We had an absolutely gorgeous day this week, with blue sky and sun shine and the temperature just about made it into double figures: not bad for March. I decided spring had sprung and that I was going to open up our caravan again, after the winter.
It is a static caravan in Seasalter, near Whitstable in Kent. We first went to the site about nine years ago, when my dear friend Caroline told me that she had bought a caravan and invited us to see it. As soon as I saw hers I fell in love with the idea of having one there too. The site is a thin strip with the sea on one side and open countryside on the other. It is only about seven miles away from home, and it is possible to get there by walking, cycling, bussing or driving, or a combination of these. We were very lucky that a few months later, one came up for sale which was only a year old. Statics are like cars: they lose value very quickly, so we got it for about two thirds of the price of a new one. It has a living room/kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom with the smallest imaginable bath under the shower: great for children’s sandy bottoms!
This summer will be the our ninth caravan summer and in that time I estimate that well over a hundred different people have slept there – I wish I had kept a list. Some of these people would not have had a holiday at all, had we not had the caravan. I have spent loads of time there: I love being outside and being aware of the changes in the sea, the sky and the weather. I potter about walking along the coast and spend lots of time sewing: the light is perfect for that. The site and the caravan are not scenic – but everything around is. Beach huts are much more beautiful and are in much greater demand. People pay sky high prices for them – but you can’t sleep in them and, more importantly, they don’t have bathroom facilities.
I love the fact that the site is in a fairly isolated area and there is not much to do. There is another site half a mile down the road, which has a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor play areas and a club house. Our site has none of that – just a field and a couple of swings. Most of the caravans are owned by old people with dogs – but children love coming to visit. They need to use their imagination to entertain themselves, whether on the beach or in the field and they can have more freedom there, than many of them normally have when at home.
The site closes up for the winter at the beginning of November and reopens in March. I spent the day this week scrubbing every surface – it gets damp and mouldy in the winter – and putting the curtains back up and furniture to rights. I had the door wide open with the sun streaming in and felt truly happy. I look forward to some great days again there this summer. I had a lovely summer last year with lots of visiting family and friends: I hope they all come again and more.
However, there will have to be less of the sewing this year and a bit more strenuous exercise, if I am to be fit for Kili. I have already agreed to co-ordinate sea swimming for Canterbury U3A, so hopefully I will have a few other oldies with me to brave the waters. I am not great at going in by myself, but I will have to push myself to do so. A friend gave me her old bike and I keep it there, so I will take myself off along the country lanes on that. The bike is great in the autumn, as I can use it for scrumping. Last year, as well as the usual wild plums, apples, sloes and pears, I found a walnut tree by the side of the road and helped myself to a lovely crop of nuts. I will certainly be visiting that tree again this year – if I have survived the Kili climb!
