Days out in the campervan in February 2026

I'm aiming to camp out in the campervan every month this year and so far I've camped in January and I've camped in February and I've got 2 camping trips booked for March and 1 booked in April. The only thing that's going to stop me completing the challenge is not having enough days in the year for all the commitments I have lined up.

I travelled over to Northern Ireland for a week and set up camp on child 2's drive. Now they've had a 2nd child there is no room in the house other than an air bed and the bed in the van is far more comfortable plus I have my own space and I'm more than happy in the van. I just pop in first thing for the toilet and make a cup of tea and if they're till sleeping I go back out, stick the heating on and I'm lovely and cosy.

It's annoying being last vehicle on the boat as your'e exposed to the sea water for the full 7 hour crossing.

We've got a convertor so we can plug into the mains and not have to rely on the leisure battery and can use the plug sockets in the van.

There was one morning it was so cold outside that I couldn't open the sliding door and had to run the diesel heater and wait until the door defrosted.

Dry robes were made for days like these.

As there was only me in the van and I wasn't using it for cooking I was able to spread out and I kept my shower bag in the house.

When I travel alone I just pack straight into the wardrobe.

I didn't use the van during the day for the week so I could leave everything set up which made life so much easier, it's not often this happens, in fact I don't think we've ever done this before.

The last night I packed the roof up as it was dry after raining all week, which meant everything inside had to be put away so I could get the lower bed out. it took me about an hour to do.

I had to remember to open a window when I put the diesel heating on for ventilation.

I didn't have a table to work from and I had to keep moving things around so I could move around.

I also lost my head space and kept forgetting when I tried to stand up.

The best thing we like about the Ford Nugget Westfalia conversion and our reason for choosing it over the Volkswagen Campervan is that when the lower bed is is use we can still use the kitchen fully as it is located in the back of the vehicle and although this isn't the best photo we can access the back through the vehicle and not have to go outside to do so as you have to in the VW. The space in the first photo is where the kitchen would be in the VW and you only get one sliding door. In our vehicle you get access on both sides which makes parking a lot easier. Also when the roof is popped up, it pops above the kitchen and not above the drivers seat, giving you full height access above the kitchen.

I think I've camped in the coldest of the weather so far so the rest of the year should be a breeze. I've got a 2 week stay in August which will be my longest stay and challenge as I'm not sure about toilet blocks and shower facilities and I may have to move around to charge the leisure battery if I don't get enough sun light and to fill the water tanks but I do have a portable toilet and and outdoor shower will just need to buy a shower/toilet tent and find a disposable waste point. It'll be annoying setting up and packing away every few days to fetch supplies etc but initial camp site prices for where I'm going are extortinate due to the event I'll be attending.

Week 9 2026 Project 365 and One Daily Positive

The Negatives

It has really saddened me to hear about the escalating attacks in the Middle East. I'll keep the politics out of this, but I know from our 7 years living in the UAE that the Government will be doing everything they can to keep the residents as safe as possible. During covid we couldn't have asked for better support. It was frightening watching the country and the world close down and all the flights getting cancelled while I tried to get out of Dubai to return to the UK so I could be here for Stephanie, knowing that it would be a long time before I was reunited with Peter again. It turned out to be 4 months. So I understand the difficult decisions residents in the UAE are and other countries are having to make. It's not a simple case of just going home when your home is in the Middle East. Peter has ex colleagues who are currently in limbo, unable to get home to their families as they were working away when the airports closed. Something that happened to Peter also when I finally made it back to Dubai and he was unable to get out of Saudi Arabia.

The Positives

Positives seem a bit insensitive after reading the above, but the sun is shining, there has been less stress in work, my burn has healed, the no smoking is going well and everyone we know out in the Middle East is safe, if not very concerned for how long this situation is going to continue and worried if it is going to escalate further.

Saturday 28th February We headed off blindly towards Shrewsbury and stopped at Kinver Edge Rock Cottages then rerouted to Ludlow. neither have visited there for over 30 years and was just as lovely as we' remembered. They have a fab market that runs nearly every day, some amazing independent shops and I had some fab buys from the charity shops. Next trip we'll be exploring the antiques stores. Home in time for the football and I had an early night.

