney bean burgers and potato wedges (old ones, not from the allotment). We'd also put the beetroot in foil and roasted it for an hour before peeling the skin off and slicing up for lunch and for later.

The chickpeas and butter beans which had been soaking overnight and had then been cooked for an hour or more, while I got on the bike and popped down to the shop for an 8 mile ride to get some bananas and flat breads, were popped into the blender along with garlic, cumin, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini and salt and pepper, to make hummus. They taste good and will be fine in the fridge for the best part of a week.

The kidney beans were also blitzed along with carrot and onion, cumin, salt and pepper, sage and rosemary before being shaped into burgers and put into the freezer where we can use them at our leisure.

The final bit of the action was with the radishes which I washed and cleaned up before chopping finely, sprinkling with salt and leaving for an hour or so. The juice which is extracted in doing this was poured into a kilner jar and the radish itself was rinsed before being put into the jar, along with some peppercorns and ginger. The trick is apparently to then cover with the water, if the juice from earlier proves insuffient, and to leave in the jar, not quite completely tight to allow for some air circulation. Afetr a couple of days fermentation will be underway and the lid can be closed properly. After about 10 days the radish, finely sliced, can be added to salads, sandwiches and so on. I understand that they will be good for 6 months, tasting best before 3 months has passed.

Vegan lasagne

I ended up doing an extra bit of running yesterday, completing a 5km jog whilst Maria was at dance. That was in addition to the 20 mile cycle earlier in the day. That wasn't why I felt tired this morning though. After 30 years Liverpool were finally champions of England and were receiving the trophy after their game with Chelsea, a game which ended 5 - 3 to the reds. I did have a few celebratory drinks which led to me falling asleep downstairs until early morning.

Today I have had a longish run, 5.5 miles, dog walks and some strimming but the highlight was making a vegan lasagne which turned out well. I roasted aubergine in the oven for about 30 minutes and added it to the lasagne dish which was coated by the tomato sauce, onion, garlic and carrot with a little balsamic vinegar, sugar, rosemary and basil. It tasted good and I did enough for a gluten free version using the special lasagne sheets. Both versions were in the oven for 35 minutes at 180C, alongside my vegan granola.

The granola was a concoction of my own design, oats, soya milk, cinnamon, maple syrup, raisins, apricots, dates, mixed seeds, chopped brazils and dried goji berries. I've been eating it for the past few weeks and enjoying it, adapting the Scott Jurek recipe.

Old Inn pint on the way back from the allotment

I cycled via Verwood to the allotment for a 20 mile ride with a stop at the Old Inn at Holt for a quick pint on the way back. All very nice indeed in warm sunshine.

The allotment has been under attack from rabbits once again which meant I have had to protect the French beans and dwarf peas. Hopefully I have caught it before the crop is ruined in both cases. The potatoes need digging and there are plenty of greens to cut and bring home. Might need to drive tomorrow with those spuds to  gather.

Autosleeper weekend

Our trip to Devon

Day One

Having had to wait for so long to be able to get out for our first real trip in the motorhome, it was an exciting time on Friday afternoon when we set off for Plymouth. The coronavirus meant trips earlier in the year had been cancelled and we have been limited to day trips, mainly into the New Forest. However, quite a few people have slept in the motorhome during that period, notably Paul and Harriet visiting from Shrewsbury. They were just using it as a base to visit Kate and Joe which meant we only saw them at breakfast.

The delay meant I have got used to driving the motorhome and got used to its size and speed. However, I was a little apprehensive given this was the first lengthy journey and I wasn't sure how the engine would stand up to things, the vehicle being 21 years old now. On the other hand it has only travelled 22000 miles and should be in good nick for years to come.

I am pleased to report things went well on that front. We were able to relax and did the journey without hold up in either direction. You can go up to 50mph on the road with 60mph permisible on dual carriageway and motorway. The home was able to do that without problem, the only real struggles being getting up some of the hills en route e.g. Chideock and Haldon Hill.

The plusses were that we never went fast enough to be stuck behind anyone. That was nice. The right frame of mind is required though! It was also great being up high and being able to enjoy new views on a well travelled route. It would also be fair to say I was more comfortable than driving the Fiesta when doing a long journey. There was also the fact that all we needed had been packed away easily in the motorhome. There is so much space. When I think about camping and the need for the roofbox and then creative use of boot space and so on, there is no comparison. The motorhome wins hands down!

