More Visits

Manchester is a rich vein of family and friends but it does become a little hectic. With our “campsite” so much closer this time we have been able to use Uber instead of uprooting the van to visit, (more on the “campsite” later). We started at my favourite teacher’s home where he, Dave and his wife Sue treated us to a great lunch with smoked Mackerel pâté, home made quiche, salad, potato salad and French bread - pretty elaborate considering they were packing to leave for France in 2 days. Good to catch up, but soon whisked away in another Uber from Sale where he lives (and where I was born) to Altrincham and my sister Nicky. This time Chicken and Ham pie with potatoes and asparagus - all home cooked food today and very good it was too. Photo of Nick ready to serve up.

As for the “campsite” more aptly named Stalag Lyft III - (German prison of war camp), it seems it could once be described as a place worthy of being the most expensive campsite we stayed at, but with the goal of maximising profits and minimising the expenses that inconveniently damage those profits, they have allowed the place to become.a residence for people in run down permanent caravans who clearly don’t give a toss for how they treat the place. The poor prison wardens who live in a caravan on the site were very friendly and apologetic but seem to be in complete denial about how bad things have become. There had been no soap or toilet rolls in the toilets the whole time we have been here, but they insisted they put soap in and seemed puzzled that I would suggest such a thing. However the owner had invested in a purchase of large toilet rolls a while ago and within 6 hours they were all strewn around the toilets and then some kids of residents had gathered up gravel from the path and thrown it down the toilets. It all seems to be based on an appearance of beauty and cleanliness - there are some lovely flowers at the front of the site that they planted today and the sign in the extra has been outside the toilets in the same place the whole time - as if by placing it there the very words would execute the hoped for cleaning. I just missed using one of the 2 available stalls in the toilets because a young kid on a scooter beat me to it - proceeded to pee all over the toilet seat and then scoot on out of the place leaving me with the job of cleaning up after him!

It is so convenient for the visits we have been able to do while here but I am determined to find an alternative for next time - though by the wafting smells we pick up at times, it seems there might be opportunity to purchase illegal substances should depression set in. The reviews for our site in Anglesey are very promising and I hope to report an entirely different story if we manage to escape tomorrow morning