Yorkshire-A refreshing change!

I must admit I never thought that I would put that!so we sailed home sunday night from zeebrugge into Hull. Boy oh boy has that ferry been allowed to get run down since P and O took it over. I took one look at my vabin and upgraded! I kept upgrading much to Daves disbelief and I think there was only the Captains cabin to go! I finally found a cabin that was to my satisfaction and we had a great vrossing with a five mile drive to my lovely little CL in Burton Pidsea. The first few days were all a little manic with family and friends which was lovely and then our friends Alistair and Shiela came to join us in their new Lunar caravan. They have just about travelled the world but have never been to yorkshire!
We took them first of all to our home town of Hedon. The place didnt let us down at all. We went in the local tearoom and sat in the old courtyard. The locals were just their normal friendly happy selves and within minutes the banter was brilliant and far funnier than any comedian on tv. I cant tell you what we ate or drank all we did was laugh with perfect strangers. Our friends were made more than welcome. If ever you are feeling down I really recommend Nutmegs tea rooms! Yes tea!
Off we went to Hulls old town. I must admit what they have done is lovely. Showing people around the place made me look at the place with a different set of eyes. When I was living and working near here they were just streets and buildings but having the time to really look at them...I actually felt proud! It is an amazing historic city.Again..the people made it. Everyone smiles and speaks! I hadnt realised how friendly people are until Id been away for so long and come back. For all its a city I dont think you could ever be lonely here. It may have had its rough times throughout history but by heck its not destroyed its spirit. City of Culture so rightly awarded!
Well what else have we done? Alistair promptly broke the electrics on his caravan when he got here. He was expecting a bill in the hundreds if he could get it fixed at all. The local approved dealer came to our cl and fixed it all for twenty pounds! "Dont worry. We wont see you stuck!" The guy was more than true to his every word leaving Alistair a true Scit more than happy!
They are big into bird wstching so Bempton Cliffs was a must. They sre just bloody birds to me but I was educated ( well they tried) Hmm puffins kittywakes? Oh hell Ive forgotten!hmm lots of different coloured birds!
Today is their last day with us so its off to Beverley market. I havent been there for years. Another very big historic town.
Ok so its rained a bit but when the sun is out it does have the wow factor and prices..? Dirt cheap in comparison to france in particular. Eating like Lords again! Asda ...I ve lost count how many times Ive been there. In fact I think I could get a job there now I know whats on every aisle!
My only complaint except the weather is that my body cannot get used to BST and every morning Ive been up at 5.30! That bloody hour! E very negative in life has a positive...uts about the only time I can get a full internet signal! If my blig is quiet..you know why! I couldnt stay here all winter but there really is some truth in 'Lifes not dull in Hull!' A few pics to bore you on a saturday morning..have a good day!
Ok so im losing the will to live I will post pics later and correct spelling mistakes!21 st century hasnt reached parts of yorkshire yet!

Caravan Club Sparkling Champagne Tour. Mystery woman...who is she?

Well yesterday it rained big time. No problems there though as we were off to the Most and Chanson champagne house. Wow! It did make Tattinger and the others look like the poor relations. If you only have time to go to one champagne house this is the one. The guide was incredible. Knowledgeable, fun and had excellent english. We tasted the champagne but the cheapest bottle was over 40 euros! It was opulent. No other word for it. Having seen the price of champagne I thought I would buy an umbrella ( not that I could drink it!) 180 euros! What to advertise their product?! My old brolly will have to do! There were bottles there for 1895 euros and more scarily people were buying them! Yes its good stuff but helllooo I can feed us for two months for that amount!

And this was just at the entrance! Good old Queenie drinks the stuff!

 Now after we had all been blown away we noticed this lady who was literally clearing the shelves..buying boxes of the stuff, even the matching champagne chiller. She had two trollies full! With her was a bodyguard and chauffer but who the hell is she?! I'm really curious. If we can establish who she is we certainly know where the best party will be at?!

Anymore sensible suggestions?! Please don't say Michelle Obama again! Lol

Caravan Club Sparkling champagne Tour oh no...more champagne!

Well if anyone grumbles on this Tour that they haven't drank enough champagne or tried enough they must be mad! I don't think I want to see the stuff ever again..well not until this afternoon anyway!
Let me think today is Wednesday...yesterday we went to jean-Milans champagne house and the day before Tattinger. Omg I was going to treat myself but how expensive?! There was a special promotion on any Tattinger for six bottles for 699 euros! Needless to say we bought a dozen ( not!) Yesterday I fancied a t shirt advertising their champagne...what a bargain...25 euros for a t shirt?! Hellooooo who do you think we are oh and 10 euros for a blooming keyring! I will loose my keys first! I guess the trouble is that a lot of their visitors are Americans and Japanese who maybe can afford these things not us poor Brits! Nice to sample their free champagne though and walk away! Or should I say 'stagger 'away!
It rained all through the night last night but I think its finally stopped now and there are queues for the toilets! The joys of camping in the rain eh?!Many are overnighters on here and are heading further south. Who can blame them?! I think our ignorant next door neighbours ate doing the same. They just arrived and plonked dead opposite us-I mean their caravan in back to front so that our doors are facing each other..why?! It wasn't just a problem with the foreign vans doors being on the wrong side! Would you pitch a caravan like this?!

