What I Do When I'm Not Messing With Campers

After another tough (did someone say stressful?) week trying to get our campers to behave and ready for their hires I was more than ready for some down time.

As it was my friend Louise's birthday tomorrow we (me & my lovely friends Vicky & Katie) had secretly been planning a treat for her, our original plan had been a trip to Frinton in a campervan but it turned out all our campers were going to be out on hire so plans were remade.

We only had the afternoon due to Louise's work so we planned a surprise picnic in the park but after the damp weather of late we again had to change our plans....so a posh tea party it was.

Katie made very dainty sandwiches with the crusts cut off and yes some of them were cucumber!  Vicky baked a Muppets birthday cake, and some scones & flapjacks and so what did I bake...nothing as I'm a rubbish baker and hate anything that involves the kitchen.  My contribution was some props like the picnic basket, table cloths, bunting, flowers etc etc.

Due to running late on getting Ramsey back here, I was still busy washing and polishing him when I should of been helping get the surprise ready but thankfully Vicky & Katie are more than use to me being a bit hopeless and unreliable and got everything sorted in my absence.

I waved Ramsey's hirers off at 12.30 then did the quickest wash & change in to my gladrags I've ever managed and ran (yes ran) round to Vicky's arriving just as Katie pulled up with birthday girl Louise.  We had great fun basically stuffing as much food in as we could while still managing to breathe in our boned dresses....no easy task.

If only we had lunch like this everyday it put's my normal cheese sandwich to shame...

Happy Birthday Louise 

Meanwhile back at Custard HQ we off to visit our splittie tomorrow so hopefully I can get a few new pictures to share with you.

Kerry x

Glamping - What To Take Part 1

‘Glamping’ noun
[mass noun] British informal
a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping (oxforddictionaries.com)

Gertrude Bell in 1907

I think the first person to really embrace glamping would have to be Gertrude Bell; an intrepid adventurer of the Middle East from 1892 until her death in 1926, she gained respect from the local Bedouins by travelling through the desert with her tents, evening gowns and silver tableware.  These luxurious items elevated her to the status of queen in the local’s eyes, which meant she was welcomed and not treated with the hostility that most foreigners were greeted with at that time.

Fast forward 100 years and Glamping is an idea we all love but how to achieve it?  Well the simplest way is to book a campervan of course! and then take along some very lovely glamping products.....

This amazing hand painted tableware set from Yours Sustainably, would look fantastic in one of our campers (and incidentally is how I found  Yours Sustainably)

How about a hand painted camper set? it comes in a choice of green or blue, this will set you out as the most stylish camper round the fire...

Need something to keep your food hot before you dish up? they've got this cute tiffin 

or if you prefer to keep your food chilled, there this stylish lunch tote

or if you just want to keep your sandwiches fresh, I love this colourful reusable sandwich wrap

What else could you possibly need? lashings of ginger beer of course, all kept chilled for up to 24hrs in this light weight flask 

The above products (and short history lesson!) courtesy of Yours Sustainable, they've got loads more gorgeous items and it's all sourced to be environmentally sensitive & ethical.  While putting this blog post together I've just spotted a gorgeous vintage map bound note book that would be perfect for Delia's entertainment hamper, a glamping visitors book.  

So many more glamping ideas so think I'll leave this here and come back with part 2 next week.  Please do go have a look at Yours Sustainably and many thanks to Jessica for her time suggesting the products that would work well for this post.

Kerry x

Delia's Latest Wedding Day

Delia spent last Friday on a self drive hire at the wedding of Gemma & Steve and she had a wonderful time.....

It all began several months ago when I was hoovering Delia at the local garage and Gemma spotted us and promptly turned her car round and came to see if Delia was available for her wedding date.  Then with everything booked they could sit back and look forward to arriving in style.

Steve picked Delia up at 8am on the day of the wedding and after a few challenging minutes trying to get to grips with her gears he was off to enjoy his special day.  Despite the weather forecast being rubbish, the day was actually quite sunny and Delia looked very pretty shining in the sunlight, parked up at the reception venue in pride of place.

