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The last post...

Pa-paaaaa. Pa-paaaaa. Pa-pa-pa-p-pa-pa-pa-pa-p-paaaaa.....etc

This is our last post. We are all set, the car is packed up and saving a theft of the motor we set out at first light (ha, ha girlies) for Cuenca. After a night there (or possibly two) we'll head for Andora and then on to Perpignan and Meze.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Love Pete, Jan, Jess, Beth and Amy-Jo

Thank you all for your Support

It was lovely to read all your supporting blogs this morning. Yes, as Nic says it is a reasonable price but nearly 20G more than we sold Willow Rise for, only 8 years ago. If we wanted to buy Willow Rise back, we would need £600,000. Stan and judy are sitting on a goldmine! We have been able to vist Julian twice, Peter three times and even Nic on one occasion. We have had one or two small parties here and you have all been here to visit us. Our most memorable party was on Boxing Day in 2003 when we celebrated our Golden Wedding. Cathy and Steve, being nearer have been here to stay, a few times and of course we have been to Wales and Oxford on many occasions. Perhaps we will do some exploring in and around Banbury, especially if the buses are free to us oldies!! Saw a lovely SPIDER yesterday in Ryde Julian. My friend Adrien had one once, now he has a 2 seater MG - lovely grub. See you all next week!!!!!!! Love from Mum and Dad

Dear Mum and Dad, we are pleased you have found what you want and an affordabe price. There appears to be enough scope for you with the lovely garden. I went to Kings Sutton in the years before leaving to come out here to have a look at a lovely old Triumph Daytona or something. You are also near to Lemington Spa on the train. I think you've done OK and hopefully those people in Kings Sutton will be kind to you.

Let us all know when you'll be moving and perhaps the Blogger might be an interesting place to post pictures of all those bits of furniture and the like you will be tossing away ( sob, my records).

Have a good holiday all, I nice to talk to you yesterday Cathy.

Hey, Da, chandeliers are in nowadays...

Couldn't you get him to rethink about giving the chandelier to his Grandson! They are the in item nowadays what with so many rich people not knowing what to do with their money. They make lots of them here in Spain and we have a shop down in La Marina that specialises in selling these mighty brass and crystal beasts. It's fun to look around but they wouldn't really fit inside our own little two up and two down. You can get nice farmhouse versions from the local rastros and second hand shops though.

As for the fire place, perhaps that one is better off going back to Ireland. It looks a little big for the lounge in the photos but then photos can be a little misleading. The garden looks lovely; a real country cottage feel - I like the old looking walls of the neighbouring houses. It's a little like a farmyard setting. Super doops. Only fly in the ointment could be those two steps leading from the conservatory to the garden but you can always make a plan if they need smoothing in some way. I'm good at knocking things down...it's putting things back up that remains the challenge.

Anyway, congratulations on securing such a pretty little house in such a convenient place (says we of the Oxfordshire connections) and in a lovely setting too and, I have to say, at what seems to me such a reasonable price. Perhaps the market is a little different nowadays but you must be only a short hop from Birmingham on the train which I would have thought would be a plus point.

So, congratulations from us over here. It may mean that we shoot back to the UK sometime soon to give you a hand moving and sorting, etc..

See you next week!

Pete, Jan and the girlies.

Small but prefectly formed.

Thankyou I found the pictures, the new place looks very sweet perhaps a little to sweet, as you say not quite to your taste, but I'm guessing that it won't take long to get it whipped into shape. And that is always a bit of fun if you don't have to do the whole house at once, it all looks pretty sound. Well done that man. I hope it all goes smoothly for you. love Cathyxxx

Kings Sutton

Sorry I seem to have cocked up the archives somehow, I will get around to fixing it at some point, meanwhile...Kings Sutton details

Congrats you two, it looks nicely laid out and trains wow!. julian

Kings Sutton

Hi, Cathy. If you clik on that 11/7 blog and klik on Kings Sutton it will show other aspects of the bungalow. It is only tiny, but big enough for us two. See you soon. You can tell John that we often stopped at Vichy, a Spa town on the river Allier, where they used to hold rowing championships anon, on the Allier. Otherwise we would book into an Ibis or Orbis hotel (2 or 3+) and ask them to book in the next town on your itinerary. Very useful. Bon voyage and don't forget to open rac.co.uk and download games for children in the car.

