Easter In Norfolk

We spent Easter in Norfolk at  Moat Farm  a small quiet but adequate site. It was also our first chance to use the new Outwell tent that we had grabbed in the January sales.An Outwell Cleveland 5.As it turned out we had been led to believe it was a poly cotton, on arrival we realized it was nylon.But never mind we still liked the look and the layout of it.

The weather behaved itself and we wandered around Thetford Forest taking in the woodland trails.  The local shops were not far away from site and were quite busy.We also ventured into Norwich and our first experience of Go Outdoors.After wanting more than needing most items, we settled on a new pan set.

Back at the site we were itching to try the new pans so we actually set to and cooked a meat and veg dinner.The pans passed the test and we use them at every opportunity.Why do household pans not give you the same enthusiasm for cooking?

We loved Norfolk and decided that we would return later in the year.

Thetford Forest

Charity Dig

Ok so the company I work for sponsor a different charity every two years.The votes have been cast and counted and the lucky charity is St.Luke's  a local primary school for pupils with moderate severe and profound multiple learning difficulties.

We have been asked to help in the removal of a small garden to enable a sensory memorial garden to be re-built.In remembrance of pupils who have passed away.

Posters are put up at work requesting volunteers to attend. Several dates are listed and to bring a spade.Monday is listed as removal of bedding plants,re-planting and general garden work.

Monday morning arrives with the rain. Myself and four colleagues armed with spades set off for St.Luke's, now none of us are quite sure where it is but we have a vague idea.The lady whom usually deals with our PR is off work ill.So we arrive at St.Hugh's school. Armed with our spades and wellies we march into the reception.We are met with some very curious stares,whereby our appointed leader asks if they are expecting us.With a look of sheer puzzlement they realize that we have turned up at the wrong school.Easy mistake to make at the moment with all the local schools currently being renamed.After being given the correct address and directions we set off again laughing at our mistake.

On arrival at St.Luke's we are met with a joyful hello come this way.We are taken to the garden only to find out that,our agenda for today has changed as the school had managed to start on Friday.Today we are expected to remove the raised beds and the soil contained within.Ok so one member of staff has just returned to work from having a back injury.We all look to one another,it's still pouring with rain and these beds that stand proudly before us must contain at least three tonnes of soil each!

We set to moving potted plants from harms way.Now who is going to swing the lump hammer,as to get to the soil we need to remove posts a meter high by twelve Cm's thick.A manager takes the first swing and the hammer just bounces back,this is a demolition crew job.Well after some heavy swinging and the obvious who are you thinking of with a big grin to match,we manage to make some head way.The soil is now reachable and we start to barrow it up and remove it to, yes you guessed right,the other side of the school.

The rain is still pouring down and we are determined to make our mark.All the time plotting not to tell the next crew of colleagues what they are really in for.From what we are able to decipher the Boss is bringing a crew of high ranking managers,later today.The camera comes out and several pictures are taken to catalogue our progress.

We stop for a brew and our thanked immensely by the school volunteers who are pottering around doing small jobs.We are shown the plans for the new garden and it looks great.

After another hour we call it a day due to work commitments,some of us are required to start our own shifts.We have managed to demolish one bed halfway.

Charity Dig

The rain is still pouring down and the school volunteers decide that they are also going to call it a day.

We can't believe our high ranking managers are going to get away with it.We slowly make our way back to work,feeling that we have done our bit even if we were misled.Knowing now what we do, we are all eager to volunteer again as the project gets moving.Just awaiting the rain to disappear.

Muddy and wet I make my way home for a hot bath, before returning to work to start my nine hour shift.

 

 

      

St Patrick's Meet

March brings with it a St Patrick's meet. Several other campers whom we have met on sites through out the last year are having a meet.

The meet takes place at keviki. A small site with basic facilities.

We also get to meet new campers,and campers we've only chatted to through the forums.

There is a good range of tents including a Tourag,Cabanon Guadeloupe,Our Sunncamp Gite,a Vango Icarus and a new Vango air beam, which we are all eager to see.A couple of caravans and a small pop up tent.

We all gather around as the Vango air beam is brought to life.Impressed with how quick it went up.Happily throwing good humored insults back and forth between us all.

Keviki

For the occasion some of us have put bunting up,and it flaps gently in the breeze.The weather is quite mild for March and we have sunshine.

We all sit around the camp fire as one camper tries out her new cobb,serving up Irish sausages followed by Irish themed cup cakes what I have brought.
Some of the campers have decided to take a stroll up to the local pub,but it's not long before we are all sat around the camp fire once again.

