Introducing Mabel...

Well here she is, my new 'old' girl.

I'm totally smitten with her,

and after spending a night in her recently

my boys and I know we've made the right decision.

Thank you for all writing such lovely comments

about my caravans in my last post,

and although I always try to send you back a

personal little email I couldn't for some of you

as your addresses aren't linked to your comments/blog

(or something or other) so please let me give a huge thank you

for all your encouragment.

Anyhow, lets get to the eye candy!

Here she is at

Strawberry Wood!

(cute name for a campsite eh?)

Her cute little door, with it's proper little door handle,

of course she had to have a special little key ring

from Aunty Cath's shop!

Always open for friends bearing cake.

Take a pew, on the sofa.

AKA Finn's bed.

 Never one for muted colours me.

The kettles on Love!

Check out 'Dudley' our dinky stove.

All original and still working.

Even the chores are a pleasure!

Not being able to make my mind up,

my boys helped with the fabric choices.

I was keen to have Cath's prints in Mabel,

and I saved up hard.  Anyhow, the boys wanted boats,

Mummy wanted flowers, so we met half way

and had both.

Each end having different curtains.



Well I hope you enjoyed yourselves having a peep.

She's a very special girl is old Mabel.

SPRITE caravans were the ordinary folks holiday home on wheels,

compared with other expensive coach built caravans

at the time. Many were made and they're

fairly plain and simple as caravans go.

But I have it on good authority

that old Mabey Baby is very rare indeed.

She was built in 1963 and there are few, if any,

Sprite Alpines (her official title) from that year left.

She's appeared in a caravan monthly magazine

already I believe.

Just think, that Mabel could be in this line up

of shiny new models back in the early 60's!

Well I think she's as good looking today,

as she was back on the Sprite Alpine production line.

I hope you agree.

Thank you for letting me share her.

Our next stop by the way, is Anglesey next week!

If it rains or shines we'll be happy and cosy in our little house on wheels.

Love Claire. x

The Patchwork Cowboy!

Tomorrow shall see our first trip away in our

Little Sindy Caravan!

Not too far away and nowhere exotic,

just enough to get away from the norm

and somewhere I can build my confidence up

with towing her.

I just thought you may like to see my latest

make for her.

Some patchwork curtains

for the little stable door.

Open...

Closed...

I quite enjoyed making the patchwork,

something I've never done before.

It's not perfect but I'm loving

the Holly Hobbie effect.

Anyhow, this evening

I just fancied a little bit of window shopping

over at 'Cath's Gaff' what with her 15% off day.

But I've had to come out of there!

With my endless supply of imaginary money my

bag was over flowing.

I know a lovely place where a couple of these

would be perfect!

Along with...

...3 of them actually,

with a few more of these...

Of course I'm talking about in

my little caravan.

Whilst using the above

we'd definitely need one of these to

sit on...

But then you can't have a camping

holiday without a good pack of playing cards

can you?

But seriously,

I would love to be able to buy lots of

Cath Kidston, but I feel a little queasy now,

a sort of 'Cowboy Overload!'

Plus I'm poor!

How is a girl supposed to be

able to afford this beauty?

Especially as it's £145!!!

Good job I bought an almost identical one

in my favourite charity shop last week.

A bit of scrap oil cloth for lining it and I'm sure

mine is far better.

Well, for the £4 I spent on it I'd say so.

It's all loaded up with scrummy things

and tucked up in Sindy for our weekend away.

Wish me luck everyone.

I'll need it!!!!

Love Claire. x



By Request...! Sindy Super Sprite!

WELL I NEVER!

I'm thrilled with everyones kind and

encouraging words on my last post

regarding my 'Sindy Caravan'.

More photos were requested of the inside,

so I've been out after work today

and tried to set some pics up for you.

My first ROYAL WEDDING purchase has

sneaked into her on this one!

(flag: much cheapness from the Co-op!)

The boys requested we stick it on the roof

for when we tow her...

I think i'll have enough to worry about

never mind a Union Jack flapping away behind me.

Temptation was high but I managed to resist

buying the comemorative mug too,

but I may have to go back and buy it!

Honestly! Hee hee!

Bless her...

Sindy super Sprite!

...and that's that.

I hope we'll all fit round that table!

Who's bringing the cakes?

You may notice there's

some unfinished curtain action

going on in there, but

I'm bursting with pride over her

and wanted to show you where I'm

upto with her.

