Hampshire Dorset and Devon

As soon as our Jess had taken off for Australia we headed around to Leighton Buzzard to Emma and David’s house to finish the walls we had started to fix. This is the before picture.

This is the after picture. We were very pleased with the result and so were they. 

We had our last walk with Mike and Liz from their house all through the countryside to our favourite spot for a sausage roll.

Sandridgebury butcher - best sausage rolls ever. 

Our packing up took awhile-OMG we have sooo much stuff!!! Our flights are now booked for 20th Jan back to Oz for a short time and some sun 🌞 we are having one night in Christchurch to say bye to Val and Malcolm then house and dog sit for a week in WestBay for David and Sheila. We said our goodbyes to Mike and Liz and we cannot thank them enough for using their house as a base and of course for their friendship. 

We had a good drive down to Christchurch and it was great to see Val Malcolm and Sunnie again.

Val and I with purple teeth after too much red wine! 

The next day we went down the beach at Mudeford. The weather was glorious. 



Mudeford Quay

This is where it all began all those years ago (31) where David proposed to me. 

After saying our goodbyes, which weren’t too sad as we will be back this year, we headed for WestBay in Dorset.

At David and Sheilas we had a lovely meal and got all the instructions for dog sitting before they fly to Cyprus in the morning. 

Tizzy and David.

Me with Ella and Tizzy on the beach at WestBay with the famous Jurassic Coast behind. This is the famous cliff in the TV series Broadchurch. 

Yes it’s Sunday so David and I walked to Haddon House for a roast. It was very good.

The next night we were invited around to Louise and Heath’s house in Charmouth and yes happy days -a roast dinner! Molly was there too and Harry with his girlfriend Chloe. A lovely evening.

Louise doing my highlights so I look nice when I get home. 

Ali had to come to WestBay to say goodbye to us. Her sister Susan came from Devon for the day with Elsa and Bertie. All the dogs got on surprisingly well. We were blessed again with a glorious but cold day. After our walk we had lunch in The George in WestBay. 

A dead porpoise on the beach ☹️ 





Ali doing her dog whispering. 

Yep we got another puzzle done. 

A very wet day. Poor Ali had to drive home in terrible weather. 



We met Gary and Sharon in The George Bridport for a few drinks with their son Jacob and his girlfriend Rhiannon. 

Walking the dogs it was very cold and crisp. We wrote in the frost and sent this picture to the family in Oz. 

On our last night before David and Sheila flew home from Cyprus we met Louise Heath and Molly at The Rise down the Bay for a lovely meal. We said our goodbyes the next morning and headed for our final destination Speyton in Devon. 

Arrived at Susan and Peter’s in Devon and Sue has cooked us a lovely “Keto” meal. 

We transferred our car into Peters name and we hope to use it when we come back. Peter had already ordered new number plates without the EU symbol! And after a good wash it looked like a new car. 

David in the riding school in Sudan’s coat as it was so cold. Just about to do some harrowing.

Elsa and Bertie oh how we are going to miss you 😘 

The massive task again. What shall we take home? What shall we leave in Sue and Peters lock up? Very lucky to have this option. 

A bit chilly on our last day. 

After dropping our gear off at the lock up Susan drove us to Exeter to catch the coach to Heathrow Airport. We had a coffee first in John Lewis. We have so enjoyed staying at Chapelthorne with Susan and Peter and all the animals, 3 times on this trip, and we are looking forward to returning soon.

Sue kept hurrying us up and she was right as when we got to the coach the doors were just closing!

Had a final English pint at the airport before boarding our Qantas flight to Perth via Singapore. 

A short stop here then onto Perth. 

We are so glad that we do this blog as we have done so much we forget what has happened! We have had another great adventure and have seen some amazing new sites, completed some wonderful walks, met some wonderful new people and some that will now stay friends. To all our family and friends that have put us up (put up with us!) as we would struggle to do what we do without you all, a huge thank you. 

Hopefully we will catch up with you all on our next adventure when we return to the UK in April.