Ive been reading another blog called Tioga George, its about George and his camper van Tioga out in America, although he is in Mexico at the moment! Im not sure of George's age but he is no spring chicken, but he lives everday to its fullest!
He is an interesting chap, who has had various ups and down to contend with, but one of the things that struck me was how content he appears to be. This is all down he reckons to giving something back, ie, helping others where possible and not worrying about life, to just enjoy it for what it is. You can find him at http://blog.vagabonders-supreme.net/
This is something that we have been trying to do, and strive to do on a daily basis, some folk may just say, its all happy clappy and kidding youself, but we dont have massive household bills or the worry associated with them, the fear of our mortgage going up (yep its only a matter of time folks) or any of the other pressures of keeping a tiled roof over our heads. So whos really kidding themselves?
I had a fantastic email from Mark and Cheryl today, they have been reading this blog for a while now and intend to go full timing next month!
I also hear via his blog http://keepinglifenomadic.blogspot.com/ and his comments on our blog that he has taken the leap and gone for it.
Its amazing to hear these stories of folk who are willing to do something different, to get a better quality of life, by doing something that alot of people would regard as a step backwards! Im afraid the world is an uncertain place, there is no such thing as a job for life anymore! And im sure it will get alot worse before it gets any better.
So for those of you who are still thinking about it, take heart, be brave and do what you fear the most, you never know, you may like it!!!!! In fact I know you will!!!
Till later............
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Visitors In The Night!
The last couple days, each time "China" dog goes out in the awning she has been doing alot of sniffing around and running around as if the devil is after her.
I found out the reason why this morning! Either a mouse or a rat has got into the awning whilst we have been at slumber.
Now this could be my fault, due to the fact that I was too bone idle to take the rubbish bag (Sainsbury carrier bag) up to the bin last night and left it by the step into the van. It had been nibbled into it, where they had dined on rice and an apple core. A healthy diet!
However for starters they had decided that they rather liked the taste of our breathable awning carpet! they have eaten a 2" by 2" bit off the edge.
Not sure what to do other than not to leave rubbish in a bag outside in the awning again!
After all we are on a farm site in the middle of the country so we can hardly blame the local wild life, after all, it is us who has invaded their space!
Not even a question on the car, which means one of two things. Ive either written such a good description that I have covered all angles, or, which is more likely the case, nobody is interested in our car!
Taking the landrover to have the track rod end done tomorrow morning, so up with a lark! At least "China" dog will get a good run up at Wingreen Hill tomorrow.
Ive also added to the top of the blog a google search bar, I know when Im reading other blogs, sometimes I want to look up something, if I dont do it there and then I forget and it never get dones, so with this new addition you can search without leaving the blog!
More postcards finishing on ebay tonight, and Ive also got up for sale some excellent Boer War prints dating back to 1901.
This evening I went out to swap the aqua rolls over, and walked up to the tap to refill, and as I was waiting for the roll to fill up, I was thinking about how good it is to be where we are now, I dont really mean the site as such, but just generally living in a caravan. For sure it is a massive life-style change, but with the first signs of spring all around me it sure is a wonderful feeling!
I know from the feedback we have received from others, that we have helped them make their own minds up on the steps that they are taking or have taken to go full timing like us.I try to tell it exactly like it is, so I dont reckon that Ive glossed over any areas.
The thought that we can make a difference to someones life, by simply writing about our experiences of living in a caravan is amazing!
I spent many years in sales and up to 2 years ago spent 7 years as a driving instructor, teaching someone to drive and pass their test is a fantastic feeling which I do miss, but the same feeling is there when I hear of someone making plans, and as some of you have, actually going for it like we have is even better. So congratulations to all of you, who in these difficult times have the courage to disregard what others say and take a massive leap into the unknown!
To think that we may of inspired somone enough to say, yep, thats for me, lets make it happen is awesome!
So if you are in the process of making that leap, just stop and give yourself a pat on the back, its a daunting process, but there are plenty full timers out there all doing the same and doing it well, I just happen to be writing about it!
If you are at the "Im thinking about it stage" dont forget you can email me at bakers_cottage@btinternet.com Im always happy to help where I can, or you can find me lurking at http://caravanchat.org/ on the forums or on Twitter user name caravanliving or of course there is always that little box at the bottom of the blog, go on use it! We love hearing from you all!
Talking about Twitter we now have over 200 followers! Blimey, 200 people all getting information from me, usually total rubbish as well!
Till later..............
I found out the reason why this morning! Either a mouse or a rat has got into the awning whilst we have been at slumber.
Now this could be my fault, due to the fact that I was too bone idle to take the rubbish bag (Sainsbury carrier bag) up to the bin last night and left it by the step into the van. It had been nibbled into it, where they had dined on rice and an apple core. A healthy diet!
However for starters they had decided that they rather liked the taste of our breathable awning carpet! they have eaten a 2" by 2" bit off the edge.
Not sure what to do other than not to leave rubbish in a bag outside in the awning again!
After all we are on a farm site in the middle of the country so we can hardly blame the local wild life, after all, it is us who has invaded their space!
Not even a question on the car, which means one of two things. Ive either written such a good description that I have covered all angles, or, which is more likely the case, nobody is interested in our car!