Downside - noisier than the car and the radio needed turning right up to be heard which was too loud for passengers in the other seats and had to be switched off. I did pull over a couple of times to allow people to pass but it was straightforward and was seldom required.

Filling up in Axminster

We parked in the car park next to my sister's house and spent the night there. We discovered more about the 12v power, finally getting that the lights, fridge and water pump ran off there for a good long period of time. I had been paranoid about draining the leisure battery quickly and getting stuck. However, all was well throughout the visit despite never being able to hook up to any electric. The charging from the driving was sufficient and, in all likelihood, wasn't actually necessary to keeping things ticking over.

We enjoyed a family get together for the first time in months, looking to keep social distancing which meant no hugging, although I did transgress occassionally.

Day Two

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on board the motorhome in the morning. Having the gas for cooking is fantastic. Plenty of tea and toast and porridge. Gas seems quicker than the electric hob we have at home, as well as being easier to adjust to suit. After a quick dog walk, we set off to Princetown where we going to be spending the night but we had to pop into the local Asda first. I was slightly apprehensive given the relatively tight parking spaces but it was simple enough to negotiate.

The drive to the moors was lovely and it was good to see so many cyclists around. Yelverton seemed to be a magnet for them and many appeared set on making it to Princetown with its famous prison. We found the Prince of Wales pub easily enough and eventually found out how to access the car park at the rear (through the turning to main car park and off to the right).

I had already been in touch with the pub to 'book' the night in their car park. That was something I found only recently - you can park in a lot of places if you contact in advance and agree to eat/drink there. A local site would have cost £40 for the  night, this was 'free'.

Having enjoyed a walk toward Burrator Resevoir where we came across a bridge with swallows still nesting, we had a play in the park, a drink in the Plume of Feathers and then returned to the Prince of Wales for food and drinks. By the way, the Plume of Feathers had the fire lit inside and we were grateful for it! We'd been sat outside observing the etiquette in place now pubs are open again but it kept clouding over and it got chilly.

Having eaten well, the pub does great food and the beer is good too, we had an undisturbed and peaceful night in the motorhome. The four of us were comfortable and warm and woke to the sound of gentle rain. I can't express how happy I was to hear the rain and know I was warm and dry inside when there have been a lot of camping trips when we've been struggling with the wet and it just wears you down.

Day Three

We drove back to Plymouth in the morning and parked on the Hoe. Again, I wasn't sure about the parking situation and was slightly worried about driving round a place I'd known many years ago but had changed a good deal since I had last driven there. It wasn't a problem though and we parked roadside, not overhanging the parking space despite the 6.5m long motorhome. That gave us a further opportunity to meet up with other members of the family, including the newest addition, Emma, just walking and full of smiles.

The Hoe is a good place for walking round and has brilliant views of Plymouth Sound and Drake's Island.

Alison then cooked us a pasta meal before we sett off home. It is quite something to be parked on the side of the road with beautiful views and to be able to cook for a family with little trouble. I am definitely loving the motorhome and the comforts it brings.

It was easy enough to empty the grey water and black water following the journey. I think we've learnt what we need to know nor a successful trip in the UK in the motorhome now. There's nothing like having to learn on the job and having done a weekend trip the differing needs have become clearer. We know more about the possibilities and limitations and are looking forward to next week when we set off further afield to near Leominster.

Weekend update

We've been back for a few days but this is the first chance I've had to update the blog having a few photos to add from our weekend in Plymouth and on Dartmoor.

We were back on Sunday and straight into family activity the next day when we went down to Bournemouth  beach first thing to meet up with Kate and Joe and the girls. We parked at Durley Chine for the first time, usually going to Alum Chine recently. Lovely morning on the beach, even better when Joe and Kate told us they were engaged! Great news and something we can celebrate more fully next week when we meet up near Leominster.

Then it was back home for Maria's drama group during which I ran 10km before tackling things like emptying the grey waste from the motorhome, tidying the garden, walking the dog and cooking tea.

Yesterday was equally busy with the girls coming to stay at 8am until the evening when we took them home with Maria at dance. It was all a bit hectic with timings all over the place but the girls had had a lovely day with several visits to the park.

You can see that the beach was almost empty when we got there. The cruise liners on the horizin must be anchored for the duration of the restrictions around coronavirus. Whe first reported, it seemed passengers stranded on board were amongst the worst affected in the world with daily updates of deaths, reports of the impact on uk tourists to the fore. How things have changed!

