Change...the only constant

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change"
Charles Darwin

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Love it, loathe it, embrace it or fear it... however we feel about it, change is the only constant - the one thing we can be absolutely sure of in our lives (apart from death that is... jolly old post so far eh?!)  Stay with me, it does lighten up!

Some lives are, for a variety of reasons, destined to be more turbulent and complicated than others, and those who grow up with frequent change may learn to take it in their stride - sink or swim. Others may grow up with lives full of stability and regularity, but even the Steady Eddie's of this world will have to adapt to change at some point... big or small, like it or not.

Adapting to change is so much more difficult as we get older, especially when it's not by choice. As adults, we like to think we're the ones in control, and it gives us a bit of a shake when we realise that's not necessarily the case.

At the ripe old age of forty something, I've been through my share of change. Some not of my own choice, and at times leaving me uncomfortable, sad, or full of uncertainty at what may lie ahead. However, over the years, I've come to learn not only to accept and welcome change, but to embrace it, actively seek it out, and even force it upon myself!

Within a two year period during my mid thirties, I changed jobs twice, moved house twice, divorced, and lost my beloved dad! Prior to this unfortunate spell, my life had been fairly uncomplicated and, I have to say, the events of those couple of years hit me like a ton of bricks. Although I didn't realise it at the time, this very difficult period gave rise to a totally transformed mind-set in the way I deal with life, and in particular the way I deal with change.

These days, I'm a bit of a 'change junkie' - if there's been none in my life for some time, I find myself seeking it out and making it happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for 'if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it', but I've also experienced the amazing positive effect of even the slightest of change.  I'm reluctant to use cliches, but for me it really is about getting out of my comfort zone, and opening my mind to all things new - changing the way I think, and my attitude towards things, as well as the way I do things.  I'm not necessarily talking big stuff here, in fact on the contrary, it's often the very small things that present themselves, forcing us to take a step back, re-think and embrace something new - never to look back!

So, on a lighter note, here are some examples of a few slight changes I've made to my life over recent years, which may on the face of it seem relatively trivial.  However, by simply opening my mind where it might have previously been closed, and with a willingness to just let go and see what happens, for me these few small changes have led to incalculable wonderful results.

First of all... Cats!

I'd always disliked cats. Why? Well, I'd never really asked myself that until they inadvertently came into my life a little over ten years ago (my new partner, now hubby, had them).  Turns out the only real reason I could think up was that my mum didn't like them, never had, she said they were scary - must be true then. Or perhaps not. So, with no real reasoning behind my dislike for these cute, furry little purring creatures which seem to provide so much pleasure to so many people, I decided (quite out of the blue) to find out for myself.  Yes, much to the surprise of everyone who thought they knew me, I went and bought myself a gorgeous little kitten... and the rest is history, I fell in love immediately and have had cats ever since (three altogether, Jack, Lulu, and Maggie), what's more, I'd have another tomorrow!

The adorable Maggie - sadly Jack and Lulu are no longer with us :-( 

Secondly, Parmesan Cheese

One of the few things I disliked more than cats was Parmesan cheese!  How on earth could anyone eat that stuff, the smell is stomach churning - why would I even want to try it? Well, whilst on a romantic weekend in Rome, again with my then new partner (now hubby), sitting outside a wonderful restaurant located on an enchantingly busy piazza, sipping a large glass of Pinot, and partaking in a spot of beautiful people watching, I waited for my Fettuccine to arrive.  It arrived... covered in a heavy 'dusting' of grated Parmesan aaaghh!!  You know what it's like, new relationship, beautiful setting, sunshine, romance...  I couldn't send my dish back and spoil the moment.  There was only one thing to do, give it a try. You know what's coming next... yes, I loved it, and now struggle to accept any pasta dish without it.  Why did I deprive myself of this wonderful taste sensation for so long?!

Pasta's just not pasta without it!

And last but by no means least...Camping!

And so, onto the most recent change in my life.  Following my first ever camping experience at the age of around 17, which resulted in tears and a late-night check-in at a nearby B&B, I vowed to myself... never again! And that was that, mind closed to camping for the next 30 years. More recently however, I have become increasingly interested in the music/beer festival scene, and thought perhaps I might just consider giving camping another go... however only as a necessary means to experiencing the pleasures of a festival.  So, much to the complete disbelief of my hubby, I suggested we went camping... to a beer and music festival of course.  I had a wonderful time, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - even putting up the tent in the pouring rain.  I knew I'd enjoy the music (and the beer!), but I was totally taken aback at how much I loved the camping element of our trip. We have, during the course of this year, upgraded from tent to clapped out old camper vehicle, but since that first camping trip to our first festival just under a year ago, we haven't looked back. If you've read some of my previous posts you'll know all about 'Billy', and we're looking forward to many a camping adventure to come.  I am totally converted, and a truly happy camper!

