out with the old - in with the new

Things are progressing well with the new interior, just waiting on the fridge and few bits and she should be ready to go.

Off for the refit...

Early start this morning to take the old girl down to Brighton to get her new interior. Up at six and the sun was shining so had a really enjoyable drive down.

Left Ian with all the info and in his capable hands to start the work.

Milage: 54885

Fleet 10K

Another 10K and this should be a fast one, lots of club runners but a cold and early start as I hadn't signed up and need to be one of the first 100 to get there on the day.

Finished in 39:55 and made me realise just how hard you have to push to get a sub-40. Did it though - first time in a few years so pretty chuffed.





Milage: 54840

Camberley 10K

My second 10K this year and was feeling pretty good. Met up with Paul, Tim and Noel and it was a really good day - weatherwise.

Pretty nice run although not the biggest crowd  - only 200 people or so.

Pretty hard run with a long climb from 4-7K but pushed at the end and managed to finish 16th with a time of 40:29.



Milage: 54800

Sophie get her new nose...

A new wheel cover made just for her.

...pics to follow...

New Forest - Last family trip of the summer

A long weekend for the August bank holiday with Matt, Ruth, Steve, Jane and all the kids. We stayed this time at Holmesley which was pleasent enough and the weather was pretty good all in all.

Steve and I polished off a couple of flaggons of New Forest Snakecatcher and suffered for it, but when in Rome etc.

So this may be the last trip of the summer before Sophie goes in for her new interior. It has been a brilliant few months of escapism and it seems that we've had her for so much longer than 11 weeks!!!

Can't wait for next year to come along so that we can play some proper trips away to far away lands....

Milage: 54536

Lions at Longleat

Off again for a few days with Jo, El and co. to discover the safari park at Longleat and celebrate Leon's 3rd birthday. The monkey enclosure was closed due to some kind of virus (swine flu no doubt) but that was fine as Sophie would have probably been pulled apart from the seams. Rhinos, tigers, lions, giraffes, wolves - they have the lot. Unfortunately Lily managed to sleep through the whole thing and woke just as we were leaving the last enclosure.

What a great place to keep the kids occupied; we went back three days in a row so that we could cover all the activities and the weather was pretty kind to us although the campsite 'Brokerswood Country Park' were not as we were late packing up our pitch and had to do so whilst obscenities were being thrown at us by the 'pikie' lot.

Mileage: 54296

Fairport Convention's Cropredy

Real Ale and the sweet taste of summer grass....

Mileage: 54079

Triathlon at Littleworth Cross

Just a short trip this time for the annual sports event in Seale. Joined by Jo, El and the kids along with the many other people for swimming, running, cycling, mountain biking, badminton, table tennis and more.

An unexpectedly beautiful weekend weatherwise and this time we had Poppy and Lily sleeping up top with me below. Lily's first mini sleep over with Poppy and all I can say is that is was a success - didin't even mind the 6:00 wake up with giggling and non-stop banter.

Stopped off at Tilford on the way home for a pint and once again the comments and admiration for Sophie came flooding in....

Mileage: 54050

Brighton

Ruben's Birthday is upon us and we'll get the opportunity to see a few friends that we haven't seen in too many years.

A beautiful day greeted us as we woke up and prepared to go to Brighton. parking up on the seafront for a quick stroll down the promenade as we left a kind homeless man in charge of Sophie.

Met up with Dev and co in Hove park for a splendid afternoon of food, playing and custard pie fights....

Mileage 53940

West Wittering - again and again!

This is now becoming such an easy trip. An hour in the van and we are by the sea feeling like we're a million miles away from home.

The sun was going to be out for the first time in a week so there was no better place to be. Surf wasn't up though and it was very windy on shore.

Lily found many new playmates and spent most of the evening running in and out of 'the bog' which was in fact a dry ditch just by the tent but seemed to also be a magnet for kids.

Well it'll be August in a week so hopefully the sun will start to make a bit more of an appearance and allow us to get out even more...

Milage: 53750

West Wittering - again!

A true test of her versitility surviving the Wittering hurricane - well not quite but still pretty wet!

Milage: 53714

West Wittering

Another hot hot day down at the seaside with 9 kids in tow. A great excuse for them to spend most of the day playing in the van.

Stayed at Scotts Farm after our 3rd attempt of finding a campsite. Really warm evening with Lily disappearing into various caravans and tents throughout the night. Our first outing to a busy site and Sophie got a lot of attention!!!

Mileage: 53655

Birthdays in the New Forest

Our first proper trip out was down to the New Forest staying at Roundhill just outside Brockenhurst for Lily's birthday celebrations.

Here's where we experienced our first mishap!!! Filling her up for the first time I thought I'll just top it up a litre or so after the pump had clicked. Big mistake!!! Petrol started pouring out the back end. Probably made worse by being on a bit of a camber. Here we go, I thought, the first time we go on a trip I blow up the camper. Fortunately after about 15 minutes the flow had subsided and I tentatively turned her over. Phew...all OK...and we were off.

Monday was Lily's birthday and although working in Bournemouth she was able to spend this hot, hot, sunny day on the beach.

Mileage: 53425

Sophie comes home...

We finally got her. Picked her up on the 16th June just in time for our trip down to the new forest. It was a beautiful evening; sun shining and the road real quite making the drive home from Brighton great fun.

Completed a full service, MOT, new mirrors, portable hob etc.
checked out the Kyham Awning, Radiator (240v), Fridge (12v/Gas/240v), JustKampers van cover, Bike rack and bike covers.
Deposit put down for the new Vanwurks interior begin installed in October - can't wait it's going to look awesome.

Milage: 53314

Our 1978 Westfalia

Having waited a week for her to arrive from Aberdeen we went down to Fulking on the 23rd May to take a look at our potential purchase. Lily immediately decreed that she shall be called Sophie and who were we to question?