We are safely home - to Autumn!

Hi there, blog-followers! We have safely made it home and are amazed at how Autumn has advanced while we have been away; there are fallen conkers and leaves everywhere! So much for the heatwave which we were too late for...


We were really sorry Trevor and Joan were too busy to make it on the Friday night but had a really chilled last meal out with Degsy at Sant Antoni.

Saturday we spent doing "closing down jobs"; we were planning to go down to the lovely site restaurant for a last night meal but were too tired to get cleaned up, etc so I went to get a takeaway from the Snack Bar, only to find them shut at 8.45pm, so our last night's meal in Spain ended up being bread and cheese in Stan!

Sunday we got on our way about 11.00am and were enjoying the drive up the French coast when the car started spluttering again; the temperature had started rising after we had left and - by the time we hit the Northbound mountainous lower part of our route - it was 33C. Our poor car couldn't cope with the heat, full car, big caravan and really steep climbs which went on for miles and seemed unending. Beautiful countryside if only we didn't have our hearts in our mouths!! We were watching the temperature gauge go up and up and then - when I was driving up a really long and steep road - we got a flashing red emergency light to say we were dangerously overheating. We were so lucky that there was a bit of hard core to the edge of the road on to which I managed to steer the car. We just had to wait until it cooled down - but it was the middle of the day and there was no shade. The dogs were too hot to leave in the car but there was a little bit of shade between the back of the car and the front of Stan so we had to keep them there. Another van suffering the same pulled in in front of us and a French woman came and asked us for water which we gave her; we realised we should check our own water and topped up slowly. After a while, we decided to go on and, all through that day, we had to take runs at any steep slopes to get us up - but we didn't overheat again. As it was cooler motoring in the evening, we cracked on and made good headway, stopping overnight in a services with a panoramic view.

To make the most of the cooler hours, we decided to leave early the next morning, had a good run with no splutters and arrived at the camp site "Camping d'Olivet" at about 3.00pm. It was very sweet but an awkward entrance for big caravans like ours. The people were really helpful and we'd like to go back and stay there a while next time.

After lovely hot showers, we drove to M Piedvache (the vet in Orleans) and got the dogs treated and their passports signed. Bob, this will not go down well with you after your expensive vet bill but he only charged us 39 Euros for both of the dogs! Fantastic...  Then we went for a little drive round Orleans (very pretty centre) and had a steak and fries in an Italian restaurant, the only one near us open and not at all as nice as a French one. Will have to go to Cafe Rouge in Epsom instead methinks...

Tuesday we got on the road about 10.30am and spent the night at a nice service station about 10 miles from the Eurotunnel terminal. We got up early on Wednesday morning and got to the port early; after dog passport-checking and breakfast in the terminal, we had an easy crossing and drive back home.

Although we could have easily stayed away longer, it was nice coming home to "Hartsbrook" and thank you Geoff & Trish and Mary for looking out for everything for us.

I hope you have enjoyed hearing about our travels - stay tuned for our next trip!

We are back on wheels!

Well, as expected, the warranty company refused to pay for the repair, even though we have the top level cover. But the kind people at the garage (Taller Nou, Calonge, Costa Brava for anyone with car troubles out here) persevered to identify and correct the problem; they weren't able to get the part we needed (diesel filter) in time or repair the existing one but they have done a bit of jiggery-pokery to get us OK for driving back when we can get it properly fixed. When they realised we were paying for taxis to get up and down to them at 15 Euros a time, they even dropped us off and collected us - bless them! And their bill was a fraction of what we would have paid in the UK. We are going to ask Trevor and Joan what would be a good thank-you to drop off to them tomorrow (would be beer in the UK!) as they were really fantastic. 

Eventually got our new BBQ working last night with the help of what Steve called "incendiary" lighter fluid bought at our campsite shop. Steve lit the glowsticks I bought him for his birthday and hung them from the tree on our terrace so it was very pretty along with the candles on our table.

Last lazy day today as tomorrow we will be doing jobs in preparation for leaving eg taking down the awning. We want to leave as early as we can on Sunday morning as we have 2 long days of driving to make sure we get to Orleans on Monday in time for our vet appointment and booking on to the site we have reserved (so we can leave the caravan while we go to the vets). Then, on the Tuesday, we will get as near to the Eurotunnel terminal as we can for our crossing first thing Wednesday morning.

