Boat needed for Carnival

The Seahorses Playgroup have been persuaded to join the Carnival procession this year but there's some little legs (and some bigger ones)  that can't walk too far – so they are hoping to enter as the Milford on Sea Sailing team (incorporating Pirates, Mermaids, Seahorses and all other marine related characters). 

However, they need to borrow a boat.  Just a small one, tender sized, and preferably on a trailer as it will be parent-powered rather than towed by a vehicle. 

Could any of our readers help?  They fully insured and won't be taking it to sea!

If you can lend a boat, please contact: Jan Rook: 07801 624324 – seahorses@btinternet.com (Seahorses Community Baby & Toddler Group)

40 B4 40-The Savoy Grill

No. 2: Right we are off on our next 40 B4 40 Challenge!  First stop is The Savoy Grill in London’s historic Savoy Hotel for our company’s Christmas do.  Yes, I do realise it is March, but some years ago we cancelled Christmas for two reasons.  One; a member of our team did not celebrate Christmas or attend 'Christmas Do’s’ for religious reasons, so we decided we would have a ‘Company Do’ early in the year instead.  Secondly; Christmas Parties involve inedible food, silly hats and overpriced everything!  Our party plan is to take the team somewhere special and to have a great experience that doesn’t involve pulling crackers and being treated like cattle.

In past years we have dined at some fine London restaurants like Gordon Ramsey’s Boxwood Café, The OXO Tower, Brasserie Roux in Pall Mall (now The Balcon) and Cambio at the Castle in Guildford.  This year we were off to Gordon Ramsey’s Savoy Grill in London's Savoy Hotel. 

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The ten 'party people' met for pre-lunch drinks at 12 noon at The Porterhouse in London’s Covent Garden.  Everyone was in high spirits and ready to party!  Sadly, two of the team couldn't make it, but I think it being your 'hen weekend' is a fitting reason to miss out. 

The ‘industrial chic’ bar served many beers from its own brewery in Dublin and most of the guys went for the award winning Porter Stout.  The girls tried a variety of Belgian fruit beers with flavours such as cherry, mango, honey and passion fruit.  The party was soon getting warmed up!

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Arriving at The Savoy, the air of grandeur since the complete rebuild had not been lost.  The spectacular entrance, grand marble reception and Thames Foyer were as impressive as ever, with chandeliers, bronzes, fine decor and exotic flower displays. The Savoy Grill dining room was just as imposing with tortoise shell wall panelling and a host of friendly staff to greet us. 

We were soon seated and supping the good vouvray and soft pinot noir wine, as we chose our meals from the extensive menu.  As the waiter arrived to reveal the succulent sirloin on the silver salver trolley, you could almost hear the licking of lips.  Lots of boisterous conversation accompanied our various chosen starters, which included Chicken liver and foie gras parfait with apple chutney, Devilled lamb kidney on toast, Beetroot tart with salt and vinegar caramel and goats curd, and Butternut squash soup with confit duck and sautéed mushroom. 

Although this was a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, I don’t think he was cooking, as we could here no swearing from the kitchen. The service was continually attentive and our main courses soon arrived.  Between us we devoured; Hot smoked salmon with choucroute and beurre noisette sauce, Grilled hanger steak with pomme mousseline and pepper sauce, Steamed Scottish mussels and fries, Potato & bacon pie, plus of course some had the Sirloin beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables.

On return from the various trips to the loos people had varying opinions, some liked the way an attendant turned on the tap and handed you a towel, others were a bit spooked!  Having used the bottles of aftershave, I came back smelling like I had fallen into a vat of perfume.

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Plenty of conversation and silliness later, we moved onto our sweets, the wine was still flowing copiously and any diets forgotten.  Steamed cinnamon pudding with custard was most popular, followed by Burnt English cream with redcurrant sorbet and one warm poached pear with vanilla ice cream.

Very full, we still managed to enjoy our coffee's and petit fours.

