New Babies & Mental Health.

The van was spinning as my feet made contact with the floor on my waking journey from horizontal to vertical. I grabbed hold of the wardrobe door to steady myself.

I had bailed out of our intended destination in the early afternoon yesterday as I felt rough and knew I needed a bolt hole to quietly sit and recover. A vineyard on a quiet road with good exposure to the sun (needed to charge batteries in order I have good heating) presented itself and here I have stayed. With such dizziness affecting me I knew I was unable to drive and apart from taking Tanya out for the necessary, went straight back to bed. This evening, fingers crossed, I feel a little better.

I'm near 'Sigean' and even this far down nighttime temperature are still in the minus. This trip without a doubt has been the coldest of the last five years. I think it has contributed somewhat to my present feverish condition although Foxy10 has kept me warm and snug even at minus ten degrees.

I was worried in case my ailment had been left behind at 'Aix en Provence where Nephew James, wife Fran and new baby Maeve hosted a wonderful weekend where we were joined by my sister and family. A very' it's my turn to cuddle Maeve now' few days and a bonus for me on my journey South. Plus we all raised a glass to new arrival Tilley in Wales. My tenth grand/stepgrand child.

I made a phone call to my sister earlier today where I was assured both they and the 'Aix' contingent were all in robust health. A big relief especially with a new baby.
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I am happy to report that tonight's outside temperature is a balmy 9°c, I am feeling much better, and tomorrow we will be in Spain. Oh yes! Today has been a much better day.

A day of illness gave me chance to finish reading the autobiography 'Railway Man' by Eric Lomax.  The book ends as the author finally comes to terms with the huge Mental trauma he suffered as a Far East POW. He noted how few places there are for people with such trauma (or any trauma) to be helped and supported.

Just after, on Facebook I was attracted to an article about the importance of such Mental Health support services for our emergency services who on a daily basis face trauma which gets 'stuck and mis-stored' within mind. I know the emergency service side of Mental Health very well from the Mental Wellbeing perspective of having been a counsellor involved in listening to and supporting such traumatised individuals.

The irony of the two reads and my reflective thinking is I have a historic 'traumatised' perspective too. I took early retirement due to the effects (flashbacks, nightmares, inability to cope etc) of trauma. For me it was a combination of secondary trauma, from listening and supporting front line emergency service clients. This then became mixed with my own personal journey as my dearly loved wife Kate travelled through cancer to it's inevitabe and final end.

Now I was aware of what was happening to me. I was also very well supported both professionally and family wise yet those mental effects lingered on for approximately two years, certainly well into my first years of living and travelling in a Mororhome. Only now, in hindsight and after giving reflective time such as this do I understand how deeply such mental trauma affects. And lets face it my healing path, unlike many, has not been dysfunctional, well, not if your a Motorhoming Hermit Pensioner Hippie with a dog that is.

We are asked these days to talk about Mental Health in order to continue to remove fear, stigma and quite frankly, the bullshit surrounding it. So thank you for reading my little bit toward normalisation of Mental Health issues and I do recommend 'Railway Man'. A good read.

Right. Spain it is then.

Palais Ideal & poorly dog

"Hauterives..... is a small village with a remarkable creation, the manic surreal 'Palais Ideal".

