A day in York

I'm blogging this from my iPhone to see what it's like so scuse any typos! Well, that's enough car boot sales getting up at stupid o'clock and standing in the freezing cold the rest is going on eBay! Not a bad profit though. Away in York at the moment testing things out a little further. Really cold now and the new front thermal screens have stood up to the testing with no condensation inside, result!. The new camera system has arrived and busy taking pics at York Universaty this afternoon. No more lugging around heavy and bulky equipment. Pics look ok too so another result there. Long 6 hour drive back tonight so thank goodness for cruise control! Over and out for now.

Decisions decisions...

The back room is quickly filling up with all the stuff we are finding for the car boot sale this Sunday (27th) Its amazing what you hang on to 'just in case'!!!...
Biggest decision this week is for me to decide what to do about my photography (or the equipment) whilst we are away. My predicament is that I have both professional and semi pro equipment in two bags that weighs a ton and takes up so much room. You should always have your best lenses and equipment with you at all times and I just couldn't lug all that around in high temperatures, even between us in two bags. So, I have been looking for a solution and have discovered these Micro Four Thirds cameras which I am happy with and will give me the range of photograhy and the quality I want all lightweight and fitting in a small bag.... sorted!!.. Well almost, I now have to find the money and it will mean selling one of my two expensive lenses but I just can't decide which one!!!. At least I only have to sell one lens and can keep the rest of my equipment for when I get back so its a case of the best of both worlds I suppose and I must just bite the bullet.

Back home again!

Well thats the first main test week done and not too bad at all. Towing the trailer with Piccolo on is so easy and even reversing isn't as bad as they make out. The Brecon Mountains were very cold and we will need an external insulating front screen, not that it was cold inside but the condensation on the inside of the single glazed cab windows was a nightmare!. The bed definitely need an extra 'bounce' so we will get some memory foam mattress toppers. Apart from that we enjoyed cooking, watching telly and getting the internet working properly. We even managed a conversation with our friends in Australia and France via Skype.

So now were are home getting ready for Christmas but at the same time starting to clear out all the junk in the house ready for a mammoth car boot sale and for the new tenant in the new year. Lots more happening in the mean while so will keep posted as we go...

The first trial run!

We are setting off this Saturday (5th Nov) to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, not exactly The Alps' but the nearest we could find. We will spend a few days here and then move on to somewhere else. We are taking everything to test and try all the bits and bobs as if we were touring abroad. You wouldn't believe what there is to prepare and get ready for a trip like this, you have to miniaturise everything from a normal home into a small space with the 'just in case' items as well! and not forgetting to get lightweight versions of everything as you have to be so careful not to be overweight.

Today we have been getting all the music we want to take onto SD memory cards which just slot into the on board audio (Handy!), sorting out the kitchen stuff and utensils (Lightweight silicone!) and taking lots of recipes that are ideal for cooking in a confined space!. Nigel Slater is brilliant for this!... All recipes, manuals and books where possible get converted into PDF format for reading on the iPad on the move. The iPad was purpose built for this kind of trip and think of the weight and space saving all those books would have been. Not only that but it has a verbal translator which will come in handy!.

Maximus the motorhome is virtually fitted out now, lightweight storage boxes everywhere and the on board drinking water filtration unit is now supplying lovely spring like water. It gets rid of 99.9% of all harmful bits and bacteria, apparently you can put canal water through it and it comes out drinkable, but we aren't going to try that!. It will be the first time we will be towing the trailer with Piccolo the Smart car on it so must make sure all is strapped down correctly!. The brilliant bit for the UK is is that we are charged at tolls the same as an ordinary car (That will all change abroad) so The Severn Bridge beckons. Just our luck it will be closed to high winds!.

Off out now to load up some more stuff, so be back later.

The blog is now created and live. We will try to keep this up to date as possible. Keep checking!