When things were great AND terrible...

From the noise and action of the Nurburgring - to the peace of the Moselle Valley....

 

 

This was probably my favourite part of the trip.  We stayed for four nights in a Bed and Breakfast in a small village by the Moselle.  For us, it was the perfect location.  The village was really quiet but the busy, tourist town of Bernkastel was only a two mile walk down the tow path.  Effectively it gave us the best of both worlds.  We parked up the car and walked everywhere.

 

This was our base.  When the weather was good breakfast was served on the terrace.

The owner and the rest of his team were SO friendly and kind.

It was lovely...

 

This was the main square in a village just up the valley.

Away from the 'tourist traps' the area is very quiet and tranquil..

 

This old house in Bernkastel looks like it's defying gravity.

I was completely sober and vertical when I took this picture!

 

Mark did his best to eat his own body weight in puddings and ice-creams...

 

... while I couldn't resist this local dish

(Grilled pork steaks on toast with mushrooms and hollandaise sauce,

plus a generous salad)

"Now you see it...."

 

"... Now you don't!"

 

After a couple of days we learnt how to plan our routes so that we could climb up through the vines.

It gave us a fresh perspective on the area and made the walks a little more rigorous.

This is a view of our village during the walk that we did on the third day (about 11 miles long - which worked off some of the calories!!!)

 

At the end of the 19th Century many of the wine producers built big gothic mansions by the river.  These buildings still serve as a 'front' for the businesses (with offices, storage and beautiful homes).

This was one of our neighbours in the village..

 

I felt that we'd only just started to get to the know the region when our 'time was up' and we were on the road again.  This is definitely the down-side of touring. This photo was taken at the beginning of the most difficult day of the holiday...

 

The heat in the car was immense as we travelled away from the Moselle and through the hills to the Ardennes.  The exterior temperature was probably in the low 30s but all the engine heat came back into the cabin of the car, and we were cooking.  What should have been a pleasant and interesting drive became an exercise in managing heat exhaustion.  (We found out later that all the previous driving had simply broken a seal and Mark was able to fix everything with a roll of black sticky tape - but that was another day!)

 

We decided that the only logical thing to do was to keep moving and go straight to our hotel.

From the word "Go" this third hotel wasn't quite right...

I've written a Trip Advisor review that summed it all up nicely (if you're interested click here - I'm 'Gullymog1' from Worcester)

 

The holiday picked up again nicely after all of this, but I think we were thoroughly spoilt by the great food, country-side, walking, accommodation and general 'value for money' of the Moselle.

 

I'd have stayed there forever - seriously!

 

 

 

 

Our 'Big Adventure'..

We're back - and were 'safe and sound' until Mark disturbed a wasps nest in the garden on Friday!  Poor man.  He instinctively put his left arm up to shield his face.  It was badly stung and swelled up severely so he's now on antibiotics, lots of Piriton and painkillers.  It made him feel a bit rough for a few days but I think it's starting to get a bit better.

The holiday was a real experience, quite challenging at times and great fun.  We did 1,700 miles over two weeks (which is about as much as you'd want to do in a little car with limited suspension and no climate control!).  The car behaved herself beautifully and received lots of compliments and interest whenever we parked her up.  Mark was a very proud 'car parent'!!!!

Anyway, here are a few photos from the first phase of the trip.  On Day 1 we drove from Worcester to Harwich.  It's not a good journey, with lots of busy motorways AND the dreaded A14, so we gave ourselves plenty of time.  We arrived in Harwich with plenty of time to wander around and have a relaxed evening meal  before we had to book in at the port.

Here's Mark, enjoying his first ice-cream of the holiday and watching the world go by in Harwich...

 

Not long after our ferry went by - because the docks are further up river than the town...

 

I was delighted with our cabin and almost too excited to sleep...

 

There was plenty of space....

On Day 2 we drove round Rotterdam in the rush hour.  There's no SatNav in the car so I was navigating and the whole experience was pretty scary!  I was very relieved when we reached quieter roads and started the haul across Holland and down into Germany.  It took just over 4 hours of steady driving to get to the Nurburgring. 

