A successful day 2 of the big caravan clean

 I'm drawing a veil over yesterday, thank you to those of you who commented, I appreciate it.

We've had a very good day at the caravan today.  We got there early, around 09.15, the gas man came and set to on the boiler.  I'd been quite worried that he might slap a condemned sticker on it and tell us we couldn't use it, but he didn't - he cleaned, serviced and got it going.  He'd brought a Henry hoover but of course couldn't use that with the caravan elec supply not yet on, so it was a good job we'd got our cordless he could use.  He said the boiler works ok, but one part does need replacing, he'll see if he can source it....if not, then we may need a new boiler in the short term.  He says the boiler is a good make so, provided he can actually get the required part, it should last a good while yet.  We asked if he could disconnect the old gas cooker and cap off the supply, as we won't be using it again - he did, he and his apprentice offered to carry the old cooker outside, which was really nice of them.....saved husband and I struggling to do it between us.  So there's now a space in the kitchen for husband to build a unit for our new table top elec cooker to stand on, which he should have no trouble doing.  We're also getting rid of the existing tall fridge freezer and getting an under the counter fridge with an icebox - as we'll only be staying in the van for up to a week at a time, we don't need a big fridge freezer, and it is a very old one.  Husband will install a new counter top, and that will give me some extra worktop space, as there currently isn't much.

The new Vax cordless works like a dream, it easily despatched the big thick cobwebs.  As husband cleared the cobwebs in the lounge, I followed behind with a bucket of soapy water cleaning all the cupboards, surfaces and mirrors/glass door fronts, the lounge is all sparkling clean and smelling lovely and fresh now.  We've had a good look at the lounge carpet and it's actually not bad at all, other than being grubby - it's a thick good quality one, thankfully a plain colour not a revolting pattern.  Once we've been able to clean it with our carpet shampooer (when the elec is on), it'll be fine, I'm sure.  So that saves us having to buy a new carpet.

We've got a few things to do here at home tomorrow morning, but intend to go back to the caravan in the afternoon.  I want to clean the bathroom, which is pretty disgusting, whilst husband carries on with pruning the overgrown shrubs around the caravan.  Incidentally, there's a lovely clean shower & toilet block on site, which we're currently using until our bathroom is clean and operational.

We're accumulating several bags of rubbish - old floor coverings, grotty scatter cushions, rusty old bakeware which was left in the cooker, filthy old cleaning equipment, lots of broken garden pots, etc, plus of course the old cooker and fridge.  And then there's the current built-in corner diner unit and old table, which we'll be getting rid of, in favour of a new (well, second hand) table & chairs and a small sideboard.  So husband is looking at hiring either a 'man with a van', or simply a self drive van (whichever is cheapest), to get rid of all the rubbish to the tip.  The site owner did say he knows someone who would do it and would get in touch with him.....we've quickly come to realise, however, that lovely as he is, we have to remind him 20 times before he gets round to doing anything!  So it'll be easier to arrange it ourselves, and at a time to suit us.

We've brought half of the sofa cushions home (couldn't fit all of them in our car - pity we exchanged our big 4x4 for our new little one, and got rid of the trailer! 😂😕) so I can make a start on steam cleaning them, before I put the new replacement covers on them.

Answering some caravan queries

 To answer a few queries - the reason the caravan is so cobwebby and in dire need of a deep clean is that the previous owners both died in 2019 (fortunately, from my point of view, neither died in the caravan!).  I think August of that year was the last time it was used, so it's been unoccupied for about 21 or 22 months.  The wife died first, followed a couple of months later by the husband.  Although the husband was the site handyman, I'm guessing neither of them was exactly house (caravan) proud when it came to cleaning!

The caravan is also quite old, probably around 20 years, and we bought it 'sold as seen'.  So yes, in view of the age and state of it, we did get it for a very cheap price.  Hence why we don't mind spending a bit of money on it, although we still want to do it as cheaply as we can as we do have a set budget.  There are several vans on site which are considerably older than ours, so they can last quite a while if they're looked after.