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Never knowing when we have had enough, we moved on to the minimalist and somewhat strange St Martins Hotel.  Soon we were in The Light Bar for early evening cocktails.  Strange 'face murals' stared from the ceiling as we tried our various concoctions.

For a night cap, we then moved on to The Salisbury, an old traditional Victorian London pub, with normal drinks and a less odd ceiling. After another drink, we were all beginning to wilt.  So, after having had a fantastic day together we all started to make our way home, very full and not in a particularly straight line.

click image to enlarge

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www.porterhousebrewco.com/bars-london-coventgarden.php

21-22 Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7NA

www.gordonramsay.com/thesavoygrill
Strand, London WC2R 0EU

Light Bar Website
St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4HX

The Salisbury Website
90 St. Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AP

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If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

40 B4 40-The Drummond

No. 1:  This was not supposed to be the first meal in our culinary 40 B4 40 challenge, we has simply gone for a belated 40^th birthday drink with my brother in law. 

Arriving at The Drummond in Guildford at 5pm were around ten mutual friends, and the beers soon started flowing.

As the evening drew on, a traditional Friday night curry was looking on the cards.  But then, to my utter surprise, someone suggested we eat in the pub.  The menu was quite a surprise and the choice extensive.  We all placed our orders, and a lot of the guys went for deep fried whitebait with tartare sauce & lemon, followed by minute steak, garnish and fries.  My wife and I plumped for a quesadilla (Mexican flour tortilla folded and filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese, red onion, peppers & tomato with a delicious spicy cheese dipping sauce), followed homemade breaded hake fish fingers, crushed minted peas & fries.  The quality was great and everyone happy with their choices, at £8.50 for two courses the value was both a surprise and excellent.

During the meal my brother in law continued to insist that his girlfriend (who none of us had met) was coming to join us, however she had been delayed doing something called ‘work’ in London.  7pm came, then 8pm, with various reasons being given for the extending time of the impending arrival.  Being a sensitive group it did not take long for us to mercifully rib him about his ‘imaginary girlfriend’.  As the drinking continued, a phone call arrived saying she was arriving at Guildford station.  Having had more pints than is good for us, we decided on a nightcap at a bar called Tickled Ivory.

My brother in law went on first to meet ‘his girlfriend’.  We followed, about a pint later.  On arriving at the bar we found him talking to a nice looking lady.  As we all got the drinks in, my wife ordered her favourite ‘squashed frog’ shot (Advocaat, Midori melon liqueur & Grenadine).  The place was buzzing, and so were my ear drums.  The music was loud, very loud, but my wife was soon chatting away, I was convinced neither of them could hear each other.  Soon I was introduced, and I asked if she actually knew my brother in law, or was she just chatting to him out of sympathy?  I could not hear her replies, all I could see was her mouth moving and a strange look on her face like ‘who is this weirdo’.  So, it still remains to be seen whether I have actually met his girlfriend, or whether it was a random good Samaritan digging him out of an ‘imaginary girlfriend’ hole.

www.thedrummondguildford.co.uk
www.tickledivory.com

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If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

40 B4 40-Dining Challenge

My brother in law has shocked his entire family by doing something interesting.  To explain, he is an IT geek, which normally means an active brain full of numbers and a limp body due to no creative bones.  Strangely though, he is prone to occasional bouts of fine humour.

Anyway, he has just turned 40 and decided to take on 40 challenges in his 40^th year. 

His list includes; Take part in an Adventure Race, Milk a cow/goat, Do a winter sport, Shoot a real gun, Walk coast-to-coast, Get a spray tan, Climb a mountain, Lose 1/2 stone, Run a 5k race, Get a tattoo etc. 

As you may expect few of these appeal to me, and I have already done the last one.

This got me thinking.  It is far too late for me to do the same age related challenge, also doing ‘55 things at 55’, sounds like far too many things to do!  However I have had an idea.  My wife is 40 in the middle of next year, so we are going to do a ‘40 B4 40’ Challenge.  As with most of my ideas she is not keen, however I plan to drag her along to see if she eventually enjoys it.  When considering what 40 challenges we would do, I soon dismissed anything that involved adrenaline or effort. 

