Saturday 30th August 2025

Woke at 0630 with back pain…got up and did some exercises. I guess the drive yesterday took its toll, on top of the steps at Minack, and having a guitar strapped around my neck for half the week! Ventured downstairs to make myself a tea. Put four bowls of soaked oats together for breakfast later. Cath turned up and we chatted for a bit before I took a mug of tea upstairs for Aki. Porridged at the kitchen table. Went for a short walk with Phil and Roxy…perambulated the boundary of the Victorian asylum…now, of course, converted into over 100 housing units. It started to rain halfway round. We returned to No.4 to say our farewells, and headed down the A38, joining the M5 at Exeter. The intention was to stop for lunch at Clevedon Pier, but signs started to appear warning of a 45-minute delay between junctions 23 and 21...we decided to stop at Taunton Deane service station for an early lunch in the hope that the blockage would have been cleared by the time we set off again...but signage now warned of a 3 hour delay!!! 

We decided to come off at J25 and head for the A303 via Langport, but the route through Langport was closed due to bridge repair work, so we had to drive a few miles south-east to hook up with the A303...by now heaving with traffic trying to avoid the M5. It was slow going. Aki drove on through the rain, though, and we stopped at Fleet services on the M3 and changed drivers for the final leg in to London. Everyone seemed to be coming home from the Bank Holiday week...it was terribly slow-going, with endless tailbacks...we didn't get home until 1930...the journey had taken about 8 hours instead of the projected 5. We'd bought an Indian banquet for two from Waitrose at Fleet, and Aki warmed it up while I lugged stuff in from the car. Tidied up a bit after dinner, then collapsed on the sofa. Early bath and bed...