1st Trip - Heaven Farm CL Site, West Sussex - 25 March 2012

We decided our first trip was going to be local, so we booked into Heaven Farm, Danehill, West Sussex for 2 nights. This was also our first trip to a Caravan Club CL.
Weather - Hot for March - around 19c
Pitch - Level, however, Grass was a bit long.
We decided as it was a local trip, we would also take a car with us, just in case anything was forgotten and we could nip back home.
I drove Maj alone and Liz drove our car, with Aimee and Alfie.
Pitched easily in the corner of the field backing onto a field holding wallabies. My other daughter  Emily was also going to pop in and will drive over later in her own car.
By the time we were settled, Levelled, dog water put out and dog spike and a cup of tea had been consumed, the field was now empty except us (Hopefully, nothing we said or done).
Once Emily had arrived we got the Boule Balls out and played for a couple of hours in the sun. Hopefully, this was how the summer was going to be spent.
Tea time arrived and I got the Cadac out and cooked some burgers (vegetarian ones for Aimee) and another cup of tea. After Tea the sunning was dropping and getting a bit nippy (as it should in March), so we decided to sit in the van and watch 'Dancing On Ice' Final and another cup of tea.
Whilst the final was on, Liz decided that should wash up the Tea things, so ran the hot water and when she turned the tap off, there was the sound of a water fall, so I was sent outside to investigate as it sounded like a drain cock had been left open. When I got outside, there was water gushing out through the wheel arch, so ran back inside, only to find the van in darkness, Aimee stuck in the toilet and water coming through the oven and soaking the floor. Emily had turned the whole control panel off as she didn't know which one was the pump.
I turned the pump off and turned the control panel back on, so we could see as it was now dark outside.
This then allowed Aimee to come out of the toilet and we spent the next couple of drying the floor, oven and drawers as they were full of water. Once everything was done, we decided that we could not stay in the van overnight, so we unhooked the EHU and emptied the fridge and drove home. As I was already off work the next day, we decided that tomorrow we would drive the van back to Marquis in Sussex (un-announced) to get it sorted.

Handover day - 23 March 2012

I had worked long hours all week, so that I could leave early on Friday and go to Marquis to pick up Maj.

When we arrived, she was there in all her glory, I would like to say nice and shiny, but it looked like the van had been washed in dirty washing up water, especially on the windows.

The snag list now commences;

• 3m awning fitted, instead of 3.5m awning (Bit of a problem as we had purchased 3.5m windblockers )
• Dirty windows, now I can be a bit anal about streaky or dirty windows/screens etc.
• Cab Battery was not charged. Another problem if Marquis had not planned on me camping on their forecourt.

Marquis's response

• They would replace the 3m awning with a 3.5m one, but they have none in stock and I would have to take the van back for them to change it.
• No response on dirty windows, I will have to clean them then :-(
• Charge the battery whilst we go over the paperwork.

Relationship, is starting to falter, however, the excitement of the new van overcomes all ill feeling

What is Maj

Maj is our new Motorhome (2012 Elddis Majestic 145) purchased from Marquis Motorhomes on March 23rd.
We Purchased her at the Birmingham NEC Motorhome & Caravan Show in October 2011.
To purchase this, we traded in our 2005 CI Cariocca 644.

There was compromises to be had, in purchasing Maj and her different layout to what we were used to.
Here are some of the main ones;

Cariocca

1. Had a fixed bed at the back and a fairly large area underneath the store everything in from the outside.
2. Had to make a bed up for the girls in the lounge area, which meant all their clutter had to be stored away during the day.
3. On a wet day, the Van layout didn't seem to work for a 4 Person family and a small dog
4. 2ltr J Rail Fiat Engine
5. No Central Locking
6. Manual Windows and Mirrors
7. No Oven
8. Small Fridge with a small freezer compartment
9. Bathroom Layout, made it almost impossible to get changed in.

Maj

1. No Outside storage, except some small things can be stored in Gas Locker box whilst travelling.
2. Have to make the U-shaped lounge into a bed for Myself and the Wife
3. Girls, could leave their clutter in the spacious over cab bed.
4. 2.2ltr Peugeot Euro 5 Engine.
5. Central Locking
6. Electric Mirrors and Windows
7. Cruise Control
8. Bluetooth & Media connectivity to Radio
9. Oven
10. Microwave
11. Normal size fridge and freezer shelf that removes if needed.

Most of the storage we have overcome, without compromising the habitation area and bathroom. The only thing I cannot get in, is the Cadac BBQ Lid.

Introduction to the Family

We are;
Steve - (Myself, Practicing Alpha Male) - Working in IT for a Pharmaceutical Company
Liz - (The Wife, Finacial Director, Cook, Cleaner and everything else) - Housewife
Emily - (Daughter, Party Organiser) - Care Assistant (god help the elderly)
Aimee - (Daughter, Performer, Socialite (especially on PC)) - Student
Alfie - (Dog, The real Alpha Male) - Scavenger

Permanent Residence:
West Sussex