We 'splashed out' for this part of the holiday and had booked ourselves into the hotel which is right by the circuit.  It was great to be able to pop the car into the hotel garage, take up our room, then get straight out into the event with minimal effort.  The first day of the 'Oldtimer Grand Prix' (the Ring's classic car event) was in full swing.

Here's Mark - posing with Fangio - at the front of the hotel!

 



 

The hotel from the stands on the north side of the circuit..

 

...and cars and people everywhere.

We absolutely loved the event.  We walked for miles round the circuit, selecting our favourite corners to watch the different groups of cars compete.  We ate dinner in the restaurant of the hotel on the Saturday evening then went back out onto the circuit to watch some beautiful 1960s cars racing into the dusk.

It was a perfect weekend for a couple of 'petrol heads' like us and a fabulous way to start the holiday.  I took this picture of Mark and the car on the morning that we left. 

 

Mark has taken an A4 copy of it into the office this week to remind himself of the reason for working!!!

I've got that strange feeling that you get when you've been planning something big

for months and months..... and suddenly it's here!

 

I've cleaned the house and emptied the fridge..

Layered up the tinted moisturiser (so my legs aren't 'glow in the dark' white)..

Painted my nails and coloured my hair...

Bought all the maps and read the latest Trip Advisor posts...

Packed the 'capsule wardrobe'...

 

Tomorrow we are leaving on a big adventure..

We've NEVER done anything like this before in our lives..

 

 

We're taking our silver Marcos to Europe for two weeks!

 

I must confess that I even had a worry dream about it all last night....

Normally Mark and I head off to the Welsh borders and walk.

We stay in nice - but fairly cheap - self catering accommodation.

My main expectation of my summer holiday is that I come home a little fitter and a lot more chilled!

 

This time we're staying in proper hotels -

(at the Nurburgring, in a vineyard on the Moselle and in a chateau in the Ardennes)

It could be great - or it could be ghastly.......!

 

I can't remember the last time I was so nervous about going on holiday...

 

Anyway, the whole family are coming round this evening.  It's Mark's birthday and our 23rd Wedding Anniversary while we are away.   Normally I'd pop all our presents and cards into the car and open them during the holiday.  This time space is seriously at a premium, so we decided to celebrate and open everything with the family before we go. 

 

My family have given Mark Euros so that he can buy something to remember the trip - probably a cap from the Nurburgring or something similar.  His main present from me is a leather 'man bag' that he wanted for the trip.  I've also picked up some second hand books for him that he may want to take.  I found a book that analyses the tank battles in 1944 and 1945 in the Ardennes.  I also found him a couple of 50 year old Motoring Journals.  They are full of the quirky motoring information that he loves and I can't wait to see his face when I realises what they are!

 

Obviously things are going to be a little quiet here on my blog -

but I will be thinking of you all and hoping that you're having a good couple of weeks...

All the best,

Jx

 

A Few Prom Photos

Here's a few photos from my niece's Prom on Friday. 

We offered to drive her to the event in one of the cars a few months ago.

From what I can gather there was a serious case of "Teenage Prom politics"

which meant that a lovely lad from her German class ended up in the second car...

Mark proudly drove his niece in the blue car..

and I was 'chauffeuse' to her friend, N.

 

 

It took an hour to get across Worcester in the rush hour and out to

Whitbourne Hall (on the border with Herefordshire).

This beautiful house is divided into flats and was featured on the TV

series 'Country House Rescue' a few years ago. 

They now make money to maintain the building through weddings and Proms.

The grand portico is a fantastic backdrop for photos

 

It also resonated superbly to the sound of two V8 engines!!!

 

We parked the cars up and went for a little wander around.

The old Orangery at the back of the picture has seen better days..

but it's still beautiful in the mid-summer light.

The main reception rooms at the front of the picture were laid out for the meal.

The tables looked lovely - but it was hard to get a good image through the glass.

