Back to peace and quiet - with the occasional angle grinder

Tuesday 13th May

Big News! We sold the campervan at the last minute. Having been let down by two buyers, just days before we were leaving Poole, we thought it would be sitting by the side of the road all summer. But then our friends Andy and Clare, who have been thinking about getting a van for ages, decided to take the plunge and buy our dear 27-year-old Duetto. Lovely neighbour Harvey handled all the paperwork in our absence, money was transferred and they drove it off to Oakdale yesterday. Big relief all round.

It's sad too, of course, we've really enjoyed having that van for 10 years and our travels to Wales, Ireland, the Lakes, France, Spain, Devon and Cornwall, as well as numerous festivals. But it just doesn't fit in our lives right now.

Meanwhile we got back to Naxangveuy safely last Thursday. England seems a distant memory after a few days here. Our six weeks were filled with busyness, to-do lists and expensive repairs (the new boiler should be going in today). But I did achieve a bit of decluttering, a useful tip-run and a couple of sales.

It was lovely to see Holly, Ben and Ellie and catch up with various family and friends as well.

From one building site to another. Our neighbours in Poole decided now was the time to add an extension to the side of their house - next to our garden room. Cue diggers, angle grinders, dust and mayhem. Heigh ho!

We took a trip up north to Scunthorpe to see Chris and Jill, then Wakefield via a lovely, unexpectedly sunny afternoon at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, to see Holly, Dawn and Al, plus Harvey and Helen, then back via Newark to see Jen and John.

Yorkshire fish & chips with Holly and BB.

Tea in Dawn's garden with Harvey and Helen, who popped down from the Lakes.

Dawn and Al are busy putting their house on the market this year

I sold this pretty little sconce to a woman who is restoring a lovely old house in the Scottish borders. She was delighted with it.

We finally got to add labels to the trees in the community orchard.

And I had fun clearing compost from the old freezers at Tatnam Organic Patch.

A little more space in the loft when I got rid of these ancient speakers. Good to find things like that a new home.

And I gave the old blanket chest a new lease of life with a coat of oil. It's still in the shed but I'm loathe to let it go.

I spent a couple of days photographing Mum's studio pottery collection, recording the names I knew.

Holly came down to Poole for a friend's wedding and wore a nice Georgian paste necklace I handed over to her a few years ago. She also wore her great grandmother's engagement ring. Nice to see things being used and enjoyed.

My good friend Millie, who happens to be the Leader of BCP Council currently, is a regular volunteer at Turner's. Here she is getting stuck in, clearing the pond with Tanya. I'm so pleased that the team at Turner's are able and willing to keep it looking cared for.

We enjoyed a full roast lamb Sunday dinner for the Bank Holiday. Rare to see both children together these days.

And then on the Tuesday we were off again!

Taking our tea bags with us.

It was a long, uncomfortable flight and we felt thoroughly exhausted for a couple of days.

The garden is lush

The weather is hot - although we have had rain and thunderstorms as well this week.

Farewell little van. It's been a great adventure.