This according to my ancient copy of Rough Guide to France is also a "truly bizarre creation defying any categorisation". Created earlier this century by local postman Ferdinand Cheval over a period of 20 years it, to me, became a 'must see'. There also,  conveniently happened to be a Motorhome Aire in the village. That is how it became the destination on the day Tanya decided to become a very sick and pathetic little doggy. Her wellness prescription involved curtailing the planned trip early afternoon and diving instead into a nearby lorry park where we settled in for some recuperation. she really was quite sick and for a time had me worried. However; she walked OK and her poos were not alarmingly abnormal. We stayed where we were for the night and by morning she showed signs of improvement which confirmed my suspicion it was just a bad sicky bout either through something I had given her,  which was unlikely as I am aware of her delicate tum, or something she had picked up while out walking. Either way it was now morning and a bloody cold and wet one too. I decided downhill toward the Rhone river valley would give better weather rather than toward higher ground which 'Hauterives' (High rivers) suggested. So that was my first failed attempt at viewing 'Palais Ideal'.
My second attempt was today. Friday the 13th and a full moon at that. The day looked good with sunshine and dry roads. I also had a fully recovered Tanya. A good day, or so it seemed, to continue our slow meander south with but a wee diversion uphill to view 'Palais Ideal'. And it was too, a pleasant drive that is. We arrived  lunch time at the perfectly adequate Motorhome parking area deciding to stay where we were and put kettle on for a spot of lunch before wandering into the village. The sun had disappeared by now and a bit of a wind arisen but we were snuggly warm and halfway through lunch when snowflakes started their lazy dance in the wind. A wee snow flurry I thought as I tidied lunch away. Then, without warning it was a howling gale with horizontal thick snow and everywhere suddenly white.

"I'm outa here Tanya before we get stuck fast".

Which is exactly what happened and is why my second attempt at viewing 'Palais Ideal' on a Fri 13th was also abandoned. The escape was not uneventful either. Motorhomes are not designed or known as good slitherers on snow covered roads with Foxy10 being no exception. Some hairy moments in virtually nil visibility ensued before finally the downhill direction fetched us out of the storm.

Later on parked up by the River Rhone safely behind an InterMarche supermarket, in, I may add, cold, clear evening sunshine,  I reflected upon the day. All in all, I thought, seeing as how it was Friday 13th and a full moon, I reckon I got off lightly. Plus; and this is the important bit, Universe in all it's wisdom had decided I was definitely not meant to see 'Palais Ideal'. Who am I to argue with that.

A walk by the river & visit local village and church..... Spot the dog!!

Icicles & Basilicas

No problem with the ferry and an uneventful but pleasant drive to 'Bailleul'. Once there I sneaked behind some shops settling myself into a leaf strewn but otherwise deserted car park. Boy was it cold though. Well below freezing albeit dry and still.

"Won't be too bad as long as it gets no worse than this eh Tanya".

Hmph! Famous last words. Today, as I continued travelling South East it has got colder, wetter and dodgy-er. A decidedly dangerous type of wet, misty freezing rain. Roads, pavements and supermarket car parks were transformed into skating rinks. After gingerly passing the third accident, this one complete with fire, police and ambulance and not looking good for the trapped passenger, I abandoned snails pace travel and dived/slithered into the nearest small village. I already had two stops to clear the ice from my windscreen wipers never mind the large icicles hanging from my mirrors.

"Tomorrow we abandon South East Tanya. It's South South and more South and main roads only till we hit warmer climes".

It's not all gloom however; Foxy10 is snug and warm inside and will remain so as long as I manage a couple of hours driving per day to charge batteries.

Our little, 'slithered into village' is a bonus too. 'Evergnicourt' is a grain store outpost with few houses on the vast grain growing plains East of 'Reims'. The local park next to the river on the abandoned railway trail afforded Tanya and I a brisk and pleasurable walk despite the cold and  misty gloom. Gravelly paths and  grassy verges gave both Tanya and I solid non slippy footing. Unlike the supermarket car park earlier where Tanya, feet flying in all directions, went A over H and ended up on her side with a nasty thud. She was not a happy doggy and let me lift her to deposit her safely back in Foxy10. No harm was done thankfully but we abandoned the walk and gingerly moved on to our present location.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?
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I see Britain is in for cold and snow over the next few days and that Europe have been suffering it for the last week. Well I can attestify to that all right. I have used a whole gas cylinder in six days keeping Foxy10 warm and snug plus cooking and having the odd hot water wash too. Well you know what they say the Motorhomers mandate is,  'wash on odd days only'. Shower? Did I hear you say.  Ahhh, yes, mmmm maybe tomorrow, or perhaps I'll just wait till I reach warm sunshine. Talking of which I am happy to report I've seen and experienced some. This morning actually, as I was emptying the unmentionables cassette in a proper disposal site on the edge of the delightful Burgundy village of 'Givry'. Warmth on my back is what I felt for the first time this trip. Unfortunately cloud and rain soon returned but did, in a very civilised way, stand aside as we reached the famous pilgrimage town of 'Paray le Monial'. Tanya and I enjoyed a pleasant walk in the Botanical park twixt 'Canal du Centre' and the river 'Digoin' (Loire further on down) before exploring the impressive 'Basilica of the sacred heart'. We crept inside to have a look at the austere but beautifullly vast interior of this former Cistercian monastry. We were so lucky as a service was in progress which consisted mainly of Gregorian type chanting. All I can say is those monks knew a thing or two about acoustics. I had Tanya in my arms and we stayed riveted to the spot as the deep melodious chanting rolled from pillar to domed roof to nave. I remained in unabashed rapture as slowly, the service ended sending the last chanted glorifications echoing their way into every nook and cranny of the Basilica before finally, and reluctantly, granting us a centuries old cold stone silence.