The answer soon became clear.  Our ‘40 B4 40 Challenge’ will be: To dine in 40 restaurants before my wife is 40!  The gloves are now off, and knife and fork in hand!

It is going to be tough, and many will admire how we are facing such adversity, but hey, life is all about meeting challenges.  Fortunately Food Week should help notch a number off of the list.  As you may expect, as we eat our way through our challenge you will be able to follow our culinary adventure on these pages!

PS: I will let you know when my wife hits 14 stone!

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For the record:

 

FAVOURITE 15 RESTAURANTS VISITED BEFORE THE '40 B4 40 DINING CHALLENGE’.

*In no particular order, and excluding Milford on Sea eateries, they would of course all be in the list!

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London (3 Michelin Star) - www.alainducasse-dorchester.com

Pied a Terre, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.pied-a-terre.co.uk

Georges V, Paris (2 Michelin Star) - www.fourseasons.com/paris

 

Café Veneto, Rome

 

Rules, London – www.rules.co.uk

 

Langans, London – www.langansrestaurants.co.uk

 

Verveine, Milford on Sea - www.verveine.co.uk 

 

The Jetty, Mudeford - www.thejetty.co.uk

 

The Montague Arms, Beaulieu (1 Michelin Star) - www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/terrace_restaurant.html

 

Lime Wood, Lyndhurst - www.limewoodhotel.co.uk

 

The RAC Club, Pall Mall, London - www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

 

Chutney Mary, London - www.chutneymary.com

 

Boxwood Café (Gordon Ramsey), London - www.gordonramsey.com/boxwoodcafe

 

The Criterion, London - www.criterionrestaurant.com

 

The Ivy, London - www.the-ivy.co.uk

 

Veeraswamy, London - www.veeraswamy.com

 

The OXO Tower, London - www.harveynicols.com/oxo-tower-london

 

Brasserie Roux, London

 

Simpsons in The Strand, London - www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk

 

La Flambée' , Deauville - www.laflambee-deauville.com

 

Café de la Mairie, Deauville

Whoops, couldn’t keep list to 15!

 

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 WISH LIST: ……One day!

 

Fat Duck, Bray (3 Michelin Star) - www.thefatduck.co.uk

 

The Waterside, Bray (3 Michelin Star) – www.waterside-inn.co.uk

  

La Gavrouche, London (2 Michelin Star) - www.le-gavroche.co.uk

 

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison, Oxford (2 Michelin Star) - www.manoir.com

 

Petrus, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.gordonramsay.com/petrus

 

Dinner, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.dinnerbyheston.com

 

Pollen Street Social, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.pollenstreetsocial.com

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To read my brother in law’s ‘40 at 40’ blog - please click here

Murray James Blue Today

Local lad Murray James has launched a new single.  Born in Milford on Sea, 22 year old singer/songwriter Murray James may be known better locally by his real name of James Billet.

His new song ‘Blue Today’ is essentially a Blues number with Murray on his guitar, accompanied by bass & drums.

Murray’s musical style is a mix of soul, blues and reggae inspired songs, with a distinct vocal style that defies his appearance.  He has already supported names such as Amy Macdonald, Candi Staton, Natalie Imbruglia, Joe Purdy, and Sir Elton John, at his only UK concert in 2010.  The concert was performed to a sellout crowd at Watford FC’s Vicarage Road Stadium.

Alongside producer Dan Grech Marguerat, James is now working on his debut album with which is due out at the end of this year.

Listen to ‘Blue Today’ here: http://youtu.be/RKiIg4dCyjY

 

Cliff Top Fire

Last weekend a Milford on Sea cliff top fire caused quite a lot of excitement for impromptu spectators.  It is unknown how the fire started, but theories that it was caused a crashing meteor, started as a signal to the Isle of Wight or was ignited by the friction of over enthusiastic lovers have all been dismissed. 