I am going to do a few things differently for the trip back, like making up some sarnies in the morning to leave in the fridge for when we stop for the night. Last time, we were too tired by the time we had fed and walked the dogs to look after ourselves so it would be good to have something ready in the fridge! I'm hoping on Monday night - because we can leave the caravan at the site - that we will get a lovely French meal. The food here has been nice but I'm afraid it takes a lot to beat a French steak with bearnaise sauce for me!

We've heard the UK has been enjoying some great weather this week so we're hoping it lasts until we get back so we're not shivering...

Buddy's Holiday Blog

Hi there, folks! What a great time I'm having! Lots of new things to do and still my usual cuddles from Mum and Dad (must have these as I'm a complete cuddleholic)! Pep and I have been having lots of fun but still feel that we are at home in the caravan.

I love having a cuddle in the evening on the sofa and a little snooze on Mum and Dad's bed (with a special cover on it I love digging up) after my breakfast and morning walk.

The day we arrived, I was very good in coming straight back when I got out of the corner of the awning where the door is and haven't done it again since Mum and Dad have blocked it off ; it was a bit scary being on my own (though, of course, the Budster would never admit it to anyone) and much nicer in the awning!

I have loved sunbathing and - when I get too hot - chilling out in our crate outside in the shade; it has been a bit like being in our conservatory in the Summer which I love too.

I would be quite happy to stay here longer but we will be leaving in a few days; sure we will go caravanning again soon though!

Pepper's Holiday Blog

Hello, everyone! I have been really enjoying caravanning, even though I normally prefer being at home. It feels a bit like we are at home as we have all our nice things that we have at home. We have had to get used to some new routines though - like sometimes going on the run Dad has made us so we can move around, have a drink and stay in the shade. Treat of the day is when Mum brings us a great big bowl of milk, water and ice in the afternoon which she says keeps us hydrated (just makes Bud want to widdle...).

We had a bit of an adventure last night; we slept in our soft crate in the nice, cool awning! Mum and Dad's bedroom window was open just above us so we could let them know if we weren't happy but we were fine and I just woke everyone bang on time at 7.30am as usual (only I know how I do it!). 

It has been nice having people come up to stroke us and tell Mum and Dad that we are lovely and I have also enjoyed barking at people coming too near to our terrace, particularly now that there aren't many people left on the site and I can easily spot new people coming.

I'm looking forward to more caravanning after this trip!

Nice day lounging about - for wrong reason!

Steve and I are enjoying a lovely day lounging about in Stan; everyone is very chilled. The reason is the wrong one, though - we had to leave the car at the garage last night and get a taxi back so that they could work on it first thing this morning. First diagnostics suggested it is a recurrence of a problem our warranty company had done a quick (ie cheap) fix on a few months ago and the hot weather has exacerbated the problem. They are in touch with the garage and we are just waiting to hear if they will pay for the repair.

Wendy went back last night with the help of Degsy who drove her to the airport as our car was really failing - thanks a lot, Degsy!

Going to have such strong words when we get back with Tesco Mobile - not only have they cut off our smart phone because we had exceeded our data downloading (despite being switched to "not roaming") but our normal mobile with them is completely hit and miss here and we have been in really difficult situations where we can't get through to someone. We have used the phone in France with no probs but Spain has been diabolical. It's made communications over the car repair a real nightmare. Thankfully, the warranty company are communicating with us via email.

Hoping to hear some good news from them soon...

Sangria is fab!

It was good sangria for an amateur! Will try for perfection next time... Nice evening on the terrace with Wend and Degsy, sampling the delights of Spanish supermarkets (don't laugh - they're OK!).


Wend not so good today so just went for a ride in the car looking for some nice new places - Palafrugell, Llafranc, Callella - but couldn't find any parking spots in the shade for the dogs so returned to our local lovely seafront at Sant Antoni for a bit of lunch.

Kind Trevor took us to his local garage this morning and introduced us to Emilio and Sergio  who are going to look at the car in the morning; thanks a lot, Trevor - we really do appreciate your help.

Having a quiet afternoon with the dogs at the caravan and meeting up with Degsy in Palamos tonight. Wendy's last night before she returns "up North" so hope it's a good one!

