What to do .......

This half term is flying by isn't it.  One more week to go then we have a week of school.  We plan to pop to the van for a few days and will shut it up for the season.

We'd been giving it a lot of thought and had just about decided to throw the towel in on the van.  We've had it 5 years now.  This year it seems to have lost it's shine a tad.  We have been lucky enough to have really good neighbours and everyone got on like a house on fire.  But this year the dynamics changed.  Lots of bad feelings amongst some of them, lots of bitching behind peoples back and we were getting drawn in to conversations that we really didn't feel comfortable with.  The problem is some people get to far into each others pockets.  Not us, we are floaters - mix with everyone, never make plans to meet up or go out but if we happen to bump into them them we will join in.  We don't like to feel tied down.  So we asked the site what they would offer us for our van.  Now bearing in mind we paid £26,000 and then added decking at a further £3,500...they said we'd be lucky to get £7,000 for it!!!

Our main problem is the financial upkeep of it.  Ground rent, gas, electrics, rates and insurance set us back about £5,500 a year.  We own it jointly with my in laws - who are both now retired.  So we need to find 50% of this just before Christmas.  And to be honest we struggle.  As well as our spending money and petrol each time we visit which averages out at £500 a week.  In this current climate it really has been a bit of a ball and chain.

Because we spend most school holidays there - and as I work in a school I don't have any other time off throughout the year, nothing is getting down around the home.  The whole house needs some tlc - inside and out.

But £7,000, that's just taking the pee.  We'd be a fool to hand it back for such little money.  So we've had a family meeting and have decided to borrow the next 3 years ground rent (which is nearly £3,000 a year) against my in laws mortgage - that way we can all enjoy the van with out the financial worries.  They plan to sell up and move away in 3 years and are happy for this to come out of the equity on their property.  The sad thing is they will still offer us around £7,000 in 3 years!

I think that was probably another reason why it seemed to loose it's shine this year.  It's no fun going on holiday and watching the pennies is it.

I was quite happy to give it up as I really got fed up with all the bitching and back stabbing. Sometimes adults can be worse then kids.  At least kids say what they have to say and then make up afterwards.

Hubby has got a bad dose of man flu, it's just a cold but he's knocking on deaths door!

The weather is really turning now isn't it. 

Keep warm and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Sue x x x