A soggy day in Hampshire

I thought I was being really clever when I found the DVLA (the drivers licensing place) had an office in Poole - which is sort of close to Bournemouth - and a heap closer to me in Andover, than Swansea (the head office in mid Wales) is.  Nothing on the website indicated that it would be anything other than open.. but no.. No phone numbers by the way to check is available on the website either.

We drove (about 2 hours - as it was really windy and raining) to find a boarded up building with signs saying it had closed permanently..sigh..

I found a place where I could at least pick up the forms I needed and got a mug shot ( I look like Europe's most wanted) so will be ready for the big drive into Wales tomorrow - as I really need to sort out my licence and the car details - and I don't want to hand over my original documents into a big black bureaucratic hole.

Not to waste a trip, we went to explore the seafront - which was so blustery, we could hardly open the car doors to get out. Not to be put off, we ventured into the middle of town, to do a few shopping errands. To be fair to Poole; I am sure its a hub of activity in the Summer time; but its a pretty dire place in the wind and wet.

This mural is in the middle of the mall. Very pretty..and we are the only mad ones out on a day like today...

I have to acknowledge the kids and their patience.. so far its been a pretty boring old time in the UK - running round doing one job and then the other - but have promised when we get to Cornwall, we will do some fun stuff and start our 'travels' for real.