Meeting vanlifers

 Good evening. How was your Sunday? Mine has been just great. A day out at Doddington Hall near Lincoln. It was the last day of the Sculpture Trail. I almost missed it because I was planning to go to the Lincolnshire Showground for a craft event. Then I checked Doddington Hall web site and realised this was my last chance this year to see over 300 inspiring works from 58 national and international sculptors. Plenty of pictures and a video to come. Stay tuned. 

I seem to have a knack of finding interesting people to talk to. Maybe I should consider recording the chats I have when I am out and about. Yesterday, on my walk back from town I stopped for a break and sat on a low wall outside an empty office building. There was a security van parked there, with a dog in the back. There has been one here for several months, but I have never seen anyone around it when I have been past. I was sat there minding my own business when a woman appeared and asked me if I was alright. So we got chatting, as you do. She was very small, very slim, and dressed in black. She didn't look big enough to me, to be doing a security job. Not sure how she would cope if someone caused trouble. 

So the chat continued, probably me doing most of the talking. I was a bit hesitant at first because I was unsure about her appearance. It's not my place to comment on what she looked like, but she had obviously gone through some surgery because the scars on her neck and face were quite noticeable.   Then she told me about her job, and what she did before this. She was in the police force for a long time but had to leave when she became ill. Then she bought the van and turned it into a campervan. She fitted it all out herself. She showed me inside. It looked very comfortable. The dog had it's own compartment in the back. It was signwritten as a security vehicle, and she became a self employed freelance security guard, travelling all over the country to different jobs. She said her phone is always ringing offering her more work. So, she lives in her van. On this job she does 12 hour days, 7 till 7, then someone else takes over and does the nights. What a brave woman to have got through a health setback, picked herself up, and built a new life for herself. We got on like a house on fire, as the saying goes. We chatted for ages, and the bonus was, she is wide awake to the current situation. Without any prompting from me, she said she didn't get any jabbbys. Big smile on my face. YESSSSSSSS. 

And so moving on to today. I met a very nice couple at Doddington who have this van which is converted into a campervan. The Mr did it all himself. Everything. It's got portable solar power, a diesel heater, and lots of little lights. They do have a house but come out in this as often as they can. He is still working a full time job but is thinking they might make the move to full time vanlife. It is gorgeous inside. The layout is very well thought out and compact. 

Very smart eh. It's a Ford Transit ex fire brigade minibus. 

Three hedgehogs are here tonight. They don't seem to be eating as much now. Perhaps they are almost full and ready for hibernating. 

Now I'm off to bed. Thanks for popping in. Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona