Friday24th August 2018
The start of the bank holiday drove to Kurt & Rosemary didn’t notice the message from Kurt, “ Hi Dad . Can you bring an electric screw driver if you’ve got one….” It would have given us a clue, we didn’t know that a project was planned. Built up to the roof a Shepard’s Caravan. Had no work cloths. First morning unpack all the bits to the garden and count what bits we had. Next the Iron work of the wheels. Then join the long bits of 2”x3” wood together to make the bed of the caravan. It took longer than expected as there was a lot of painting with varnish to make it weather proof and then putting in the insulation in the base, and then sealing tap to make it air tight, worked till dark. Kurt had gone to get a cover as it was not the best of weather. Next day worked to build up the panels which were quick but tricky. By evening we were getting the curved roof trusses on, and last of all put the cover over. Kurt said he was going to get the church group to do a roof raising but it didn’t happen. We stayed an extra day but Tuesday morning, on my birthday we set off, filling up with diesel at Tesco in Saffron Walden then to call in to Jean Towson had our Danish pastries while Jean had dinner. Strait back on the M11 and quickly join the M25 clockwise to Dart crossing, well it never happened like that. Got off on the slip road to A13 when the M25 came to a stop. Then on to the service station Moto- Thurrock Service Area. For a break and relief so back to the road but only got as far as the roundabout going out which was now stationary. Got stuck on M25 by Dart Bridge for 7hrs on my birthday Paulene had my undivided attention! When the road got moving we were away as the entrance to the M25 was only a little way away. Sit was too late for tea at Marie’s about 23:00hrs 29th August Dinner with Phil & Hanna Saw Sisilhurst Castel Drove home via Stonehenge very slow
Friday the 24th August the start of the bank holiday drove to Kurt & Rosemary didn’t notice the message from Kurt, “ Hi Dad . Can you bring an electric screw driver if you’ve got one….” It would have given us a clue, we didn’t know that a project was planned. Built up to the roof a Shepard’s Caravan. Had no work cloths. First morning unpack all the bits to the garden and count what bits we had. Next the Iron work of the wheels. Then join the long bits of 2”x3” wood together to make the bed of the caravan. It took longer than expected as there was a lot of painting with varnish to make it weather proof and then putting in the insulation in the base, and then sealing tap to make it air tight, worked till dark. Kurt had gone to get a cover as it was not the best of weather. Next day worked to build up the panels which were quick but tricky. By evening we were getting the curved roof trusses on, and last of all put the cover over. Kurt said he was going to get the church group to do a roof raising but it didn’t happen. We stayed an extra day but Tuesday morning, on my birthday we set off, filling up with diesel at Tesco in Saffron Walden then to call in to Jean Towson had our Danish pastries while Jean had dinner. Strait back on the M11 and quickly join the M25 clockwise to Dart crossing, well it never happened like that. Got off on the slip road to A13 when the M25 came to a stop. Then on to the service station Moto- Thurrock Service Area. For a break and relief so back to the road but only got as far as the roundabout going out which was now stationary. Got stuck on M25 by Dart Bridge for 7hrs on my birthday Paulene had my undivided attention! When the road got moving we were away as the entrance to the M25 was only a little way away. Sit was too late for tea at Marie’s about 23:00hrs 29th August Dinner with Phil & Hanna Saw Sisilhurst Castel Drove home via Stonehenge very slow
By Ralph Smith