With Christmas out of the way we've spent a somewhat fraught few days trying to get everything ready. All the paperwork we managed to get sorted before the festivities, although a mild panic when we realised our International Driving Permits, needed for Morocco, had expired. Luckily all that was required was a visit to our local Post Office which we fitted in with collecting three months supply of medications, both for us and Jamie – the vet, doctor and PO were within 100m of each other!
What didn't help was the discovery of a couple of problems with the van. The rear view camera refused to display – not too serious, we've got mirrors, but the fresh water tank was leaking from an old repair and initial efforts to cure it were ineffective. As a last resort we completely sealed off the drain which will be okay for our trip but will need proper attention when we return.
But the real pressure was that we've arranged for a new conservatory roof and the builders couldn't come until the end of January, nor would they delay without the cost increasing by 20%. We don't have a problem with being away as our lovely neighbours are happy to look after things, but the conservatory had to be completely emptied before we left and anyone who has seen our “playroom” will know this wasn't a ten minute job! However we found space for it all so by yesterday evening all was ready, just the last minute stuff to load into the van – seems to be a lot more this trip even though we thought we'd cut back; not to worry it'll all disappear eventually.
So it was somewhat a relief to finally get away before lunchtime, just a call to top up the gas tanks, and the roads were pretty clear so an uneventful trip in dull and showery conditions, our usual lunch stop at Wetherby, finally reaching Mum at Navenby around 4.15.
Our plan is to spend a few days with Mum over New Year before heading south on Tuesday to meet up with good friends Colin and Tina before taking our Eurotunnel crossing late afternoon.