Taking the landrover to have the track rod end done tomorrow morning, so up with a lark! At least "China" dog will get a good run up at Wingreen Hill tomorrow.
Ive also added to the top of the blog a google search bar, I know when Im reading other blogs, sometimes I want to look up something, if I dont do it there and then I forget and it never get dones, so with this new addition you can search without leaving the blog!
More postcards finishing on ebay tonight, and Ive also got up for sale some excellent Boer War prints dating back to 1901.
This evening I went out to swap the aqua rolls over, and walked up to the tap to refill, and as I was waiting for the roll to fill up, I was thinking about how good it is to be where we are now, I dont really mean the site as such, but just generally living in a caravan. For sure it is a massive life-style change, but with the first signs of spring all around me it sure is a wonderful feeling!
I know from the feedback we have received from others, that we have helped them make their own minds up on the steps that they are taking or have taken to go full timing like us.I try to tell it exactly like it is, so I dont reckon that Ive glossed over any areas.
The thought that we can make a difference to someones life, by simply writing about our experiences of living in a caravan is amazing!
I spent many years in sales and up to 2 years ago spent 7 years as a driving instructor, teaching someone to drive and pass their test is a fantastic feeling which I do miss, but the same feeling is there when I hear of someone making plans, and as some of you have, actually going for it like we have is even better. So congratulations to all of you, who in these difficult times have the courage to disregard what others say and take a massive leap into the unknown!
To think that we may of inspired somone enough to say, yep, thats for me, lets make it happen is awesome!
So if you are in the process of making that leap, just stop and give yourself a pat on the back, its a daunting process, but there are plenty full timers out there all doing the same and doing it well, I just happen to be writing about it!
If you are at the "Im thinking about it stage" dont forget you can email me at bakers_cottage@btinternet.com Im always happy to help where I can, or you can find me lurking at http://caravanchat.org/ on the forums or on Twitter user name caravanliving or of course there is always that little box at the bottom of the blog, go on use it! We love hearing from you all!
Talking about Twitter we now have over 200 followers! Blimey, 200 people all getting information from me, usually total rubbish as well!
Till later..............
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Ice, Fog, Sunshine, Snowdrops, Butterflies & Fiat 500's
Today, started off a little chilly, in fact I had to scrape ice off the cars! But the forecase promised sunshine!
With a slight change of plan, I headed for Shaston as I booked in the Landrover for its MOT. Must admit it was not something I was looking forward to. You just dont know, it could sail through or they could say, sorry game over.
Well it didnt sail through, but alot better than I thought it would, I need a track rod end, and a number plate bulb, so all and all a bit of a result, booked back in again for Thursday.
After the garage, I went to my lockup to empty the car out of books, whilst there a butterfly flew by me! It was a red admiral! Now Ive never seen a butterfly in Feb before, is this a first?
On the way back to the caravan, I noticed for the first time snowdrops up in the hedges, how good it is to see them, lets hope the winter has passed us! I still havent seen a daffodil yet, although they are poking up through the ground as I drive up the track to the site.
I got back to the caravan, with the sun shining, stepped into the awning and it was lovely and warm. What a difference a little bit of sunshine makes! I took the opportunity to take photos of books, ready for listing out in the awning, only had a t-shirt on it was roasting hot! Mega!!!
Apart from Thurs morning, Im at the caravan everyday for the rest of the week. Will have to start thinking about packing things up ready for the move on Sunday. Lets hope for good weather! We are only going 5 minutes down the road, so at least there is no travelling involved. We are not bothering with the awning for the few days we are there, but it will be back up again, as soon as we are back here - weather permitting!
No offers on the Fiat 500 yet! Not even a daft one! A few people have looked at the listing, fingers crossed. Ive put a couple of pictures of it below. If you havent ever looked at one and your after a small economical fun car, then you could do alot worse. Im going to be sad to see it go, but living in a caravan, its just not practical for us anymore!
Ive also copied and tact on the description I wrote out for it, so if you know anyone whos interested, point them my way!!
Fiat 500 1.4 Sport - 2008
A very reluctant sale of our iconic car! Bought originally as I was a driving instructor, but have since retired. I only did approx 10,000 miles as an instructor so not thrashed at all!
Its been well looked after and kept up together, brakes recently done all round. Fully loaded with loads of extras which I will list below.
Its a very reluctant sale, but just not suitable for us anymore!
It comes with 11 months MOT, it went through with no problems, and has 6 months tax just put on it.
I bought the car from a dealership, it was an ex demonstrator, and as such came with extras.
6 speed gearbox, for ultimate fuel efficiency.
Sport Steering Mode - By selecting sport mode the steering becomes stiffer, enabling good feedback from the road surface. A really enjoyable experience for those of you who want a little more from your car!
It has 16" low profile alloy wheels
Colour coded mirrors/spoiler
Tinted rear windows
Painted red brake calipers
Sports exhaust
White stripe to sides
Fog lamps to front and rear
Inside it has all of the following features - It also has one of the best looking dashboards ever!
On board computer - for average mileage, petrol range, trip etc. CD/Radio and a USB port for MP3 players. It also has built in blue tooth and voice activation controls for music/mobile etc!
Sports Seats - The seat is fully adjustable, the seat base can be raised or lowered for maximum comfort.
