This is my oldest blog, and its the one I keep up most . . . but it does rather tend to suffer from inattention when I get very busy!
However, I've decided that in 2010 I'll try and do better with it. It is a labour of love, esentially cos I never know how many people do, but its one I enjoy doing when I can.
I'm also planning to use it a bit more for trying to put over an editorial viewpoint for our new Caravanning News website - that's proving very popular, and I'm rather proud of it!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Day 5 in a motorhome!
Today has been what I'd call our first real motorhome day - the day when we took advantage of the vehicle in the way that makes the most sense.
In Edinburgh, we used it in the same way that we'd use the caravan - left on site, and using the bus system to get into around the town.
Leaving Mortonhall, Edinburgh, we drove to Portobello, then Joppa, where Dot lived when she was a teenager. Her house was right on the seafront, no 11, and we stood outside it. Then we drove along the Coast trail, down to North Berwick, and on to Dunbar, and again southwards. We found a layby high above the North Sea, where we stopped for lunch (fishfingers, yum). Got a bit blown about by trucks.
After that we passed through Berwick on our way to the Northumberland coast trail - passing Bamburgh Castle, the Farne Island and other places of . . . we took about 7 hours to cover 80 miles, point to point, and I guess that this journey, in the way we did it, wouldn't have been possible towing the caravan.
Tomorrow, we'll be going to Barnard Castle, so we'll be able to have a look at some more of the coast before going through Newcastle on our way south . . . On Sunday, it's down to Scarborough for our final night in the Escape 664, which we take back to Hull on Monday - how sad!
For people who've never used a motorhome, but would like to know more about the excellent Escape 664 that we're using, there's a special email address at greatescape@swiftleisure.co.uk. or you can phone Swift on a special line on 01482 479479 - have a chat and ask any questions about all the aspects of using a Swift motorhome.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In a motorhome in Edinburgh . . .
This week, we've got a really nicde job - we've got a Swift Escape 664 motorhome on test, and we've taken it up to Scotland, so I'm writing this as I sit in comfort on a campsite in Edinburgh.
It's excellent for this sort of touring holiday. We spent one night at Boroughbridge, tomorrow (Friday) we're off to a site near Craster, Saturday we'll be at Barnard Castle, and Sunday night we'll be at Scarborough!
It's proving really interesting to have this large vehicle, too. It drives really nicely, and isn't hard to handle . .
It has four berths - a fixed double, and a convertable double - we were supposed to have Giles travelling with us, but sadly he didn't feel well enough to come along.
If you'd like more infotmation about the motorhome itself, you can contact Swift on The Caravan Channel's special line to them - its 01482 479479, and tell them Chris sent you! There's also an email address: greatescape@swiftleisure.co.uk
It's excellent for this sort of touring holiday. We spent one night at Boroughbridge, tomorrow (Friday) we're off to a site near Craster, Saturday we'll be at Barnard Castle, and Sunday night we'll be at Scarborough!
It's proving really interesting to have this large vehicle, too. It drives really nicely, and isn't hard to handle . .
It has four berths - a fixed double, and a convertable double - we were supposed to have Giles travelling with us, but sadly he didn't feel well enough to come along.
If you'd like more infotmation about the motorhome itself, you can contact Swift on The Caravan Channel's special line to them - its 01482 479479, and tell them Chris sent you! There's also an email address: greatescape@swiftleisure.co.uk
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
I'm rather impressed . . .
. . . with the amount of feedback we got at the NEC.
In a press release from the show organisers, Bailey was quoted:
“A lot of people had done their homework before they arrived,“ Marketing director Simon Howard said, “and we picked up a number of orders very early in the day. The opening of the show tends to attract the hard-core buyers, and it’s the ten-year guarantee that has made the difference.” Bailey launched a dedicated Pegasus website in advance of the show, which generated a lot of interest. ”So far we’ve marketed Pegasus using the usual mechanisms, but we have used the Caravan Channel for the first time and it’s worked well."
