It’s
about time we started. We decided to set up this blog, and, in fact,
this website, as an alternative to bombarding our nearest and dearest
with epic monthly emails which they felt obliged to read. This way,
they (or, perhaps you) can come here and read our latest news or see
our latest photos whenever you think of us. Have no doubt that we will be thinking of you all very often.
We
bought Penelope last October, and already she’s taken us on quite a
journey, not geographically yet, but certainly emotionally. Huw spent
the first few months working on the mechanics, mostly under the
watchful eye of Jon Joseph. While I was winning the bread, he also took
her out of Brighton for some all important outings: to get her LPG tank
fitted near Norwich, her solar panels fitted near Cambridge, her
cupboards fitted in Newhaven. It was hard-going: with each development
we’d discover several more jobs which needed to be done. I started
using words I’d never heard before: we had entered a world of
differentials, gaskets and leaf springs. Using power tools became a
normal afternoon activity.
Since
Christmas, almost every weekend has been spent together exploring the
Sussex countryside. Not quite as idyllic as it sounds: we’ve visited
chandlers all along the coast, sought out Land Rover specialists to
purchase Penelope’s internal organs, and (one utterly bizarre day)
attended our first Land Rover convention, where Penelope, being one of
only 242 of her kind, revelled in the attentions of keen collectors and
enthusiasts from around the country. She loved it: she’s a right flirt!
We
have finally managed to prise ourselves away from our fabulous friends
in Brighton, but we haven’t gone far. We’ve spent a week with Huw’s
family in South Wales. Tomorrow we head to Leicestershire then on to
Lincolnshire to say farewell to mine. It’s an odd time, and an odd
feeling, but I’m glad we have allowed ourselves these weeks to indulge
in quality time with family and friends (and allowed Penelope a chance
to show us what we need to fix) before we fly, as it were.
