Last trip out this year.

It's not been much of a caravanning year so far. We had three nights at Englethwaite Hall at the beginning of June (mostly rain) and seven nights atNew EnglandBayat the beginning of June (rain every day).

The day to day of farming life takes up almost all our time, and it's difficult enough to get a day off never mind an overnight stay. And the calendar fills up very quickly with events and meetings. But there seemed to be a gap the beginning of this week so on Friday I clicked and booked a pitch at Englethwaite Hall again. It only takes an hour to whizz up the M6 and if we go late Sunday and come back on Wednesday we don't need any extra staff. It's only family that work weekends!

In the event we got away by one o'clock and by quarter past two we had pitched up (to the peg!), levelled and dropped the steadies. I was ready to sort out inside while my husband did the outside (we're a well drilled team). But when we opened the front locker there was a space where the hook up cable should have been. We've been using the caravan as a Sun Room while parked in the field behind the house, and the cable was still on the patio. Could we manage without electric? Yes, but, it would be difficult as we weren't prepared. So it was back down the M6 and up again. A bit quicker with no caravan on the back. 

At last, three hours after we set off we could sit back and relax with a glass (or two) of something refreshing. A good job we hadn't gone any further afield.

We had no plans, other than sleep, eat and drink. We had taken our folding chairs, but wind, rain and the temperature meant they stayed in the car. I find the seats in the caravan not the best for prolonged relaxing, so we made a short trip intoCarlisleand bought some squishy cushions to loll against. That was enough activity for the first day.

We had bought our caravan fromDumfriesand Carlisle Caravan centre (having popped in to buy a new aerial). So as we needed a new bulb for one of the spotlights thought we might risk popping in again. I was planning on keeping a tight hold on my wallet. But in the event any temptation to spend was foiled - theCarlislebrand had closed and become an outlet for wooden garden lodges.

So, there was nothing for it but to do  more relaxing - i.e. sleeping, reading, eating, drinking and listening to music.

When we packed up this morning we knew it would be the last trip out this year, so reluctantly took all the perishables, DVD's, books and drink etc out of the caravan for the long winter months. It may be difficult to get away in summer, but it's impossible in winter. But, without the caravan we wouldn't get away at all!