HANGING AROUND

 FRIDAY - Received the rear view camera looks ok hopefully it is compatible with my Apple play head unit I bought last week they should be no issues .My car insurance is up for renewal it £187 cheaper than last years quote which is nice to know .Also the hanging table for the van door arrived another purchase by Helen £75 for a piece of plywood two straps and two hooks . Was looking at a van wheel table even more expensive .Camping van  gear so expensive . Break up after this evenings shift a whole nine days off work the weather is changing getting more cooler .

SATURDAY - Waited in the car in Bramley I was watching You Tube and Netflix  videos I was hanging around for four hours whilst Helen did her readings four hours seems like eight. On the way home stopped at the Co-Op garage got a chicken tikka masala curry it was ok I had three flat breads with it ,

SUNDAY - Went to a camping outlet in Ossett Outdoor World Direct we got some biodegradable toilet paper .We went to Xscape  on the way home stopped at Toby Carvery for a pig out  had beef and lamb and all the trimmings I was stuffed .Booked a camp site on the East coast for two nights this  Monday and Tuesday .

WHITE WASHED

 SATURDAY - Went to Go Outdoors in York our second visit also did a trip to M&S bought some stuff for tea I got a bottle and jar of different chili sauces .We went in the car should have took the van don't like the idea of it sitting on the drive too long.

SUNDAY - Helen had readings all day after she finished we went to Wetherby Whaler for fish and chips should have saved my money they were not the best .Tried the fridge we bought for the van in the 12v outlet in the van it works ok which is good the 12v works of the solar panel .

MONDAY - Went to Ikea bought a magnetic knife rack and three knives for the van they are hung up on the inside of one of the kitchen unit doors , we also bought a cork pin board and some jars for coffee , sugar and tea , we have screwed under the kitchen wall unit .n .

TUESDAY - Washed the van concentrated on the roof loads more dirt came off used the pressure washer to get underneath the solar panel it is looking a lot cleaner that amount of dirt washed off was quite a lot  .. Helen bought two moon chairs for when we are sitting out hopefully they are really comfy they are from Amazon they arrive tomorrow .

COOL

 THURSDAY -Ordered of Amazon an Alpicool camping fridge its 37 litres and it fits in were we want its an ideal size it also matches the décor of the van it arrives tomorrow will check it out indoors see how good it is .

FRIDAY -Went to the local garage to see about if I ordered a Apple Play head unit and a reversing camera they come next week would they fit them both waiting for a price .

Helen ordered a porta toilet and and a bottle of 100% organic non toxic  toilet treatment solution by Solbio as well as a hanging camping table that fits on to the sliding door at a cost of £75 seems to be a bit extortionate pricing on camping and van equipment , she as also ordered another better quality whistling kettle as well as a wooden camping table for use in the van so if we decide to leave the be up we have somewhere to eat off which should go behind my drives seat out of the way.

SATURDAY - Plugged the camping fridge/freezer in at home seems to be running fine temperature dropping quite quickly for the price it seems a very capable unit the lid operates from both side depending on where you position it in the van .Should get a few days supplies in here wont fill it full of water will get a few steaks , bacon , sausages and veggies .

FIRST CAMP

 SUNDAY - We booked on to a campsite near were we live to see how our set up was see what we lacked also to see what was missing and what worked right .

My main concern is the sleeping accommodation. If I can manage to achieve a few hours after getting off  to sleep  should be ok a couple of hours through the day wont be an issue .I only average 5.5 hours a night at home in a king size bed with all the trimmings ,  if I can do this I will be fine .I ended up sleeping for about three hours hopefully this improves I only sleep an average of five hours in my bed at home so I guess this isn't too bad .We tried setting the awning up to no avail we need more advice on this matter the van does not have a C-track we found out the awning has to be thrown over the van we need to get a C-track fitted .

The camp site is fairly new the sink for washing pots was located next to the shower and toilet  container  all new with heated hand dryer very clean and toilet paper and handwash provided .

I walked the dogs went down the lane to the White Horse and Red Lion pubs it was a steady walk taking about an hour .The weather was hot the sun was out .

I cooked burgers for tea with sliced cheese no fires although with the hook up we had 240d/c power and the Ninja air fryer worked fine we had  no potatoes .Cooking outside is great even boiling the kettle is ok it does take longer to boil using the single burner camp stove but we have time its not an issue .

