One of the best things about our little break away has been falling in love at last with our caravan. We've had it for two years now but this is the first time we've had a proper holiday away in it. For the most part it's been a pretty expensive play house and place to store bags of old stuff for the charity shop.
And I actually got around to prettying it up a little. I've had this fabric for ages and at last it's in the caravan and looks just like I hoped. There's only so much beige velour a girl can take! The swirly wallpaper will have to stay but a few old books and postcards have made it feel a little more like a home away from home.
We stayed out most days until the light started to go, had beachy picnics or fish and chips for tea and then perhaps a bottle of pop and a playground romp at a cosy pub before we wended our way back to our little bav for toast, stories and bed .
We got rather used to being careful with the amount of water we used, saving the gas and the battery power. Very make do and mend which is just my cup of tea. I loved being on such a sweet, friendly site and noseying at other people's camping/caravanning set-up - washing lines, picnic tables, multi-multi-multi roomed tents, fairy lights etc.
So we're definitely converted and the next trip has already been booked (Windermere in July for the Air Festival). It was such a lovely break full of special memories. Wagons roll.
Thanks for all your smashing comments, can't tell you how much I appreciate every one. Lovely to hear about your Dorset memories and favourite places. More Dorset adventures next time
34 comments:
Oooh I know what you mean about the confidence thingy - we had our first trip out this weekend and I think we might be hooked or is that hitched up!! We are off again this weekend :)It's a different world isn't it? I found myself saving the water from the kettle after a cuppa in a flask for the subsequent washing up - lol!
Happy caravanning.
L.x.
sounds (and looks) like a wonderful holiday!
I'd love to have a caravan one day but am not so keen on the towing part! We stick to camping, though I am a 'luxury camper' - with a multi, multi, multi room tent for just the two of us! I like to have a bedroom, a storage room, a 'kitchen' = i like to unpack and have space, rather than living out of the car boot as we did on our first camping trip in a tiny two man tent!
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your holiday next time!
oooh, that looks fun, and your littles look the perfect age! You'll be doing Bestival before you know it with teens, so enjoy! Cutains tres chic! x
Loved your post today! We camped for the first time as a family over Easter and loved it!!! Like you though, I was quite fascinated with our neighbours' home-from-home set-ups. A couple of people even had prettily decorated Easter trees outside their tents making us feel a bit 'cobbled together'!
Gorgeous little pic of your son busy with his colouring!
Hx
To think we were only days away from each other, Steph! Wow, the curtain fabric looks absolutely fab I can imagine now no one notices the beige velour (quite cosy that though, I imagine). I think everyone with children knows just what you mean when you talk about that elastic. Sometimes they just get toooo excited. Thanks for sharing your lovely hols (that pub looks great). Hope you have many more trips now in your super caravan.
Hen xxx
Oh that post has bought back lovely childhood memories. We used to camp and then caravan when I was growing up and would often pack everything up and go 2 miles from home for the weekend. I remember people thinking my parents were barking mad, but we loved it! x
Thank you for this inspiring post
:0) I have had somewhat of a down day as not long ago bought a 1981 sprite pop top caravan ( which needs a lot of work!! ) Today I couldnt see the wood for the trees and just wanted to get it looking pretty and road worthy for my little family to go away, and got a bit cross...I have found so much inspiration on the My cool caravan facebook page and the lovely peeps on there really cheered me up. I know we shall get her on the road soon, but like you say she is a sure fine playden for now :0) Take care Mary xx
Oh I am so jealous, that looks a great holiday. Unfortunatly we are stuck with a tent until we win the lottery lol but like louise its bigger than we need to put all my err I mean all the boys 'stuff' in and I cant go camping without my straighteners xx
Great to hear your adventures you make it sound so perfectly romantic we love our caravan too, it's the ideal family holiday and reminds me if my childhood. Glad you all had fun.
How I adore your curtain fabric, very naughty of me to lust after other peoples things I know.
You've sold me on the idea of caravanning, wish we had one. My folks had one when I was at home. I remember three weeks around Scotland and leaving the caravan at the bottom of hills so the car could go up and explore. The sight of your boys drawing at the table brought back so many memories Steph.