Now although life for me seems fairly settled at the moment, I know change will always be just around the corner, some for better and some for worse.   So, when it is time for a change, whether or not of my own choosing, here are a few quotes I'll try to remember...

Don't fight change, become a student of it, it's the only constant
Change - expect it, anticipate it, welcome it 
See change not as a threat, but as an opportunity

and remember...

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies! 

Thanks for reading!

  

'Classic' Camper meets Captivating Coastline

Billy the 'classic' camper's first road trip was a great success.... what's more, it left me well and truly smitten with Northumberland's magnificent coastline.

So, I promised to fill you in on Billy's first road trip.  But first of all, how come I'm now referring to our old Bedford motorhome as a 'classic'?  Well, I guess when you literally 'chug' onto a rather swanky campsite (two words I never thought I'd use in the same sentence!), its beautifully tended pitches scattered with a selection of top of the range winnebagos, and caravans only marginally smaller than our house, you kind of find yourself looking for ways to keep your pride in tact! So, feeling a little like the Clampetts, we decided to go down the self preservation route and convince ourselves that whilst our particular camping vehicle may be seen by some as simply old, slightly rusty and very out of date, he is in fact (if only in our eyes) an absolute classic!

As mentioned in previous posts, we've had one or two problems restoring Billy and getting him to the stage where he's actually fit for the road, and relatively comfortable to camp in, so it's probably understandable that we were a little apprehensive on our first road trip to Northumberland.  As it turned out, we needn't have worried. Yes, we had to take things at Billy's own pace (top speed 50mph!) but to quote Martin Dorey (BBC2's "One Man and His Campervan"), we were "Kings of the Road" - in other words nothing but wide open road in front... all other vehicles behind! Things were pretty cosy and comfortable on the inside too!

This was a bit of an experimental trip all round really.  Yes, we needed to test out Billy's capabilities and stamina on the road, as well as getting to grips with his on-board facilities (you know... fridge, hob, oven, comfort of bed etc), but actually we also needed to find out whether or not we would even enjoy this motorhome camping malarkey thingybob... which luckily we did!

So, apart from a few minor (but very necessary roadside repairs) which were the result of high motorway winds and dodgy wall panels! (no I'm not joking), everything went very smoothly indeed. Old Billy boy took us from Leeds to Seahouses, Seahouses to Alnwick and Bamburgh, Bamburgh to Low Newton, and across the causeway to Lindisfarne and back.

Of course we were very impressed with the old classic camper's performance, but I have to say, not nearly as impressed as we were with the natural beauty of the Northumberland coastline.  Soft golden sand beneath our feet (which would give any Mediterranian beach a run for its money), crystal clear rock pools, refreshing sea breeze, blue skies with a scattering of fluffy white clouds, and more magnificent castles than any other county in England. Quite simply stunning!

Considering not that long ago, Neil and I used to spend our spare time riding his sports motorcycle around the country (to be more specific Neil rode, I was pillion), it may seem strange that we're now happy to 'cruise' along at little more than 40mph in an ancient camper vehicle, but we're loving it! I'm sure at some point in the future our need for speed may return (once a biker always a biker). I know neither of us would never say never to blowing the dust off our leathers and cycle helmets (although we might both struggle to squeeze into them now!) However for the time being, we're delighted with our old Billy and our newly discovered laid back form of travel.  With one successful trip under our belts and festival season on the horizon, both Neil and I are very much looking forward to our next road trip and camping adventure!

 If you've never visited this part of the UK, I would highly recommend that you do... soon!

Billy's Makeover!

Look at him now... Billy the old Bedford camper has scrubbed up pretty well!

If you've read some of my previous posts, you'll know that my hubby Neil and I (for reasons we still haven't quite figured out) acquired a rather old, rather decrepit Bedford CF motorhome late last summer, and decided to name him Billy!  You'll also know that between then and now, we've faced one or two challenges in getting him ready for his first road trip.

