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

Tuesday June 12th 2018 - Going home....eventually

Another gloriously warm and sunny morning arrived and with it came the unwanted prospect of ending my all-too-short holiday and going home. After a leisurely breakfast I did a very leisurely pack-up and was ready for leaving the site just before 1pm, though as is my usual custom I drove down to the promenade, found a vacant parking space and took the dogs for a final walk along the beach. It was so nice down there that I decided to stay for a while longer so I made a couple of sandwiches from some chicken I had in the cool box, got a takeaway coffee from the nearby kiosk then sat in the van and enjoyed a leisurely late lunch with a great view of the beach.

It was getting on for 3pm before I finally managed to tear myself away from this lovely place, though in an effort to prolong the holiday as much as I could I decided to make a couple of stops on my way along the coast. The first was at Llanfairfechan, a place I hadn't been to for several years; with its coloured houses, sailing boat area and attractive park and promenade it was a lovely little area. Walking past the park I came across an old weather-beaten notice set in a wall so I stopped to read it; three lines in particular made me smile so I just had to get a photo.

My second stop was at Penmaenmawr, smaller than Llanfairfechan and not as pretty but nice enough in its own way. Walking along the pleasant promenade it was hard to believe that the very busy A55 was just behind it, separated from it by just a high concrete wall and the only give-away being the constant noise of traffic. And travelling along that section of road you wouldn't know of the promenade's existence down below unless you were sitting high up in the cab of a big wagon, as it can't be seen from the road. One unusual thing I did see as I walked along was a row of what I assume were 'beach huts' built into the underside of the road - they all had coloured doors and were numbered 1 to 36 but had a 'closed up' look to them so maybe they haven't been used for some time.

My third and final stop further up the coast was an impromptu visit to my blogging friend Eileen and we spent a very nice couple of hours having a good chat over a mug of coffee. It was nearly 7.30pm when I finally set off from there on the last leg of my journey and after a very quick stop at Chester services, where I briefly saw a squirrel close to the van, I arrived back home at 9.15pm.

Admittedly the holiday hadn't been near enough as long as I'd originally intended but I'd made the most of the few days I did have and packed as much as I could into each one. Also stopping off a few times on the way home had made it seem to be a bit longer so by the time I did get home in the late evening sunshine I didn't really feel as though my time had come to an abrupt end. Also with great weather all the way through I'd got a near-enough Mediterranean tan just by walking about and exploring so I can't complain too much. Now all I have to think about is where I'm going for my next break!

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23 comments:

  1. nashvillecats220 June 2018 at 11:26

    As they say "All Good Things Come To An End" but there will be other times. Loved the pics, especially of the squirrel. I have a soft spot for squiirels. Thanks for sharing your holiday with us.

    Yvonne.

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  2. Tigermouse20 June 2018 at 11:43

    Thanks for reading Yvone, glad you liked all the photos. I like squirrels too, even the grey ones though I know a lot of people won't agree with me :(

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  3. Eileen H20 June 2018 at 15:44

    You certainly had beautiful weather for your holiday. I don't think I've ever stopped off at Llanfairfechan yet Martyn lived there as a child, it looks nice and I think I ought to visit myself. I must look for that sign, amazing it's still in place and it made me smile too. We're pleased you called to see us on your way home and what a treat seeing the squirrel by your van, I really like squirrels too, even the grey ones :)

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  4. Tigermouse20 June 2018 at 16:26

    Llanfairfechan is really nice, if you've never been you should try it. You drive through the town to get to the beach, the road ends in a free car park and there's a cafe there. The promenade and park area are lovely, especially on a sunny day - I got a photo of a bench too for my bench blog :) The squirrel near the van was a lovely surprise, especially as I managed to get a photo of it before it disappeared :)

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  5. Jules20 June 2018 at 20:57

    The photographs of that golden sand against the blue sky are gorgeous. You choose some beautiful places for your trips away. X

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    1. Tigermouse21 June 2018 at 14:58

      If you've never been to Anglesey Jules you should try it sometime if you can, it's a beautiful island with some great beaches; I've been going there for 21 years now and still love it :) If you look on the third photo down, on the cliff top just left of centre you'll see what are actually some white caravans - that's the site where I camp and most parts of it overlook that beach :)

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    2. Jules21 June 2018 at 15:51

      I think it's somewhere I need to go. I've already been eyeing up a larger tent! X

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    3. Tigermouse21 June 2018 at 19:02

      If you want any info on Anglesey let me know, can probably give you loads. I stay in Benllech on the east of the island, to be honest the site is only just above basic and you wouldn't want to go there during the long school holidays as it gets really manic but earlier in the year it's fine. And it's the only site I know of on the whole of the island that's within just a few minutes walk of a proper village with shops, supermarkets, takeaways and cafes, and of course the great beach. There's also a small playground just along the road from the site, ideal for kids of Lily's age. If you have a look at this post on my other blog it shows a view of just a small part of the site and the bay - https://mousehouselife.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/the-call-to-a-place-1/

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    4. Jules22 June 2018 at 07:04

      Thank you for this Eunice, I'll take a look. X

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  6. Anabel Marsh20 June 2018 at 21:24

    Thinking of my current roof project, I like that turret in Llanfairfechan.