MONDAY - Cooked Spam , eggs and beans for breakfast cooked fine was nice out in the sun in the middle of nature  eating breakfast we was in no rush we packed up and left at midday and left nothing behind including gear and rubbish cant wait for our next trip .

APPROVED

 FRIDAY - Bought some French chic paint the paint Helen bought is not good should have bought the French chic to start with lesson learnt its all done now what was grey is now white .

SATURDAY - Fitted three down lights charge via usb and are remote controlled you can pull them off the fixing and place them wherever you want .We also have a led strip light which will light under the wall cupboards which gives an ambient light .

Started the van it has been stood all week it started first time put another £40 of diesel in the tank before driving to Acaster Malbis to show the van to Helen's parents .We also had the dogs with us the were quite all the way there and all the way back again they are so well behaved they had the seat belts on and were sat behind  our seats .Helen's parents were impressed they liked the van they thought it was clean and tidy they both approved of our purchase .

VAN STUFF

 MONDAY - Took the Skoda in for an oil change £180 then went to B&Q and bought a new table top a waste bin and some magnetic catches and cabinet handles .

TUESDAY - Fitted the new table top put the magnetic catches on the doors and cupboards fitted the seat belt clips behind our seats so the dogs are fastened in securely which is a legal requirement .Need to get use to reversing the van and car on to the drive I prefer driving forward on to the drive and reversing off I think it makes life easier could do with the drive being a foot wider .

We need to order a 12v fridge and a toilet and tent as well as another 100 or so other things some expensive some cheap but it all adds up main thing is we have a van .

WEDNESDAY - Not enough hours in the day specially when I go to work at 16.30 Helen painted the kitchen units and seating benches from grey to white all the handles are on found some black bolts that wont need cutting down makes life easier .Ordered of Amazon a rear door awning the clips over the rear doors when they are both opened wide .

V-DAY

 SATURDAY - It's V-day which of course without a doubt stands for Van Day .We pick it up just after midday we will tax there then  it pay the cash and drive it away for the first time to it's new home .The cash transfer from my bank for the remainder of money owed transferred from my bank  without a hitch.

Drive home - After showing us the vans layout we set of back to Holmfirth missed having apple car play need a decent mount for my phone  the gears change was smooth its a six speed box no issues getting use to an handbrake again went on stopped at the petrol station and put fifty quid in got us have a tank roughly no major hiccups all went ok soon got used to the layout of the van got it home and it now sits on the drive Helen and her cousin are cleaning the inside .I topped the windscreen washer bottle and the coolant .

SUNDAY - Washed the roof of the van and solar panel they were dirty couldn't reach it all need some higher steps but its cleaner than it was started to rain showers most of the day .

LIVE IT

 WEDNESDAY - The lady that is selling us the van is putting in a new leisure battery  in the camper van we are buying off her .So it should be all charged up ready to go it also comes with a two year warranty.

If it all charges and we can life off grid we wont need a electrical hook up  to keep it topped up as the solar panel will do that . The main items that  will need power will be the fridge and our phones .As the cooking facilities will all be gas.

The two main items I need fitted is a 12 v max air fan with remote control and rain sensors ,  and a review camera like the Wolfbox G900 pro if I buy these I am hoping the local garage will fit them .

We bought some cook wear plates and bowls along with some pans that sit inside each other with fold out handles it also contains a frying pan that will fit a sausage and egg in if your lucky .Helen bought some fold up steps to get in and out of the van .And a wind breaker I think we need to get the van and go out there and learn from being in the van there is only so many You Tube videos you can watch as good as they are we need to live it .

PASSED IT

 MONDAY - Back at work at least it wasn't as hot but still a chore first shift after a break  quite a few people were asking after the van .

WEDNESDAY - Went to Ikea Helen spent her cash on buying items for the van including bedding , three throws , cushion covers , shelve , cooking utensils , containers for storage , kitchen rails with hooks , chopping board , collapsible wash bowl and  other items I have already forgot about of course she is excited I get it but the main item we need to pay for is the van which is the biggest expense .

FRIDAY - Looking forward to the weekend .

