Nearly finished before we got started

I'm new to caravanning, and the lack of experience is unbelievable.

On one of our three outings this year, coupled the van up, checked everything (remember this sentence), and off we set with our Lunar Quasar 534 on a Ford Kuga and new tow ball.

As we moved off the most horrible sound came from the rear of the car, even worse as you go round corners, we went about half a mile and decided to turn back as we felt this was not safe.

We got back home as was looking at the van as an experienced caravaner walked past, we told her what was happening, 'Oh you will be fine', she said, 'its just the tow ball bedding in'.

With a bit more confidence, and reassured, off we set again, and, the noise did disappear, so far so good. We arrived our destination (Chatsworth House, Very nice ) and as we got into the village, got out, and asked a local directions. As I turned back to the caravan, I noticed the wet locker door was hanging down, minus out pump, drain pipes and toilet fluid, great I thought, cannot get much worse. We got to the site, I opened the caravan door, TV on the floor, forgot to take it off the shelf, blood boiling, I thought, Id best set it up to see if anything's broken.

Plugged in TV, put Ariel up, pressed Search on TV, no channels, at this stage, if someone said I'll give you £50 for caravan, Id have took it.  Walking around the site, I said to another caravaner, is it bad for reception here, 'Oh it can be' he said, 'you wont get a signal without a booster' My mind thought Booster, sugar, I haven't switched the booster on ( never let on though) went back, switched booster on, all worked Ok. TV is fine.

Thinking I must nip to loo, (in caravan) moved the handle before putting lid down. All in face.

Sat down having a cuppa, looked round, said to my wife, 'do you know, I love this little van', What, with a day like we've had, both cracked out laughing.

All sorted now, cannot wait for next year, I love it.