Wow what a beautiful start to the day

Woke up this morning to a thick covering of white fluffy snow. I was like a little kid, of course, scooped up huge handfuls and piffed it at Sammy. He didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did.
This is in the carpark of the hotel.

This is our little car parked in the parking lot at the hotel.


This just looked pretty so I asked Sammy to take a photo.


We are having a few issues getting motorhome insurance at the moment, with people backing away from us as soon as we say we are Aussies. Not sure what our next step from here will be. May have to sweet talk the caryard into hosting an address for us. Good Aussie wine is quite cheap over here. Maybe a few bottles will persuade him. Fingers crossed.

The sun is out today and despite the fact that there is snow everywhere, the weather is really quite nice. The sun is warm if you get into the right spot and I only have 1 jumper on with my thermals instead of the usual 2.

Britain - Closed for the winter

We headed off nice and early to have a look around Dover (the white cliffs) and have a look through Dover castle. Drove through the snow only to find the castle closed due to inclement weather. There were 2 other castles close by so we went to have a look at them, only to discover that they are closed during the winter months. So instead we went to a cafe that over looks all the ferries, had a coffee and watched a huge snow storm blow in.

Had a little shopping spree a Ikea yesterday, bought lots of goodies for the van. We are really looking forward to "shifting in" and getting our lives a little bit organised.


Dover Caste - closed due to poor weather

On top of the White Cliffs of Dover, looking over to France. They were extra white today - that's snow coming down on the left!

David Brent's lovechild - just for Richard back at 'The Office'

David Brent's lovechild - just for Richard back at 'The Office'

Back in Canterbury

We are back in Canterbury looking around until early next week when the motorhome is all ours. We had a look around the Cathedral today via an audiotour - it was interesting to hear about things that predate Australian history by so many years.

The snow has melted quite a bit since yesterday's heavy falls, it was pretty slippery driving last night. We huddled back inside a Cafe Nero - there seems to be one in the main street of every town here, and we can get our wireless broadband and keep in touch with folks back home.

We're off to the pub for an English pub tea and beers - should be nice. Tomorrow we might go hunting for an Ikea to start kitting out the van with all the things that make you feel like you're at home.

Ciao
-Sam.

We found our new home

Sammy relaxing on Eggy's Bed.

Rancho Relaxo downsized. Welcome to our new home for the remainder of 2005

Well we have had a very busy (and cold) couple of days. Found a motorhome dealer in the centre of Herne Bay and found a camper that we were very interested in. Sammy checked back through his documents and found there was a similar camper in Helston (about 7 hours drive away). So we headed off to compare the campers. Much to our disappointment the 7 hour drive was not fruitful, as the camper was damaged, filthy and mouldy. Not where we want to spend the next 12 months. So we headed off back towards Herne Bay. The distance and direction was sort of like driving from Portland to Lakes Entrance. Arrived back in Hearne Bay, test drove the camper this morning and put a deposit on it.

It has quite a large bathroom, a fixed rear bed, a dinette with 2 seat belts, this folds down to create "Eggy's Bed". It is left hand drive and immaculate inside. Sammy even managed to talk him down 1000 pounds (a lot in Aussie dollars). Paid our deposit and the van will be ready to drive away on Monday. We are really looking forward to this. We are both sick of living out of suitcases and basic accommodation is frightfully expensive. Looking forward to a bit of space to call our own.
Paula

Our lodging for last night - not bad for 50 quid! I dont think I've ever seen a Best Western like this back home!!! Canterbury is so great to look around, we're stuck in the area until monday when our camper becomes ready. We're off for a dose of Indian food tonight.

UK roads, good even when there's snow..

Thats me doing 100 mph, and the Audi doing about double that number!

The roads are well signposted here, optional indicators make it interesting. And the direction signs are at 90 degress to Australian ones, which has caused a us to go right around a few roaundabouts twice...

Houston, we have a problem!

Its really snowing hard here now. We picked a great time to visit!

Late last night it started snowing heavily at our hotel. Well it seemed late, but it was only about 6pm! 

Canterbury Cathedral. Built 1400 years ago. It is just so big - hard to appreciate from the photos. 

More of Reculver 

Old church made from Roman fort in Reculver, Kent. 

Got Vegemite, will travel. 

Hallo, we're in kent!

We're in Canterbury today, we found a good motorhome dealer and have even been for a drive. They have a better motohome back in tomorrow that we'll go check out in the morning and maybe it's what we are looking for, we'll see how the numbers pan out.

