Buttercup's Story Telling Début

The sun has been shining and it's definitely getting warmer as the camper season gets ready to begin. We've not blogged over the winter period as it would have made dull reading. We have taken her out for the odd day trip but nothing quite literally to write home about. Now, however, Buttercup has come out of hibernation and what has she been up to?

As ever with these lovely old vans there is always a bit of work that needs doing before the season can begin. Our to do list is always being added to but the last look included -

• the heating (we have none which is one of the reasons we've not pootled very far during winter)
• the carbs
• the side door to be re-hung
• shocks
• general prep for MOT

We took her back to MSC Prestige Motors in Burscough who gave us some good news - the shocks were fine and only bushes were required. Fantastic and big tick against that point on the list.

But as we all know, the world operates on yin and yang as we found out when we took her to 81a Volkswagen j81avdubs.co.uk to ask about the heating and a few other things. When we drove up the owner John had his head buried under about another 6 vans and we had to park around the corner a good 70 yards away. Despite this, his first words to us were "The exhaust sounds as if it's blowing". Those of the words of a man who has listened to many a VW camper van engine!

We booked her in for the following Tuesday as I needed her for her storytelling début at the Liverpool Food and Drink festival that weekend. Which brings me on to that very event.

When I first bought Buttercup it was purely for a hobby. A lovely old vehicle to pootle around the British Isles and if we got brave maybe even Europe.  It wasn't long before I saw her potential as a prop/aid to my storytelling facebook.com/littlelambtales. And so last weekend we spent two glorious days at the Food and Drink Festival in Sefton Park.

We arrived on Sunday morning and the park was shrouded in mist and grey cloud. This didn't look promising. Added to this the rain had come down heavily a couple of days before just in time for all the Porta-loos to arrive. Needless to say the site was very muddy and boggy in places. Even some of the up to date 4x4's were struggling with the mud in places. Gulp! Mud and old vehicles do not a happy marriage make.

Luckily, The Children's Zone was located in a relatively dry section of the site and I inched my way on in one piece. Having parked up I eyed up my pitch for the next two days. The ground was definitely not dry and inviting to sit on. Luckily, I had brought some picnic mats for just this dilemma. Sadly these didn't survive the day so on Sunday we had some lovely straw to sit on. The sun came out from behind the clouds and for two days, the festival buzzed with happy faces, delicious food and drink and entertainment galore.

Over the next two days, I told countless stories about food and eating. However, I spoke to just as many people about Buttercup. Children, parents, grandparents, previous owners, new owners, people who were considering being owners. They all came over to look at her, ask questions and peek inside. And I can't say I blame them, she's very pretty!

Buttercup's first festival was a success. But leaving the site did make me laugh. It is quite funny when other people have no understanding of what it's like to drive a vintage vehicle. People ask you to back her up a bit so they can get through without realising that finding reverse may just take a bit longer than their shiny new car. Buttercup's gearbox is great but she can get a bit grumpy if she's put in reverse before she's ready. "It's alright love, don't worry about  moving her now!" was the response of one stall owner. I only took about 30 seconds to find reverse honestly! And again, everyone driving new vans, pick ups, trucks etc has the benefit of power steering. Waiting for me to grapple with the wheel when they are used to full lock in 5 seconds was a new experience for some of them. That said, we soon cleared the site and were on our way home.  She did me proud and our adventures continue. Next stop a wedding in Bedfordshire.

A Not so Domestic Goddess!

As mentioned a few blogs ago, Buttercup is undergoing a re-vamp at the Camper Shak. Following our initial meeting with Diane and Mike we had to go away and really think about what we might like.
We did a little decorating in our flat back at Easter and although we're really pleased with it the process of choosing colours, materials, curtains, carpets, paint etc etc left Dom and I a bit underwhelmed.  I'm the first to admit I'm no domestic goddess.  If the sun is shining and the house needs cleaning I will always opt to go out for the day and put the cleaning off for another day.  For me cleaning is a necessary evil and my very best and productive cleaning is done either as a work avoidance tactic (report writing season) or in the panic stricken half hour before guests are expected. And yet we had taken on a project that required not only cleaning and decorating but designing too! Funnily enough, both Dom and I have discovered a previously unsuspected enthusiasm for it!

Choosing Units

There is so much choice when you start thinking about re-designing a van.  There are so many creative ideas out there and if you trawl the net you will find it full of vans that are all different.  I have yet to see two VW campers that are the same.  While this is great for individuality, too much choice can be a bit daunting at times. The one thing we were absolutely decided on was the swing out cooker.  This will be positioned behind the passenger seat and can be used in the van when it rains (which let's be realistic is quite likely in Britain) or swung out to cook outdoors.  That was the easy bit.