This was captured from the far side of my caravan! I just couldn't sit out! Worse was to come. They are failed gadget people! We spent all afternoon listening to a high pitch squeel whilst they found a satellite signal and all evening listening to their door slamming to re adjust their satellite! The WiFi is so good here why do you need satellite?! I tell you I was sorely tempted to put the dish where the sun doesn't  shine! Don't Bailey fit door handles to their caravans?! They could save a Bob or two in their production line as these two have found a new way of closing a door! They just seem oblivious to anyone or anything else! There is so much space here- why?! Our blind are almost touching and I don't even know these people!

Ahh there's many a true word spoken..he who laughs last and all that. As I mentioned this morning it has been raining heavily. Guess who got soaked trying to turn their caravan around in wet grass?! Naturally I dashed out to help them ( not!) Then to make matters worse they tried to drive off with their motor over on! Again I didn't laugh much! I really must stop people watching but when they plonk themselves right under my nose I don't have much other options? I not as though I could see the river any longer! 

Ahh well best go and get ready now this mornings entertainment is over...Most and Chanson here we come!

Caravan Club Start of the Sparkling Champagne Tour

Well yesterday all the Units safely arrived on site. There are 13 units in total making 26 people. The amazing thing is that quite a lot of them have told me that they don't even like champagne! Let's see if Didier can corrupt them like he did me?!
We all met outside in the lovely evening sunshine to try a glass or two or three!

Didier has employed about five staff on this Tour so I'm quite happy to take a back seat! Hic? ! Their english is very impressive. I did speak in French the other night only to be told " that's Spanish!" What do I speak now Spenfr?! It has been questioned on more than one occasion if I do actually speak english..well Yorkie english does that count?!

Today the sun is shining and we are going on an excursion to the Champagne House Tattinger where we will have a guided Tour of the Caves and oh no more champagne tasting! HIC...if that isn't bad enough the day after we are at the Jean Milan champagne House and another one Most Chanson the day after! I don't know what the Club are trying to do to me..all that wine in Spain and now a champagne tour I really think they ought to run a detox Tour next!

Caravan Club Sparkling Champagne Tour

Well today is day one when we meet everyone. We have two units with us already. Yesterday was beautiful and whilst waiting for people to arrive we actually sat out in the French sun and got sunburnt! It was really pleasant in the 20 s so ideal for sitting in ( probably too ideal!)
We are always amazed at what you see on a campsite and yesterday morning when we awoke was no exception

Had they really heard that the Caravan Club were coming and brought in re enforcements? Was it the other Camping  Club?! Oh no France was being invaded again?! Apparently they had come all the way from the Czech republic to commemorate the D Day landings! Well...it takes all sorts to make a world!

The campsite here are so organised for the Tour that its scarey. The owner reserved all our pitches with posts with each family name on. He placed posts in the centre of each one. I really couldn't believe my eyes yesterday when a French car and caravan pulled on, threw the sign out of the way and at the moment is promptly camping in the middle of us! You just wouldn't do that would you?! I couldn't believe my eyes. Its not as though there weren't hundreds of other pitches! I really don't get some people. Apparently they are only here for one night. Let's hope so as it could get interesting when everyone else arrives!

You will never guess what. We start in earnest tonight and they are going to make me drink champagne again..oh it would be rude not to-it is the sparkling champagne Tour after all! 

People Watch in or rather them watching us!