SATURDAY - Took Helen over to Bramley for some readings I stayed at her cousins house was given a new leisure battery for the van it is not the best but it is new and never been used the one in the van we are getting is dead as a dodo .

SUNDAY -Started reading Shari Lapena book "She Didn't See It Coming" it is quite gripping .

MONDAY - Judgement day the car goes in for it's second MOT it failed on a rear side tyre it had a slash in it so new tyre fitted car sorted .

GO BIG

 SATURDAY - Did nothing much it was hot sat in the garden enjoying the day thinking about camper vans and all the accessories we need to get some essential items some can wait the main item is the van which we will have a fortnight today .I have started parking my car one side of the drive so I can get used to leaving space for the van . If it is not feasible the the car will have to go on the street will see . 

England beat Norway 2-1 through to the semi finals is it coming home maybe I never thought I would be getting a camper van so in life anything is possible don't give up on your dreams .

SUNDAY - Went to the biggest Go Outdoors in Europe at York Vangarde Huntington shopping park it was massive over two floors spent a good hour looking round some great car roof tents and one you could pull along behind your car .We went to M&S also situated there and bought pork pies , sausage rolls , scotch egg , salad and fruit as well as chill jam , brown sauce and short bread biscuits. We then visited Helens parents forgetting that the Wimbledon men's tennis final was on live t.v .

 

BOUGHT ONE

 THURSDAY -We went to see another camper van to Macclesfield Nottinghamshire to meet a lady called  Jessica who owned a Ford Transit self converted camper van that she modified with the help of her Grandfather .The white paint work pristine odd speck of rust bit nothing drastic the dashboard was clean with quite a nice layout it is six speed manual diesel engine with 93k on the clock even though it is mot'd  until October ,  we have bought it we paid a deposit of £250 and will pay the balance on collection for us it represents freedom and a new hobby for weekends and weeks away  on annual leave  we have watched van lifers on You Tube for the last  fifteen years now we are about to do it .I have insured the van it was £350 for the year and I have joined the AA that's for break down cover I don't have a drink issue .They are loads of things we need to buy like a 12v fridge , Ridge Monkey shower , a Jackery and rear door awning but the main item is bought the rest can follow as and when .

We cant pick it up until Friday next week then we will go on our first drive not sure where but it will be a new experience and the big bonus is the dogs can come with us .

NO , NO, AND NO AGAIN

 MONDAY - Saw a camper van for sale £3800 it is  VW Transporter Leisure drive 1.9 tdi on a 2005 plate mot until April next year .Pictured below 

Then we saw another listing that we are driving over to see tomorrow it is a Ford Transit 2.5 diesel with 60,000 miles on the clock and will have a years mot put on the van before it is sold that is £5,795 .nearly £2000 more than the VW and five years older is it worth the extra 2k .

TUESDAY - Went to view the camper van directly above you think the person selling it would clear out the previous owners crap vac the carpets clean the paintwork clean the cab .No they couldn't be arsed it was a pigsty .Some trim was missing from one of the doors , the roof had a bad scrap to the front slope it was very disappointing a big no. The other van was also a no you had to pay upfront it got delivered at a further cost of £120 you had ten days to either love or hate it if hate it they would pick it back up and give you your money back no fcuking way having a giraffe .

WEDNESDAY - Messaged the seller of this van it was in Matlock the gentleman selling a stand up guy but once again you could have washed and clean the van before letting people view it it is high milage which could be lower than what is shown they had a replacement  speedometer fitted  with the wrong mileage so its is going to be another no also the pop top had the bed bit missing so its only function was to give you head room .We go view another van tomorrow a Ford Transit h2 not sure if it is mwb or a lwb .

CHINA IN YORK

 FRIDAY - Went over to Dobcross garden  centre which means are favourite drive over Saddleworth moor I try and not rush always like to see the reservoirs see how full or empty they are .We bought some more solar lights a string that we put up a few weeks ago  had broke .Break up my last shift I have nine days annual leave .

SATURDAY - Went to  a Tesco superstore Barnsley bought a few food items and the ingredients for a pizza using nan bread for the base .

SUNDAY - Went to see Helens parents her cousin Sharon meet us there we all went to Maxi's Chinese restaurant a few miles away I ordered the crispy duck , soft noodles and curry sauce for starter I had chicken and sweetcorn soup we also shared prawn crackers and prawn toast the service and food wa sexcellent the bill for five of us £150 roughly thirty pounds a head the interior and design was very authentic well worth a visit . 

