Category: News & General

Saying Goodbye

Published on by Paul Hickman

I know I’ve been very quiet for some time and I’s sorry for that.

I have had quite a lot going on in the latter part of 2017 which concluded on Christmas Day when I lost my Mum.
Mum was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in March. She decided to have treatment even though she had been told it would only prolong the inevitable.

So today we say goodbye to Mum. Today is her funeral. My brother and I have been caught in the red tape that surrounds  these things. Mum had to have an Autopsy which delayed things, so it’s been a whole month since she passed away until we can finally lay her to rest.

So there has not been any camping and to rectify this and to enable us to get a break away from everything that has been going on and to enable us to reconnect.

It also gives us an opportunity to try out our first Caravan and Motorhome Club site so look out for our review of Chester Fairoaks Club Site

Caravan Withdrawal

Published on by Paul Hickman

Yep I’m convinced I’m suffering withdrawal. Not because we decided to put the van to bed for the winter, we conciously decided not to do that. We will use the van all year! Well it seems that my have been a little optimistic.

Continue reading “Caravan Withdrawal” →

Smithills Open Farm Day Out

Published on by Paul Hickman

It’s a Farm. A bit like Old McDonald’s Farm but with Meerkats! Smithills Open Farm is or was on a large estate in Bolton dominated by Smithills Hall. A well known hotel Smithills Coaching House was part of the estate but sadly this seems to be a housing estate now. The management has visited with a class from the school where she works and found it enjoyable and so persuaded me we should go. Continue reading “Smithills Open Farm Day Out” →

Squeezing in a cheeky weekend

Published on by Paul Hickman

Some friends, Rose & Derek suggested we get together on a campsite soon. We agreed it was a great idea! And said we will make a plan and get back to them.

Well it was not looking hopeful! Upon consulting our diary it was looking very bleak for getting away in the van this side of Christmas, with my Trumpet playing commitments and kids moving out, and life in general. I identified the weekend of November 11th. Rememberance weekend. I’m usually busy playing the Last Post somewhere and it’s an honour to do it but I’ve not been booked yet so I could miss one year right? No the booking came it so that weekend is out.

Continue reading “Squeezing in a cheeky weekend” →

Summer Eurotunnel Crossing Video

Published on by Paul Hickman

Here is the video of our night time Eurotunnel Crossing

Easy. Follow us from the car park all the way to the French Autoroute.

Exiting the Eurotunnel From the Caravan’s View

Solving Air Locked Water System

Published on by Paul Hickman

So this weekend we had terrible problems getting water running in the van.

I tried everything. Thought we had a leak.

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The Last Bank Holiday 2017

Published on by Paul Hickman

Apart from the 2 at Christmas of course.

We had an eventful trip to the south of France as I hope you have read, if not you can find it here. So with the last bank holiday I really wanted to make the most of it and get away.

I’ve been reading for weeks on social media of people being disappointed to not get a pitch as sites are full. With this in mind I turned to the C&CC website to find somewhere. It didn’t need to be far, it didn’t need to be glamorous or have lots of facilities, so after finding the local club sites full I started looking at CS sites. Continue reading “The Last Bank Holiday 2017” →

Westfield Cross Compact Chair – Review

Published on by Paul Hickman

While on our summer holiday in the South of France one of our chairs broke. No problem at home, nip to Go Outdoors or any of the Mirryad of camping supply shops.
In France these shops are a little harder to find. Lots of camping equipment seems to come from Decathlon and we did try here first but they only had flimsy folding chairs.
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Camping Le Soleil Argeles-Sur-Mer 2017

Published on by Paul Hickman

Route du Littoral
66702 ARGELES sur MER Cédex
9h – 16h30
+33(0)468811448

Website: http://www.camping-le-soleil.fr/campsite-argeles-france/

Date of Visit: 29th July – 12th August 2017     Unit: Caravan

Yes we have been here before and yes we are going again, already booked next year.
So why a new review? Well we were in a different area this year and a couple of things have changed at the site.

SO you can read all about our 2017 trip here.

Continue reading “Camping Le Soleil Argeles-Sur-Mer 2017” →