The site owner was considering getting rid of the van (the son of the previous van owner didn't want it at all) and putting a newer one in its place, but knew we couldn't afford a much newer one.  He does seem to like us though - he says we're the exact sort of new people he wants to join the park 'family' (I assume he means mature but a bit younger than the average age, keen gardeners, not afraid of hard work and thus possible new handyman to replace the one who died! 😂).  He also said he's very interested to see what we will do with the van in terms of updating it - he's a bit sentimental about it as he was very good friends with the previous owner.

We know it was a risk taking on the van sold as seen, but we did have a very good look at the structure, which seems basically sound, and tested every part with the professional damp meter loaned to us by our caravan engineer friend, who also gave us pointers as to what possible problems to look out for.  Incidentally, he services touring caravans, not statics, so can't be of any practical help to us....different training schemes and certificates are needed for statics.  He's also ridiculously busy for months to come.

Collected my new cordless stick vacuum yesterday morning and tested it here at home on the rugs covered in Betty's hair (she sheds a lot) once we'd charged it up.  It's brilliant, much more powerful than my other cheapy one, easily as powerful as my Dyson and a lot more manoeuvrable (I find the Dyson very unwieldy and it hurts my back).  So it should tackle the dreaded caravan cobwebs with ease tomorrow.  It's a Vax Blade Pro, if anyone's interested.

Thank you for all the positive and encouraging comments, you're very kind.  Tomorrow the caravan gas man is servicing the boiler and dealing with the water leak, and capping off the gas behind the old gas cooker (which is being taken out, we're having a table top electric one instead).  And hopefully all the cobwebs will be gone and I can then start cleaning, and bring the sofa cushions home for steam cleaning here.  And then I'll feel a lot better and will start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Reflections

 We decided to have this weekend at home, rather than going back to the caravan, as we have things to do here.  And I need to make more lists and plans and have a general think about things.  I had a terrible night last night, tossing and turning all night with very little sleep, stuff going through my mind and awful pain in my hip and back, no doubt as a result of yesterday.

Marlene, you said half the fun is doing things up - well yes, but it certainly wasn't fun yesterday, quite the opposite - very stressful and anxiety inducing.  Frankly, I am feeling overwhelmed and as if I'm floundering in deep water (and I can't swim at all well in real life!!) at the moment, it's only just dawning on me what a big job we've taken on.  The problems we had yesterday, coupled with the fact that we're hampered by not being able to have the electricity on and serviced until the 25th, and still have the water problems to sort out, is all making me feel uneasy right now.

The thing is, I KNOW it will be so worth it when it's all done, and I have to try and focus on that.

Upon meeting and chatting with a couple of the caravan neighbours (who seem really nice and friendly), it turns out, as I mentioned yesterday, that the previous owner of our van was the park handyman - if anyone needed anything doing, he did it.  One couple said they all really miss him, as he was so helpful and it meant they didn't have to do anything themselves - now they have to get a 'man' in.  The park owner, whilst being exceptionally nice, talkative and very friendly, freely admits he's not a handyman and doesn't know one end of a spanner from the other, nor does he have anything much to do with the caravans - he just lives on site and does all the admin and chats to everyone willing to listen (he talks about cars, mainly - right up husband's street)!  He does have a list of suitable caravan workmen - although we don't have to use his, we can use anyone of our choice - but that's pretty much the extent of his involvement.  So we're more or less on our own.  We did have touring caravans for many years, so husband is sort of familiar with caravan stuff, although a static caravan has some differences to a tourer, it's kind of midway between a touring caravan and a house.  I have absolutely zero knowledge of any technical caravan stuff, that was always husband's department.  And there aren't currently many other owners on site - unless they mostly come at weekends.  So it's all a bit daunting at the mo.

Yesterday I did think how on earth am I going to get the carpets and sofa upholstery cleaned without the electricity being on?  Well, it occurred to me during the night when I lay there tossing and turning that I can bring all the sofa cushions home and use the steam cleaner here.  I've new cushion covers for the entire seating on order, they're due to arrive next Wednesday, but I don't want to put them on the old dirty cushions - I want them clean first.  The present covers aren't removable, no zips or anything, I'd have to unpick them all and that's just another job I don't really want to add to the already huge list.  So bringing the cushions home to steam clean them was a bit of an inspired idea, laying awake worrying does have some advantages!

