Toilet tent and shower!

Our 'bog in a bag' toilet and solar shower from Camping International have proven very useful, as has our new somewhat translucent tent...

Ireland - the first wild camp!

We spent our first night in Ireland wild camping. Having never wild camped in the van before, we were both quite apprehensive. But it was possibly the best place we have ever camped what a view! As you can see from the photos, we weren't the only ones making the most of this spot. There were about seven caravans there, everyone was really friendly. We managed to get out on our paddle boards in the morning too.

 St. Mullin's, the River Barrow.

Toilet tent!

Progress!

Sam and his dad did a LOT of work on the van today.  Here are a few photos of them putting the wardrobe together...

 Initially we were going to have cupboard doors, but having been on our Switzerland trip without doors, we realised that it would get quite annoying having to move the bedding out of the way every time we wanted to get something out.  We spoke to Sam's mum, Chris, to see if she could come up with a crafty way of using curtains rather than doors... so here is the inside of the wardrobe.  Curtain hooks from Sandy's Hardware.  

 And this is what it looks like in place!  We still need to paint the wood white, so it's a work in progress.

 The main units are coming along nicely.  Just have to do a few finishing touches and stain the worktop.

 The worktop on top of the hobs folds in two so it doesn't block out too much light when we're cooking.

 Haven't finished the sink yet and we're yet to have running water, but we're getting there!

 Photo of today's progress.  We haven't put the bed foams back in yet so it will look prettier soon!

 Chris made some amazing map/pen/bits and bobs holders to go on the back of our seats.  Chris even made us matching headrests!

 Woohoo, my Flower Fairy door knobs are in place!!

First use of the awning - Croyde, Devon

We went to Croyde to celebrate Sam's birthday, our friend Amy joined us and we went paddleboarding - so much fun!  We got to use the awning for the first time...

 It has two 'bedrooms' and a large 'living area', complete with Amy's surfboard!

I finally ate my campervan cookie!  Great present from my colleagues - a personalised cookie from Campervan Cookie Co.  Although I was sad to it, it was very yummy!

We went paddleboarding on the river.  It was made a little easier by the fact that we just went along with the tide as it went in and out.  Our paddleboards were inflatable and they were excellent.  We went with Croyde Surf Academy, it was £45 each for a two hour lesson with all equipment included. 

 A not-so-sunny day on Croyde beach - Sam and the two Amys!

Still not finished the interior, but we're getting there! 

Of course, the sun came out on the day we had to drive home! At least the driftwood we had collected was able to dry out a bit...

Switzerland

 Amelie's first ferry trip with us!  We set off after work to make the most of our time.  We stayed half an hour outside of Calais the first night at Chateau du Gandspette, as they allowed a later check-in.  This was the only campsite we had booked.  We left early the next morning and headed to Annecy where we stayed at Camping de la Plage and had a lovely view of the lake and mountains.

 Sam then found our first Swiss campsite 'near Sion'.  What the guide book actually meant was that it was up a HUGE mountain, with Sion being at the bottom of the mountain and the campsite (below) being rather near the top!  I was amazed Amelie made it up there.  

Thai green curry - one of the meals you can cook on two hobs, yum yum!

 Well it wouldn't be a proper holiday without a barbecue and a McDonalds, would it?!

 We went to Zermatt as there is a glacier where you can ski all year round.  The slopes were empty, we had an amazing time.

 Cheese fondue in the oldest restaurant in Zermatt.

 Nearly made it home... we got a flat tyre on the ferry!  Good job Sam used to be a race mechanic - we were soon back on the road.

Switzerland and Disneyland in the T25!