Posts that Didn't Happen: December 2024

Year's end and the month of December . . .

Started the month with an early visit to family, where the remodelled town centre was sporting a (deliberately) wonky tree (in homage to last year's newsworthy effort)!

The plan had been to meet up with some old school friends while we were there, but Storm Darragh rather put paid to that, as we all had to travel to get to the dinner location.   

And while it may have been a wild night in Cambridgeshire, back in Wales the weather warning was ramped up to RED.

Travelling home the next day, it soon became apparent that our bit of Wales had indeed had a rough time - with lots of fallen trees on the road over to Aberystwyth.

Luckily the damage at home wasn't too bad - one missing roof tile, and a partially demolished bit of garden storage!

Then with the clock ticking down to Christmas, it was time to clear the front room of 'Project Van', to make room for the festive bling!

Decorating, cooking, eating - all the usual - duly followed, and we even got a sunny Boxing Day for a walk up Constitution Hill.

The end of the month saw us back with family across country for 'second Christmas',  a special birthday celebration - and more festive sights . . .

On to 2025 . . .

Posts that Didn't Happen: November 2024

And on to November - a month when 'Project Van' pretty much dominated life.

Endless debates over wall panels, ceiling panels, lighting, security and so on - and lots and lots of shopping, from automotive 'carpet' and cork tiles (for the walls), to plywood (for the ceiling), electrical bits and pieces, bed mattresses (a split mattress to accommodate the sliding sections of the bed), and even cooking appliances.

So what did we actually achieve?

 

Plywood panels, were covered with bits of old OS map for the Lake District (where I used to live) and our home 'area' here in Wales - pasted down, and varnished with decorator's varnish.

These panels were then fixed in place to form our new 'ceiling' (complete with LED lights):

 

Martin also wired up the ceiling MaxxFan (which should help keep us cool when the hot weather comes) - and got the new outside light fitted and connected - as you can see it works beautifully!

And a plywood 'Frankenstein' creation was (after much angst) fitted round one of the windows - ready for me to 'decorate' in due course.

None of this seemed to go as smoothly as we would have liked - and some days it felt like we just weren't getting anywhere.

So, when the new 'Captains' seats arrived for the front of the van - to replace the single driver's seat and double passenger seat - I was rather fearful of how the installation process would go.

The original seats were removed - and new seat bases (slightly lower to accommodate 'swivel' plates) fixed down.  So far so good!

 

The instructions for the 'swivels' were less clear, and it took us a while to work out which way up they were supposed to go, but we got there in the end.

In fact, it turned out to be one of the least stressful tasks to date - the new seats are much more comfortable than the old, and have really opened up the cab area.

They didn't come cheap mind you - the plan being to sell on the old seats to recoup some of the cost.

Still lots to do!

Posts that Didn't Happen: October 2024

At the time of writing (actually May 2025), the blog has rather fallen behind - so time for some catch up posts . . .

Back in time to October 2024 - life was pretty busy, what with the van conversion, and (for me) some archive consultancy work, although there was time to get out and about too.

At the beginning of the month, the planned meet up with the 'Archive Girls' went ahead on schedule.  

This was pretty much a re-run of last year's trip, staying at the same property, eating out at the same pub, and with another visit to Hay - time to relax, watch Strictly and have a good natter!

Then there was a trip to Cardiff (mostly in the rain) - some work, some 'van' shopping in Ikea, and an 'interesting' journey home through flooded roads - I was glad not to be driving!

Inbetween there was yet another Folly reorganisation swapping the desk with the sofa, so I'll be a bit closer to the heat from the wood burner as the days get colder.

Finally, towards the end of the month, we also had a trip to visit family - lovely to see everyone, and get a few bits and pieces sorted while we were there.

While all this was going on 'Project Van' was also continuing - albeit slowly, and with many frustrations - electrics, reversing cameras, window regulators, etc.  

