So it's been just over two months since we posted our last blog, it's been a busy few months for us both in many ways.
Dad's bike the Triumph Cub kept me really busy and it seemed that every time I fixed one thing then another thing decided to put my patience to the test. I discovered a problem with the electrics which I thought would be simple to rectify, in the end I had to replace the complete wiring loom, simples I thought.....but how wrong I was!! Dad's bike is a Super Cub and they only actually made it for 6 months so getting the right parts is a bit of a mission due to it's age of course and also the fact that the parts on this model are different to the standard model. Not to be beaten I bought a new loom but when I got it none of the colours matched any diagrams so it was back to the drawing board. To cut a long story short in the end I had to find the correct wiring diagram on the internet then buy the correct corresponding coloured wires and then use the plugs from the new loom I bought and then copy the wiring diagram, to my amazement I did it!! Then after a fitting a new carburettor and jets she now runs like a dream. Julie and I have been out and about on her a few times now and have a little chuckle to ourselves as we drive along, it's so noisy and we get the odd back fire now and then and we turn quite a few heads along the way. Dad would be so proud that we have her back to her former glory mechanically, it's just the actual restoration to do now but I wanted to get her running properly first and enjoy using her this summer.
The wiring diagram!!
Success, we have electrics!!
On the subject of Dad (Gordon), we finally said our final farewell and took him out on the Thames and laid his ashes to rest. It was a truly amazing evening, and we were blessed with a beautiful evening, the river was flat as you like and we had the most amazing sunset too. We laid him to rest on the river between Gordon's promenade, Gravesend where he of religiously went and had his lunch and Tilbury Fort on the other side overlooking the old gun emplacements, being an old Ancient Mariner with the Merchant Navy what better place would he want to be. It was an emotional evening but at the same time a happy ending, we laid him on the water with some flowers and the flowers even stayed with him until he gently submerged to the waters below. Then my sister Joanna gave me and Leigh a stone each which had come with her flower arrangement, how surreal as she never asked for them but they came with it, so we each threw our stone in and made a wish. It was a lovely end to such an amazing life.
In April we decided to go down to Beachy Head in Eastbourne, it's somewhere we have never been and never seem to make the time or effort to go. We were both pleasantly surprised how beautiful it was. We walked along the top of the cliffs all the way to Birling Gap, a gap in the cliffs where there are steps down to small beach. The views are amazing and you can clearly see the Seven Sisters as they are affectionately known which are the points along the chalk cliff tops.
The walk along the top of the cliffs
The Seven Sisters
We also had a cheeky trip down to Croyde & Saunton Sands in North Devon, one of our favourite places. For a change we decided to treat ourselves and stayed in a great B&B with a lovely view straight over to Croyde beach. It was fantastic to be back at a proper beach again.
We did lots of walking and had a great two days kiting at Saunton Sands, it made us feel back at home, it's just a fantastic beach and part of the world in every way.
The view from our room
The Drive Down into Croyde Bay
The view down to the vast beach at Saunton Sands
We went back down to Croyde & Saunton again to catch up with some friends the first May bank holiday and walked the entire length of Saunton Beach right round to Estuary which you can just make out in the far distance, it was about 8 miles there and back. We also had a lovely cycle and covered about 26 miles, again it was great to get out on the bikes.
We never seem to stop and are always busy with one thing or another. We have been busy in the garden and it's looking great already. One things for sure, we really didn't miss all the hard work and TLC the garden needs while we were travelling last year, but it's now back to reality trimming bushes and keeping the lawn movers busy - it takes both of us a lot of hard work keeping everything in shape. Julie loves being in the garden so working part-time gives her time to keep the weeds down and get the lawn mown for me with her push along mower, well it does keep her fit so she couldn't complain.
She does moan about the weeds a bit so I bought her a new toy recently a weed burner, she's like the terminator now and at every opportunity is out there with her flame thrower blitzing everything in sight - I have a job getting her to come in!! We've lived here 17 years and can't believe we didn't invest in one years ago!!
Bye, Bye Weeds...!
This is the clematis that seems to have gone mad, it really does look amazing at the moment.
We found this picture on the internet which did make us laugh, that really is keeping your bush well trimmed!!
When we were down at Saunton Sands before we went away travelling we picked up a load of drift wood and shells and ever since Julie has been nagging me to make things but we never seem to have time. A couple of weeks ago she piped up, "I want a chalk board for the kitchen so that we can keep a list of our never ending jobs", so I gave in and made the time and this was the end result which she is absolutely chuffed to bits with and it only took about half an hour to knock up - if you were to buy one it would cost at least £40+. It's nice to know that it's all reclaimed materials from Saunton Sands Beach.
We've been busy in the house too and given the upstairs shower room a bit of much needed TLC. The underfloor heating packed up but I managed to work out that all it needed was a new temperature probe which I found on the internet for only £14.99 so that was a real result. Julie wanted to replace the shower doors as they were on their last legs and really scaly so we did that and also fitted a nice new rain head shower head. Then Julie decided she didn't like the floor anymore so we have screeded over it and fitted a new vinyl flooring that looks like floorboards, it all looks really nice and to be honest was long overdue.
A couple of weekends ago we drove down to Heathfield and cycled along the Cuckoo Trail which took us into Eastbourne. It was a great cycle along a disused railway line and amongst some lovely scenery, bluebells and wild garlic. It was a steady incline all the way back so a nice little workout and by the time we got back to the van had just done shy of 30 miles, somewhere else fairly local that we have been meaning to go but never seem to get the time or make the effort.
Last weekend we had an absolutely fantastic trip up to Brancaster in the VW T5, another of our favourite places that we have only been up to twice since we got home. The weather was beautiful and we got out kiting two days, it was just fabulous to get out and it's warmed up a bit now so that's always a bonus as kiting through the winter is hard work sometimes especially in the North Sea!
Considering the VW T5 was parked up on our driveway with a cover over her for a year she still looks in great condition, sometimes it's nice to have a couple of nights away in her
So that's what we've been up to these last couple of months......we'll be back for an update in another couple of months.
Before we go Julie found this little saying and as I say she reminds me of Edith she thought it was very true.
J&J
x
