England, 2014 🇬🇧

After our goodbyes to Jessie, our daughter Alix kindly dropped us at the airport.  Our flights with Etihad went smoothly, we managed some sleep on both legs (with a little chemical assistance).  We had arranged a transfer with a local company from Chichester and happily he was waiting as we passed through customs.  The trip to Bosham took about 90 minutes thanks (no thanks) to the M25.

Anyway by 9.30 am Pam was unpacking the bags into the Hymer’s various nooks and I was giving it a wash.  After 9 months in the shed it was a little dusty but running perfectly.  We had a full service and the MOT completed in May and a microwave and water filter fitted at the same time.  Unfortunately the leasure batteries were found to be below par doing the service, so we were up for an extra £180 to replace those as well.

With the Hymer looking like the precision piece of German machinery it is and Pam having made 60 kg of luggage disappear we were off to lunch with cousins Terry and Leila in Old Bosham.  It’s a beautiful little pub called The Berleley Arms.  We have a great old catch up over a pint and lunch.  Saying our goodbyes we set of for Southampton to look at a second hand ebike, before taking on the M3 and M25 in the afternoon peak.  Happily we arrived in Wildhill, in time for dinner and drinks with Noreen and Swaraj, then much needed bed time.

We settle into our home away from home, up early to walk to the village of Essendon and back through the lanes adjoining the Hatfield Estate, big breakfasts and continuing our preparations for departure to France on Sunday afternoon.  This has included a second (secondhand) ebike and fitting an inverter we purchased on eBay to provide 240 volt power whilst wildcamping.  Basically that means we can still run the coffee machine wherever we are.  We do like our coffee.

Most jobs completed, we decide on a day in London.  We catch the express from Potters Bar and find ourselves walking through Kings Cross Station less than 20 minutes later. Via the tube we spend the morning exploring the Victoria and Albert Museum, lunch in a lovely old pub in Notting Hill before we walk The Portebello Road Markets.

Can definitely recommend the V&AM.  It has the most wonderful exhibition of historic pieces of English and European artwork through from early christendom through to the late Edwardian.

While the Portobello markets are interesting, the stalls and shops carry much of the same stuff from one end of the road to the other and it didn’t do much for us.  Notting Hill however is a lovely area and worth a visit just to wander it tree lined streets and pastel coloured facades.

Anyway we need to buy a breathalyser and some safety vests tomorrow to comply with French road rules for foreign registered vehicles, that should kill half a day.

Michael and Pam