- Apr 9, 2006
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Great story Steve, I have just read the thread on inconsiderate neighbours and some peoples experiences were so bad I thought "why bother" but you have reminded me what it is really all about. Jim.We have been caravanning for 20 years and have enjoyed all the freedom of choice and had some spectacular holidays that we could of never afforded any other way.
But the best for me started as a dare ten years ago. My wifes parents are both disabled and need one of the family to accompany them 90% of the time they go out. Father-in-law was an agrophobic (fear of being out in the open).
However we were all at their house one Saturday for tea (32 members in the extended family) and we were discussing, six family's taking their vans to the Gower for easter weekend. he said if only I could come I would. Upon which I said, go on then I dare you! Buy a caravan, we'll travel down in the evening and you can come too. Don't forget that you'll have the house on the back should you need to stop and go inside for a cuppa.
To everyone's suprise he rose to the bait and bought a caravan. You see he is a "welshman" and was not going to let a "brummie half cast" (me cos I'm half Brimmie and half welsh, but the latter half rules my heart)win his pride off him.
So off we set to Gower farm at LLandewi. When we arrived Adrian the owner allowed us to pitch in a circle like the cowboys did which added a bit of fun to the camp and also made it feel like we had our own community which settled Father-in-law down no end.
Everone had a fantastic weekend as ther was 24 of us all having a holiday with the in-laws as well. The grand kids loved playing host to grand dad's van seeing to all their needs.
Six years later after countless holidays in Wales and even dragging him to the Isle of Wight which was another mile stone for him as he had vowed never to go on water again following a turbulant army life in active service, we then took him on a 1500 mile tour of 6 sites around Scotland which took months of miticulas planning as we had to find sites willing to take a group of 4 vans plus dogs and be able to site us all together next to the disabled facilities. LINWATER caravan park (Edinburgh)scored full marks on this and the owner Jean has stuck in their minds as the most wonderful host to meet as her kindness and attention to detail was superb.
Now guess what? He want's to go back to Scotland again and this time he want's to go right up to John O Groats as two years ago we got him to Lands End.
Ok so I've landed the job as chief planner but what the heck, for our whole family ( all 32 of us) the pleasure to us is seeing the parents trundle off with the van in tow knowing that ten years ago without that dare to buy a van, the garden gate would of been their Lands End!
I think to me, seeing the smiles of happyness on Ron & Ann's faces are worth a million miles of caravanning.
Steve.