Success is buried in the garden of failure

My tooth is playing up (not as bad as my Trigeminal Neuralgia), I am taking super strong prescribed pain killers. I only have two more roots left to fill, maybe I should have it out?

My iphone is in melt down and I cant use any apps, Dans laptop has broken the 3,e,d,c keys wont work. I have checked online and its a common Dell fault. Luckily its still under warranty. Al's laptop wont work unless the power unit plugged in and Jens phone is on the blink all the keys are stuck..... I'm just waiting for aliens to come through the cat flap.....

On the good side, Ian the Bongo master has a spare set of poles for the awning and might be able to throw in a free side pole that bent in the storm.

Getting texts and e-mails from the West Wales gang who are still getting flashbacks, Jacky has gone camping without Tyson (he had to stay behind to attend obedience classes) in Dorset and the weather sounds bad....

We decided to leave the Eden Center (bad decision) I didn't enjoy it last time (2000 tonnes of chicken wire covered in carrier bags) and decided to head for the coast. The weather was wet and windy and we went up to the Trevose headland and walked to the lighthouse. We then took a cliff top walk to Mother Ivey and then looked at Booby's bay.

Trevose

From there we decided to drive to Newquay..... to look at the shops. Dan learnt some some new profanities from the groups of tattooed squaddies who were weaving around the town center. Take my advice never go into to this town it makes Merthyr look like Las Vegas.

Sh***ville

It started to pour down around 3-00pm and we went on the beach for a while, we decided to head back and Dan bought a toy parrot that swears, I got a mouth organ for a £5 and Al got a ukulele that she can't put down.

On the way home we dropped into the Mazda Bongo Company outside Newquay. This is the place last year (2008) where we saw our first Bongos and fell in love with them. Too me Cornwall is the spiritual home of the bongo, and probably has more than anywhere else. We visited here three times last year and decided on our conversion. It took us almost a year to find the Silver Surfer.

I am in Bongo Heaven

When we got back I found a website so that Alix could tune her ukulele and we had a takeaway from the local Indian Restaurant. I got talking to a farmer in the take away, he lives behind the Cornish Arms in St Merryn and drinks regularly with Rick Stein who owns it. He shoots the rabbits for the restaurant. Nice guy he had 8 dogs and 2 Boarder Terriers, he said they were great dogs.

We had a bottle of wine and turned in early again.

Going down south

We headed down to Cornwall today, the weather was alright and we had a good trip. There was a nice McDonald's at junction 29 on the M5. As we hit the Atlantic Highway the sun broke through and we were lucky not to get caught in too much traffic. We got down to Si and Ade's place (stone throw) at around 3-00pm. The first thing I did was to take photos of the cottage before we moved in so that when we left we could make sure everything was back in place. The kids soon settled in and we had the three laptops up an running in no time. We spent the evening in, I went down to fryer Tucks for tea and turned in around midnight.

I just need to find 212 amps to power up the LM

I would rather have a root filling

Root filling day....

Had two root fillings today feel a bit rough, Craig decided to go home as we had run out of DVD's for him and Jenny to watch.

All the camping equipment is now dry and I need to put some stuff on the roof tent as the seams leaked a bit on the last night in West Wales

Some More pictures from the wild west

Tuesday back to work

On reflection the weather was bad.... Craig says it was the worst he has ever camped in, apart from 1997 when we were in Kiln Park with him...another tale.

However I am back in work and wish I was still clinging to that rock face, we had some great laughs and enjoyed a few beers and some great camp fires.

So thanks Tate and Co, Tyson Frank and Jack, Craig, Alix and Hannah...see you soon.

The camping crew

Tyson don't forget U2 man...see you in August...and don't forget to fill the tank up on the way with the right stuff......

Home Time

We had a great day yesterday we went to fishguard and on the way back we went to a little pub called the Sloop. In the evening we had tea in the Bongo and headed off to the Glan y more. It was our last night there and was quite sad as its being pulled down in the winter.

The Sloop

In the night the weather got really bad and we couldn't get the fire started. We sat in the day care center and it was picking up a bit.

This morning the camp site is carnage, lots of tents are down and the fit family next door had their tent ripped in half. We all had problems getting our tents down. Bens tent ripped I snapped a pole and the day care center was demolished (see Jacks comment below very sad)

Sunday morning its not funny.....