MEGA BREAKFAST

 SUNDAY -Helen working all day she was finished for around half past five booked a table for half past seven  at one of the Vintage Inns we have eaten there before .We got to the restaurant ordered drinks when they came to take our order for food there was literally nothing left apart from ham and chicken pie , belly pork and vegan dishes we ended up leaving we was not charge for the drinks although I didn't drink mine as it would mean when we went elsewhere I would not have been able to have another pint '

We ended up going to the Wetherby Whaler as time was running out we got fish and chips I got a pint of Magners problem solved .

MONDAY - Looking forward to Friday as I break up from work a whole nine days off and the weather is getting hot again so hopefully  more BBQ's in the pipeline .

TUESDAY - Was up a hour late had a shower took the dogs out had to take Helen to Slaithwaite for her eyebrows doing at 10.45 .Decided to go to the Albion farm shop at Dobcross we bought the usual Scotch eggs , pork pie , steak and ale pie white and brown flat bottom breadcakes .We decided to go to the café section for an all day breakfast which was way too much food did my best I did have Helens black pudding as well  .England beat DR Congo 2-1 in the world cup .

COOKING WITH FIRE

 SATURDAY - Cooler today with a very nice breeze blowing which is making it well chilled .Picked up a 200w heater fan from Screwfix I got a strange look from the sale assistant asking if I knew it was a heater fan I said I did jokingly I told him it was not hot enough it was 26 centigrade and rising I was even sweating when I made this comment simple fact turn the heater off and  it blows cold. Helen was in getting her nails done when the technician had the same fan and Helen said it was running really cold and the shop was way chilled hence why we bought one. 

Went to the tip got rid of a load of rubbish from Helens shed along with some garden waste and domestic waste.

Went to Fox Valley change my two pairs of shorts I bought them in XL instead of  L I.am a slim bastard not. Bought some meat to barbeque chicken . ribs , burgers sausages and of course chicken .

Went to Aldi bought some strawberries , choc ices for the hounds some Franks  hot sauce and more fresh fruit and cider  . Went home dusted of the barbeque grill and filled it with charcoal and firelighters and set fire to it using my blow torch .

FISH , ICE AND SHORTS

 WEDNESDAY - Working next week then a week off also got a week and two days in August hopefully the weather is still as hot as it has been this week .

THURSDAY - Washed the car again going to try and keep it 80% clean that's a very light dust and,  grimme , no heavy marks mud or bird poo it is nice when the sun is hot using a hosepipe it is easy to keep cool no guesses how .

B TIME

 THURSDAY - Washed polished vacuumed the car interior and exterior even under the hood and boot no matter how much time and effort that  I spend to detailing it it is  never going to like its just been driven out of the car showroom for the first time the hardest to clean being the alloy wheels and tyres and maybe the carpets in the foot wells , anyway it is looking shiny black which in my eyes is job done good .

FRIDAY - Went to Fox Valley bought a pair of swim shorts/Bermudas just in case the weather improves fingers crossed it will .

SATURDAY - Fitted the new rubber pull boot handle  you have to unscrew the old handle that is left in after it snapped pop the boot liner pull the old out put the new one in push the plastic boot panel back in place and screw the new handle in place a ten minute job .

SUNDAY - Helen went up Pule hill for the summer solstice with her friends and her cousin Sharon she had flowers in her hair and some facial transfer tattoos .

Late in the afternoon we went over to my daughters house for a Fathers day barbie it was a glorious sunny afternoon perfect for outdoor cooking and eating it was very nice to catch up and chill out best way to end the week thanks to Josh for being head cook and my daughter for doing all the prepping .

ON THE COAST

 SATURDY - Went to Helen's parents in Acaster fitted the water butt to one of the fall pipes had to go to B&Q get two new brackets for the fall pipe it is only holds a 100 litres of rain water not much all considered .It might have been better under the window less chance of it getting blown over on the corner is risky but that's were they wanted it .