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Tonight is different. Parked up among lorries West of 'St-Etienne'. A combination of late start.... Err like lunch time.... and heavy trafffic meant my goal of riverside motorhome Aire was abandoned in favour of stopping..... like now....  due to the imploring look from Tanya who was desperate for a wee and a walk.
Snug n warm & cooked up a tasty stew. Could be worse.

Christmas/New Year Blog

At my brothers this year with Turkey and all the trimmings beautifully presented by daughters and Mum. Memories of toddler Joseph upturning  unwrapped box and emptying out his new farmset complete with square wooden cows and brown plastic fencing. Intelligent use of this fencing as a ladder enabled pink pig, and square cow, easy cushion to floor access.

A call from Ireland later in the afternoon from Grandson Kaden announced with frantic excitement, "Grampy Steve, Grampy Steve, IT'S CHRIIIIISTMAAAAS". Well if I had not quite grasped the fact, this phone call made sure I knew for certain the festivities were now in full swing.

A quiet Boxing day walking in blue December crispness with Barbara. Then a move from Salisbury to Redhill and the lively household of my recently retired sister. Another full and groaning Christmas fayre table was eagerly attacked, consumed and reluctantly left by all and sundry, some of whom swore once more to never again indulge in such gluttony.

Barbara and I stayed on at Redhill enjoying the family atmosphere.

A day out 'wandering the streets of London'  had both Barbara and I in childish glee as we marvelled at the Oxford street lights, street entertainers, theatre land, and the fact we could just wander into a music shop and bash out 'Auld lang Syne'  on a nine thousand pound Yamaha organ. The day was a special treat for us as for once Tanya was left behind with very capable dog sitter and dog walker Carolyn.

A lively New Years eve outing and eating followed with my sisters/husbands long term friends. Barbara's fiddle and Jim's guitar did a surprisingly good job of entertaining us when you consider the alcohol consumed and the total lack of any previous rehearsals.

Barbara, now safely back in Scotland, is snug in her wee cottage while I, on my own and travelling again, snuggle up in Foxy10 on this cold cold January night before the Dover ferry whisks me away to Euroland.

I've spoken of it before, the first few days of travel after being with, and so enjoying, family and friends. This time is no different. If anything it is tougher as Barbara and I shared a close family festive togetherness. Something not experienced by either of us for many years. So tonight, and for the next few nights, I know I shall be fighting a sort of lonesome 'poor me' state of mind and body until I settle once again into  'New adventure' and 'I love travelling'. Tonight's comfort  meal of 'Motorhome cooked' sausage and mash plus onions and mushrooms has certainly helped raise the mood. Trouble is there is no dishwasher anymore and no one to scrub the pans cept yours truly. Tanya is happy though, care of a Pets at Home gift voucher from my  sister Judith. (Thaankyooooo) She is, as I write, snoring away in her brand new golden fleece snuggly bed. That's Tanya of course, not my sister.... I don't think she snores..... and I don't think she has a golden fleece snuggly bed either.

Now about this washing up...... Awe damm it... It can wait till later.... Nice cup of hot chocolate first ..... Sounds a good plan to me.... Anyone disagree..... Nope... Ok then let's get that kettle on.