August 13 & 14th. How Carol drove ‘over the hill’ and how Harry found a little friend (or two).

We were going out for the day (of course, August 13 – Friday or not, and Carol wasn’t working) so when we were all set and Harry was out of the garden and on the road, I went back to close the gates  (doors?) or fetch something, or something, came back to the van to find Carol installed IN THE DRIVING SEAT! with a look that said “what you going to do about that, then?”.  So I asked “ Are you driving?” “Well, Jack said ‘if you don’t drive it, you wont drive it.” (Jack? Instructor from last week – see chapter 7) So she did – thru King’s Meaburn and up to Orton Scar, down thru Orton and on to Tebay where we stopped for sandwiches. She even parked it – backwards! (Ripple of applause, please; thank you.)

Anyway, where were we going? The weather was not inviting us to go cruising on Coniston which we might have done, so we went and bought a car instead. Well, wives like little birthday presents, don’t they? Day before, I just happen to have looked at the Citroen dealer in Kendal’s website and found a red C1 with only 100 miles on the clock offered at £1,500 below new price. Actually it’s only done 73, and that was driving it up from Blackpool. It’s an ex-demonstrator, but hardly been used. Too good to miss. So that’s that. Deposit paid, pick it up next Monday. Then we need to decide finally how to attach it to Harry! (‘A’ Frame or Trailer – Carol’s fully genned up on rules and weights and braking systems and everything – too much to think about!)

That sorted we went up to Ashes Lane (Scenic lay-by overlooking Stavely) for coffee and cake, complete with candle and a full harmony “Happy Birthday” assisted down the phone by Rachel and friends and relayed thru the TomTom. Then after a bit if dithering we settled on a meal at Rastelli’s – favourite Italian restaurant in Bowness, where we’ve been occasional visitors for over 25 years (well, 24 in Carol’s case).

Rachel and friends, Jane and her 8-year-old Grandson, Luke, were camped at Coniston Hall, which is a curious sort of ‘full circle’ co-incidence, because that’s where our whole camping thing began! Me and little Rachel, aged about 11, ( get lost, pedants! – I know that should be ‘Rachel and I’) in a tiny tent, camping because she was too young to use a Youth Hostel without a same-sex adult!  Anyway, unluckily for Carol, because the weather was much better, she was working on the 14th (but not for long, now!) so I took Harry and THE BOAT thru the Lake District to meet the Campers and have an afternoon on the Lake. There was one bad moment on the way when I had to emerge from St. John’s onto the A591 completely blind to the right and carved someone up, and another on the way back when SATNAV would have taken me down a width restricted lane, so we do need to find a motorhome friendly package to download. But basically a good time was had by all – and those who had sung down the phone the day before got a share of the cake – and I got a share of the Spag. Bol. – thanks, Jane!