Tilt adjustable steering wheel
Air Conditioning
Electric adjustable mirrors
Full Fiat 500 Italian logo mat set
500 door sill protectors
More airbags than you can shake a stick at!
Chrome gear stick
Seat pockets to rear, and good sized door pockets.
This really is a fun little car, with more extras than many top end cars. A real joy to drive and it doesnt half shift!
Its economical, at over 40mpg and plenty of oommph when you need it.
On the left hand side it has both of its wheel nut covers missing, These can be bought on ebay for £15 so not an expensive replacement. I think some toe-rag nicked them!
It has a very small trolly dent to the right hand door which I took a photo of, but you can hardly see it, and the door edge is slightly marked. A few stone chips to the bonnet are also evident.
Its got just over 35,000 miles on the clock, so not high mileage.
It still has its dual controls fitted, these Im happy to leave in if desired! Or will have them removed before you collect the car!
So up for a sensible price, considering the amount of extras on it! So please feel free to make us a sensible offer.
The car can be viewed by giving us a call on 07921 820660, viewing would be best around the Ringwood area, as that is where I spend 99% of my time! If you wish to drive the car please ensure you bring your insurance docs with you, no docs no drive!
If you are lucky enough to buy this wonderful car, then we would appreciate a £25.00 non refundable deposit paid via paypal within 24hrs. The remainder to be paid when the car is collected, which must be within 7 days of hitting that buy it now button! In any event please contact me immediately by phone if you buy.
Payment can either be via bankers draft or cash on collection. If you pay by cheque you will have to wait for it to clear before we hand over the car.
Any questions then please feel free to give me a call on 07921 820660
This really is a wonderful little car, Ive driven many cars in my time, including track days, and can say with total confidence that this car is magic! Even Clarkson rates it, and Schumacher owns one! What more can I say!!!
Finally no overseas bidders!
With a slight change of plan, I headed for Shaston as I booked in the Landrover for its MOT. Must admit it was not something I was looking forward to. You just dont know, it could sail through or they could say, sorry game over.
Well it didnt sail through, but alot better than I thought it would, I need a track rod end, and a number plate bulb, so all and all a bit of a result, booked back in again for Thursday.
After the garage, I went to my lockup to empty the car out of books, whilst there a butterfly flew by me! It was a red admiral! Now Ive never seen a butterfly in Feb before, is this a first?
On the way back to the caravan, I noticed for the first time snowdrops up in the hedges, how good it is to see them, lets hope the winter has passed us! I still havent seen a daffodil yet, although they are poking up through the ground as I drive up the track to the site.
I got back to the caravan, with the sun shining, stepped into the awning and it was lovely and warm. What a difference a little bit of sunshine makes! I took the opportunity to take photos of books, ready for listing out in the awning, only had a t-shirt on it was roasting hot! Mega!!!
Apart from Thurs morning, Im at the caravan everyday for the rest of the week. Will have to start thinking about packing things up ready for the move on Sunday. Lets hope for good weather! We are only going 5 minutes down the road, so at least there is no travelling involved. We are not bothering with the awning for the few days we are there, but it will be back up again, as soon as we are back here - weather permitting!
No offers on the Fiat 500 yet! Not even a daft one! A few people have looked at the listing, fingers crossed. Ive put a couple of pictures of it below. If you havent ever looked at one and your after a small economical fun car, then you could do alot worse. Im going to be sad to see it go, but living in a caravan, its just not practical for us anymore!
Ive also copied and tact on the description I wrote out for it, so if you know anyone whos interested, point them my way!!
Fiat 500 1.4 Sport - 2008
A very reluctant sale of our iconic car! Bought originally as I was a driving instructor, but have since retired. I only did approx 10,000 miles as an instructor so not thrashed at all!
Its been well looked after and kept up together, brakes recently done all round. Fully loaded with loads of extras which I will list below.
Its a very reluctant sale, but just not suitable for us anymore!
It comes with 11 months MOT, it went through with no problems, and has 6 months tax just put on it.
I bought the car from a dealership, it was an ex demonstrator, and as such came with extras.
6 speed gearbox, for ultimate fuel efficiency.
Sport Steering Mode - By selecting sport mode the steering becomes stiffer, enabling good feedback from the road surface. A really enjoyable experience for those of you who want a little more from your car!
It has 16" low profile alloy wheels
Colour coded mirrors/spoiler
Tinted rear windows
Painted red brake calipers
Sports exhaust
White stripe to sides
Fog lamps to front and rear
Inside it has all of the following features - It also has one of the best looking dashboards ever!
On board computer - for average mileage, petrol range, trip etc. CD/Radio and a USB port for MP3 players. It also has built in blue tooth and voice activation controls for music/mobile etc!
Sports Seats - The seat is fully adjustable, the seat base can be raised or lowered for maximum comfort.
Tilt adjustable steering wheel
Air Conditioning
Electric adjustable mirrors
Full Fiat 500 Italian logo mat set
500 door sill protectors
More airbags than you can shake a stick at!
Chrome gear stick
Seat pockets to rear, and good sized door pockets.
This really is a fun little car, with more extras than many top end cars. A real joy to drive and it doesnt half shift!
Its economical, at over 40mpg and plenty of oommph when you need it.
On the left hand side it has both of its wheel nut covers missing, These can be bought on ebay for £15 so not an expensive replacement. I think some toe-rag nicked them!
