Issues with the fridge and we visit Raglan Castle

 June 9th

Arrrggghhhh....the smell hit us suddenly just before dinner.  A very strong smell of ammonia, strong enough to catch at the back of our throats and make our eyes water. But where was it coming from? We immediately went outside, and although there was a faint smell, as soon as we re-entered the motorhome, it became apparent that the source was from inside. After looking at the batteries and electrics, Ian opened the fridge and OMG....now we knew where the smell was coming from. It was a leak from the refrigeration circuit that was the obvious cause. The fridge was switched off immediately, all windows and doors opened for ventilation, and even overnight, with the temperature dropping to a cool 5-6 degrees, we still left the roof vents open. Extra blankets it was for us both, then. I was very relieved to wake up this morning with the smell gone.

June 10th 

Without a working fridge, this morning I cooked everything I could that had started to defrost. The sausages and bacon we had for breakfast and tonight’s dinner will be the breaded chicken, defrosted chips, now very soft, and a handful of peas. Thrown out were the rest of the peas; I had bought a large bag that would now just go soggy and nasty if left, and although I had thought of soup, we couldn't keep it cool, and we certainly couldn’t eat a massive pan full! Ian looked at the cost of a new fridge...we were shocked at the price! It's not an option, though, if we want to keep the motorhome; we just have to open the wallet and fork out!

We were the last van to leave the site this morning, the loo emptied first, and water tank filled. The only plan we had for today was to visit Raglan Castle, so we took our time leaving.

With nothing on TV these days worth watching  (football is not our thing), we have revisited the series Merlin, first filmed in March 2008. It's on Amazon Prime, and we only recently found out where some of the scenes were filmed. Raglan Castle was one such place, especially in the courtyard, where Morgana sacrifices her sister, Morgause, to tear a veil between two worlds, releasing the deadly shadow creatures.   So of course, we had to have a look.

 

We think it was filmed here.

The castle itself was pretty spectacular; built in the 15th century by a Welsh nobleman, Sir William ap Thomas, and finished by his son William Thomas. Much of what remains at Raglan dates during the period of the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudor dynasty. The castle was besieged for ten weeks in 1646 by parliamentarian troops and ultimately destroyed. In the years that followed, Raglan was abandoned and left to decay. Click HERE to read more of its history. 

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 Exploring the ruins, we came across plenty of steps leading down into the cellars. Some had small exhibits in them, and others our eyes had to adjust to the light before we could see anything. 

Snack Heating Engine

Key Xylophone

Beer Dispensing Engine

There was a grand staircase that led us up and onto the castle roof.  

Near the top of the circular stairs was a pigeon! The stupid bird had built its nest on the step, and how it wasn't trodden on by folk climbing up was a miracle. Although we did have a warning notice when we first entered the stairs, it didn't tell us how far up. Thankfully, it wasn't in one of the really dark places!

Having made the climb (I'm so unfit at the moment), the views at the top were neat. A board with a photo of what the view would have looked like during the 15th and 16th centuries showed a landscape more like the manor house gardens you see today. 

 Unfortunately, the cafe wasn't open today, so we had to make do with a drink back at the motorhome. It was now about mid-afternoon, and we hadn't even decided where to stop tonight. Ian has loads of CC apps on his phone, and a site was found at Merryland village, called Heatherdene, lovely and rural, with one shower, toilet and a basin for washing up. The first thing I did when we arrived was to try the shower. Clean and one of those electric ones with instant hot water. The only trouble was that the water never got hot. I ended up having a cold shower. Certainly woke me up! Ian abandoned the idea, saying he would have one tomorrow at the site near Stoneleigh. Yep, we have booked the Rugby club site for 3 nights to be near the show ground. Will we find our forever location and home amongst the park home displays? To be decided after the weekend.

And a few more photos,

 

Red Poll?

Big Pit National Museum

 June 6, 7th and 8th

A lovely weekend was spent with Alan and Angela; it went ever so quickly. During our stay we spent time at a massive garden centre, walked to Upton upon Severn Marina where coffee was had, looked at a park home site to get more ideas of what we may end up with when we come off the water, and had a really fabulous Sunday Lunch at a nearby pub. All too soon, it was time for us to head off, and we decided, instead of heading back toward the midlands, to take a longish excursion to Wales to see the Big Pit National Mine Museum at Blaenavon.

Our plan was to wild camp at Llandegfedd Reservoir near Pontypool, and it would have been ideal except for one thing, the car park gates were closed at 5 pm, with no overnight parking permitted. The lay-bys leading to the car park could have been an option, but Ian checked the Park4night site, which mentioned boy and girl racers tearing along the causeway during the evening. Not for us then, so a look at a CC website showed one about 5 minutes drive away on the other side of the reservoir. £12 a night was a bargain, although no electric hookup or toilets. But it had water and an Elsan disposal, so what more did we need? We booked for 2 nights.