Allotment and excitement prior to Plymouth trip - oh, and 37 years of marriage!

I had a run early in the day and really livened it up by determining that I would listen to 10 songs as I ran and with each change of track I'd change direction. It didn't make any difference to the distance of course but it gave me something to focus on during the run.

In the afternoon we all drove to the allotment to do some watering but mainly to pick a few veg for sister in law to enjoy. We then headed to Verwood and the family had a relaxing cuppa whilst I popped to the shops for a few last minute things ahead of the trip to Plymouth, beer related in particular.

Sandra had made a lovely vega cake for our 37th wedding anniversary, Alison and I have never made that big a fuss over it apart from our 30th when we went to Ibiza. I'd like to celebrate it more  in three years time, our 40th!

Having prepared naan breads for tea, I ended up not cooking as we ordered taekaway instead, although I went ahead with the naans. Very tasty all round.

Next on the itinerary is our Plymouth visit. I've done 5.5 miles running this morning and packed the motorhome. It's our first proper drive and overnight stay and we are all excited. It is great to have room for everything and to know we have a roof over our heads come what may. Lots of photos and detail to follow.

Allotment and exercise

The best thing about yesterday was that Maria got to dance at Studio One again. It's been a long time and she has been missing it hugely. Lots of changes with the entry and collection routines but just great to be learning alongside others once more. She treated us to a show when she got back which served to show she retains her ability to learn and remember the routines speedily.

I had ridden to the allotment earlier in the day to do some weeding and to water the seedlings. Looks like things are continuing to progress nicely and I enjoyed a 20 mile ride through Holt Heath, taking a longer route to extend the ride. I finished listening to the Humankind audiobook whilst riding. Enjoyed it a great deal, so much chimed with my world view, but I can imagine many, many people would strongly disagree with the optimistic and positive view of human beings.

Having ridden to the allotment I still managed to get a run done waiting for Maria at dance. A nice little 5km in under 9 and 1/2 minute miles. Not too shabby considering the earlier ride.

The potatoes look about ready to dig, so it will be interesting to see how they've cropped when I dig some next week after our weekend in Devon. The spinach is in excellent shape, alongside the beetroot. We've got onions doing well after being planted very late, some late broad beans and french beans. There was a desperate patch where lots of things got planted late due to the lockdown, difficulty in getting the seeds and devastation caused by rabbits eating the first sowings. That we have recovered something is very pleasing.

Hedging

A quiet day on Tuesday, as I drove down to Joy's with the hedge cutters to attack the large rhododendron and took it back by quite a considerable amount, so much so that the garden waste bin is overflowing and a pile of branches is going to have to wait for disposal at a later date.

I took the opportunity to check the veg plot and am pleased to see the carrots doing well, alongside spinach, runner beans, french beans and potatoes.

Still feeling the 9 mile run on Sunday, I just did a 5km run late in the afternoon but well under 10 minute miles which was pleasing. Almost finished Dubliners and ready to look at next challenge.

Our visitors left yesterday. Paul and Harriet stayed for three nights, sleeping in the motorhome before setting out to spend the day with Joe and Kate and the girls. Tuesday was earmarked for Marwell Zoo and I am sure they enjoyed the day out, it's a great place to visit.

Time to pick things up a bit on Wednesday after a lazy day.

Pickled

One of the best things about the alotment run yesterday was having a lovely can of beer afterwards. You can see the blue skies in the background. We picked plenty of beetroot, just over a kilo, and have spent the morning today roasting them in the oven before leaving them to cool before peeling them, slicing them and popping them into jars of vinegar for the weeks and months to come.

Allotment run

I ran to the allotment yesterday and am feeling the consequences this morning. It was a 9 mile run in some lovely sunshine and took me through Horton, Chalbury, Gaunts Common and Furzehill. That's the longest run for 5 or 6 years; I'd previously decided to focus on regular running rather than long distances when I got injured doing a half marathon and struggled to get back into it for two years. The muscle kept playing up and it has taken me a good deal of time to build up confidence in it.

The allotment itself is looking good with the runner beans, which had to be resown following their decimation by rabbits , have started climbing and producing flowers, the potatoes will soon be ready and we are getting plenty of greens. Never having grown french beans or peas previously, I am not sure how well they are doing but they look encouraging.