Aaahh, where to start?!  Well, Neil's done a sterling job on dealing with the mechanical side of things... Billy needed a fuel tank restoration and fuel lift pump, refurbished radiator, new alternator, upgraded air filter, and a full service.  We also discovered old Billy had quite a few leaks which had, over the years, resulted in damp and rotting wall panels, as well as a lovely little infestation of woodlice!! On closer inspection, the soft furnishings, which we'd originally thought were in pretty good nick, had also fallen victim of the damp and needed completely replacing. So, wall panels stripped, mouldy foam seating and grubby old carpet ripped up and off to the tip, we had our blank canvas and began the process of  building up old Billy back to his former glory.

To be honest, it sounds worse than it was, as there were actually signs that someone somewhere along the line had taken a bit of pride in Billy, and had made a half-hearted attempt to look after him. Bearing in mind he hadn't been road taxed since 2009, we can't help but wonder if his previous owners had perhaps had no choice but to give up on him for one reason or another, and whilst he'd obviously been left standing unused, it appears he was not totally unloved!  It might sound a bit weird to most (and it would have to me before we started this 'relationship' with an old rotting vehicle), but we've actually become quite attached to our Billy.  I guess we've kind of built up our own story of what we think might have been his history, and why he might have been out of action for a while... that is before we rescued him for a better life and many an adventurous journey ahead - we hope! Actually, do any of you readers know anything of Billy's history?  His reg is KOB 779W, it's a bit of a long shot I know, but it would be great to hear from you if you have any information or knowledge of Billy's life, pre August 2014. 

Anyhow, back to the makeover... compared to the money people fork out for some other old (and granted perhaps more iconic and stylish) camping vehicles, we paid a local garage next to nothing for Billy, and on top of his original purchase price have spent around £500 sprucing him up!  At around £350, the mechanical side of things proved to be the most costly, although this would have been considerably more without Neil's knowledge and practical capabilities in this area. The remainder was spent on plywood, paint, silicone filler (lots of), foam, vinyl flooring, curtains (made with the help of my wonderful mum, from a few old duvet covers), cushions, bunting, fairy lights, and the obligatory whistling camping kettle!

To be honest, our intention was only ever to do a bit of a '60 Minute Makeover' job, and that is pretty much what we've done.  Although it's taken considerably more than 60 minutes, our make-over of Billy has been relatively cheap and cheerful, and we could have done an awful lot (and spent an awful lot) more!  When looking at Billy's exterior, we realise there's still much that could be done, the cab carpet could do with replacing, and we've covered up many an interior imperfection with silicone filler and a lot of paint.  However, 'simplicity' was our goal... a bit of an upgrade in luxury terms compared to the old tent, and never intending to reach the dizzy heights of a modern winnebago, or top of the range caravan.  Indeed far from aspiring to anything remotely luxurious, our aim was to restore something old, something that had been pretty much written off, keep it simple, and work with the abundance of character already there.  In doing this, we feel we've created our very own wonderfully personalised and cosy small space, in which we'll hopefully enjoy many an exciting and relaxing camping experience.

We recently had Billy checked out by a camper van / motor home enthusiast / mechanic, and he reckons we got ourselves a bit of a bargain.  He also reckons that we could probably make a penny or two if we sold him now... as if we would even consider that!

Billy's restoration so far has actually been a really enjoyable and exciting process, however we did realise very early on that it will almost certainly be an ongoing project.  There's still plenty more we'd like to improve upon aesthetically, especially to his exterior, and we're very conscious of the fact he's no spring chicken! However, despite a few hairy moments along the way, when we half considered just giving up and trading him in for scrap (how could we?!), we reckon old Billy's now good to go! And, in fact tomorrow, we set off on our first real road trip, heading for the beautiful English coastline of Northumberland.

So, whilst excited and raring to go, we must bear in mind tomorrow that old Billy doesn't do much above 50mph, and so far (to our knowledge) hasn't been any further than Leeds to Brid!   Indeed, we will have to remember to be very gentle with him all round, if we ever want to make it to our intended destinations of Seahouses, Alnwick and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  Of course we will also make sure we have our vehicle recovery membership card in the glove box... just in case!

I'll let you know how it goes :-)

Old mouldy brown and mustard tartan... to fresh, clean red white and blue!

Temporary fuel tank and tool kit, now replaced with bright comfy cushions, cheery sunflower, retro radio, and a little quote we try to live our lives by!

