2022
Latest events & happenings
Jan 1st to Jul 16th
Cancelled our planned trip to Malaga due to Omicron varient prevalence.
Went to Steve Tibbs Memorial/Funeral service at St Cuthberts.
Took Arlo to the Frome Model Railway Exhibition at the Cheese and Grain.
Oli gets Covid
Buy an Induction Hob from John Lewis in Bristol. Now waiting for Steve Green to cap off old hob so that I can fit it.
Mingda Magician X arrived after a 4 month wait. Now the steep learning curve to be able to use it.
Busy doing lots of printing to make a footbridge for Oxlarre Jubction.
Smart car sails through its MOT
Met up with Tracy Sally & Alexa for a bit of a reunion
Week in Malaga with R & L. Chose a perfect week glorious sun and avoided storms Dudley & Eunice at home. We didn't escape scot free though as we landed during storm Franklin. Travelling was a pain but the holiday was great.
Camper fails its MOT on a headlight problem. Solution requires a new headlight assembly. Expensive.
A three day trip to Fowey for some strenuous cliff path walking with Chalky & John, at the invitation of Cathy Baillie (Craig's widow). Gtreat weather, lots of food, drink and exercise.
Take the boys and Oli up to the White Horse for a manic windswept run about on the ancient Iron Age fort.
Go to the cinema for the first time since prepandemic days. See the Duke.
Rob Main returns for the Summer.
Get the bikes out and explore the Collier's Way (a repurposed railway line) near Kilmersdon.
Resume cycling with Rob Main.
Jan gets her 4th Vaccination for Covid
1st proper outing in the camper van this season. Went to Abbey Wood C&MC for 3 nights to visit exhibitions at various galleries & museums.
Logs delivered from Shaw Logs £130.
Camper trip to Tuckers Grave for Rod's birthday
Kate has serious riding accident at work and in RUH with spinal injuries
After 4 days in hospital she is fitted with a brace and sent home (with us). Sitting room fitted with bed etc to accomodate her.
Sailing with Tim and Mike to Poole
Disatisfied with the Smart Car I go looking at electric cars. I Like the BMW i3 very much but its way too expensive. All the others seem a bit dull, which is the problem with the Smart Car.
3D printer fails after many many successful prints. The nozzle is clogged and I get advice from Mingda via video how to unblock. I will start a new page on 3D printer maintenance issues etc.
Boys come for overnight stay and we go to Westbury White Horse.
Purchase an MX5 Mk1 Merlot and take possession. First drive to Sutton Benger for a BBQ.
Said goodbye to the Smart Car. Paid £3750 for it, got £2650 for it had 6 years of very low cost motoring out of it.
Met up with JQ for the first time since his loss. Very sad.
Met up with Tracy, Sally & Alexia for lunch
One night stay in a pub carpark near Chepstow with Rod & Mandy. 33 degrees one day 16 and raining the next.
Kate & Barry come down with Covid
Achieve my preliminary plans for the MX5: New Radio, Dents removed and Aftermarket alarm removed.
3 days in West Bay with R&M
Helped Rob and Colleen pick up their new camper - a Citroen Berlingo
Went to see Romeo and Juliet performed outside of Lacock Abbey. A beautiful evening
Jul 16 to
Had the boys overnight. Bought a paddling pool for them to play in.
Very hot spell. Recorded 39.8° C on weather station.
Bought a drone. A DJI mini 3 Pro
Paul and I played at Barry's Dad party. 10 songs with backing track and it sounded great.
2 nights at the caravan with Arlo & Rex. We all had a great time.
France in the Camper Van. See Blog August 2022 dash to France Much Flying of Drone (now christened ERIC - Essential Remote Image Collector)
Sail to Vannes from Itchenor with Colin, Nigel and Bill
Camping with Rob & Colleen at Hurst View caravan park Lymington
Bought a new larder fridge.
Went to the Theatre Royal Bath to see The Girl From The North Country. Fabulous.
Oven failed and we went to IKEA to buy another.
Took the boys for a half term jolly to Weston-Super-Mare to see the SEE MONSTER. Then a visit to the pier and fish and chips etc.etc.
2 nights in Crystal Palace camp site to visit the Cezanne exhibition at Tate Modern
See Wishbone Ash (Argus 50th year celebration) at Cheese & Grain with Chalk & John
See the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain with Liz & Paul at the Theatre Royal Bath
Purchased a Raspberry Pi 4 on eBay (paid over the odds as no new ones expected until August 23 from the production line) to automate the MRP. Also bought an Arduino mega and IR sensors. Its going to be a large and longlasting project. See MRP blog.
Winter visit to Barnham Broom in camper. Very cold. I was rushed to hospital by ambulance with a suspected Heat attack. Nothing wrong was the conclusion.
Extreme cold whilst at BB and van wouldn't start for our return to Wiltshire. RAC called (via SAGA) and took 21hrs to arrive. BUT the guy managed a proper fix and we were on our way home. Problem a poor earth to engine from chasis.
At home and after the thaw discovered taps broken in van by the frost.
Various checkups on my health reveal nothing wrong.
Christmas loomed up quickly. Football kit requested by the boys.