We studied photos galore of other vans and selected units we were happy with only to change our minds the next day. And then change them again! Finally we decided upon the configuration we were happy with including a smart new fridge from Just Kampers.  This will be a real luxury as my old van in Oz had the original fridge which though very authentic could have been sued under the trade descriptions act as it really didn't keep anything cool never mind cold!  Not great in the heat of the outback! 

I think the key is to make the decision you are happy with and then not think about it again or you'll find yourself constantly wanting to change and update it.  So with the units picked, we had to focus on other fittings such as curtains and flooring.

Curtains

Dom was happy to leave this to me! 

Like me, Buttercup is a child of the 70's and I wanted the curtains and flooring to reflect this in some way. I really fancied bold patterns and found something I really liked on 

Pinterest - the only thing this is genuine 70's fabric and not readily available.

My back up plan was gingham.

One warm Saturday afternoon, my friend Julie who is making my curtains (please see some of her other crafts at www.facebook.com/YoungatHeartCrafts ) set off to the local fabric place Abakhan's in Liverpool. This is the Willie Wonker Chocolate factory for crafts and sewing and you can literally lose hours in here.

Julie and I were actually quite disciplined and remained on task.  There were lots of prints with the required 70's feel but unfortunately most of them were in cerise pink which is the one colour guaranteed to clash hideously with a bus that is the colour of a mango!

Having narrowed it down to a few choices, I finally went with the back up plan - and ok so they are daisies and not buttercups but I think it will look great!

Flooring

Most of the vans that have been done up seem to have chosen one of two things - 

• checked floor tiles or checked lino on a roll
• wood effect

I was quite determined I didn't want either.  I wanted Buttercup to stand out a bit.  I wanted her to look different.  However that was as far as my spec went.  I had no other guidelines which made looking for ideas quite a vast job.  How do you narrow your internet search when you don't really know what you want? Having typed jazzy flooring, 1970's vinyl flooring and patterned flooring, I gave it one last shot with Funky vinyl flooring. And having spent what seemed like days trying to source flooring for the van (which let me tell you was far longer than we spent choosing carpet for our newly decorated sitting room), I finally found what I was looking for.

It was bold, different and would definitely stand out.  Thanks to www.zazous.co.uk I have found what I hope will make a statement!

It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally, think it's fab and I can't wait to see it.

Roll on August Bank holiday when we get Buttercup back and head off.  But remember, don't forget to take your shoes off before stepping on my new floor...

Next time...Demolition Dom!

Is She A Good'n?

So last time we met, we had narrowly escaped blowing ourselves up due to some seriously dodgy electrics.

As we drove home, I couldn't help but worry if Buttercup would turn out to be a bit of a liability. Looking back at my buying process I can see I really bought with my heart rather than my head. 

I'm the first person to admit that my mechanical know how is woeful.  Although to be fair, I stand a much better chance of being able to solve a problem on a old car than on a new computer operated one.  Back in the days of my youth when I drove a collection of motley vehicles that were bought mostly from auction for less than £400, I could change a tyre, change spark plugs and even have a go at doing an oil change.  But I've slept a lot since then and my cars have got newer...When I bought Buttercup, I had my limited knowledge of vintage cars (I used to own a Karmann Ghia, had regular access to a 1983 Mercedes 280SL and drove around Oz in a 1973 kombi) and other than having a feeling she was a good van, I didn't really have any hard evidence to go on.  GULP!

So having left her in the capable hands of MSC Prestige Garage  www.mscprestigegarage.com all I could do was wait for the verdict.  Mark at Prestige had agreed to give her a good look over and give us an honest opinion of her and the condition she was in.

A week later, the phone went and MSC flashed up on the screen.  Here we go, I thought, he's going to tell me, in the kindest way, I've bought a dud!  But thankfully, when I actually plucked up the courage and answered, the news was good!

According to Mark, she is a 'good, solid van'.  He'd gone over her with a fine tooth comb and besides a few little issues, nothing major is outstanding.  In his words "enjoy the season in her then book her in over winter to get the little bits sorted".  I can't tell you the relief.

More good news was to follow.  As mentioned in the second blog, keeping these vehicles undercover for the winter months is essential and the search for that holiest of grails, a garage in a city, had begun in earnest.  

Having advertised on gumtree and phoned every available rental garage, caravan park and private garage going we were starting to run out of ideas.  Everything was either already taken (which is obviously why the number of camper vans parked on the roads of Liverpool is minimal), too small height wise, too expensive or too far away.  Eventually, my wonderful other half found somewhere.  The only thing was we needed to have the van with us in order to check the height restriction.

Let me tell you that co-ordinating a visit to a possible garage when the firm's staff are based in Manchester, we are in Liverpool and the van is in Southport or Formby is like a military exercise.  After one aborted attempt when Buttercup's battery ran out, we finally found ourselves on the way to test the garage at a time that was convenient for all.  Phew!