They're almost completed anyhow,

and just the same as the others on the smaller window.

There is a distinct lack of floral going on in her

you may also notice.

Under very strict orders from

'The Gruesome Twosome'

I was informed of the

'NO FLOWERS'

rule :o(

Good job I managed my Ebay bargain

on some Cath Kidston Cowboy eh?

Plus it's helped to give me a bit of a

starting point with a theme...

notice the pony skin blanket?

I'll show the the other end of her

another time.

You'll be all

RETRO CARAVANED OUT

by now, surely?

Love C. x

Did you miss me?

 

Eh guess what?!

It'll be Christmas at this rate!

Hee hee!!!

The year is whizzing by

so fast, I've hardly said a word to you all

in ages, but I'm sure you'll forgive me.

Lots of folk start booking or at least thinking

of holidays at this time of year,

and I'm no exception.

So, after lots of longing,

and Ahhhing, I decided to take the plunge!

'What with?'

I hear you cry.

Well if I said I'd bought one of these...

...would you believe me??!

Well I have!

Only a little bit bigger, but not much.

Please excuse the photographs of her,

this was the day she arrived and

it was about -70 degrees and she'd

literally just been dumped on the drive.

After lots of longing and wanting of

a vintage caravan, I had a long hard think about

my situation.  Could I realistically restore and maintain

the little gems I've seen on here.

The answer, unfortunately, was no, I couldn't.

Plus the prices for fully restored beautys are creeping

upwards these days.

So that brought me to a very cold day and the boys

and I are viewing 'Sindy'.

Well we had a fantastic time, we made

the tables into beds and back again,

And we cooked imaginary food,

in imaginary pots and pans from the

cupboard, and helped ourselves to

invisable food from the fridge.

After her safety check and delivery

(I don't even have a tow bar fitted!)

I gathered all the seat cushions up

and brought them inside the house.

After a little make over with some muchas cheapas

fabric and a few Ebay bargains

I can start to picture us off on our holidays in her.

Did you spot that gorgeous CK cowboy fabric?!

I think Sindy will look every bit a 'Cool Caravan'

by the time I've finished with her.

I hope you'll enjoy the journey

from this to, eventually,

that fun packed Summer that I mentioned

in my last post.

Stay with us for the ride why don't you?

You'll be most welcome.

Love Claire. x

P.S. I hope you recognised me,

a bit of redecoration has been going on here.



The best way to spread Christmas cheer...

Is singing loud for all to hear!

ELF

We shall never tire of this film in our house.

We're becoming all Christmassy but

STILL HAVE NO TREE!

It's still growing in a snowy field at the moment

and we're off to collect it tommorow.

Not sure who is the biggest kid,

me or the boys, hee hee!

Anyhow,

before I get on to what I want to show you

things must be told to all my bloggy friends out there.

First the good news...

Thank you for everyone who wished Basil well for his

ahem, 'little op'

this went ahead problem free.  Phew!

Now the sad news,

I'm very sorry to tell you

that Daisy, my little red hen,

had been poorly for so long and has

flown up to the big chicken coop in the sky.

I made the choice that for a hen to be taken to the

vets for treatment was too stressful for my little old lady.

She had a good few last weeks with her little chums

to snuggly up with and always greeted me with little clucks

and enjoyed her Marmite on toast every morning.

But she slipped away one night last week. 

...sniff.

Anyroad!!!  What am I doing being all glum

when it's Christmas time eh?!

How very dare me ;o)

So, here I am sharing some snaps of

my trip into town today for the

Manchester Christmas Markets

and a bit of shopping thrown in too.

I hope you enjoy them.

A singing moose!

St. Anne's Square.

Christmas jumpers and reindeers...

albeit just the skins(!) but both very cuddly.

Huge twirly whirly thingbob.

Obligatory hat photo.

Twinkling tree.

The wheel.

Then in to Selfridges...

A very expensive bike.

£3745!

The reason being is still a bit of a mystery,

but it's 'maker' may have something to do with it.

A bit of CK love going on.

...and some more love.  Yummy.

A quick wizz around here.

Then off to gaze in awe at the beautiful fairground.

Magical!

So, there we have it!

A quick catch up,

and a lovely day out shared.

I've been enjoying playing around with my photos on

PIKNIK

Hoping you won't mind, but I'm loving the effects this end.