Old tatty high sleeper... stripped out, re-boarded and freshened up with a bit of  white paint. Now strewn with jolly bunting for that finishing touch... the perfect place to store our bedding, and perhaps for a daytime nap!

Not much work required here actually, except for the addition of a tea and sugar caddy, not forgetting the old whistling camping kettle!

All coming together very nicely... just can't wait to get going now!

Finishing Touches!

A 'Grand!' Sunday Morning in Leeds

If you've been anywhere near Leeds City Centre lately, and didn't visit the

'Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom'... 

Well, you simply don't know what you missed. 

My husband Neil and I have recently started this thing we call 'Coffee Club'.  Coffee Club takes place whenever we have a free and easy weekend, and involves taking ourselves off into the fabulous city centre of Leeds (or suburbs thereof), in search of a new independent tearoom or coffee shop to try out.

I don't know about you, but rarely do we sit down at home and savour our weekend morning cuppa over a bit of good old face-to-face conversation (remember that?!).  It's usually a case of grabbing a quick sip in between sorting the laundry, loading the dishwasher, plumping up the cushions, or something else which is, in the 'grand' scheme of things, equally trivial, tedious and totally uninteresting! What's more, Coffee Club's not limited to just the two of us. If family and friends happen to be free and fancy joining us, well they're more than welcome... the more the merrier. However, note here to friends and family... I'm afraid the drinks are NOT all on us!

So, one Sunday morning, a few weeks ago we discovered 'Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom' which is located in the Grand Arcade, New Briggate, Leeds, and decided this would be the perfect venue for our next Coffee Club. Three generations of family were joining us this time (aged 21-83) and we were sure that everyone would love it.  It's probably also worth mentioning that, although not relevant for us any longer (our brood all being taller, wiser and better behaved than their parents these days), we couldn't help but notice just how child friendly this place is too.

We were not disappointed with our choice.  This tearoom is, in a word 'delightful'. The 'oldies' among us were intoxicated with nostalgia ('oooh, we used to have one of those, do you remember?' being uttered more than once).  However, if 'drunk' is the desired effect, you don't have to rely on the nostalgia as this wonderful tearoom is also fully licensed.

The food and drink (great menu including breakfasts and afternoon teas), as well as service, and impressive attention to detail, are all second to none. From the delightful tableware, and deliciousness of home made cakes and scones, to the superb collection of vintage object d'art and furniture pieces - not to mention the fantastic sounds of 50s vinyl playing in the background. 

There's also the option to go 'al fresco'.  Well, strictly speaking not quite 'in the open air' as Just Grand! is located within a covered arcade.  However, it does still get a little chilly after a while if you opt for the 'outside' seating.  Fear not though... yet another delightful touch is the complimentary provision of hot water bottles (complete with crocheted covers), and some charming throws to match, which can be used to cover your lap or shoulders whilst enjoying afternoon tea,  all so very cute!

We loved this place so much, we went back last weekend for more of the same, and enjoyed ourselves every bit as much as the first time.  Evidently though, many others are discovering the joy of 'Just Grand!' and the place was absolutely heaving! Luckily we timed it just right and landed ourselves a cosy table for four, however for many others who were keen to sample the delights of this wonderful tearoom the answer was 'sorry, no room at the inn!'.  Lesson learned from observing the disappointment of those turned away, is that we will certainly be booking next time to avoid possible disappointment.  Looks like you might have to extend pretty soon Just Grand!

Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom also caters for special celebrations and parties.

Why not visit their website www.fun-keyfunctions.co.uk, and check them out on facebook,

I would highly recommend that you do.

Enjoy!

PS: Apart from Just Grand!, the Grand Arcade, Leeds, with its variety of delightfully individual and quirky shops and bars, not to mention the famous Grand Arcade Clock, is well worth a visit if you just so happen to be in Leeds.

'Just' how many teapots does one need?!

Some fab furniture pieces and objet d'art

lovely vintage style table accessories

'Hog and Hen' ham in the middle, poached egg on top (finished off with a bit of melted cheese) yummy!

Doesn't everyone enjoy a bit of hot crumpet?!

One lump or two?

'Just' charming

Meanwhile back in the 50s

Great loo!  Would've felt waay too weird taking photos of the inside though. Sorry, you'll have to check that one out for yourselves

Delightful attention to 'vintage' detail

Hang up your hat!

Neil, waiting for the famous Grand Arcade clock to chime

Lovely 'al fresco' option

Famous Grand Arcade Clock


Thanks for reading. 

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