We had two events in a week at the Rugby Club, the weather forecast was excellent, we needed to go to a C&CC site to get a stamp for an age concession rate and we needed a rest, so a very short hop for a short break in Cambridge seemed like a good idea.
The Control Panel 12v switch is still playing up and it wouldn't turn on when we collected the van from the farm. We had visions of using the van like a tent, with no water pump and lights (we had heating and fridge) but, suddenly, it turned on later on the Tuesday afternoon. We left it on all trip....
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| The rogue Control Panel |
On Wednesday afternoon we trundled down to the site and arrived 4 minutes early. Being the C&CC you cannot check in until 1300hrs precisely, so we waited for 4 minutes then checked in. It was sunny weather so we tried sitting outside the van, but the wind was a strong northerly and, despite the sun, we soon got chilled, so we retired to the van and dossed around/dozed for a couple of hours before changing and catching the Number 7 bus to the club for a 1stXV dinner. Well, that was the plan anyway. We were slightly delayed when, as we left the site, a great fat pigeon decided that it would drop a massive load onto her jacket. We had to detour to the newsagent for water and tissues and made sure we bought a lottery ticket for that evening (we won a £5 lucky dip - big deal). The dinner itself was a great event and we enjoyed a fabulous meal and a briefing from the new coach, Craig Newby. We are looking forwards to next season already! Luckily, Laura and Steve gave us a lift back to the campsite as Cambridgeshire's useless buses don't tend to run after 2200hrs.
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| Bloody Pigeon! |
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| Craig Newby (and Jonny Bear) |
We had a bit of a lie in on Thursday, then caught the No7 back into Cambridge where she bought yet another pair of shoes in Timberland. We lunched in the Brewdog, had an ice cream in Jaks, had a bit of a mooch around then caught the bus home. Despite the promised sunshine it remained cool and cloudy all day.
Surely the useless Met Office must get a forecast right once in a while? It was due to be warmer and sunnier on Friday and we wanted to spend time in the University Botanical Gardens. It was cold and cloudy and the cafe in the gardens looked a bit uninviting, so we had a very quick look around with an aim of going back later if the weather improved. We walked into Cambridge, fought the thousands of tourists, had a nice lunch in the Pickerel where we noticed the barmaid placing a few coins in the mantel. She told us that if she didn't do this whenever the landlord left the premises then the long-dead landlady would cause problems. All very weird! Back to the Botanical Gardens for a longer look around, then on to the marvellous Cambridge Blue pub for a couple of pints before heading for home.
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| Pickerel - hole in the mantel |
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| Botanic Gardens |
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| The ceiling of the wonderful Cambridge Blue pub |
Saturday was match day against the awful Bedford Blues, and our last home game of the season. We enjoyed a splendid breakfast in the garden centre then headed to the ground. The match was frustrating. We were in it for the first half, despite the best efforts of the crap referee, but out patched together squad couldn't hold out and we lost once again, Roll on next season.
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| Botanic Gardens |
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| Egret on Coe Fen |
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| Cows on Coe Fen |
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| Hobson's Folly on the River Cam |
Sunday it was up, pack and home before 10am.
On Wednesday the van is due to have it's MOT and cambelt change - ouch!
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