Days out in the campervan in October 2026

We had a night in Newport ahead of a parkrun and our great niece's 3rd birthday.

 

Peter went off for a walk and I carved a pumpkin and made a couple of hedgehogs from some old books.

There is obviously a reason why they feel the need to make the signs like this, but it really irritates me. If you can drive a car/campervan/RV then you're a grown up and shouldn't need a silly little cartoon.

However this one could save your life. Even in the winter the cable needs to be fully unwound and so many people don't.

The rest of the camping trips were solo around parkruns and football matches.

The campervan is perfect for this. Campsites are a fraction of the cost of hotels and the facilities are outstanding in most cases, it's just the short walk in the dark and the rain that can be inconvenient, but when it gets really cold and wet I just take the portable potty with me and as we've got solar panels I don't actually have to leave the van.

After a false start with there being several camping spots in Fontygary, the southern most tip of Wales, I did indeed set the van up in stealth mode, top down and stayed inside until there was a break in the storm.

 Once the storm calmed for around an hour, I set up the electrics and explored a little before it got dark. I didn't pop the roof up and it was hard work configuring the bed without being able to stand up straight.

I didn't use the facilities but there was a shop and deli, cafe, two take a ways, a restaurant, swimming pool, bowling, mini golf and soft play.

The campervan was just behind the forest caravan. If I'd wanted to park any closer to the toilets and shower block it was an additional £6.

I'd not come across a toilet/shower block like this before. If you wanted to use the toilet, then shower, then use a sink to clean your teeth or dry your hair, you had to use three separate rooms to do so.

Apart from the chair there was no where to put your toiletries, no shelf or sink, so once I'd finished showering I had to go to another room to brush my teeth and out my make up on.

I use these flower pots to keep my toiletries in, in the shower room, often it just hooks over the door.

Not being able to pop the roof interfered with my dinner plans. I quickly scrambled some eggs and cooked some toast and made a cup of tea. I need a new gas bottle for the stove that is built into the van. The toaster is a little too close to the canvas above so I had the back door open while I was using the camping stove and the toaster with the fire extinguisher at hand.

It was a rough night weather wise and not much better the following day parked up in Barry Island. The Porthcawl parkrun had been cancelled and I chickened out of the Barry Island one.

The people of Barry are optimistic.

At the end of the weekend my coat ended up in the bin as both it and the campervan sprung a leak.

Despite having waterproofs on, everything was soaked through from the rain. I'm thankful for the diesel heating in the campervan and a change of clothes.

After drying off after a day on the Island, I headed into Barry and up to Jenner Park for the football which was televised for S4C and met up with a friend to watch the game with.

It was on then to Monmouth for the night on my friends drive and I did consider stopping on the M4 services for the night as the weather was atrocious and speed was restricted to 30mph in parts. With a high sided vehicle it was a challenge.

I'd saved the washing up in. bowl under the sink and took my wet towels in to go through the dryer.

The final night of the weekend was in the Forest of Dean after spending the weekend in my old neighbourhood at a halloween party with the grandchildren.

The storm had passed so I could pop the roof for the night and was able to clean and tidy and dry the van out properly and make dinner without worrying about setting the roof on fire.

Back home for a few days and time to restock and suss out the leak which was a broken seal in the back drivers window, typically not covered under our extended warranty. No time to get it fixed, so cupboard stuffed with towels and off back to the Forest of Dean for an afternoon by the river and another halloween party with the grandchildren.

You'll see more posts through the winter with the campervan being used for just days out which it is perfect for, especially with me travelling for park runs and football matches. I love having the space to catch up with some work, write blogs, read, have lunch and brew up and basically just dry out and warm up in after a walk or a run.

My set up at night time when I'm on my own looks a little scrappy. I don't bother with the window linings in the front, it's a struggle on your own leaning over the front seats, so I just hold these blankets in place and when I go to sleep the bed base holds them in place.

My friend is the end house in a cup de sac so I'm tucked out the way.

And from this angle you'd never know I was sleeping in the middle of a housing estate.

Word of the week - Rewind

If time travel was a thing then it happens when I visit my old neighbourhood and oldest friends that I have regular contact with. 

Our kids used to play together all the time, round one another's houses, down the park, walked to and from school, given their tea, cul de sac hair cuts, baby sat by the adults, the older kids as they turned into teens, bathed at the neighbours and and put to bed, then collected and carried home after a shift to their own beds. There were other children, now also adults with kids of their own who have come and gone or are still around in full force also, either the parents, or their now adult children with their own children too..