It has a very small trolly dent to the right hand door which I took a photo of, but you can hardly see it, and the door edge is slightly marked. A few stone chips to the bonnet are also evident.
Its got just over 35,000 miles on the clock, so not high mileage.
It still has its dual controls fitted, these Im happy to leave in if desired! Or will have them removed before you collect the car!
So up for a sensible price, considering the amount of extras on it! So please feel free to make us a sensible offer.
The car can be viewed by giving us a call on 07921 820660, viewing would be best around the Ringwood area, as that is where I spend 99% of my time! If you wish to drive the car please ensure you bring your insurance docs with you, no docs no drive!
If you are lucky enough to buy this wonderful car, then we would appreciate a £25.00 non refundable deposit paid via paypal within 24hrs. The remainder to be paid when the car is collected, which must be within 7 days of hitting that buy it now button! In any event please contact me immediately by phone if you buy.
Payment can either be via bankers draft or cash on collection. If you pay by cheque you will have to wait for it to clear before we hand over the car.
Any questions then please feel free to give me a call on 07921 820660
This really is a wonderful little car, Ive driven many cars in my time, including track days, and can say with total confidence that this car is magic! Even Clarkson rates it, and Schumacher owns one! What more can I say!!!
Finally no overseas bidders!
Sunday, 6 February 2011
2011 Planning
We have just downloaded/printed off the steam shows and vintage rallys that we hope to attend this year with our stationary engine!
The dates are:
29th April - 1st May Abbey Hill Steam Show Yeovil http://abbeyhillsteamrally.co.uk/
21st May - 22nd May Three Okefords Preservation Society Shillingstone Dorset http://threeokefordspreservationsociety.co.uk/
28th May - 30th May Selwood Steam & Vintage Vehicle Preservation Society Near Trowbridge
http://selwoodvintage.co.uk/
11th June - 12th June West Bay Vintage Steam Rally http://wdvtsec.co.uk/
18th June - 19th June Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club http://bppcltd.co.uk/ Canford Arena, Near Bournemouth
16th July - 17th July Portland Vintage Rally - http://portlandrally.com/ Near Weymouth
22nd July - 24th July Netley Marsh http://netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org/ Near Southampton
13th Aug - 14th Aug Purbeck Rally http://purbeckrally.co.uk/ Near Wareham
9th Sept - 11th Sept Swanage Railway Steam Gala Weekend http://bppcltd.co.uk/ Harmans Cross, Swanage
If you do come to any of these dont forget to come and say hello!
There may be a couple more yet, depending on what time "M" can get off! I think thats 9
A good day out for all the family at any of these shows! Can be a bit pricey, which is how we got into exhibiting in the first place!
It was all Mr Gullivers fault, "Im setting the bar up at a steam show at the weekend" he said, "should be a good night" So off we went with a tent, and had a cracking night, we didnt get much chance to look around! By the end of that year we decided that we should maybe get a little caravan as a tent was fine, but, we could do with something a little more comfortable.
So the search was on, over that winter we kept our eye out for a caravan, we eventually managed to find one at a price of only £157 but it was up in Preston! We bought it back down stopping over on the way in freezing temperatures and it all went well. It was a 2 berth Abbey 212 GT.
That year we did Shillingstone again, Abbey Hill and Netley Marsh, but it was getting a bit expensive, so we came up with a cunning plan! We found out that if you exhibit you dont pay entry fee's! Now Im one for a saving money, so we spent £250 on a Wolsely WDII Stationary Engine running a Lister Domestic Water Pump on a trolley. Hey presto, we are now exhibiting! Last year we would of saved on site fees £330 by doing the shows, so guess it will pay for itself easily this year!
I cant wait, its a relaxing time watching the world go by during the day, eating and drinking during the evenings, with free entertainment thrown in. Mind you, some of the bands are a bit dodgy to say the least!
The wind has dropped a little this evening which is good as its been battering the awning over the last 4 days. I think we are both use to sleeping with the caravan juddering every now and again!
Being so windy reminded me of being back up in Shaston, its 700 foot above sea level on the end of a spur, every day is windy there, but when it does get up its pretty violent. I was out walking our old dog "Chester" one day, the wind that day was pretty gusty, Id just picked up his doo dahs as all responsible dog owners should do, when a gust of wind caught my hat and without thinking I made a desperate attempt at stopping it from blowing away! Now, I had a dog lead in one hand, so couldnt use that hand without strangling "Chester" so my immediate action was to use my other hand, which Im afraid to say was still holding a bag of warm shite, which caught me fair and square in the chops! Thankfully the bag did not break, but on the way home I did not lick my lips once just in case! I managed to save my hat, but wished that I hadnt!
The Fiat 500 is now up on ebay for sale! Sad, but it has to go. A fantastic little car, Ive driven many cars over the years and even done a couple of track days, and I can honestly say its amazingly good fun to drive. Even Clarkson highly rates it, and thats saying something, oh and Michael Schumacher has one. What more can one say!
Tomorrow being Monday, Im back up in Shaston for the day, Tuesday will be spent down in Bournemouth and then back on site for the rest of the week - more postcards!