The carpets will just have to wait for cleaning with the Vax until the leccy is on.  As we'll be decorating, it's probably just as well anyway, although we will cover them with dust sheets.  The lounge and main bedroom carpets seem ok, pretty good quality, just in need of a deep clean (the previous owners had 2 dogs, apparently - and obviously weren't too fussed about housework).  We'll need a new carpet in the 2nd bedroom.  The kitchen and bathroom are both carpeted - erm that's an absolute giant NO!! as far as I'm concerned, they'll be ripped up and replaced with vinyl flooring.  The entire caravan needs decorating throughout - that's fine, I don't mind doing that.

We will get there, I know, it'll all get done eventually, and it will start to be fun once we get going with the decorating and furnishing it with our things.  Right now, I just want the whole place cleaned and free of the revolting all invasive cobwebs - I know I'll feel a whole lot better then.

Day 1 of the big caravan clean up

 Suemn, you asked how far the caravan is from our home - it's 40 minutes drive.  Husband doesn't want to drive long distances anymore, so this is perfect for us, and it means we can just up and go at short notice - if the weather turns out to be unexpectedly fine and we have nothing else on, e.g.  And HH - I will certainly take and put on here plenty of photos.....although, having said that, I actually forgot today, other than a couple of the overgrown garden when we first arrived.

It turned out to be a bit of a frustrating day.  It transpired there was no key for the electric meter box, husband couldn't initially find the tap to turn the water on outside (it was totally covered up with weeds and plants), when he did manage to cut the undergrowth (or rather, very much OVERgrowth!) down and find the tap, turning it on produced leaks from umpteen places underneath the caravan, plus the kitchen sink tap didn't seem to want to turn off properly, and a bit of water leaked out of the gas fired boiler.  Husband got it all under control eventually, but it was a bit stressful whilst it was going on.  It didn't help that the underneath of the caravan is totally enclosed by a makeshift 'skirt' (large tiles all along one side, paving slabs stood upright round the rest), so it was all a bit hit and miss trying to find where the leaks were coming from.  The previous van owner, who died around 18 months or so ago, was apparently the unofficial site handyman - I would say he was a bit of a bodger!

The other problem - well, it's a problem for me! - is that the caravan interior is full of cobwebs, they are absolutely everywhere, and it really gives me the willies - I know it's ridiculous, but I am severely arachnophobic.  We'd taken over our rechargeable vacuum cleaner, it's one of those stick ones not a little car vac thing.  We couldn't take the Dyson as the electricity isn't yet switched on - we can't have it on until it's been serviced and certified safe to use, I don't want to be electrocuted!  Well, the rechargeable, not the most powerful as it is, just wasn't up to the job, and even though I was trying to be brave, I was a bag of nerves trying to tackle the bigger and/or thicker cobwebby bits.  I did start off helping husband with the garden - I raked up what he'd strimmed, but eventually it got too hot for me out there so I had to go inside, thinking I'd take my courage in both hands and make a start on the vacuuming.  I just had to give up in the end though before I had a nervous breakdown.  

I really want to make a start on the cleaning, but can't do that until all the cobwebs are gone.  Husband says he'll tackle the cobwebs when we go back there on Monday, whilst I prune the overgrown shrubs around the caravan.  Oddly enough, I'm not so worried about 8-legged things outside - I wouldn't like it if one ran over my foot(!!), but they don't scare me as much outside.....I suppose because it's not an enclosed space.  Oh, and we're buying a more powerful cordless vacuum tomorrow, seeing as our present one is so feeble.

With all the problems I did have a bit of a wobble today, wondering if we've taken on too much of a big job.  Now I'm home, showered (I was really hot and bothered), just eaten dinner (a previously-made cottage pie so I didn't have to cook when I got home) and calmed down a bit, I feel fine again - yes it's all going to be a big job, but we'll get there, a bit at a time.  I shall feel SO much better once the cobwebs are gone and I can give everything a thorough clean, then we can make a start on the decorating.  I know it's going to look really nice when it's all done.  And, the best thing, it's all ours and we can decorate and furnish it exactly how we want.  

Whilst we were sitting eating lunch there (I'd taken a packed lunch), we both agreed that it's a gorgeous site, very peaceful, lovely views.  We met a few of the neighbours, couples mostly a bit older than us, who all seem very friendly.

