2019-01-09 18:00
Looking back fondly on 2018. A few days into the New Year and we flew to Lanzarote for two weeks of winter sunshine ahead of starting our new lives, jobs, chapters and adventures. Flying isn… Read More
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A peek into our lives at home and away in our caravan travelling the Uk and Europe
2018-12-29 17:26
On our way back home from our trip north to visit family we stayed at Chapel Lane Caravan and Motorhome Club Site near Birmingham.
There is a reason for this particular stop over. The Jelly… Read More
2018-12-20 10:08
Having spent the first forty years of my life in Bolton, it will always hold a special place in my heart. All my memories are there. I was born and brought up there, both Jellybeans were bor… Read More
2018-12-17 19:35
On a good day, weather wise, you can walk into Bury Market from Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, with the biblical rain we’ve had since we landed in Bury we decide t… Read More
2018-12-12 19:00
A trip back to Burrs Country Park in the caravan, to visit family just before Christmas, opened my eyes to some of the northern delicacies our taste buds have been missing since we moved Sou… Read More
2018-12-10 13:48
We’ve been home for two whole weeks, it’s been a strange two weeks. Countless trips to the charity shop and what felt like ‘waiting for something.’ A feeling that I t… Read More
2018-12-08 10:17
“Getting beaten up, getting beaten up, it’s part of growing up” sang The Piranhas when I was growing up, and very accurate it was too. So why am I contemplating ‘gett… Read More
2018-12-07 17:30
The season had ended, we’d abandoned the Pursuit in the storage yard, our caravan time had come to an end. The uniform had been washed and boxed away ready for next season. PPE careful… Read More
2018-11-27 13:26
Every time a Christmas tree goes up before December, an elf drowns a baby reindeer! I’m so sorry but it had to be done.
Had a bit of a blast in the kitchen on Saturday , made copious a… Read More
2018-11-21 17:49
It’s hard to believe that it’s just over two weeks since we drove out of the New Forest Centenary Site for the last time.
After working a solid eight months, we needed a holiday… Read More
2018-11-11 08:52
Our time at the Centenary Site has ended. We drove out with heavy hearts. The site, the area, all will forever have a place in our hearts. It’s strange, leaving. Almost like moving out… Read More
2018-11-09 15:37
“I’m so stupid” proclaimed the stupid woman at the car park ticket machine. “Oh no, we are all stupid until we know better” we replied to make her feel less stu… Read More
2018-11-04 17:25
We waved our last guests goodbye with cheery smiles and promises to return next year, the site was suddenly quiet. Birdsong blasted all around just as the warden announced to those of us not… Read More
2018-11-03 21:04
It’s been a strange year on site for me as far as animals are concerned. Especially dogs. From a very young age, in fact as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fear of dogs. I&rsq&hell…Read More
2018-11-01 21:52
Just a matter of days left of the season. This time next week and we’ll be on our holidays. The start of our four months off work. Still so much to do on site, the holiday seems like i… Read More
2018-10-29 19:49
Up early. A light mist envelopes the site as bleary eyed I step out of the van and head for the bathroom. Of late, an early morning mist has normally been a good indicator of a nice day ahea… Read More
2018-10-26 20:07
With the end of the season fast approaching we’ve tried to use a bit of time to do a few caravan jobs. First on the list was mattress buying, with constant daily use the memory foam ma… Read More
2018-10-09 18:43
Since The Boss sold my Focus the other week I’ve been forced to drive the Volvo. Not a happy bunny really, anyone who knows him knows that he hates spending money. Today, he had to dig… Read More
2018-10-01 18:49
The following article had to be written, but did not need to be published. With the exception of a few updates it had remained unpublished for three years. It may be… no…. prob… Read More
2018-09-24 18:46
After a bright and blustery day out and about on site watching folk take their awnings down in anticipation of the forecasted storm that was brewing, we just had to sit back and hope our awn… Read More
2018-09-06 19:52
It’s been a long, hot summer. This is the longest I’ve ever done without a holiday and a warden’s life certainly isn’t a holiday.