Holiday stuff with Wendy

Hello, blog followers! Sorry I haven't written anything the last few days but have been busy having fun doing holiday things with sister, Wendy - swimming every day (best fun with "Ollie Orca", my blow-up killer whale - Steve's pet name for me!!!),  delicious prawns in restaurant on Palamos seafront, fun evening with Degsy, swimming in the sea at Sant Pol, etc.

I lent Ollie to a couple of really nice kids in the pool and the little lad, Charlie, asked me if I could swim without water wings; I said "Yes", and he said, "Show me then..." - a lovely moment.

Everything lovely except car keeps missing when we go uphill so need to get a mechanic recommended by Trevor to look at it tomorrow - can't tow a great big caravan without a perfectly sound car! 

Yesterday was grey and trying to rain - rained all evening and cleared to a beautiful day today. You've gotta get used here to these rainy days which make way for fab ones weather-wise.

Degsy is coming over this evening and I am going to attempt something like an authentic sangria - going to get Wendy chopping fruit soon after she has finished her siesta...

Managed to catch F1 qualifying session by eating pizza in a restaurant with a screen in Playa d'Aro yesterday but couldn't watch today's race as sat dish still won't pick up English channels - hope we will get it on iplayer tomorrow. We have missed 2 races while we have been away so hope we can get the dish sorted soon!

Better go now and get on with that sangria...

Wendy arrives!

Managed to sweetheart the security guard into giving us a "late pass" to pick Wendy up and get back in to the site after midnight. Lovely pizza on seafront at Palamos before going to the airport and meeting Wendy with a giant bottle of cava to get her in the right frame of mind for a fun week! Managed to get her up to Trevor & Joan's in Calonge where she is staying - about 3 miles from us - and back on to the site by 12.15am. Phew!

Everyone wanted a lie-in this morning except Pepper who woke us all up with her usual 7.30am alarm call - how has she adjusted when we are one hour later than the UK? Answers on a postcard, please...

Relaxing day with Wendy, showing her the site, swimming, drinking cava and lunch on our terrace. Good stuff this holidaying...

The big clear up after our mini tsunami

We did what we could to clear up but couldn't do much until the sun came back and we could dry everything so we went to the site restaurant (main blog pic) for Sunday lunch - fabulous, the best service, food and value-for-money since we arrived. Great views too over the Med. It cheered us up a bit as the day was chilly, grey and breezy. The locals said Monday would be fine again no problems with that...

In the evening, Les and his brother came over to try to help Steve set up the new satellite dish but had no success. In the process, a gust of wind picked up everything, smashing the ballast and bending the dish so Steve had to do a repair job later in the evening in the hope there is no lasting damage - fingers crossed!

Monday morning was lovely and sunny again and less humid so Steve was feeling better! We set about clearing everything out of the awning and putting it in the sun to dry; then we lifted the Bolon flooring out and carried it to the rail over the terrace above us so that Steve could hose it down. I swept all the debris which had come down the mountainside out of the awning , then all we could do is wait - time for a swim! Lovely lunch overlooking the beach at Sant Pol and Steve persevered with the satellite and got "Islam TV" so things are on the up again! In the evening, we replaced the flooring and brushed everything before restoring everything to the awning - glad to be back to where we started!

Tuesday morning is breezy and sunny - lovely! During the night, big winds got up and Steve had to go out and bang pegs into the sat dish to keep it from blowing away - don't think we will be very popular on the site!

Les & Jean left this morning - we're sorry to see them go and we've no caravans near us now. The little bungalows near us close on 26th so it will go very quiet for our last week. 

My sister, Wendy is flying in tonight and we are picking her up at Girona airport at 11.00pm. The site here closes at midnight and they have said we will have to leave the car at the bottom gate so we don't disturb everyone (there's hardly anyone here...) driving up to Stan; not very happy about this as we have heard cars aren't safe left like that so need to turn on my best negotiating skills with the manager of the site later...

We have Blackpool illuminations in Stan!

Had a lovely Friday evening sharing caravanning stories with Les & Jean and didn't go to bed until 2.00am - so there must have been some good stories...

Saturday was lovely weather-wise as it was sunny but not too hot. Steve and I were struggling to set up the satellite dish and were relieved to have a visit from June and John, Brits staying further up the site in a bungalow. June is dog-mad and was desperate to stroke "the Babychams", as she had nicknamed Peps & Bud. John had told her not to call on us as we might be having lunch but she was so desperate she couldn't stop herself! The beagles sleepily climbed out of Stan to try to oblige. We have promised to take them up to see June and John and - as John used to work with satellite dishes - the visit may be sooner rather than later...