The Tyson Growl

We really ripped up this campsite this week didnt we (Tyson 9-00am in the shower block)

We had a great day yesterday the weather was good and we all got burnt. We drove to Problem Solva and had a look around then we went to New Gale and took a stroll on the beach.

The Hoody

Alix and me had been so looking forward to going into the surf shop but it was not as good as last year and was very expensive. I got an Animal sticker for the car. We had arranged to meet Tate and Vick but the reception on all networks was bad so we kept missing each other. When we did finally get to his van they had packed up and gone. When we got back to St Davids I got his texts that they were at Jackos van waiting for us...... so we missed them. Next year we need to all camp together.

When we got back Tyson came over with Ben and we had a couple of beers while Jack took the kids down the beach. Tyson was showing off on his mountain bike and skidding and falling off... It was funny.

The kids came back and I cooked pasta and meatballs and we went over to Jacks and sat around while Tyson cooked chicken and mushrooms. We then went up the Poets Corner (our local) and played pool and cards. I took my laptop and and downloaded Craigs pictures from his camera.

Glan-y-more

We met the London family again with Charlie and spent the evening with them. Jack turned up for last orders with Frank.

We then went back to Tysons and his beacon, he had rigged up some sound system that you could hear from the toilet block. We were trying to be quiet but some woman shouted out (BE QUIET) I decided to go to bed and could hear them from there. They were loud. Later on Tyson said some guy came out of his tent and asked them to be quiet.

The next day a lot of people moved away from Tysons plot......

Tyson and Alix

We had a good night though and Ben told us why we couldn't see the moon, its not because its in Australia as Craig says but it is there and the sun is not shining on it.

Anyway I must find out why.

We had a nice breakfast and we are know off to Fishguard. The girls wanted to go to the Poets Corner this morning to play pool but we can go tonight. Alix is constantly talking about a dog and Craig is encouraging her to get one as he loves walking his so much (where is he now, stuck in sunny middlesbrough).

Saw two Bongos yesterday and showed the couple next door around ours. They had a converted transit but loved the Silver Surfer.

Our Local

Woke up about 7-00 the rain was pouring down and I have been moving everything around in the tent to stop it getting wet. We plan to go to Solva and Newgale today.

Tyson got his tent sorted with some extra pegs and some wind breakers.

Craig took this at Newgale

Thursday
Didn't get a chance to get the computer out yesterday.

It was a lovely day all the others had agreed to meet to go tomb stoning in a disused quarry, I didn't fancy it so me and the kids and Craig took a walk along the cliff to St Davids. We did a little shopping and had fish and chips and then walked back to the tent. The weather was lovely and we needed sun cream...... We sat around listening to Bob Dylan and playing cards. Ben and his family turned up. We then went down the beach for some more body boarding. The tide was coming in and we waited until we had to get off the beach.

Hannah was last out of the water and was just visible on the horizon. We all went back for a shower and got ready for the evening

Myself and Craig and the kids (Frank) went up to the secret garden and had tea and sat outside eating in the rain under a big umbrella.

The Secret Garden

We then walked back to the local and met some nice people with a dog. We had a few beers and the kids played pool and cards. Jacky had been looking for us so she called in for last orders.

Pool King

I think Tyson had gone off the rails again, so we went back to his fire which was like a beacon and looked as though it was going to set his tent on fire. We sat around again and talked a load of dribble, although Craig knew a lot about the stars and showed us the milky way.

I wanted to know why you cant see the moon every night? I need to google that. Jack thought she could see the moon but it was the refinery in Milford Haven.

We all went to bed and waited for the local fire fighters to put out Marks fire.

Wednesday night

Just to catch up Craig arrived about 6-oopm. He appeared to be on the road for 8 hours but in fact when he texted me to say he had left the house and was on the A1 he was in bed.....

Tate Vick Robert and Billy called over and we all helped Craig put up his tent as well as help some other campers who were struggling. The wind is still bad here although the weather is fine we all walked up to a nice pub with a secret garden for tea. The food was great and mark did his best to confuse the chef by asking for chicken in spicy sauce without the sauce and a rare beef burger...

We all walked back to the site and Alix and Hannah went for a cliff top walk in the dark...

Back at the site Mark got a fire going and we just sat around talking a load of rubbish.

