Thursday, 11 April 2013

Spring is coming

I have been looking forward to Springtime and a chance to escape my winter quarters!  A so-called farm on the outskirts of Egham, Surrey.

I have been living in a small caravan without mod cons.   Before Christmas the only functioning electrics:   a double socket and small fridge ceased to function.  The light fittings had either been removed or just didn;'t function.  I created my own electric supply.  An external double socket with one extension lead plugged in for inside the van... cable through small fanlight over the door.  The other one for my freezer outside and power tools.


 The horrendous weather had put the finalising of my own trailer on hold :(

Every drop of water has to be carted across a stoney yard :(  - not wonderful when arthritis is affecting the knees!  No standpipes with drainage around the site :(


Entrance to the same ...


Trap for waste-water... recently blocked by the bricks - still visible on the ground - for over 3 days (although reported) until the sewage backed up into the shower :( photo depicting this too disgusting to publish.  Note trailing cables... there are 3 to avoid on the way to ladies.   Many other hazards often blocked the way ...

Scene between my van and way to ladies at night!

The Ladies' facilities!!!







1 WC*, 1 washbasin and a tatty sink-unit both without hot water supply!
1 shower that actually works! *the flush handle was broken off back in January, reported but not remedied despite this assurance in an email dated 14/03/13:  "I will make sure the handle on the door of the ladies toilets will be repaired or replaced, thank you for bringing this to my attention" This was reported by a mother whose young son actually cut his hand trying to flush the toilet :(


 
Update 30th May: still no sign of any repair :(   The residents on this pseudo farm are the cash crop*... as apart from chickens, ducks and a few geese there is no farming activity.  Scrap metal is sorted here, vehicles repaired... not the usual sounds one expects on a farm.  *Here human misery is milked... rent from people who have nowhere else to go so therefore do not complain about the lack of facilities!!

Only hot water supply for ladies: previously at an external sink outside the gents facilities - that has four showers and hot water at the hand-basins !!!!  Outside source has been cut off for some time... so to get any hot water we ladies have to 'break' the rules and go inside the gents to fill up a jerrycan.

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Internal views

Window-sill former little DIY shelf from bathroom, showing home-grown cutting from my carpet rose :)

Sliding window the surviving pane of glass from a bookcaase I bought for my 21st !!

Roof arches joined/strengthened by spur brackets from former shelving

top of rear wall piece of painted pine (former shelving)

shwing 'sunlight' detail

Construction timeline

The full details will be uploaded on completion of the venture !

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Trailer conversion!

'Natural' roofing = rubber pondliner offcut
Previously protected by 10yr-old Khyam tent groundsheet
Rear wall lowest point will have guttering for rainwater capture


finally a rear wall
'New' floo: recycled 5-ply timber wood-preserved on underside against damp from wet roads/fields
More t/f - the mobile 'home' is taking shape :) 

Monday, 30 July 2012

Equipment

Comfort ten years on from the stint in the Khyam!

DIY roofbox !


 Roofbox finally fixed to DIY roofbars and packed with items for storage :)





Roofbars: recycled timber + 'U' bolts meant for fixing exhaust pipes (brilliant tip from AA man :) and cushioning from an old 'push-on' shower fitting!


Roofbox (in progress) for car to transport bulky camping items to free up space in boot and lessen load on trailer.

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

The (Ad)Venture has begun

8' x 5' trailer collected 26th June  - kept for me for weeks by a kind gent :)


Now the real work can commence: wood preserver and hammerite 'at the ready'!  An interesting stroke of fate - it was located in my mother's county of birth :)




Pics of resources/components to be uploaded !



Some wood panels preserved at the ready...

to be clad internally with plywood planks!  (cavity walls of course lol)

Plywood sheet at forefront to be used for a car roof-box!