England

Wales looked so well with the blossoms of the rape creating fields of yellow carpets and the tender green buds on the trees.  There were lovely old white washed houses with rough walls along the quiet roads and the farmers were busy in their fields and out and about in their tractors.

I took the long road down to Taunton in Somerset to visit friends Christine and Bob who live in a lovely old house (1820’s) that has so many interesting nooks, crannies and tiny rooms.  It is decorated beautifully and very comfy.  This is the first time I have ever been in this part of England and am most unused to the busy motor ways and the amount of traffic all around Cardiff and Bristol.  Earlier all through Wales there were many tempting little places to stop but on the motor way one just keeps going – not even hard shoulders so no nice break or a chance to check the map.  That’s one of the problems about driving alone.

LIMISTER, SOMERSET

Great Dinner

My next stop was not too far away just to Liminster where my friend Chris lives.  We meet up in Chiang Mai, Thailand every year.  She lives in another beautiful old stone cottage where we had a most excellent, convivial meal with seven of her friends.  Chris is an artist and has surrounded herself with great colours and paintings.  I’m being spoiled.  Afterwards we all went to a play and returned for a lovely dessert and yet more wine:)

SLEEPING IN BRANDY

ROSSLARE HARBOUR

The first night sleeping in the camper is cool and not too great.  The port of Rosslare loomed up dark and deserted. There were no other people parked there and no facilities for campers.  Strange, I expected more from a busy port but then I have never had a camper before.    I decided to go for a pint and the nice barman said he wouldn’t notice if I just parked and slept outside so crawled in for a short night’s sleep before taking the early ferry to Fishguard in Wales.  The day started well with sun shine and calm seas and the Stena Line ferry was large and nice.  Settled in with a good coffee for the three and a half hour crossing.

Hello to Wales

BRANDY ON THE MOVE

THE START

I've finally done it - since I'm getting older I was ages wondering how to continue having an adventurous old age so now I have bought a new VW California Camping van in Ireland and the plan is to meander in it for the months that I am not in Chiang Mai, Thailand - my other home.   I'm not thinking of driving an awful lot as I love to let the day fall on me so the thought is to just see one European country per year and try to learn the language and culture there staying just in one area for as long as I am enjoying it.  To stay in little villages more than the cities and to have lots of time to absorb, to feel and enjoy.  I'm looking forward to the sun, the freedom, the food, the vino and meeting old and new friends

First Day

I've named the new camper Brandy and am now all packed up and hopefully have not forgotten anything important  as I don’t plan to return to Ireland until Oct.

 Goodbye to the house and Kenmare and off for Rosslare in the south east of Ireland to catch a ferry to Wales.  The plan is to go to a meeting of enthusiastic owners of these wonderful vans who have a forum known as the “Cali Club” and they are getting together in Sussex in the south of England next weekend.  There should be up to 100 of these vehicles at the largest get together ever in these parts so I will be able to get lots of tips for my new lifestyle.

Happy New Year 2013.  There's always an optimistic feeling on the first day of the year.  A hope of a good year with happy surprises, unexpected opportunities, governments concerned about their people creating jobs, giving bankers their due rather than bonuses and huge severance payments, cities caring about little businesses and helping them to stay afloat instead of building more and more shopping centers with multinational chain stores.  Experiences of past years and world greediness does not dim the hopes for the brand new year, just maybe this year will really be different.
Life feels good these days in sunny Chiang Mai.  I love going over to the nearby market in the mornings - it starts at 5 am but I go later.  There's such life there, fruit sellers, every kind of vegetable and herbs, squirming fish, prawns and shrimp, chickens, meat, eggs, flowers, drinks, noodle soup, big smiles everywhere and people joking.  Thai people are also great for just sleeping whenever they feel like it so saw three men in as many minutes snoozing as contentedly as if they were in bed instead of flat on the ground.  One lady vendor wanted me to share her beer at 9 am.  I come home with mango, papaya, a bunch of fresh flowers and my daily coconut.

Chiang Mai Dec '12

December '12
 I love it here.  I'm settled in to a lovely, small, Thai guesthouse down a side lane in the old city.  It is named Chedi View and indeed I can see a very old Chedi from my window - a most venerated part of the temple named Wat Chedi Luang.  It is lit up at night and gives a glow to the surroundings.  This house has many balconies and so I am outside a lot listening to the birds while I have my several cups of tea each morning.  There's a large outdoor kitchen and seating areas all around the place.  There are only about 12 rooms and the guests feel like a happy family.  Certainly the owners ( both of whom were teachers and speak English) do their best to make all of us feel very much at home.  What a lucky find and at such a reasonable price so I will keep it on all year and not have to pack up any more:)
I have posted a few pictures of my new little room above.