Kings Sutton

Are there any photos of the rest of the house anywhere on the net, the conservatry looks good. lots of love Cathy

Well, we have done it

Yesterday w had a day out to Kings Sutton, a charming little villge about 5 miles from Banbury to view a little bungalow which appeared on the blogger on 11th July. It's a "roses round the door" house with a lovely little back garden, two bedrooms and a lovely conservatory. Much smaller than Hazelbank, but with no stairs. We started he day at 809 by catching the bus to Ryde outside the house and the 945 FastCat ferry to Portsmouth Harbour, where we had booked right through to K.S. Aren't modern trains lovely. We changed at Southampton and caught the beautiful Virgin Line train to Oxford, swishing through the countryside via Winchester ((not Ed), Basingstoke and Reading and then on to Kings Sutton - yes, it has its own station. It also has a bus service to Banbury and perhaps to other local towns. If you look at Julian's post of the 11th July you will see what it looks like. We were so impressed - a lovely Irish fella named Richard is the incumbent and he made us feel very welcome, showing all the lovely things about the house which we may not otherwise have noticed. A beautiful 19ft long garage, professsionally built by Richard and his brother. A room one could live in if so inclined. All it wants is wallpaper and a carpet!. It has water laid on and the walls are dry-lined. The house is not decorated to our likes, but that is soon altered. A massive fire surround, brought over from Ireland which, thank God, he wants to take with him and the most awful ceiling chandelier which he has promised to his grandson. Following Steve's and Julian's, and also John's advice, we have decided to buy it and use it, not as Steve says as a family hotel, but as a place where will be happy with not much to do and hopefully a new HD telly to watch. I think this charming olde worlde village is on boadband and DAB radio, so we should be well catered for. We will obviously have to ditch a lot of our STUFF, so if anyone wants some, please shout. We will only need our bed and dining room furniture, plus something comfortable to sit on and we will be as happy as Larry. Never fear, oh lovely family, we wil still be able to make you a cuppa!! and it is not all that far from Oxford. I think the East Midlands airport is not all that far away, either. Trains from Cardiff to Oxford and change for the Banbury line will enable us to see you all again.

Cathy I think dad is probably the better person to ask as we always do it in one go, mobile phones should work fine but it is expensive both to receive and call - the european commission are looking into it! We are barely two hours away so we expect to see you a few times! It is very hot so bring lots of hats and sunscreen.

Hello all!

Isn't it getting exciting! All the Merrows and families starting their journeys to congregate at a single location (sorry you can't be there Nic and Jen) the mass migration.I feel like a salmon.
Kate and I have been on the school trip today to Skomer Island in St Brides Bay, we've been knee deep in Puffins,aren't they cute aaahhh, one was so close to Kate that it could have pecked her toes. But we had to set off from school at 7.25 so I forgot to take a hat, so I feel abit overcooked, and much worse neither John or I reminded the boys to slap on the sunscreen for their sports day and I think Thomas has a touch of sunstroke, I'm hoping he will be mended by morning
Julian I hope you and Ruth can manage to get over to the gites whilst we are all there, it will be such fun to see you. Also.........
Can you tell me anything about using our mobile phones in France? And......
Can you make any surrgestion about places/towns, villages which are worth a visit and or stay overnight on our return journey from Provence to Le Harve as we will have to break our journey or take care of a mutiny from the back seats, John is planning to book something tomorrow, no pressure as I have left it abit late to ask but he may delay, he has been doing a sterling job on holiday planning. Just if something comes to mind.

Quatorze Juillet

Happy Bastille Day. The official start of the French summer holidays, when everyone used to go to the seaside and leave Paris empty. Instead of going to the Channel seaside resorts, WE ARE GOING TO THE SOUTH Huzza

33 degrees in the shade...

Our new Peugeot says it was 33 in the shade outside today, so we are used to the heat, Gemma. Got my first sun burn in several years a few weeks back at the school swimming gala. Not nice, so make sure you bring lots of lotions and ointments.

Oh, and by the by, the car was not £15000. That was the interest you quoted on £300000 on deposit, Steve (...which one could then use, if one so wished, to buy amazing deals like our 8 year old car).

Thanks for the brief on everyone's plans. Sounds like it will be bit of a blast. We'll see what we can bring.

Great to hear you are okay Dad and will be fit for some swimming and frisby throwing. Better bring your nose guard, eh? Remember diving into that pool in Chobe?

Cath, we'll be travelling over the Pyrenees on Saturday morning I expect if we can find a camping spot on Friday night. We'll be looking out for you!

Love to everyone; we're all looking ahead to some good times.

Pedro.

Scorchio!

BBC weather says temperature in Sete today reached 38c degrees (that's 100 F). Ouch.