We move next Sunday, just down the road to another little site, we havent stayed at this one before so should be interesting to see what its like. We are only there for a couple of days, then back here again for another 28 days! So that will take us up to the middle of March! Time sure is flying!!
Hope you all had good weekend, ours has been very relaxing.
Till later............
The dates are:
29th April - 1st May Abbey Hill Steam Show Yeovil http://abbeyhillsteamrally.co.uk/
21st May - 22nd May Three Okefords Preservation Society Shillingstone Dorset http://threeokefordspreservationsociety.co.uk/
28th May - 30th May Selwood Steam & Vintage Vehicle Preservation Society Near Trowbridge
http://selwoodvintage.co.uk/
11th June - 12th June West Bay Vintage Steam Rally http://wdvtsec.co.uk/
18th June - 19th June Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club http://bppcltd.co.uk/ Canford Arena, Near Bournemouth
16th July - 17th July Portland Vintage Rally - http://portlandrally.com/ Near Weymouth
22nd July - 24th July Netley Marsh http://netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org/ Near Southampton
13th Aug - 14th Aug Purbeck Rally http://purbeckrally.co.uk/ Near Wareham
9th Sept - 11th Sept Swanage Railway Steam Gala Weekend http://bppcltd.co.uk/ Harmans Cross, Swanage
If you do come to any of these dont forget to come and say hello!
There may be a couple more yet, depending on what time "M" can get off! I think thats 9
A good day out for all the family at any of these shows! Can be a bit pricey, which is how we got into exhibiting in the first place!
It was all Mr Gullivers fault, "Im setting the bar up at a steam show at the weekend" he said, "should be a good night" So off we went with a tent, and had a cracking night, we didnt get much chance to look around! By the end of that year we decided that we should maybe get a little caravan as a tent was fine, but, we could do with something a little more comfortable.
So the search was on, over that winter we kept our eye out for a caravan, we eventually managed to find one at a price of only £157 but it was up in Preston! We bought it back down stopping over on the way in freezing temperatures and it all went well. It was a 2 berth Abbey 212 GT.
That year we did Shillingstone again, Abbey Hill and Netley Marsh, but it was getting a bit expensive, so we came up with a cunning plan! We found out that if you exhibit you dont pay entry fee's! Now Im one for a saving money, so we spent £250 on a Wolsely WDII Stationary Engine running a Lister Domestic Water Pump on a trolley. Hey presto, we are now exhibiting! Last year we would of saved on site fees £330 by doing the shows, so guess it will pay for itself easily this year!
I cant wait, its a relaxing time watching the world go by during the day, eating and drinking during the evenings, with free entertainment thrown in. Mind you, some of the bands are a bit dodgy to say the least!
The wind has dropped a little this evening which is good as its been battering the awning over the last 4 days. I think we are both use to sleeping with the caravan juddering every now and again!
Being so windy reminded me of being back up in Shaston, its 700 foot above sea level on the end of a spur, every day is windy there, but when it does get up its pretty violent. I was out walking our old dog "Chester" one day, the wind that day was pretty gusty, Id just picked up his doo dahs as all responsible dog owners should do, when a gust of wind caught my hat and without thinking I made a desperate attempt at stopping it from blowing away! Now, I had a dog lead in one hand, so couldnt use that hand without strangling "Chester" so my immediate action was to use my other hand, which Im afraid to say was still holding a bag of warm shite, which caught me fair and square in the chops! Thankfully the bag did not break, but on the way home I did not lick my lips once just in case! I managed to save my hat, but wished that I hadnt!
The Fiat 500 is now up on ebay for sale! Sad, but it has to go. A fantastic little car, Ive driven many cars over the years and even done a couple of track days, and I can honestly say its amazingly good fun to drive. Even Clarkson highly rates it, and thats saying something, oh and Michael Schumacher has one. What more can one say!
Tomorrow being Monday, Im back up in Shaston for the day, Tuesday will be spent down in Bournemouth and then back on site for the rest of the week - more postcards!
We move next Sunday, just down the road to another little site, we havent stayed at this one before so should be interesting to see what its like. We are only there for a couple of days, then back here again for another 28 days! So that will take us up to the middle of March! Time sure is flying!!
Hope you all had good weekend, ours has been very relaxing.
Till later............
Friday, 4 February 2011
Caravan Security
I came across this article which Ive tacked on below. For those of you who have been caravanning for years then all this may be old hat, but for those of you who are new to caravanning, you may find it helpful.
Caravan Insurance is a must if you own a caravan. A caravan is a valuable item, and you could find yourself very out of pocket if you don't insure it adequately. Caravan insurance provides protection if your caravan is stolen and/or damaged, but there are a various means to stop this happening.
Did you know that there are around three thousand caravans stolen in the UK each year, and with the growing popularity of the 'staycation' and the resulting increase in caravan ownership and holidays, this figure is set to go higher. Caravan owners are wise to make sure they have the best security they can to prevent their caravan being stolen. Following are listed 10 of the most effective ways to protect your caravan, together they add up to a very effective deterrent.
Security posts are a great idea for people who park their caravan on the drive at home. These help prevent thieves from taking the caravan from in front of your home, because they are cemented into the ground. Some posts have a towball on top that the caravan is hitch-locked to, and others are either detachable or foldable to allow the caravan to move in and out of the drive.
