During our summer in the mobile condo we visited lots of people to say “Hi, we’re back” and “Bye, we’™re off”. This entry is just to say thank you to some of them for their hospitality.

Our first hosts were Tricia and Paul when we were still suffering jet lag. We craved pizza and red wine and they both had the delight of watching Cheryl slowly slip into a 12 hour coma. We’™d like to thank Tricia for looking after the properties while we were away and to Paul for feeding the cat and not trashing the house.

Clive and Karen fed us the most gorgeous roast lamb dinner with bread and butter pudding to follow….mmmmmmm…..yum. These two are currently planning their trip of a lifetime and we wish them as much fun as we’ve had and still having.

Thanks to Mark, Paula and Mia for lunch, our turn next April. Rangeworthy Beer Festival. No thanks here, just a mention as it was a great night, excellent value, lots of local beers and huge slabs of cheese.

Leanne was difficult to catch this summer as she was so busy with Uni., job application and interviews. Well done to her for getting the first teaching job she applied for and well done to her for quitting after 2 months for accepting a better job offer!

Alex and Osian we’re equally hard to pin down. Thanks to both for the hospitality in your lovely new flat. Well done on an extremely successful first few months getting known to The BBC, Reuters and your P/T lecturing opportunity at South Bank Uni. Good luck with all the new business ventures.

Roy and June. Quiz and Curry Night. Prize winners…. for being last!!! …but it was a good curry. Great day on 16 Aug to catch up with the extended family and friends to celebrate Heidi’s christening and Neil’s birthday. Gail and Chris Quiz Night. Much better, not first but then not last. Plenty of fine ale and hearty laughter. Good luck to Dominik on his posting to Glasgow. Emma and Russell and family. Cheryl worked with Emma about 10 years ago. Emma and Russell also quit corporate life to run a busy shop in deepest Somerset. We tracked them down via the internet, thanks for supper and maybe, just maybe, see you next year if you need a locum.

Clive & Karen again, thanks again for good food and great company. Elaine and Steve, a long overdue catch up and one of the best Chinese takeaway ever. Sorry for the really late night and wow again at the size of the Mansion House!

Thanks to Mark, Sally and Phil for a great night out in Bath followed by comfortable bed with the best pies in the world and some of the best beers at The Raven. Gail and Chris – special thanks to Chris for his outstanding fish lasagne. The offer is still on to dog & duck sit next summer.

Roy & June – Extra special thanks to June for feeding us scrummy food and the best puddings in the world. Roy – have you finished the bandstand? Best wishes to you both on your venture as chalet hosts in France this season starting December 2nd.

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Bob, Bill & Sue good to catch up over lunch. Bill have you started ‘training’ yet?

Mum special mention for Neil’s mum who looks like outliving all of us! Bob next time you visit please say hello! for me. If we have forgotten to mention anyone we are really sorry – tell us off via the message board.

Finally, it did occur to us after enjoying such great hospitality during the summer, especially in the run up to leaving, that we didn’t really need a house or even a condo on wheels to live in………….just about 183 different friends to visit over the course of a year!! There is one major drawback to this plan – you would need to purchase a new wardrobe one size bigger each month.