Whilst out walking a local professional photographer, David Freeman managed to grab some spectacular photos of the event, which he is happy to share with us all below.

David is based in New Milton and has been described as “Truly a photographer like no other – his style is so unique and special”. 

click on images to enlarge

David states “I believe that photography is all about capturing expression and emotion - a moment in time and a memory for a lifetime”.  Looking st his pictures, that all sounds spot on to me.

To see more examples of his work and the services he offers please visit his website by clicking below:
www.davidfreemanphotography.co.uk. 

Tel : 07776 137728

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Picnic Party

The Milford on Sea Village Community Committee has announced that there will be a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Picnic Party on Bank Holiday Monday 4^th June 12noon to 4pm.

Bring a picnic and join in a day of fun, entertainment and celebration on the Village Green! 

The Village Green and High Street will be alive with entertainment including a live band, free balloon show, the Science Boffins (interactive experiments with children), other entertainment, and free Jubilee cake!  BBQ and drinks will also be available to buy on the day.

Everyone welcome, just come along and join in!  Sounds like a date for the diary.

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*Organised by Milford on Sea Village Community Committee. (MoSVCC)

Are we getting younger?

Like you, I am sure you don’t need anyone to tell you about the delights of living in Milford on Sea, indeed it is almost our own little secret.

Chatting to some people I know on the cliff top, I was interested to hear that they felt more young couples are moving into the blocks of flats.  Surprisingly, Milford on Sea is only a little over the national average in age profiles.  Perhaps it feels older as ‘our oldies’ have a vibrant village to visit and of course the younger generation are at work or school most of the time.

The flats on the cliff top of course have spectacular views, and there is now quite a variety of styles and price ranges.  Indeed some think the profile is changing from second homes or holiday flats to permanent homes for first-time buyers.  Perhaps the government relaxation on stamp duty for first time buyers is having a positive effect?  Either way, anyone new to Milford on Sea is always made to feel welcome, and there is so much to do, whether young or old.

Note: Should anyone reading this article be thinking of moving to Milford on Sea, why not check out what is on offer with all of our friendly village estate agents below:

www.collinsandbutler.co.uk

www.murrayandhayward.com
www.ashtonsrealestate.com
www.sullivanmitchell.co.uk

Wind Farm takes step closer

The Parish Council are holding an open meeting regarding Navitus Bay Wind Park at the Community Centre on Thursday 1^st March 2012.  The meeting starts at 6.00pm and is scheduled for an hour.  The Parish Council have called the meeting to cover some questions that they hope Eneco can clarify before the Parish Council respond to the consultation.

The two website links below will give you more information on the proposals.  One is the developers site, the other as its name implies has somewhat opposing views.

Bernard Brewer, a local resident makes some personal observations.  “From a personal point of view the challenge Navitus site seems to focus on the visual aspect of the site, but it is the cost of the unreliable and therefore inefficient electricity it produces that is unacceptable to me. In simple terms if you used a month’s electricity generated solely from say a gas fired power station it might cost you £40 (and that already includes around 15% extra for so called green measures). That same amount of electricity provided purely from an offshore wind farm which gets a guaranteed 200% subsidy would be £120. I appreciate it would not literally happen like that as power comes from a mixture of sources (currently around 85% from coal/gas/nuclear) but you can see why this Dutch company which is owned by 61 Dutch municipalities is so keen to develop the site and get a nice guaranteed return for 25 years as does the crown estate and ultimately the government via the crown estate and VAT on the higher bills.

Milford is considered an affluent area and I am sure many can cope with paying higher bills but my concerns are for those who will be elderly and on their own in particular with perhaps a somewhat limited income who may be house bound for much of the time and in winter will not be able to afford to keep their home as warm as it should be.

The problem is of course government policy which makes it attractive to firms such as ENECO/Navitus, but while we have a Prime Minister who supports such subsidies (indeed his father in law reportedly gets £1000 a Day from some turbines on his land again courtesy of our bills) nothing much is going to change unless of course as I suspect wind farms will become an election issue.”

