Posts that Didn't Happen: June 2025

And so to June - unfortunately the first half of the month was not so great in the end - I had some back pain for a few days (to the point where I invested in a heated gilet thing), then I got a cold, and then Martin caught it too.

We eventually concluded that I'd probably picked up Covid from somewhere, as we were both completely wiped out - kept having to go back to bed we were so tired - and it certainly lingered for a good few weeks after. 

On a positive note, we had some lovely weather, and inbetween naps managed a bit of garden pruning, and some slow walks on the prom.

And - drum roll please - the water lily in our garden pond, finally decided to flower, after nearly four years of leaves.

By the middle of the month we just about had enough energy for a trip to Aberaeron / Llanerchaeron - had a wander in the sun, a spot of lunch, and checked on progress with the sea defences (still not finished!).

There was another 'birthday' celebration and catch up with old colleagues - this time a 60th for the Department of Information Studies at the University.  

Then towards the end of the month, we took the Van across country again to see family - helping out with shopping and appointments etc., although we wilted a bit in the English heat.

Did enjoy a very pleasant visit to the Elgood's Brewery Gardens, where Martin found enough energy to steer Mum's wheelchair at speed round the maze, before we had a cooling drink in their rather swish on-site bar.

With all this going on not that much of any note happened with the Van, Martin tinkered with the electrics, I made some cloth covers for one set of overhead cabinets, and we pondered next steps . . .

Posts that Didn't Happen: May 2025

May came in with some glorious sunny warm weather.

Got some gardening done, planted up the greenhouse, and sat outside on the bench enjoying the sunshine, and admiring the view . . .  

Then there was a trip to Cardiff with old colleagues, for a celebration of Archives and Records Council Wales' 30th 'birthday' at the Senedd.

Work on the van also continued, making the most of the good weather for sanding 'woodwork' such as the kitchen worktop and flip-up table - painstakingly constructed by Martin from pallet wood strips. 

The latter part of the month saw the weather get cooler and wetter, and brought with it other preoccupations, with family in hospital in Swansea, and lots of driving to and fro.

Broke the journey in Carmarthen a few times for some van 'shopping', and also called by Talley Abbey briefly (somewhere to return to in better times).

So a bit of a mixed bag of a month - with some anxious days - thankfully all was positively resolved by the end of the month, with the hope that normality would resume in June . . . 

Posts that Didn't Happen: April 2025

And so to April - another month of 'mostly Van', including our first couple of nights actually spent sleeping in it!

So, what did we do?

We glued down the vinyl flooring.

I carpeted the under bed sections, and corked the barn door upper panels.

Martin took his life in his own hands, wrestling with coiled curtain rail, and fixing it in place over the barn doors and between the cab and habitation areas.

I worked out how to use a sewing machine to shorten the actual curtains!

Martin constructed the kitchen unit 'frame', made drawers, and fitted a temporary worktop (due to be replaced by a pallet wood creation, seen here at the planning stage).  I painted and stained and varnished it!

We continued planning and thinking about things such as the cab blackout covers; the door and fixings for the sliding pantry storage (or 'pantry from hell' as Martin likes to call it); and the storage 'step' between the front and passenger seats.

The fridge, microwave, and kitchen unit were all fixed in place ('pantry' on hold for now), and the 'bookshelf' was finished. 

I varnished lots of bits of woodwork, and Martin fitted hooks over the sliding door.

With a visit to family planned for the end of the month it all got a bit frantic, and in the end we had to abandon the water system (which since we were 'camping' on my parents' drive wasn't a major issue).

And here we are - curtains up, bed finished (with foam inserts inside navy velvet cushion covers at the head and foot of the bed) and reading lights (with USB chargers) wired in.  The microwave, fridge and 'loo' storage are all under the bed, which can be slid back when needed.

Along the way the van was also successfully MOT'd, and we actually managed to sell the redundant cab seating (driver's seat and double passenger seat).

We spent three nights sleeping in it - luckily the weather was kind (not too cold, not too hot, and sunny and dry).  Navigating the space will take some getting used to, but the bed was really comfy - lots still to think about and plan for . . . 

In other news, had a lovely visit with family (including a trip to Ely), an online catch-up with some old friends, continued learning chess, and did some gardening (notably potting up and planting out courgettes).

Roll on the summer!

Posts that Didn't Happen: March 2025

And on to the merry month of March . . .  starting with a solo visit to family across country for a few days, helping out with various things, while Martin continued to work on Project Van.

He made some useful progress in my absence, starting on the 'bookshelf' design (between one of the overhead cabinets, and one 'side' of the bed, sitting above the electric control cupboard) - and continuing work on electric things I don't understand.

Construction of a storage 'step', raising the floor level between the front and rear seating, is also underway.

On my return (complete with cold, which Martin duly caught quite badly) I continued with 'carpeting stuff, including the over-bed areas - this time in a nice deep wine colour.

I also devised part of the solution for our sliding bed element - this is formed of four Ikea bed struts, which sit on wooden beams at either side of the van (as shown on the right).

