Our usual practice when caravanning in the UK is to book the first site and then on the night before departure go onto the club websites and desperately search for somewhere else that can accommodate us for a few more nights. Weekends are always a problem and even out of season the honey pot sites are generally out of the question.

This time however I have been very grown up and sensible and pre-booked pitches at three campsites for our first short break of the year which starts on Thursday. The first night we'll be at C&CC St Neots which is about half way to our destination, then four nights over the Bank Holiday weekend at a small private site in Howden in East Yorkshire. On the way back we will be spending three nights at C&CC Winchcombe near Tewkesbury, an area we don't know and again about half way home.

I'm always worried that things can change suddenly and as has happened before we've had to abort half way through a tour due to medical issues. Still, stress levels are now much lower and hopefully we can look forward to a more relaxing break than is the norm.

Maybe there is something in this planning malarkey? If all goes well I may even give some thought to 'planning' another continental trip in September.

Bugger! It was flooded when we were there a few years back but the hardstandings were fine. We are on a hardstanding so fingers crossed it will be OK.

Thanks for the heads up, Tony. Hope you and Frances are both well.