 

It was my sister's birthday on Thursday -

so we all met up at her house for a curry later in the evening.

I was shattered from the busy week at work but it was a great way to start the weekend!

Charity Events and Other Things...

In January 1995 my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Within a couple of weeks of her diagnosis it was general knowledge that Linda McCartney also had breast cancer.  While Linda fought and lost her battle her battle in the public eye, my Mum quietly fought her battles and won.  She had surgery, more sugery, treatments and monitoring - and eventually gained the 'all clear'.

 

Despite her current 'trails and tribulations' with Huntington's Disease, we've always remembered the great support that she had from the NHS in Manchester and the local cancer charities during that difficult period.  Each year there's a major car event at Prescott Hill Climb to raise money for cancer charities in the West Midlands.  We've been regular attenders since the event started.

 

This year Mark took the silver Marcos up the hill a couple of times. 

 

 

Mum was so proud to be the first passenger on the hill with Mark yesterday morning....

 

 

Dad brought along his own 'sporty' red Nissan.  Here he is - lining up the cars with space for a picnic.  Unfortunately the weather turned really wet over lunchtime and it wasn't the sunny, leisurely event we've enjoyed on some previous occasions.

 

 

The event is very popular with the Marcos Club.  Here's Mark's car, lined up with some of her Marcos 'friends' in the paddock.

 

The event draws all sorts of cars out of their owner's garages.  I love the vintage style of these big old cars and the way that their drivers frequently 'dress the part' with tweeds, caps and headscarves.

 

 

Mark enjoyed the day a great deal.  He loves testing his cars on this track.  Sadly he had to come home and pack again last night.  He's working in Prague for three days this week. 

 

Thomas and I are 'home alone' again...  The 'plus' side of this is that I get the chance to select what we watch on TV and I can 'make like a star fish' in bed....!  The 'down' side is that it's really quite wierd being here on my own.  I'm not great at being a 'single cat parent'!

 

Into the 'Silly Season'...

Things have been 'challenging' recently.  In the last 24 hours alone my sister has declared a full 'Post Viral Chronic Fatigue' relapse AND my classroom has been broken into at work.  Nothing that can't be handled really.. but the relaxing Bank Holiday weekend seems a bit of a distant memory!

 

We spent the weekend at Donnington Park race circuit.  I found this lovely Bed and Breakfast in Kegworth - maybe 10 minutes drive from the circuit.

 

 

The lovely owners put us in the ground floor room.  Mark was in heaven... he could lie in bed with teddy bear and car (AND wife!!!) at reasonable reach!

 

 

It was a great chance to catch up with some of our Marcos owning friends...

 



 

..AND we got the chance to play on the circuit during the lunch break.  This is my view from the passenger seat at about 100 mph.  Apparently Race Control were 'amused' by the exploits of the silver Marcos on the club laps...

This is a race-prepared Marcos doing qualifying laps on the Sunday morning.  It was lovely to see a 50 year old race car being driven so well.

 

Another of our Marcos acquaintances was helping his nephew in the Classic GP2 races.  His nephew is driving the yellow car and went on to win this race convincingly.

Each afternoon there was a fly past by a Lancaster bomber, accompanied by a Spitfire and a Hurricane.  There something really special about seeing the old vehicles on the track and these beautiful vintage planes in the air at the same time.

 

On Monday we managed to be a bit more chilled - and even had lunch out in the garden.  I love eating a salad and cold meat lunch under the umbrella on the decking.  Sadly the weather doesn't look so great for next weekend...

 

Lovely Vintage Caravans

Look what I found yesterday...

A small encampment of vintage caravans in a corner of a hall at the NEC!

 

Here's a beautifully preserved 1930s caravan..

 

 

And here's a 'trailer-tent' from a similar period..

 

I was completely captivated by the care that the owners had taken over the interiors.

Here's a dressing table in the corner of a 1940s caravan..

 

And here's the living area of the 1950s caravan.

 

All the owners clearly have a tremendous eye for detail...

I spent ages staring through the doors and windows, admiring the time and effort that must

have gone into collecting all these period items.