We also had a plaudit from Flush-it, who make the famous noo bloo loo goo - otherwise known as One-Chem. They picked up a lot of business when we reviewed it and did a little price promo for them . . . director Hadrian Garner said, "We were still packing at 1 o'clock in the morning some days . . . "
The other thing, of course, was the sheer number of ordinary caravanners and motorhome owners like you and me who stopped to say, love the show - or variants! Thank you so much for that, folk - it does me a bit of good to know you like it - after all, that's why we make it!
In a press release from the show organisers, Bailey was quoted:
“A lot of people had done their homework before they arrived,“ Marketing director Simon Howard said, “and we picked up a number of orders very early in the day. The opening of the show tends to attract the hard-core buyers, and it’s the ten-year guarantee that has made the difference.” Bailey launched a dedicated Pegasus website in advance of the show, which generated a lot of interest. ”So far we’ve marketed Pegasus using the usual mechanisms, but we have used the Caravan Channel for the first time and it’s worked well."
We also had a plaudit from Flush-it, who make the famous noo bloo loo goo - otherwise known as One-Chem. They picked up a lot of business when we reviewed it and did a little price promo for them . . . director Hadrian Garner said, "We were still packing at 1 o'clock in the morning some days . . . "
The other thing, of course, was the sheer number of ordinary caravanners and motorhome owners like you and me who stopped to say, love the show - or variants! Thank you so much for that, folk - it does me a bit of good to know you like it - after all, that's why we make it!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Two days at the NEC . . .
The International Caravan & Motorhome show at the NEC has got off to a good start, with major manufacturers reporting much higher levels of business on the first two days, compared to last year.
We did a little zip-around at the end of business on Wednesday, to discover that reports ranged from a 25% increase - and some people say that they anticipated perhaps doing half-as-much again as previous years . . .
From our person viewpoint, it was an amazing do!
Alhtough it wasn't as big as past shows, it did have a terrific atmosphere and a great buzz. The first day wasn't as busy as I expected early on, but by the early afternoon, there were crowds - so the big Caravan Club day did its usual job of really bringing the crowds in.
One of the nicest things about these shows is, of course, seeing people - and hundreds (yes, really, hundreds) of people had a word over the first two days - I was really delighted, because it does take a bit of determination to walk up to some old geezer, and say whatever you want to say - so thanks to all those folk who said hello!
We did a little zip-around at the end of business on Wednesday, to discover that reports ranged from a 25% increase - and some people say that they anticipated perhaps doing half-as-much again as previous years . . .
From our person viewpoint, it was an amazing do!
Alhtough it wasn't as big as past shows, it did have a terrific atmosphere and a great buzz. The first day wasn't as busy as I expected early on, but by the early afternoon, there were crowds - so the big Caravan Club day did its usual job of really bringing the crowds in.
One of the nicest things about these shows is, of course, seeing people - and hundreds (yes, really, hundreds) of people had a word over the first two days - I was really delighted, because it does take a bit of determination to walk up to some old geezer, and say whatever you want to say - so thanks to all those folk who said hello!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Keep thinking the season's over . . . but . . .
We've just had a few nights at the Caravan Club's lovely Broadklands site, just a few miles from Wroxham, and just a few yards from Ludham Bridge - where you can spend an entertaining time watching motorcruisers "just missing" each other in the morning rush!
I thought that we'd be finished for the season a week or two ago, after we came back from Marketing Deeping's autumn get-together, but no, there we were again . . . and it now looks very like that we'll be off again nearer the end of the month, to Edinburgh. Dot wants to go up to read the book of remembrance at the cemetary where her mum and dad are, so why not?
We might also take Giles with us . . . and we're not sure yet if we're going in a caravan or a motorhome . . . have to see!
I thought that we'd be finished for the season a week or two ago, after we came back from Marketing Deeping's autumn get-together, but no, there we were again . . . and it now looks very like that we'll be off again nearer the end of the month, to Edinburgh. Dot wants to go up to read the book of remembrance at the cemetary where her mum and dad are, so why not?
We might also take Giles with us . . . and we're not sure yet if we're going in a caravan or a motorhome . . . have to see!
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