NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED DUE TO THE TEAM NOW BEING BACK TOGETHER IN THE SAME COUNTRY.
Monday 13th Aug: All change. After much
discussion and communication with UK yesterday it was decided to change the itinerary
to allow us to be near an international airport as well as moving south east.
Out goes Croatia and in comes Slovenia, an unknown country to us but ‘hey ho’
it cannot be that bad so after a quick pack up we said goodbye to Mr Happy and
hit the motorway (we had obtained an e-vignette for the Hungary part of the
journey and Slovenia is closed/open type toll roads – pay at the booths). A
real pleasure driving on the motorways, even if it costs ‘an arm and leg’ in
Slovenia, and made really good time arriving at our chosen site at 2pm – a bit of a surprise for
both as it is a nice, quiet and small site which whilst realising ‘we are big’ they willingly accommodated us on
a really nice pitch. Checked the situation in Belfast and did some more
thinking during the nice sunny day with 28C temperature.
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| Slovenian Border |
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| Slovenian Countryside |
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| Slovenian Countryside |
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| View of Slovenia |
Tuesday 14th Aug: Settled into the site,
orientated ourselves to the area, introduced ourselves to staff and fellow
campers (all very friendly and from all sorts of countries) and re-assessed the
situation. After much heart searching it was decided that for Linda’s peace of
mind that she should go and visit her Mum. First impressions of Slovenia this
site and its owners are very good and it will be an ideal place for Neil and
Daisy to await her return. The weather forecast for this place is good and if
today (Sunny/27C) is anything to go by should be very nice.
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| Kamp Park Prebold |
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| De-stressed Daisy |
Wednesday 15th Aug: Spent most of the day
‘bashing’ the laptop to get some flights organised and speaking to the family
in UK to arrange accommodation and transport etc. Managed to get flights sorted
and Linda is to fly out tomorrow at 1650hrs and gets to Belfast at 2100hrs via
Stansted. Planned the route to Ljubljana airport and planned to ‘non-toll’ road
it, going over the mountain range – might as well see some of the country side
at the same time. Looks like Linda may be escaping a heat wave as today was
sunny and 30C.
Thursday 16th Aug: Last bit of shopping and pre trip admin
before heading to the airport. Lovely drive there, very scenic and somewhat
breathtaking in places – the roads were good as well, so Linda was not too
stressed by the time we got to the airport (?). Whilst being the main Slovenian
international airport, it is like the country a bit small but totally
effective, so Linda got off on time with no problems. Neil had a very nervous
return journey through the mountains in a major thunder storm with lightening
all around – at least it cleared the air but no sooner had the rain fell than
it was dry again. Needless to say Daisy freaked with the thunder, the rest of
the day had been mainly sunny and 28C.
Friday 17th Aug: A sunny start to the day and the
first of a forecasted hot weather period with 31C. Linda arrived safe and sound
and was really pleased that she had decided to go back to UK as her Mum is not
doing too well at the moment – fingers crossed for a return to good health! Neil
started the thumb twiddling wait and as the rest of the site campers are
non-English/German speakers it looks like Neil will have to talk to the trees
for a while, and watch all the comings and goings for entertainment. At least this site is a nice location and the
WiFi here is fairly good so Skype, email, phone & texts are possible to
maintain sanity whilst Linda spends some quality time with her Mum.
Saturday/Sunday 18/19th Aug: Linda managed to spend both days with her Mum
and the rest of the family at the rest home – some good news in that her Mum
was starting to rally round a bit and is enjoying seeing everybody again but
still has a way to go yet. Not much happening in Slovenia – very quiet and Neil
caught up on emails, phone calls and family/general communications with both
days hot and sunny 29/30C.
Monday/Tuesday 20th/21st Aug: Linda continued to visit her
Mum with her sister Maureen and the news is very good as her Mum is getting
much stronger, responding to the treatment and is eating much better now –
hopefully the crisis is over and she will begin to return to good health
YIPPEEEEE. Neil and Daisy did not allow the hot (32/33C) sunny weather to
prevent them from exploring the local area on foot and found some really good
walks, and Daisy’s new favourite place – the river. On our return from our
walks we stroll down the pathway besides the river and we have to physically
check out the water, Daisy loves a quick swim and cool down time in the river
and then just loves to cover Neil in water when she shakes herself dry. Some UK
communications, Terry rang to tell us that he had been appointed as the manager
of the company’s flagship store, Neil gave Linda a shopping list to bring back
and late on Tuesday Linda decided that she could come back on Friday 25th.
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| Sempeter Area Slovenia |
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| Savinjske Alps - Slovenia |
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| Daisy - chilling |
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| River Savinja - Kamp Park |
Wednesday/Thursday 22
nd/23
rd Aug: Linda
and Maureen had a firsthand taste of NI public transport and had a return
journey from the rest home to her brother’s house that took 3 hours and all for
£12.00 each –not impressed but a bit of an adventure. The improvement in Linda’s
Mum continues and both days visits were heartening as she showed some signs of
her old self. The laptop took another bashing and flights were arranged/booked
for Friday, Neil realised he had better get a move on and tidy up the RV before
she returns – all those parties you know,
not. Neil did find out that there is
supposed to be a local golf course (?) a few kms away so decided to check it
out on the Thursday – whoops, not golf course but a farmer’s field with 6 flags/holes
in it. It was an experience having to play around the crops, putt on a dirt
surface with a few tufts of grass and cope with the longest hole of 130m and
shortest one of 45m but at least it got him swinging (no not the way!). True to
form whilst playing it RAINED! It was a quick thunder storm with some ‘stair
rod’ rain but with a 28C temperature – a bit different from Wednesday’s sunny
35C.
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| Zalec Golf Club (?) |
Friday 24
th Aug: Early starts to the day, Neil to
panic housework the RV and Linda to get to the airport for her flight – not so
rushed this time with leaving Belfast at 0940hrs, in to Stansted at 1055hrs,
leave Stansted 1315hrs and get to Ljubljana at 1625 hrs. Due to Neil’s shopping
list an extra case was needed so one was borrowed from her brother; guess he
can always collect it from us in Tuscany? Linda had a quick visit to the Duty
Free, which was a bit of a waste of time as the prices were the same as here
but at least we have some more essential supplies for the tour. Neil &
Daisy got to the airport safely in time to pick up Linda (almost literally due
to the sudden return to brilliant sun and 34C) and then returned to the site to
have a pizza for the evening meal – please note one between us NOT one each.
With the team back together again we can now start to plan our future
adventures/travels, after of course Linda has a rest/acclimatisation period (translated means washing, ironing and housework).
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| Mmmm Pizza |
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