Hitch locks are a useful device in providing a good level of defence against opportunist thieves. Check that it is made of heavy steel that will cover the tow socket fixing bolts, and also has a very strong lock. Bear in mind that on their own though, they don't provide a sufficient level of protection for periods when the caravan is in storage.
Wheel clamps are another option. Wheel clamps come in a range of qualities, but a useful rule of thumb is that by and large the easier they are to fit, then the easier they are for a thief to remove. It is important that you invest in a good wheel clamp and also ensure that it fits your caravan. Beware that some clamps that are available on the market will allow a clever thief to take off the wheel and the clamp in one go, so don't get one of these.
Another useful security measure is to etch either the caravan's chassis number or your postcode on all of the caravan windows, and in several covert places within the caravan. Alternatively you could just use a permanent marker on plywood inside a cupboard and under the beds, as this is nigh-on impossible to remove. Even cleverer, you can use an ultra violet pen.
Another available deterrent is wheel stands. However, don't underestimate the capability of a determined caravan thief, as this on their own won't be likely to stop them. You should check they are locked in place, and you should also check that your insurers are okay with you doing this, because some policies need wheel clamps to be fitted. Be sure to check your handbook, as many caravan manufacturers recommend using axle stands for winter storage.
You should also take plenty of photos of your caravan, particularly of any distinctive features it has. These photos can assist you in identifying your caravan should it be stolen.
Another alternative is to paint or use some commercially available large stick-on letters to put a number or code specific to you on top of the van. For instance you could use any number that is known only to you, or perhaps a parto f the caravan's serial number. This is of great assistance in the event that the caravan is pinched because it will make it easily identifiable from aircraft and helicopters that police forces make use of nowadays.
Your will find various companies around that offer a service that will embed a tracking microchip into your caravan. These chips can then be identified using a scanner. You will find that most vans manufactured from 1998 will have datatags installed as standard. All previous 'Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme' (CRiS) registered caravans are able to have the datatags fitted retrospectively. Bear in mind that there is a bit of a flaw to these services though, in there is no centralized network of available scanners to track down these missing caravans.
Another choice is a tracking system scheme, which requires the fitting of a transmitter which is hidden somewhere inside the caravan. If the caravan is stolen the transmitter starts to send out a signal to enable the police to find the van. There have been quite a few good successes using this scheme. However there exist several issues this presents to caravans (rather than motorhomes and cars), the first is that the transmitter needs battery power to be able to transmit, and the second is that the transmitter is only activated once the vehicle has been reported stolen. These issues can be a difficulty if the van is in storage for any length of time, and only checked upon occasionally.
You should definitely keep a record of the chassis number of the caravan, and if it is registered with CRiS, you should keep these documents in a safe place away from the caravan. Any other important information should also be recorded and stored in the secure place.
The more of these tips you put in place, the better the odds are that your caravan will not get pinched in the first place, and secondly, should it get pinched, that it will be returned to you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/ideas-to-make-your-caravan-secure-1115670.html
About the Author
www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk is the uk's leading caravan insurance comparison website. To find your caravan insurance online come on over and have a look. You won't regret it.
Ideas To Make Your Caravan Secure
Author: Carl WayCaravan Insurance is a must if you own a caravan. A caravan is a valuable item, and you could find yourself very out of pocket if you don't insure it adequately. Caravan insurance provides protection if your caravan is stolen and/or damaged, but there are a various means to stop this happening.
Did you know that there are around three thousand caravans stolen in the UK each year, and with the growing popularity of the 'staycation' and the resulting increase in caravan ownership and holidays, this figure is set to go higher. Caravan owners are wise to make sure they have the best security they can to prevent their caravan being stolen. Following are listed 10 of the most effective ways to protect your caravan, together they add up to a very effective deterrent.
Security posts are a great idea for people who park their caravan on the drive at home. These help prevent thieves from taking the caravan from in front of your home, because they are cemented into the ground. Some posts have a towball on top that the caravan is hitch-locked to, and others are either detachable or foldable to allow the caravan to move in and out of the drive.
Hitch locks are a useful device in providing a good level of defence against opportunist thieves. Check that it is made of heavy steel that will cover the tow socket fixing bolts, and also has a very strong lock. Bear in mind that on their own though, they don't provide a sufficient level of protection for periods when the caravan is in storage.
Wheel clamps are another option. Wheel clamps come in a range of qualities, but a useful rule of thumb is that by and large the easier they are to fit, then the easier they are for a thief to remove. It is important that you invest in a good wheel clamp and also ensure that it fits your caravan. Beware that some clamps that are available on the market will allow a clever thief to take off the wheel and the clamp in one go, so don't get one of these.
Another useful security measure is to etch either the caravan's chassis number or your postcode on all of the caravan windows, and in several covert places within the caravan. Alternatively you could just use a permanent marker on plywood inside a cupboard and under the beds, as this is nigh-on impossible to remove. Even cleverer, you can use an ultra violet pen.
Another available deterrent is wheel stands. However, don't underestimate the capability of a determined caravan thief, as this on their own won't be likely to stop them. You should check they are locked in place, and you should also check that your insurers are okay with you doing this, because some policies need wheel clamps to be fitted. Be sure to check your handbook, as many caravan manufacturers recommend using axle stands for winter storage.