Sunday 1st March Happy St David's Day We went to the Cotswold Outlet Village in the morning just of the M5 in Tewkesbury and Dobbie's garden centre to buy Mother's Day gifts and some new garden tools. I cooked a lasagna in the afternoon but didn't fancy it by tea time so popped it in the freezer. At 4pm I decided to head out on a trek up the North Hill and approaching from West Malvern which is far steeper than I'd anticipated but much better for my training. It was extremely windy at the top.

Monday 2nd March Home from work, changed and on the train to Birmingham for the football. I read my book on the train and went to the Apple Store to buy a new phone, then up to the ground where we lost 1-3 to Middlesborough. I had to leave 10 mins before the game finished to get my train back to Worcester where Peter picked me up from as it doesn't run to Malvern at that time of night. I got home at 11.30pm

Tuesday 3rd March Up and straight into work for the day. Home via the garden centre to buy some new seedling trays, then Peter and I went for a walk up the North Hill and into town for a coffee and getting home at 7pm. We had an oven tea and watched the telly. I sorted out my costume for World Book Day on Thursday, which mainly involved brushing and plaiting a red wig I and went to bed at 10pm and I fell straight to sleep.

Wednesday 4th March Peter spent the day cleaning the patio and the covered area from all the winter debris and cobwebs. We had a practice lockdown while the air ambulance had a couple of practice landings on the sports field. I sat on the sofa and drank tea and watched quiz shows when I got home then went out for a coffee and bought some Easter gifts for Peter to take to Turkey for his friends children next week and I packed Easter and birthday gifts for my son in Australia. Rest of the evening was spent sorting out charging cables and plugs for my new phone. I had a bath and was in bed by 9.30pm.

Thursday 5th March World Book Day I dressed as Pippi Longstockings and borrowed a toy monkey from next door. The maths department dressed as various members of Scooby Doo and most teachers dressed as various other characters. I think most of the students claimed to be dressed a the cast of Harry Potter, just in day clothes. Got changed after work and out for a run via the Doctors surgery for my 8 weekly B12 jab. I managed to run consistently uphill. Peter met me for a coffee and we did some shopping. Home for dinner, a bath and I was in bed by 9pm.

Friday 6th March Felt sick all day. Morning spent invigilating mocks, afternoon 1:1 mentoring and tutoring. Straight home and put dinner on and watched TV while I waited for Peter and granddaughter. Dinner eaten and straight round next door for a play date for an hour. Some dancing, stories and bed. I had a bath and pretty much straight into bed myself. Sand from the Sahara.

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Join in with any post written this week

Word of the Week - Brighter

The best bits of February 2026

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Post Comment Love - 6th - 8th March 2026

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Well March snook round quickly didn't it?

This week has marked the start of spring for me. Sunday was St David's Day and I promised myself a walk up the Malverns. I didn't set out till 4.15pm, but as it's not getting dark till later, I was able to get up to the top of the North Hill and home before the sun set. It was a tad windy.

Monday I was off to Birmingham to watch the football and it was the first midweek night match where I didn't wear my dry robe and thermals. I always arrive early and I sat and read my book.

Tuesday I stopped off at the garden centre to buy some new trays so I can plant some seeds indoors and Peter and I headed up the North Hill and stopped for a coffee, it was dark by the time we got home, but we did a bit of shopping also.

Wednesday I planned to pot up house plants and sow some tomato and herb seeds but Peter jet washed the under cover area and I decided my time was better spent having a coffee and blogging.

Thursday I was out running again via the Doctors for my 8 weekly B12 jab.

And not one drop of rain all week.

I'm not being fooled just yet though, it often snows in March, but for now I'm enjoying the warmer and drier weather.

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Word of the Week - Brighter

It's not rained for 5 days and I've not worn a coat for 3 days, although I have taken a coat with me and left it in the car, just in case.

It's still been a little chilly, but I'm indoors most of the day and it's been manageable.

Things have been looking brighter this week. Not just the weather but me as well. Work has been much improved, far less stressful and so far only one stray object has hit me, which was a deflection and so far I've just been called a 'crap teacher' no F bombs, no fights and quite a bit of cooperation from some students who previously have shown very little respect for themselves let alone anyone else.