There have been holidays, births, christenings, marriages, divorces, deaths. We've celebrated and mourned together. We've been to concerts, shows, school events, hosted birthday parties, decorated, helped with moves

Autumn 2000 

Autumn 2026 Top right - gone from playing mum to my youngest to being mum to a 14 year old.

There was a halloween party in the village last Sunday, my DIL came down with the grandchildren, my friend invited them to come back to hers on Friday for a party in the garden with her grandchildren and having my grandchildren there this year was like rewinding time.

While we drank tea and got the food ready.

The next generation were playing, just like the last and I wonder if they'll stay in touch like their mums and dads and their granny and nan have?

Week 43 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365. Happy Halloween.

I've been really trying this week and I feel I've been hit by a brick wall. Life feels so unfair sometimes. Everything on it's own seems so trivial, but added together and add Stephanie into the mix and it's just so difficult and as I type I can feel people switching off just like they do in real life, some to the extent when there is little or no contact anymore and with others where I just slap on a smile and say 'hey I'm fine' but I don't have the energy for their 'stuff' any more.

This week I have an ingrowing toenail, an UTI, had a reaction to a flu jab and have a migraine that the meds aren't shifting. Couldn't get past the Dr's receptionist, couldn't get treatment from the pharmacist and by the time I got antibiotics I was in agony all round. `I had to walk away from comments re Stephanie from someone that should've known better, my words would've been wasted and I was just upsetting myself by staying put.

On a positive, I have the most wonderful and easy to care for hair cut by my wonderful friend. I've spent time with my granddaughter at not one but two halloween parties with some of my oldest friends and I've camped two nights on another friends drive and had coffees and dinners and breakfasts and lots of fresher and time by the sea.

Saturday 24 October Woke up in Rhoose to wind and rain and one heck of a storm so decided there would be no park running for me today especially as neighbouring Porthcawl was cancelled due to the weather. I waited for a break in the weather and headed off to the shower block to get ready for the day, followed by a leisurely breakfast and lazy morning. Around 11.30am I packed up and dried the top shelf after discovering a major leak in the van and headed into Barry for the day. I had lunch in a cafe, won a duck in the arcades, walked on the beach and got drenched through and sand blasted and returned to the van to dry off for a couple of hours, had a kip, read my book, drank tea and dried off. I headed over to Barry Town for the football at 4pm to meet up with a couple of guys to watch the match with, we lost 3-1. The game was televised for S4C. Driving conditions on the M4 down to Monmouth were horrendous with the Motorway speed reduced to 30mph for most of the way and flood water, it was quite frightening. Evening spent catching up with my friend before retiring to the van on her drive.

Sunday 25 October Awake around 9am the new time and we headed into town to The Lounges for breakfast. Back to the house to tidy up the van and we figured out the leak is coming either through a damaged seal round the window or where the bolts are for the awning. After saying bye, I headed to the camp site in Coleford to check in, then it was off to Lydbrook my old neighbourhood to catch up with my old neighbours and then to a Halloween Party where DIL joined me with the grandkids for a couple of hours. Then back to the camp site for dinner and to chill out for a couple of hours before bed at 9pm.

Monday 26 October It's our 24th Wedding Anniversary. I woke up in the campervan in Coleford and after a leisurely breakfast and coffee, a shower, packing up the van I headed over to see the grandchildren for a couple of hours. I was so wet and damp. the van has sprung a leak and most of my clothes in the cupboard were wet, my coat is no longer waterproof and hadn't dried from Saturday. I was cold and hungry as cooking in the van is difficult as we haven't had the habitation check completed yet, so on arrival I gathered everyone up and we went straight out for lunch in the cafe in the village. DILs mother was there painting but she declined the invite as she only had her painting clothes on. I came home via a quick food shop, unpacked, dried the cupboard out, think it's a seal on the window, cleaned the fridge out and just as I sat down Peter rang to say his replacement rail bus service had arrived could I pick him up from the station. We had a take away for dinner and watched TV. Both knackered and an early night. 

Tuesday 27 October I had a lie in but I hadn't slept well and had been unwell during the night. The washing and tumble drying got done. The canvas on the van pop up was dried out and we tested the seal on the van window and yes it is the cause of the leak, it should be covered under the warranty. I phoned my friend who had a last minute cancellation at the salon where she works and she fitted me in for a hair cut. Peter dropped me in town and we had a coffee together first. I walked home afterwards. I thought about going to the gym but still not feeling right. We had dinner and watched TV.

