Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

Friday night, I made a Plan. At ohgodearly on Saturday, I would scamper down to Chigwell, grab commoncomitatus and then tootle at high speed over to my favourite beach in Kent. It mostly worked like a charm :D Had I read the map more carefully or even got directions from a route planner, I might have realised that there wasn't actually an exit on the M11 where I thought there was. Consequently, on the way there, I found myself on the North Circular. Fortunately, I didn't panic, recalled where I needed to be and was able to swiftly correct the mistake, arriving at the pick up point when I said I would. I was impressed :)

The trip to Westbrook didn't take long and we were both pleased to see the blue sky with white clouds become crystal clear blue sky as we headed further into the Kent. The temp soared and it was just blissful to be on the beach. There was snoozing, and roasting and more snoozing and in between, I was able to be a total water baby and swim in the sea. OK, swimming implies exercise, I mostly floated (fat floats!) and enjoyed the sensation of being able to get my entire body out of the heat in the delicious cold water. I discovered that the water at Westbrook is shallow (mostly waist height at the deepest) until you get past the rock pools, although I never went that far out. Perfect for floating in, or looking for wildlife - the water was so calm, you could see the bottom with no bother at all.

We left around 3pm, and the journay back to commoncomitatus was painless. We went through the Dartford Tunnel and boggled at the southbound tailback. Seriously, I hadn't seen it so bad since Christmas. A quick jaunt up the A12 (hey, cookwitch, I went through Harold Hill, I didn't realise I would until I saw the signs. I mentally waved in your direction!) and I dropped commoncomitatus off and headed back the way I came. Or so I thought. I got soooooo lost. I ended up on the North Circular again and finally made it back to the A1(M) from west side of the M25...don't ask. I was not pleased at all. Looking at the map though, I've only got myself to blame and I at least now know the proper route :) One alarming thing I saw though was the warning signs on the Eastbound M25 about the "Long delays" at Dartford and, get this, advising people who wanted to get to Dartford to follow the M25 via Heathrow. Yep, from the north M25 it was apparently easier to go 3 quarters of the way round anticlockwise than to go a quarter of the way around clockwise. I desperately feel for anyone who had to do that yesterday in the heat and traffic.

Got home in plenty of time to watch the 3rd place playoff in the World Cup. Cracking game, was kinda hoping Uruguay would win but Germany were excellent. Was so sleepy, I was in bed before midnight of a Saturday - uheard of! - and I slept like a log until 8am this morning :)

Today I've been out and bought a shiny new washer/dryer for the flat, to replace my old washing machine that currently sounds like it's breaking rocks whenever it goes into the spin cycle. It's old and it's done well but it's time it was replaced. Done some food shopping and now I'm back in for the afternoon. I have to say though, if I'd known it was going to be this warm today, I'd have given serious consideration to go back to the beach.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend :)

Egads. Well I'm home again, home again, jiggedy jig. But bloody 'ellfire, the traffic's had it in for me this week. The journey to Wales from Exeter was a pain in the arse with really bad traffic all the way but hideous traffic at Newport meaning I didn't get to Mountain Ash until well after 5pm. Bah.

And the journey home tonight from Wales? Gnnnnng. That's gonna be on my list of "journeys I must attempt not to repeat". To be fair, there wasn't actually anything I could have done to prevent it. First of all, the weather was vile but nothing too hideous as to make the drive seriously dangerous. However, my smooth run was completely foiled by a lorry hitting the central reservation of the eastbound M4 outside Bristol and shedding its load, thus closing all 3 lanes. There were tailbacks in pretty much every direction and on every alternate route. Two hours later, and I'd finally got to a slip road and followed the diversion signs on what must have been one of the longest diversions ever to get myself back onto the M4. *sighs* I left Wales at 3.30, got home at 9.30. And tomorrow I have even more driving as I'm going over to see Aunty Eve and taking her shopping. *wilts*

Oh well. I'll have Saturday evening and Sun/Mon to collapse and recuperate and it was all worth it :) I had oodles of fun in Wales, mostly by being very lazy, and it was great to see therealsherbs, Mr Sherbs and the baby Sherbling again. We didn't do much really, but it was relaxing and fun. Thursday we visited sallyinwales's other half and saw the cat and kitten (very cute!), and then took a run into Swansea to see the Mumbles. Ice cream from what therealsherbs assures me is the best ice cream place ever was scoffed before we battled the rush hour traffic to get back to Mountain Ash. Today, I slept really, really late (bad Mitchy, no bikkit), then we had the wettest shopping trip ever into Pontypridd (I was so soggy when we got back, I had to have another hot shower and change into dry socks and jeans for the drive home!) And in between this we fitted in some TV, some RP and some booze. Hurrah!

And now I'm slurping tea, getting the kinks out of right leg (it doesn't like long car journeys any more) and plotting a semi-early night :)