I went to Birmingham on Monday after work and wore my normal winter coat rather than my dry robe, which has now gone up in the wardrobe in the loft, leaving so much more space in the downstairs loo.

Peter spent 3 days cleaning the patio area, it was full of debris and spiders webs and I'll be spending Sunday putting it back together.

The pots will be moved into their new positions and I'm looking forward to replanting the herbs that have survived the winter under the cloches and sowing some seeds ready to plant out in these beds once they've been weeded and compost from the bins has been dug in.

I'm back out running, no where near as far as I should be considering in just over 5 weeks I'm running a marathon. We've been walking the Malvern Hills after work as it's light enough for a stroll followed by a coffee after work.

I don't actually mind the winter, the cold and the dark evenings, it's the rain and ill health that has caused me the biggest problems, getting out and about. Picking a marathon date for April wasn't my smartest move for someone who hasn't run before with only 26 weeks to train to run 26 miles, but I'm getting there. 

I'll be running longer distances over the next few weeks now the ground is drying up and it's lighter as Malvern isn't the latest of places and a lot of my running route options involve fields which have been waterlogged up to now or industrial areas which I haven't considered safe to run on my own in the dark.

I haven't done half the jobs in the house I promised myself I would do over the winter and most of that is due to being the only one who wants to get anything done. I find I work much better if I'm on my own and I'll have a splurge over the next two weeks while Peter is away in Turkey visiting his friend.

Whilst the sun isn't necessarily shining every day, it's not raining, it's getting darker later, it's definitely warming up. More places are opening up and opening hours are extending. I've a couple of camping trips booked, some park runs lined up and several football matches to look forward to before the end of March.

The Easter holidays are on the horizon and then the summer and more of the above. So it's all looking brighter, all round.

The best bits of February 2026

Lots of grandchildren time and a visit to Northern Ireland and a week in the campervan.

Time with the grandchildren in England also and our other grandson turned one.

Lots of football.

Signs of spring in the garden.

We had a day out in Ludlow after a visit to Kinver Edge Rock Cottages.

We celebrated Stephanie's birthday.

I think we love in one of the most beautiful places in the world, on the Malvern Hills with views for miles over The Severn Valley and the Cotswolds, Herefordshire in the east and in the west the Black Mountains.

I've been enjoying reading when I've been out and about.

My marathon training has improved along with the weather and Peter will often come and pick me up from wherever I end up and join me for a coffee and the occasional gluten free cake.

Lots of plans for March which obviously involve a lot more football, camping, grandchildren, travel for Peter and marathon training and of course, chocolate.

Week 8 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The Negatives

My burn is really hurting as it's healing.

The stopping smoking is taking all my focus.

My calf muscles hurt from running.

The Positives

My burn is healing.

I'm not smoking.

I've been running.

Saturday 21st February Woken at 2am with a sideways motion on the ferry on the Irish Sea. Went back to sleep and woken again at 5.30am with all the lights coming on and public announcement. I had some breakfast in the lounge, freshened up, filled my coffee flask and down to the car deck. Straight off the ferry. Random police stop about where I'd been, then a 2 and a half hour drive home and back by 9am. Unpacked the van, washing machine on, everything put away and I had a long soak in the bath. Peter and I went into town for coffee, I had my nails done and after lunch the afternoon was spent watching Birmingham on the TV and finishing the washing and tumble drying. Dinner and Winter Olympics in the evening and an early night. The cat hasn't left my side since I got home.

Sunday 22nd February In bed all day with a headache, feeling sick and an upset stomach, spent most of the day sleeping, felt so tired and every muscle ached. Forced myself up out of bed around 2pm and had a long hot soak in the bath, still feeling nauseous and headachy but stomach settled so decided to have some fruit and felt much better. Around 4.30pm I went out for a coffee, taking it slowly and felt so much better, came home for some toast and stayed downstairs, reading and blogging, watched some TV with Peter and went to bed after another bath at 9pm. Still headachy and feeling nauseous. Pink fluffy clouds.