The most satisfying thing was being able to harvest the first of our beetroot. They are a good size and another indication of just how good the soil is. Once they have made it past the teeth of the ravenous rabbits, the plants which survive have all grown well and are producing good crops. Makes for a good deal of satisfaction.

It was even better having the children come along too. They are so pleased with their own little plots and loved pumping the water too. 

Sunshine has returned

It was lovely to be out and about a bit more yesterday because there was some warmth to the sunshine for the first time in a couple of weeks. We seem to have been lumbered with this gusty wind of late and it has made sitting outside less pleasant.

I managed a 7.2 mile run early on and then walked back from Joy's house after cutting the lawns. By the time I finished the day I'd done over 26000 steps, s record for the month.

The other news is that I have completed some more of the 57 challenges, firstly in making a new bird table where I took Maisy for a walk and colelcted a long and study stick for the main post and then used some other bits and pieces lying around to make the table and supports. It is extremely rustic looking but it does the job and makes use of materials that have been picked up without any cost or real effort.

I had to work a little harder to do the pad thai. That meant I'd got some thai cooking done and Alison really enjoyed it, plenty of rice noodles, tofu, peanut butter, veg, tamarind, soy sauce and maple syrup, maongst other things. The nice thing is having the ingredients leftover in sufficient plenty to mean we'll be having more of it tomorrow.

Ibsley near Ringwood

Having had the children for the weekend, we had them again for the day and took advantage of some warmer weather to get in the motorhome and plunge into the New Forest. This time we went to Ibsley, parking next to Moyles Court School and spending a brilliant day discovering what the are had to offer.

I had cycled through a few weeks ago and noticed people paddling in the river which is forded at Ibsley and thought it offered the ideal place for the next of my challenges, a simple one to fulfil, paddling in a stream. I had a paddle in the afternoon and got another tick on the list but what was so pleasing about the place was the surrounding area which opened out into a massive sandpit with trees and bracken and shrubs all around it, offering fantastic paths which took you into hidden places. It was ideal for a game of Hurkey, a variation on hide and seek for outside and the children loved it.

Equally pleasing was the fact they went off and played, taking risks, having to stretch themselves physically but in a safe environment. There were a couple of grazed knees and prickles but they were soon forgotten and they let off steam up and down the slopes looking out for each other all the while.

Maria was tall enough to reach the rope swing and she had a great time going back and forth, finding the courage to leap off into the forgiving sand.

The motorhome meant we had somewhere to cook a few burgers for lunch and we'd taken lentil soup already prepared. As we ate, an ice cream van pulled up and Bridie treated the children to an ice cream.

I still managed to get a ride to Verwood done to get a few groceries and a 5km run once we had returned home. Over the 20000 steps again today. I am catching up quickly with last year.

Really lovely photos from the day, apologies for including so many.

Grandchildren

What a weekend that was!

We have had our two young grand daughters with us for the weekend, arriving at 10.00 and staying overnight until 4.00 the next day. They were added to our 12 year old daughter and 8 year old grand son.

It has been a lovely time but tiring too. I guess a 7 mile run ahead of their arrival on Saturday morning might have contributed to that feeling of tiredness but I was very pleased with the run with each mile under 9 and 1/2 minutes. It meant I just did a short run on Sunday after the girls had gone back home but I've been getting lots of miles in so far in July.

Lots of lovely pasta on Saturday and a roast on Sunday, saw the children tucking in and they made a lovely sight all sat round the dinner table.

We got to play in the local park which has reopened after a lengthy closure with plenty of soap and handwashing on return. They played on all of the equipment and it reminded me of many years ago when, as a child we would play on the swings and slides for hours. We had to build our own zip wires back then, mainly out of stolen items  such the wall tie ins found on building sites and lengths of wire removed from fencing. The park has a nice one which they can all manage with the exception of Amelia who is only 3.

In the evening they all settled down to watch Monsters, Inc which proved a hit with Evie in particular and we have the sequel ready for next time.

I've mixed in some photos from our bike ride to Moors Valley the previous day. Lovely seeing the three young moorhens.

Lockdown - pandemic

Updates first. Managed to avoid watching the football last night and so missed the hammering Liverpool got. I just didn't fancy the game and am pleased there was nothing riding on it with the title already secured.

Despite the miles of running and riding in July already, I trotted out for another 10km run this morning in the company of the podcast 'Shagged, Married, Annoyed', at least for the first part of the run. Felt good and took it easy after the exertions of previous days.

