Four years on, and still going strong.

What more does one need in life. Listening to the humorous tones of Test
Match Special and the Ashes cricket on the radio, hopefully a win at Lords
against the Aussies for the first time in decades; a barmy British summer,
warm sun then heavy rain then more sun then rain; the beautiful green and
lush countryside; and pint of a decent British ale to quench one's thirst.
Oh and probably more importantly, last month we celebrated 4 years since we
left working world behinds us! Seems like only yesterday that we were locked
into the employment rut.
We have been back in the UK for nearly 2 months now. Despite all the amazing
attractions that Africa has to offer it is always nice to come back and
enjoy some different scenery and the freedom that comes with the lifestyle
here. There again we do lose some of our celebrity 'village idiot' walking
status here as so many people seem to be aware of their ability to walk
instead of hopping on board their gas guzzlers to pop down the shops to get
some milk.
The only problem we have hit is living the outdoor life, with the
aforementioned variable weather. We managed to beg and borrow enough
equipment to take a short camping break in June. Since selling up and
shedding the majority of our possessions all we had in our locker was not
much more than a kettle and a stove to boil it on! Thankfully cap in hand to
various family we scrapped together some transport and essential camping
equipment. Our brief trip was not much more exotic than a few nights in the
New Forest, and then some time near Glastonbury. No we did not hit the
festival although we did realise our bad timing before we had set off.
Thanks goes to the weather for not supplying the usual annual deluge that
befalls Glastonbury Festival. We could see the festival site from our
campsite several miles away and the odd waft of music swept over us when the
wind was not favourable. One evening was quite amazing when the
thunderstorms and lightning did hit, strangely only above the festival, and
thankfully not on us!!
At the moment we are actually back in our house in Bournemouth. A brief
return to our old abode in between tenants and a chance to sort out a few
items before the next occupants un sort them! I guess we are really having a
week of indoor camping, no tent though, as we are basically living with only
the limited supplies that we had packed into the boot of the car when we
were indeed under canvas.
Next we are back to Sussex and hopefully a plan to avoid the impending
summer holidays here. It is a bit like South Africa in December and January,
busy and expensive, but obviously not quite as hot! We probably could set
off with the camping equipment again but being crammed into a campsite with
people of varying standards a bit to close for comfort is not really our
idea of fun. Me a snob, really?
As for our next adventures on the other side of the world, we are aiming to
hop on a flight sometime early September, with a view to dusting off Mufasa,
unless Bob has sold him, and hitting the road for a short while in South
Africa before the holidays and more importantly the rains hit.
Oh and the Aussies are really under the cosh now in their second innings,
140 for 5, with hundreds still to get. Lets just hope the great British
summer doesn't intervene, well not while we are winning anyway!