As the night draws in the weather turns and we are rained off, all heading into our own sanctuary's.

The following day is pretty much the same, with everyone swapping tales of their travels.The weather is behaving once again and the children are enjoying the trampoline on site.It's not long before the adults are vying for there turn on the trampoline.

We end the day sat having a good old chat around the camp fire deciding where and when our next meet will be.

The following morning goodbyes are said as we wave each other off .

 

Tents for all seasons

Well so much for our New Year's resolution. Both the hubby and myself have been laid up with one injury or another through January and February.

So we decided to put the time and camping pennies to good use and bought some more tents along with other camping goodies.

Sunncamp Gite 5

Our first purchase is a Sunncamp Gite 5 frame tent, for quick weekends through the summer,loving the attached canopy. Again it's canvas and very bright.The kitchen area is just adequate enough though  the two bed pods are small (five people never, with just the two of us it was tight). Removing the smaller bed pod gave us a bit more room, but It's not doing it for me......maybe it will grow on me.

Our next purchase is from the great makers Cabanon.The Cabanon vis-a-vis an older version of the much loved bora-bora . Again a fantastic piece of canvas with removable sun canopy,two separate good sized sleeping pods.A good sized living area makes me think this tent will get lots of use.On the plus side it is a lovely shade of green.

Cabanon Vis-a-Vis

Our third purchase is a bit of a hasty bargain buy.An Outwell Cleveland 5 now this tent has space it's well thought out,goes up quickly.But it wasn't Polly-cotton as I was led to believe.We did however use it just the once though before we sold it on.Had it been Polly-cotton it would of been a keeper for those weeks away maybe even stretching it to weekends.I do like Outwell, so we kept searching for our perfect week away tent.

Outwell Cleveland 5

We have found it, though it is an older model again. Boy it ticks all the boxes for us.Purchased from a young couple who had just invested in a caravan,there was the usual marks from a second hand tent.These were soon rectified and all but one have gone.This mark was pointed out to us "the wife went mad with fly spray". Well we have tried most safe methods of removing it to no avail,so we now live with it.After all it's not the end of the world,or maybe it is for me.It can't be seen from outside but on stepping inside I'm drawn to it.One day it will be gone!

Kampa Holkham 6

After trialing all our new tents we have decided that the Kampa is for weeks away,the Cabanon is for summer weekends and Bella is for winter camping.          

New Year Camp

This is our first ever New Year camp and the hubby didn't take any persuading.I was expecting to go into full debate mode about staying home,in the warmth with Television,computer etc but no he wanted to go.

We booked Walesby Woodlands for three nights with Ehu.

On arrival we were met by the owner who was rushed off his feet, with his wife laid up ill and a toddler to look after.We were quickly booked in and shown several pitches to choose from.We were also invited to use the cafe on an evening.The owners had decided to open it up to the campers,as a meeting place to sit and have a drink ( fridge available to cool your beers) and would be holding a disco on new years eve to bring the new year in with all their customers.This was a lovely idea and many people took up the offer.

We was the only tent on site,the remaining pitches all took by caravans.
The pitch we chose was between two trees as to give a bit of shelter.The weather was chilly but not overly cold or windy.The night sky was clear and full of stars.The owners also placed a couple of reindeer shaped led lights on the site to make everyone feel christmasy.

The weather held out on us and no snow was forthcoming,maybe this year we will get snow.

We both made a new year's resolution to have more nights camping in 2013.

 

December Camp Meet up for the Brave

  Ok so a few of us decided to camp in December 2012,much to the amusement of other camping friends and family.

We chose a site that backed onto a Pub,just in case emergency shelter was needed.Skipton Arms.
 Learning that the pub was also haunted just added to the adventure.

Below is the story as reported in the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph.

 WHEN it comes to watching the World's Most Haunted, it would take more than a dark room and a puff of cold air to freak me out.
Even a creaking floorboard would not have me rushing for the light switch.

5. ​
   MAKING CONTACT: Medium Susan Drury and researcher Steve Dinsdale outside the Skipworth Arms in Moortown. Pictures: Rick Byrne
   

So in a bid to find out the truth behind the torches and whether it was possible to talk to the dead, I was inquisitive enough to join Steve Dinsdale, investigator and audio-video researcher, and Sue Drury, medium, investigator and researcher, for their sixth investigation at the Skipworth Arms in Moortown.
Heather Chuck, 54, has been landlady of the pub for the past four years and she has experienced activity since the day she moved in.

