To say I love having a VW van back in my life is a understatement. Having had VW vans since the seventies and enjoying the van life, it is a way of life for me. And after introducing Nikki to VW van life after meeting her she is hooked on it also. So that’s good.

So Vinny Van come to us on the 14th June and has been having small changes as the weeks go by and there are a few more changes to do to get it to the perfect van for us.

Changes include a bit more storage space and a Lithium battery set up so we don’t have to rely on hook up at campsites. New windows. Oh and a new set of wheels for summer use. All these changes are going to happen in the next year and when funds allow.

My cars and my vans have always been a passion and not just a means to get from A to B. Some peaple understand my obsession others don’t get it at all. If things need doing they get done.

Which brings me to a rumbling noise I could hear when going to work one morning and again on the way home. So when I got home I checked the wheels and hubs thinking a wheel bearing was on its way out. All seemed good. Next day going to work I was thinking I need to get this checked out so asked my manager if it was ok for me to have the day off and get it checked out as we were going away the next day for a week. No problem Mike off you go.

Straight to my local garage who are always busy but the owner got one of his mechanics to have a look. He took it for a short run up the road and then put it on the ramps. While it was up in the air and I was stood at the back of the van I noticed the rear tyre. It should not be that shape with a big bulge in the sidewall.How lucky I was as that could have blown out anytime.

So four new tyres ordered and fitted and I picked it up later that day and drove off with peace of mind counting my lucky stars.

The next day we packed the van up and headed for the three counties showground at Malvern in Worcester about 85 miles away for a big VW van festival called Busfest.

The festival used to be called Vanfest and I was there at the start and it used to be the go to event in September where I would catch up with friends, buy bits, drink beer and have a great time. Nikki started coming with me after we met and we had so many good times there.

Have been there in different VW vans and my big Winnebago and Bertie the A class motorhome we have just sold. I have done some marshalling there with friends and the guy that puts the event on is always surprised when I turn up that I am still alive.

Having worked on campsites for the last ten years we could not get there because we were always working on weekends. But this year we were going and meeting friends who I have known for 46 years.

We had a nice drive to get there and got all set up on the Thursday before the show opened on the Friday and chatted and chatted and then chatted some more.

As it got dark we were still chatting and drinking of course. What else is there to do in a big empty field. The festival gates opened the next day and the vans starting rolling in and all going off to there selected parts of the showground to camp up. It’s the biggest VW van festival in Europe and all models from all over the U.K. and Europe come to it.

You can buy anything there from a key ring to a complete new van conversion. There is music at different areas, trade stands, a fun fair, food venders, bars, displays, chill out zones, show and shine, off road course for the 4×4 vans. For sale area.Some of the stalls are inside the huge big showground sheds, others are outside.

So by the time you have walked around your legs are tired and your hungry and thirsty. I think we walked at least five miles every day we were there. And as the sun goes down we went out for an evening walk to take in some of the atmosphere with the bands etc. The lights from the fair ground and all different music going on until midnight. That’s way too late for me but luckily I can sleep through anything, and I did.

A small selection of photos I took of the festival.

On the Sunday peaple start packing up and heading off at different times through out the day. Most leave in the afternoon and then the big pack up starts. The field we were in had about 320 vans in and by 6 pm they had all gone so we could get the field packed up. Taking in all the pegs and tape that had marked the pitches for them. It was rainy and cooler than it had been but we got it done in good time. Shower and some food and a beer and cheers to the weekend was in order and an early night. We had stayed an extra night to help out but my back didn’t like it.

I have suffered with a bad back for a long time but this day it just went up a notch on the pain scale and I had trouble walking. And that’s without beer. We were supposed to have the rest of the week away but with my back playing up and the weather looking bad where we were going we decided to come home and re group. We got home and unpacked the van into the garage and sorted it all the next couple of days.

We didn’t do a lot just catch up on things and Nikki went to Shrewsbury on the train for the day while I hobbled about. My back is getting better slowly. A short walk is ok but then if I sit down it’s the getting back up that hurts.

So we decided to treat ourselves to a night out as my back had ruined the holiday. It was Nikki’s birthday in the week and our anniversary and we were supposed to go out on my birthday but Nikki had a bad back then so we never went then. We walked along the canal to Henlle heights about a 30 minute walk. It was a nice warm day with the sun out so we sat outside in the balcony and had a drink or two until 5.30 when we went inside to eat.

It was so nice sitting in the sun and chatting about the years going by so quick. They do Indian food on a Saturday evening and the kitchen is run by Indians. We had starters and main meals and the food was top notch.

We payed the bill and then strolled back home passing the deer paddock and the duck pond at Henlle heights and then along the canal.

So that’s us up to date. We’re nearly into October which is scary and the weather is changing. Hopefully the next posting on here my back will be better. Nikki has a road trip to Devon next week to see her mum and sister and then I go to Devon to get Vinny mot and service done. I know it’s a long way but I like the guy who used to look after our cars and vans in Barnstaple so will take it there this year and I can catch up with friends at the same time. Not sure how long I am going for or which way I am coming back yet via friends or family. The last photo is Vinny lowered on the air ride as low as it will go while parked up. I love the look but as I said other peaple don’t get it. Life’s good being different.