Now if I don't see you before

(I hope I do)

let me wish you all a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

Love Claire. X



Caravan Of Love...

A few years back

everyone started to get the

'Camping Bug!'

Me included!

Even good old

Cath Kidston

cashed in on it,

producing some stylish gear

in her fab fabrics.

Well folk have progressed

this year and have developed

another bug...

'Caravanning!'

Now my tent is sat

beautifully packed away in its

very own shed in the garden,

and during the Winter months,

hibinates in the loft.

If I say this very quietly,

in just a whisper...

...so she can't hear

...I am hoping she will start to

grow herself some wheels!

Just have a looky at this vintage beauty...

Beautiful Constance

is featured in this great book...

She is a bit of all-right is old Connie.

I'd love to be able to tell you that

I took these delightful photos of her...

But alas...

I have not been that lucky.

But if you visit HERE

you too can also have a nosey

around at her interior and a few others

to boot.

In the 'afore mentioned'

gorgeous book

'My cool caravan'

on pages 12 to 15

you will find the little tale

of Lydia, a lucky lady

who is the proud owner of a

'Cheltenham Springbok'

see HERE for a couple of the same photos

used in the book.

Well this is where I would love to tell

you that I am the proud owner of

such a wonderful 'van'

but nope!

Mind you...

if I were to bid only

last week

on Ebay, for the exact same

model, PRE-restoration,

I could have been the proud owner of one.

It went for £415!!!

Now I don't think thats too bad a price.

Obviously a lot of work needed,

far beyond what I could manage,

but a few months for her

in a specialist garage,

and I think you'd be on to a vintage winner!

Thanks for reading today,

I'm off to dream of Summer holidays

in my very own 'van'

lay listening to the rain on the tin roof,

and not on the canvas for once!

Rain...Booooo!!!

Love C. x

Copy Cat Cath.

If you love Cath kidston

I'm sure you have not only

 heard about the 'FREE' bag with

Easy Living Magazine

this month,

but probaly got it and using it by now too.

My Mum gets the magazine each month anyway

so I had planned on 'stealing' the bag!

But when it came, I didn't want that design,

I wanted the other one!

Oh I am a fussy one eh?!

So I bought it and got my wish.

It also comes with the May catalogue.

In which I notice this...

Hmmmm... sweeties.

But then I notice the subheading!!!

'Oh my goodness'

I thought surely not?!

'Does Cath read my blog?'

Hee hee, how funny, if only!

So I just read along, enjoying the lovely goodies,

flicking through the pages

 soaking up the gorgeous photos,

not reading the text, and I then turn

the page to see this..

Oh if only she knew what a big fan of her I am.

But then even more spooky

I turn my head to read the other page and

there before my eyes is my hometown...

Little old Macclesfield.

So how's about that then?

I wonder if Cath does have a sneaky peek

at our blogs?

We've all googled ourselves...

well I have ha ha!

She may stumble upon us from time to time eh?

Anyhow, Cath,

you really are a little copy cat you know...

Are we nearly there yet?

Thats my line!

Love C. x

Little things....

I have realised a couple of things today.

1. This Cath Kidston wallpaper is £150 a roll!!!

I reckon it would be perfect in a downstairs loo, if I had one that is.

But £150 a roll? Just for the boys to wee on it?

Are you having a laugh Cath? hee hee.

2.  I am off work for 2 weeks!!!

Whoop whoop!  I didn't realise until earlier today durrr!

But then on Wednesday I was told I may not have a job in September :-(

3.  I need to buy Easter eggs before the shops sell out!

Maybe that should really say;I had best hurry up and replace

 all the Easter eggs I have eaten from the

secret stash I bought, trying to be extra organised has totally backfired!

4.  I would have cleaner eggs in the egg basket if I cleaned out the hens more often.

Very broody hens are now in a cleaner hen house after today.

Gorgeous Delia!

(shhhhh don't tell her anything to the contrary)

All of the above I have found out today.

Somethings you forget

and just need a little reminding....

5.  I love this muddy twosome!

Even though my adorable Finn was, last week, diagnosed as having ADHD

 (yes, it was a heck of a week in the emotional stakes)

I still love my little grubby mates.

(who are they trying to fool with this show of brotherly love? ha ha)

                                      

Love Claire.

xxx

P.S.  OH I NEARLY FORGOT.

6. I COULD BE DOROTHY!!!