4th October 2023
The first excursion of the trip was to see my friend in Whitney on Wye.
As I expected, there was little petrol in the beast, so that was my first stop.
The harsh reality of the cost of fuel hit me.
I pumped fifty pounds worth into the tank, that barely hit half full. “Oh” I thought, “this is going to cost a bit”
I proceeded along the M4 towards Cardiff coming off to go in the direction of Monmouth.
This was the route I had done a few times in the Jag, but not at the same speed.
I had heard that the speed limit in towns and villages had been reduced to twenty miles an hour.
When I hit the first one I realised how slow that was, I could take my foot off the gas and still exceed that speed.
Other roads that I used to open up the Jag on now had a fifty mile an hour limit, oh the trip was dragging.
Vernon Kaye was on the radio, his patronising northern tones began to get on my nerves, I had only been in the country a couple of days and already I wanted to punch him in the face.
It took me four hours to do a normal three hour drive.
I was pleased to see Martin and Liz, but not the two fully grown Newfoundlands. They were pleased to see me, forcing their massive bodies at my much smaller one.
I was spattered with dog spit before I reached the front door.
After many hours catching up and admiring his collection of antique clocks, all showing a different time, the chiming began.
It was the ultimate nightmare scenario, loud noises, all out of phase echoed around the rooms, every room had its own symphony.
Then there was silence, another hour went by, it all started again.
It was dark when I made my return drive, stopping to pump another fifty quids worth, ouch!.
Arriving back at the cottage, I bathed in the silence, planning the next adventure.
Another Lifetime to go 