Just Don't mention Christmas You'll upset them!
Just Don’t mention Christmas, You’ll upset them!
2014 had been a great caravanning year for us, at least until last month anyway! We had spent nearly 40 good nights on Holidays in Devon and in Pembrokeshire, and for once the weather had been kind to us. Even our frequent long weekends away in our 7 year old Coachman caravan had been all that we could have wished for. Until that is we went down to meet some friends in Salcombe, in late August. The first thing that went was the pump failed and refused all my efforts to bring it back to life.
There was nothing for it but to buy a new pump! How on earth Truma can justify £52.00 for a new pump escapes me, but I had to have one. Even more when away from my main dealer who always gives a good will discount to his regulars.
Then came the real problem, the fridge failed! Complete disaster! No where to spare the beers, the white wines the tonics and the Ice!!!
Salcombe quickly abandoned as a disaster area and we made a break for home, leaving the van on way back for my trusted dealer to check it out.
He phoned the next day! I knew that it was going to be bad when he asked if I was sitting down! Apparently the fridge could now only be described as an ex fridge. It was knackered!
But Caravan fridges which have to work on three different power sources are not similar in design or cost as a domestic fridge so I should expect a bill of between £1,200 and £1,400!
That was not a happy situation as the van was not worth much more than £6,600 at the most and the new fridge would not have increased that figure.
In the end we bought a new but 2014 model Coachman Pastiche which had already been replaced in the Coachman 2015 line up.
Some more great trips followed as we got used to the features of twin fixed single beds in our new 565.
So on the 3rd May we found ourselves heading for the DCOS’s home town of Yeovil in Somerset, to try out a CL that we had spotted at Goose Slade farm Nr East Coker Yeovil.
The Site Just off the Dorchester bound A37 Nr Yeovil was very nice indeed. The site itself was large enough to take at least Double the number of visitors that CL system allows. There are EHU’s located all around the site so it was easy to find the most appropriate. As the name suggests this is a Goose breeding farm and there were about 1500 0f them waddling around the local fields and looking and sounding extremely happy. The site also includes a large Farm Shop and tea and coffee shops which were 1st class. They in turn provided visiting caravanner’s with Toilet facilities.
This truly is an ideal site! Set in beautiful country side, close to a large reservoir it gives easy access to the Dorset Coast and the attractions of the RN Museum at Yeovilton and the natural beauty of Ham Hill not far away.
But for us on this First visit were the Geese! As soon as we arrived and set up, they hurried over to see what treats we had brought them but were sadly disappointed. They noisily expressed their disappointment and gradually started to wander off. Still fairly noisily though! Then at 6.15 pm the mood suddenly changed! They went very quiet but were clearly very alert! Long necks stretched up, and heads looked all about, just like the Meer cats on Meer cat Manor Then I spotted the cause! Four Colley dogs and the farmer had entered the field and like a flash the dogs slinking low to the ground and responding to almost silent whistles had them surrounded and under total control. Three tried to make break but were soon forced back into the flock. In less than 5 minutes or so it seemed they were locked away in their sheds Peace perfect peace!
A great site worth a visit!
TF