She said: "It was happening straight away. When I'm with somebody I'm not bothered, but when you're on your own it's a bit scary. "There's definitely some- thing in here. I had a barmaid who worked here and every time she worked, glasses fell off the bar. We thought she was making it up, but we saw it on the CCTV."
Heather's presence attracts the orbs – a glow of light that shows the energy of a spirit and is only visible on digital photographs.
She said: "Something happens at least once a month. A customer was stood having a pint at the table and when he went to take a drink it exploded. He thought somebody had shot a pellet through the glass window. It wasn't a warm glass and it wasn't ice cold. The top of the glass was still complete.
"I also got grabbed on the arm last week. I shouted 'Oi' because I thought it was someone winding me up, but there was nothing there."
Among the spirits present in the bar area are believed to be Jim and Mary Parker. They used to own the pub 40 years ago.
Heather's husband, David, 43, said: "When I was cleaning the pipes one day, I thought there was a little lad or lass in a baby walker and it came whizzing past me. There's lot's of noises and stuff like that going on."
Grimsby medium Sue has had spiritual powers from the age of five, but she has only explored her abilities over the past 10 years.
" We use glass tipping on the table top and the rods to call the spirits to come forward.
"Most of the spirits are grounded, they're not hostile, but they don't want to move on, but we can move them over if we want them to go.
"On our investigations, we get people to join in and feel it for themselves."
Steve said: "You don't have to be a psychic or a medium to pick up spirits, you can just be sensitive to it.
"When we use a yes-no board, we place a glass on top and put our index fingers on it, and ask questions. The spirits use our energy to come through.
"A lot of the spirits, when present, have a massive drop in temperature, so we register it with a digital thermometer. We also measure the electro-magnetic frequency that spurs them to come through using a ghost metre shipped in from Singapore."
So with the chance to experience first hand the reality of making contact with the spirits, I was passed the divining rods.
Unsure of what was going to happen, one thing I was definitely going to do my utmost to keep the rods still.
We called for Jimmy to come forward.
Sue said: "Jimmy, if you're in the room, can you cross the rods over for us please."
And in less than 10 seconds, the rods were moving. I was stunned, but still sceptical.
Jimmy was asked to use the rods to point to where he was in the room and with that instruction, my heart almost leapt into my mouth. The rods swung round from pointing forward to touching my shoulders facing behind my back. But they didn't stop there. They continued until they crossed my neck in a headlock.
At that point I could sense something behind me and was in no doubt the spirit had moved the rods.
Then things started to get even weirder, when Jimmy moved the rods independently of each other like he was playing a game – at which point I was quivering in my shoes.
To further strengthen my new-found beliefs, I had a go at contacting the spirits myself.
"I asked for Billy, the young boy, to come forward and cross the rods if he was four years old.
A slower movement saw the rods cross over in front of my very eyes and I had no control over their movement.
My arms were a good 30cm apart, so I knew I wasn't crossing them. But the motion was a softer one, as you would expect for a young child.
In a bid to trick Billy, I asked him to do the same if he was six years old. And with every mental power I was trying to get the rods to cross and contradict the previous answer. But there was a strange force that was firmly keeping the rods apart – even if I tried to give them a helping start. Seeing is believing.

So with five tents set up,we were ready to visit the pub.
No we didn't bump into ghosts,though we did witness the constant re-fill of our glasses,but didn't complain.

The only complaint we did have was it didn't snow!

Skipworth Arms

Donna Nook

   It's now early November and I have no trouble choosing where to camp this weekend.I'm looking forward to taking the hubby to Donna Nook Nature Reserve. I remember going, way back when I was knee high to a grasshopper but hubby has never been.

Booked into Pigeon Cottage a quiet little site,with good shelter.
The weather is rather chilly but dry. We pitch Bella with no problems,I'm happy now.

Saturday morning we have a good breakfast and set off for Donna Nook. It's very chilly on the coast, so we head to the onsite vender.The coffee is surprisingly good for only £1. Clutching our coffee's we head onto the small walkway.

The sight before us is not for the squeamish,though you wont get much closer to nature.With coffee finished the cold wind becomes forgotten as we click away with our camera's,oh and awe -ing to what lay before us.The hubby is impressed, pointing out the huge protectors of their young bouncing and sliding to an approaching predator.We spend a good couple of hours just watching nature unfold.
On the way back hubby asks me what seems like a daft question.I look at him gone out,with a cheeky grin he repeats his question."I have no idea " I reply.With my response given hubby points down towards a wooden sign. Where he slowly lifts the small wooden panel, beneath his seemingly daft question .Here lies the answer.Which he refuses to tell me.We notice the walkway is dotted with these Q & A signs and race each other to read them. At the last one there is a small hut where you can read lots more information or purchase small gifts.