Overnight, the storm we had been warned about came with a vengeance. Don't think I have lived through anything like it. The whole caravan was lit up and the sound of rain was deafening. Just when you thought it was moving over, it started again. The poor dogs were petrified and just cuddled me as hard as they could, periodically shaking so I stroked and reassured them. When we got up this morning, it was like a new world.... rain was running in great big rivers down the terraces and had brought down the top surface/sand from the mountain side above us. Our awning had survived as there wasn't a lot of wind but the flooring is covered with all the debris washed down; very luckily, our only "casualties" are the dogs beds and my hammock which were on the floor and will need significant washing, as well as the floor itself. Can't do anything until the rain stops (it's 10.15am now) so we are just chilling out till we can start the big clear up. All part of the big adventure...

 

Just a few little hitches... (caravanners, forgive the pun)

To pick up where I left off... it ended up taking Steve all afternoon to re-do the awning after the gust, all in the real heat of the day - not the birthday prezzie he would have wished for! But we went out after to Palamos with Degsy and - on the way to the restaurant Steve had chosen - he saw a lovely one on the seafront Degsy knows well so we went there instead. Steve ended up his birthday with a fabulous Irish Coffee, courtesy of Mary (thought Irish coffee seemed most appropriate). 

Were proud of ourselves on Thursday morning when we negotiated a great deal for a satellite dish so we can receive British TV anywhere in Europe; we had been told they were a lot cheaper over here as everyone uses them - and they were! Haven't yet got it going because other things have been happening...

In the afternoon, made friends with nice couple, Les & Jean, behind us on the terrace above, and asked them over for drinks later tonight (Friday).

Got up this morning to find all our electricity was off and - so as not to bore you more than necessary - it took all morning to get sorted. The people running the site weren't as helpful as they could have been and we weren't happy from a safety angle with what they set up for us so we went about 5 miles to Palafrugell to get a special adapter you need for this campsite. Cost us 16 Euros and a morning but will be worth it if it has solved the problem! Les and Jean gave us some good advice and we thank them for this.

After having had no breakfast, we sank into a couple of nice chairs on Sant Antoni seafront and drank beer until they would serve us food at 1.00pm.    

Have spent a quiet afternoon, all of trying to keep cool, but there is a nice breeze at the mo which is refreshing us nicely. Time to blog off and get everything ready for Les and Jean coming...

Steve is ** today!

It is Steve's birthday today and he is having an idyllic day so far. Breakfast in the awning, opening presents, a swim at the pool, then a siesta in lovely cool Stan now that we have got the air conditioning unit going which we brought with us. Tonight we are picking up Degsy to go out for a birthday meal together; Steve has picked to go to the restaurant which we went to on the very first night of my 50th birthday party here - we had such good fun, even though not many people knew each other but everyone was throwing themselves into party mode! Some of you will remember it well, especially Trevor feeding my Mum lychees!

Life is settling down now into holiday chilled routines. Mornings and evenings are lovely temperatures but 12-4pm is really too hot for us Brits and you need to go somewhere cool for lunch or - like us - find somewhere with air con. Wouldn't like to bring the dogs here in July/August as it would be too hot. They are coping well (we keep putting ice cubes in their water and encouraging them to keep up their fluids, sometimes with the help of a little milk...) because I think they love being in the caravan; we are so pleased that it seems a treat for them, as well as us.

Yesterday, we thought we had a major problem on our hands; we opened the door to find ants climbing over the step and into Stan. It was particularly annoying because we had taken heed of the advice about this from our caravanning friends, Diane and Michael. They had told us they had caravanned in France and had the trip ruined by being infested by ants which got into all their food cupboards and took weeks to get rid of. So we had bought a modern type of ant spray and sprayed it on the corner steadies and jockey wheel of Stan the moment we arrived; of course, we had forgotten they could climb up the skirt of the awning! Anyway I, in desperation before they completely overran Stan and it became like a Hitchcock movie, grabbed our Dettol multispray (says kills 99% bacteria so why not ants?) and sprayed the step which killed them all  and we haven't had any back since... phew! Hope it lasts...