If you would like to add your views, for or against the Wind Farm, please do so in the ‘comments’ section below this article.

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Navitus Bay Wind Park

In January 2010, The Crown Estate awarded Eneco a 279 square mile area of the seabed located off the Dorset and Hampshire coasts (& due south of Milford on Sea) and to the west of the Isle of Wight to explore the most suitable place to locate a wind park with an approximate capacity of at least 900MW. Over the past year, Eneco has been appraising the area and concluded that a project of between 900MW and 1200MW of capacity could be located in the northern part of the awarded area, a site which covers 76 square miles.

Navitus Bay Wind Park will have the potential to make a contribution to meeting national targets for the increased use of renewable energy, reducing the country's dependency on fossil fuel imports and help to address the causes of climate change. 

www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk

www.challengenavitus.org.uk/index.html

School Field Development

A proposed development to land adjacent to Milford on Sea School is meeting with local opposition.  To hear the case against the 30 proposed dwellings, and/or to sign the objection petition, please click here.

Any new signatures for the petition or any registered objections must be received by NFDC by Friday 2^nd of March.  So, if you have an objection you wish to be heard, you will have to be quick!

www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/mos1

Free Food Week Programmes in Shops

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The full printed programme for Milford on Sea Food Week in now in all of the village shops, and free for all.  This year we have changed our publicity strategy and are printing 32,000 free programmes.  Yes, 32,000!  The concept is too spread the word far and wide!

As well as being available in the village shops, the programmes as being left at other key locations within 10 miles.  Plus, a programme will be delivered to every house across the New Forest as an insert with The New Forest Post.  Yes, 26,000 copies going to Milford on Sea, Highcliffe, New Milton, Lymington, Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst and everywhere in between!

Not only is Food Week on a mission to put Milford on Sea on the map as a ‘Foodie Destination’, and to provide a week full of fun and culinary delights for villagers, we are also keen to draw in holiday makers, and people from surrounding towns and villages.  The more people we can have actively visiting, the more it helps to keep our village centre, and village life, to remain sustainable for us all.

Grab a programme, - and getting booking!

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

New Menu at Zaika

I am not an expert in many things, but one thing I do know is a great curry!

Having visited Indian Restaurants across the length and breadth of the country, it is easy for me to say how good Zaika is, indeed Milford on Sea is very fortunate to have such a good Indian restaurant in the heart of the village.  My wife is quite right when she says that I would be happy to sleep in a giant naan!

Things are about to get a bit more exciting, as Kalam has told me they are launching a brand new menu on the 1^st of March.  The team have been working on the new dishes for some months, and everything is now ready to launch.

To make things a bit more special, Zaika will be holding a ‘New Menu Preview Night’ on Wednesday 29^th February 2012.  This provides a great opportunity to try a variety of the improved recipes and new authentic dishes on offer.

To ensure that you can enjoy as much as you like, the evening will be an ‘All You Can Eat Buffet, with a Free Glass of House Red/White Wine or half a Cobra’.  All this will only cost each diner £14.95pp

The team at Zaika are always first to support any community events, so it would be nice if everyone popped in to give the new menu a try.

Sadly, I cannot make the ‘New Menu Preview Night’, as we are dining at 'Dinner', Heston Blumenthal's new restaurant in London that day.  I know, my wife is lucky to have me.  However, do not be too concerned, as I fully intend to try out the new menu at the earliest opportunity.  The day after sounds a good idea to me!

To book for the ‘Zaika New Menu Preview Night’ on Wednesday 29^th February 2012 please call: 01590 643084

www.zaikanewforest.co.uk

Food Week Open Meeting

We are holding an Open Meeting at 6pm on Wednesday 28th March. 

The meeting is for all Food Week Volunteers and any Participants running an event.  New volunteers are also welcome.  Indeed, anyone is welcome, even of you fancy just coming along to see what is happening.