SUNDAY - Took the dogs to Seaham we was meeting up with Martin , Katie  and Sharon .On the way stopped at McDonalds had double sausage McMuffin hash browns and a banana milk shake took out and  saved a sausage Patties for the dogs . Got to Seaham mid morning we   parked up where we did on our  last visit .Walked down to the beach the dogs didn't seem to mind the pebble beach parts are sand but more pebbles than sand at one point both dogs got their feet wet in the waves that were rolling in. After spending a good four hours there collecting more sea glass and Hag stones that's the pebbles with the hole that goes right through. 

From here with Sharon following in her car  we headed for Kettleness beach we was going to see a waterfall but we couldn't get down to the beach from were we where parked so we went to Scarborough we parked at the harbour it is  free parking after six and walked to the grand hotel all along the beach front .We went out on the veranda of the hotel and I took some pictures of Scarborough bay which thousands of other people must have took over the years .

From Scarborough we went to Sandsend to the Fish Cottage for fish and chips we sat on the picnic tables out side to eat them they were ok they had sold out of bread cakes but the curry sauce was good and the service ok the fish could have been bigger but after being out all day smelling and tasting the sea air they tasted fine .

The dogs were not eating we took food and their food bowls with us along with fresh water they were not wanting their food or even their treats they had water at every stop but food no .They were both extremely well behaved in the car they are silent they don't jump around although they are secured using their harness and seat belts with clip in straps that then go to the lead attachment loop on their harness .

The final destination was Rudston in Driffield to see a massive monolith the tallest prehistoric standing stone in the U.K is 16 metres tall with 8m's going in to the ground and 8m's above the ground to keep it securely upright and is roughly 4,000 years old and is located in the grave yard of All Saints Church in  East Yorkshire .

HOW NOW BROWN COW

 FRIDAY - Last day of my two weeks annual leave and it is still raining typical .My Daughter the seasoned traveller is now in Milan for a short three night break will come back Monday .

Going to Slaithwaite to HD Seven  to get our hair cut amazing the sun has put in an appearance for how long who knows hopefully all day and throughout the Weekend .We did get to sit on the patio for a couple of hours before the weather changed .Planted the two small Acer trees we bought a few days ago into the wooden half barrels.

Watched the new Guy Ritchie film "I n The Grey " 10/10 a real good action film does Guy ever make a bad film .

SATURDAY -Have a guess that's right it's raining  but that does not make going back to work easier I knew when I had two weeks off going back would be a nightmare well Monday is looming .

Went to Tong garden centre bought two bags of pea gravel and another bag of compost no Acers no plants going to a garden centre and leaving with no foliage does not happen never ever first time for everything . 

SUNDAY - Took the dogs out in between the rain starting and stopping decided to go to the Brown Cow at Ackworth around fifty minutes away we saw a review come up on Facebook and it looked decent so we decided to go for Lunch table was booked for three thirty .The food was very good no complaints reasonably priced atmosphere sound quite a few people eating be awhile but would eat there again one day .My Daughter took the train to Switzerland for  day out .

GLASS BEACH SEAHAM

 WEDNESDAY - Was up at half past six took the dogs out .We was setting off for Seaham on the Durham coastline 112 miles away taking us over two hours drive to get there we have never been before so neither of us know what to expect .We got there just after ten parking was great drove down the sea front to parking places the end of town parking was three quid for the whole day .

The Seaham beach area boasts a rich history of glass production dating back to 1853. This venture eventually merged into the Londonderry Bottle Works, which operated until 1921 and produced up to 20,000 hand-blown bottles every day. The bottles were exported via ship to London and Europe. Local resources such as sand and limestone were utilized, and rejected glass—often referred to as “end of day” glass—was carelessly discarded into the sea. This waste has contributed to the sea glass we treasure today.

We did find quite a few pieces mainly clear glass with the odd few green and one small red no blue or yellow we did find some pebbles for the garden the beach is quite long and there were quite a few people hunting for glass. In the afternoon we walked down the front of the beach into town and went to Bells fish and chip shop eating in the restaurant the food was fine not  the best on the coast but would give it a second try . 

Really enjoyed the hours spent at Seaham will be going back later in the year hopefully .

THURSDAY - Relentless rain for this week and next not very good for June hopefully it gets better asp 

Applied to refinance the Skoda H.P over the next three years hopefully fingers crossed all goes well otherwise I'm without a car which means getting to work will be impossible not on a bus route and cant carshare .