Yesterday, we also had lunch with Degsy on the seafront at Sant Antoni about a mile from us and felt we were really properly holidaying. Amazingly, a lot of the restaurants have already closed for the season so it was quiet but nice. My sister Wendy will enjoy it there when she joins us next week.

Just as I said Steve was having an idyllic birthday, a huge gust of wind has blown down the main centre pole of the awning and Steve is rushing around trying to sort it out! Should have kept my mouth shut...

We have an awning!

Hi again, blog followers!

We now have an awning and 2 really excitable beagles who remembered that it meant they could run around in it from the last time Steve put it up in the Peak District. They have had a lovely evening playing in it. We have been trying to teach them not to run into the flyscreen over the door to Stan (it's not easy for us to see either) but it's really important we keep flying critturs out before dusk. Pip, our window fly screens are also doing us proud!

The miracles of modern technology let us down as I tried twice to send an email to Deggsy (Steve's brother-in-law) and had them returned with a failure notice but apparently he had received them! So sorry, Deggsy, that we left you waiting at the supermarket expecting us to arrive and we were still finishing putting up the awning! Anyway, it was lovely to have you visit us unexpectedly; the dogs gave you a right welcome (how did they know the sound of your car pulling up?) and sorry again that we were so sweaty and a bit tired... We're so looking forward to having some happy times with you in the sun.

Dogs are fed, watered and walked, Steve is pottering around outside and I am sitting enjoying a wee glass of Veterano brandy and lemonade as a night cap. Tomorrow, most of the jobs will have been done and we can get on with the enjoyable side of the Big Adventure...

PS Please email me telling me what you would like to hear in my blog - am new to this and want to be sure you are enjoying reading what I write!

We have made it!

Yes, dear blog followers, we have actually made it! I am sitting (on Monday) in Stan on our beautiful caravan pitch under pine trees with a glimpse through them of the Med. It is 31C!

Our trip down was fine and we spent 3 overnight stops in service stations which put ours to shame. We got over on Thursday earlier than we had booked which gave us a few bonus extra hours motoring before we stopped for the first night. We parked in a lovely quiet spot on the edge of the area with nice trees and grass around. As the night progressed, more and more lorries came in and eventually we ended up sandwiched between 2 juggernauts with the TGV roaring by near us. Needless to say, we slept fitfully and woke up to rain, rain and more rain. By the time I had got back from the shower, I was as wet as before I'd used the towel to dry myself!

But everything was about to get better; as we headed South, the sun came out and we were able to drive with the windows and sun roof open. After a few heart-stopping moments with Steve needing nerves of steel navigating the Paris peripherique, we hit beautiful countryside and enjoyed a lovely few hundred miles.

Our second night stop was on the Massif Centrale at an idyllic special caravan parking area in the service station; we had our own shower/toilet block and wonderful views - all for free! We were able to have our tea sitting out as the sun went down- washed down with a G & T, of course! Had a calm night, enjoyed by all of us.

The third day we hit the road and were traveling through mountains which made towing a bit scary; even though we were on motorways and main roads, there were very narrow, bendy bits and very steep ups and downs (most scarey going down when you're towing and frightened the caravan is going to snake). Our trusty Espace had to work really hard and spluttered a bit on two occasions giving us the heebie-geebies, thinking he was going to conk out on us. He kept going though, like a real trouper, and we managed to get to the last service station in France to spend our last night. Again, this was set in beautiful fir trees and was quiet and great for the dogs.


Sunday was our final travelling day; we had 70 miles of driving to do. All went really well, as we both remembered the locality from previous trips here so we found the site no problem. We were shown to a pitch and left to get on with it! 'Fraid we haven't been too impressed yet by the people running the site; they seem a bit sullen and don't volunteer information you really need unless you go and ask them. Had a few problems getting set up which could have been avoided with a bit more help from them.

We booked the largest pitch possible and it is HUGE! The site goes up the mountain side and so has terraces going up it for the pitches - we have a whole terrace for ourselves! We have just washed the door side of Stan and are going to try putting up the awning soon - then Peps and Bud can run around, though it is probably too hot for that! They have been absolutely brilliant the whole journey and I think they are going to enjoy their holiday as much as us...

Well, time to get on with the awning but more news soon!

One day to go...