You should also take plenty of photos of your caravan, particularly of any distinctive features it has. These photos can assist you in identifying your caravan should it be stolen.
Another alternative is to paint or use some commercially available large stick-on letters to put a number or code specific to you on top of the van. For instance you could use any number that is known only to you, or perhaps a parto f the caravan's serial number. This is of great assistance in the event that the caravan is pinched because it will make it easily identifiable from aircraft and helicopters that police forces make use of nowadays.
Your will find various companies around that offer a service that will embed a tracking microchip into your caravan. These chips can then be identified using a scanner. You will find that most vans manufactured from 1998 will have datatags installed as standard. All previous 'Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme' (CRiS) registered caravans are able to have the datatags fitted retrospectively. Bear in mind that there is a bit of a flaw to these services though, in there is no centralized network of available scanners to track down these missing caravans.
Another choice is a tracking system scheme, which requires the fitting of a transmitter which is hidden somewhere inside the caravan. If the caravan is stolen the transmitter starts to send out a signal to enable the police to find the van. There have been quite a few good successes using this scheme. However there exist several issues this presents to caravans (rather than motorhomes and cars), the first is that the transmitter needs battery power to be able to transmit, and the second is that the transmitter is only activated once the vehicle has been reported stolen. These issues can be a difficulty if the van is in storage for any length of time, and only checked upon occasionally.
You should definitely keep a record of the chassis number of the caravan, and if it is registered with CRiS, you should keep these documents in a safe place away from the caravan. Any other important information should also be recorded and stored in the secure place.
The more of these tips you put in place, the better the odds are that your caravan will not get pinched in the first place, and secondly, should it get pinched, that it will be returned to you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/ideas-to-make-your-caravan-secure-1115670.html
About the Author
www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk is the uk's leading caravan insurance comparison website. To find your caravan insurance online come on over and have a look. You won't regret it.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Time Flys!
I really do not know where the time goes! Its Friday tomorrow and thats another week done!
Ive been flat out this week, certainly putting in the hours to try and keep on top of everything.
Ive had a couple of good results with the postacards on ebay, so happy with that so far! If you can quadruple your initial outlay then thats good enough for me!
This is "M"s long weekend off, so she is off tomorrow, not back till Monday, we havent made any plans yet, depends on what the weather is doing!
At the moment the wind is picking up, I was out checking the awning earlier and all looks ok, but with the strength of the wind Ill be checking a few more times before going to bed!
The awning considering the size of it, has stood up well when its been windy, its alot of material to catch the wind, so if it does go it will be pretty spectacular! We turn the edges inwards underneath the awning carpet, its all weighted down with boxes of books, our new propane gas cylinder, and Ive also have 4 or 5 old empty 5 litre toilet fluid bottles which Ive filled with water and these also act as weights. Fingers crossed its still standing there in the morning.
I certainly wouldnt want to be up in Scotland coping with snow and gusts of 90mph. Times like this I dont mind being called a Southern Softy!
This weekend we are going to do a bit of planning for the summer, no easy task as we hope to do 11 shows at least. We all ready have alot of the registration forms for the shows, it just a question of printing them, filling them out, and getting them sent off! Its the booking in on sites between shows which will be fun! Im hoping that a couple will be back to back and with a bit of luck maybe able to get onto the next site early.
One of our first buys this year will be a generator, we found that last year we could go to a maximum of 5 days without electric, but if we are going back to back and hopefully onto some even cheaper sites with no ehu then the gene will be needed for sure. Ive seen one that I like the look of its 2.2Kva which is man enough for what we need, and at a cracking price of only £138.99 delivered! And its brand new! Noise isnt a problem at a show, with 100+ stationary engines chugging away, but if it is a bit noisy on site I can always get a silencer made up.
Its not a suitcase type one, I dont have Honda money, but it looks robust and we can either sling it in the trailer or the Landrover, so space/weight isnt really an issue for us.
Landrover in for its MOT next week! Last year if flew through with no probs, so hoping the same this year. I topped the power steering fluid up and tightened the hose as it was starting to leak a bit, and topped up with anti-freeze.
We are also going to be putting the Fiat 500 up for sale as well! So its off for a clean on Saturday then we will take some pictures of it and get it on ebay, so if your after a Fiat 500 1.4 Sport in red, on a 57 plate. 35,000 miles, 16" Alloys, tinted windows, Disc brakes all round, 6 speed gearbox, sports seats, bluetooth and MP3/CD, Sports steering setting, and an amazingly fun car to drive, it goes like a rocket! then this is the car for you! Priced at a knock down price of £8000. Its also got 6 months tax and a 12 month MOT. Bargain!!
Ill be sorry to see it go, but its just not practical for us now. Its so enjoyable to drive, it sticks to the road like glue, having the 16" alloys on helps. The spec is what you would expect to find on a BMW or Merc. Have I sold it to you yet?
Off for my tea, and to check listings, another 70 finishing tonight! One card is up to £36 which is very good!
Till later...............
Ive been flat out this week, certainly putting in the hours to try and keep on top of everything.
Ive had a couple of good results with the postacards on ebay, so happy with that so far! If you can quadruple your initial outlay then thats good enough for me!
This is "M"s long weekend off, so she is off tomorrow, not back till Monday, we havent made any plans yet, depends on what the weather is doing!
