Merry Christmas To All

We would just like to say 'Have a very merry Christmas' to all who may read our blog.

Best wishes from Carl, Janet & Jess x

Brynich in Snow

Last Wed we visited Brynich Caravan Club Site for the day, so we could drop a load of our gear off there for next year. The wardens, Les & Maria made us very welcome again, and we are so looking forward to working with them next year. If you find the link to all our photo's you will see a few more pictures of the site, with the mountains in the distance. This is the first night where we stayed in our newly converted camper van, and with temperatures of -4c in the night we were lovely and toasty warm. We are also looking forward to using our camper van (Sally) next year on our days off - hopefully it wont be as cold as last week. Our caravan is a Hymer and is called Harry!!! Say no more.

Broken Thumb

Well, it has finally happened... Carl has broken bones! It may have taken 6 months but for those of you who know Carl may have expected this to happen much sooner. The irony of it is that we weren't even working at the time, we were taking down our full size awning on Sunday, so that the caravan could be serviced at the end of this week. Whilst moving paving slabs he caught his thumb between two flags. At first we though he had just stubbed it very badly, as it went black almost straight away. On Monday morning the pain hadn't subsided so he went to the walk in clinic in Folkestone, where it was lanced & X-rayed. He was told that he has a compress fracture on this thumb. And, in true Carl style, he has this fracture on his left hand, and Yes - he is left handed too. Men eh!!!

Folkestone

Yesterday we parked on the seafront in Folkestone. What a glorious day it was too - the sun was really warm & just look at that blue sky.

We have often seen these gardens from high up in the cliffs when we have walked along the 'Leas', but since there are no restrictions on the beaches anymore for dogs, we decided to have a stroll.

Click on the 'Link to all our photo's', opposite, to see what we saw yesterday!

Wales here we come...

We found out last week that our posting for next year was going to be in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, so we decided to go and check out the site too see if it really was a good as it sounded in the brochure. We arrived in the morning to pouring down rain & the site looked impressive even then!

After staying at the site for a short while we decided to leave and visit the town of Brecon, as the wardens couldn't see us until that afternoon. Brecon is a pretty town with all of the local amenities anyone could need, with plenty of take-aways & pubs!

When we returned to site in the afternoon, there wasn't a cloud in the sky & the sun was beating down, we really couldn't believe it was the same day. The wardens, Les & Maria, made us more than welcome & showed us around the site. We are so lucky to be able to work in the beautiful place like this, so we have accepted this posting for next year, and we will be working from Mar till Nov in the Brecon Becons.

Check our the link to our photos as there is a new folder from last week in Brecon.

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

We all visited here today and had a really good day. There is lots of walking to do, but it is worth the effort as this park is home to the largest breeding herd of Black Rhinos outside Africa as well as Siberian and Indian tigers, African elephants, small cats, monkeys, Barbary lions and many more rare and endangered species. The world's largest gorillarium, "The Palace of the Apes" is home to a family group of Gorillas, fed at 12 noon and 3:00pm daily. The animals are able to live and breed in conditions as close to their natural habitat as possible.



See the link to all of our pictures and there is another folder for today!

2 months in!

Wow - 2 months into our new job, we cant believe how quick its gone. We don't regret giving up our old lifestyle in exchange for this new one little bit. Its extremely busy here at Black Horse Farm with an average of 80 arrivals Thur - Sun, and Mon - Thur still averages 50, even though some other site on the network don't even get those numbers in a week! We have requested to go in Wales for next years season - somewhere near a lovely sandy beach would be great. We will find out where some time in September. The weather in Kent is much more mild than Lancashire (no surprise there then), it's basically been shorts & T-Shirts since we got here, and we have probably only had around a weeks worth of rain too!

Deal and Sandwich

Today, on our day off, we headed towards Deal which is north of Dover. It reminded us a lot of Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. The beach like Dungeness was all pebble, but sitting down was rather comfortable (& HOT!). Leaving Deal we made our way north to Sandwich, which again reminded us of a smaller Beverley in East Yorkshire. By this point it was 25+ deg with no breeze so we decided to head back with the air conditioning on full blast!

Our First Days off last week

Last Wednesday and Thursday were our first real days off, so we decided to explore. Wed we all went to Canterbury - which is a beautiful town - very similar to York, just smaller. It is only 10 miles from Black horse farm. The weather was just perfect for strolling around the shops looking for comfy shoes (Carl & Jess weren't best impressed though!).

We have been blessed with lovely weather since we arrived 3 weeks ago. It has only rained once & even then it was during the night!