Once back, I joined Alison in the kitchen. She is cooking lots of cakes and biscuits, I got on with the chickpea, aubergine and tomato concoction from a recipe in The Guardian before turning to a task which is rather sad and allows me to spend a little time reflecting on lockdown, cancellation of our campsite bookings, or at least the ones for the trip to Scotland.

Maria and Joseph have been hit hard by the closure of school. Despite the home schooling, it's the routine and the friendships they are missing out on, as well as the learning. It has also meant for Maria, the loss of her dancing classes and drama, Joseph is missing drama too. This morning she learnt that the Easter show, postponed until later in the year, has now been abandoned completely. There are to be classes to prepare the dancers for exams but within strict guidelines reflecting the ongoing concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus.

I have now spoken with  my mum about not going to visit her this summer. We have already had Larmer Tree cancelled but had held on to the trip to the Hebrides in the hope that the easing of restrictions might allow us to travel up given the isolation we could achieve in the motorhome. However, the ferries are running a limited service, are fastidious regarding the reason for the journey and in prioritising specific groups which is quite right. I would hate for us to be the people taking the virus across to Lewis when they have been almost entirely free of cases and have had no deaths.

The fact is we would not have been able to see mum anyway, given she is in a care home full of very vulnerable people. It is very disappointing. The Scottish campsites we'd booked are not all opening until August or may not even open at all and there are severe restrictions in the other sites we'd booked as well.

Our trip to Cornwall is going to go ahead in August but the campsite emailed yesterday to advise there are to be no tents and there will be no facilities open of any kind, toilets, showers, bar, swimming pool and so on. We can still go but it will be about using the site to park up and connect to the electric and nothing more. It's a shame but again, the right thing to do in difficult circumstances.

My thoughts this morning are about how we are being affected by coronavirus, that it is has had a huge impact all round, despite the fact that on a day to day basis I feel it has almost passed us by. It has been easy to forget it at times, out exercising, gardening, doing the allotment, keeping in touch with family and so on. Not working has made this even more the case.

So the huge impact is on the wider society, not ourselves particularly, but there are more and more aspects of our lives where the ongoing consequences are affecting us. I wonder how long it will be until we are back living with the freedom we enjoyed previously?

Chelsea buns - cinnamon buns

Another busy day with an early 4 mile run which was very encouraging following al the miles of running and cycling yesterday. Managed under 9 minute miles for the first time in a good few weeks and felt good, so much so that I popped out for a ride later, 8 miles, going down to Verwood to join the rest of the family at Joy's.

It was a busy morning in the kitchen starting with putting together vegan granola inspired by Scott Jurek, making chelsea buns and getting a lovely curry for lunch. Very pleased with the buns. They came out well, although I will put some raisins in next time - they weren't in the recipe I followed. Very pleased with the dough - nice rise and plenty of air in the finished bun. The curry was very tasty too. I'm enjoying cooking more and  more. Perhaps time to get more adventurous?

I got the front hedges done again, avoided too many thorns on this occasion, and it is looking neat and tidy.

Daily steps are up to 20000 most days now and I hope to catch last year's total. It's been hard because February, when I was ill, was an almost complete wipeout.

Maria got her English and History finished and had a trip over to see Summer and Tiger. Looks like dance can happen again soon and there will also be drama culminating in a performance of Midsummer Night's Dream.

Ultra inspired

Having been reading about Scott Jurek I felt I ought to try pushing myself a little harder which meant a day of running and cycling taking me to Verwood, Wimborne and back home. This was to weed the veg plot for Joy, weed and tend to the allotment whilst collecting spinach and raspberries and back to cut the lawns and do some strimming at home.

I ran 6 miles to Verwood running in the oppostie direction at the start in order to lengthen the journey which meant running up Devil's Hill. I was pleased to be under 9 minute mile pace at the end. The ride was just under 18 miles in total and a little slower than usual as I tried not to over extend myself. Lots of greenery in the various plots now and just hoping the runner beans take off this week. They are almost at the point of climbing up the poles.

Having got back home I mowed the lawns, front and back, as well as moving the bird feeder so it is further from the shrubs used by the cats as cover when trying to catch the birds. There was still time to do some strimming too and the front garden is looking pretty trim.

Let's see what tomorrow brings but in my mind I feel I ought to be doing a short but pacy run, recovery plus. My intention is also to do more to prepare healty food using some of Scott Jurek's recipes.