At the moment the wind is picking up, I was out checking the awning earlier and all looks ok, but with the strength of the wind Ill be checking a few more times before going to bed!
The awning considering the size of it, has stood up well when its been windy, its alot of material to catch the wind, so if it does go it will be pretty spectacular! We turn the edges inwards underneath the awning carpet, its all weighted down with boxes of books, our new propane gas cylinder, and Ive also have 4 or 5 old empty 5 litre toilet fluid bottles which Ive filled with water and these also act as weights. Fingers crossed its still standing there in the morning.
I certainly wouldnt want to be up in Scotland coping with snow and gusts of 90mph. Times like this I dont mind being called a Southern Softy!
This weekend we are going to do a bit of planning for the summer, no easy task as we hope to do 11 shows at least. We all ready have alot of the registration forms for the shows, it just a question of printing them, filling them out, and getting them sent off! Its the booking in on sites between shows which will be fun! Im hoping that a couple will be back to back and with a bit of luck maybe able to get onto the next site early.
One of our first buys this year will be a generator, we found that last year we could go to a maximum of 5 days without electric, but if we are going back to back and hopefully onto some even cheaper sites with no ehu then the gene will be needed for sure. Ive seen one that I like the look of its 2.2Kva which is man enough for what we need, and at a cracking price of only £138.99 delivered! And its brand new! Noise isnt a problem at a show, with 100+ stationary engines chugging away, but if it is a bit noisy on site I can always get a silencer made up.
Its not a suitcase type one, I dont have Honda money, but it looks robust and we can either sling it in the trailer or the Landrover, so space/weight isnt really an issue for us.
Landrover in for its MOT next week! Last year if flew through with no probs, so hoping the same this year. I topped the power steering fluid up and tightened the hose as it was starting to leak a bit, and topped up with anti-freeze.
We are also going to be putting the Fiat 500 up for sale as well! So its off for a clean on Saturday then we will take some pictures of it and get it on ebay, so if your after a Fiat 500 1.4 Sport in red, on a 57 plate. 35,000 miles, 16" Alloys, tinted windows, Disc brakes all round, 6 speed gearbox, sports seats, bluetooth and MP3/CD, Sports steering setting, and an amazingly fun car to drive, it goes like a rocket! then this is the car for you! Priced at a knock down price of £8000. Its also got 6 months tax and a 12 month MOT. Bargain!!
Ill be sorry to see it go, but its just not practical for us now. Its so enjoyable to drive, it sticks to the road like glue, having the 16" alloys on helps. The spec is what you would expect to find on a BMW or Merc. Have I sold it to you yet?
Off for my tea, and to check listings, another 70 finishing tonight! One card is up to £36 which is very good!
Till later...............
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Thats January 2011 Done!
Well, thats January 2011 done and dusted, was it good for you?
Its not been as cold as predicted, so thats been a bonus, and we have had a couple of nice days of sunshine.
The highlights of the month have been watching a barn collapse, getting the awning up in a record time, also taking the awning down and then putting it back up again in the same day (that was a bit of a killer)! Walking out to Hurst Castle. And, successfully getting through another winter month! Roll on summer.
Living in a caravan is certainly a different way of life, but we can honestly say it is perfect for us, and we are still enjoying the experience. The time certainly seems to be flying by. Christmas seems ages ago, and not just over 5/6 weeks ago!
Monday was spent working back in Shaston, today Ive been working in Bournemouth, thats it for me now. Spending the rest of the week based on site! Lovely.
But, dont think Im sat here doing nothing, for those of you who sell on ebay, and know the problems of packing and posting items, will appreciate the fact that I have 300 postcards finishing this week, 70 a night over the next three nights! You can find them by looking for my user name "bakers-cottage" on http://ebay.co.uk/
Cooked a curry this evening and am now sporting an industrial injury from a hot saucepan! what a muppet I am! Thankfully the curry was good enough to dull the pain, but typing is a bit of a pain. My words per minute are definately alot lower now!
Off to watch the auctions finish and hopefully earn some money,
So till later.............
Its not been as cold as predicted, so thats been a bonus, and we have had a couple of nice days of sunshine.
The highlights of the month have been watching a barn collapse, getting the awning up in a record time, also taking the awning down and then putting it back up again in the same day (that was a bit of a killer)! Walking out to Hurst Castle. And, successfully getting through another winter month! Roll on summer.
Living in a caravan is certainly a different way of life, but we can honestly say it is perfect for us, and we are still enjoying the experience. The time certainly seems to be flying by. Christmas seems ages ago, and not just over 5/6 weeks ago!
Monday was spent working back in Shaston, today Ive been working in Bournemouth, thats it for me now. Spending the rest of the week based on site! Lovely.
But, dont think Im sat here doing nothing, for those of you who sell on ebay, and know the problems of packing and posting items, will appreciate the fact that I have 300 postcards finishing this week, 70 a night over the next three nights! You can find them by looking for my user name "bakers-cottage" on http://ebay.co.uk/
Cooked a curry this evening and am now sporting an industrial injury from a hot saucepan! what a muppet I am! Thankfully the curry was good enough to dull the pain, but typing is a bit of a pain. My words per minute are definately alot lower now!
Off to watch the auctions finish and hopefully earn some money,
So till later.............
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