Silly season has just finished, cars… Read More
2018-08-29 20:25
“What time is the brewery thing tomorrow” The Boss shouts across our campsite late night arrival area to the youngest Jellybean. “Daaaaad!!!..He didn’t know about it… Read More
2018-08-19 17:48
It’s been a while since the wheels on the tandem turned. This weekend feels like a good weekend to get the legs burning and the wheels turning.
As much as we are out of shape now the… Read More
2018-08-14 20:59
Our youngest Jellybean and her boyfriend have come to spend the day with us. Armed with huge bottles of water, snacks and swimming costumes they fall out of their car and into our compound… Read More
2018-07-21 20:58
This time last year we were lucky enough to be invited along to the launch of the Bailey Unicorn Series 4. This year we’re heading towards Swindon again and the Stanton Hotel for the l… Read More
2018-07-17 20:55
Up and at ’em early doors this morning. Run the hoover round the awning. Give the table a wipe, run a cloth around the bathroom and check we’ve got cold drinks in the fridge. We… Read More
2018-07-03 20:47
Bacon butties on a wet Thursday, day off, cooked on the teppanyaki and slathered in brown sauce. Sitting in the awning with the Jellybeans, they’re visiting again, and they fancied som… Read More
2018-06-11 20:35
It’s been a full on busy week here on site during half term. It started with a manic full on couple of days which saw the site fill to the brim, luckily for us we were off for those da… Read More
2018-06-02 18:27
Glorious sunshine with a promise of rain later so we are up and at ’em early. We’ve been told by members visiting the Centenary Site that Exbury Gardens is stunningly beautiful a… Read More
2018-05-25 18:45
The Boss’ heart sank as his personal challenge/objective for the first year as an Assistant Warden was to build a herb garden. “…but I’m not very creative… bu… Read More
2018-05-10 20:14
After another toilet block cleaning workout, the sun is still shining and it’s time to finish our shift. The weather has been glorious now for about a week, with us having a sweltering… Read More
2018-05-06 15:05
Friday afternoon 4pm and the start of one of our treasured weekends off. They only come round every third weekend and are normally spent at home doing mundane tasks like gardening, shopping… Read More
2018-04-28 18:32
After a bit of a manic week, it’s time for some downtime. A day off earlier in the week took us home to MOT my trusted steed, the Ford Focus. Despite hardly being used this year and sl… Read More
2018-04-12 09:24
Seven weeks after starting the new job and living in the caravan we finally feel settled and that we’ve got the caravan and the awning as we want them. So much so that we’ve got… Read More
2018-03-22 20:20
Bit of a lie in today, 9am start at work. It’s only a short shift, finishing at 2pm. Followed by a day off tomorrow and a lunchtime start the day after. Days off have been plentiful si… Read More
2018-02-26 20:00
Training is done and dusted. I’ve come away knackered. It’s a long time since I sat in a classroom, I don’t know how kids do it, although, maybe I do, their learning days a… Read More
2018-02-17 22:36
After an eventful flight, Lanzarote welcomed us with a sunny embrace. Fiat 500 hire car collected, “Do you need a map Sir?” “No thanks, you only have one road” replie… Read More
2018-02-07 20:34
Probably the most important element of touring, living or working in the confined space of a caravan or motorhome is that you actually ‘like’ the people confined in the same spac… Read More
2018-01-29 17:07
Lying on a sunbed on our balcony in January, a winter break before our new life adventures start. What to do to break the boredom of fifteen minutes each side like a rotisserie chicken? For… Read More
2018-01-24 15:40
“This is why we bought a caravan” grumbles The Boss under his breath. We’ve been in the air little over two hours. Heavy wind and driving rain at Gatwick have given way to… Read More
2018-01-21 23:54
Summer 2017. A quick twenty minute process on the PC, the finger hovers momentarily, then, we hit the ‘send’ button.
