Devon Capers

I called my dad last week and arranged to visit him in Devon over the weekend. Hadn't seen him in a few weeks and it was also his birthday and father's day too.

He called back to tell me of my timing...

*Unfortunately* I'd inadvertantly arranged to visit at the same time as the Axminster Beer Festival... *tsk* just my luck aye?

So the traffic was typical hot day M3/A303 - very, very busy and it was a case of window down or air con on... made the 130 mile journey in under 3 hours, turning up with just 5 mins to spare *whew*

The beer was good - all local stuff - Otter Brewery, Branscombe Brewery, O'Hanlon's Brewing Co... Being used to having the Farnham Beer Festival just 5 miles away from my home, the Axminster Beer fest was nice but could have done with some better merchandising... some ales to take away, t-shirts and stuff... they'd have done a roaring trade and spread the word too I reckon...

There was some live music - a little jazz saxophony, some local yokels singing country, a young lady doing some sweet ballads...

So, after the beer and bacon rolls we hit the pub and that was Saturday over and done with... until I dozed off just before 11pm and my phone rang at 2:30 in the morning...

"Hello?"
Damn, no f'ing signal.
That's what you get for being out in the countryside. Not bad for some peace & quiet but when you *need* to talk, it's a bit of an issue...

So I walked out into the country lane and hiked up the hillside toward the farm until I got a signal, returning the call and getting my daily fix

So, there I was, alone, at 2:30am, on my phone, in the countryside, clear skies, twinkling stars, in a dark, narrow lane, when I heard voices... getting closer...

Random Geezer: "Good god I nearly shit the bed. Who's that?"
I had to explain to 4 people WTF I was doing walking down the darkened track to their farm at 2:30 on a Saturday morning... They were coming back from the club and I was randomly milling around to get a reception for my phone. They were happy when they found out my dad was in the cottages down the lane (all the locals seem to know eachother 'round this part of the world) and we bid goodnight.

5 minutes later I had to dive into a hedge when a car thundered up the lane, then dust myself off and continue talking, only to have to dive back into the hedge again when the car came bombing back down the track.

So... all that in the space of 10 minutes and Becky had heard the whole episode on the phone. LMAO Who wants to come next time?