 

We were at the show because Mark's newer car was on the Marcos stand.

As an exhibitor he got free passes for each day - which made it a cheap day out.

He was quite worried when I came with all these pictures...

He seems to think that I'm a little too enthusiatic about George Clarke's new TV series and has openly wondered if I'm about to put a case for caravan ownership!

I don't know.. it might be fun!!!

Cleaning, sorting and other things...

It's been great to be on holiday for the last few days - especially when the sun has been shining and it's been blissfully warm.  I've started the process of 'catching back' on all the jobs that I didn't have time for during term time.  My harp - poor neglected instrument - received a general MOT and re-string this morning.  I'm also doing some 'in the corners' cleaning.  It feels nice to do things at my own pace for a change.

Mark and I spent Saturday at the 'Silverstone Classic' event.  The whole site was totally water-logged this year.  We managed to find a bit of hardstanding for the Kitten near the Marcos Club stand.  The Lotus Club owners were a lot less lucky and many of their beautiful cars looked as if they had been on a 4X4 circuit.

It's become a bit of a tradition to spend the first day of the summer holiday at this event.  It's generally very relaxed and friendly.  This year we chatted for ages to an Australian couple who had just driven their classic Bentley across Mongolia, Russia and Europe.  They'd been on the road for 51 Days - incredible.  I SO want to be doing that sort of thing when I retire!

I love the way that you can wander round the pit lanes at these events.  There are some fantastic photo-opportunities..

Plucky little number 68 was the only Marcos racing at the event.  Here it is in the process of over-taking an E-Type Jag..

There was a Balloon Display in the early evening.  This was the view from the passenger seat of the Kitten..

Here are the new pits in the evening sunlight.  Last year I wasn't sure if I liked the new architecture.  This year it's grown on me a little...

Here are the Group C racing cars thumping round the track in the twilight.  They are really fast and incredibly noisy.  I love watching them pull away in close formation.

Best of all, it was lovely to spend a whole day outside.  With all the oil, petrol and exhaust fumes it was hardly a day in the 'fresh air' - but it completely beats being in a classroom!!!!

Exploring New Ground..

Here are a few photos from our weekend away.  We travelled down to Godalming on Friday evening and stayed for two nights in this lovely 'Arts and Crafts' House in the Surrey Hills.  I wish that I'd taken more photos of the interior.  Joy - the owner - has an talented eye for combining beautifully simple things with floral displays and eccentric original pieces of art.

To give you a flavour of her skill, here's a corner of the tea tray that was in our room.  It was so pretty.

On Saturday morning we drove south across towards the South Downs until we got to an open air museum near Goodwood.  We managed to see most of the site before the weather really deteriorated.

A man at the museum suggested the Goodwood Aero Club cafe for lunch.  This was the view from our table as the next part of the storm moved south towards us.

After lunch we explored the racing circuit a little.  There was an event taking place and one of the marshalls offered to drive us round the track.  Mark was so excited to be on the tarmac of this iconic circuit. 

The heavens opened again as we drove back the B+B so Mark spent some time cleaning his 'pride and joy' before we went out for dinner.

Since we don't know the area we were guided by 'Tripadvisor' to a pub a few miles away.  To be honest it was a little bit more pricey than we're used to paying, but it had a fabulous atmosphere and the food was lovely.

This was an attractive collection of interesting things on the mantlepiece above our table....

...and Steve the cat kept a watchful eye on proceedings....

Yesterday we were up bright and early so that we could go and play on the famous concrete banking at Brooklands.  The track was designed and built in 1907.  I was surprised by the fact that it's 100 feet wide.  As a result cars look absolutely tiny...

I'm still having problems with my foot and was doing my best to get around on crutches.  The lovely people in the museum insisted that I could have their mobility scooter when they saw that I was struggling.  I couldn't resist taking it up onto the banking as well....!  What do you think of my racing line...

We stayed almost to the last car and drove home in clear, sunny weather..

It's been one of those rare, perfect weekends!