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  7. Tigermouse21 June 2018 at 14:59

    That turret and the tower part of the house make me think they should be on a fairytale castle :)

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  8. Bag End Gardener23 June 2018 at 20:38

    That really is a fabulous beach. I know what you mean about having difficulty tearing yourself away :-)

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    1. Tigermouse23 June 2018 at 21:41

      Anglesey has some really lovely beaches but to me that one just has to be one of the best - I hate leaving it on a sunny day like that.

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  9. Bag End Gardener23 June 2018 at 20:41

    Hi Eunice, did I leave a comment someone on one of your blogs asking about your "bench blog"? I have been having trouble getting signed in whilst away so am not sure if it went through. Sorry if this is a duplication.

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  10. Tigermouse23 June 2018 at 21:51

    No worries Jayne, I did see the comment somewhere and I replied, however some of what I wrote then no longer applies. I've managed to put a link to my bench blog on here - down the page on the left under 'my other blogs' and also a link with words highlighted in blue on the 'about me' page on my 'mouse house' blog. I did try to add a link in a separate section on the right of that blog but it came up with a 'blogroll' of all different blogs I have neither any interest in nor want on my own blog so I scrapped it.

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  11. Bag End Gardener24 June 2018 at 08:11

    Excellent, thanks. Will have a look later. Right now am back at Mull of Galloway lighthouse in THE most perfect conditions. got here at 6.30am, deserted except for one van that was obviously here all night.

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  12. Tigermouse24 June 2018 at 19:07

    It all sounds absolutely wonderful Jayne, I expect to see lots of fab photos on your blog soon :)

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  13. Anonymous18 August 2018 at 09:34

    I wonder how many people actually read that sign, or took note of the last lines? Lovely photos, that part of Wales is where my late father's side of the family come from and I remember holidays in the area, particularly on Anglesey, as a child.

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  14. Tigermouse25 August 2018 at 18:44

    Sorry for the late reply, I hadn't realised until now that you'd posted a comment. I love North Wales and that part in particular, right down to the bottom of the Llyn peninsula, but Anglesey just has to be my favourite. I've been going there for 21 years and never tire of it :)

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  15. Rambler5 September 2018 at 17:50

    Hi Eunice. I'm feeling rather envious after reading all about your 2018 camping trips and seeing your photos. I've had to give up camping; my last trip was during a lovely sunny spell, at the beginning of the heatwave, but the site was once again on the north Cornish coast and I had an awful battle with the prevailing wind. In fact, if a fellow camper hadn't come across to offer help, I would have thrown the whole lot back in the car and gone home.
    I have been to a holiday cottage/cabin with my middle son, his wife and my teenage grandson for a week and I have booked a week for just me and BenjiDog in October, but I miss the smell of the canvas and having the freedom to sit out, or walk, cook my own meals, read, etc in the fresh air. My absolute dream would be a campervan, or a sited caravan that was within reasonable reach of home - but it's not going to happen now. Age has caught up with me and I don't have the strength to cope with strong winds and errant tents! I shall have to follow your travels instead and live your trips alongside you. xx

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    1. Tigermouse19 September 2018 at 23:02

      What a shame you've had to give up camping, I hope you somehow manage to find a good alternative. I've often said "I'll still be camping when I'm 90" - whether I live that long is anyone's guess but I fully intend to continue camping for as long as I'm physically able to. I'd hate to give it up unless it was absolutely necessary, I love it too much :)

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  16. Louise13 September 2018 at 13:59

    These photos are beautiful, it sounds like a lovely day. North Wales has so many gorgeous places - we almost went there instead of Cornwall last month, but then found that round house and wanted to stay there!

    I just came by to say thank you for your comment re the secret wedding :)

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  17. Tigermouse19 September 2018 at 23:09

    Apologies for the late reply, I've only just seen your comment :( North Wales is lovely and Anglesey is a beautiful island. I should have gone there last Saturday but various things conspired to keep me at home - I was hoping to go tomorrow but the weather forecast isn't looking good with the high winds etc so I'm not sure if I'll get there at all. The secret wedding sounded like a brilliant thing to do and I wish you both well :)

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I really appreciate good comments - who doesn't? - but due to a recent tide of spam from anonymous readers all comments will now be moderated, and only those with a direct bearing on this blog will be published. I'm sure my regular blog readers/commenters will understand the need for this - and to anyone whose comment isn't published, you know why.

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