Twenty years ago, balmy summer evenings sat outside our fram… Read More
2018-01-12 19:13
What could be better on a dull January afternoon than a quick trip to the local Caravan Shop?
Outside it’s cold and damp but I still can’t resist a quick shufty in and out of som… Read More
2017-12-26 14:28
Looking back over 2017 and it’s amazing how much we’ve packed into the year.
Starting the year with ten days in Brighton. Brighton, a town I’ve always loved and we were ble… Read More
2017-12-25 22:57
Good morning! Merry Christmas! 7.30am and I stumble bleary eyed out of bed. Two long and tiring 12 hour days in the direct lead up to Christmas means no time for food shopping and present sh… Read More
2017-12-19 16:45
Jack Frost has been and covered the caravan site in a crispy white carpet. The site begins to stir, slowly and leisurely. Santa sacks and stockings burst with Father Christmas’ offeri… Read More
2017-12-18 13:55
Tepanyaki outside the caravan and fired up just as the heavens decide to drop their contents on our site. The lunchtime skies went quickly black and it looked like it was here for a while. L… Read More
2017-12-11 14:05
Open all year, Walnut Cottage touring site is located in Shropshire, just south of Shrewsbury and Telford, five miles from the picturesque village of Much Wenlock.
The site is best accessed… Read More
2017-12-03 20:10
Michael Bublé croones the José Feliciano penned song ‘Feliz Navidad’ and waitresses scuttle about bedecked as Santa’s Little Helpers, complete with tinkly bel… Read More
2017-11-30 18:42
“Oh no, I’m going to miss Strictly”, my priorities are instantly at odds with those of The Boss. I hope he hasn’t just unplugged the Electric Hook Up.
Our previous el… Read More
2017-11-25 13:09
Leaving the caravan on site just outside Shrewsbury we had a bit of a trek into the centre of Birmingham. I’d read about this place, Birmingham Back to Backs, a step back in time, cour… Read More
2017-11-22 21:43
Today, Shropshire has been battered and bruised by torrential downpours and caravan rocking winds.
With this prior knowledge we’d made the decision not to put the awning up, it starts… Read More
2017-10-31 17:16
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is set within walking distance of the picturesque market town of Moreton-in-Marsh . Known locally for its market on a Tuesday and plentiful pubs and rest… Read More
2017-10-20 17:34
Beep, beep, beep… it’s silly o’clock and my alarm is bouncing around the bedroom. Trying to get up and look pretty at this time of the day is hard, at my age it’s h… Read More
2017-10-19 19:05
As the season draws to a close don’t let that stop your caravan trips. The best way to stop your caravan feeling the aches and pains of winter is to use it throughout the year. Lots of… Read More
2017-10-09 18:33
We would probably score a lowly ’10’ on a 0 – 100 cool scale. There are certain barriers to coolness; age, wealth, comfort and attitude amongst a multiple of other o… Read More
2017-10-06 01:07
Rookesbury Park Club Site is on the edge of the village of Wickham with Fareham close by, ideal for discovering Portsmouth and Southampton. Reception has a small shop selling basic grocerie… Read More
2017-10-02 20:39
Recently, whilst on a trip out from the caravan to Morecambe we stumbled across decorated pebbles on the prom. Children were excitedly running up and down trying to find them. On our way bac… Read More
2017-09-28 15:25
Someone recently commented on one of our blogs suggesting we wrote for money and further suggesting the type of content we should actually be writing about. Clearly this person misunderstood… Read More
2017-09-27 18:45
Unless you visit a Caravan and Motorhome Club site you can never be too sure what to expect as regards facilities on site when you turn up. Even CAMC vary a little bit but tend to be exactly… Read More
2017-09-20 18:15
We walked out of the chippy unable to speak, we had tears in our eyes. It was not the price or an Atlantic Cod shortage causing this emotional moment, we had just said goodbye to Mr Chow, pr… Read More
2017-09-19 20:00
Sitting only a short walk from the River Ribble, this site is not to be confused with the Caravan and Camping Club site just across the road.