Can't believe it's only one day till we set off! Everything is done except for a few last minute things - shopping for bits of stuff to eat/drink during the 4 days we will be on the road, filling up with diesel so we don't have to stop for a while and - most importantly - Skyping Deggsy (Steve's brother-in-law in Spain) to check we have the best route for towing at the bottom section of our journey on to the caravan site.

The site is only about 2-3 miles from Deggsy so it will be fantastic! Deggsy has 2 dogs - Tanya (lovely old spaniel) and Sam (big energetic retriever) - and we are hoping all the dogs will get on well together as obviously they've never met before. Might have some good stuff coming on the blog on this topic...

It sounds silly but I'm really looking forward to going on Eurotunnel with Stan! OK for me as Steve will be driving, I know! I gather we go on a train with all the buses as we certainly couldn't get through the normal car entrance on to the train.

Don't know when I will next be able to blog but, by then, the "Big Adventure" will have already started... Wish us luck!

Week in the paddock

We were supposed to leave Friday but Pip & Jim said we could stay till after the Bank Hol weekend as there was lots going on up at the racecourse. Manned the entrance to Jim's yard for the Racehorse Trainers' Open Day on Sunday and had a lovely day with Laura & Nat (Joy's niece and her partner) on the Monday at the Family Day on the racecourse. You have to see how cute the Shetland Pony Derby is, with little kids going hell for leather down the Derby straight on Thelwell-like round little ponies! If you live in the area and can go next year, try and make it... Thank you, Pip and Jim, for a wonderful week we will always remember.

Left the paddock yesterday and towed safely home so just getting Stan ready now for the big adventure which starts in 8 days... can't believe how quickly it has crept up on us. Have received the special reflectors we have to have for the back of Stan for driving in Spain and also the Liber-T tag for us to be able to drive through the peage in France without stopping; the amount just gets charged back to your bank account. Should save us a lot of negotiating the toll booths with Stan and also finding change all the time. Good tip if you are doing much driving in France...

Next jobs are cleaning Stan ready for the trip, packing and getting Euros. This blog will soon start to get exciting - promise!

BBQ fun!

Well, the sun didn't last and - by the time we got to start the BBQ - it was quite chilly but nobody seemed to mind much. Lots of nice chat and stuff with Pip and Jim and their teams. Fantastic setting in their paddock; could just see the flags of the racecourse in the distance.

Promised to mention Lou today for her brilliant one last night - I said we had started caravanning because we were sick of posh hotels charging us an arm and a leg to bring our dogs with us and then giving us crappy rooms; with the caravan, we could still have all our creature comforts. Lou quipped "...and your creatures!"

Lovely waking up this morning and still in the paddock! Peps and Bud are really loving this caravanning; if only it would stop raining, everything would be bliss....

Let's have some sunshine, please!

Arrived up at Pip and Jim's yesterday in normal caravanning weather - ie lots of rain - and "had fun" finding somewhere in their paddock level enough for us to park "Stan", our caravan. Eventually got sorted (great practice for us!) and had a lovely evening, catching up with Pip and Jim's news over a few glasses of vino collapso. Great to see Jim's lads waving to us as they took a string out on Epsom Downs this morning... 

Were hoping the weather would be better today but woke up to more rain but, by lunchtime, we  had some lovely sunshine so we are doing a BBQ for everyone tonight. Should be good fun! Just what we hoped caravanning would be all about.

Practising for "The Big Adventure"

Life is sweet - and we (Joy & Steve) love to have new experiences, make new friends and see new places. With our two adorable beagles (Pepper and Buddy) in tow, we are soon to be setting off on our new adventures in our gorgeous new caravan (Bailey Unicorn Barcelona for caravan nuts). After picking up our caravan in Cheshire, we drove over to Ilkeston, Derbyshire where the wonderful people of Regal Furnishing looked after us like we were family and re-covered our seats with lovely cream leather to make them beagle-proof (anyone with beagles will know what we mean). Staying 2 nights on an industrial estate has never been so much fun! Then we did a week on a proper site on the edge of the Derbyshire peaks where we practised setting up and taking down our huge awning - quite a challenge for Steve when the instructions, such as they were, were written by a Dutch company and it was really windy and rainy. But hey, ho - things can only get easier and next week we are visiting our chums, Pip & Jim, for more practising as they have a big paddock where we can set up. Looking forward to a bit of BBQing and catching up with them....