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Writer's pictureGav Parker

The Charms and Challenges of Willoughby Wendy



One of the charms…the fact that we can just park up anywhere. Whether it’s someone’s drive or whether it’s somewhere out in the countryside. Everyday, when we open the side door, we get a different view. And to see the sun rise, that first glimpse of the morning when you open the door, how often do you see that when you open your bedroom door? So to see it like we do, it’s just breathtaking. We get to see some fabulous places and meet some fabulous people.


The challenges…the big one is working full-time and then having to sort out all the bits on the van that need sorting out. Whether it’s the water, the toilet, sorting the battery out so we’ve got power or sorting other little things that through general wear and tear just fall off. After a long day’s work the last thing I want to do, when it’s pitch black, is get my tool box out and start repairing stuff in the van.


The thing is, we’ve got an old van and we don’t live in an old era. The era when this van was made in is long past. So we’ve got to bring certain aspects up to date and retro-fit certain things so we can charge our laptop and phones and do a few other bits and bobs like that. It just makes life a little more comfortable and easy. But it’s hard trying to fit things without making massive holes everywhere. Trying to be sympathetic to where things needs to go and it all takes time. That’s been the biggest challenge anyway, especially during winter, is just having enough power.


So to end with a charm…if, for whatever reason, I’ve got a day’s work booked in and it’s cancelled, it’s just nice to drive somewhere, park up, have a sandwich and just experience the local environment. Wherever I am. Stretch my legs, have a wander and by the time I get back to the van the stuff ticking over in my mind evaporates. It’s just nice to be out in the wilderness and experience something I wouldn’t normally have done living a 9 to 5 life with a mortgage, travelling back home through gridlocked traffic to get back to my Close to close the door. I don’t have that. We’re able to park up wherever we want and just enjoy.


It has been a challenge during the winter, with the cold and the damp. But that said, we had a little glint of what it’s like when the weather’s warm when we lived in the van early Autumn. It was just breathtaking. Not having to feel cold. Not having to worry about electric and some of the things I’m worrying about now.


So yep, I’m looking forward to things to come!



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