Well now. That's cheered me up. A blog from M. A lovely solo lady Motorhomer at present in Southern Portugal. As I sit in the warmth of a Wiltshire, UK, centrally heated house viewing the snowy deposits of a meeting between 'Beast from the East' and storm 'Emma' it is comforting to note storm Emma has also affected Portugal with high wind and torrential rain.
I can attest with certainty that a motorhome is not ideal accommodation when faced with more than a couple of days of severe weather. My two remaining brain cells can recall several early morning awakenings to the deafening sound of torrential rain on Sadies/Foxy10's roof as we rocked wildly at the mercy of fierce gusty winds. Most times it was a no brainer. Up sticks and move East or West to better weather, which, of course is the beauty and the whole point of living fultime in a motorhome.
Ironically, and directly related to this March 1st 2018 bitterly cold 'Beast from the East' snow storm, is the very start of my Motorhoming life. On todays UK news they are using words such as 'unprecedented', 'most unusual' and 'once in a decade'. The latter is true albeit it was slightly less than a decade when, in 2010 Scotlands central belt, was affected by similar conditions which lingered, with temperatures touching -15°c, for three weeks.
I was in that central belt, in East Kilbride, during that time. I was not in the best of places having recently lost my dear wife Kate and in general unsure as to where life was going to take me. I remember it was so cold I had to carry Tanya across the treated roads as the frozen salt stuck to her feet and damaged her pads. She loved the open snow though and bounded away into and among it.
One particularly cold and gloomy day, both mentally and weather wise, I distinctly remember, as I despondently stared out of the window, saying to myself;
"Steveboy. We ain't going thru another winter like this."
This 2018 winter with it's coincidentaly similar 'unprecedented' wintery conditions is the first full winter I have spent in the UK since uttering those words. My many Blog entries tell of my intervening fultime Motorhoming 'Continental winters'
Not that it is all doom and gloom mind you. Far from it. I am now on my 3rd and final round of Chemotherapy and here I am feeling Ok and with zest for life still coursing through my veins. Foxy10 is with a local motorhome dealer on a sale or return basis and, as far as I'm aware, not yet sold.
Steveboy has a plan!!...... I know... I don't do plans do I. OK; so let's call it an idea. You see I have a few weeks of recovery before my surgery is due where I may just go get Foxy10 back, load her up again, and head off into the sunset for one more adventure. Watch this space.
...........
Richard & I have just been graced by the appearance of Hana for a few days. Hana is from the Czech Republic and a former carer for Richard. She is an outward looking and adventurous girl and en route to 'Dominica', a small Caribbean island with connections and friends from her previous adventures. The island was recently and seriously devastated by Hurricane and Hana was returning to help out wherever she could.
She arrived with clothing all set for her Caribbean adventure and understandably was a little disorientated to find herself in extreme UK winter conditions more akin to the Artic.
I accompanied her to Salisbury station this morning and am pleased to say, despite all the rail and road chaos she is now on a London bound train and hopefully will make her flight from Gatwick tomorrow.
Bon Voyage H and please send back a little of that warm Caribbean sunshine.
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