Motorhome trip No38 : 12th-14th July 2019

NOTTS (home)->Sherwood Forest Holiday Park, Nottinghamshire ->NOTTS (home) 59 miles

A fab time with all the family at the campsite, in a lovely setting with many amenity blocks and playgrounds for the grand daughters. Also a lovely raised stream walk around the edge of the park backing onto Sherwood Forest. Outside the far end gate is a fishing lake and inside a duck pond and stream for kids to paddle in.

Nearby is Sherwood Pines and the Sherwood Forest steam railway and associated playpark both of which we visited.

We camped on pitch 1 and 2 at the far end of the park, lovely large grass pitches but the place was heaving , not a slot left so well done to Craig for booking. It was the first time they had put up their 8 person tent with awning so that was a fun family experience with all chipping in. Mostly good weather except overnight Saturday. We had lasagne and garlic bread for Friday eve, BBQ Saturday and lunch old at the nearby fab Dog & Duck Inn in Kings Clipstone.

We did the Gruffalo orienteering course thru the Sherwood Pines woods with varying degrees of success… the girls loved the assorted wooded play parks, and minus granny and granddad they all did the Green route cycle track.

It was so nice having Doug and family over from Singapore to be able to do this.

If you would like to see slideshow of our fun please CLICK HERE, thanks

If you wish to see the rest of the fun we had whilst they visited CLICK HERE

If you wish to look at our complete set of UK Campsite stays click HERE, thanks

Not the Motorhome trip No7 : 10th December 2018 – 10th January 2019

NOTTS->Gatwick to Singapore to China to Singapore ->NOTTS 19,346 miles

Spent Christmas and New Year with Doug , Phoenix & Charlie in Singapore and China. Wonderful times and so nice to be able to spend so long with them all.

It should be noted that the concept of Motor homing in Singapore (not big enough, but tent camping is possible in East Coast Park) and China (just culturally so foreign to their nature) is unlikely but who is to say in the future whether or not it will happen. When our daughter-in-laws parents visited us in the UK way back when and I showed her father around our Wendy House he asked if English people lived in them. This trip allowed us the opportunity to repay the visit by spending time with them in their home town of Foshan, Guandong province, China and most welcome they made us too. It is fair to say that language is a barrier but Phoenix and Charlie (as interpreters) and a snazzy app on the iPad meant we could communicate just a little. We loved China, what an opportunity, not somewhere I suggest westerners try without some language skills and WeChatPay and Alipay or a whole stack of cash. Most purchases are via the aforesaid app via your phone!

We were extremely lucky travelling with Norwegian from Gatwick to Changi that we got a Premier economy upgrade, the extra comfort and luxury made the 14+ hours journey to Singapore a whole lot better. Top films in my humble opinion – Hoover by Clint Eastwood (way out), Bad times at the El Grande (way back)

We went to Balalaki Greek Taverna in the historic Tiong Bahru heritage area for Doug’s birthday, and very nice it was too, plus a revisit to Muddy Murphy’s for Xmas dinner, although a new venue this time at the other end of Orchard Road.

We flew out to China the day after Boxing day and spent time in Foshan, Guangzhou and Zhuhai (on the border with Macao). Such an experience, loved every moment. We celebrated Annes’ 65th birthday there at a local village wedding and the Western New Year (clearly not Chinese New Year.. 2019 being the year of the Pig).

We returned to Marine Terrace, Singapore on the 4th and made good use of the pool etc at Nora & Michaels at Cote D’Azur near Parkway Parade before sadly saying our good byes and returning home to a somewhat cooler UK. Singapore was 34c, China sometimes 3c and UK 6c

Among the many highlights in Singapore apart from seeing family were the Q8 at SAM , Singapore Art Museum's spin off for new Artists (the old colonial art museum is currently closed for refurbishment for 3 years), this is located at Bras Basah, The Singapore Heritage Museum, Muddy Murphys in Orchard Road, The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in Chinatown, Parkway Parade, the ever wonderful East Coast park, Cote D'azur pools, Tiong Bahru heritage area, Gardens by the bay, Asian civilisation museum, Cavenagh bridge area of the Singapore river and the Paranakan Museum and restaurant in Armenian Street.

Among the many highlights of our time in China I would list shop and chop house establishments, Starry Four Seasons Hotel, Lingnan quarter, Lion dancing, old orange peel, turtle soup, Zumiao museum, firecrackers, Titian village family wedding, Annies 65th, Nanfeng ancient kiln, Ming & Qing pottery, the Canton or Pearl river, Guangzhou south station (so busy), High speed trains, Yuwenquan hot springs resort, Macao boat trip, MGM studios (Macao),Tea, Dim Sum, cantonese food, deep fried scorpion, gooses intestines, worms, beef knuckle, Hong kong-zhuhai-macao bridge, Cold and Warmth, Rickshaws, Paw-Paw & Gong-Gong, straw hats, Air B&B, Chen Clan academy, Starbucks, Guandong museum, Fans & western trade historically, Canton Tower, young chinese girls wanting their photo with me (what an ego boost ;) ), Buddha in many forms, chinese weighing scales, crocodile and goat, buttons and zips.

