Project Humpty Dumpty

So, now we know enough, our van in our eyes was a great choice ,the engine is good, the bodywork is good, we have had a great year and a fab time.

However, someone, somewhere is guilty of ripping out the original interior and did a *Harry Leigh* this is the name of my grandfather god bless him. The grandad who believed that just because he owned a vice he thought he could make and mend anything. Everything was bodged and taped together and painted an uneaven and thus Harry Leigh'd.

Well yes two kitchen cubhoards and bathroom blinds in a campervan is just wrong, i am glad we bought this van from this man as i hate to think what else he might have done.

Our original plan was to wait a while and get a brand new plush interior, but whilst this is good for some, we went off the idea and decided to restore the interior , into her original form, with original units.

So here we have project Humpty Dumpty, trying to put Florence back together again.

We are told we have very little chance of finding all the original interior, well watch out Bo Jangles is on the case in a big way. Just watch this space.

Dubs at the beach

Well what we did not bargain for when we bought Florence was the wonderful community that comes with owning a vw camper van , to our astonishment as we were driving along other vwcamper vans began to beep or flash as we passed each other, this i can tell you makes me laugh everytime!! If we are on a long journey we all have our eyes peeled for other campervans and it seems the first one to shout out 'Dub' wins, and then we all share in the magic, that flash of the headlights or wave to each other as we pass.

And of course the shows or gatherings we all share, we attended Dubs at the beach in Paignton, we arrived at the campsite on the saturday evening it was a fabulous campsite amazing sea views and of course brimming with vw campers, and also rain.

Fortunately by the time it had got dark a campfire had been stoked and a brilliant singer with his guitar were setting the scene for a good relaxing evening ahead., everyone had pulled up their camp chairs cracked open a drink .............say no more.

Next morning an early start for the convoy for all the camper vans to travel together to Paignton..........what a big load of show offs we are, i loved every moment of it .

Juds

Good morning Florence .

In some ways i regret not blogging as i went from one adventure to another, but looking through the photos of us i liked this one of the camper van.

A perfect day was beginning and the sun rays were captured, we were in North Devon for the first time at Watermouth campsite, it is a funny thing how Bo Jangles takes over cooking in the van, he rarely cooks at home, but i love it.

I can recall my summer memories though through the winter, via my blog, so all is not lost.

Juds

I am sorry i have not blogged, i have been busy enjoying my life for the first time in a very long time, in the five months since i last blogged i have been living a wonderful life.

That fleeting comment 'i am going to get one of those vw campervans, put the cat in the back and off i go' has changed my life, the power of words hey..............be careful what you say in life.

Our wendy house on wheels is called Florence, this name took a lot of discussion but somehow the name just stuck, she has served us well , we have serviced her well, it is the deal we have made. We know if we treat her well she will fire up ready to go on our next adventure at the turn of the key.
Juds

booked volks show tickets

Got tickets for the Volks world show at Sanddown park, Esher, dub going in for service tuesday, a few minor adjustments and will be ready for her first big trip of the dream !!.
Bo Jangles

the pick up home

after rushing round at work, dashing to the train station, me, Judds and Shannon crambed on a train like sardines off to pick the Dub up and bring her to her new home .
Off we go handed the money over and dub was officially ours. Trundling down the A380, me taking a long time to get used to the driving of this machine, we decided to stop at a pub near home. Judds and Shannon went in leaving me to lock up. Locked all doors except my door. Turned the key, pulled key out but along with the key barrell, this with judds window not working and can only get in from the outside got me worried but hey, 38 year old vehicle what more do you want !!. All adds to the fun and character !!
Bo Jangles.

dream was born

Having viewed the gremin, judds liked it and it was bought. Finally fate had taken its course and now picking it up end of week.

gremlin dubbie

After driving past two campers on way home from dropping juddy off at work, with enthusiasm at a low due to the past probs associated with finding one I decided to pop into sainsbury's to get the latest camper mag. Did n't have one so browsed through the auto trader, and there she was, a 1971 californian import westfalia bay camper called the gremlin.
Viewed it that day and was pretty good.

the gremlin dub

Realisation!!

No joke!! we had a very lucky escape!!we found out that the vw we had been let down on, had been in a false sale ! there was never, that van! we decided that evening, there was unlikely to be a van for us!.
However mr B.J said, lets give it two weeks , and if we find a VW in two weeks locally ,then its fate!!
With absolutely no hope in my heart! and feeling soooo deflated, and a real feeling of no interest in the idea, i went to work!.

oh dear what an Arse !!

Not the best of starts this seller clearly had no spirit and I was deflated big time. Could not believe I was treated this way as thought "Dubbers" where the salt of the earth as I was told !. Now in a foul mood I found myself driving round Bristol Bah Bah Bah!, dosey people nearly crashing into my car, could not find my way out of this awfull city and came to the conclusion all these people where Mutants from another planet and have trapped me with no way out !. Having finally found the M5 Southwest, pedal to the metal back home rushing to see a Vw Importer and see what he had to offer !

Bo Jangles.

OH!!

Wide awake and ready to see our perfick Mr VW!!.

So off we went with happiness in our souls, to see our happy van!!* ooh yey* seemed our favorite words of the day.

And then Mr Bo Jangles mobile phone rang!, as Mr BJ was driving , i answered.

"yes its juds here we are nearly there"............it was the seller of the van!!

Reply was......................"the van is sold".

Oh hell , we had been driving for nearly two hours!!!!...............................and to be honest we were annoyed that ,we had been let down by people whom we thought had *spirit*, and actually spent the rest of the day feeling, that vwcampers was not for us!

Found one !!

This day brought new hope !!. Found one at the right price and had the works on it, full electrics, awning, heater, and was a 1972 moonraker conversion for £8500. Having rung the advertiser and much to my belief it was still for sale!. I arranged a viewing for the weekend and asked to have first refusal if he had other interest. Appointment booked for the Saturday at one o'clock travelling 90 miles to see it. Here we go !

Bo Jangles.

the mission of Bo Jangles

Having sought advice from people in the know obtained through good old volksworld camper mags and contacts from a friend I sought of knew what to look for.

During my search had found three really good ones and after ringing them they had already been sold!. The search had taken its toll on my sleep as was burning the computer out until early hours resuming my search for the illusive camper.

Bo Jangles.

How it all began! Bo jangles !!

Following this cold trip to the beach and having been surprised at Juddy's idea of a VW Camper van the search was on!. This interest had always been in our minds following alot of birthdays and christmas's recieving "dub" money ornaments and the good old "Dubbie" egg holders!!.

So here I go spending two weeks solid searching for this vw camper.

Boy oh boy how I did not realise how harder task this would be!. Too expensive, too rusty, and all the ones that looked good where snapped up the moment they where advertised!!.

How it all began!! @@

On one wintery cold sunday, my partner Mr Bo jangles as i call him, decided to take us on an afternoon jaunt to Exmouth,* us* being Juddy and Shannon!! to give the woof a run on the beach!!...........I was not in a good mood, and fleetingly stated how i would soooooooo love to put me and Raggy the cat in a VW camper and off we go on an adventure!, at this point may i say we did not have a camper!.

A few minuites later it was decided!! , when we got home we were going to look up vw camper vans on the net !! and just *see* what it was all about. Juds x