By attaching the bed slats to the struts with velcro, the two 'halves' of the bed can now be slid together, with the slats interlocking, making more room at the back or front of the bed as required.  

The whole structure can also be easily removed if even more space is required for transporting large items.

Alongside 'decor' (carpeting and cork tiling), more serious considerations such as security were tackled - with the fitting of locks to the exterior of the sliding and barn doors.

Towards the end of the month we finally purchased some vinyl flooring for the van, and marked that up for fitting in due course.

It does feel like there is some momentum to it all now, but there's still a long way to go . . .

In other news, we enjoyed some lovely sunny Spring days, and made a little more room in the garage by selling a greenhouse we bought way back in 2009 and which had been sitting in its boxes ever since!  Also started learning / playing a bit of chess - although Martin is taking it a bit more seriously than I am.
 

We ended the month with another visit across country to meet up with some extended family, and celebrate Mother's Day and what is now a 62nd Wedding Anniversary (where are the years going?).

Posts that Didn't Happen: February 2025

February brought us a month at home, mostly occupied with 'Project Van' things, alongside some more archive consultancy work (for me), and life in general!

In the Van - Martin tackled the frames for the overhead cabinets - one of the more daunting jobs - and made panels to line the interiors, which I duly 'carpeted'.

While he was busy with actual construction, and planning, and electrics, etc., etc.  I turned my hand to some of the more 'decorative' elements.

The sliding door was stipple painted in a nice purple grey colour, and I carpeted the window surround Martin had created, applying cork tiles to the panels above and below.

Also carpeted the 'Frankenstein' plywood cladding around the window on the other side - this didn't go so well, but more cork tiling covered a multitude of sins!

Cork tiles also went on the panel under the 'windowsill', and finished off the overcab section.

So things are moving on, although it still feels like we're a long way from the finish line . . .

The end of the month brought some star-gazing, as we tried (and failed) to take a good picture of the rare seven planet 'parade' (it did look better in person!):

Posts that Didn't Happen: January 2025

And on to January 'proper' . . .

After our festive wanderings, it was home again, home again on New Year's Day - welcomed back by a (possible) view of the Northern Lights.  See picture of 'reddish' glow!

Within the week the weather began to turn really cold, and we even had a smattering of snow - which morphed into ice on our country roads, keeping us home for a couple of days or so.

Van 'planning' continued despite the weather, with various plumbing bits being ordered, kitchen units measured up for, and electrical work actually underway.  Here's a view of the 'in progress' electric control cupboard.

Later in the month we were heading back across country again, fitting in a birthday visit to Stratford-upon-Avon along the way.  A few days with family, sorting out medical appointments and other bits and pieces, and enjoying some Moo time (not sure she appreciated her Dad's attempt at hair dressing!). 

Home again to yet more stormy weather - although 'Eowyn' was far less destructive in our neck of the woods than 'Darragh', and our new prom lights made it through unscathed:

By the end of the month, there were even signs that Spring was on its way, with some early daffodils appearing in a sheltered spot down the road from us.   

Looking forward to some warmer days ahead . . .

In 2024 I Mostly Read . . .

So as a starter for ten, here's the reading list for 2024:

October - December 2024 - The ambition was to start a re-read of Charles de Lint's 'Newford' books, starting with the short story collection Dreams Underfoot - but didn't really get any further than that (too much else going on!).

September 2024 - Well I can see from my daily blog that I was reading something, but for the life of me, with my less than timely blogging, I can't remember what!!

July - August 2024 - More fantasy stuff, with a set of 99p kindle books by CK McDonnell - the Stranger Times series.  Sort of comedy supernatural - about a 'team' of oddballs running a weekly newspaper reporting on the weird and wonderful - only of course for them to find out that much of what they are reporting is actually true!  Worked my way through the eponymous first book The Stranger Times which introduces our heroes, This Charming Man (book the second with allegorical vampires), Love Will Tear Us Apart (avoid new-age retreats), and Relight My Fire (celebrity zombies anyone?).  Funny, inventive, and real page-turners - looking forward to the next one!

June 2024 - Continuing the fantasy theme, and with a new Dresden novella The Law, although I had to dip back into the last novel Battleground to get the context first - good as always, and a bit of a lighter offering than Battleground itself.  There was also a new St Mary's short story in there somewhere . . .

May 2024 - Not been reading a lot, but did finally read Susanna Clarke's Piranesi - I adored Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and while this was very different (and much shorter!) it had that same immersive quality, although far more dream-like in its tone.  Very, very good.

March 2024 - Blast from the past (my Mills & Boon youth), with a couple of vintage romances I found on Google Books!  Interesting to revisit, but not something I can see myself getting back into . . .

February 2024 - Back to 'lifestyle' stuff with a Van Tulleken's Ultra-Processed People about all the food we shouldn't eat.  Expect a major change to our diet in the near future! 

January - February 2024 - Finally finished Jodi Taylor's The Chronicles of St Mary's time travel series.  Great read when I got stuck in (had a few 2am mornings on reading sessions).  Definitely recommended!  Might have to start on her The Time Police series next - at least there are only four of those (so far!).