Another job sorted on the camper. Well half of the job. I wanted to change the windows in the camper for opening ones and dummy windows on the side in the back because I like the look of the windows down the side. So booked in at a local place I had checked out before.

It was a nice sunny morning and I was up at the unit by 8.30am waiting. The owner turned up, I handed over the keys and off I went for a walk stopping by the duck pond just because it looked so nice to sit there and ponder.

I had the whole morning to myself before going back to get the camper so I decided to walk the three miles home via Henlle heights where I knew I could get a good breakfast. After my breakfast I continued my walk to home. A message on my phone said to ring the camper place. Oh dear I thought.

The owner of the business gets someone in to do some windows, the guy had turned up and decided he could not do it in the time allowed so had left. I still had the rear windows fitted and I have someone else lined up now to do the opening ones.

I must also add that I forgot to tell Nikki I was having the windows done. Well she knew I was getting them done but not when. She had gone to Devon to meet her sister and see their mum. so it would be a surprise when she returned but will she notice.

I walked back up to the unit at lunchtime so making my walk a six mile one to pick van up with the new windows in the rear side and it was a big wow from me. Just the look I wanted. I am having some more work done on the interior up there but not until later on in the year.

So back home alone for the weekend. Getting hungry so a Chinese takeaway was the order of the day. The local chinese do good portions so I had enough for three meals, I like Chinese food cold also. Along with other food I survived being on my own and when Nikki came home we had a steak dinner which was very nice.

So did she notice the windows, in a word No. She parked next to Vinny the van and I pointed out how shiny Vinny was so she looked but still No.Once inside the house I showed her photos of a car meet I had been to dropping in a photo of Vinny all shiny with her new windows in for her to notice but still No. I just had to tell her in the end and we did laugh about it.

The car meet was at the ironworks centre but a very poor turnout so I only stayed an hour in the hope some more would turn up but they never did. There was a loverly Isetta and a nice morris minor traveller there.

I had a walk around the ironworks while I was there because there is always something different to see. By this time it was starting to get busy being a Saturday.

It was now time for me to have a road trip to Devon. I wanted to get Vinny serviced, mot etc done and the guy in Devon who used to look after our cars was the man to do the work. I could have got it all done just around the corner from where we live but I wanted some time away anyway.

First stop was Dulverton in Somerset on the edge of Exmoor to a site which we had used lots of times. Dulverton is a really nice little village with a handful of shops and three pubs. Our favourite being the Bridge inn. So it would be rude not to go in and see if it had changed since last time. A nice pint of Guinness and a seat outside in the sun watching the world go by was the order of the day. It was so nice I had a couple more pints and a bowl of chips.

The guy on the table next to me got up to leave and said to me did you enjoy your meal. I replied it was an Irish meal, four pints of Guinness and a potato which was disguised as chips. He went off laughing.

Back to the camper and an early night after the drive and my meal. It was so silent on the site and pitch dark which was nice. The next day I left the site about 10pm and headed to the coast at Woolacombe. The weather was not to good but I wanted to see the sea. Luckily the mist was lifting and the rain was also clearing up so I parked up and chilled watching the surfers trying to catch some waves.

I had to drop Vinny off the day before because it was a big service etc to give them enough time so I planned to drop her off mid afternoon. The Monday evening I would spend in a hotel in Barnstaple as the camper with my bed in was in the garage. I had my morning planned for the next day which was to go to Resto Haus which is a Volkswagen museum and cafe owned and set up by a friend of mine.

I drove up after leaving Woolacombe on the Monday before dropping the van off just to get a photo of the outside.

So dropped Vinny off and I walked into Barnstaple and checked in the hotel for the night. Nice room and a bar downstairs so as I had no food and drink with me, I travel light. I went and sat in the bar and tried the Guinness and of course I then needed a meal. Fed and watered I wandered back to my room. Slept well again.

Up the next morning and went around to the bus station where there is a loverly takeaway which does nice baguettes so a bacon baguette was ordered and a wander around the river area in Barnstaple. Then I caught a bus to another part of Barnstaple. Roundswell is on the edge and is where Resto Haus was. I only had to ask four peaple about the bus and times etc.

At Resto Haus I found Bob the owner and had a good catch up with him and admired all the campers and cars in there. The stock is constantly changing as they get sold and new ones come in. There is also a lot of memorabilia and a cafe there. Some of the many cars vans in there below.

After catching up with Bob and having a good look around I walked back into town and soon after got a call to pick Vinny up. I had a lot of things in my head I wanted to do and peaple to see but in the end I was so tired I just wanted to chill on my own. The weather for the next two days was looking bad so I decided to come home early. So I headed for South Molton to a campsite we have used lots of times. Got set up on my pitch and just chilled in the sun with some cooked chicken and bread rolls for my tea.

The next day I set off at 7.45 am and headed for home. I had one stop at Glouster services two hours later. It was a good run and even the M6 was flowing so I got home just after midday. Unpacked the van and had some lunch. Nikki was home just after five and cooked me a proper meal.

I did 528 miles and used £123.36 of fuel for the round trip. The van cost a lot more but it was a big service and cam belt etc which is only every five years. Beer and food was not a lot but the main thing is I had a nice time away. So that’s us up to date and as the sun is shining I need to get out for a walk. It’s getting colder this week and the tempurture is going to be single figures. The heating will have to go on soon.