Trial run with Bessie!

17-22nd July 2015

Bessie had her first outing to Wyton Lakes near Huntingdon at the weekend. We were joined by Neil's long time pal and best mate Dave and his wife Paula along with their caravan for a surprise for Neil as he officially retired on Friday after 38 years with the same company.

Bessie and the inflatable awning

Bessie has been a joy to use and everything worked with no hiccups. Neil enjoyed some fishing whilst Paula and I drank Pimms in the sunshine, a good deal to me! We tried out the electric bikes we had bought earlier in the year and these will be our mode of transport whilst Bessie is pitched up on site. They are brilliant fun even if we are cheating! We bought my blue polka dot bike from a company called RooDog at the National Motorhome show, look out for the deals you can usually buy cheaper than in the shops at these shows. Neil's bike is a more manly grey colour and both have detachable and rechargeable batteries so we can charge them when on an electric hook up. Both bikes will go an approx distance of 35-40 miles on power assist and when I'm feeling lazy mine has a throttle so I can just steer and sit!
Having tried out all the gadgets and buttons on Bessie and there is a lot, we are feeling more confident now although I did have to borrow Daves pump for our inflatable awning, a Kampa Rally Air 390 which was supposed to only take a few minutes to blow up but after standing chatting for about 10 minutes we realised nothing was happening, so I checked the pump only to find out I had connected the pipe to deflate! Any curtain twitchers would not have been impressed with the innovative inflatable awning that day!
We soon got into a routine of setting up with me doing the nice bits like putting out my cushions and setting up the drinks cabinet and Neil fills the water tank, hooks up the electric and puts the toilet liquid into the cassette, it's also his job to empty the toilet too! But he says I should learn to do it too!
As the weather has been kind to us we had a BBQ most nights sitting by our lakeside pitch with of course a bottle of bubbly to celebrate!

a pitch with a view

Neil and Dave went fishing most days and had a few good catches apart from the last day when Neil fell asleep in the sun only to be woken by the bleeper going off and the fish dragging his rod into the lake! Neil in a panic leant over too far and tripped over his fishing gear grazing his legs but with grass stained knees he did save his rod! This was the highlight of Dave's weekend! Wish i had seen it!

Another catch!

Packing Up

Back home and time is ticking on so next few days is loading Bessie with everything but the kitchen sink and finding a home for every single thing on my list-
this may be helpful to one of you someday!

List 1- first 5 items are essential for driving in Europe
Hi vis jackets
Breathalizers
warning triangles 2 for Spain
head light beam benders
spare bulb kit
Hosepipe 25m plus plus connectors and short hose
foldable water carriers 10ltr each or watering can
portable trolley for carry water carriers
Electric lead 25 metre plus and 2 pin adaptor
Reverse polarity adaptor
folding chairs
folding table
folding step
collapsible bucket and bowl
first aid kit
maps/phrase book
camera /charger
bikes x 2
bike cover and warning sign
Tom Tom
Ibooster motorhome internet booster
Dash cam
dustpan and brush
Gas
Toilet fluids
Levelling choks
spirit level
tool kit
bbq
umbrella raingear hopefully won't need!
torch\Extension lead
electric griddle
Awning and Electric pump for awning mallet and pegs
windbreak
Panniers for bikes and locks
Fan
Taillights and holder
Bike helmets
folding ironing board and low wattage iron
Toilet rolls
ACSI book CC books
Groundsheet Awning Carpet
Cable ties
Bike pump spare inner tyres and punture repair kit
toiletries

Olivias gift to us!

clothes/shoes/coats
food/drink!
oh and Neils budgie smugglers!
                                                                                                       

List 2
Maps
Travel insurance
Motorhome insurance and Breakdown cover
passports
Camping card
ASCI card
Money!
EHIC insurance cards
Driving licence
V5 Registration doc


List 3
Kitchen contents which i won't bore you with! its fairly obvious what you need.
phew I'm sure I've forgotten something,
Best get packing!

Billys 9month supply!

Part 2


10 th July 2015
After 8 months and 3 weeks wait, we now have our new home on wheels and we are so excited! I had to smile though as one of the reasons it was delayed at the factory they think was due to missing cushions!  I thought of all things to go missing it had to be cushions!
A big thank you to Mike at White Arches, I'm sure he will be glad to see the back of us! Also thank you to Dave for dropping us over there so we could drive home together.

                                                   

A nervous drive home then into our narrow driveway but Neil made it look easy. A steady flow of family and friends all intriuged to see what we will be living in for the next 9 months have been surprised as to what you can fit in such a small space!

A  wonderful leaving lunch was organised by my friend Andrea with some friends it was a lovely surprise as we had not planned on having a party or any gathering, I'm not good at goodbyes.

            I have also left my Nanny job of 13 years, I will miss you girls x

13th July
Starting to pack up the Motorhome and by the way I'm calling her Bessie! Don't laugh, Neil thinks I'm mad but she is going to play a big part in our lives over the months i think she deserves a name.
Bessie is sitting in our back garden waiting patiently whilst i load the cupboards and weigh her down with all the things we need, i haven't started on the clothes yet just setting up the kitchen first and i wonder how many times Neil is going to ask me where things are! Already packed the wine glass!

                               Lists everywhere but its all exciting!

 

                                                       
Inside Bessie!

Update!

Neil has just found out that in order to use swimming pools in France you have to wear Budgie Smugglers (Speedos!!)

I can't wait to put that on the blog! hope it doesn't scare anyone, i will be sitting on the opposite side of the pool for the best view!