Jacqui & Neil PM
Arrived at Peterborough after a reasonable journey nothing special just road works everywhere.
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Parked up almost level. Aldi pizza for dinner, tried the new oven trays out, seemed to work well.
The gas is still lasting on the calorlite bottle which was supposed to be empty 2 trips ago, sure there will be a midnight changeover again.
Set the awning up in the back garden, to give it a clean and spray some sealant over the seams as we think they were leaking whilst in Chester.
Treacles tearoom not Costa, supporting the local small business, rather than the large corporate monster.  Found a part shave headed Cole(ridge) working upstairs, following the music route and still happy.
Paid cheque in Natwest found it irritating, did not remember my pin so rather than using machine, queued and waited for cashier.  First request, can you insert your card, am i going to need my pin I say, yes they respond, oh blast.  Had to login to keep2pass to find the PIN, basically a waste of 5 minutes queueing up.
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Planned to leave thursday morning to spend the weekend with Motorhomefun at the Chester food and lifestyle festival, camping on Chester racecourse.
First job check tyre pressures after finding the drivers rear tyre a bit low last week. They had dropped over the week to about 68, probably due to me checking the pressure everyday. Decided to top the pressure up to 75, what I believe it should be. Got the Fix & Go compressor out, made sure switched to compressor not the Fix, pumped up the 4 tyres no problems but on the last tyre noticed some white spots on the ground. When I picked up the compressor discovered that the fluid was coming from the other tube it appears that the fix and go fluid has decided to open up. It is very fluid and sticky and tricky to stop, if you unwind the fluid pipe then there is a button which releases the fluid canister, after doing this I was able to stop the leak and start the cleanup of the compressor wire case and tubes.
TIP: if you use the Fix&Go compressor remove the cannister first.
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Spent New Year at Sandringham CC site, was frosty but no real snow, days were clear and Sunny. Â Being right next to the estate grounds it is a real paradise for dog walkers.
Would return.
Drove to Thorpe-le-Soken on the Friday afternoon to the Essex Gourmand evening, an event organised by BreweryDave from MHF, parked up in a site just outside the village 10 minute walk, site probably took 12 vans, Dave packed in about 25, virtually all with electric.
Met lots of people for the first time, can remember the following names:
Everybody was very friendly and as it was a much smaller group than a rally, you actually got to speak to people.
First night we had some dinner and walked down to the local which was a social club nearby, this was memorable as we met up with some people and chatted and we did not take Geza, he  was left in the van (first time).
Next day, walked the dogs and then went off with DavidG58 and Cliffandger to the seaside by rail with the dogs, Geza not entirely sure about the train but managed, loved the beach though as always.  Fish and Chips outside.
Headed back and rested and then headed out to the Olive Tree Bistro for dinner, very nice, turned out it was Howie’s Birthday so we all helped him eat a cake arranged by Dave and Kath.
Headed home on the Sunday, after making some new friends that I know we shall meet again.
Went to a Picnic Cinema show of Close Encounters of the Third Kind in Cannock Chase, at the Tackaroo forestry campsite.
The site was almost deserted when we turned up it is a heavily wooded area with lots of flat areas in amongst the tree, generally there is just water and waste available no other facilities. Â As the event was on that had provided portaloo toilets, which were mostly full and gross.
The show a song and dance act, quiz etc  started at about 7:30 and the film kicked off about 8:45pm, quite cold but no rain (thankfully).
A very enjoyable evening, for the right film we would do it again.
Bucketed down overnight, really pitied the people in tents (most were), we were the only MH, there was one caravan and a couple of Campervans.
Next morning we had the place to ourselves almost.
Dropped Mother in Law off in Northampton, then headed off to Wigrams Canalside, CS in Napton on the Hill near Southam.
Wigrams is at the end if a long track there are 2 camping fields one long and thin, the other quite large especially for only 5 vehicles, EHU scattered around the edge, water and waste available at the side of the field entrance, the toilet block has 1 toilet and sink, 1 shower toilet and sink and a single sink.
Paid 15 pounds for one night (Bank Holiday weekend), with EHU (although not needed), it is a great location at the junction of Oxford and Grand Union canals, also Locks, Cafe and a Marina nearby.  Short walk, 15 minutes, is the Kings Head, booked a table via OpenTable online for the evening, could not fault it had great food and quick service a very pleasant surprise.
It was the first time we have been away in the van without the dog, had decided to leave him at home as we were going to the Picnic Cinema, Cannock Chase the next evening and felt it was unfair to leave him in the van. Â Any way apart from the van seeming really spacious and quiet without him, we got on really well and enjoyed our first CS stop.
We liked the environment, facilities and location, the only sour point was the toilet drains were full or blocked as liquid waste was leaking out across the entrance road, not a major issue but not pleasant.
No internet, but the Wifi kit worked well and we had a solid connection via BT FON, really impressed with the new antenna.
Big show, lots and lots of Motorhomes, loads of clubs and even bigger general area. We counted 3 venues in the evening, big stages, lots of music and sadly dancing, people dressed for the occasion. Fortunately having the dog we did not have to enter into the spirit of things.
Huge number of stalls laid out in a way to confuse. But everything and everybody there, we spent too much.
We bought:
We could have bought:
It works, phone tablet and computer 3 poor connections, switch kit on 26 connections available, BT appeared not there previously.
Need to work at how to fix the antenna as the magnetic base is useless on Aluminium or GRP bodywork, suction cups and cable ties.  Settings for the various 3/4G dongles need to be worked out as do the settings for the BT Wifi, but it is difficult to do any when the signals are poor have to wait for next trip.