Located directly behind the Edisford Brid… Read More
2017-09-14 21:28
Oh how things have changed, 20+ years ago when we spent all our spare time in a large frame tent watching our kids run round enjoying the great outdoors cooking ideas were relatively limited… Read More
2017-09-13 16:24
Clitheroe used to be one of our favourite tent ‘getaways’, finishing work on a Friday afternoon as the kids left school, everything chucked in the Ford Fiesta boot and forty minu… Read More
2017-09-11 11:33
It’s been tippling it down all night. The rain was so loud we struggled to sleep in the caravan last night. Splashing through the footbath, sorry the awning to the shower block… Read More
2017-09-07 19:00
You know it’s not a good day to have to pack up as the sunlight wakes you streaming through the skylight above your bed.
Granola chomped and tea slurped. It’s 9am and with… Read More
2017-09-04 19:29
Who can resist a factory tour? Especially when it’s at Bailey of Bristol, manufacturers of Caravan and Motorhome leisure vehicles, and you are the owner of a much loved Bailey Pursuit… Read More
2017-08-29 10:06
Redrock make mattresses for Domestic use and leisure and commercial vehicles. Redrock products are made in Lancashire, UK. They make products for use at home and in leisure vehicles, be it a… Read More
2017-08-28 12:03
Run ahead lads and tell me what you can see…. “Err, Dad”.. pause… “A dead baby in a bush”, but more about that later.
Faster, Faster, Faster, Fast… Read More
2017-08-24 19:51
Hallsdown Farm is a 110 acre working sheep farm in Devon. Due to the close proximity and large number of sheep unfortunately, but understandably, they can’t accept visiting dogs on si… Read More
2017-08-18 12:26
Pitching your caravan level is important for a number of reasons:
Many caravan fridges will not work if tilted
Full water drainage from shower trays and sinks requires a level vehicle
Who wa… Read More
2017-08-17 06:07
A little sceptical when I first saw this but always willing to give the benefit of doubt.
Muggi is simply a drinks carrier, or is it?
Designed and manufactured in the UK. Made from s… Read More
2017-08-15 19:59
Arrived on site at Makins Fishery near Nuneaton, just as the heavens opened with biblical force. Pitched up very quickly, nose on to a beautiful fishing lake. Beautiful even in a downpour. T… Read More
2017-08-14 18:36
Makins Fishery Campsite is situated next to the M69 in Warwickshire. Traffic noise from the motorway is very audible but the beauty of the site and lakes more than makes up for it. Within a… Read More
2017-08-11 19:19
Located on a former railway line on the Downs Link in the beautiful village of Slinfold, makes this site perfect for walking or cycling. Located at the end of a narrow lane it is recommended… Read More
2017-08-06 20:12
Old Barn Farm is situated in Liphook, Hampshire just a mile from the A3. Making it perfect for heading towards Guildford, London or south towards Portsmouth. Liphook has a train station if y… Read More
2017-07-28 16:12
This site was recommended to us by a fellow Facebook caravanner. Always on the look out for local sites for our midweek trips, this one fit into our ‘less than an hour and a half away… Read More
2017-07-26 14:34
The opportunity of an extra day in the caravan is one not to be missed. The Boss has finished his shift at 10am and is ready to go, but the weather is rotten and I’m struggling to summ… Read More
2017-07-23 03:00
Having been invited across to Swindon for the Bailey of Bristol 4th generation Unicorn launch we are heading on a mixture of motorway and countryside roads. I silently curse myself as the sk… Read More
2017-07-22 20:27
We’ve been home just over a month now and it’s time to reflect on what was the trip of a lifetime. The caravan has been cleaned inside and out ready for its next trip, wash… Read More
2017-07-14 19:02
This site is set in the countryside, in Wiltshire, designated as an ‘Area of outstanding beauty.’