 

June 9th

In a mix of sunshine and showers, we headed off toward the museum. Cost to enter was free, and a tour underground was also available for the exorbitant sum of £3 each! 

 

We booked on the 11.30 am, had high hopes of taking photos of mine workings underground, but it was not to be. The rule was that no batteries were to be allowed in the mine; it was all to do with the dangers of gas. This is from their website,

Standard batteries and electronic devices are prohibited as "contraband" because the tunnels are legally classified as a working coal mine. This subjects the site to strict coal mine regulations, banning any unapproved electrical equipment that could spark and ignite dangerous methane gas in the air. 

The ban extends to all dry-cell batteries, including Mobile phones, cameras, watches, car keys and fobs, calculators and radios.

Having been given a bag to place our phones and my camera, we were then kitted out with specialised certified safety lamps and heavy-duty sealed battery packs to keep explosive gases out. With 18 people on the tour, I did wonder how we would all fit into the cage taking us 90 meters down. A can of Sardines came to mind as we were pushed and shoved until everyone was in! Claustrophobic people beware! Anyway, the tour took about an hour. Peter, our guide, was informative, having worked in a mine himself, and very funny. He didn't hold back from speaking his mind to any of us if he felt we weren't listening, and many were the butt of his jokes. It was brilliant and had us all in stitches!

One of the cages

 The exhibits were very good, and reading stories of those who worked down the mine, especially the conditions, was harrowing. For me, the pit ponies' plight was especially sad. From the age of 4 until the end of their working life, they were kept underground, never seeing daylight until they were taken above to be slaughtered. Thank God that will never happen again in the UK. I found this on Dr. M.F.Khan's website. Please click on the link to see what he said about the working conditions of the pit ponies. HERE

One very interesting historic building was the Pit Baths. It was installed at the mine in 1939, meaning miners no longer had to trudge home to their families caked in dirt, which risked illness and required the time-consuming manual filling of baths at home.

We managed to dodge the showers by ducking into the cafe and the winding hall. Gosh, that was noisy, the wheels making an awful screeching noise. Showers or no, I couldn't stand it and had to get out quick! Anyway, here are a few more photos of today's outing.

Medical centre

Canaries are still at the mine as a reminder of their importance in detecting gas. 

One of the modern coal face drills

 

Blenheim Palace

 June 4th

Sunshine and showers were forecast for today, waterproofs at the ready then. Arriving at the Palace by 10.30, we were amazed to have to queue to get in. Surely mid-week and a miserable day weather-wise would put people off, but obviously not.

Parking the motorhome was easy; we were shown to a section of the field well away from the main carpark. a bit of a walk to the house, but from the walled garden, much nearer. Anyway, we headed for the house, which was very quiet, surprisingly, considering the number of cars parked in the car park. A bonus in our favour, though, because we could go around at our leisure and take photographs without too many people getting in the way. I was mightily impressed by the rooms, even though restoration was very evident in some places.  It was a magnificent house.

 

The walled garden was about a 10-minute walk from the main house, and on the way,  we took a slight detour to see the formal gardens where a bust of Winston Churchill stood. 

Blenheim Palace was the home of Churchill. Below is an excerpt from this LINK

One of grandest homes in England, Blenheim Palace is the ancestral home of the Churchill family. Built between 1705–1722 for John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and his wife, Sarah, the land was a gift from Queen Anne on behalf of a grateful nation for the duke's victory at the Battle of Blenheim during War of Spanish Succession. 

The walled garden was a massive disappointment. So much could be done to make it stunning, a few beds of wild flowers doesen't hack it in my book. 

 

Toward one end was a maze, we did go in, and yes, we got lost.  Luckily a small bridge showed us a way to the centre and thankfully we made it out before the rain started. We sought refuge in a cafe, a cup of tea and cake just had to be purchased. It was a good way to sit out the storm.

 From the cafe, we made our way to a Butterfly house. Gosh, it was hot and humid in there. Glasses steamed up, and several times I had to wipe the camera lens. Fifteen minutes was all we could tolerate, and it was a relief to get outside into the fresh air again.

 5 hours were spent at Blenheim; no way would I have managed that a year ago. Having a new knee has improved my quality of life no end, I just hope my left knee stays okay too. I certainly won't hesitate to have that one replaced in the future if needs be.

 Off to see Ian's brother Alan and sister-in-law Angela tomorrow at Upton on Severn, and next weekend Stoneleigh is our destination. We will be checking out residential parks and mobile retirement homes at the Park and Leisure Homes show as our plans to come off the water are still a possibility.

And a few more photos

In one of the many old Oaks