Caravan Update

So here is what was under the patching!  Good job they covered that up before they sold it.  Thank god for Surfer Boy is all I can say.  This corner is the next on the job list and last weekend saw lots of measuring, sawing, hammering and all that other stuff that tradies do.
A couple of rotten floorboards have been replaced and the bracing on the back wall is now as good as new.  I think new walls are the next step.

 I would just like to draw your attention to the fact that my husband may be the only tradie in Australia who has NO VISIBLE BUM CRACK while working!  Impressive hey?

Oh and by the way I got the quote for my seat upholstry today - put it this way - the caravan has just doubled in cost. 

The Caravan Project - First Jobs

 As soon as we got our lovely lady home the work began - Surfer Boy was already scrubbing , sweeping, and pulling up old lino when I arrived home.  My first job was to remove all the curtains and take the upholstery out to the back yard for a good scrub down.

 I don't think I can accurately describe the smell to you so I won't try. Believe me, it's best you don't know.

First up they got a hose down in the shower and a good scrub using a very strong detergent.  Then they went outside to be attacked with the industrial high pressure hose that Surfer Boy had the forethought to bring home.

This is how they ended up - notice the bottoms are still drying out.  Although improved they are far from usable so the next step is to take them down to my upholsterer to see what his verdict is.  Do we start from scratch or can he save the bones and recover them?  We shall see.

While I was busy with the cushions, S.B. decided to re-build the door.

I won't pretend to know what or how he did it but the door now looks as good as new while still keeping all it's charm and features.

So there you have it - weekend one done and dusted.  Not a bad start.

Crochet For Lorelai

When we bought the caravan a girlfriend of mine commented that she would now have to crochet me a rug for it.  Well I don't expect her to actually do it but after seeing some of these pictures I am tempted to get her to re-teach me the fine art of crochet.

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But then again - what if I end up doing this.....

Cup of Tea, Good Book, and a Cosy Spot

This Will Be Me One Day

Caravan Inspiration - O.T.T.

Sometimes someone needs to take you aside and tell you when you've gone too far!

This is a perfect example of this not happening.

Maybe this van looks better from a distance but at the moment it is giving me a sugar rush.

It's Here

The caravan arrived yesterday - Surfer Boy took the day off to go and pick it up and then drove past my shop so I could see it - hilarious. 

When I got home from work he had already started working on it - it was absolutely filthy and unfortunately smells rather strongly of dog!  Not my favourite aroma.

The poor girl is in a sorry state but I noticed there were measurements for sheets of ply on the dining table this morning so I'm tipping that by the end of the weekend she will have at least one spanking new panel.    I'll have to make sure I take lots of photos of her transformation.

I have to make a decision as to whether I cover over the current (original but gross and beyond saving) upholstery or if I splurge and get the seats recovered.  I'm leaning towards the latter as I don't think that dog wee smell is ever going to leave if I don't.  I've already removed the hideous curtains and binned them - tempted to make new ones tonight but think I should wait until everything is sparkling again.

So much to do - so fun.  Grab a pair of gloves, some Spray & Wipe and join us for a weekend of scrubbing....

Caravan Inspiration

For The Caravan

We Did It

As of an hour ago we are the proud owners of a caravan!

There has been a lot of talk about it but I never thought Surfer Boy would actually agree.  Last weekend we missed out on a van at auction that went well above our price range.  We didn't even get a chance to bid.  I thought that that would be the extent of it but today Moondoggie called me in from where I was reading my book in the sun, with the words..'Dad's found a caravan but it's up in 30 minutes!'  I thought he was kidding but sure enough Surfer Boy was on EBay and had found a beauty.

After much finger crossing we won the auction and have spent the last hour looking at each other in a bemused fashion - we now own a caravan.  They are words I never thought I'd hear myself say.  Mind you a couple of years ago I couldn't have imagined even wanting one!

Our lovely lady is feeling a little sorry for herself but as she is made of timber I have high hopes of Surfer Boy resurrecting her and restoring her to her former glory.  We think she was made in the 50's but we'll have to look in to that further when we pick her up.

Despite her war wounds she has so much going for her and will be a fabulous project for us both.  S.B. can work on her bone structure while I work on her face lift. 

Her details are fabulous - all original Bakelite handles, rounded mouldings, so many things that I have fallen in love with.

While we're not-so-patiently waiting for the house to be done we can get our teeth into our new love!  Stay tuned for updates...

My Project

Surfer Boy and I are extremely lucky because both sets of our parents have holiday homes in the same coastal town.  Not only do we get to spend our winter weekends there whenever we like but my parents vacate the house for the entire month of January so that we can re-locate there for the summer holidays.

The only fly in the ointment is the lack of space for the whole family to be there together.  It was perfect when we were growing up but now that my brother and I have families we tend to use the house separately which is a shame.  Every summer we throw around ideas - if we pull out a wall here/ add a room there/ etc but this summer I have had an epiphany!!

If you regularly read this blog you will know that I have a hankering for a caravan and have even been scouring eBay on the sly for my dream van.  We have nowhere at home to put it but I suddenly realised I can kill to birds with one stone and get on for the beach house!  Woo Hooo!  A perfect excuse for my dream project and solves some space issues into the bargain.  Win Win.

The next task is convincing my parents that it is a good idea because it is, after all, their house.  The ace up my sleeve is that it won't cost them anything so with a bit of luck they will be happy to let me annex a couple of metres of yard.
I'm posting these pics here so my Dad can get an idea of what I would like to do.  As the interior of the house is red I have thrown in some red vans to really sweeten the deal.... is it working Dad???

My lovely friend Kris gave me this book for Christmas which has now become my bible and the lynch pin for my caravan campaign. 

Wish me luck.