X
I'm just so jealous :D Seems the perfect holiday to me. xxx
You did a wonderful job with the curtains ~ and such beautiful fabric! It looks like you had a very special time away ~ very much enjoyed your lovely photos! Love Brenda
Lovely post =-) I've been lurking for a few months and want to finally say how much I've been enjoying your blog. The curtain fabric in the caravan is so sweet, and it is so similar to the design on the teacups in your blog header! I've been admiring them since you put that photo up and am wondering if you know the pattern name? I think they are so charming and am always on the lookout at antique shops and sales for cups that I like! Caravaning or camping is always so much fun, isn't it? I have always loved it and the kids always had so much fun. DebbyMc in California
I think the caravan adventures will really change and enrich your already rich lives...and the children, well, the memories you'll make will stay with them and change them forever.
I love the material you used and I know you'll make it even more wonderful.
All joys,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I´ve never been in Dorset but it looks like a place out of a fairytale. it must have been a wonderful trip with your family.
What a lovely time you had! and the boys look liked they enjoyed it, my boys loved our caravan holidays, better than any holiday abroad!!It was a real adventure. Have a lovely week.
Jillxx
That pub looks just the place to spend an evening! Sounds like you have the bug. My friend is caravan mad and even sits in it sometimes to get away from the her teenage kids! She goes down South a lot but also closer to home, Ashbourne being a favourite place.
Oooooh , I love that Pub and your curtains!!!
x Sandi
That all looks rather lovely, so glad that you've made a trip and enjoyed it.
Oh well done for braving it Steph. It looks such fun and I love your curtain fabric. Looking forward to more pics through the year xx
A lovely post - looks like a great holiday! We had camper vans for years - now we camp with a tent. I love camping! Abby x
Ohhhhhh this is making me very homesick indeed..! I love that pub, last year we had a picnic on a nearby cliff and then popped in for a cold drink.
Look like you had a lovely holiday! Can't wait to hear more about Dorset..
Ashley xx
Oh, how I would love a caravan, but my Mr is not keen, preferring to spend night's under canvas. I'm going to keep working on him! M x
oh it looks like you had the most wonderful time! I love your curtain fabric and all of your pretty accessories! There is nothing better than camping/staying in a caravan.... we always did it when I was younger, most weekends! x
OOOh I have both caravan envy and also pub envy! Your holiday looked lovely especially the beautiful pub you found. You take great photos - they really are atmospheric!
I spent my summer hols as a child in a caravan on a Scottish beach with just a few other fishing huts and caravans for company - it was chilly but blissful. Such fond memories - just the smell of the gas cooker takes me right back.
Best wishes,
Ruth
I do love a good caravan holibobs!!!
It looks wonderful! I would love a caravan and holidays like this but cannot convince my hubby!! Someday maybe?! Cx
Wonderful, so glad you enjoyed your time away. We saw the air festival last year, it was fantastic.
Your caravan looks fabulous - I love all your thrifted bits and that curtain fabric is just lovely! x
Love your caravan and the gorgeous fabric.It must be such fun prettyfying it.
I know that lovely pub at Osmington Mills well.Did you walk along the coast path,behind the pub,along to Ringstead bay I wonder? :0)
Wonderful technicolour photos, as always, they are beautiful. Brought back memories of my own childhood holidays in our VW camper van (long, long before they became a style statement!). My brother and I slept in the pop up roof, my parents down below in the main van. Happy days....
It all looks and sounds delightful! And it has given me the urge to move an enormous stack of logs so that we can get our own little 'van out of the garden and on to the back of the car! So a big thank you for that!
I know exactly what you mean by 'beige velour' (you need say no more!) and your new curtains look just right! Perhaps there's a job opportunity for you, in there somewhere!
I love the term 'pyjama cricket' by the way. So nice to have leave to postpone the ablutions when you're having fun!
Fabulous-we were away in our camper van last weekend and had a wonderful time...nostalgic times were had by both of us. We have just booked to go to Dartmouth in July and can't wait, hurrah! thankyou for sharing your lovely photos Steph x
WE had a caravan for years and have some fabulous family memories made by holidays in it.
We had to 'do ours up' too. Your curtains are lovely - we emulsioned over the paper, it worked a treat, give it a try.
Glad you're making some lovely memories too!
Best wishes
Rose H
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