Well here we are sitting nice and quiet outside our caravan beside a river eating our tea. Ahh blisss when rammed in next door to us comes a Dutch caravan. We spoke. They looked at us as though we were mad as they set up their tea table looking directly at ours! Hmmm my chicken and chips looking more appealing than your meal! Our doors were facing each other and it was almost impossible not to play that stare you out game that we all played as kids. It got me thinking..dangerous I know but its not them that's wrong its us! Our caravan is British made and so the door is on the wrong side! I would never buy anything but British unless we got to the stage where we can no longer make decent caravans but it got me thinking again ( twice in one evening!) Years ago caravans used to have two doors. A front and a back door! Why haven't they still? Take it a stage further and many people that I know who spend a lot of time in sunnier climes won't buy a caravan with the huge front roof window because it gets too hot, fades the interior, you can't see the TV screen or computer and they lose valuable cupboard space so that rules out 90 percent of British caravans! Another this g'built in microwaves! We don't need them travelling Europe! They blow electrics particuasrly in France. If they can make caravans specially adapted for disabled etc why can't they make a caravan for the European traveller?!There's more and more people doing what we are. Hmm now there's an idea?! Mr Lunar or whoever are you listening?!
Anyhow after hurting my brain you will be pleased to know that our Dutch neighbours have left having awoken half the site. I tell you I will definitely know them again if I saw them!
Its a lovely day today and that bright yellow thing is out! Yes I have a good memory..its called sun I think! Our first guest arrives today. I have spoken to him on the phone and yet again he sounds like a Geordie or certainly from the north east. Oh dear I hope they are as much fun as the Geordies on the last tour. I will certainly have my hands full! They really were mad as hatters. If they are anything like the last lot they will certainly liven this site up!
Another nice start to the day was a Facebook message from Jeff and Maria who were at Marjal ( aka Gobshite!) They are really settled in A us and all is going well for them. Jeff says that he is busy. Can you imagine him working?! Lol ( I'm very brave from the other side of the world!) He also sends everyone at Marjal their love ahhhhh that was nice!
Anyhow films I've prattled on here long enough..the sunshine is calling me...OK shall I go out the back door or the front?!

The lull before the storm!

We have been at this lovely little campsite for two days now. Day one was confined to barracks due to the rain. Its certainly very green and very pretty and finally the forecast is for it to improve ( the weather not the campsite!)There is nothing wrong with the campsite,in fact I quite like it except for all the Brits again! Too many. We are a funny lot. Here we all are supposedly on holiday and no one speaks! Not even a 'bonjour' or a good morning. Just now I was walking down the steps from the loo and a man was coming in the opposite direction. I looked at him ready to speak and he fell up the steps trying to look away! Now I know I'm not the best looking person in the morning or at anytime of the day come to that ( particularly in my pink dressing gown) but all I wanted to say was a cheery "hello!". Whoever you were I hope your knees gets better soon! The young campsite owners are really trying to do their bit. Its maybe a bit of an uphill struggle as you can't help but notice everywhere there are military graveyards and memorials to the First World War-constantly living with the reminders of war and death but hey they produce good champagne still and you are supposed to be on holiday!
I don't like champagne..well I thought I didn't until last night! The campsite owners Didier ( what a great name!) and his wife Caroline invited their champagne producing friend to the site for a taster session. They set up a gazebo and made everything look lovely but no one went! Well it would have been rude not to support them....wow! Its a woman's prerogative to change her mind! The Rose champagne is yum. Even I bought a bottle at 23 euros! We were quickly joined by other Brits and errrr yes it was a very good apperatif! I just don't understand why the British are so 'po faced and reserved-they soon let their hair down after one or two!
Its been really entertaining people watching as usual. Opposite we obviously have a teacher who sits out marking papers all day ( maybe that makes you pro faced!) The motor homers who are probably on a stop over. Now that's a thing I have noticed on just about every campsite I have ever stayed on. If you can't find the toilet block look for the motor homers. I think they would park the things in the toilet block if they could! It appears to be that you buy a motorhome and you lose use of your legs! Maybe its just because they are older or infirm and I'm just unkind but now I've pointed this out...just watch when you are on a campsite! Now where was I..?!
A lovely elderly couple can,e on yesterday and of course we spoke. I can't remember her name for the life of me but we have given them all names. She is " black legs'. Whenever we have seen her she is wearing black stocking/tights...why?! We are camping. I don't possess any! Maybe I'm just jealous?! No I do have legs! They are revealed very very occasionally!
Ahh we always have to have a Mr and Mrs pretencious. The top of the range caravan with everything just so. Top of the range awning,car etc who really think they are someone. How I would love to take the pegs out of their awning! I'm so sad for them they are having to leave to go back to work ( probably to pay for it!) Now that's the bitch in me coming out! My lifestyle maybe unconventional. My caravan and car are adequate. I don't have to work and I don't look down my nose at you! It does take all sorts to make a world and that's what makes camping so much fun ( well for some of us!)
Well I haven't taken many pics here yet as the grey cloudy skies really don't help the appearance of anywhere but I have the lovely river running directly behind my caravan. Its pretty but it doesn't half make you want the loo a lot! Here goes so far..

Well I have to go now. Busy day ahead....the sun is trying to shine and there's so much people watching to do! Hmmm wonder if there's much more marking to do for Mrs teacher. Will Mrs black legs still be Mrs black legs? Tune in same place,same time tomorrow!