Flying solo

*Robin*

Dear Diary and Money-Savers, :hello:

Joey - welcome to the Nest! :beer:
Am keeping all digits crossed that you and Lucky are right, and this unexpected windfall is mine to keep.
:think: It turned up the day after sending a donation to an orphanage in Nepal - reckon they'll be due another contribution if that £4K is still in my a/c this evening..

Could certainly use some good karma to help in negotiations with the camper-van dealer.
Three days [so far] I've been trying to work out a compromise..

The Divos have been in touch; unusual to hear from them all within a day or so:
One was robbed again when he & family returned to Peru - to make a second attempt at climbing Machu Pichu (weather was terrible when they first arrived). So there will be no 'photos from this amazing trip - after having both their cameras stolen, DS1 refused to buy another.
Two passed the first half of his intensive specialist IT course; he's started work on 'the project'.
Three has added fork-lift driver to his qualifications, and is organising a first-aid course for all his co-workers (a jolly good idea, plus very lucrative).
Four finished his exams then fled to Canada, where he's having a wonderful time. :cool2:

They're all doing so well.. :T
In comparison my news was pretty tame: Onions, beans and spuds* all harvested. Planted summer tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, onions, garlic and - ooh, can't think of the English name? - Pepinos. YG will take the early crops, then hopefully I'll have something - guaranteed organic and wholesome - to eat when CD and I return..
* About 15kg from less than 1kg of uncut seed potatoes - not bad!

CD's new crate is proving difficult to accommodate. It's enormous. YG and I have already swapped furniture around but the thing is just too big for the Nest's living room. CD eats her lunch inside it but hasn't yet accepted the relocation of her bed (carpet and sofa getting furry again.. ).

El Niño is battering us; weird, hot and fiercely gusty. Have wrapped up m' little potted lychee tree, to protect it's delicate leaflets - poor thing lost loads when the wind first hit us. :cool:

Right. No more procrastination: Peel another layer off the onion of my life-game. Must find a solution to the camper-van problem..

greyfox

Are pepinos a type of sweet cucumber?

(Pops back into Lurkdom!)

*Robin*

greyfox wrote: »

Are pepinos a type of sweet cucumber?

(Pops back into Lurkdom!)

Thanks for de-lurking, Greyfox.

Umm umm umm - courgettes! (Ha - that explains why I couldn't remember - should have tried thinking in French! :rotfl:).

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Well, Muggins fell asleep yesterday afternoon after having a lovely relaxing shower - and only woke up properly an hour ago (0400). CD didn't get her walk, none of the plants or trees were irrigated,* I missed a mate's birthday drink.. And I still haven't written to Camper-van Dealer.
* Both cheapie timers have given up, so it's a manual procedure until replacements have been acquired.

..House pump has just tripped; curses. Pause while bumbling around between main fuse board and pump-house by torch-light, hoping it's an electrical glitch [again] rather than the well being empty..

Later: All sorted; tank full, garden watered.
It was a beautiful cloudy, cool dawn - already three camposinos have driven past on their way to work (0530). Now is the time for physical labour if it has to be done - over 30'C forecast later today..

Ha! Telly on in the background, a sky channel on Spanish TV; some kind of antiques salvage programme. They've just found the brother of a pine chest I couldn't resist recently, while accompanying DS3 to a reclamation yard before he left (hmm, forgot to write down that spend too ). Anyway, the expert valued their chest at £450 - mine is in much better condition though, could be worth £1K - not bad for a purchase price of 30€!

..Really must check bank a/c - need to share all this good luck around to keep it coming..

Belated Spend:
Old pine chest - 30€

Dansmam

They went for a Ford transit base. Went to a local dealer who buys at auction and sells on quickly and cheaply with a bit of a warranty, for what that s (probably not!) worth. Not too pretty and not at all new, but practical layout for 2 and the theory is any mechanic will have an idea what needs fixing, parts are easy to come by and this one has minimal rust (rusted doorwells are a known issue with these, so we've been told by our favourite car-fixers). They're on a tiny budget so it's fingers crossed for the year, and they're taking spanners.... so all will be well...
BGF = best good friend, this one just happens to be a girl too. Offspring tell me off for even attempting text speak so I entertain myself making it up just to confuse em.
Summer on road with dear dog sounds fantastic, hope dealers and AA see sense soon so you can be on your way.