Vick came back for Tate and we all went to bed around 1-00am

St Davids

Got here yesterday about 3.00 pm. Nice pitch about 10 meters from Mark and Jack. The rain stopped as we arrived but the winds were reaching 20 mph.

We set up the awning and got hooked up and had hot dogs. In the evening it got cold so all 6 of us sat in the bongo eating sausages and drinking beer. Tyson had a fit when someone fell on his tent (as if he hasn't done that himself Glasto 2009). I took him to the local for couple of beers to calm down and found a couple of nice more sheltered sites for around $22 for 2 adults and a van with kids $4 extra. About the same as this site. The pub had a small camp site as well which was nice as it had a pool table. Although they don't do food in the summer....................

Tyson calmed down after a few beers. We went to bed around 11.00pm. I locked the girls in the van and I slept in the awning. I was woken up about 3.00am the tent door had blown open and it was almost taking off. I had to peg it all down again and couldn't get back to sleep. When I spoke to the owner he said the winds were 35 mph in the night. We need to go somewhere else next year this site is too exposed.

Al and Frank









Alix, Hannah and Frank Surfing

Our Campsite

No were not

The Hellman's were so comfortable in the loft that we couldn't get them out of bed. We left for the wild west around 11-00am.

Tyson was getting a little distempered so we stopped in Haverford West for a sandwich and a coke.

Were Off

Tyson, Jack and Frank turned up around midnight not 6-00pm as planned, They had some car trouble and needed to be towed to a garage for a minor repair (ask Tyson when you see him next, don't joke about putting petrol in a diesel engine though).

We sat on the deck and went to bed around 2-00am. We gave the Hellman's the presidential suit

There's a black wind blowing typhoon on the rise pummeling rain muderous skies

Monday day weather
Light Rain Shower
Tuesday day weather
Heavy Rain
Wednesday day weather
Light Rain Shower
Thursday day weather
Heavy Rain Shower


There's a black wind blowing a typhoon on the rise
pummeling rain murderous skies!
I'm gonna take my books I'm gonna wear my coat
I'm gonna find my scarf and wrap it around my throat
and you can come with me through the driving rain
we're gonna ride on up to Medicine Bow

Its not looking good for next week, I wish I was going down Monday know to get one dry day. Still at least we will be dry in the Bongo. I might not put up the awning until the rain stops......

Just discovered the Doves (Kingdom of Light) why didn't anyone tell me about them, I missed them in Glastonbury... oh well



6-00pm
Jen and Dan have just got back from Llangranog, they had a great time. Dan went skiing, tobogganing, go-carting and had a wild time on the quad bikes.
Jen saw one Bongo on the trip but didn't know whether it was a tin top or AFT or what colour and reg it was..... It must be a man thing.

Rest Day

Jens gone down to West Wales with Dan to Llangranog an outdoor pursuit center (go-carting, skiing and horse riding) I spent the day sorting out the Silver Surfer. I spent 3 hours cleaning and polishing and guess what it started to rain...... Tate is in St Davids already and its looking good there...so he says.

Al and her mate went to a wedding party

Al and her pal

Larmer Tree Festival

Got back from the Larmer Tree at about 2-00pm it rained all the way home. We had a great time Richard Thompson was fab and he played Vincent Black Lightning my 34th favourite track of all time. Dreadzone were great although it wasn't their usual crowd (tweed, picnic baskets and umbrellas). It poured down for from about 4-00pm onwards and got quite heavy in the evening. We came prepared and had good water proofs.









Loki (the head roadie) recognised us and we got talking to a couple from Blackburn. The guy was a bouncer and this became obvious at the end when Loki gave his wife the set list and someone snatched it from her and the bouncer grabbed him around the throat (very chilled). Loki gave Jen a set list as well and we headed over to see Sean Hughes. He was quite funny remind me to tell you joke about the Fleahd.
We went back to the van and set put the roof up, it rained all night but we stayed dry and got up about 9-00am. We had a few coffees and some breakfast and headed back home. We had some problems with the pop up tent and some guy helped us, he runs a mobile planetarium and was in Glastonbury. He thought Dreadzone were fab and told us a story about his wife's friends daughter who met the band in Yeovil a couple of months ago and shared champagne with Spee after the gig. We were at that gig and met her and shared her champers.... Its a small world.

When we got back we had to phone the AA as the Green Hornet wouldn't start again. The guy got it going though. I have bought a battery pack now that can jump start the cars and doubles up a power source when camping, it should come in handy.








