Hello again to the followers of the blog. Some say follow the gourd, others the sandal. I say follow the blog. Thank you Gemma, long time reader first time messenger. And to Fleur, it is nice for Anouk to have a follower through the blog.

Well mine and Pippa's adventures through England have well and truly got off to a challenging start. We bought ourselves a Renault Laguna hatch. It drove well on a test drive and was in our mega price bracket. We needed a car as Culmstock is a classically beautiful English village, but hence classically isolated. Well the car drove well to the motorway we were taking to Bristol to collect the last of the boxes from Saudi. At the Taunton exit (about 15 mins) along the motorway the Laguna decided that 5th gear was completely overrated and for losers and refuse to stay in. It popped out once or twice than stressed the point by staying out. So into Bristol in 4th.

But our troubles did not end there. As we came down through the gears into Avonmouth, where we were to pick up the parcel, the Laguna decided a few other gears were to be excluded from the engine and 4th and 3rd became a grind. By the car park at the parcel pick up the Laguna decided it wanted to be a dodgem car and dropped all forward gears. We nursed it to a car park closer to the road and called the AA. In England, it should be noted, the AA is both the Auto Association and Alcoholics Anonymous. We did actually ring and join the Auto Association.

Richard from AA arrived and tried to reverse the Laguna to assess the problem. The Laguna however was not having a bar of it and screamed like a banshee before the wheels had done a single revolution. Mind you this car had only been ours out of the dealer for 3 hours at this point. Richard suggested no amount of nursing would get this car the 54 miles back to Culmstock or Hemyock where the dealer was, for that matter. So we were directed to the Service station across the road for coffee while Richard battled the elements....and the weather...to hitch the car to his trailer.

We had a very warm and pleasant trip back to Culmstock in the van of the AA and deposited the car at the Dealer's garage for repair. Which to there credit they are doing for free. But it does mean we are without a car for a week longer.

On a general front, Culmstock in a classic village. The corner shop is a B & B as well and serves the best breakfast. Pippa, Anouk and I have done several walks through the fields and woods in the area and Anouk and I did a particularly long work to Craddock and Uffculme via the fields, and puddles. Lucky Pippa and I invested in Wellington Boots, bought in the town of Wellington, named after the man himself.

As to other shops in the area important to note, we have found several nice coffee shops but by far the best is the "Old Well" where Katharine took Pippa and I for a cream tea (coffee for me, there are some Australian traditions I refuse to lose). But there was a huge bowl of Devon clotted cream. This is thick thicken thicky cream with a great portion of thicken thick cream folded in. With a dollop of jam and a scone underneath it makes a wonderful breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.

I am hoping to have Adele (from Saudi) down for a few days next week. She too is here in England from Dammam, but with the intention of returning, and coming back, and returning, and coming back hopefully for good. Katharine is heading to the Isle of Wight for a few days. Caroline's puppy, who we are minding will be back with Caroline and David and Pippa and I will have to fend for ourselves. Lucky we located the wine and cheese shop in Wellington or we would probably starve.

According to my iphone, we are expecting snow on Monday and more settling snow on Tuesday. And the iphone never lies. So perhaps I shall be able to build a snow man. Otherwise we are having the usual glimpses of sun that England in so good at between the showers.

Hope everyone is well. For all the Australians, keep away from bushfires and use sun screen, for all the English, keep near log fires and use hot water bottles and for all in Saudi, keep your ear plugs on if using the air conditioners.

Bye for now