Sun_Addict

All sounding good at the Nest Robin. Your boys are a real credit to you and what a (very rightly) proud mum you are Fingers crossed that £4k is PPI. I'd be tempted to sell the pine chest if it's worth that much.

*Robin*

Dear Diary and Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Dansmam, your DD and her mate sound like girls after my own heart! They're right; a Transit is the best option on a budget - Mercs last longer, but the parts cost a fortune in comparison! Travelling in Europe, DD & BGF won't have difficulty getting spares - eventually - although they'd be well advised to keep an emergency breakdown fund; enough to live on for up to a week if they're stuck waiting for parts to be delivered to wherever they find their journey interrupted.
:think: Looking back on it, we had some wonderful experiences during the inevitable occasional breakdowns. Getting to know the local community, making new friends and practising their language, exploring the locale while walking dogs and kids - great times!
Thinking as a long-standing Trannie-owner; starter motor and alternator are common 'on the road' failures, followed by water pump - it would be worth carrying reconditioned spares on a year-long journey, if DD & BGF can afford it.
Pay attention to 'the legals' too: Orange jackets, warning triangles, spare light-bulbs (think one also needs a breathalyser kit for driving in France these days?). Useful to carry copies of all papers, card and 'phone numbers etc.
Believe it's still true that a full licence must have been held for at least a year before going abroad with a British van & insurance.

Ah, I envy your girls, Dansmam. They'll have an amazing time..

The camper I'm buying is an old lady version; decent headroom, fitted kitchen and bathroom, even a mezzanine [ie. over-cab :rotfl:] bedroom for DS4 or guests. Easy to live in for a while, as CD and I meander around the UK; it'll be part holiday with several stops to sort out family business (land-lording stuff). Am really looking forward to the summer now, especially as our route will pass some of the most beautiful areas of the UK - we should have time to stop and explore.
Memo to self: Rejoin Caravan Club - they have some great peaceful camp-sites.

Finally wrote to Dealer yesterday; am relieved to have ticked off that task, but apprehensive about his reply..

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I'd be tempted to sell the pine chest if it's worth that much.

Definitely! The irony is that I bought it to provide secure storage in the back of the van - before finding out van won't fit in the ferry. Substitute chariot is too small to include this chest in our luggage.
It was an interesting reclamation yard where we found it; specialising in antique doors - they had thousands! In addition, Yard Owner had just bought the entire stock of a fellow [deceased] trader. This chap's collection was much more varied, but it was taking up valuable door space in a corner of the yard, so YO just wanted rid of all non-door items - not interested in 'em so presumably had no idea of the possible value.
Neither did I; saw a big ol' box in good condition which would do the job I wanted it for - now knowing better [done some g00gling] I'll probably put it in an auction sometime.
Was very tempted by a stone birdbath too, but DS3 flatly refused to carry it up to the Nest - the pine chest was a happy compromise (especially as DS3 wasn't expected to move it out of the van! :rotfl:).

Later.
Struggling today, serves Muggins right for accepting a glass of unidentified cheap champagne on Saturday night. Ought to know better by now!

Still, managed to find saved bank details for the orphanage in Nepal - do like this charity; they're small but well established, donations are available to the manager within hours, and he puts 'photos on social media to show how funds are spent.
Another old friend from college is in Nepal with MSF; sounds very frustrating trying to help people when the doctors are still short of medical supplies, so sent a contribution there too.
Tithe made up with a donation to a local animal rescue - Boss Vet told me how much their bill with him is this month, after taking on several strays who'd been hit by cars.

..Now can feel happy about PPI windfall (and start thinking about what to do with the rest of it ).

Later again.
Seem to have spent most of today in a daze on the sofa. CD got me up, obviously decided a reminder about her lunch was in order..
She's munching, I've just found an email from Dealer; he's agreed to the most logical solution for our dilemma - hooray! :j

Brightspark87

great news re the cash Robin!

Lovely to hear how CD is too xxx

missrlr

Oh what a relief to discover the source of the funds! Sounds like things move in apace. Camper van seems to be a good solution fingers crossed it works!
Ear tickles to CD

Sun_Addict

So pleased the money is yours and how generous of you to donate some to such good causes. Makes a change to hear about donations going straight to where they're needed rather than disappearing on admin costs. I think this is what puts people off donating to charities - is the money going to where it's really needed.