Feeling the cold once more we opt for another coffee ,welcoming it's warmth to walk back to the car with.

A good morning out for so little cost as entry is free,but car parking is a small charge.We both agree that this will become a yearly visit.

Donna Nook

Center Pitch

  Bella's first outing was again at a local site.The weather had been poor recently with lashings of rain.On arrival at site we wanted to pitch in a corner plot,only the owners had just upgraded there EHU supply.The site had trenches still visible crossing in all directions,which were not settling well in the current weather.We were told to pitch freely in the middle of the site,as we were the only brave souls booked this weekend.

Well I don't know about you or yours,but I detest being on show, so to speak.Although we were on our own It just didn't feel right.Bella didn't sit well with it either,being on uneven ground.Even cooking outdoors looked and felt odd in the middle.

An unsettled Bella

What was the problem? We were solo,facing onto the boundary hedging with no one to disturb.
I really didn't enjoy my first outing with Bella.

Was It just me,or do you feel the same to?

Introducing Bella

  I've not wasted anytime at all looking for a canvas tent.It could only be a bell tent.But which supplier caused a headache.

In the end we opted for a 4m Ease from Soulpad. Why? As a now declared camping addict,they had the fastest delivery option at purchasing time.

Of course I feel very strongly attached to this tent so have had to name it just like I did with Lincoln.

Bella

 Picture taken recently at Bungdale Head Farm

We use Bella from Mid September through till Easter,loving the snugness from the Sig and the quickness with which we can be set up on those chillier days.The glow of the indoor lantern also looks prettier in the winter months,giving a very warm welcome after a day out walking.

We do have a couple of niggles with Bella but nothing major.Firstly She's way to lovely to cook in ,so currently looking at options available to us.Secondly the cable for EHU has to go directly through the middle of the front doors,I dealt with this by inserting my own zip into the left  lower wall panel.
Friends and campers alike have commented on this from,"you brave girl "to" wow super job","will you do mine". To which I respond "NO,would any of you have dared to do it for me".

We have several canvas tarps which we can use for outdoor cooking or just shelter.

The Condensation Dance

   Had great weather for our weekend camp with the new Outwell Winnipeg.The tent stood us well it's very roomy very light.The canopy was a great area for cooking and sitting under as the night drew in.

The only issue was condensation in a morning.Not that it affected me, but hubby.Hubby always wakes first and is up and on it.This particular morning he wakes, exits the bed pod.Half asleep I lay motionless watching my half undressed hubby break into this crazy dance whilst unprintable words stream from his mouth.Trying not to laugh I ask" whats up"? To see my hubby toweling his naked top half down.With a grim look he starts inspecting the material above the bed pod and confirms "no leaks or tears ". I wriggle back into the warmth of the sleeping bag chuckling away that it was probably condensation."well that's no good I'm wet through"he cries.Seeing my chance I suggest a canvas tent as they don't suffer from condensation.

 

Snuggled up

Over breakfast I try to explain the differences between materials.Though I don't really need to he's now interested in canvas.B.S who we are camping with this weekend has a Cabanon Guadeloupe that he cherishes.B is very excited that we are now thinking about canvas,and hubby is engrossed deep in conversation with B for most of the morning.Examining the Guade I see for the first time why hubby is excited over material.It's a fantastic tent.

Cabanon Guadeloupe

Before lunch is upon us hubby has agreed I can purchase a canvas tent.

Air bed disaster

   So amongst the many items we required for the tent was a bed.We spoke to the parents regarding their air bed.To hear how comfy it was.So we decided to give it a go.I managed to secure a double air bed from work in the sales.

On first use it inflated quickly and quietly.An added bonus was the quilted cover that came with it.
The bed fitted in the bed pod of the tent a bit to snugly.Only having floor space at onside.Well hubby is always up first so decided to give him the floor space.

Our first opinions about the air bed was how cold it felt on getting in.The firmness suited hubby but I like my bed a bit softer.Anyway we soon drift off to sleep.

I woke during the night with such a fright,the bed was moving like a ship on the water.Through the darkness I could just see the outline of hubby looming over me."sorry,been to the toilet"he whispered.I turn over and as i do I'm raised up once again."sorry"mutters hubby.I turn to face him and as I look up to him, I see a large bare foot heading straight for me.Not wanting to wake the rest of the camp site I grab hubby's foot to guide him.He jumps at the touch and comes crashing down on me.We end up a bobbing pile of giggles trying to stifle the laughs, we try not to look at each other as we bob up and down attempting to straighten ourselves into a sleeping position.It's sometime before we reach sleep both still trying to stifle giggles.

