EH - Essex > Hebrides...the next step of the adventure?

EssexHebridean

See, I really dislike going to the hairdressers, it always perplexes me when people describe it as pampering! 😂 Having said that, this time wasn’t so bad - the pandemic gave a natural seam of conversation, and she actively encouraged me to put my glasses back in at key moments so I could see/comment on where she’d got to. She also wasn’t phased by my mentioning that my hair stretches massively when wet - so many are freaked by that and get scared to cut anything off, but she really listened to what I said about where to cut, and got it spot on. 

Anyway I’ve had a LOVELY last couple of days. Left at the crack of dawn (or actually earlier!) on Thursday to head to Scampton - initially things didn’t go to plan as I got part way up the M11 and got stuck as it was closed ahead. Finally managed to get off after about 45 minutes, then had to do a big detour to get back on at Junction 11, so missed the Reds first flying of the day which was annoying. It looked up after that though as got a message from my pal to say he’d sorted us passes to go on base (he’s one of the team’s photographers) so spent the rest of the day lounging about in the photo section office drinking tea, and photographed the other two training sessions from directly in front of the control tower which is a decent spot, unsurprisingly!  Then back to my other friend’s house, exchanged Christmas pressies (she’d made me a fab hamper with loads of goodies, pampering stuff, hand warmers for cold days at Scampton and a bottle of Prosecco) before we cracked open the wine, then got picked up by friend 1 to head to our favourite pub for dinner. Steak and chips with the usual trimmings, followed by sticky toffee pudding which was utterly delicious! Friend 1 then dropped us back at Friend 2’s before heading off (he was driving back north to his family as he has now finished for Christmas)and Friend 2 and I had some more wine and chat, lovely! I headed home yesterday morning after breakfast (which I treated Friend 2 to as she had me to stay) and had another “delightful” drive back with masses of thick fog. 

Gym yesterday afternoon - got there to find it unstaffed unexpectedly which means technically I’m not meant to use it with my Hussle pass but one of the guys who recognised me let me in and I left a note on the desk for the manager to say I’d been in - hopefully he’ll be OK with that. Didn’t want to have to turn round and go home again though! 

Today will be a day of getting odds and ends done I think - starting with shopping, and both cars getting new tyres this morning. Kerching….and ouch! 😆

A handful of Little Red Jet pics for you - Reds 1-4 pulling up, Red 1 holding the nosewheel up on landing (and looking straight across at us!) and Reds 1-4 over the top of a loop. 

savingholmes

Fantastic photos. Sounds like a great few days

rtandon27

Gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing!!! What a lovely time you must have had

milann

Impressive photos. You have a great talent there. 😂😂😂We watched them at Falmouth a few years back and I managed to make them look as if they were escaping from the top of a lamp post 😂😂

Sunshine_girl2

EH excellent photos as normal. Glad you enjoyed your trip out . 

Seasidegal58

The pics are great and you sound like you had a fantastic time! 👍

They used to perform at our town's annual air show - which alas is no more now.  They flew over my block of flats and it would sound like they were about to take the roof off!  I'm a lousy photographer- all my attempts at trying to catch them on film would result in photos with empty sky.....🤣

girlatplay

The pics really are great.  We see a few flyovers with living close to the castle but my pics are either dots or blurry.

Sounds like you had a brilliant time.

Sun_Addict

Love the photos they are brilliant. I don’t like going to the hairdressers either, glad it’s not just me. All I want is a trim and no faffing about. 

amber03

Went past Scampton a few weeks ago coming home from Lincoln. Isn’t the RAF base closing next year and the arrows moving to another base.xx

EssexHebridean

Thanks all - I’ll throw a few more pics in later when I’ve gone through them, it was indeed a lovely couple of days! SSG I’ve been to the airshow of which you speak several times and used to love it - a real favourite, it’s a shame it stopped. @amber03 Yep - moving to Waddington, not much different for me in terms of distance really so won’t make that much odds, friend 2 is (understandably) a bit miffed though because they won’t be three miles from her front door any more! And for those saying about blurry photos or those with empty sky, try puts me I’ve had my share of those over the years - not to mention jets behind trees, buildings, etc! 😂

Both cars have new tyres - £199 for mine, £237 for MrEH’s because his needed tracking done too (We knew it would). All budgeted and money in the car account to cover. More annoyingly mine will need two new wheels at some stage as both front ones have pothole damage. I half suspected they might, but at the moment the tyres still bind on fine so the current ones are staying for a while. I’ll see what Neil says when he MOT’s her in a couple of months. The guy at KwikFit did try telling me I needed rear tyres too but I raised an eyebrow no and said “I don’t think so” and he admitted that yes, there was life in them yet….there is, several mm yet! Nice try Kwikfit, I do wonder how many people just say “go ahead and change them if they need doing”! 

Seem to have spent a lot of money today somewhere along the line! Al’s and T’s this morning, HB, BnQ and the Land of £’s this afternoon. ‘Tis the season, I fear. Quite a bit of treaty stuff has crept in, but on the plus side I did decide on a T’s Finest £5 pizza meal deal rather than a takeaway tonight - one of the two garlic bread things got eaten between us at lunchtime and there will be pizza left over to eat tomorrow too so good value. MrEH has his rugby team Xmas curry night tonight so I plan to lie on the sofa, watch TV and eat pizza, twiglets and matchmakers! 😁

Got the final bits for the homeless shelter donation sorted too so hoping to be able to drop those in tomorrow. Also got bits for youngest two nephews Christmas goody bags (the older nephew and niece are too old for them now so will get vouchers). MrEH’s parents have said no presents please as they are still trying to sort out from the house move, so we’ll sort them either a nice hamper when we go down next, or will take them out for a meal.