The weekend didn’t go quite as planned. The plan, was to travel down to my sisters on Saturday, go shopping in the city with her, then stay overnight. We would then pop over into England in my car, about 50 miles, attend a large country fair, and meet up with my brother. He would then take my sister home, whereas I’d have a 102-mile journey home on a very straightforward route. So much for plans. It’s not his fault, a friend of theirs had died recently, and understandably they didn’t feel like going out. I couldn’t face doing a 100-mile round trip to the fair on Sunday, then 145 miles home, so we attended a local country fair instead. Not a great idea. I said I’d arrive at 9am Saturday, and I did, and my sister wasn’t even dressed. It was a good journey; however I was mildly put out that she wasn’t ready.

It rained a lot which isn’t ideal for parking in a field, then traipsing around in the wet. A number of advertised vendors were nowhere to be seen and I guess the forecast put them off. Food to buy, and eat, was in limited supply and I wasn’t in the best of moods having not eaten since 5am. It didn’t help that my sister got chatting to a vendor and I waited by the exit feeling like a prick, whilst she chatted for about 15 minutes. I eventually managed to procure a bacon roll, which although nice, cost as much as a whole pack of bacon and a pack of rolls, would have cost in the supermarket. I started to feel a tad better and we each bought a huge pumpkin at good cost, some fruit too, and some olives and so on. Oh, and sugared cinnamon pecans. OMG!

After 3 hours she’d had enough so we left. A big outlay to only stay 3 hours… The fair we’ve been to in the past in England is the same price, much bigger, a huge array of vendors though I doubt I’d go there again as my sister doesn’t have much stamina. Once we got back to hers she had a cup of tea then went to bed. O…K… I went out for petrol and to the shops but on a Saturday lunchtime, the traffic was horrendous – far worse than my area in the Midlands. She made dinner later, and it was nice enough, but I was disappointed that we had shop pie and not something she’d made – she’s a good cook, and I was hoping for something homemade, but it was nice enough, if a little bland.

Sunday, I toyed with staying for Sunday lunch but the thought of not getting home until 5 or 6pm was not appealing. I also toyed with staying until 10am so I could visit a certain supermarket, but in the event, we were all awake by 5.30am. Me because the spare Futon bed was as good as a torture rack – I could feel every metal rod through the mattress, my sister due to coughing, and her partner was woken by the dogs fighting. They have 3 small dogs who are adorable, and chilled out, and she’s introduced a puppy to the mix who I swear is on speed. I almost fell over her twice as she was biting my shoe laces as I was trying to walk. By 7.30 I’d had breakfast and the car was packed, so I left. A good journey home, a quick stop at Lidl for groceries, and I was home and unpacked by 11.30. The washing machine is on – everything I took stinks of fag smoke, and I’m hoping it stays dry, so I can get laundry out.

It was lovely to see them, and great to catch up. They gave me apples from their garden, homemade chutney which is delicious, homegrown runner beans, and 2 bottles of wine. A nice visit, mostly, but I wouldn’t do it again. Next time I visit, for whatever reason, I’ll have to dig deep and pay for a hotel. Not this year though.