After a couple of days at Cirencester I came down with a bug. Nikki already had a cold so the clues are there who I got it from. Apart from mine was worse, it was man flu.

I very rarely get ill but this bug really knocked me for six. So the two weeks we were at Cirencester I was really ill and then we left there and went to Devon where I continued to be ill for another week.

Bertie the camper had its MOT while we were down in Devon and it passed so that was good. We cancelled plans to see people because of not feeling good. Nikki was a lot better so she went to see her mum along with her sister who was down for a couple of days.

Our next port of call from Devon was to a campsite on the edge of Shrewsbury which we had booked a long time ago and brought the stay earlier so we could use it before moving into the house and putting Bertie into storage.

The day we left Devon the weather was horrible, rain and wind and so much surface water on the motorway I was down to 40 mph in a lot of places so it took a lot longer than it should have. Got to the campsite which was number 102 in Bertie, not bad for 12 years ownership.

A couple of days at that site and then less than an hour to Chirk which is where we would stay until we move into our house.

So while at Chirk we started to pack up the contents of Bertie. We have moved house a few times in our life and even moved from one camper van to the next but I was so surprised how much stuff we had in Bertie. The suspension has lifted since emptying the camper.

Living in a small space is great but when you try and pack everything up and get it all out the cupboards etc and then have to put it somewhere ready to take out of the small space you were living in suddenly gets a lot smaller.

So with the contracts signed and money paid for the house on the 17th we moved. We have an estate car which has a very good load space with the back seats down but it still took four very well packed loads to get all the stuff from Bertie to the house.

We were in by lunchtime on the 17th November 2025. Back into a property after 16 years on the road. Nikki had a big grin on her face, I was happy but a little bit bemused by it all. I have a garage to hide in though and that will be sorted as and when.

All our stuff unloaded and spread around the house and the garage all ready to sort out. There was also a lot of stuff in the house because it was an air B&B before so was set up with everything so all that stuff had to be sorted into what we were going to keep and what we were going to put away.

By yesterday it was mostly all sorted but ongoing. At least we can enjoy the space and I can wander around the house asking myself. How did I get here what’s happened. I almost feel like a grown up living in a house.

We have a huge big bedroom. Bertie’s bedroom you could lay in bed and touch every side of the bed without moving and that included the roof. In the house we have to walk from the bed to the sofa at the other end of the room and we have cupboards and drawers to put stuff in. For once I can spread all my mountain bike and hiking clothes out instead of having to get a storage box out and find the stuff I want.

I have to go to bed earlier now because from the dining room, sitting room or kitchen I have to walk and then climb up twelve stairs and that’s just to get on the landing then I have to choose between three bedrooms. Two have Juliet balconies .We will certainly be getting our daily steps in.

When the nice weather comes around we have three seating areas to enjoy, two which overlook the canal so we are looking forward to having a beer in the garden and having a cheers to the canal boats as they go by.

The house in the last photo is our neighbours, not too close. The other side of the canal is where the footpath is and where we have walked along in the past and said how nice would it be to live there. It’s a ten minute walk from the house to the nearest pub on the canal which is nice for a change. We don’t go out much really and now we have this space we will probably stay at home for a beer.

And of course we have bills to pay so both need jobs. Nikki has already applied for three jobs and has an interview next week. I also have to hire a van and go down to Barnstaple to empty our store down there. A store which we had for 16 years after moving from our cottage. So that will be interesting because we can’t remember everything that’s in there. When I bring that back to the cottage it will go in four piles. Garage, house, tip, and for sale.

Bertie is in storage now which was really weird taking him to a storage compound and leaving him there all in the cold. It was like putting him in jail as we walked away and locked the gates after 12 year of living in him and him being warm and cozy etc. I know most people just treat cars etc as objects but with my love for vehicles I do get attached to them and I was really sad leaving him there and it will be another sad day when I actually sell him. At least then he will be out of jail and back on the road with someone.

I will go down to the storage and make sure he is ok and take him out for a drive now and then.

So that’s us up to date. This blog will slow down now as we’re not on the road and I don’t want to bore you with our everyday living. But I will keep it going because we’re not just going to sit in the house and stare out the windows. When Bertie goes the plan is to buy a small VW camper so we can get away for weekends etc. Having owned camper vans since 1977 I am not likely to stop now. I am just off to wander around the house to find Nikki.