Kampa double bed

The following week we buy a raised double camp bed.

Camping Essentials

   So no longer having a caravan or TT,which both come with a kitchen we NEED to shop.
List after list is made of basic items,shouldn't be to hard.

Oh boy! how wrong we were.There is so much choice out there.We were like children in a sweet shop.We bought a basic 2 ring cooker and left the shop,not wishing to go mad.

On our return home we reevaluated our lists,we now had a NEEDS and WANTS.
Eventually we had enough basic items and some borrowed from the TT to be able to camp.
We had agreed that we wouldn't use the TT items,if only to avoid arriving on site with lots of missing  kit.It was to be replaced as soon as possible,preferably in blue so as not to mix the two.

Now all we needed was a shelter of some kind, to cook under the great British weather.
Forums to the rescue again.

When the canopy arrived we had a trial run in the garden,It wasn't a bad fit but would meet our needs.

Now time to try it for real.

October 2012

Vango Artemis 500 Canopy

Weekend Quickie's

    After Scotland we have come to the conclusion that the TT is way to big for quick weekends away.We don't want to get rid of it though.So what now?Are we going backwards if we opt for a tent?

After talking it through countless times we decide a tent would be the better option, just for quick weekends.

So now the search for a tent begins.What colour,size,make,hubby is no help" a tents a tent ".
I reach out into the forums,whereby I only confuse myself  with too much information.

What's a footprint? oh my! Chuckle

I've had enough and just opt for a nice blue one,4 man,Outwell.When it arrives I'm excited and rush to the garden to pitch it.I love the colour and there is plenty of room for the two of us. Hubby inspects it on his return from work and is happy with my purchase.

"Just one thing will we be eating out ?"Hubby asks with raised eyebrows

Outwell Winniepeg 500 

Scotland

  Our main holiday is now upon us a week booked in here  http://www.glen-nevis.co.uk/?id=13 with the TT.On arrival at the site you can't help but take in the freshness and beauty that surrounds you.Not least the striking closeness to Ben-Nevis or the fact that we have a bird's eye view from our pitch.

Our Pitch

  Setting up today takes longer as we are just so in awe of our surroundings.The site is very peaceful though far from empty.Back home in England it's the bank holiday and we relish the fact that we are out of it.

After setting up we wander around the site and are impressed with the facilities on offer.Gardeners are busy trimming and sweeping.Yet still more noticeable is the peace and quite, yet there are children and adults alike enjoying the on-site park.

As night falls all we can see of the groups of walkers coming down from Ben Nevis are the torches.It's quite a scene.

We have no set itinerary though we do have a few places we'd like to visit.So after a leisurely breakfast we head out on foot to explore the surrounding area.Camera's clicking constantly at the scenes before us.We call in at the Ben Nevis visitor center to learn more about our neighbour.

Day 3   We head off to John O'Groats.On arrival the weather has turned and it's blowing a gale with torrential rain.The trip over to the Orkney's was out of the question as the ferries were all cancelled.We took refuge in the cafe until the rain stopped.Building work was well underway on the all new modern looking hotel.We had the obligatory photograph taken,wandered around the few shops that were open,and headed back.

Day 4   We stay local again and complete the Ben Nevis walk which was very pleasant.After tea we head off through the site to the pub, it's a balmy evening here so we choose to sit outdoors.

Day 5   After trawling through the brochures at reception we decide to visit steallfalls.The walk is fairly easy but very picturesque.As we reached the meadow we were dumbstruck it's just so well erm there!! We did the rope crossing and wandered around for some time just taking it all in and capturing the moment on camera's.

Steady

 Stopping on the way back at lower falls.
After a pleasant day we settled down to watch the walkers descend Ben Nevis.What we didn't expect was the gut wrenching sound of search and rescue.I instantly felt shivery and thought I was about to lose my tea.It is the most horrible feeling knowing someone is in distress but not being able to do anything about it.Sleep didn't come easily to me on this night.

Day 6   Just what the doctor ordered a visit to Ben Nevis Distillery. This was a first for us having never done any of the brewery tours before.What an eyeopener,a good couple of hours and a lesson learnt,not to mention the extra bottles now sat in the drinks cabinet.We followed this with some good ole retail therapy,constantly being reminded by hubby of the space required to take these new items home.With lots of daylight left we head off to Aonach Mor .Taking the cable car to the top,we once again have some great views.After a walk over the mountain we head back down and watch the bikers come down,before we head back for a hearty tea.

