A recce

We had a drive over to Forton services yesterday. We thought we’d sort out if there was a back way in, which didn’t involve driving all the way down to Preston to come back again. The answer would seem to be no. There is a back way in, for staff & to get to the motel, but that is beyond the station’s public car parking & there doesn’t appear to be any way of getting to the parking except by going up a one way road the wrong way. It would be fine for a taxi to drop us off there but not for us wanting to leave the car in the car park for the week. We’ve concluded if we do drive there ourselves, we’ll have to park on the south bound side, get me over the bridge to the north side. The Fox would then have to go back for the luggage, then re-cross to join me & await the coach.

I did find a taxi company that could do the job. However, the cost is £30-35 each way as opposed to a week’s parking of £64. We’re seriously beginning to think of just driving ourselves. It’s not far to go & the times for pick up & drop off are reasonable so it should be okay.

Afterwards we went off to the village pub to catch up on news of our friends there. One couple had recently got back from a few days over in Newcastle, staying with friends & exploring Northumbria. Another is planning a trip to Benidorm to help celebrate a friend’s retirement. He’s also going for a bowling holiday in Blackpool.

All this upbeat news was overshadowed by the bad news of our friends who I told you needed help. She’s now got to a stage she’s not able to get off her settee without her partner’s help. A physio is due to go today & hopefully give her some exercises to get her moving better. If something doesn’t improve soon, we all fear the worse. It may not be so long before we have yet another funeral, & another friend to support through grief. I hope not. She’s far too young, still in her fifties.