Who are we??

[Steve L]

Here's the easy bit. I'm Steve(47) Qualified toolmaker and experimental engineer, and live in LEOminster in the cider county of Herefordshire. The better half ,Louisa (domestic engineer) is a few years younger.

Have a son 24, daughter 19 and two Labradors Misty and Teddy.

We tow a Link 575 twenty foot twin axle van (1982 vintage) behind our trusty 1998 Laguna estate.

Currently about to be redundant from being Production supervisor for a company that makes chassis for Lotus Elise and Aston Martin DB9, & Vanquish. Got a new job building chicken sheds for free range chicken production. Wanted a change of life style and got it!!

Would realy like to put our 25 years of caravanning into owning our own touring park, to give back to others the enjoyment we have had from our humble startings in a 10ft Sprite we borrowed from a brother-in-law. but those six numbers evade us. Doh.

Wanted a change as doing shift work (3 shift week about) is killing this old sod anyway, plus I have adult sleep apnea and the two just don't match.

Have toured most of the UK from Lands end to Ardmir point so far. We love the Gower peninsular and Port Eynon.

Our short break site has to be FForestfields at Builth wells, totally unspoilt and tranquil. It's less than an hour from home but on a different planet to the rat race we live in and an oasis from our "blame culture world".

The best site for being well run is definately Linwater caravan park at East Calder just outside Edinburgh. Jean the owner is the perfect host and nothing is too much trouble. We are palnning another Highland tour and guess which site was first on our list!!??

Steve.

 

[sparkes]

Hi I am Steve

Thats as interesting as it gets, sorry!

 

[cris_408518]

That's so sad Sparkes. It brought tears to my eyes ;-)

You win the sympathy vote!

 

[KiwiPete]

We've just been talking to a friend in Aukland as my best friend is off there tomorrow morning for 3 months and buying a holiday rental business near to our Kiwi friends home in Titirangi. He was a Blockhouse bay boy in his youth but spends some of the year in Queenstown now as he's part owner of his brothers building business.

So look out for very big "poms" ;-) May be see you in NZ !

Hi Lisa. We have been in NZ since 1975. Brought our caravan with us. A Thomson Glenalmond. When the Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon put a heavt tax on vans and other "luxury" goods in the early 80's, caravanning took a dive in popularity. But now its on a rapid rise again. If you come to live in NZ bring a 'van with you and hurry we need more caravanners!!

Good luck

Pete.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Only in the aristocratic circle LB, for us mere peasant's it means other half!!!!!

oops sorry Richard, racked my tiny brain cells over that one and could only come up with 2 , old hag and the other I wont go into ;O) Other half I should really have thought of but I'd had a stressful evening :O)

 

[LMH]

I'm Lisa, sorry I'm not going to reveal my age. Been with husband Phil for 25 years. We have a 14 year old daughter. We have an Abbey Freestyle SE and tow with a mondeo TDCI.

Phil is a Nottinghamshire lad and I have just applied for a NZ passport as I was born in New Zealand. We are considering going to live there as I can get in any time and take Emma and Phil with me.

I work for Notts fire and rescue in community safety, Phil retired early. We have a 14 year old daughter.

Lisa

Thanks cris, but I wouldn't be able to recognise you as you only posted a photo of the back of your head, remember??

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Kiwi Pete

Thanks for the message. Wouldn't it be very expensive to transport a caravan over? I've had quotes of around

 

[cris_408518]

I'm Lisa, sorry I'm not going to reveal my age. Been with husband Phil for 25 years. We have a 14 year old daughter. We have an Abbey Freestyle SE and tow with a mondeo TDCI.

Phil is a Nottinghamshire lad and I have just applied for a NZ passport as I was born in New Zealand. We are considering going to live there as I can get in any time and take Emma and Phil with me.

I work for Notts fire and rescue in community safety, Phil retired early. We have a 14 year old daughter.

Lisa

That's the best view according to my family ;-)

Unless they are misleading me my hair is still as lovely!

 

[LMH]

I'm Lisa, sorry I'm not going to reveal my age. Been with husband Phil for 25 years. We have a 14 year old daughter. We have an Abbey Freestyle SE and tow with a mondeo TDCI.

Phil is a Nottinghamshire lad and I have just applied for a NZ passport as I was born in New Zealand. We are considering going to live there as I can get in any time and take Emma and Phil with me.

I work for Notts fire and rescue in community safety, Phil retired early. We have a 14 year old daughter.

Lisa

cris, I'm a little bit disappointed with your reply. I was hoping you would post a picture of yourself.

Lisa

 

[KiwiPete]

Hi Lisa

We purchased a new Ace Jubilee Ambassador from Chichester Caravans in Winchester who are now exporting a number of van to NZ. They delivered to the Southampton Docks and so the VAT was refundable.