Day 7  Today is the day we are going to climb Ben,we've sat and admired him all week now it's time to test our nerve.After a good breakfast we pack the rucksack with all the must haves and set off through the site heading to the youth hostel.This is the quickest starting point from where we are pitched.The weather is slightly overcast with a glimmer of sunshine sporadically.
Today there are plenty of other walkers on the path too,we are in no rush and let them by.
Surprising how many were on there way down as it was only just 9am.We were also disturbed by how many were just in regular footwear and no bag in sight.
We took our time and found it easy going,the weather was brightening and we had some great views of the Glen and our TT.What the hubby didn't like was the small bridges,preferring solid rock under his feet.As we approached the summit the weather turned and we were now climbing in a downpour.We didn't hang around at the summit, a quick picture or two a sandwich and a chocolate bar and back down.

Descending Ben Nevis

 If the weather was going to get wild we didn't wish to stay out in it.Halfway down it became slippery underfoot and more care was needed.The weather had began to pick up again so we sat for a while taking in the magnificent views.Still plenty of walkers passing us going up and down.On reaching the bottom we headed for the visitor center and took a steady stroll back to the site.
Noticing the tuck van that operates onsite, was now open we quickly showered and treated ourselves to Haggis and chips.It wasn't long before we were ready to turn in for the night.

yes unfortunately it's time to go home to dreary old England and work.







  

The social side to camping

 Booked a local site to try out the TT  http://www.churchfarmhousecamping.co.uk/aboutus.html

On arrival we were met by the lovely owners Richard & Lesley who showed us to our pitch and introduced us to several other campers that were already pitched.

From that moment we were offered help to pitch while others offered a warm drink.We kindly explained that the reason we had come was to try out the TT, hopefully I would be able to help pitch it with hubby as I'm only small.They understood that we were not dismissing them or there help but we had to be able to manage on our own.

We managed to do it in quite a short space of time,so wandered over to talk with the other kindly campers.

Before we left that weekend we had made some great friends who shared our passion ,and to top it all off we were invited to join the forum they moderate on.Help and advice was freely given and soon we would be taking part in our first meet.Exciting times lay ahead.

Goodbye Lincoln,Hello TT

 With only a few weeks to go to our week away in Scotland to our horror we discover Lincoln is unwell.The dreaded damp has appeared.The hubby says it would be an easy fix but we are short of time.Our holiday fund would be compromised and with the rising cost of fuel ,the decision is made to say goodbye to Lincoln and look for an alternative.Lincoln is sold onto a lovely couple who are aware of his problem,they have dealt with damp before and promise to look after him.

After searching for alternatives we decide on a trailer tent,we loved the canvas awning and knew the benefits of canvas.We would still be sleeping off the ground and have space not only to move around in but to keep it at home.

We found one for sale locally had a viewing and brought it home.

Now after selling off our caravan gear that was no longer required we had surplus pennies to purchase the side bars for storage enabling us to manouvre the TT into our back garden.

Boy is it big,when fully opened we could of had a party inside.However there was work to be done to make it ours and enjoy the space.Firstly the hubby fitted an EHU followed by a water tap.Carpets and sofa were snapped up in local camping shops.Extra pegs and Delta's were purchased this is a lot of canvas to protect.

Finally we were ready,just one thing remained a quick trial away locally to check  if it's fully waterproof.

Conway Mirage TT

Love it or Hate it !

  OK so the parents have been happy to let us store Lincoln at their home.We have spent many weekends working on Lincoln to achieve that cosy home from home that is safe to be on the roads.The parents have been active in the way that they have thrown ideas into the mix and have genuinely been pleased for us.

The parents are in there early 60's but were still quite active.Dad has been retired for nearly 5 years and has now decided to stop dead in his tracks,much to mother's disapproval.
.
We ask them to join us for a weekend away.Now mum is up for it in a flash and usually discusses everything with dad before committing to anything,not this time."Go ahead book us in too"is mum's response.

We set about buying an annexe to give us extra sleeping room,book a site for the four of us for Jubilee Weekend in the hopes that there will be plenty on around ab-out's to please everyone.
The site we chose is Wild Rose  http://www.harrisonholidays.com/accommodation/touring-and-camping.html

 Visit's to the parents are still full of the joys of camping.The list of what they have in the way of camp bed etc. gets talked to the bone.Everyone is excited about the trip and busy trying to organize some sort of itinerary so we see as much as possible .

D-Day arrives and as we pull into the parents drive way.We are greeted by mum at the door.The look on her face says it all,they've had words!
"Dad is still in bed" she reports," he's not into camping or anything else" she adds as she slams the front door closed behind us.