A small site with only 50 pitches. A mix of grass and hard standing with a few… Read More
2017-07-11 17:36
After the longest, hottest driest few weeks I can remember, rain is forecast. The rain won’t stop us but it might speed us up. With rain forecast for 2pm the race is on to hitch up, hi… Read More
2017-07-04 07:00
A Caravan and Motorhome Club Site in West Sussex.
The site is situated on the edge of Littlehampton, a lovely little seaside town with Arundel just a short drive away. Bognor Regis,Worthing… Read More
2017-06-26 14:25
The UK has many outstanding areas and attractions which could easily occupy your touring aspirations for a lifetime, but for some, the need to broaden the experience or improve the chances o… Read More
2017-06-21 18:15
What seems like many moons ago now, in our camping days with young children, we had a spares bag. In effect, an old school gym bag that stored all the spare bits and pieces we might one day… Read More
2017-06-16 09:38
Scrolling through Twitter last summer and Panda Sunglasses start following me. Being a bit nosey I like to check all my new followers out. Their hashtags caught my eye #ethical #sustainabili… Read More
2017-06-15 20:24
2017-06-15 11:00
This site is part of the ACSI discount scheme.
A 6.30pm arrival and we are welcomed warmly. It is also, probably the hottest day of the year so far and we’ve been stuck in a car for… Read More
2017-06-13 16:24
A marathon journey, eight hours, no peage, and we’ve only done six inches on the map. One of the hottest days of the trip so far and I’ve been sat in the passenger seat with a Fr… Read More
2017-06-10 18:48
Arriving at Camping La Coccinelle was the start of our last week and hopefully the start of a bit of Rest & Relaxation. We arrived and it was blowing a hooley. Shown to a pit… Read More
2017-06-08 17:45
A member of the ACSI discount scheme.
This site comes with really good reviews. Which we always flick through before attending any site. One review stated that one of the approach road… Read More
2017-06-07 18:45
Legs down on another site. This time we chose a site run by a lovely Dutch couple, on the side of another mountain. This holiday is starting to repeat itself. Just in case I haven’t me… Read More
2017-06-06 16:20
A site on the ACSI discount scheme in France. Halfway up a mountain with spectacular views from every pitch. We phoned en route to this site to check availability of pitches as our caravan… Read More
2017-06-03 08:10
We have just discovered the most expensive road in Europe. We join the motorway towards France at Ventimiglia, Italy. We take a toll ticket, we drive approx 100 yards around a bend to anothe… Read More
2017-06-02 07:15
A beautiful woodland site on the banks of the river L’Alzon. Part of the ACSI discount scheme.
Arrival at reception, booked in quickly, choose a pitch and let them know which on… Read More
2017-06-01 04:30
A second significant ant invasion forced us to shout “We’re soft babies, get me out of here!” and cut short our stay at Barco Reale one day early. The second invasion was r… Read More
2017-05-31 13:35
Another ACSI card site, again we just turn up. This site had worried us as to whether we’d get a pitch, the Monaco, only twenty miles away, Grand Prix weekend and we arrived to a queue… Read More
2017-05-29 16:06
If you assumed that Bailey Parts Ltd, www.bailey-parts.co.uk, was simply an online extension of Bailey Caravans then think again. The full name Bailey Parts and Leisure Accessories may… Read More
2017-05-28 19:00
Another ACSI site. We haven’t booked. We’ve just turned up. Yes they’ve got space, jump on the buggy I’ll show you a few pitches. Zipping round it feels like a rabbi… Read More
2017-05-27 13:30
The final eight mile approach to our next caravan campsite site is why we chose it, we are winding and zig-zagging our way up a big big hill with dozens of full-kit cyclists, they are pantin… Read More
2017-05-26 12:08
Day out on the bus from the caravan takes us to Firenze (Florence) 4 hrs of walking and lunch under our belts, our feet are in need of a rest. With the sun blazing down at over 30 d… Read More
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