IT'S OUT CRAZY I KNOW

 FRIDAY - After being stood from last Sunday the van does not start it jump starts using the Noco jump starter unit first time and it starts again when it is disconnected it is just the initial start up .I reckon I need a new batterie and take it from there .

SATURDAY - Went to Curry's PcWorld Helen bought a Vax wet and dry vacuum cleaner it should have been £349 it had a 40% discount we paid £208 we also bought  Dyson V8 advanced this was also half price we paid £148 .We tried the Vax on the upstairs carpets very good the handle is  detachable and you can use it to target dirt patches or stains for all intense and purposes it is a battery operated water pistol it didn't work  replaced the batteries 2x AAA  still no joy we can life without this option .The Dyson's batterie is suppose to last 40 minutes it does twenty tops then takes five hours to charge not impressed when it has power it's great no power no suction .

MONDAY - Phoned in work  sick with sickness and diarrhoea  got to be 48 hours clear before returning .

TUESDAY - Took Helen to A&E at 03.00 in the morning she checked out ok I wont go in to details we was out for 07.00 a.m in the afternoon we went back to a different part of HRI to get Helen's bloods taken and sent of for testing .

Took the head unit out of the van totally isolated the van key fob would not even open the central locking ,recharged the battery from 0% to 100% 

THURSDAY - Took Helen for a ultra sound all was good no issues all clear .

FRIDAY - The vans battery is still 100% hopefully problem solved need another head unit .Went back to work crazy I know should have had the full week off .

CASTLE HOWARD REVISITED

 SUNDAY - Drove the van up the old 5 mile road know as the Avenue Castle Howard is about half way up go through two gatehouses one is a pyramid and Carrnire gate turn right at the obelisk and you will enter the car park of Castle Howard  where Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton were filmed .We walked around the gardens it was a hot sunny day the American tourists were walking the grounds we bought cakes and on the way out we stopped for coffee , tea and cakes Helens cousin Sharon meet us at the road side , we got a few strange looks from cars passing by .

 

MORE POWER

 TUESDAY  -Phoned the garage to book the van for it's MOT I had to take it down for them to check the weight it was fine they will do it it is booked in for the 5th of October fingers crossed .Went to Marks and Spencer's at Glossop for a few items like ham , chorizo and pepperoni as well as all butter biscuits .Not looking forward to going to work it is alright once I am there its just the journey there I have  driven  it too many times  the coming home is better than the going .

SATURDAY - Went over to Crofton took the van got the radio head unit checked theory being we think the head unit is shutting down as it should and is not draining the battery .We know the Alternator charges the battery as it should the only other thing is the battery itself will get a drop test done on it and if need be buy a new battery .The next thing I am buying for the van is a power invertor so I can run 240volts from the leisure battery or batteries if we hook a second battery up for more power .

BATTERIES

 MONDAY - Bank Holiday I go back to work tonight  work is getting worse really cant be arsed do what I have to do even that is hard work motivation is lacking I am glad I do the shift I do no managers about they all go at four . The weather is crap dull and raining typical bank holiday Monday already up and showered and walking the dogs at 06.30 a.m .

TUESDAY - Martin fitted the reversing switch we now have reversing lights we now also have a working  reversing camera , Just need to sort out the van battery draining issue hopefully we have a fix .

THURSDAY - Bought a fantastic padded shirt reduced from £70 to half price  it has pockets inside the shirt as well as external pockets ideal for van life and walking the dogs .I also bought some in the sale T-shirts and another two packs of black sport socks .

FRIDAY - Van started ok even if the head unit is slightly draining the battery it still fired up .Changed the batteries in  my Skoda key fobs thought I might as well do the van the key fob is totally different it is a sealed unit and the batterie inside totally different they are not meant to be changed .To get a new key fob from Asda it is £191

SATURDAY - Went to Go Outdoors at York bought 8 camping gas cylinders for £16 and the book below which I should have bought last time we went but never did ,

 

DREAMS

  FRIDAY -Was suppose to drive the camper  over to Helen's brother house in Crofton to get the reversing switch fitted the van wouldn't start the battery was as as flat as a pancake  ,me and  it is  going nowhere .

So I ordered a Noco boost jump start unit a gbx45 to be precise watched people using them on You Tube they seem good. Hopefully this is what I need   to get the engine to start  .I have also ordered a new rear lens cover for the back lights drive side .