Not least of these, was the realisation that the 'plan' for the bed layout wasn't going to work - there just wasn't enough room to overlay two single beds (as shown), so it was back to the drawing board.

The thinking now is to go for a sliding transverse bed (hence the trip to Ikea for more Skorva bed beams - a van conversion staple item!).

Some other tasks were completed, including the rather scary cutting of a hole in the side of the van for the electric hook-up:

So much more to do though . . .

Project Van: Solar Struggles

We'd always planned to add a couple of solar panels to the roof - to provide us with power for a leisure battery - particularly important for us, as this is intended to be an 'electric' only van, (i.e. without an onboard gas supply for cooking, or diesel heating).  

We duly ordered two 200W panels - then just had to work out how to fix them securely in place!

After reviewing the options - and watching a lot of Youtube videos of how other people had done it - we settled on a diy unistrut 'roof rack' as our preferred solution.  

While this proved relatively straightforward - working out how to attach the  solar panels was a bit more of a struggle.  We got there in the end (kudos to Martin who did all the hard work) but it was a fiddly and annoying precision job - as tightening one fixing point, often put another out of alignment, and so on . . .

Then there were holes to be drilled for the wiring - and a 'gland' box to be fixed to the roof to feed the cables through and prevent any water ingress.

  

 

Et Voila - the finished article - ready to be wired up to the electrical system - a job for another day!

The Order of the Slipper

Time to head across country from Wales for a few days - to dog sit and visit with family - while my sister and her husband travelled to Wales for a short break to climb Eryri (the mountain formerly known as Snowdon).

Waved them off and enjoyed a couple of days of sunshine, dog walks, and helping out with shopping, household tasks, etc.

Was honoured to find one day that my slipper had made it to companion status on the sofa!

Still, lovely to be home again - back to our own bed and a beautiful sunset on the prom.

Project Van: Window Woes

I suppose we couldn't expect everything to run smoothly - and this week both our 'new' windows in the rear 'barn' doors presented us with issues.

First off, we noticed a crack in the 'inside' of one of the double glazed windows - basically a manufacturing fault which had emerged since installation, and after the minimal driving around we've done thus far.

Then a couple or so days later we noticed that the other window had developed a leak.

So it was back to the 'workshop' again for a few days - while we happened to be on our travels visiting family.*

* The leak was soon fixed - the crack is still awaiting satisfactory resolution with the manufacturer, who keeps sending the wrong sized replacement window!

Town Tales

 It's been an eventful weekend in town . . .

Rali Ceredigion was back on the streets, with some interesting 'advertising' from the rally sponsors on Castle Point.

There was also a beer festival, which took over some roads - and the sun actually shone, so that people could sit outside.

Unfortunately, we were too busy with van and other stuff, to stop for a beer!

Did see the conclusion to the rally, as prizes were awarded and the cars paraded past.

Until next year . . .

Project Van: 'Back to Us'

So the van is back with us - complete with the obligatory (if you watch any van build videos) Maxxfan at the front, and a skylight at the rear.

We also have four (opening) windows - including two larger ones, one in the sliding door, and the other opposite, beside the new double seat (as pictured). 

Then there are two smaller windows in the rear 'barn' doors - seen here from the outside.

So far, so good - but it's back to us now to actually finish the job!

Is it Dead Yet?

Recently bought a bottle garden terrarium from Lidl which was set up (as scheduled in the instructions) today.

With its cork lid now in place, it is supposed to develop its own 'ecosystem' without the need to feed or water - Martin is not convinced and keeps asking whether it is dead yet . . .

I guess we will see - I'll try to remember to issue an update in due course!

Project Van: 'Cutting Edge'

Today's the day . . .  the van is off to have various holes cut in it - which will then be fitted with windows (side and rear), and a ceiling fan and skylight (roof).

We decided to get this sorted by a professional to take some of the angst out of it - just been waiting for our 'slot' for the work to be done.

