Car booting here we come!

We decided to use the Sunday that GO is off to offload some of our stuff!  

There is a car boot sale every Sunday just down the road, and best of all it starts at One pm.  GO decided to go to an earlier one in the next village.  

To give us the best chance of making some money. We were going to hit both sales.  We did all our prep, checked out  the sites, packed our goods, found a kitty and plastic bags, and decided on our prices.  What we didn't plan for, or check out was the good old British weather.  Yep, that's right it Buckeyes down!  We paid for our pitch and within half an hour all of the other vendors (professional) had packed up and left.  Even the site owner who had assured us that "people don't mind a bit of rain!"  Had disappeared, so sadly we are still car boot virgins, fingers crossed next time.

Bank Holiday Shenanigans - Part 2

I'm walking to Oxford 

"I have to go in and do a split shift!  I work until four in the kitchen and then at nine in the bar.  You can come into Oxford at four, we could wander around the parks of Oxford. There are some lovely parks (repeating a phrase I always say to him) and then we could have dinner somewhere nice."  I could see the tension in his eyes.  Would I be disappointed or would this be a good idea?

A Break in the rain

"Sounds like a plan!"  I said, "although I might not take the bus.  I might walk to Oxford and meet you.  There is a street food fair on in the Castle!"  It was sorted.   Sunday was going to be quite fun.  When I opened the curtains on Sunday it was very grey and over cast.  Thankfully it looked like it had been raining but had stopped.  I pottered about the house, Skyped my parents and very quickly decided that I wouldn't walk as it had started raining again.

A bit wet out!

I had a long soak in the bath and planned my outfit, I decided I'd wear my new summer dress (a bit optimistic I know) with a long sleeved t shirt and my tan boots, perfect spring/summer warm/cold weather.  I looked out the window, blueish skies and  it felt quite warm.  I decided to walk, I wouldn't make it to the pub at half four, but it wouldn't be far off.  Off I went walking poles in hand, I packed a jacket and umbrella just in case.  I ha just started to climb up the hill to Shotover when it began spitting.  

I think for me that's a good time

I was a quarter way up the hill when it began tipping it down.  I stood do a while and pondered what to do.  I could turn back and walk to the bus stop, I'd get to Oxford in plenty of time and I wouldn't be soaked!  But.....  I had wanted to walk to Oxford for quite a while now, the rain wasn't too heavy and had already started to slow down.  I decided to carry on.  

The hill is a killer, I've never made it up in one go and is the most difficult part of the walk.  It took me half hour to walk up it.  I will have to try it again to see if that is a good time or not.  I sent various messages to G.O and my family, "I'm walking to Oxford and want a shandy ready when I get there!" responses varied from "well we're off to town for an ice cream" from my papichen, "What you mean [sic]" from mamilein, I can't be any more specifc than that surely? and from G.O "can you bring the rug sack [sic]?"

I made it up and over the hill in one soggy and muddy piece.  I was sure G.O would have a spare jacket or something (Spoiler Alert - he didn't).  

Doggers

On the decent I passed some stones, as I got closer I was able to read the sign.  "These 'Doggers' were formed before the ice age and are found all over Shotover."  I am glad I was alone because I found that hilarious, yes, I have the mind of a teenage boy.

Quicker than apple maps

The rest of the walk wasn't particularly interesting, it was a slog and the closer I got to Oxford the more tourists who would just stop in front of me.  i wanted to shout "I've just walked a quarter marathon, move it!"  But that just doesn't sound that impressive.  

After 1.48minish I arrived at the pub and the first order of business, rehydration, I knew what I needed it just wasn't what I wanted.  I downed a pint of milk.   To celebrate G.O took me to Byron Burgers, which just serves the most amazing burgers and chips, perfect! We did make it to the street fair, but we were too full to even think about food! 

Did I walk home again that is the question?

Rhymney Brewery - words, pictures and. a video!

After the excitement of the Big Pit G.O decided to start the journey up North!  As we drove out of the compound, we saw a brewery and decided that we would pop in a have a look around.  Our trip to the ST Austell Brewery visitor centre was so much fun.  We wandered around, still damp and unkempt from the rain, but as G.O kept saying "who cares we don't know anyone, no one will ever see us!", famous last words. 

So off we went, it was a lovely little brewery, The Rhmney Brewery, or as we found out micro brewery.  

We had lots of fun riding a beer barrel, pulling the 'perfect pint' virtually, and finding out about the history of the brewery.

When we got to the end of the tour, before you could go into the brewing centre, I found the ladies and I made a dash for it.  Just as I thought, my worst fears were confirmed I looked awful.  My nice clothes were in the bottom of my bag and I was wearing my grubbies. Well you don't dress up to go down a mine do you? or visit a brewery?  I just hoped we wouldn't be going any where fancy.

When I emerged after trying to fluff up my hair a little bit, it was still so wet it was drying stuck to my scalp, and saw G.O talking to a man with a camera.  All I could hear was him telling him that he worked in a pub in Oxford.  Shortly after we made our way to the bar at the end of the tour where we were offered a taster of the ale. I'm not a big ale drinker and I can't help but show my feelings on my face, but what the hey?

Not long after the man with the camera, came over to chat to G.O again, I smiled politely and looked out of the window at the stunning views.  "I'm filming a piece for the local council tourist board, and need a couple of shots of people just chatting and enjoying the ale.  Would you mind if I filmed you?"  "No, go ahead!" said G.O, and before I could say anything, G.O launched into his speech.

"What a lovely ale, I haven't ever drunk anything this nice before, mmh, mmh, mmh it is delicious, what do you think wife?"   I tried hard not to laugh, so i just nodded along.  The camera man leaned over and said, "I don't need any voices, they'll just put some music over the top afterwards anyway."

I recently found the video on you tube and for your viewing pleasure here it the very professional and interesting video.  At about 1.47 mins, when the very nice gentleman talks about the beautiful views, you get a shot of a something that looks more like a drowned rat.  

"Don't worry no one will ever see you!"