A Helping Hand Reaps Rewards

This story happened on: 08/07/2014

Some time ago whilst helping push some campervan owners who’d got stuck in mud, I got splattered with mud for my trouble, and half-jokingly said that that was the last time I’d ever help anyone!

Anyhow, I was down at Lulworth Cove recently where there were several motorcaravans in the car park, so I did my usual thing and put flyers about my book, Some People Prefer Hotels, on their windscreens. Or, if the owners were there, as well as a flyer gave them my sales pitch emphasizing that the book could be bought from my website, http://somepeoplepreferhotels.co.uk/, the Lulworth Heritage Centre or, for a reduced price, direct from myself.

I approached a couple of young ladies, who after showing an interest in the book asked if I knew anything about locks. They were campervan novices who’d hired a VW camper, but couldn’t lock the side door. The hire company had demonstrated how to operate everything, except the important matter of making the van secure. There were four keys, three of which looked very similar, but none of which would turn in the lock!

I was wary of forcing a key and damaging it, but didn’t want to lose face by giving up. After fiddling about for five minutes or so, I wondered if the door handle needed to be moved before the lock would engage, and much to our combined relief discovered that, once the handle had been twisted upwards through 90°, one of the keys turned and locked the door.

Whilst all this was going on, one of the ladies whose name was Saffron was impressed by the blurb on my flyer and said she’d buy a book. Then, much to my surprise and delight, her companion, Stella, said she’d also buy one. I signed both copies and they allowed me to take a photo of them holding their books, which they agreed I could use for this article.

So, this time, my reward for helping fellow motorcaravanners was two book sales, which was far better than, when covered in mud, I declared “That’s the last time I help anyone!”

RowenaBCAMC commented on 09/07/2014 10:23

Commented on 09/07/2014 10:23

Well done on the sale of your books, glad to hear that offering a helping hand has had its rewards and I'm sure they will enjoy your book. Smile

commented on 09/07/2014 16:05

Commented on 09/07/2014 16:05

Life is all about helping someone.  After all time is the most precious gift we have.......

commented on 09/07/2014 16:06

Commented on 09/07/2014 16:06

That was my original log in.  I have changed my password as I forgot it!!!

NRHIX commented on 10/07/2014 11:55

Commented on 10/07/2014 11:55

 

I thought I'd explain why I once said "That's the last time I help anyone!"

A three-week trip to France  some years ago coincided with the wettest April ever, and there were few hard-standings on sites we stayed at. Moving off our pitch by le loire rivière, after a heavy night’s rain, our tyres dug deep into the mud and the plastic runners, we’d bought to provide grip in such circumstances, just shot out from under the tyres. We provided great entertainment for watching campers as we struggled to release the van from the quagmire. No one offered to help and we were fortunate to eventually drive onto tarmac.

 

On a later trip to Swanage, where we were parked up on a wet grass pitch, we watched a campervan drive forwards on to the adjacent pitch and, with wheels spinning wildly, get stuck.

The lady passenger tried to push without success, and we heard choice words spoken between her and her husband whilst they changed places.

 

All very entertaining and, as much as I wanted and remembering only too well our predicament in France I couldn’t just leave them to it – so went to help. Positioning myself at the back of the van, with the husband at the side, we told his wife to gently ease forward. However, she accelerated like she was on the starting grid at Le Mans and, with a terrific roar, the wheels spun at an incredible rate, splattering mud all over my clothes, on my face and glasses and in my hair!

 

We did manage to move the camper and I did have a change of clothes, but I jokingly said to the embarrassed couple, “That’s the last time I help anyone!””

 

 

 

rubydoo08 commented on 12/04/2015 10:06

Commented on 12/04/2015 10:06

Hi hmmarmalade, I have just found your post about, "does anyone know of singles motorhoming in Derbyshire", I realise this is from last year but did you succeed? I have owned my motorhome for almost a year now and love it but company would be the icing on the cake, I have a very friendly Yorkie (Ruby) with a passport and live near Matlock so anyone with information about singles rallies both near and far,...Please HELP !!

Woman sitting in camping chair by Wastwater in the Lake District with her two dogs and picnic blanket

Follow us on Facebook

Follow the Caravan and Motorhome Club via our official Facebook page for latest news, holiday ideas, events, activities and special offers.

Photo of Wast Water, Lake District by Sue Peace
Visit Facebook