Caravanning has really made a difference ...

[soldlisa04]

Hello fellow forum users, I just wanted to say that as we approach the end of our first year of caravanning I can honestly say that I wish we'd done it sooner as it has been an absolute god send to me. Without going into too many details, a couple of years ago I underwent routine surgery but was injected with a substance that I was allergic too ... despite my wearing an allergy alert bracelet applied by the Nurse. Suffice to say I suffered a severe allergic reaction, thought I was dying (and without intervention, would probably have suffered a heart attack). I sought legal advice but to no avail and now have to wear a Medic Alert bracelet all of the time and any form of surgery in the future, could present a problem. This left me with severe anxiety and I suffered with night terrors/panic attacks. Not a very pleasant chapter in my life. About the time our caravan was delivered in January, I started to undergo Counselling. Gradually the night terrors (caused by post operative stress disorder) started to abate and so did the shouting out at night (once I woke up friends who were staying in the caravan with us ... but we all saw the funny side!). Our caravan has been my safe haven, my go-too and I am really happy to say that by 11th November we will have spent 50 days in it. Not bad going considering we work full-time. The sense of peace and relaxation I gain just by literally opening the door and smelling the smell of our van, makes me feel really happy! My Counsellor has recently signed me off as she and I are both happy that I am feeling much, much better and she commented that she wished she could prescribe caravanning on the NHS as it has obviously done me so much good. I know that it's not to everyone's taste but I am so happy that I am much better that I wanted to share it with you all, as you are all as mad about your vans as we are. We have already booked up May half term next year and are busy choosing where we'd like to go and I for one cannot wait until the next season starts. Best wishes to you all - a very happy 'camper'! Lisa

p.s. to all you ladies out there ... am I alone in adorning my awning with fairy lights and bunting?????????????????

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Lisa, glad your enjoying your new hobby despite the weather we have had, maybe next year you might try winter vanning and then you can have the pleasure all year round

. ps the weather seems better winter early spring anyway.

hope you get better as time goes on, and make a full recovery, I do understand about your anxiety though as I had a similar experience a few years ago, when my GP pescribed some medication that I had taken before, but it reacted to other medication I was taking, the mixture of drugs caused a severe allergic reaction and I went into a anaphylactic shock, I almost did not make it!! (had the ambulance took "15mins" instead of 10 to get to me) I would not have, although I made a full recovery I absolutely refuse to take mixed medication at the same time and spread them out throughout the day and I always carry a adrenaline pen should it happen again, but the anxiety is allways there at the back of your mind even when taking a couple headace tablets,

 

[soldlisa04]

Thank you Colin - yes, I know how you feel and the thought of any future surgery is terrifying but they have tried to reassure me that 'we would talk through it before' but it fills me with dread! Best stay healthy then! We probably will go away over the winter ... it just depends what is happening weekend wise as around the festive season we get booked up. I have no problem with winter vanning as we have blown air heating and I have discovered the joys of fleecy pj's!

 

[Martin24]

While Parksy's away............ Much more fun in the van in the winter without the fleecy PJ's!!!

 

[Damian]

Its not Parksy you need to worry about...............

 

[ValA.]

Quote:
The sense of peace and relaxation I gain just by literally opening the door and smelling the smell of our van, makes me feel really happy!

I feel exactly the same when I open our caravan door before each holiday - and like Lisa I just love the smell! But, no, I don't do bunting and fairy lights, sorry!

 

[soldlisa04]

Well ... does Parksy not wear fleecy pj's then????

Martin I will forgive you that as I know you are newly wed (me and OH 4 years now

) and Val, glad you understand about the smell! They should bottle it and sell it to those poor stressed non-caravanners out there!

Oh and take a look at the bunting and fairy lights you can get ... fabulous!!!

 

[Gybe]

Do our colour changing LED's count?
Reference caravanning and contentment, my wife has a theory that it's because caravan's are fitted with 'STABILISERS'

We often sit out in the caravan in our garden, it has it's own 'super pitch', plumbed in with drainage and EHU.

