TWO SISTERS AND ONE CAMPER

This weekend I persuaded my sister to come away in the camper overnight.  She is a more home-comfort girl and has always said it wouldn't be her thing.  But she came and survived the night. I think she would come again but the test will be when I next invite her. I hope she does... 

We went to one of our local islands and I didn't waste time in getting her into a boat for a short trip out onto the water.  This photo shows the Packing Shed, it is on its own small island and was once used by local fisherman for packing oysters. This area is renowned for oysters and I am planning a visit to the Packing Shed soon. On special open days they do cream teas, it is in my diary!

Then we walked along the shore where there is a miss-match of
houseboats. This one has been extended both sides, I'd love to be nosey and go aboard to see what they are like inside!

Back at the campsite we walked along the beach. Fossils have been found along this stretch, including hippos and other large relics. Sadly no finds for us, but lots of lovely oyster shells which are like pearl inside. 

 

There is a lovely fen area that borders the beach where you see heron and egrets.  It is very peaceful and quiet. The perfect get away. 

A few weeks back we spent another weekend on this island. They have a number of resident artists and they had open studios. It was wonderful and I felt completely inspired and exhilarated going from house to house.

But that is a post in itself and one I plan to do soon. 

And like all good things, everything comes to an end.  As we drove home I stopped at a local river to show my sister another of my favourite places.  You may have seen my photos of this spot before with its resident swans.  

Only this time when I zoomed in, I spotted a black swan amongst them.  I've not seen this one before and wonder if it is visiting or here to stay.  Black swans originate from Australia and it seemed coincidence that my friend Melanie is currently here too on a visit from her now Australia homeland. 

Joining in with Helena's  'Pairs' and liking the fact that Helena has resident swans near where she lives too.  Do pop over and see what others have shared this week, there are often wonderful surprises and ideas.  Thanks for looking in....

ROAD TRIP - GOING SOLO

A year ago I went on a road trip.  It wasn't planned to be, but after accepting an invitation to an evening event in Bournemouth I realised it was unrealistic to drive there and back in a day.  And so I  decided to extend my trip and as things unfolded I grew more and more excited. You see I discovered the Craft Barn had a special event that weekend, a craft Extravaganza. It couldn't have been better timing, and it made a perfect stop on my way home.  So I booked sites to stay overnight and set off in my campervan.  There was a mix of excitement and adventure. I'd not done this on my own before...

When I arrived at Bournemouth I took time to admire the views from the cliff top and to relax after the long drive.  I had gone all that way to listen to someone speak, and after getting to know them on line it was wonderful to meet them in person.  It was inspiring and motivational, I left buzzing. 

 

I thought about going down to the beach next morning, before leaving the coast, but I didn't have the energy.  And so I took the day gently and drove through the New Forest, pulling over for a while to watch a herd of ponies before making my way to my next overnight stop.  At the farm I discovered they had a shop and their own butchery.  I had enough supplies but I couldn't resist  buying more for breakfast, good then, that there was space in the fridge!    It was when I drove into the field that my nerve wavered.  I discovered I was alone.  Now I'm not an anxious person, but it was a good distance from the farm and mobile signal was poor.  Bravery was needed!

 

Undaunted I relaxed with cups of tea, my journal, and art materials.  The view from the camper was amazing... miles of open countryside stretched a head and I watched the sun slowly settle. I loved being alone and going at my own pace.  Dinner at a local pub was the end to a perfect day - especially when I got back and discovered a couple more campers had joined me.  Phew!  Sometimes it is good to escape, but right then, company was a welcomed sight. 

 

 It was good to relax into the night with my craft materials.  I never travel without them and there was happy mail to post next morning, and a travel journey in the making.....

 

 

A leisurely cooked breakfast was the perfect start to the day and I lingered over writing my morning pages.  I also took time to feel the grass beneath my feet, this always grounds me and recharges my energy.  I loved this time to appreciate a slower pace and unwinding. I need to do it more often. 

And when I was ready I packed the camper and headed to the Craft Barn.  I stopped to post my happy mail on the way, though it was tinged with sadness, because I was posting to a friend who had just weeks left to live. I had decided to make a postcard to send her each day. What do you do when words don't feel enough, or might be too much?  It's hard to know what is right.  But I hoped that letting my friend know I was thinking of her would help.  

 

And as for the Craft Barn?  Well I had an amazing time!   But I'm not going to tell you about that now, because this post is long enough, and besides, I'm planning another road trip this weekend.  There is another Extravaganza and I shall be travelling down Friday in the campervan and staying until Sunday.  This time I have invited friends to meet me, some are coming for breakfast on Sunday and others will join us there.  It's going to be fun filled.

