About Me

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Hi! I'm Eunice and I live in Bolton, Lancashire, with my two dogs Sophie and Sugar and an assortment of cats - well it used to be Sophie and Sugar, now it's Sophie and Poppie. I first began camping back in 1997 when my then partner took me to Anglesey for my birthday weekend. We slept in the back of the car - a hatchback - using the cushions off the settee at home as a mattress, and cooked and brewed up on a single burner camping stove. The site was good, the views were great, the weather fantastic and I was completely hooked. Following that weekend we got a two-man tent and some proper accessories and returned to Anglesey two weeks later, then over time we progressed to a three-man tent followed by an old trailer tent, then a new trailer tent, a campervan and finally a caravan. When my partner decided that the grass was greener on the other side of the street - literally - in April 2009 and I suddenly found myself alone after fifteen years, I decided there was no way I was going to give up camping and caravanning if I could cope on my own. This blog is the story of my travels, trials and tribulations since becoming a solo camper - I hope you like it

Saturday April 30th 2016 - The great British weather and cancelled plans

After eight days of blue skies and gloriously warm spring sunshine, meaning I was able to take Sophie and Poppie for some lovely long countryside walks every day, the great British weather did a complete about turn last Sunday and the last few days have been a complete mixed bag of everything you could think of. Grey skies, wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow, thunder and lightning, interspersed by a few very brief sunny moments, and compared to last week's temperatures it's been cold.

A few weeks ago my blogging friend Christine from http://a-fly-on-our-chicken-coop-wall.blogspot.com came up with a word to describe her weather in the USA at the time - 'unspring' - and that sums up this week's weather perfectly. The contrast in these two photos couldn't be greater - the first one was taken on Saturday a week ago while I was out with the dogs, the second taken early yesterday morning when I set out for work. Fortunately the snow soon disappeared but the rain came back and it was cold, wet and very unpleasant all day.

With this weekend being another bank holiday I'd previously booked to go back to Felin Uchaf where I stayed at Easter, in the hope that I could visit the places I didn't get to back then, but the weather forecast right through to early next week isn't good at all - more cloud, rain, hail and possible thunderstorms, with very little sunshine to be had.

 The van is all packed and ready to go and under normal circumstances I would have been on the road by 8.30am today, but regrettably I took the decision yesterday to ring the camp site and cancel my booking. There's absolutely no point going if bad weather stops me from getting to the places I want to see, so this weekend I'm having a 'stay-cation' and keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will soon improve and I can get away for a two-night weekend in a couple of weeks instead - I live in hope!

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14 comments:

  1. nashvillecats230 April 2016 at 15:23

    Great post Tigermouse, sorry about the weather, in my part of the UK we had in one day sunshine, snow storm and thunder.......the great Britsh
    Weather.
    Yvonne

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  2. Tigermouse30 April 2016 at 15:36

    The weather yesterday was also responsible for me getting a flat battery on the van. Within seconds of taking that photo in the garden the brief bit of sunshine disappeared, the sky became very dark grey and we had a hail shower. Because it had gone so dark I put the van lights on, but by the time I'd got to work the sun was out again - I completely forgot about the lights so when I came out of work just over an hour later the battery was flat. Fortunately I was able to get rescued but by that time it was raining again and I got really cold sitting in the van waiting. Believe me, if I could win the lottery I'd be on the first plane to warmer and sunnier climes!

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  3. Eileen H1 May 2016 at 08:39

    It is raining heavily here right now and as you know I live on the North Wales coast. I think you're wise to cancel your plans for this weekend. We have booked a holiday cottage on the Llyn peninsula, just for the change of scenery for a week's break later this month. Fingers crossed the weather improves for us both.

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  4. Tigermouse1 May 2016 at 12:21

    I'm glad you said it's raining there Eileen - if you'd told me the sun was cracking the pavements I would have been seriously miffed! I hate cancelling a camping weekend and very rarely do so but with the weather having been so awful over the last week, and with more rain forecast, I felt I had no choice - there's no point going away to just to get the same as I can get here at home.

    Yesterday here actually turned out quite nice, after a damp start the sun came out and although quite cool it was a lovely afternoon. Today though, the rain is back, and even the dogs don't want to go out :(

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  5. Anabel Marsh1 May 2016 at 18:36

    Hope you are enjoying your staycation. We are in Northumbetland this weekend - yesterday was cold but beautifully sunny. Today has been much duller but at least we haven't got wet.
    The Glasgow Gallivanter

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    1. Tigermouse1 May 2016 at 20:30

      I'm having a nice lazy time Anabel - today I've had a pj day, slobbed out and watched tv, a dvd, and played some games on the pc. There's a host of things I could be doing but I wouldn't be doing them if I'd gone camping so I'm not doing them now :)

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  6. Su-sieee! Mac1 May 2016 at 20:21

    I was hoping for rain last week. It did rain around us -- I could see it in the distance --but only a few drops on us. Although the days have been bright and sunny, it has felt cool, but I don't know how much of that is because I'm nursing a cold. May the weather be better for you in a couple of weeks.

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  7. Tigermouse1 May 2016 at 20:35

    I'm keeping my fingers crossed Susie. After all the rain we had over winter I thought when it came nice that should be the end of it but obviously not. It seems like the seasons are gradually turning themselves back to front - another few years and we'll be eating Christmas dinner on the beach! :)

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  8. Bag End Gardener1 May 2016 at 20:41

    Fingers crossed. The Countryfile forecast earlier this evening looks promising for the end of this week and next weekend.

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  9. Tigermouse1 May 2016 at 20:52

    Well it's got to come nice sooner or later hasn't it?! It's so disappointing though when you look forward to having a nice weekend, especially if it's a bank holiday as well, then bad weather comes along and ruins it :(

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  10. klahanie6 May 2016 at 01:45

    Hi Eunice,

    Yes, I've arrived! Oh my, the contrasting photos sums up nicely the bizarre weather we had. I remember last Thursday morning in Leek. I looked out and the trees were covered in snow. It looks like we're having a nice weekend ahead. It's now, hopefully, "unwinter" :)

    Take care and soak up them rays!

    Gary

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  11. Tigermouse6 May 2016 at 10:56

    Good morning Gary, I hope you and Penny are both well.

    The last couple of days here have been gloriously warm and sunny and I've been able to get back out with the dogs. Hopefully, as you say, it's now 'unwinter' but knowing this country anything can happen!

    Take care yourself, and hugs to Penny :(

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  12. Christine10 May 2016 at 03:58

    Wow. We've had some cruddy weather, but at least there hasn't been snow! It is mighty disappointing to have to cancel a trip. I hope you are able to hit the road again very soon.

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  13. Tigermouse10 May 2016 at 14:24

    I hope so too - there's been so much going on here at home just recently that I need a break soon.

    Last week the weather was glorious again, getting warmer by the day and quite hot yesterday, but it's all change again today and the rain is back. I just wish we could order good weather like we can order a take-away :)

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