Windy fun
We have had a great time this weekend away with Graham and Beth at Norham, just West of Berwick. After Graham and Jim had repaired some minor damage to the caravan on Saturday morning we hit the road North. The bank holiday weekend traffic was surprisingly light and we made good time to the camp site.
Once the caravan had been maneuvered into position there was just the simple task of erecting the awning before we could hit Berwick for some lunch. If it were only that simple. The random collection of poles and hooks proved to be quite a challenge… a mere 45 minutes later the awning was up but not pegged down because of the mix of concrete and rock like soil it was sitting on… this later proved a fatal mistake.
Berwick is a great little town and the town walls provide some fantastic views of the coast. We ate and watched what turned out to be Roeder’s final game in charge of Newcastle before stocking up on supplies and heading back to our little home.
After a sleep for Andrea (she is still not well) and cards for the rest, we went to our local for a meal. It was a sumptuous feast! Really fantastic pub food. mmmm. We then retired to the mobile unit for drinks, Cranium and more cards.
As the caravan is a single room affair the awning was mine and Andrea’s roof for the night, beneath which we had a little two man dome tent. All would have been fine if it wasn’t for some exceptionally strong winds. At 3am we woke to the flapping sound of an awning gone wrong. One of the poles had come down, its anchor to the caravan forceably removed by the wind. Graham and I scoured the camp site for more breeze blocks to weigh the sides down while the girls huddled in the caravan.
The morning brought the realisation that water had pooled in the roof of the awning and poured onto the bottom of our bed. We hastily tried to further secure the awning in the increasing morning wind. Opening the door wasn’t a good idea in hindsight. Luckily Graham was clinging to the awning at the moment it decided life of on the ground was not what it wanted. The thing took off, flipped and crunched in a heap with the Andrea and Graham prone inside. The offending item was hastily removed and stuffed into the boot.
On a windy day such as Sunday you might as well head to somewhere which is always windy. Holy island did not disappoint. The gale force winds did not spoil the beauty of the place and we had a great day seeing the castle, priory and landscape. Beth and Graham stayed a second night as the wind was too strong to drive back towing their mobile home. Hopefully they will be able to make it back today! 
Click on the piccy above to see the photos from our weekend.
John and Andrea.
May 8th, 20077:47 am at
Well Im glad the camping trip lived up to your expectations!!!
We may be buying a car (well I would like to buy one anyway) it’s $3500 1997 Nissan Centra, manual. It’s from a family from school. Fingers Crossed.
Love you Guys, From Andrea (and Wattie)
May 9th, 20078:10 am at
P.S did i see Graham with a Jack Daniels T shirt!
May 9th, 20078:54 am at
Not a fan of the Jack?
Does that mean you are going to get rid of the little blue car?!
Poor little fella…
May 10th, 20076:33 am at
Oh thank goodness!… I thought i was the only one here!
that car got sold, the night she was gona bring it home… stink!
Had beakfast with work at a the stadium this morning, a timber company put it on VERY good!
going out for tea at saraha tent for cathrines birthday
pig hunting this weekend, hopfuly get some more footage for ya! I showed mum and dad the last lot and they left the room! ??? It wasnt that bad?
May 10th, 20079:26 am at
Hi Watson, no you’re not alone, it’s just I haven’t anything interesting to say!
I do my pig hunting at Morrisons, the local supermarket!
Hope all’s well over there.
Dave
May 10th, 20072:21 pm at
I got my hair cut yesterday…does that count as interesting?
Beth is making me play netball
I am VERY Sore
Am having a great week at school.
Hope the Wandrea’s find a new car to buy.
Am only feeling slightly guilty that I blew up the mazda that was destined for you guys
SORRY
Luv Kiwi
May 10th, 20072:23 pm at
WATSON - Don’t forget that it’s mothers day on Sunday!
What would you do without me???
May 11th, 20074:59 pm at
I took Butch for a long walk around the cemetery today and when I got home I painted Laura’s wardrobes.
Now that’s interesting
May 12th, 20072:41 pm at
May 12th, 200710:19 pm at
how watson, how you doing? I’m on john’s beast of a machine at the moment so I hope this shows this as me, now, Its been brought to my attention that I may fall into the bogan category, could you please elaborate on this? and I will hunt you like a pig hehe, oh ansd I hear you got wrong off andrea U for leaving a naughty word on here hehehe
May 12th, 200710:20 pm at
I mean my jajk daniels t-shirt, j-d rocks!!
