Campsite Wardens - Not finished yet!

Well, no-one can accuse us of sitting on our laurels! ;)

After quitting the job in Cornwall we were a bit down, but mainly because of sitting back and reflecting over the recent events. Although we were bucked up a bit by comments by friends and fellow members of Club Motorhome and also offers to park up on their drives should we need somewhere - Huge thanks to all! Caroline got back onto the internet and looked at a couple of campsite job finder type websites and found a likely looking position in Norfolk of all places, so ideal for seeing the family before we do eventually head of into Europe again.

I telephoned the site and had a chat with the owner who sounded very positive and he subsequently emailed some details of the job to us. I returned our CV and said that we would be interested should they wish to interview us.

Nothing more happened for a day and we thought that was it - but no worries, we'd just go and see the folks and forget about work for the time being.

As we were packing to leave the site our mobile rang and it was the Norfolk site owner saying that he was pleased to offer us the job and gave us a start date and an invitation to visit beforehand to look around and iron out any queries that we may have.

In a much more buoyant mood we continued to ready ourselves for the off and said our goodbyes to the other (nice) staff. We were actually quite pleased that apparently the other wardens were now less than impressed that they would be working all the shifts, 7 days a week until there was some time for the management to find replacements for us - shame (shouldn't gloat really but hey-ho). We were also told that we would be very welcome should we wish to return next year.....

Anyway, we have called in to see some friends who are campsite wardens in Stratford on Avon for a couple of days en-route to Norfolk and are enjoying a bit of R&R in the sunshine. B)

Campsite Wardens - We Quit!

A long, tedious and thoroughly boring story about matters so petty you wouldn't believe led us to the point of saying 'Enough!' on Friday - so I won't go into minor details.

We're very fortunate to be doing this work by choice rather than necessity otherwise such an outcome would have left us in the lurch. We've actually enjoyed the job as previously posted and haven't minded helping out with whatever jobs were necessary to make the campsite work properly. The problem has been in the form of one of the other workers who is known to be a moaner and somewhat of a difficult character. Unfortunately we have had to share our duties with this person and have been regularly undermined in our efforts.

This culminated in an official (friendly) meeting to get the matter sorted over a cup of coffee and biscuits, at which the other party (and husband) walked out in a huff refusing to discuss any issues. Management were appalled apparently but not prepared to make any further efforts to resolve the issues.

Anyway, rather than continue to work in an unpleasant atmosphere which basically casted a cloud over this otherwise lovely environment we decided to be the ones to quit as the others were more senior and solidly installed in the warden's lodge and obviously weren't affected by their own behaviour - I guess we gave the management an easy way out.

We've been offered the opportunity to stay on 'camped' as long as we like but we've felt a couple of days is long enough and we're moving on tomorrow - a burden lifted!

Last day on site

Has it put us off being campsite wardens? - No

We have generally enjoyed the work, the surroundings and actually the campers too. More than once we've been thanked for everything we've done. Its been fascinating to watch visitors come and go, those that you would hardly know were there and others that you just know are going to be labour intensive from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.

Would we do it again? - Certainly

We have sent our CV out again so we'll see what happens. We're a little older and wiser now so may ask a few more probing questions to avoid a repeat situation. But if nothing transpires we will just continue our family visits then head south again into Europe a little earlier than we had planned once the van's annual service and MOT is out of the way.

Ready to hitch up and we're off

Newbies to A-Frames...

We have tried a few setups that would give us some transport when we are parked in one place for a while.

Cycles, then a scooter and rack (which was great) but we then acquired our lovely dog and the scooter became rarely used. I wasn't keen to be towing a trailer around with us although I have no problem with towing having had quite a bit of previous experience with lots of different trailers but the storage of it would always be an issue for us whether based at home or visiting friends and family as we do in our motorhome. We also use Aires for most of our European travelling and parking space could sometimes be an issue for motorhome, car and trailer.

The most practical solution for our usage was to use an A-frame. It means that we have a car to use for exploring and other general use - the car can also provide extra useful storage space when travelling as a bonus!

We (I) came up with the bright idea of all this when we were in Spain before returning to the UK for the summer. We had already committed to a start date for our job as campsite wardens and the ferry was booked for a couple of days beforehand so time was a bit tight for actually getting a car and the A-frame.

Firstly, I sourced the car I wanted over the internet - sadly it was in Gateshead and we were going to be working in Cornwall! A deal was done over the phone to buy it (I know, I know, but you have to take the odd chance here and there!) and the dealer agreed to deliver it to a location that I would advise later.
Car bought, a 2003 Suzuki Jimny which I had read was a good car to tow (post 2004 models are not however). It is a perfect size for the two of us and Digger, plus as a very light 'proper' 4x4 its great for getting off the beaten track when required.

I then started to research a supplier for the A-frame itself. After much reading about possible regulation changes looming from 2014 I contacted several suppliers via email to enquire about costings and suitability etc. Surprisingly, not all of the companies even answered and others either said the car was too old for them to adapt or, another wanted to sell an A-frame + car package and wasn't interested otherwise!

The company that was the most helpful was www.Towtal.co.uk. They offered 2 options, a traditional overrun braked A-frame which apparently should still comply with the regs as long as bought and fitted prior to the changes, and a newer electrically operated setup that is the best on the market (their words). Just under £1000 for the overrun and around £1500 for the superior RVi2 package.

