We are going back to the UK for 12 days next week and no doubt some 'real' beer will get downed, Bass Burton Ale ............ hmmmm. It's a nice feeling returning home to familiar places and faces inspite of the noise and traffic also the colder weather and rain. I can live with the downsides for a couple of weeks just to chill out amongst my own for a change and no need to babble in French as English will do nicely ........... thank you.

Just had a thought, it'll be a 2K miles round trip so will test out all the upgrades and repairs on the old D2 if I use that instead of the RRS. Should be fun rather than luxury and ease.

 

Well, we went there, had some good grub in the pubs, some excellent ale but couldn't wait to leave the UK. The noise, crowds, shops, cars, traffic, terrible weather and ignorant people. Now I'm back on my hill in rural France in perfect isolation from all the worst of southern England .................. bliss ............... I never thought I'd hear myself say that, pure solitary bliss. Must be getting a miserable ole git or maybe the old life is way too much to stomach now. Hmmm!

 

I feel the same way around here. Same ole same. I miss France. Had a hard time understanding some of the Culture in Paris But Provence and other places were blissful. Next onto places I have never been. Sold the 99 DII today I already miss driving it, But I have a spare. For Now.
Maybe there is a place for me like there is in France for you. It may be a fleeting moment but I have never felt at home anywhere. That is why I keep trying to move on.
Welcome home Offroad

 

So offroad, did you make it back with the other truck that was given to you?

I know what you mean...when I visit old places I used to live they are never what I remember or expected......and pure solitary bliss is a good thing.

 

We went back primarily for the inquest into my mother in law (died 5 years ago from medical negligence) which took up most of our time at the hearing.

We did go to see the truck but it needed a big tow trailer and some effort to recover it to France so disconnected the shafts, rigid towed it and parked it in a pals garage/barn until next year when I've got more time to collect it (and borrow a BIG car transporter trailer). It's a bit of a challenge as the motor isn't running (might be seized), the battery is flat/kaput and it's been standing idle for quite some time albeit in a garage. There's no rush as winter has set in although it was 21C today but wet. I need to get a few other vehicular niceties completed first and buy an engine stand to rebuild the engine on. I'm quite looking forward to 'The Project' but have so many 'plates spinning' at present it would be difficult. Who said retirement was a time for taking it easy and no work or pressures, they must have been joking.

You're right, when you go back it's never how you remember it and the UK has changed so much in recent years not necessarily for the better. I always had the motto for many years 'never look or go back just move on forwards' which I believe is so true now. Hey ho, upwards and onwards.

 

Follow up. I've located a company, well a small business, who transport vehicles backwards and forwards to France. Their main business is historic vehicles for restoration and race cars BUT they are less money than me driving the RRS or D2 back taking into consideration the ferries, autoroute tolls, diesel fuel, food en route and an overnight stop or two in England borrowing a large car trailer and the attendant extra fuel and tolls on return (and I'll need to return the trailer sometime with additional costs and tolls). That little lot adds up to around £800+ ($1300) whereas this company outfit will deliver for around £600 ($950) provided they pick up a return cargo/vehicle. They use a VW or Merc van (which they sleep in overnight - rather them than me) and a big car trailer. It's a no brainer really and I don't even have to get off my *** to order it. So come February 2015 I'll be the proud owner of a non runner that needs fixing

 

It's a difficult dilemna slabrat, there are many upsides and downsides to most countries and cultures. There is a very me, me, me culture in France and intrusive if you permit them to be, plain nosey I'd call it. The culture in Paris is very different, everyone rushing around going nowhere (disappearing up their own jacksie), inefficiency rules, whereas in the south, Provence etc there are two extremes, the haves and have not's. It's a more culturally mixed society encompassing both the mega rich and the mega poor with a very cosmopolitan population. Problem down there is crime and some is terminally violent and organised. Here in rural France you have the Sunday hunters (chasse) who appear en masse particularly after lunch and usually too old, overweight, half blind and deaf but very often drunk. They appear a law unto themselves and wander close to houses and villages shooting at anything that moves including their own comrades, dogs, cyclists, walkers etc. There always comes a time when you have to face them down as well and they then disappear from around your property. I am still seeking my 'nirvana' and spent my life as a nomad but never really found where I really want to live or belong. As one gets older their priorities change and toleration threshold decreases. I now abhor shops, traffic, noise, herds of people and busy towns whereas 20 years ago I would tolerate all of those. Now I like solitude, open spaces, outside life, peaceful bliss, no people and doing what I want and when I want. The problem always remains, there is always someone or something to stop you or ruin your 'nirvana'........................ isn't that where we came in Keep looking it's out there somewhere just finding it is the problem

 

My home roots are in Czech Republic so definitely beer drinking is imprinted in the DNA. Been to London back in 2001 and would love to visit again. The cold miserable weather is ok for a week span during a visit; can't agree the same as far as living there though.