The cost of shipping to Auckland, Import tax of 7%, GST (VAT) at 12.5% and agents fees came to $16,000 (GBP 5,600)

Hope this helps

Pete

 

[Fubar]

Mark (37) and Karen (she'd smack my head if I said!), from Dunfermline Scotland, 2 step-kids, 2 cocker spaniel dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit - I'm an IT Support Technician for Fife Primary Schools and Karen is a very clever Nurse Practitioner.

we drive a Kia Sportage towing an Eriba Familia, my fav site is Chatsworth but the kids is Longleat.

sorry if the nickname offends anyone - there were so many Marks' when I joined it had to be something unique! M (",)

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Hi all, I think we are going to sound rather boring compared to some on here, Started caravanning way back when the speed limit was 40mph, stabilisers had not been heard of ( the first one I had was made by a friend from an old leaf spring!) And the coupling head was a mix of 2" & 50mm. What memories, first van was a 1959 sprite musketeer with a under slung chassis and a pull down bed in the rear complete with mattress, two ring cooker with grill and home made oven from a biscuit tin! and pulled along by a Hillman superminx.. Now then back in to the 21st centaury, we are Allan & Gill 56 and daren't tell you Gill's age for fear of her beating me with a big stick to within an inch of my life! We are from Eastwood on the Nott's Derbyshire border and often *** away to either the peak district or the Lincolnshire Wolds for weekends, and usually three weeks down in to France for our main holidays, where we can relax and leave our worries behind us, and a well earned rest from our respective jobs as radiology manager & warehouse support supervisor. Current outfit 2007 Bailey Senator dragged by dual fuel Volvo V70

 

[Lutz]

Hi Lisa

We purchased a new Ace Jubilee Ambassador from Chichester Caravans in Winchester who are now exporting a number of van to NZ. They delivered to the Southampton Docks and so the VAT was refundable.

The cost of shipping to Auckland, Import tax of 7%, GST (VAT) at 12.5% and agents fees came to $16,000 (GBP 5,600)

Hope this helps

Pete

Gosh, that's an awful lot of money. I've been looking into shipping an outfit to North America and was quoted approx

 

[BigRoy]

I'm Roy (48) there's no Mrs Big Roy I'm divorced and I do all my caravanning with my 8 year old daughter.

I've got an Elddis Firestorm 505 and I tow it with a Peugeot 406 HDI (chipped to 125 BHP)

I am originally from Liverpool and emigrated to Southport a few years ago.

I've spent the last 30 years as a maintenance engineer but due to an enforced career change I'm now a HGV pilot

I started camping donkeys years ago when I was a biker, give it up for a few years then bought a tent just after my daughter was born and re discovered the "joys" then bought a folding camper then a caravan, I am now a self confessed "anorak". That's the story so far, back to the Stella

 

[TonyAsh]

Hello everyone, I am Tony, just retired aged 59 from my job as Lecturer in Engineering at a local FE college, my wife Jean, ( a few weeks older than me), is a full time carer for our disabled son and daughter, Mark aged 33 and Lara aged 28, we live in Bexley, Kent.

We came into caravanning because we felt our son and daughter would benefit from an outdoor activity and have been pleased that we did as we have met some very supportive and decent fellow caravanners.

We tow our Europa with a VW campervan T4 as it is fitted with a wheelchair lift and Lara sleeps in it on site, we tend to use CC sites mainly because of the disabled facilities.

We are 'noticeable' on site and if you see us please come and say hello.

 

[Danny_5134221]

I'm Danny aged nearly 37 and married to Rachel a few years younger ! Two sons Oliver and Samuel, nearly 4 and just 2.

Live in Bristol and have been caravaning for about 4 years.

Have been working for Airbus UK as a maintenance engineer since leaving school and served a 5 year apprenticeship. Who knows what the future of Airbus is at the moment, it seems to be all up in the air (no pun intended !) what with the major delays with the A380 and the not knowing what work Filton will get from the A350. One hopes it will be ok, but you never know.

 

[KiwiPete]

Gosh, that's an awful lot of money. I've been looking into shipping an outfit to North America and was quoted approx

 

[parker1158]

Hello,

We are Robert (52) and Brenda (51) and live in rural Buckinghamshire and Holland.

Brenda works in ICT for a multi-national photographic company.

Me, I'm joint owner of a group of companies with headquarters in Rotterdam - we build process control analysers for the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industry, and a computer applications and biotechnology businesses. I also have the pleasure to represent the UK in Europe on motor vehicle fuel standards and test procedures.

Favourite site - Pencelli Castle near the Brecon Beacons, Camping Blaarmeersen near Gent, and Camping les Capucines in Brittany.