On Thursday, we ventured further a field to Dungeness. It is a completely different place than either of us has been before. Click on the 'Our Photo's' link (opposite) to see what we mean. Apparently people pay £100's thousands to live in wooden chalets?!

In the afternoon we went to see the White Cliffs Of Dover - Well you cant come all this way down south & not see them!

New Adventure begins

We have had our first 3 days at Black Horse Farm Caravan site, as assistant wardens to Eileen & Peter. We have been made more than welcome and are settling in really well. Tomorrow we move onto our compound for the next 5 months, so lots of work to do setting up over the next couple of days. The site is very busy, with many foreign visitors along with their varied continental caravans and motorhomes, which is no good for me & Carl as we both really love German Vans!

Sad News

Yesterday we had to have our eldest border collie, Tom, put to sleep - needless to say we haven't been on best form since then, but Jess (our other collie) is loving all the attention!

We are keeping focused on our new jobs for next week though.

Skipsea

We are now visiting Carl's parents & daughter's before going back to Lancashire to visit my family, as we will be away from hone until mid Nov this year.

So much for a 6 months tour - LOL!

We will be carrying on our blog whilst working for the caravan club - so watch this space!!!

Assistant Wardens for the Caravan Club

One week after Janet left Ultra finishing, we got confirmation from the Caravan Club that we had been accepted to be assistant wardens starting in 2011.

Last week we got a phone call from the HR dept asking us to start earlier at one of their sites in Kent. We decided to cut our tour short, and we now start work as Assistant Wardens in Folkstone, starting on June 18th 2010.

Shootings in West Cumbria last week

Firstly our thoughts go out to the families of those affected by the terrible events last week.

We were caught up in the middle of the shootings at Seascale, as last wed we were due to meet up with Friends at Stanton Bridge at noon, but being rather early we decided to take T&J on the beach at Seascale beforehand.

We arrived approx 11.20 & parked on the front, where I took the dogs on the beach & Carl decided to read his newspaper and go to the local shop. as he was on his way to the shop he witnessed a man being shot in a landrover discovery. The gunman then drove past Carl as Carl was running to help the injured man, unware of the days earlier events. So as you can imagine the day was rather surreal.

We were stuck in Seascale until approx 14.30, until after the air ambulance had taken the injured driver away.

Alas to say we never got to meet Roger and Carol, and the rest of our stay we never ventured far from the caravan site, although this area of Cumbria is absolutely stunning for its scenery.

Sorry no posts for a while

We have been in Ennerdale Bridge for 8 nights where we haven't had any internet or mobile phone, so follow the next posts to catch up what has happened over these last 8 days...

Shock Horror!

After being accustomed to a 5 van CL, Drake House farm in West Bradford, which also is adults only, we arrived at Meathop Fell yesterday to find 'Little People' with rather loud voices. We have to say this was a shock to the system, although to be fair to the 'Little People' they were well behaved.

Grange Over Sands

Today we depart Drake House Farm CL. We will be sad to leave this lovely site. It will our nomination for 'CL of the Year', as there can't be many places in England where you are awakened by the Cuckoo Song or have deer casually stroll by the side of your caravan & have owls keeping you awake at night by their constant 'twit-ta-wooing'!

Our next stay will be at Grange Over Sands until Sat 29th May.

So a big thank-you to, the owners, Ann & David for making our stay a very enjoyable one, and we will be back!

Cuckoo

We were awaken by the dawn chorus this morning, as we are every morning, but today we also heard a cuckoo - my first in about 20 years!

Also, whilst taking T & J down to the river behind our caravan, I spotted a deer - which at first didn't spot us (it must have been deaf!), but when it did it bolted through the forest with seamless ease - what a lovely sight!

Where is Carl?

I may have finished work now, but haven't seen my husband today yet!

Although, the caravan roof is that clean you could eat your dinner off it, and it's silver sides look like a mirror. Yes - thats right Carl is cleaning the van yet again! (Picture to follow soon)

Tom & jess are watching the lambs & sheep, not really quite knowing what to do though - nothing new there either!

Wot no work!

I would just like to say a big thank-you to all of you (at Ultra) who signed my leaving card, I was really touched by the thoughtful & kind messages left by you all.

Janet x

Last Day at Ultra today!

OMG, my final day at Ultra is here.
I'm looking forward to piece & quiet next week, yeah - right, as if that is going to happen.

I can feel that my mobile will ring at some point next week, but I have offered to help out where neccessary - thats just the kinda person I am!

Folding Bikes

We purchased a couple of Folding Bikes yesterday, and guess what - Carl has a puncture already!!!

Tour Starts 20th May 2010

We are having a few days at Drake House Farm to become accustomed to not working!

Watch this space...