Rob's 21st Weekend - Mountain Boarding

So exciting ... setting off for our weekend with Ned. It was great driving along noticing the admiring looks, other drivers pointing and VW drivers flashing their lights (three on the first day). You were right Stella this is a leisurely pace !

As Rob got used to driving Ned at the start we built up a record convoy (2 lorries, 30+ cars, motorbike and a caravan) all following us. You were right girls, putting up the awning was certainly a challenge. Between the four of us it still took longer than imagined and at the end we had a worrying number of metal poles spare. Doubtless Ned found this very amusing !

Saturday: Phew ! The five of us survived a wet and windy night. We picked up the awning, piled everything back into Ned and set off down the (very narrow) country lanes. We headed north to Chester. When we arrived at the mountain-board centre, Ned was happy to have his photo taken with the mountain-boarders, but was not keen on joining in when he saw how steep the hill was !

Ned had a restful day in the car park, enjoying the attention of other visitors including a troupe of Boy Scouts. By 5pm Rob and Richard were exhausted, sore, wet (yes it rained) and muddy. Ned would not let them get in before cleaning up. We then took him to our favourite Indian restaurant before heading off to the camp site for round 2 of Euerby's versus Awning.

Sunday: What do you know ? Another windy night and another wet morning. So we hit the shops at Cheshire Oaks causing record tailbacks on the M53. We found Ned a quiet corner of the car park to rest while we shopped and went to the cinema. While we were gone, Ned made friends with a pretty red Ferrari ! Back at the camp site at last a sunny evening. We picnicked on the grass, French stick, cheese, Kettle Chips and a glass of bubbly. Ned had admirers here too "So cool" and "He's so cute".

Monday: Summer arrived, warm and sunny. We celebrated by blowing up the spotty beach ball and putting on the CD ! Everyone on the camp site was sad to see Ned go and waved us off. We enjoyed a "leisurely" drive back to Hereford with a lunch break for us and Ned. We had all become very fond of Ned it was hard to say goodbye to him.

Jane, Melvin, Rob and Richard



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From SW18 to South Wales

This was a try before you buy experience that fanned the flames ...


We came to realise what a wonderful way to holiday, touring in a "camper" can be. First night Aria took us to a quiet patch of moorland on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, where we cooked chilli and drank an average bottle of Rioja. For mid July it was FREEZING but Aria kept us warm and snug throughout the night. Next morning we woke to a glorious sunrise over the Beacons watching the rising sun whilst munching on bacon sandwiches and drinking strong coffee in total solitude was a fine start to the day.

The original plan was to head for Pembrokeshire, instead Aria decided the Gower was nearer ! Lot's of surfers on a huge beach at Rhossili with plenty of sunshine. However the Gower is busy and there were no quiet spots to park Aria so we headed back to the mountains. To our delight we discovered a little patch of heaven where only the sheep disturbed us. Surrounded by yellow and green moorland, Aria looked like a precious gem in this vast landscape. We feasted on stir-fried brocolli and chicken and settled back in the comfort of our temporary home to watch a DVD. A quite perfect evening. We are now convinced a VW camper is a wonderful way to travel.

Julian, Alice, Theo and Gus

PS: we forgot to add that Aria is very well fitted out and has very thoughtful owners !! Thanks for such a great three days.

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Spanish Surprise for George

Jane decided to surprise her husband when back in the UK from their home in Valencia.

I've read all about them. I have all the books and whenever I get the online chance I like to check out the Danbury website to see how much they cost ... So imagine my delight when my girls surprised me by booking one for the first week of our summer holidays !

Yes, there they were, sitting in Aria at the local roundabout, waiting for me to come home. Its true that I couldn't take the smile off my face and laughed like a fool in disbelief.

We've had the most fantastic time (dispite the rain) there has never been a dull moment and we've brightened up everyones day as we travelled around the Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire coast. I could have sold Aria at least six times and we've handed out all the brochures, she's attracted so much attention.

I have taken so many photographs I feel like a staff photographer for "Coastal" magazine. I am going to send them to the owners of Aria in the hope that they'll use them for the next run of advertising material. And the photo album at home will be well stocked as a result of this week, that's for sure.

The hard part comes next, as we have to return Aria this morning. My girls want to keep her and giving "Pickles" the teddy bear back with her will be a real emotional struggle. I'm sure whoever has Aria next will have the most wonderful time. We'll certainly be back for more next year, thank you ...

George, Jane, Francesca and Olivia

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36yrs Old Ned Looks After Three Cathedral School Girls

Although Ned is 36yrs old, it was his first time at Glastonbury (well at least that is what he said!).

We unfortunately got geographically misplaced on the way to Glasto. After a cosy nights sleep we wondered into the festival on the Wednesday. After several hours of exploring the park etc.. we stumbled our way back to our understanding Ned and quickly put the kettle on for a cuppa.

Our initial plan of setting up camp proved to be "difficult" as three girls putting up an awning in the dark proved too much ! Instead we decide sleeping would be a better use of time.

After a quite bright and not so early start we had a quick breakfast and sorted "awning attempt Take 2" which proved much easier in daylight ! Note to all - awning is so much easier to put up in daylight !!

We then eagerly set off to the festival itself and enjoyed many performances including The Feeling, the Hoosiers, Kings of Leon etc.. The rest was a blur ...

Emma, Charli and Harriet

Hereford Cathedral School

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Would have been 5 stars except Charli shut her fingers in the door on the way back so took off half a star in sympathy ;-)

Aria Takes Kath and Allan to Glastonbury

Went to Glasto !! It was not only our first time at Glastonbury but it was Aria's first time too. I think we were all a bit over excited. Aria looked after us so well. She escaped the mud and was always waiting for us at the end of a long drunken day, to keep us cosy and warm just to do it all over again.

Aria had many admirers at Glasto, in fact I think she may have pulled an old brown T25 who parked next to us ! We will be at V Festival in Ned in August but we will never forget Aria, and hope to be back at Glasto with her next time - please please please ???

Massive thank you to Stella and Steve, inside Aria is really gorgeous. All the extra touches are what make her so special (a mini home from home). Thanks again, we have had a blast !

Much love - Kath & Allan xxx

PS: our boys loved Aria too when we took her home, but didn't get much of a look in - maybe next time ...

PSS: on the way to Glasto we stopped at the services and were marshalled into a checkpoint area for festival goers. Police with sniffer dogs were checking each vehicle, remembering the no dogs rule I protested "dogs are not allowed in Aria -she is on hire" which raised their suspicions further and we ended up with full body searches ! It goes without saying they did not find anything other the colour of our underwear !

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