We lived in a van!

Well, that was exhausting. Don’t get me wrong. It was fabulously exhausting – Henry is the easiest toddler to look after. But it’s the constant, on hand attentiveness which is wearing. He was fab, though. He has the nicest manner, eats sensibly (our food), moans irregularly and smiles 99% of the time. We took him to Westonbirt and to our favourite cafe in Dursley. He loved playing in the grounds of our place, terrorising the neighbour’s dog and one of the cats, not getting too close to the cows, and riding about on his bike and playing football on the tennis court.

We started by going to bed with him, although after a few days he then went down at 8pm (with us in the bed), after which we left him for an hour of mindless tele. He woke once as early as 6.30, but mostly post 7.00. He never once cried for his mummy, and when we did fall out, which was almost never, he quickly moved on and found his cars to play with. He loved Doris and we had a fab three days away at a decent campsite near Slimbridge where Jen and a friend of hers (plus 2 year old girl) popped along for a day out. The two youngsters had a ball, playing like long lost friends. It was magical. Back here we swam in the cold pool … and watched an awful lot of Paw Patrol. It was a long but delightful time, made so much better because Mrs Sun was mostly with us.

We took him to Penkridge yesterday and drove back like a pair of zombies. I went out to supper last night in Chepstow with some old Army buddies (it had been in the diary for a while), and today we went for a walk in the hoofing rain … and little else. I have just had an afternoon kip, and C is flat out on the sofa as I type.

Phew. But it has all been worth it. We next see Bex again on Wednesday, and the three of them the week after next. By the time they head back mid-August we’ll be counting down the days until we head off to Spain (for 8 weeks). And that brings me round to Doris …… who was perfect with the lad. I slept with Henry in the rear bed, and C slept in the cavernous overcab bed. We had one rainy day (where we cycled to Sharpness seeing boats and cranes and trains – all in one day) and later we all managed to rub along nicely in the van as the rain played a tune on the roof. 

always eating

Great. It was lovely to be away in her. And it was also good to see that C was content – the last time we went away she had her minor breakdown and I did fear that van life might be heading out the door. But, no. All was fine. Which, if you think about it, says something. I don’t want to go over old ground, but … and I do find myself being flabbergasted everytime I think about this, we lived in a van for four and a half years. You know, we didn’t just pop away for a couple of months and come back to sort out our lives from our house. We genuinely had no fixed abode. Sure we had a garage full of stuff, but we did everything from Doris 1 (a smaller version than the one we have now) and then Doris 2. We had four winters in a white box, only one of which was on the continent where it snowed in Crete. We travelled here and there. We washed our clothes in launderettes, or often by hand. We did all kinds of stuff, including flying to The Bahamas, Istanbul and Turkey. We did most of Europe (again), and four excursions to Scotland. We skied every year.

this morning’s wet walk

We lived in a van. Something smaller than (probably) your kitchen. We had bikes and skis. We had boots and shoes. We had chairs and tables. We shopped and walked. We ran and cycled. We lived a normal life … and I worked as a consultant as well as penning five novels in the process. I know this all sounds like a boast, but it’s not meant to. Because it was tough at times. Foolhardy if you think about it. But we lived in a van.

an abiding memory

And we loved it. On reflection – and noting we have lived a pretty bizarre life – it was the bizarrest bit of that bizarre life. So well done Doris. What great memories. Anyhow. We’ve just won the cricket. C and I have a full programme for next week, some of which involved me trying to sell some more stuff. You keep safe. And don’t go out in the thunder!