Anyone who has driven a van or indeed, any vehicle that is taller than your average car will tell you that sloped access to garages, car parks and drive ways are the bane of their lives.  These slopes can make entry impossible and are far more effective than a barrier! Having measured the entry on a visit without Buttercup, we knew there wouldn't be much room to play with. Leaving me to negotiate the slope (well she is mine so I should take the responsibility if I plough her into the car park), Dom stood frantically waving hands, showing thumbs and generally being encouraging.  And I won't deny, my heart was in my mouth as we edged our way down the slope and under the lowest point of the ceiling.  But....we were clear!  She fits!

I felt like Cinderella with the glass slipper!

So now, not only do we have a lovely old van, but we have somewhere to keep her dry in the winter.  Hurray!  If only it was as easy to keep us dry in winter, life would be peachy!

Next time - A nearly domesticated goddess!

First Night in the Van...

So now we come to the first night we spent in Buttercup.

We had imagined ourselves in an idyllic pastoral setting, with birds tweeting merrily and the sunset glinting off the chrome.   A nice level place, preferably near water where we could enjoy a glass of red and sigh with contentment. Well plans are made to be changed...

The gist of the plan was as follows.  Drive to Formby, collect Buttercup, return to Liverpool, pack the van and set off.
This, however is what really happened.
Drive to Formby - check
Start Buttercup - Houston we have a problem!

Unfortunately one of us had left the radio on and because it hadn't worked, we'd forgotten to turn it off.  Result, two VERY flat batteries and a van that refused to budge an inch. We hooked her up to jump leads but she was having none of it. It soon became very clear that we would have to leave both the batteries on charge overnight and hope against hope that the problem would be fixed.

Camping trip cancelled, we returned to Liverpool a bit on the grumpy side.  The reason we'd decided to try her overnight was due to an appointment we had the following Monday.  This would be the day we would introduce Buttercup to the Camper Shak www.thecampershak.co.uk who are doing her face lift.  We really wanted to try the bed, the layout etc before discussing possible changes with Mike and Diane (more of them later). We decided the next best thing was to stay in her on Sunday night before heading straight to the Camper Shak the next morning.

Luckily, Buttercup started and we took her for a pootle around the local area just to make sure she was running ok. And so the first night of camping in her arrived.  Not the quiet countryside we had imagined but the driveway of a respectable bungalow in Formby.  But hey, at least the toilets were practically ensuite!

The next morning we arrived at the The Camper Shak with Buttercup where we met Mike and Diane Marsland.  What a lovely couple!  As a customer you really feel as if you matter. Cups of tea are the first thing on the agenda before settling down to discuss our requirements.  Nothing is too much trouble.  We are given lots of advice and Diane makes a list of all the things we have to source for the van and even emails the product codes over as well.  We are shown around the workshop, see units of all kinds, meet their apprentice and are generally made to feel very welcome.

The attention to detail is fantastic.  It is obvious that Mike and Diane are passionate about Camper Vans.  But as well as passion they have knowledge, experience and above all empathy with their customers. They realise that to us these vehicles are not just a van, they are, in fact, part of the family.  Two hours easily slip by and we leave there safe in the knowledge that Buttercup will be in safe hands.  

From here, we head straight to www.mscprestigegarage.com .  When we bought Buttercup we knew she had something weird going on with the electrics.  The engine had to be started with a rocker switch in the engine bay and when you switched the ignition off it kept going until you turned off the switch again.  Very odd! So on Mike's recommendation "we take all our vans there, you couldn't do better" we booked her in with Mark.

Again, the customer care was brilliant and the passion for vintage cars was apparent. Mark was keen to have a look at her straight away.  So my partner (who did electrical engineering at Uni) and he had a chat. Dom had already told me that the wiring was really not right and needed to be sorted.  As he was explaining this to Mark, he lifted up the bed to show him the leisure battery. This is the bed where we had slept very comfortably, last night.  We certainly weren't expecting what happened next.

Mark stepped back and said "mmm there's a live wire in there. It's arcing against the metal there. Oh and it's right by your fuel tank.  Do you know what, we'll get that out right now!"

I'll just point out again, that the fuel tank he's talking about full of highly flammable petrol and next to the live wire was right underneath us last night!  
And we thought life in a vintage camper meant life in the slow lane...

Thankfully, Mark sorted the wire within seconds. As we drove off in our modern Polo having left Buttercup there to get the rest of her electrics done we reflected on our first night in the van.  

Ok so it wasn't in a beautiful location,  we didn't see the sunset, we didn't hear the birds cheeping.  But hey, we didn't blow up either and that is more important.  And on that almost literal bombshell I'll leave you to check any loose wires you may have hanging around!

Next time...Did we buy a goodun?

www.littlelambpublishing.co.uk  www.facebook.com/littlelambphonics www.facebook.com/littlelambtales