And just to be on the safe side I have also ordered a Gearlasso 12v/24v 10 mode heavy duty battery charger I am also considering getting a new alternator and starter motor cant be miles from anywhere and break down , it's a big inconvenience when your at home never mind miles from anywhere .The two items I bought over £200 but I reckon they are essentials and it is money well spent better to have them and not need them then to need them and not have them .

SATURDAY - Charged the Noco booster pack hooked it up to the battery  post ,  the battery is under the drivers seat and the negative needs  to go on a section of  bare metal near  the engine block and  guess what yes it started the van  , it worked first time it fired up the engine . Once the charger gets here will charger the battery .

Helen is now  in Cheddar after leaving Glastonbury and  in the rain they were lucky to get  room in the Inn as it is a bank holiday Monday .

SUNDAY - Was up just after six a.m ha da shower took the dogs out hooked the van up to the mains connected the charger unit to the battery under the drivers seat as you can see from the photo above it was only 30% charged not sure how long it will take could be best part of the day the battery as far as I can see looks new I don't think it is the original battery .If I need a new battery will get the AA to fit one if I need a new alternator they can fit that too .I need to know the van will start wherever we are it is going to get us home this is essential don't want a four hour wait to get the mobile mechanics out specially when it is avoidable 

After all day on charge the van started first time the battery is now reading 100% hopefully it does not drop .Helen arrived home safely both dogs were extremely happy to see her so was I she had a nice experience hopefully we will go to Glastonbury and Stonehenge together some time .She bought home a dream catcher for the van hope it works .

HELEN'S TRIPPING

 SUNDAY - Helen had a self awareness meditation day I went shopping bought a joint of pork , frozen broccoli , sprouts , carrots , parsnips , mash and roast potatoes  .I cooked a Sunday dinner for when she returned just after half past five .I also managed to clean my shed out reorganised its amazing what shit you keep I now have more room to store more shit .

MONDAY- Back to work after a week off its a nightmare no supervisor is happy morale at an all time low. Break up Wednesday Helen is going to Stonehenge and Glastonbury for a few days I will be home alone with two dogs and two cats .

WEDNESDAY - Went to Penistone Tesco to exchange the dressing gown Helen had gone back in store yesterday because she couldn't live without it now she decided she can live without and as exchanged it for a brown fleece , and she tells me she doesn't buy on impulse , she also bought a Parker pen and black refills for it .I then took her to Slaithwaite to get her eye lashes done .The heating is not working correctly and the bed does not operate it opens ok closing is a bit hit and miss so far managed to get it closed but the day will come where it will stay open just know it .

Break up after tonight's shift Helen goes to Glastonbury and sone henge tomorrow I have Thursday and Friday off work .

THURSDAY  - Helen went on her trip they set of just after eleven they ended up driving in a storm but made it there  safely .

 I cooked Bolognese for my tea using wagyu mince beef and the linguine pasta from our camping trip  it was no were near as good in fact it was ten times worse total rubbish waste of time nothing like it .

ALMOST WORKING

 WEDNESDAY - After leaving Scarborough went to visit Helen parents in Acaster Malbis we got home mid evening unloaded the van ready to take it to the mechanics for the head unit replacement with a touch screen radio sat nav etc and a reversing camera will take it first thing in the morning .

THURSDAY - Dropped the van off caught a taxi back home was not until late in the afternoon I had a call from the garage they could not get a picture from the camera on to the head unit screen he is not sure why .It will be tomorrow before I can pick it up .

FRIDAY - Walked down to the Garage took me a good forty minutes it is all down hill. Picked the van up the reversing camera not fitted the head unit working fine paid £200 still no camera drove home more then slightly pissed off also found out that the  reversing lights are not coming on when reserve is selected another issue. Went to Halfords to see abought them fitting a reversing camera they didn't want to know wrong type of van seriously .

SATURDAY - Took the van over to Helen's brother in Crofton he fitted the camera the garage had not sent power to the camera they would never receive a picture regardless of the camera that they had tried they also had not wired it to the reversing lights again this wouldn't trigger the camera it wasn't easy but  we got it sorted also we fitted a new bulb to the drivers side headlight because that was out .As soon as the reversing switch is sorted the camera will come on and I will get an image on the head unit screen We tested it by shorting the reversing switch the reversing lights came on and the camera sent a picture to the head unit  .The joys and expense of motoring .