There is no formal agenda, the purpose of the meeting is run though any questions people might have, and to give a brief overview of the things happening during Food Week.  The meeting is not expected to last longer than one hour and will be held in the Community Centre.

For those that get bored, or are looking for a better reason to come along, the bar will be open on the night!

Please feel free to just turn up!

Food Week Volunteer & Participants Open Meeting
Wednesday 28th March - 6pm to 7pm

Community Centre | Bar Open!

www.milfordonseacalendar.org
www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Get Cut in the Village

Our very handy Hardware store in the village has just installed a new key cutting service.

This little Aladdin’s Cave of DIY bit and bob’s often proves a godsend.  Indeed my wife is a regular visitor to get stuff for when she is unblocking our sinks, fixing electrics, decorating or laying a new patio.  I occasionally pop in for a bar of chocolate.

Lionel’s welcome is always warm, although I think he was a bit shocked when my wife told him where she intended to stick the plunger she had just bought when she got home!

If you are looking for any DIY needs, key cutting, tools, kitchenware, plumbing, electrical, light bulbs, paint, gas, car accessories, toys, gardening equipment, crab fishing nets or beachgoods, don’t forgot it can all be bought in the village Hardware store.

Hardware @ Milford: 20 Keyhaven Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QY | Tel: 01590 641684

Open 8.30am: Mon to Saturday

www.hardwareatmilford.co.uk

Library Love Day!

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Our village Library had a very successful ‘National Love Libraries Day’, on 4th February 1012. 

Around 103 people attended during the day, the kids had great fun on the Bear Hunt, and the adults enjoyed the delicious cakes, baked by the girls from the WI, plus a chance to have a good chat and exploration of the varied services the library offers.  As a result, 10 new people joined our village library.

The prize draw winners were Mrs Shute and Lucy Webb, winning War Horse and Where's Wally? books respectively.  Christine Minifie (Assistant Manager at Milford on Sea Library) sends extra special thanks to the Milford on Sea WI who, as always, gave us their support, valuable time and help on the day, plus of course baked all of the mouth-watering cakes!

The Boys are on their Bikes!

If anyone has seen an exhausted looking estate agent riding through Milford on Sea village resplendent in retro cycling trousers, do not be alarmed.  You have probably seen Jason Withers from Collins & Butler.

Jason is full on training for a rather special charity bike ride with a group of friends, including Josh Lines, who’s mum & dad (Paul & June) run the Red Lion.  Josh is athlete of the group and probably best suited to the job in hand.  A keen rugby player, gym enthusiast, surfer and cyclist. (Very much like your editor)  Jason is the musician of the group and will hopefully be serenading the team each evening after a hard day on the saddle.  Jason has plenty of previous cycling experience having cycled from Lymington to Newquay in Cornwall (with Josh), just for fun. He likes nothing more than surf in the morning to start the day followed by an afternoon on his motorbike cruising around the New Forest.  The rest of the team are made up of their friends Dan, Hannah and Bligh.

The team will set off from Largs Yacht Haven, on the West Coast of Scotland on Sunday 6th May 2012.  They then face a 6 day cycle to Lymington Yacht Haven, covering around 475 miles along the way. (And no doubt will suffer from considerable ‘saddle rash’!)

The primary aim of the cycle is to raise money for The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.  The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a nationwide organisation that takes young people aged between 8-24 sailing to help them regain their confidence, on their way to recovery from cancer, leukemia and other serious illness.  The Trust is a charity that gains all funds from donations and fundraising activities such as the challenge the guys are planning.  They are hoping to raise something in excess of their £5k target.

I did of course offer to join them, but my bike still has a puncture and my wife is too busy installing our new kitchen to fix it just yet.

If you fancy watching how Jason & Josh get on, you can track their progress as they upload info and photos on the move to the website below.  Most importantly, if you would also like to sponsor them, you also can do it on the link below.

www.largs-to-lymington.webeden.co.uk