Caravan: Eriba Triton 410 and a Mercedes E-class V6 CDI diesel tow-car

Robert and Brenda

Thanks Robert.

What you write makes sense and I do understand it. My degree is in environmental science but as I said we touched on the lead in fuels as obviously it impacts on the environment. I guess I shall keep using the additive then unless I need to remove the head for other reasons. I only do about a thousand miles a year in the car during the summer (It's a convertible) so its hard to justify removing the head to replace the valve seats

And thanks Angus-very informative reading

 

[gavin_5121842]

Hi Sconny,

we are Gavin(38 last week), and my wife of 15 years,Amanda(a wee bit older),we have 2 girls, Alison(13) and Diane(9). We also have a Border Terrier, Keo(16 months), which is why we've ended up with a caravan!

We have a 6 year old Swift Azzura, pulled by a Honda CRV,(petrol,doh!) which incidentally we also bought because of the dog. Expensive blighter's are they not!

I also play the bagpipes, (29 years now), and you might have seen me at the Tattoo if you were there in 1994/1995. Came out of the Army 10 years ago, after 12 happy years spent all over the world.

We now live in Inverness, but are from the Isles of Skye(me) and Lewis(Mrs B).

If you ever think you spot us 'on site' please say hello. I don't like drinking alone and they'll always be a beer or 2 and a bottle of Uisge beatha,(the water of life), stashed away somewhere,

Gavin.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Caroline & Simon

Both 30 somethings with two children Samuel who's nearly 3 and Georgia 15mths.

Mustn't forget Bob the dog who loves vanning with us.

Have been caravanning for about 5 yrs and are on our 3rd van an ABI Jubilee Vicroy Supreme 5 berth towed with an Isuzu auto Bighorn 3.1 D

Just ordered a new Burstner 540TK with fixed bed & fixed bunk.

Simon is a currently a Roadside Breakdown mechanic having taken a career break from working as a Freelance Chef.

I am a PA at an outside catering company.

Live Notts/Derbys borders. I am from Hampshire originally.

Fav sites are Cornwall for longer hols and good old Skeg-vegas for wkend away with the children.

 

[Ewan_5130997]

Hi All.

Ewan and Grace (both early 40's) from Stirling, Scotland. Two daughters, 14 and 9, and a mad llassa apso. We only started caravanning last year and love it. We pull a Bailey 550/6 with a Fiat Multipla. Fave sites so far are Loch Ness Camping and caravan site and Beechtree Lane CC site in York. Usually only caravan on weekends, but thinking about 3 week trip to Wales this summer.

 

[Ewan_5130997]

Hi All.

Ewan and Grace (both early 40's) from Stirling, Scotland. Two daughters, 14 and 9, and a mad llassa apso. We only started caravanning last year and love it. We pull a Bailey 550/6 with a Fiat Multipla. Fave sites so far are Loch Ness Camping and caravan site and Beechtree Lane CC site in York. Usually only caravan on weekends, but thinking about 3 week trip to Wales this summer.

 

[Ewan_5130997]

Oops. Sorry about that. Nothing like trying to get noticed. ;>)

 

[Earlybird]

William & Amy Kia Sorento XS. towing a Senator Louisiana upgraded to 1800. We have a Reich mover it the perfect outfit for us we live in the perthshise

 

[RJC]

Hi all

I am Richard and I am 53 (just). My wife is Gillian and she will be 49 in May. We have two daughters - Sheonagh (20) and Aynslie (19). Sheonagh is at University in Glasgow and Aynslie is at College, both still living at home which is Bridge of Weir in Scotland but I live in Dublin during the week.

We caravanned when the kids were young and loved it (gave it up because the females in the family are sun-worshippers and unfortunately we had a few horrendously wet holidays with the caravan and also moved house and couldn't keep it at the new house and couldn't find local storage so we tried the package holiday route for a number of years - which I hated but the girls loved).

I took early (very) retirment in May 05 and bought our current caravan a Bailey Senator Wyoming in the August. We tow this with my Chrysler Grand Voyager (soon to be changed probably for a Jeep Commander) or Gillian's Kia Sorrento.

Unfortunately in terms of using the caravan since that September (05) I have been working as a consultant with the organisation I worked for (they obviously decided they couldn't do without me) -hence living in Dublin during the week and therefore we have not had the use of the caravan that we envisaged when we bought it - still contract is nearing an end (March) and we will be able to use the van more.

We have just undertaken major renovations to our house so Gillian who was an administrator in a Care Home for the elderly took time out (nearly a year!!) to supervise these so she is currently "between jobs".

We have not visited many sites so don't have a favourite at the moment but we certainly have a worst one - mainly because of the warden not the facilities (but then that's another story).

Will probably have a month or so on the continent this year.

Cheers

Richard