Scored a hire car via the Heathrow website and drove out from the centre of London, which was pretty quiet on a Saturday. And by changing our nationality from Australian to British on the website, the week's car rental went from 600 quid down to 119! No questions asked! (wink wink).

Went to see an ancient Roman site on the coast this arvo and nearly got blown to bits by the zero degree winds off the ocean, it was amazing. Now we're sitting in a Cafe Nero having a hot coffee and using the wifi access from Boingo.

Cheers!

-Sam.

We've been to see the queen! 

Goodye Granny

My darling Granny passed away at 5.15 this morning. It is a very sad time, but also somewhat of a relief. Granny had Alzheimers disease and the last 6 months has been hard for everyone. I feel a bit torn though. Still feeling excited about going, but feeling sad about not being at Granny's Celebration of life service, but she wouldn't want us to change our plans. Feeling so thankful that we saw her smile on Thursday when we went to say goodbye.

Paula

Goodbye Granny

Motorhome dealer locator

Found this site link.

http://www.caravan-sitefinder.co.uk/dealers/

Visit to Granny

Granny visit

5 days to go!

*** 6 days to go!!! ***

Can you tell we're getting excited?

***7 days to go!!!***


Well I think Kelby is starting to suspect we're going somewhere!

Farewell Dinner

Here's a photo from our farewell family dinner in Warrnambool last friday night. How cute are those kids?


Poppy with the rascals

VicRoads inspection

The short of it is that everything's ok. But it's been like pulling teeth.

Our initial visit involved only sighting a VicRoads Contractor (security guard). He rang us back at 12pm and told us the car was ready, and we'd receive a letter in 4 to 5 days with some detail. We went over the timeline again. Despite being the nicest of guys he didnt get it. And being a contractor he couldnt tell us any detail.

I pulled around the corner and rang the front desk to seek clarification, and instructed I would be called back by 1.30.

At 1.40pm I called back, and was put through to an engineer (not the one who inspected it). The issues were dubiously written, so I fired off heaps of questions. He was confused himself. Turned out the rollcage and sunvisors didnt comply with ADR's. Again after 20 questions I hit the right one. Turned out I could just unbolt them.

I went over the timeline thing again with the engineer (urggh) and asked if I could drop back in an hour with the items unbolted. After a surprising amount of empathy (minimal) he said if I had the car back in 15mins he'd lend me the tools to do it.

I pulled back into the bay. His behaviour was just weird, consisting of grunts and minimal discussion. We unscrewed the sunvisors - "just pull around the corner and screw 'em back on mate". He couldnt be bothered waiting for me to unbolt the rollcage, and without bagging out his fellow inspector too unprofessionally, he sent me on my way with a signed piece of paper to say all was ok.

Thank god I just kept questioning them or it would have cost me another day later in the week to drive back.

More of the same - complexity!

Well, it gets better. I think I'll become a consultant to the public service - Lean Thinking is decades away!

Rang Vic roads, and after much haggling I managed to get an inspection for tomorrow. The original offer was for the day we leave, two seconds after I explained what day that was!

They need the car all day in Kew. Nice! And in this stormy weather it should be great to spend the day there!

value.

An update on yesterday's complexity

Late yesterday I went to the bank to withdraw a considerable amount of money and was met by another difficult person. Do I have a sign on my back?

After stating my withdrawal amount, I was greeted with the response "Oh, we dont carry cash here!". Apparently I'm supposed to ring ahead. Do you suppose they've overextended themselves?

I was at the end of my rope and responded whilst looking around "Oh my god, sorry, I'm in a butcher's!". She wasnt amused.

After offering me a bank cheque, and then the sum in fifties, I let on that I knew the branch manager, and left with my money.

I'm a magnet for fools this week.

Bureaucracy Part2

Looks like some sort of fiendish plot to make life bureacratic before we go.

A letter turned up from vic roads today about the roadster - they want to "review it". Not sure what that involves. After several phonecalls suggesting I'm going overseas next week, their giving me at least some minimal detail.

From talking to some friends I've gleaned that they screwed up a bunch of compliances, and a number of cars out there on the road have the same Vin number. Embarrassing for them!

But they're not admitting anything yet. At least I have the original compliance docs signed by their people.

Bureaucracy Part1

Its been a funny day. Off to the RACV to get a Camping Card International. They've never heard of it of course, even though it's on their website! Nice!

A Camping Card International is handy card that you can hand over instead of your passport at euro campsites, and it often saves you 20%, which is handy for a year.
---------------------------------------
After much stuffing around I've now found someone at head office that is in charge of issuing them.