Glad to hear your good news Grandad - we'll bring the frisbee.

gem x

En route to Meze, via Montpellier.

Steve and family are setting out on Friday evening by Eurostar, but we are meeting Auntie June at her house on Tuesday/Wednesday, with a view to taxiing to Ashford Int station to catch the euro train to Paris on Thursday. we have a hotel booked in Montpellier for one night and depending on a variety of circumstances, we may get up to Bedoin or direct to gite land., but we intend to get to Meze on 22nd, if poss. Ruth's two half sisters will be in Bedoin on 27th and Julian hopes they will all get down to Meze before we all set off for UK again. Bring a couple of gallons of sangria and anything else you can stow in the back of the Peugot. You are right - it is eating, drinking, sleeping/swimming and merry-making. Roll on! We hope you enjoy your camping trip - don't be too adventurous, Pete. John, Cathy and children are doing the same as you, but from Portsmouth to Bilbao and on land from there to Meze. Log on to www.rac.com to download childen's car games. Rac Advert on the Classic FM
Looking forward to two birthdays, eh? Jan.

Hats in the air

excellent Dad brilliant news.. no promises for tomorrow but if I can get everything done..

The Surgeon is a lovely man

Went to the Professor's clinic this morning. He said nothing to worry about, but come back in 6 months time if the pain gets any worse. Keep walking short distances and resting and keep taking the cholesterol tablets and aspirin. I feel real good he has no worries about holidays, but do some exercise, like swimming etc. he said. LOL DAD

Thanks for the good wishes

We would love to see you at 31, Arundel close, Kings Sutton, but we thought you were heading south on Friday.
Like the new wheels, Pete and of course we love the beamer. Heyho I hope Meze is looking forward to meeting us all. Montpellier, here we come Keep your heads down on Eurostar!!, they are short of money (not the TGV though)
Don't mention ZZ - he was only defending his wife's and mother's honour! It WAS a bit public, though.

Good luck house hunting old beans

G&G
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

If all goes well on Friday will try to get up to see you at Kings Sutton so take your phone and have it switched on so I can get in touch!

do you want those chips?

it's mash!
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Click on image for more

Not a bad motor...

Okay, so I could publish a few pictures of cheap houses on the Costa Blanca but I personally prefer the idea of earning the £15000 to go shopping for great deals like this one!


Sorry, am I becoming boring? Hey but it was a great buy...look at that engine. It has never wobbled or budged, leaked oil or nuffin. Let's hope it stays that way!

Maravilloso! Nuestro nuevo coche....

Here are the new wheels...we went for a more conservative 306 diesel station wagon with 56k on the clock and it looks like the perfect find from our point of view. See you all soon!!

Mes Oncles

Julian, Clive's Mum & Dad have a wedding aniversary coming up (37 years) and our Clive would like to give them one of your glicee prints (he likes Cabanon). Could we pay & take delivery when we catch up in France or would you prefer we purchase it via the website?

Pete, sorry no joy on the poetry front - perhaps I could bring you out a consolation prize. Is there a particular english choccie bar you want and can't get in Spain?

Selfishly good news though, I won £10 in the World Cup sweepstake as France got to the final....viva les bleus!

lv gem xx

Get some decent wheels while you're at it!

Warning! If you listen to us Dad you might fall for something like this... mmm classic eh Jules?

Betty Blue Merc

Two bed in Kings Sutton, conservatory nice gardens, quite fancy it myself

Banbury looking good..

I agree with Steve though imagine paying £600 a month rent and having all that lolly on deposit, quids in. Oxford good transport an all.

Very hot here 32° at 10 in the morning, hope you've all got your hankies knotted ready to put on your heads, bucket and spade etc. lots of love j

Take away the pressure and keep the cash

Summertown, Oxford
£550 pcm RETIREMENT FLAT furnished, 2 bedroom apartment
This ground floor apartment is set within a retirement development which has easy access to the Summertown amenities in Nth Oxford. Providing safe accommodation, having a 24hr warden and good security, it has 2 good size bedrooms, a sitting room leading on to beautiful communal gardens and a well equipped kitchen. MORE

then go shopping with cash!!!
That's what I'd do..

As a minimum, £300,000 in a web saver account @5% = £15,000 pa

More in Banbury

Wiki Banbury

LEIGH GROVE BANBURY

Raymond Road BICESTER

(near railway)

Well Done, Steve

It looks as if you have got the message. We like Banbury. I have sent an email asking if we can meet at Scrivener and Reinger in Banbury. with a view to having a look at the bungalow

Bungalow Town £179,950

More

(marks out of 10?)