We raise eyebrows to each other just as dad enters the room wearing a large grin on his face.A quick cup of tea drank in silence and we are ready for the off,parents too.

What have we let our selves in for....... What should of been a weekend away for great laughs and days out with those closest to you, is about to become a weekend of walking on eggshells playing piggy in the middle.Not to mention they had both agreed to come along with us for a week in August to Scotland,a payback for their help and looking after Lincoln.

Thankfully they were traveling in their own car as they wanted to bring their own camp gear.Though they have never camped they do seem to have amassed quite a collection.By the time we reached the motorway services at Scotch Corner they seemed to have sorted themselves out.

Or so we thought!

To cut a long mood filled weekend short,Dad did everything in his power to disrupt the itinerary,the sleeping arrangements,food menu's  you name it he found cause for complaint or delay.
Mum however tried her best to ignore his blatant attempts to ruin the weekend.

Glad to be home and having second thoughts about Scotland,we delayed visiting the parents hoping things would revert to normal.
When we did visit however we were shocked to hear from other family members just how much Dad had really enjoyed it.

Mum confirmed that they would not be joining us for Scotland.Relief washed over us, though tinged with sadness that we couldn't enjoy a holiday away with them both.

Mum enjoying the celebrations

 



  

Lincoln's First Outing

   Our maiden trip out with Lincoln found us at Ingoldmells a small village on the Lincolnshire coast.I had visited Ingoldmells frequently as a child staying in several family members static caravans, it only seemed right that I should visit again in adulthood with my own caravan.

It was Easter and the weather was sunny but cool.Easter is seen by many campers to be the beginning of the camping season,with spring flowers in abundance it makes you yearn for the warm sunny days to come.

On arrival we booked in and was promptly shown to our pitch by one of several helpful wardens.As we approached our pitch we saw that Lincoln was not the oldest van on site and up against the newer models he didn't look embarrassed or out of place.Neither did we see or hear any derogatory remarks which made us feel better to as though we belonged.

We set to winding the corner steadies down hooking up the electric and filling the water drums.Now we could take five and have a brew.We discussed the journey here, to my own amazement I found that after the first twenty minutes or so my nerves regarding us towing were put to bed.Hubby himself was pleased with how easy it had been, unwilling to show any sign of nerves.

As there was just the two of us for the weekend we didn't use the awning.With everything in place we set off to the local shops some five minutes walk away.Looking at all the other caravans as we passed by.

As darkness fell we set about making up the bed.The two front seat cushions fold down to make a rather large bed.With this done we sprawled upon the bed and watched a movie via our laptop.It was very cosy but there was still a bit of a chill in the air.As we had not had the gas fire checked we had decided not to use it for safety's sake.We had however invested in a small blown air heater,this worked to well and soon we were opening the door to cool down.

The following morning was bright and sunny once again.We decided that we would have a full English breakfast and proceeded to get comments from passing campers/caravaners on how good it smelt drifting over the site.We thought it funny that we had not smelt the cooked breakfast from others, were we surrounded by healthy campers!

We opted to visit a local car boot sale that we had seen advertised on route.It was only ten minutes away from site via car.Well it turned out to be a little goldmine.You could purchase most things you would need for a caravan and we upgraded our water drum ,to a lay down model with it's own wheels to make that water trip just a bit easier.

It was nearing the end of our first trip and we would be bringing home with us a list of needs and likes.But for now we were happy and content with our Lincoln.

http://www.countrymeadows.co.uk/camping.html









  

Sad News

      On Thursday I was shocked to find an email from another camping club member,notifying us of the sudden passing of  B.S.

We had met B on only our fourth outing.It was a brief meeting albeit a nice welcoming one.We were to see B many times after at camping meets and also enjoyed his company on several solo camps.

B was a retired R.A.F serviceman aged  66yrs.  He regaled us with stories from his air force days sat around a roaring camp fire.He was well known for his love of camping and his beloved tent the Guadeloupe.

Camping meets wont be the same without him or his Guade.

R.I.P   B.S. 
We hope the gods have given you a good pitch and you enjoy your new position of Sky warden.

Condolences to his wife and family.

R.I.P.  B.S

Attempt two at camping

 Having bored easily of the foreign holidays, a pool and a posh hotel are lost on us.We are active up and out all day kinda people.Wanting to explore the area and culture.We were looking at other ways in which we could spend our valued holidays from the daily grind known as work.

A chance conversation with a neighbor gave us both what we had been craving.
A caravan of our own to tour up and down the country at our leisure.