Monday 23rd February Woke early and struggled into work and through the day, not helped by being told off by a colleague who had failed to do what was needed in order for me to do my job, just didn't like me pointing it out by asking for help for the rest of the week. Home via the retail park. Decided to ditch the coffee shop after getting some more plasters for my burn which is really throbbing, bought myself some flowers and an M&S meal in an attempt to start eating properly. I retired to the sofa with a banging headache, managed a bath and was in bed by 9.30pm. Peter went to visit his friend in Lyme Regis for the day getting home at 7.30pm in time for dinner and to watch Man Utd. 

Tuesday 24th February A few issues in work, but otherwise all ok. Home via the coffee shop so I can sit in peace and complete some job applications. Still not feeling 100% A light dinner, bath and an early night. A light dinner, bath and an early night. Pushkins is enjoying the drier and warmer weather.

Wednesday 25th February A day covering Spanish, all year groups and in different classrooms and all good lessons, no hiccups. I just wish every day could be like this. Home and straight out for a walk up the Malvern Hills, well more of a route march. Peter met me in town for a coffee. We decided to get my burn checked up at the local A&E as my arm was swelling and the area was red and getting bigger. 3 hours later I was told it was healing nicely, it was part of the healing process and not an infection, a proper dressing was applied which I can change myself in 48 hours and if any further problems to go to the nurse at my GP surgery. That ties in nicely with B12 jabs and blood tests next week. Home for a late dinner, bath, finish watching Millwall v Birmingham on the TV instead of my phone and bed.

Thursday 26th February My stress levels are through the roof, my arm is killing me, the stopping smoking is driving me mad, I only took the tablets for 4 days as the side effects were awful so I've been going cold turkey, it's the habit that's the hard part, not the nicotine. The addiction is the going outside in the morning with the cup of tea, after work/dinner, before bed. Work...fights, sworn at, things thrown at me, daily occurrence. Stressed with EE, went to the gym, had a coffee. Home, dinner, read and bed. Some TLC needed in the garden also.

Friday 27th February I'd like to say work was reasonable but it wasn't. It's not acceptable to feel unsafe in the work place, sadly I'm not the only one who feels this way. Picked Peter up on the way home and we went for coffee, home for dinner, watch TV, bath and an early night.

On the blog this week:

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week.

Word of the week - Easier

My Garden in February

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Post Comment Love - 27th February - 1st March 2026

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Sorry for the delay in commenting on your posts. I'm all caught up now. Thank you to those of you who take the time to comment each week. I appreciate it.

Sometimes the weeks just races by and I find myself up late on a Friday night writing this post, other times like today, it's Monday evening and I'm putting this together. Who knows how the rest of the week will go?

I'm back in work this week after a week off visiting the grandchildren in Northern Ireland. If you didn't know what I do for a living, this photo should help. I took it on the ferry. There's no escaping it.

The cat is pleased to have me home, didn't leave my side over the weekend, how I didn't end up flat on my back side every time I tried walking somewhere without tripping over her, I'll never know.

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Word of the Week - Easier

I've not been well over the weekend and the beginning of the week. Headaches, sickness and an upset stomach. I've not been eating properly, sleeping well and my burn on my wrist from last week is irritating me. I'm unhappy in work, I really don't like my new job, despite all the support I'm getting from SLT.

In fact everything is irritating me right now. The weather, the permanent grey skies, the drive to work with all the potholes, the flooding and the road works.

I'm behind with my running and training for the Brighton Marathon and it's all got on top of me. Combine this with stopping smoking and putting all my focus into that. I've not been in the best headspace.

But there is a sliver of hope. The ill health is short lived. I've applied for 2 new jobs. Spring is only round the corner. Stopping smoking will help me with the running of the Brighton Marathon on the Day. I've just got to stop deal with what is going on now, be thankful for what is to come and just get on with it.

Easier said than done sometimes.

I dragged myself out of bed on Sunday afternoon had a deep, hot bubble bath. Got dressed and went out for a coffee.

On Monday I treated myself to some flowers.

On Tuesday I applied for some new jobs. I cannot fault the support I receive but it is very stressful and I just don't need that level of stress in my life anymore.

On Wednesday I went for a walk.

Thursday, I'm off to the gym.

Peter helps me out in the week by washing my cup and preparing my coffee in the mornings and taking the car off charge so I can leave on time for work.

It does make things easier when you have someone to help you and it does make things easier when you're not so hard on yourself.