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!