The Ham Nomads

19 Dec 2014. <GB-ENG> Gloucester (Friar Tuck's), Glos —

It's almost Christmas and we're STILL in Gloucester. Report on the van: The last part required finally arrived yesterday — what a saga of inefficiency and ineptitude! — so the engine is being installed. But Richard has informed us that it will not be finished before the weekend, so it will be at least Monday before we get moving again.

This throws a couple of other arrangements into disarray. We had arranged for a firm in Tewkesbury to check a couple of problems with the van -- the gas heater and the grey water disposal -- before we left for the Continent, but they will be closed from December 23 through January 2, so we have decided to proceed with these problems still with us, and get them fixed across the Channel. We've done without them working till now, so a couple more weeks won't hurt us. And we just want to get moving!!!

Kelly doing bar duty

Sharon policing the rabbit
hutch in the back yard

We've got to say that our hosts here at Friar Tucks, Mark and Sharon, have been wonderful. Mark is a passionate Liverpool FC supporter, so with Warren's leanings towards Manchester United, we had to be careful a few days ago, but Liverpool had a good win a couple of days later, so all's well. And Sean, a sort of jack-of-all-trades, and Kelly, the girl who has been servicing our room, have been delightfully friendly. So the delay hasn't been as traumatic as it could have been!

We've also had an invitation from Kay to spend Christmas in Lochcarron. Thanks, Kay, but we cannot afford to overstay our visa any longer — so long as it's been totally out of our control we've had a justifiable excuse, but as soon as the van is mobile and we regain control, we really have to leave the UK!

Distance driven — today, nil ; to date, 9,889 miles ( 15,915 km )