So the research began what caravan /storage/berth/towing.We knew nothing but it didn't take long to find out what we really needed to know.There are some great forums out there with lots of advise freely available to the novice.

Storage would be at my parents home as they have a large accessible garden,this saved greatly on finances as we found storage is not cheap.A damp meter for the all important check of the caravan.
Our then car could legally tow thanks to the tow check. 

After searching everywhere and anywhere we found Lincoln.An aged but respectable looking Abbey Lincoln two berth caravan.Hubby was going to view as I was at work Remembering to take the extended towing mirrors he set off with my father.

On my return home a delighted hubby greeted me with Lincoln.

Lincoln

Our next few weekends were spent applying our own personal touches and some D.I.Y. repairs.
A cracked shower tray gave hubby the chance to make his own from fiberglass and resin coating.
While I busied myself with new loose covers to hide the hideous pink dated originals.Amongst our purchases was a fantastic canvas awning to give that outdoor feel.On arrival of the awning I fell in love with the canvas and original curtains, Tulips on a white background so fresh and modern looking for such an old awning.
 

Obi Queen Awning

    

My first taste of camping

   So the conversation around the dinner table turned to our fast approaching long weekend away.A whole four days in Somerset just the hubby and I.We discussed the places we were to visit and what we would like to do. I'd searched the net for What's On and mentioned the amount of camp sites within the area.

Now I've never camped but the hubby has.The teens and myself listened intently while he spent the next few hours recalling some of his childhood trips.I was intrigued and later that evening approached the subject of camping.To cut a long story short we decided to add another night to our four day break,only this was to be in a tent.I was going to camp.

I was overwhelmed by just how many sites there was to choose from.Then trying to work out all the symbols and pricing.In the end I just rang one and spoke to a dear old lady.It was done we had booked for one night.

Now the search for the two man tent that had been bought for the children to garden camp years before.Hubby inspected it and said it would do it wasn't great but yes it would do for one night.No point buying a new one in case I decided camping wasn't for me.

Before we knew it the day had arrived,we set off from the luxury apartment sat nav at the ready.I'd been looking forward to our little basic camp but was getting nervous.Now I'm not a great fan of sat navs and we had been traveling for sometime when eventually half way down a country road miles from what seemed like anywhere,it announced we had reached our destination.
Looking around we could only see what looked liked someone's back garden.Deciding that this couldn't possibly be it we drove on and on to nothing.

So before world war 3 could erupt we pulled into the nearest garage."Sorry never heard of it" was the response after waving around the campsite address.Back to the car and the what now look from the hubby.We decide to stop at the next site we come across surely someone knows where it is.As hubby finds somewhere to park, I dash into an all singing dancing site complete with security box (empty)
after wandering around for a good ten minutes and not finding a soul, I casually use the first class facilities and promptly leave.Back to the car and the now impatient hubby, mumbling" Sorry dear they didn't now either".Let's try the sat nav again. OK so we ended up at our first destination and sure enough it was the correct site complete with dear old lady.

We were shown to our pitch and paid our fee.To be asked" did you find us alright"? the granddaughter has decided to change the name of the site when she was updating the web page but didn't think to tell anyone.

The reason I had initially chosen the site was due to camp fires allowed.No running hot water or showers.One toilet.We've just had four nights of luxury how hard can it be.

Hubby set about pitching our little tent, it looked lost in the sea of huge polyester tunnels either side of us.I collected some wood from the huge pile that was free to burn and we set about making our tea.Jacket potato and beans with a side of garlic mushrooms.Delicious and worth the wait.

Bedtime is approaching and even though the stars are shining down the fire is all but out and I'm feeling the cold.We crawl into the tent and immediately start to giggle realizing that in our haste we have only pitched on a slope.Well the double sleeping bag just slides to the bottom of the tent no matter what we try.In the end we give up curl up and fall asleep.

On waking we think we have had a storm,there is water running down the walls and one of the tent poles has snapped.We are drenched.After a quick wash and change of clothes we throw the tent into the car boot and head for the nearest garage to fuel up ready for the long drive home.So hubby as always sends me into the garage to pay while he fuels up and I'm totally embarrassed by the fact that I stink of not only smoke but garlic too.I can't get back in the car quick enough.

On returning home we laughed about our camping, but decided that a two man tent from year blob with a double wafer thin sleeping bag from the deep dark depths of Gran's wardrobe was not sufficient nor was our menu people friendly.

On the whole I enjoyed it and wouldn't rule out camping,though our next adventure was some two years later after several foreign holidays.