Sunday, 29th August 2010

Great to be with our family again

Nathan was up bright and early and over at the house with the boys this morning. We slept really well again in our ‘cocoon’ as I call the caravan. Once we were up and dressed of course the boys were over at the caravan to check everything out while I tidied up and got things organised. Luke thinks it is very 'cool' because there are lots of cupboards and everything has it's place.  He told me today that he really likes the wardrobe because the handles have buttons on them.


Peter took Nathan and the boys ten-pin bowling; it’s part of our ‘tradition’ when we see them. Usually I go with them too, but today I was feeling woozy with fatigue after the long trip yesterday, and planned to have a rest. When they returned the boys, Kylie and I spent some time on the bed with my laptop looking at photos of Luke’s birthday party yesterday.
Cameron made up a booklet from some paper I gave him and started a ‘book’ of his adventures. Our visit has already helped them slot into some of the regular things we do together, which I guess brings a little bit more stability into their life during a time that’s difficult for all of them. We love our daughter and grandsons so much and just wish we could help them all more.

I took photos of the interior of the caravan this morning to show you. First, looking from the rear of the van to the front, you can see here our bedroom, with the wardrobe and bathroom on the right. On the very left you can see the partial dividing wall, and the strap that is folded around it holds the concertina door in place when we are travelling.

This second photo of the same end of the van is slightly more to the left side and shows the side window rather than the bathroom side. Sorry about the mess on the bed – just as I was about to take photos Peter brought things in from the car and I hadn’t put them away yet. And of course my laptop lives on the bed during the day vbg.
The space between the end of the bed and the wall doesn’t show in these photos, it is about 2’6” and part of the wheel hub is there. That gives a handy support for a small shelf to fit over it so I can put the computer on there at night, along with anything else I want to put there too. On our long trip I had a couple of large crates stacked on it but I prefer to keep it uncluttered.

The bathroom on the right is not large but there’s room – these two photos show each side- because of the layout I can’t get it all in one photo. The little handbasin is fine for washing your hands, the loo is comfortable and the shower gives a great shower! There’s enough hot water in the tank for me to have a shower and wash my hair if I turn off the water while I scrub my hair.

There is a light in there and an exhaust fan. And just the warmth of the shower keeps you warm enough even in the cold. The hatch opens to let the steam out when you want to. And it’s great to open it wide in the warm weather and look up at the stars at night.

Next, here is the view of the other end of the van. The lounge at the end is wider than a normal couch because it doubles as a bed. It is where Nathan sleeps when we don’t put up the annexe with his camp bed in it. In cold weather it is much better to have him inside. You can also just see the back of the second seat on the opposite side of the table. The photo has come out dark because the sun was shining in so brightly – I always find that funny.

This second shot of thesame side of the caravan (looking
from the rear) also shows the back of the second seat, and the rest of the ‘dining’ area of the van. This side has the fridge, and a cupboard with slide-out wire baskets for food. The DVR, TV are on the sliding shelf and above it, the controls for the satellite dish. We can pull the shelf out and turn it so we can watch TV, satellite or DVDs from either the bedroom or the other end of the van.


When the ‘guys’ go back to Sydney the table will become my mini work area, if I do any in the caravan. Naturally my first priority will be my family but I’ll also be conscious of giving them their own space as well.

Standing at the rear end of the caravan and looking back to the left, it’s the kitchen. When we designed the caravan I chose the bedroom from one caravan on display and the kitchen from another one and we mirror-reversed the kitchen to fit our design. The makers liked it so much that they then released several others in two different lengths, the same design as ours. And a customer saw ours waiting to be picked up and ordered one in another colour as well. So I took that as a compliment vbg.

These two photos show the entire kitchen. We had a full oven put in, so we could have one of Peter’s lovely roast dinners if we wanted it while away, cook a cake or whatever. The fridge on the other side is actually larger than normal too but could be bigger. The large board you might be able to make out behind the hand towel on the rack above the sink fits over the sink and draining board to give extra work surface area if you want it.

The panel on top of the oven area lifts up and the stove is underneath that. It works on bottled gas, as does the oven. The microwave of course just works on electricity so if we are in a place without power we can’t use it.

The fridge works on AC or DC electricity or bottled gas, and the lights on AC or DC electricity. So we can stay at unpowered sites for several days, though Nathan prefers not to – he really likes to have his television.

So why am I telling you all this? Because lots of people have asked lots of questions lol! I know caravans are called by different names in different countries, but I think they are fitted out pretty much the same. Ours is several years old now, we bought it in 2003. So styles and finishes have changed but we are very comfortable when we are in ours and we love it.


The only way we would change it if we could is to trade it in a longer van so that Nathan could have his own room at the end, with space to set up his own things and an area that he could call his own. He is less independent than we thought he would be at this age, but fortunately he really enjoys travelling with us and at present wishes to continue to do so. And having his own area would be nice now he is an adult. Better than having to set up the annexe when we are moving on quite frequently or the weather is cool.

So although I won't publish photos of our darling boys on a public site like this, I can at least show you our 'other' baby!