Betty - well, she didn't know what to make of it all, she's always a bit nervous and unsettled in new places.  I'd taken a couple of toys and some treats over for her, as well as her water bowl and a big bottle of water, but had forgotten to take one of her beds - must do that on Monday.  Not that she would have laid in it much, she was far too interested in what we were doing, and kept following me around everywhere - she does that at home too actually, she's my shadow.  As soon as we got home, she lay down and went straight to sleep - think all the adrenaline (hers and mine!) wore her out, bless her.

Good day for taming a wild garden

 Thank you for all the lovely comments re our lovely new holiday home - well, it's not lovely at the moment, but it will be, I have the vision!  We spent yesterday getting more supplies - buying a couple of things in the shops, ordering the rest online to be delivered next week.  I was on the phone for ages too, arranging for the gas and electricity supplies to be serviced, that's being done on Monday (fortunately, the engineers are onsite then to do another van, so will come and do ours at the same time).  Trying to get hold of someone to come and do a deep clean of the carpets and upholstery was next to impossible - too busy, or they don't do static caravans, or they've given up due to a bad back!  So we've decided to do it ourselves - we have a Vax carpet cleaner and a hand-held steam cleaner anyway, and it'll save money.

Today, though, we're aiming to get the caravan garden totally cleared.....there is a paved patio area but it's almost totally taken over with weeds, the grass is knee high, and all the pots (there are loads) are more or less buried under weeds and/or dead plants.  It's forecast to be a nice dry day, sunny with a few clouds and not as hot and humid as the past few days, so pretty much perfect gardening weather.

We're taking Betty with us as we're expecting to be at the caravan all day - wonder what she'll make of it all?  If you turn left out of the park gate, there's a path that goes directly up into the Quantocks (big range of hills and a lovely walking area), so we'll all be going to investigate that at some point during the day....I expect we'll need a break from all the weeds and grass cutting by then.

I'm going to be busy writing up measurements and drawing up plans for the couple of alterations we're going to be making - I've got a dedicated caravan notebook 😁.  I need to take note of where all the electric sockets are, and possibly arrange for the electrician to add a couple more - think we'll definitely need at least one more in the kitchen, e.g.

I'm so looking forward to all this - even husband, not known for his enthusiasm, is gradually being infected by my excitement and plans, he's even had a few ideas of his own.

We went, we saw....

 ...we bought it!

We finally got to view the caravan - in the pouring rain, which at least meant we could see whether it leaked! (it didn't - we also checked everywhere with a professional damp meter, loaned to us by our caravan engineer friend - no damp at all).

It certainly does need a thorough deep clean, and lots of updating, and the overgrown garden getting under control.  But the caravan is sound, with a large, spacious lounge, and in a layout which will work for us.  We're going back on Friday to clear the garden and start on the big clean up inside the van (very cobwebby! *shudder* - but at least they were all dead!).  Fortunately, the weather is set to be fine then.

Here it is:-

I'm so excited I could burst! 

More photos will follow as we get things done.

More caravan bargains

 We've just been to Minehead - went early to avoid the crowds (there's a big Butlins holiday camp there so it does get busy during school holidays)....quite a few charity shops there, including one I really like, a local hospice shop.  And it didn't disappoint - got a pair of brand new, heavy duty, fully lined curtains, 90" x 72", in the perfect colours for the lounge colour scheme I have in mind - £15 - yes just £15, I snapped them up.  They'll be perfect to go on the 2 caravan doors.  They're Dunelm, I've just looked them up and they would cost £99 to buy in the shop.  I'm so pleased with them, couldn't believe my luck in finding the perfect brand new curtains for that price.

Also bought a garden table for £15, and some lovely dessert bowls, again in the exact colour I want for the kitchen, £3 for the four.

It wasn't busy at all when we arrived in Minehead, although was getting quite crowded by the time we left.

It's a gloriously sunny day again, although is forecast to be changeable from tomorrow, with some showers.  Which is ok, the garden needs it.

We had a bbq yesterday, our first one this year.  It's going to be hotter this afternoon, so I don't think I'll be sitting in the garden - even under our 'grounds for divorce' new gazebo 😂