Looks like a great wedding day 

Kerry x

Alive & V Dubbin & a bit more...

Yet more time has flown by and I have neglected my blog but here now so lets get on with it!

Ramsey has now been completed....after many frustrations and desperate searches to find a trimmer to carry out the upholstery, we stumbled upon Kustom Interiors at Wickford.  They squeezed us in, and completed the work on budget and ahead of schedule, fantastic.  His new pin up curtains are hung, new full width rock n roll bed fitted and with a new stereo and speakers he's ready to hit the road.....

Oh did I forget to mention he also had an engine rebuild as he kept gettting over excited and popping his piston!!  He has now set off on his first hire and is currently sunning himself in Cornwall.

Prior to the work being completely finished we thought we'd take him for a test trip as a birthday treat for the middle custard cream.  So friend invited, sleeping bags packed, several hours later than planned we headed off to Alive & V Dubbin at Jimmy's Farm, Ipswich.

Ramsey's motored along the A12 without any grumbles and we arrived on a windy but dry site by Saturday lunchtime.  Then ensued a battle with his new awning, not helped by Dan being bossy, when I pointed out he was always telling me he replied...because you just don't listen! Tip from the top...don't put up any tent/awning/other structure with your husband because they don't know what their doing but will insist that they do!!!

 Anyway awning duly up and securely pegged, we headed off to the main part of the show for a nosey.  Due to the extreme weather on the Friday (set up day) I think several traders had given up and jumped ship and the area by the main marquee was also a bit deserted, but we had something to eat & passed a couple of hours wandering around.

Several hours where also spent getting Ramsey's curtains to fit (yes that's correct I hadn't fitted them prior to departure as thought I'd just do it while on site)  It was virtually dark by the time I'd got them right.

We were expected rain on the Sunday but thankfully we woke up to gorgeous sunshine, so after cooking up a bit of breakfast we headed off in search of VW's.

Didn't have to go far just walking round the campsite there were so many to see;

Sunday had a much better atmosphere, plenty of people milling about and sitting outside the beer tent, listening to the music, the show n shine area was packed with campers, beetles & ghias amongst a few others.  I think I will add another post in a few days with the show and shine pictures as took loads.  All in all a really good laid back day.


Also if you like a vintage caravan I've got some snaps of them and a lovely guest blog post coming up in the next few weeks by someone who knows a thing or two about them. 

Kerry x

Update On Ramsey

The past few weeks have been spent focusing on Ramsey the early bay we bought in April.  Gorgeous though he was when we purchased him....

He wasn't really suitable for hiring, so we've now raised him up off the floor, and at Dan's insistence got him some new shiny Fuchs wheels & new wheels meant new tyres, can you see a pattern emerging?...

new shoes.....

He has been for his interior refit but that hasn't been as straight forward as I would of hoped or expected, one delay after another has meant he's currently part done but is awaiting his new upholstery & curtain rails.  We have been promised these are coming but still we wait, so Ramsey is now back home with us well we decide whether to keep waiting or not.  To be honest the whole thing has been a lot more stressful than I have just made out but perhaps its best at this point to leave it like that.

What has been done so far looks really cool, he has a black gloss unit housing the double gas hob and sink, a rock n roll bed with matching kick panel.  A red table that fits neatly into cut out section in the boot, and retro chequer board flooring.

It is amazing how quickly you become attached to a campervan, Ramsey feels very much part of the firm and I can't imagine not having him.  That said he needs to behave himself so I can get loads of lovely bookings for him so he can earn his keep.  As I type this Dan & the ever knowledgeable @richiemorena are outside in the dark taking his engine out, I stood around watching for a bit then thought perhaps I'd be more useful writing this blog (well that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it!).  I've been assured that Ramsey will be back on the road in time for a little road trip this Sunday......