 

Following the first trip I made a mini book and added photos that I took on my journey.  Go here if you would like to see it.  This time I have made a travel journal to take, with pockets and pages and places to write.  I can't wait to get started.....  

 

There's a page to list 'Things to Pack'.  I guess that's as good a place as any!

WOYWW - Time to unwind... finally!

My workspace has been neglected, birthdays overlooked and cards sent late.  I hang my head in shame....

I'm trying I can get back on top of things and catch up with some creative work.  I have my monthly crop to look forward to and a three day residential booked at the end of the month.  The prospect of a week off work soon adds to my excitement because I so need time to unwind and catch up with friends!  Meanwhile I have made a birthday card (this one was delivered on time!) and pages for the Log Book that I have mentioned in previous posts.
So that's what's on my workspace this Wednesday, a long with two postcards sent by friends.  I LOVE receiving that kind of post, don't you?

Here's a few photos of our first trip in the campervan.  We didn't have time to go far, but we found a lovely farm, cracked open a bottle of champagne and were lulled to sleep by the hoot of an owl.  Next morning I had breakfast in bed and a walk along the estuary before driving home.  Much of the area around here is salt marsh and I love the way the sea makes inlets and sculptures the land.  It is a landscape rich in birdlife especially overwintering geese, with an assortment of boats that add colour and character.  I never tire of it. And finally I can  start filling out the pages in our Log Book.  Yay!!  Life is returning to 'normal' whatever that is.
And if you are interested, this post shows the campervan in it's making ......

Have you been having this wonderful weather?  If so  I hope you managed to enjoy it while it lasted.  It is forecast to be on the turn now but what an unexpected treat - 28 degrees in October! Just perfect for our first weekend away.

And to see what other people have on their workspace this Wednesday, go over to Julia's page here, and have a good week what ever you have planned.

Creating........ a CAMPERVAN

Where did September go? 

For me it was a month filled with frustration, with measures of patience and persistence that I did not know I possessed.  The promise of a campervan never materialised.  We made so many trips to the converters that our car eventually drove itself, and Mr Converter commented ‘if I see any more of you Sandie we’ll have to get married’.  My LSNED pages lay empty on my workspace, and most days were filled with the mundane and mediocre, exhaustion and exasperation.

But there were sprinklings of special days of course.... such as my husband & granddaughter's shared birthday.  So there was a gathering at the weekend and then a lovely day spent with my daughter, followed by roller skating after school.  And our much enjoyed holiday to North Wales.  Even the wind and the rain could not temper our spirits!

And while thinking about how to write this post I visited Julie Ann Shahin's blog.   And I wondered about serendipity again because she relates a wonderful story told by Andrea Scher, which I thought was just beautiful.  Andrea says that :

 "Buddists believe that when a lot of things are going wrong all at once,

it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born,

and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be

                                                                born as perfectly as possible"

Did this relate to our Campervan?

Because with September's passing we FINALLY have possession !!

And I can reveal the story of it’s making...





Take one van and dismantle........

Cut strategic holes

Spray colour of choice

  
          Then start to assemble.....

          Line with carpet for insulation
          & comfort

          add windows

          flooring

and a roof.

                Build furniture......

                add a sink,

                water,

                toilet and

                electric.


                                                
                                                                                                  And finally...........       

 

           fit seats, newly

           upholstered in rosy red. 










                                                                           
                                                                                And here it is!  

I could come up with a string of metaphores to describe our experience, and truth be told, this has been like a bad pregnancy and difficult birth.  But most parents eventually forget the trials and tribulations and soon become besotted with their new off spring.

At the moment I am trying to think of a name for our camper.  Something that will roll off the tongue and give rise to interesting ideas and projects.  I've already mentioned that I plan to have a Log Book to record our overnight trips and camps.  I'm sure a name will spring to mind when my mind is quieter.  But if you have any suggestions they'll be greatly welcomed, because I know there are a lot of creative and clever minds among my blog readers and friends.  And I will offer a small giveaway if I choose one of the names suggested.

We finally accepted the camper on Saturday and we lost no time in having a night away.  Hopefully we can start to get back into a normal routine again, and catch up on all the other things that have been neglected along the way.  At the moment our excitement is still slightly marred by exhaustion and the amount of effort needed to bring this together, but like new parents, we will soon catch up on sleep and I'm already making plans of where we shall go and what we will do.

Oh, and by the way, I'm making space for some creative stuff to take along.... of course!!