May 14th, 20079:30 am at
J-d rocks u said it all right there Ewan Gilmore
if u said southern comfort it would be ok coz that a cowboys drink!
Police are coming round on friday to check out my firearm stroage facilitys and to renew my licence, now thats interesting!
Weve been painting too dave, windows, doors n stuff painful job eh! going to have a big weekend on the house this weekend so no hunting
May 15th, 20072:57 pm at
Hi Guys!
Graham won’t know who Ewan Gilmore is Wats…I do tho…Tee hee hee
Plus I think the boys are off Jack after last weekend
I am off work cos I have lost my voice
Really should learn sign language.
People over here won’t understand about the Kiwi males obsession with hunting and firearms, you might come off a little crazy
Hope you guys are good.
Wats you’ll need to send photos of your place…we miss you guys.
love Us X
May 15th, 20077:32 pm at
Hey I don’t think Watson is crazy. Running around the woods shooting at piggies seems pretty normal. Happens all the time in Newcastle, just substitute the word piggies for Sunderland supporters
Andrea, would you like to pay us a visit soon when Mary’s home
Hopefully your lost voice will be passed on to Mary
Ahh peace perfect peace
May 17th, 20077:10 am at
Yeah the Ewan Gilmore was for you andrea!
Crazy or Passionate…. Hmmm.
Freeky we are painting the brick on da house in da weekend
dont tell m&d they will fing out sooner or later just wait till its painted if ya know what i mean. Looks like the main colour is Napa and the base and sills will be Mondo and round the windows will be Blanc have a look on resene.co.nz for colours will send photos
we pulled up carpet in master bedroom just trying to find space for all da crap off the floor
it not easy wen u gotta empty 3 rooms to do carpet???
Take care u’s!!!!! love the Wandys!
May 23rd, 20076:14 am at
Hi guys where was your camp america place? coz Caroline andreas sister is going to one in Main. that sounded like were u’s were, she goes in a month for 4 months
we booked in at da Calton in auckland for a night on Queens birthday and dinner up skytower in da revolving food place! prety cool!
Slater! lov us
May 23rd, 20077:55 am at
YAY!!!!!
That sounds like sooo much fun. I hope you’re not frittering away your travel fund living the life of luxury
Our camp was just south of Boston, in Duxbury, Mass. I did go up to Maine a bunch of times and I even visited a couple of camps.
She is gonna have the BEST time
We are all good. We are off to the big scout camp this weekend. Last night we drove up to the site to pitch our tent. Looks like it’s gonna be MASSIVE! John and Graham got much enjoyment from messing with the sheep…City boys
Hope everyone is good.
Loads a Love, US
May 23rd, 20077:56 am at
Oooops, that was Kiwi.
Just realised I was logged in as The John
May 23rd, 200710:23 am at
I would have thought that John would have stayed well clear of the sheep after watching that NZ film BLACK SHEEP (I’ll never have a lamb chop again!)
Our Vaporetto cleaner arrived via Ebay yesterday. It looks brand new (only supposed to have been used once) We got it for £75 plus £12 postage and it’s selling for £499 at John Lewis! Now that’s a bargain!
Watch out for those evil sheep at the weekend.
Dave
May 24th, 20076:46 am at
Never say never Dave! Lamb is the sweetest of all the meats!!
Oh I would have been right there with the boys sounds like a great time!
What da hang is a Vaporetto cleaner? if it is a small Italian woman that is a good deal!
Have good weekend guys, we doin house stuff on sat and i’m going for a pig hunt on sun
Love us
May 24th, 20075:24 pm at
I like the idea of an Italian woman but it’s a lot more boring than that Watson
It’s a cleaner that uses the pressure of steam to clean. We borrowed one to clean John and Andrea’s flat and were very impressed. It comes with all sorts of attachments to clean windows, cookers, floors, furniture, carpets (ok i’m getting boring now
)
The weather forecast for the weekend isn’t promising so don’t forget your brollies and wellies John and Andrea.
Oh the joys of the British weather
June 19th, 20078:54 pm at
Frosty over here guys, very frosty. Nice days though!
Bethlehem interschool visit today. Exams and reports just finished :cool!
Mum has a release day today to do nets.
Love the photos and chat above
Luv us