Towtal needed the car for a day to make all the fittings prior to it being towed away and they kindly agreed to take delivery of my Suzuki the day before I could get to collect the finished item. A call was then made to the car dealer in Gateshead and arrangements made to have the car delivered on a specific day to Towtals's premises in Stoke-on-Trent. A plan had come together!

The due day arrived and we pulled into Towtal's yard and there sat our new (to us) car with its A-frame brackets poking out through its front bumper - the work had been done! The car wasn't quite as tidy as I had hoped (not really unexpected though) but nothing that a little TLC won't put right. We were given a smooth demonstration of how the apparatus assembled and worked and how to alter the electronic setup as required and that was it, we were now A-framers!

There seemed to be quite a lot to remember but I was confident that it would all make sense with practice. Aprehensively we set off towards our destination for the summer - Cornwall. I think we pulled into services about 3 times to check all was well with the 'toad' - nothing to worry about as all was fine. We had a pre-arranged meeting in Somerset so overnighted at one of our pub stopovers which gave us the opportunity to uncouple and use our car for the first time.

Next morning I coupled up again checking, double checking and triple checking all the steps and I don't know how many more times I checked the steering lock was off, as was the handbrake and that the car was in neutral!

Everything worked exactly as it should and we carried on down to Cornwall. The car is now independant from the motorhome and won't need to go back on the A-frame until our return to Spain at the end of the season.

Mimizan Plage

We moved on today to one our favourite beachside Aires - Mimizan Plage.

Miles of fantastic and very uncrowded beach makes this place so popular with motorhomers. Its a great place to bring a dog too, Digger has already made some new friends :)

We'll spend a couple of days here at least.

Details of the Aire ae on Club Motorhome.

By way of an update

We are making our way from the UK to Spain following an unexpected and very sad family visit.

We crossed the Channel via the Tunnel to keep Digger the dog happy and spent the next couple of nights on the Aire at Gravelines. From there we have made our way south staying Aires all along the way. Le Crotoy was next followed by St Valery en Caux, Gace, Villaines Les Rochers, a couple of nights at Niort, Parentis en Born and today we are by the lake at the lovely Aire at Gastes.

As usual wifi availability has been sporadic and communication via Club Motrhome's Facebook page, Twitter page and now our blog has been via our trusty 3G Kindle. Painstaking to type on but reliable!

Unfortunately uploading photos and adding more stopovers to Club Motorhome will have to wait until proper internet access makes it possible )

Saturday/Sunday 17th/18th April - Silves, Portugal

Well we have been here almost a week now. The weather has been a mixture of sun and showers but they are very heavy! It is difficult to judge when the next one might be so walks have been short or in some cases dodging from one building to the next. I have had another good swim and this time a jacuzzi. We have decided to stay until Monday when the weather forecast promises a more settled day or two. It could be a worse place to stop and is unlikely there are many hardstanding places to go that you wouldn't run the risk of getting stuck in the mud. Tavira apparently had a tornado the other day so maybe it is a good thing the Mayor has banned motorhomes! We decline an invitation to join in the quiz night at the the 'English' Bar but judging by the revellers when they finally returned early hours, we missed a good night.

Saturday we shopped still keeping in budget - just! The campsite, laundry and swimming twice has hammered the cash a bit but we manage to buy veg for Saturday's meal (already in the freezer) and a meal for Sunday and still have about 6 euro in the kitty. So this is not bad and as an extra start this coming week we were not hungry enough to cook last night (Sat) and Margot has kindly invited us for dinner Sunday night! Two meals in the bag before starting next week.

We also managed between showers to have a good look round Silves. Wandering up to the fortress and church and through the winding and steep streets.

One of the many storks posed on its chimney pot nest and it was an enjoyable afternoon.

Missing entirely any showers. Also missing the opportunity to get a birthday present of a cork handbag. Sounds a little strange but the cork shop sells the most amazing cork items; baseball caps, wallets, ties, to name but a few. You will not be surprised to learn that we missed the Saturday opening hours by about an hour and with no Sunday opening my dilemma of whether a cork handbag is sensible, needed, tasteful, (well you know how some things seem like a good idea when you are on holiday but when home you think, whatever next!) simply disappeared. Oh well I guess it was not meant to be.

On return to the van I finally had a real go at the Psychology downloads I had prepared for this trip. Not entirely surprised, I was to fail miserably at the math aspect getting only about 66%. On marking I realised that in part it was rushing and not paying enough attention to detail. So already a good lesson or reminder at least of studying.

Last night the rain returned and seemed bent on driving its way through the roof! I spent the night sleep walking between opening and shutting the roof lights.

Sad as we were about Robert we are alarmed to notice that there is a man and his dog living in the car park now. He is apparently living in a fiesta size car and simply sits all day and night. I am becoming troubled by this although he does now seem to have made friends with some of the motorhomers and maybe they will be able to assist in his plight as they are clearly speaking a common language!

After a lazy start (well it is Sunday) we do a little housework. Still love that you can do it all, hardly moving more than three paces. The sun has just started to shine again so a walk is on the cards and I am pretty sure that we will move on tomorrow.

We enjoy a great evening with Margot and her Spag Bol - including tablecloth, napkins, sideplates and the works. Thanks Margot - I wonder if you ever ate the leftovers? Lovely as it is in Silves, a week is long enough in a car park however so this will be our final night here!