Looking forward to the next family meet up, “missing you already”

Longer term 2020 Beijing for 600th anniversary of the Forbidden city but hopefully also before then!

If you wish to see the SLIDESHOWS CLICK HERE, thanks

Not the Motorhome trip No6 : 26th May – 12th June 2018

Doug and Phoenix and Charlie visited from Singapore to the UK in May / June 2018. Luckily Craig, Leanne & Edie were off for the 1st week so were able to join in. Such lovely family times. We visited amongst others Supernan, Legoland Windsor, White Post Farm, Twycross Zoo, Strawberry Fields Forever, Heights of Abraham, Bolsover Castle, The Luminarium, Sawley Marina.... such wonderful family times !!!!

If you want to see the full saga of events CLICK HERE, thanks

Not the Motorhome Trip No.6 5th Feb - 12 Mar 2018

This was our 40th Wedding Anniversary Cruise to the Azores, Carribean & Lower US States including Louisiana, Florida & South Carolina. We encountered Storm Riley on the way back meaning we had 10 days at sea instead of stopping at our 2nd Azores island on the way back.

We had a fun time despite being ill for quite a while and loved our Atul Kutcher meal on the 25th in the Benares offshoot on board called Sindhu.

We sailed 12,865 land miles across the Atlantic on our journey. To see that in more detail go to the CRUISE18 tab on the website

I have also included a copy of the Captains Log Star date 11th March 2018 ;) plus the very 1st days internal "newspaper" and here is the Medevac video on Day 34 , scary CLICK HERE

Feb 2021: All images from Blogs 68-145 now available in responsive code, click HERE

Proof we crossed the Atlantic

Itinerary

Booking Reference: WLHK2R

KEITH HELLINGER No Loyalty Tier: POFP78081M

ANNE HELLINGER No Loyalty Tier: POFP78085Y

Cruise

Number: N803 Ship: Ventura Duration: 35 Nights

Cabin Number: A517 Category: Inside Cabin Deck: A

Bed Configuration: Queen

Dress: Dress Codes for your Cruise: 10 Black Tie Nights, 25 Evening Casual Nights POSH or WHAT

Itinerary

05 February Day 1 Southampton Dining:Freedom

Embark Ventura

06 February Day 2 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

07 February Day 3 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

08 February Day 4 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

09 February Day 5 Ponta Delgada Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart early evening

Fire Lakes and Mountains Excursion 09:00

10 February Day 6 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

11 February Day 7 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

12 February Day 8 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

13 February Day 9 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

14 February Day 10 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

15 February Day 11

Barbados Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart early evening

Coast to Coast Excursion 09:00

16 February Day 12 Guadeloupe Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart early evening

Botanical Garden & Paradise Excursion 08:30

17 February Day 13 Antigua Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart afternoon

Antigua Island Sights Excursion 08:45

18 February Day 14 At Sea Dining:Freedom

Arrive early afternoon

Depart evening

19 February Day 15 Ocho Rios Dining:Freedom

Arrive early afternoon

Depart early evening

Bob Marley by Zion Bus Excursion 12:30

20 February Day 16 Montego Bay Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart early evening

21 February Day 17 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

22 February Day 18 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

23 February Day 19 New Orleans Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Overnight In Port

24 February Day 20 New Orleans Dining:Freedom

Depart afternoon

25 February Day 21 Sea Day

Table For 2 in Sindhu at 19:00

26 February Day 22 Key West Dining:Freedom

Arrive morning

Depart afternoon Possible Tender - No Harbourside

27 February Day 23 Port Everglades Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart early evening

Snapshot of Miami Excursion 09:45

28 February Day 24 Port Canaveral Dining:Freedom

Arrive early morning

Depart afternoon

01 March Day 25 Charleston Dining:Freedom

Arrive morning

Charming Charleston Panoramic Excursion 09:30 Overnight In Port

02 March Day 26 Charleston Dining:Freedom

Depart early afternoon

03 March Day 27 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

04 March Day 28 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

05 March Day 29 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

06 March Day 30 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

07 March Day 31 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

08 March Day 32 Sea Day (see below)

Praia DA Vitoria Dining:Freedom

Arrive morning

Depart afternoon

South Island Sights and Angra Excursion 09:45

Sadly NOT Possible due to Storm Riley so day at Sea

09 March Day 33 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

10 March Day 34 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

11 March Day 35 Sea Day Dining:Freedom

12 March Day 36 Southampton

Disembark

CAPTAINs LOG Star Date......