Time to Face The Music

RelievedSheff

The 1st August already. Not sure where this year is going!

Not a no spends day. I need to go to the shops after work. Don't think it will be overly spendy, not got loads to pick up.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be from stores. Breakfast was crumpets, we have both taken our packed lunches to work and dinner tonight is chicken and bacon pasta with garlic bread.

Tonight's jobs are:

• cleaning the kitchen
• buying the shopping and putting it away
• walking the dog

alt80

Haven’t got a clue where this year has gone, was only saying last night that the nights are beginning to draw in that bit earlier. I can’t blame you looking forward to the van payment coming out, everything ticking away nicely now for you. 

Newark is a funny place. Has A LOT of potential but is seriously rough in parts, town centre is poor for shopping and food outlets are about 10-15 years behind everywhere else imo. Tbf I was working up that way couple of weeks back now and did have one of the best soups I’ve ever had so not all bad I don’t suppose.

We didn’t go out this weekend at all apart from quick walk round town which was manic - pride parade was on. Didn’t go for that fml the state of some of them there lol. Watched football at home. Done with going to bars altogether tbh question why the !!!!!! I live in town now - sometimes the idea of living in middle of !!!!!! nowhere appeals but not for long ha. 

This weekend we are home and next we are going to Suffolk which we’re all really looking forward to. You out in the van this coming one?

RelievedSheff

We are off out to Lincoln this coming weekend to catch up with a boaty friend. Having a few afternoon drinks and then heading to one of  our favourite restaurants in Lincoln (Huckleberries) for a meal later on.

Looking forward too it. Not been to Lincoln for a while now and we used to spend loads of time there when we had the boat there. 

I know what you mean about Newark. It has a certain charm though. Funny we found places that we had not seen before while we were just wandering around yesterday which we both found strange considering we have spent so much time there on the boat in the past.  

You will love Suffolk. We can't wait to go back next year now.

joedenise

RelievedSheff said:

Sun_Addict said:

I like Newark, not been for ages, used to be able to catch a bus straight there from the end of my road but we have to change at Southwell now. 

We used to spend a lot of time in Newark on the boat.

Having trouble finding somewhere suitable to park the van there though which is a shame.

What about pubs in the area?  Any got car parks big enough for the van?  They don't have to be BritStops for you to stay.  We've stayed in several pub car parks over the years, even before BritStops got going.  I'm sure there are still plenty about.

We used to use a website called Moonfruit but it seems it's now become a Facebook group.  Might be worth a look.

https://www.facebook.com/wildcampingEU/

There are certainly pubs in the Newark area but whether they're places you'd want to stay I've no idea as never visited the area!

RelievedSheff

joedenise said:

RelievedSheff said:

Sun_Addict said:

I like Newark, not been for ages, used to be able to catch a bus straight there from the end of my road but we have to change at Southwell now. 

We used to spend a lot of time in Newark on the boat.

Having trouble finding somewhere suitable to park the van there though which is a shame.

What about pubs in the area?  Any got car parks big enough for the van?  They don't have to be BritStops for you to stay.  We've stayed in several pub car parks over the years, even before BritStops got going.  I'm sure there are still plenty about.

We used to use a website called Moonfruit but it seems it's now become a Facebook group.  Might be worth a look.

https://www.facebook.com/wildcampingEU/

There are certainly pubs in the Newark area but whether they're places you'd want to stay I've no idea as never visited the area!

Most of the pubs in the town centre don't have car parks at all unfortunately. 

There is the lorry park but that is expensive for a parking space and in a really noisy spot right next to the A46.

alt80

Have a good one! I haven't been to Lincoln in quite a while. Imagine it's pretty amazing for boating? Only ever really go with work and staff have been managing everything with travel since I had the driving issue - getting better now, 2 staff gone (my doing), some on hols so need to get out a bit this summer and going !!!!!! stare crazy in office every single day tbf rn. Actually find it a nice drive over there, might make the trip when / if. I should probably take my boy to see the Cathedral too. 

Completely agree re Newark it's a shame, has so much potential, definitely has a charm. You definitely find new places when you've a couple of hours wondering around than there for an actual purpose. My son would love seeing the boats on the river and the old castle. He likes a little walk to see the boats when we go to Sainsburys.

We are really looking forward to going to Suffolk, thanks for those photos, we wouldn't have been going otherwise.

joedenise

That's a shame @RelievedSheff as sounds like you'd really like to be able to stay there.  Is there nowhere near where you used to moor the boat?

RelievedSheff

joedenise said:

That's a shame @RelievedSheff as sounds like you'd really like to be able to stay there.  Is there nowhere near where you used to moor the boat?

No unfortunately not. In Newark we used to moor opposite the castle right in the centre of town.

RelievedSheff

alt80 said:

Have a good one! I haven't been to Lincoln in quite a while. Imagine it's pretty amazing for boating? Only ever really go with work and staff have been managing everything with travel since I had the driving issue - getting better now, 2 staff gone (my doing), some on hols so need to get out a bit this summer and going !!!!!! stare crazy in office every single day tbf rn. Actually find it a nice drive over there, might make the trip when / if. I should probably take my boy to see the Cathedral too. 

Completely agree re Newark it's a shame, has so much potential, definitely has a charm. You definitely find new places when you've a couple of hours wondering around than there for an actual purpose. My son would love seeing the boats on the river and the old castle. He likes a little walk to see the boats when we go to Sainsburys.

We are really looking forward to going to Suffolk, thanks for those photos, we wouldn't have been going otherwise.

Used to like mooring near the Sainsburys when we were down your way.

That stretch of canal is very shallow now though. Could hardly get the boat to the side in the end. It is in desperate need of some maintenance. 

alt80

My boy has always liked the water / coastal landscapes / boats, used to be obsessed with aquariums lol. Still likes them tbf. Just likes being outdoors I think, likes his sports too and still loves our garden. Trying to organise taking him to places this summer

You don’t surprise me re the canal here especially if it’s under the maintenance of NCC - they are !!!!!!, charge us a !!!!!! fortune in council tax though. Highest but one hike this year right in middle of cost of living crisis but still can't sort the roads out, potholes everywhere fml.