Otherwise, we've mostly been planning and purchasing, and continuing with the insulation side of things.

As the house fills up with parcels, and bits of 'van' - and we see a lot more of the postman and various courier drivers than we used to!

Misty Aberystwyth

Unfortunately, summer this year has been largely absent - hoping for better things to come, but today was another mixed bag, culminating with a sea mist on the prom.

At least it made for an atmospheric photo:

Back to the Lakes

Off to visit friends in the Lake District for a few days - it's been a while (pre-pandemic!) since we were last in the area, and it was lovely to be back, and catch up with people. 

Also took the opportunity for some Ikea van shopping on the way 😊 

First evening:

walk and sunset

Had a couple of days around the Southern Lakes area - which we are less familiar with.  

A day out visiting RSPB Leighton Moss took us for a wander and a spot of bird watching, although we may have spent longer watching a mini-digger trying to extract another mini-digger from a section of the mud flats they were obviously working on!

We had a lovely sunny Saturday, starting with our hosts doing the Windermere Parkrun - while we mooched around the lake, watching some rather extreme paddleboarding!

Moved on to Kirby Lonsdale, where I had the best ice cream from a local 'artisan' shop The Milking Parlour . . .

Biscoff Cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone lined with melted milk chocolate 😋

Visited a couple of other places in the area, had a picnic, stopped for a pint, and just had a lovely day!

All in all a great break - good friends, excellent food, beautiful scenery, and some actual sunshine  🌞

Project Van: 'Backing Up' and 'Battening Down'

So, work is continuing on the Van project - while we wait for a date to get windows and roof things fitted (letting a 'professional' do those!).

Martin has 'battened' out the floor and is fitting it with PIR board insulation to keep our feet warm - battens are distributed a bit oddly to allow for where we think the 'furniture' is going to go, and of course we then changed our minds about some of the measurements!

He's also started applying some foil backed foam insulation to other bits of the van - notably the wheel arches.

It's already becoming apparent that this will be a long process - there are so many decisions to make, and doing one bit, is contingent on having finished another bit, etc. etc.   . . .  and it all takes so much longer than you think it will!

One job is done though - Martin has fitted a reversing camera in place of the old brake light (see above), and wired the monitor in to the front cab.

So now we can see what we are backing up into!

Walking in Sunshine

A couple of days in Cardiff - arrived mid-afternoon and decided to take advantage of some actual sunshine, and go for a walk round the Bay and over the barrage to Penarth.

On the other side we enjoyed a drink sitting on the terrace of a rather posh eaterie looking out over the Bay before making the return journey.

The next day wasn't quite so nice weather-wise, but I had work things to do in the morning, and we did a bit of shopping - and by the afternoon the weather had picked up a bit.

Nice to see Ianto's Shrine still going strong down on Mermaid Quay, and the Bay looked lovely in the evening light:

Time on our last day for a visit to Ikea to buy some bits and pieces for the Van Project, and of course indulge in a plate of Swedish meatballs!

Then on the way home we got to see a bit more sunshine at Aberaeron - where work on the sea defences is still in full swing, much to the detriment of their tourist season.

Project Van: 'Sound' Stage

Time to get started . . .  although planning is ongoing, and boxes of this and that are arriving everyday.

First job - applying sound deadening 'mats' to various bits of the van to dampen some of the noise generated by driving around in what is, after all, just a tin box!

Martin even took it as an opportunity to leave his mark for posterity . . .

Family Time

Back to East Anglia for a family birthday, and the usual mix of time together, trips out, and helping where we can.

This visit included the purchase of a wheelchair - and the jigsaw puzzle of getting it in the car with the walking wheels, so both parents could be fully mobile.

Then the wheelchair's first outing round Manea Gala:

Of course, there was also a family dinner, plus a meeting with my aunt and uncle who were over to visit too on the day we arrived, and as ever, one small dog curled up with some footwear!