 

[soldlisa04]

Definitely Gybe - like the sound of that! Ours is also on our own super pitch outside the house too - not sure about the 'stabilisers' though

ha ha.

 

[Willi-Wonti]

Too much information

 

[Parksy]

While Parksy's away............ Much more fun in the van in the winter without the fleecy PJ's!!!

Well ... does Parksy not wear fleecy pj's then????
Martin I will forgive you that as I know you are newly wed (me and OH 4 years now

This will be more information than you needed ,but..................
As a happily divorced male who has been engaged to my fiancee for about ten years now I can assure you that I don't wear PJ's, fleecy or otherwise

As it happens I do keep some (non fleecy) PJ's in the caravan wardrobe just in case, having had to go to hospital rather quickly in the past, and also to wear when I'm making our morning cuppa, but I'm never ever cold so I sleep au naturelle.
Like yourself Lisa, we love being away in our caravan and wouldn't swap it for a stay even in the best hotel because our caravan is our luxury hotel room on wheels (and I get to sleep with the manageress!

)

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Lisa
So pleased the caravan has helped you so much. Fo reasons I don't fully understand we sleep so well in the Wyoming, far better than at home. I think it is that snug sort of fresh air feeling maybe.
As for bunting and lights I can tell you some of the Woosies had an excellent array of lights, Lady Mel and Sir Deli Dave in particular. Lady Mel's were even solar powered and turned on automatically

Well done dealing with your panic attacks..Not at all easy.

 

[Mel]

Hi Lisa, glad you are feeling better. Not sure what has brought on this rush of confession about sleeping attire. Clearly your mention of the "good feeling" that caravanning brings has caused our menfolk to come over all unnecessary.
mel

 

[soldlisa04]

Oh how this has made me laugh and cheered me up, although I've now got images of the men on here parading around the various caravan sites in their onesies and fleecy pj's (ewwwww). I think the comments about the fresh air (where else would your front door be open all day and would you sit outside in your garden all day) knocking you out is what I meant as it certainly makes me sleep better than at home! We visited Tredegar House in Wales last week and I was thrilled to hear an owl hooting all night - don't get to hear owls a lot where I live, so this was a welcome change to car alarms going off, and drunken couples arguing in the street at stupid o'clock in the morning! Long may we all continue to enjoy our caravanning days.
On a different note, I had to laugh to myself when an elderly lady commented to me last week that it was lovely to see youngsters enjoying caravanning (I'm 44 and my OH is 54 - we must have good genes!!!!). I must admit that some weekends, we are probably amongst the youngest on the site but in no way does this bother us and we will stop and talk to those who wish to exchange greetings and have a chat (you know what I mean). It's a lovely way to meet people and pass the time of day

xx

 

[Parksy]

.....On a different note, I had to laugh to myself when an elderly lady commented to me last week that it was lovely to see youngsters enjoying caravanning (I'm 44 and my OH is 54 - we must have good genes!!!!). I must admit that some weekends, we are probably amongst the youngest on the site but in no way does this bother us and we will stop and talk to those who wish to exchange greetings and have a chat (you know what I mean). It's a lovely way to meet people and pass the time of day

xx

Have you ever considered rallying Lisa?
Not everybody's cup of tea I know, but the District Association rallies with the C&CC often attract younger caravanners and as a C&CC member you can attend any rally in the UK.
The West Midlands DA are predominantly young families and they have some great times away at various venues around the Midlands.
There is a thriving youth section, the youngsters sometimes hold separate rallies in tents (under supervision) away from the adult rally thus ensuring the future of camping and caravanning and giving parents a bit of a break into the bargain.
We are in bus pass territory ourselves, but we like to see young families enjoying the hobby and the social mix of all age groups and backgrounds on rallies from babies and toddlers to septugenarians is good for all concerned.
Not all rallies are held 'in the middle of nowhere on muddy fields with no facilities' b.t.w.
Some rallies are held on full facillity sites, good for those who want to try them out.

 

[soldlisa04]

Hi Parksy, yes something to consider in the future - but I don't think after next year my son will come with us as he'll want to stay at home being over 17 by then (God help us all!!!!).