Nun on a bike in Exmoor

First day of British Summer time and I didn't know the clocks went forward! So our early morning start for Exmoor was not so early. The contrast in drive to Dartmoor and Exmoor is quite amazing when you do it over 2 days. Exmoor is much more built upon and less undulating than Dartmoor. We drove through Dunster, passing the yarn market and then Ali went up Prolock Hill for the first time in her life, a 1:4 gradient :) Unfortunately the motorbike in front couldn't get up the steepest part so we almost had an accident. I've been to Lynmouth many a time, and on the cliff railway. We had a cream tea in Lynton for starters, then fish and chips while escorting the car so we didn't get another car ticket. On the drive home we saw a very surreal thing, a nun speeding down a hill on a bike! Something that will stay with me for a while.

What a couple of days, a very fond farewell to Devon. We have loved living in Devon, our first home.

Penultimate day of exploring Devon

With just 2 days of exploring Devon left, we decided to cram everything in in just 2 days. Our day started at 6:30 where unfortauntely, Bandy was still very poorly. A bike ride to double locks was just what the doctor ordered, the bird song and absence of people make me cycle faster. There was mist above the water, and it was just me, the water and the birds. A perfect start to the morning.

After a 5 minute shower, it was time to say goodbye to Bandy at the vets, and then a trip to town. As I'm moving for Ali's work for the second time in my life, I got a network, a scrapbook and lunch...I could get used to this :)

After lunch, it was back in the car and off to Dartmoor. We walked from the Plume of feathers, the pub where my final Gold duke of Edinburgh started all those years ago. We sat on the Tor, admiring the view, listening to the multiple D of E groups passing us, and breathed in the cool air in the spring sunshine. After a well deserved dinner at the Plume of feathers, we said au revior to Dartmoor for the time being but it will remain in our hearts for a long time.

L word convention

As Jen raved about the L word convention last year, the whole of windband descended on Brighton on a sunny March weekend to in effect stalk celebrities from L word. As neither Ali nor I are particularly keen on the celeb lifestyle, it was kind of weird to watch and see people idolise people from a TV show and ask quesitons as though it was real. My favourite has to be the question whether the side of the bed that tina exited once her and bette had an argument was intentional. There was also a common question of 'if you were a kangaroo, what would you put in your pouch'. It's a personal handbag!

Arriving late on Friday night, we were good for nothing but a drink. On saturday we celebrity stalked and listened to the talks, went for a thai dinner, complete with Thai dancing and then the 'disco'. As we left early, we missed Jemma and Jodie skinny dipping with a stag do. Only they would pull men on a lesbian convention!

Sunday lasted a very long time, might because I didn't go to bed until 4am. Who knew you could buy balloons at 2am! We decoated the breakfast table for a very hungover Jen as it was her birthday.

I walked along the sea front. As I sat on the promenade thinking that I would like heaven to be like Brighton, a dog went to the toilet directly in front of me. I'm trying to avoid thinking it has significance.

I love the diversity of Brighton and the no cares attitude. A man walked along the sea front with a sandwich board saying "I cheated on my girlfriend, so I'm doing this to show her how much I love her and want her back".

Memories of Nicky being chased by OJ down the corridor and amazingly doing a 360 to get away from her. This was after we started our night of university drinks including archers and lemonade, snake bit, Blue WKD, vodka fanta :)

Nicky and Jen just said 'lets go somewhere else, I'm bored', as members of the L word walked down the stairs and it was like a swarm of ants around a pot of jam. Unfortunately, the drinking did not stop, we then had chilli shots, vodka shots, and cider to wash it down. Jemma bought a managers special - absinthe and 80% vodka but that was the end of Jen. We stayed for another 3 hours, don't have a clue why but fear we played truth or truth :)