“ I won’t quit ‘till I’m a star” is a statement that most certainly doesn't apply to yours truly as my ambitions to be rich, famous or successful are non-existent. Just as well. It is however a line from ‘On Broadway’ by George Benson - an awesome tune - or choon as Craig Charles would say - that has undoubtedly been my song of the month having heard a remix on a podcast of the aforementioned DJ’s funk & soul show on Six Music. Various live versions of this fantastic hunk of funky jazz have tested the speakers of college minibus number 2 to the limits on the way back from Eastbourne many times over the last few weeks.
Talking of the college, I now have the dubious distinction of being the longest serving driver - five years and one term to be precise - following the departure of another colleague (and friend) at the end of term in circumstances the stench of which would make any fair minded person wrinkle their nose. Risk of reprisals forbid me from elaborating but it has all left a very nasty taste and it’s probably just as well the holidays have started.
If you’re wondering when (or if) I’ll get to the point, here it is. Sort of. We are away - in the caravan - and having had a busy lunchtime ‘researching’ in Burford I decided to forgo the opportunity to listen to Trev snoring preferring instead the aforementioned Mr Benson before bashing one out. A blog that is. Yes I know I’ve used that one before but I’m keen on recycling. Anyway, lets get cracking:
College duties finished Friday night after depositing a couple of bus loads of kids at Gatwick North Terminal for their trip to Sri Lanka. Our destination was nowhere more exotic than the local carvery which was short lived because they had ran out of er, meat. Another chain pub a few minutes along the coast came to the rescue although even there I felt as If I was a nuisance for having the temerity to order food AND drink. How inconvenient for them.
Saturday was free to get everything ready and departure came Sunday morning. With check-in at the site from 1pm there was none of the usual rush and it was gone 10am by the time we pulled out of the storage yard. Things went well until we joined the M25 - and things got better once we left it. The rest I won’t bore you with but our ageing Honda CRV Rosie performed admirably returning nearly 29mpg despite the stops and starts and liberal use of aircon. I will never love driving this car - it’s just too dull - but dull is good when your towing and she does that very very well, doesn't go wrong (touch wood) and passed a recent MOT with no drama. Her clutch, which has given us cause for concern recently behaved itself.
I don’t know how Trev came across this site on the ‘net - but I’m mighty glad he did - it’s terrific. Easy to find, just 25 spacious pitches, adult only and all importantly (for us anyway) decent WiFi. Add to that it’s just a few minutes walk to the centre of Burford - and a few more back given the hill - and it’s only eighteen quid a night including electric. We even have our own fresh water tap. This wont be our last visit to Wysdom Touring Park.
Attentive blog readers will know that we’ve stayed in the Cotswolds before - the first time back in 2013 in only a second year of caravanning and in 2015 for Twittercamp, both at the Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan & Motorhome Club site - our next destination. So whilst we can’t in anyway say we’ve ‘done’ the Cotswolds’, we have seen a fair bit of them and there was no urgency to get out and explore. Given the heatwave, just as well.
We’ve not been entirely idle though. First up was a run back along the A40 into Witney, to pick up a replacement charging lead for Trev’s Galaxy Tab - quite remarkably the only thing so far that’s made it on the ‘ things we forgot to pack’ list.
Burford has had the dubious pleasure of several incursions by the Blogger in Black and Portly Partner and I am delighted to report that the burgers from butchers W.J Castle in the main drag are every bit as good as they were five years ago. We have, during our time visited nine pubs here - all in the interests of research obviously - thanks to the sites' proximity - and something we didn’t do last time. Look out for our next Sunday Night Natter on YouTube where we give the verdict on our favourite.
Just a couple of miles from the site is Cotswold Wildlife Park and that was the focus of our attention on Tuesday. It’s years since I’ve been to a zoo, never mind a wildlife park but thoroughly enjoyed it. From the stunning walled garden with the Lemur walk to the White Rhinos basking in the fields it was fantastic. We spent far longer than we originally intended but could easily have made a day of it. Ironically, this won’t be the only such visit on this trip as our fourth stop is at Longleat but this has reawakened my enthusiasm considerably.
Todays outing - before the aforementioned research - was to a (shudder) garden centre. Even approaching 47 I feel I’m not yet old enough to engage in such activities and looking around the the Burford Garden Centre today confirmed that. When Trev suggested lunch there I swiftly steered him to the exit. I jest of course (well a bit) but the mental scars of seemingly interminable visit’s to such establishments accompanying Trev’s Mum are still evident. I have to admit though, this was one was very impressive. They even had some plants and shrubs in amongst the jams, gin and handbags….
So, that was part one. A predicted storm has not materialised but it is a little cloudy and certainly cooler. Not quite cool enough for a long leather coat though…
Right, until Part 2 - thanks as always for reading - if you’ve made it this far.
Cheers & (rather too many ) Beers
Rich & Trev.