Decisions Decisions!!!

Well the decision of which awning will suit us best has still not been resolved. Steve doesn't like the idea of the bendy poles on some of the porch awnings pressing up against the caravan .. even thought the alu-tech body shell is supposed to be dent resistant!! So I've been googling like mad and found one which I think will be ideal for our needs.

It's the Dorema Mistral Ripstop .. it's supposed to be a dream to put up !!



I have emailed Dorema to check that this awning will fit our Baby .. and if it does then we will visit a dealer to check out the quality .. watch this space!!!

1st trip 100% success!

We have just got back from our first trip in Baby and it was every bit as wonderful as we'd hoped. We arrived at Tredegar House caravan club site just after 12. I had made a shepherds pie and prepared enough veg for 2 days on Saturday so as soon as we pitched we put the gas on ..shepherds pie in oven and veg in steamer whilst we set up camp.



After lunch we went off to explore the park.




Then back to try out the awnings .. we weren't happy with the fit of our weekender porch awning ..Baby is a lot taller than our old Avondale so it didn't quite reach the ground. So we have made the decision to replace both awnings with a good sized porch awning that we can use for every trip .. The Dorema Quattro looks like it will be perfect.


Steve enjoyed a hard earned rest after we put the porch up ..can you believe it was warm enough for T shirts in the middle of February, we were so lucky with the weather.



It was really frosty at night but we didn't realise till we opened the blinds..it was so toasty and warm in the caravan even with the heating on it's lowest setting.


All in all a lovely trip in a lovely caravan .. everything worked and it was so nice having a shower without having to go out in the cold to the amenities block. Can't wait for the next trip which will be in about 4 weeks.

5 More Sleeps !!

Baby is outside the house ready and waiting for her first adventure.

We picked her up from storage this afternoon and parked her outside the house. The gas is in and the leisure battery is connected up. Tried the heating out on the gas and we're very impressed with the heat from it, the whole van was warm within 10 mins, considering it was freezing this afternoon and the van has never been heated that was no mean fete.

We also tried the radio out, we think it will be a lovely addition to our enjoyment..there is a CD player and ipod connection as well so plenty of options to listen to music. All the lights work on the 12v as does the fridge which also works on gas and mains so we can enjoy the caravan even if we don't have electric hook up.

7 More Sleeps!!!!

Yes just 7 more sleeps before we take Baby out on her first trip. It is just the most exciting feeling going away in the caravan ..but to go away in a brand new caravan is rather like waiting for Santa to arrive.

I went shopping today to get the seasons toiletries and cleaning supplies, also things like toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, cling film and foil.

We also got the sleeping bags and pillows out to air and put the towels, tea cloths and bedding in a pile ready to load up.

Tuesday will be a big day .. we will be bringing Baby down to the house to start loading her up. :-))

First Trip Nearly Here!!

We are all set to take Baby on her first trip on the 17th Feb to Tredegar Park in Newport.

It's seems so long since we have been out on a caravan trip .. well it seems like but it's actually less than 4 months!! .. it is taking a lot more thinking about than we'd imagined. Firstly Baby isn't fully equipped yet so I have to go through the packing list to make sure we haven't forgotten anything. Then we have to decide when to pack the bedding, towels and clothes .. too early and they won't be aired ..so to make it easier we'll bring Baby down to the house a few days before we go and put in the dehumidifier ..that will make sure everything is nicely aired.. and we can test out the heating which will probably be needed this early in the season.

We also need to put the leisure battery and Gas in .. With so many other things to think about we'd almost forgotten that Baby hasn't been used for a holiday yet!!

The main reason for this short trip is to try out the awnings on her. We have 2 .. a small portico porch awning and a Dorema full awning. The porch awning is universal so we know that will fit.. but the full awning is going to be too small so we have a conversion kit, consisting of a series of poles and pads, to turn it into a combi awning .. should be fun LOL. We could have sold the full awning and bought a new one to fit ..but the Dorema is nearly new and is big enough for us, one to fit Baby would be too big .....and besides the colours match Baby's livery ;-)) ..so we really hope this conversion works out.