Speaking of which, a couple of weeks ago we took a little run over to The Walnut Tree at Broads Green nr Chelmsford for a Sunday afternoon drink.  It turned out that several of the locals were keen dubbers & we were invited over to one of their houses to admire their camper and it's newly built interior (very nice it was too)  

They mentioned the pub was having a charity BBQ for Help The Heroes this coming Sunday 27th May, and how they were hoping to have a bit of dub meet up, and get all the campers etc in a mini line up.  So that's where we'll be heading this Sunday as long as Ramsey is running and you'd be more than welcome to join us, dub or no dub.

Kerry x

Bring On The Colour

As regular followers will know, back in March we purchased a very retro looking Splitscreen camper.  She was at the time sporting some a metallic brown paint job with orange pinstriping and air scoops.  It was always the plan to have a full bare metal respray carried out, so off to the bodyshop she went.

So far it's been all about removing all her paint and uncovering any body issues, which so far has not thrown up any nasty surprises, thankfully.

Our thoughts have now turned to what colour to paint her...and here's where the issues start.  Taking campers out of the equation we don't always have the same ideas on what looks good but up to this point Dan's usually not been fussed enough to take a stand hence why we have a fuchsia kitchen walls & a pink and red lounge but this time I've not been able to get it all my own way.  He's put his foot down and expressed some strong opinions on what we should spray her.

His absolute favourite is a black roof and mustard body (I can't find a picture of this so you'll have to use your imagination) but I can also put my foot down...no way this lady needs a white roof and upper.  So for the last month we have secretly had this colour combo in mind.....

we saw this bus for sale and loved it, we both thought it was a nice happy colour.  After speaking to the bodyshop where it was suggested that for future touch ups it would be better to stick  to a regular paint colour that has a code so there is no messing around trying to remix each time.  Bring on the debate once more!  what colour what colour what colour....

So Dan's favourite is currently olive green and white

I do love this and think it looks really cool but I'm not sure it's right for the wedding market.  Our split will be going out on glamping adventures & road trips but I see her working very hard on weddings.  I think it's too dark to appeal to brides, Dan disagrees but he's a boy so what does he know!

It has been suggested if we want to hit the wedding market we should just spray her pearl white all over

Nice but I just can't bring myself to agree...I love colour.

I originally wanted purple and white

Still love this but think maybe everyone is right and it's bit too much of a personal choice....so then I thought blue and white

or baby blue and white

Dan wasn't too keen on the blues so then we thought of greens, we both like mango green

But again I like it I don't love it, and not sure if it's bridal material?  So then we looked at Turkis 

and then we looked back at the blues with Bahama Blue

and still we haven't reached a decision we're both happy with.  I've always loved the minty green type colour (not sure what it's called but Dan think anything pastel coloured is wishy washy!) So any input...suggestions...would be very helpful.  Which of the above do you like, what would be best for weddings...comments please.

Maybe I should also add in Dan is colour blind  fact!

Kerry x

To Pin Up or Not...

Well Ramsey is busy having his new interior fitted and he's going to need some new swish curtains to go on his new curtain track.

Sounds straight forward enough you'd think but nothing is that simple.  As Ramsey is so cool he couldn't strut his stuff while wearing flowery curtains or anything else too girly.  What this boy needs in his life is a pinup girl....

I couldn't find the fabric I had in mind so I've made a short list of possibilities....

I love this fabric but it's more surfer than fifties....

So maybe this one would be better but it's a bit more Spanish than I'd wanted

These jungle girls are cool but the overall look is a bit green for Ramsey's colours...

On a totally different track I thought of playing up to his American roots...

but then I thought no it's got to be a pin up girl so found these Island Girls....

and then just to keep my mate (@timmssarah)  happy these Wrangler guys had to go on the list (but no way is Ramsey sporting these it would be just wrong)

So I've got a long short list but no fabric has been ordered & I need to get a move on if I'm going to get them sewn ready for Ramsey's return.  A decision is needed....

Kerry x