Thank You

Steve, thanks for the flicker pictures, we havd a short slide show.

Dad, good luck with the house hunt and don't forget to check out a few facts regarding whether to buy or rent. There's loads of stuff on the web.

Nic

Dan

Danny boy
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MORE

freeze!

Who's that?
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

IOW driving test!

Clare
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

All that glitters...

Clive & I spent a lovely evening at the Oxford Castle this week. We had had a gorgeous tapas meal sitting outside in the sunshine. Afterwards we went to see an outdoor production of 'The Merchant of Venice'. The Creation Theatre company have taken over the old exercise yard, and built a stage at the back of the yard so that the audience faces the tower (point of view as in the photo). The violent stormy weather that we had previously in the week had blown over, and we spent a warm summers evening watching the sun go down and the stars come out over the scene. There was a white marquee drinks tent pitched on the grass and we all sat on green fabric directors chairs sipping chilled wine. The actors were having great fun with the modern adaption (break-dancing, graffiti and the grls were dressed like Beyonce) and the chap who played Gratiano was having a ball getting the big laughs. The same company are also performing 'Robin Hood' & 'Macbeth' up at Headington Hill Park. Unfortunately we haven't had time to visit 'krispy kreme's' doughnut shop yet which has an outlet at the castle. Apparently the dougnuts are fantastic and so sweet that nobody can eat more than one!

www.oxfordcastle.com

Lovely to see you G & G this week, sorry its all a bit of a stressful search at the moment for you both but am sure a suitable place is out there for you. Glad that you saw Will too before the holiday. Clive & I are busy trying to fill our respective ipods so we have lots of music (of all genres!) to take with us. You'll have to put 'Constant Gardener' on your amazon dvd rental list so you can see it again.

love Gem

canon

battery cover location

The Story So Far

The recently re-wired bungalow with lots of new things in, in Gosport, in which we were mildly interested is now 'under offer' so we have crossed that one off our list of 'to view", as we don't want to get into a bidding match. The latest is a bungalow "I would die for" says our lady estate agent. It is not yet oficially on the market but we drove round last night to see what it is like. It is in a "Bungalow town" behind our High Street and on a bus route and if it is as good a she says it is (A brand new fitted kitchen and all) it could be worth considering at under £200,000, said he glibly. I don't know what we have asked you to do, Steve, but don't spend too much time on it as we feel very guilty to ask you to travel to Bicester after a long day. The roads in Oxforshire seem so long. As to Grove, I don't think either of those strange bungalows would suit me. They seem to want a lot of time and money spent on them, interesting though they are. Did I leave the Canon instruction booklet at Ezappyski, and how do I change the battery pack? Thank you to you all for your love and understanding. Dad and Mum

Thanks for the blog and for your concern.

Darling Cathy, yes, I agree that you and Steve could sort out some frogs. In fact, Steve has agreed to look at a bungalow up in Bicester. You both know us so well and know what we would like, without us having to spell it out. Something nice, without too much wrong with it and under the magic figure of £200,000 if poss. We have been concentrating on detached, but a semi= should not hurt us, as long as I have broadband and a watchable telly and you guys to see from time to time. We are thinking about a little place, just across the water in Gosport, which is in pretty good nick and not too much to worry us. As long as I can still drive about and pop into Southampton or Portsmouth on a bus or catch a plane from So'ton to Spain or France io see the others, that is about all we want! We have stuck it for 50 years, so surely we can have a few more without a quarrel, as we each have too much to loose. Thanks for the bed and the phone call and your concern. Let us hope we can settle this as soon as poss. Your loving Dad and Mum.

The Great Travellers!

I hope todays journey home is not too grueling for you although I'm afraid that it will be.Lovely as this heatwave is, it is not ideal for house hunting. It was lovely to have you here. I wish you didn't feel under so much pressure and I'm very much afraid that we didn't help. I think that we all need to look out for somewhere for you and perhaps we can then narrow it down so that you are only looking at properties that are up to your standard for you. Perhaps if you could write a list/brief of exactly what you require with must haves and would likes and put a firm figure on your budget and Steve and I could act as your agents kissing the frogs so that you only have to kiss the Prince. I know that you have said pretty much what you need but I think it may help to firm it up as it is obviously going to be abit tricky to find the right place. But now I sound like I only think of the move as a problem but I don't mean to, it is also an exiting adventure, I just can't bear to think of you driving about the country in this heat with neither of you feeling very well. lots of love Cathy.