Emptied the Bongo and started preparing it for West Wales. It was a good day/night the festival was only £30 each which included camping.

The chap who sold us the Bongo fitted a device that makes the roof easier to put up and down. It worked really well and makes the whole job a lot less stressful. I will post a video of it soon....

Gangster (sorry about the sound quality)

Thursday

07:00
Sunny Intervals
Temp: 14°C 57°F
10:00
Light Rain Shower
Temp: 17°C 63°F
13:00
Sunny Intervals
Temp: 19°C 66°F
16:00
Heavy Rain Shower
Temp: 19°C

Weather looks good until 4-00pm

Were Ready

Cleaned the Surfer tonight, ready for the West Country. Picked up a pop up tent and BBQ.
Was tempted to book a Travel Lodge but the weather is looking good for Thursday. If we have time we plan to see the Banksy Exhibition on the way back Friday.

Larmer Tree Festival

We are due to take the SS to the Larmer Tree festival on the 15th of July to see Dreadzone. Looking forward to seeing Richard Thompson hope he plays my 8th favourite track of all times...... which is ?

Fortune Favours the Brave

6th June 2009 was our first night away, Myself and Jen left the dynamic duo with Nick and Jude and we headed for the Gower. We got the campsite around 8-00pm and finally found a space by some bikers. The camp site (£20) overlooked Port Eynon, and we went to ship Inn for a few beers and a steak. The pub was full of drunk valley boys and there was almost a fight. We met some of the guys outside later and they were fine they new our mate Terry from Ferndale.

"We were in the eye of the storm and it was perfect"

25th June 2009 Where were you when the King of Pop passed on ?


Nothing to do me I was thousands of miles in sunny Glastonbury. Myself Tyson, Craig, Jacky, Strider and the two Steve's were walking around in the lightning on the way to the Mandela Bar when people kept shouting "Michael Jackson is dead". I had thought about taking the Bongo, but the camper van fields are miles away and the weather wasn't that good this year. Maybe next year....

Talking of Glatonbury the line up was very poor this year, however I did get to see some great acts. In particular Neil Young, Blur, Dreadzone (I am in the video for their new single) and Dodgy. We all had a great time and got on well. I did find 5 days a little long and have now shelved plans to go up on the Tuesday evening and camp nearby. Myself and Steve left Cardiff at 6-00am but because everyone went up on Wednesday, we didn't get there until about about 2-00pm. Craig took over 13 hours. The traffic was bad and the festival seemed over crowded. Getting out was bad at first although we packed up at 6-00, we got stuck in the car park at first. However we found a escape route and were home by 1-00pm.

4th of July 2009

Alix and cabbage spent the night with Jen in Kiln Park, our most expensive site so far (£48 with electric and passes to Wally World). The girls had a great time and spent the next day in Tenby. The weather was bad and it rained for a lot of the weekend

8th of July Als 13th Birthday

We rented a limo, I think the Bongo would have been better... remind me to tell you how Pizza/Pasta Hut had given our table away and I had to clear a table in time for the limo.....We had a great night though

11th of July 2009

The four of us went to the Gower and stayed in The Gower Farm Camp Site (£17 with electric). When we left the rain was so bad we had trouble seeing out the windscreen on the motorway.





When we got to the campsite the owner was surprised to see us and let us hook up at the back of the field. It took as a while to get the awning sorted as it was our first time putting it up (big mistake) Me and Jen got soaked. Once we got it sorted we moved all the stuff out of the van and had a cup of coffee.

We then took a spin down the the King Arthur for a pub meal. Once inside we found out they were fully booked so we drove down to Port Eynon and had a meal in "chips Ahoy". Dan amused everyone by doing his Michael Jackson routine. On the way home we went to Rhossili, the tide was going out and we couldn't believe the amount of rubbish on the beach. The walk back up to the Bongo almost killed us as well. Dan was asking to go home then, so we picked up another McDonald's in Swansea and headed back home.

We liked this campsite it was quiet and very basic but that suited us, in fact I only saw one person apart from the owner. I used to have a caravan (Stella) at this site back in 90s, and I used to take Travis down there and play poker with the lads ..... but that's another story.......

On the way back we saw part of the Swansea airshow and got flashed by an N reg white AFT Bongo.

The History of the Silver Surfer