Wednesday 28 October Awake early as I'd not been feeling well during the night so we were up and ready to head out to Bath by 8am collecting MIL along the way. Spent the day slowly, didn't buy much, stopped for coffee and lunch on the go, just pottering around. Dropped MIL home around 4pm and stopped at Gloucester North services for an early gluten free dinner of fish and chips which was bloody lovely. Got in and watched the Man City v Brighton game toggling with Liverpool v Chelsea, sad to see Brighton go out, and pleased to hear the Bournemouth result. Had a bath and was in bed by 10pm

Thursday 29 October Decided I need to go to the Dr's and am now on antibiotics, spoke to the pharmacist and will be calling the haematologist about one medication and the neurologist about another and side effects that I believe are causing side effects that the Dr isn't listening to me about that is causing numerous other issues. Peter went into Worcester to do the food shop. I bought a new winter coat, and a coffee and browsed the charity shops before heading home to bake some cakes. In the afternoon I went to the jewellers to get an estimate on fixing some of my grandmothers jewellery that has been sitting in a drawer unloved and unworn for years, get a price to sell some plain gold pieces, get a new strap on a watch for me and buy a couple of Christmas presents. Evening spent on the sofa transferring dates to the new wall calendar for next year and making decorations from old books whilst watching TV.

Friday 29 October Peter and I drove in separate cars to Gloucester for a metaphysical coffee with Stephanie. I felt the need for a visit as it's Halloween and I would've dropped some treats with her. There are so many missed opportunities. We met in Starbucks, me travelling the country roads and Peter via the M5. He got caught in traffic and I was the tortoise arriving ahead of him, just. I drove down to Lydbrook and parked up by the river for a couple of hours then onto my old neighbourhood for the afternoon and evening where DIL and grandchildren joined in for a party with the next generation. So weird to be back with the kids with their kids doing the same activities. I drove on down to Monmouth leaving the party in full swing to spend the night on my friends drive and for dinner. we watched the final of Traitors then off to bed as I had a migraine.

Top - Forever optimistic in Barry Island. Halloween makeup.

Middle - Cat and rainbow

Bottom - Gluten free fish and chips, cobwebs and an afternoon by the river

On the blog this week:

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Word of the week - 

My Garden in October 2026 

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Post Comment Love 30th October - 1st November 2026

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

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

I've no idea where this week has gone and I've been convinced it's been Saturday or Sunday everyday this week as it's been half term.

I'ts 2pm on Friday and I've just realised it's Friday and I'm quickly writing this post as I'd forgotten. 

I'm sitting in the campervan on the banks of the River Wye in Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean. Peter and I had spent the morning in Gloucester having a metaphysical visit with Stephanie, a coffee in Starbucks near her old home. Peeter drove home and I've come down to my old neighbourhood to see one of my oldest friend of 30+ years to help her get ready for a Halloween party tonight for the grandkids (mine are joining us later) then I'm off to Monmouth to stay on my friends drive before a Halloween parkrun in the morning, then home for the trick or treaters at ours. Peter is attempting to put up a large spiders web that hangs from the bedroom window and fix a halloween doorbell.

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My Garden in October 2026

It's been lovely to see some pops of colour in the garden in October and the lawn finally return to green. It's also meant the return of a lot of weeds and time to bring in some of the more delicate plants and get others grouped tighter ready to put under fleece when the temperatures drop.

The bougainvillea has been joined by some herbs.

House plants had a feed.

The few crops being used. there are more tomatoes to ripen.

There has been some night time gardening to as I'd forgotten the brown waste bin was being collected in the morning.

Cultivating the weeds.

Pots now weeded.

Stray parsley repotted and pots now cleaned and tided away.

Just waiting for the last few tomatoes before prepping the beds for winter.

Just waiting for the last few plants to finish flowering then they'll be protected for winter.

Pallets ready for staging plant pots over winter ready to be fleeced.

Pots grouped together waiting for their fleece.

Canopy area needs cleaning and egg chair moving for winter.

Pots will be moved once they've finished flowering.

I've now got a nice space to enjoy the early mornings and evenings in again.

We've got three trees to plant on Sunday and the path to start now the ground is soft enough to dig level. The hedge can't be planted until the early spring according to the research I've been doing and the shrubs I want to plant so they'll have to remain in the pots and will go in the cold frame over winter with a fleece.

There's jsut the raised beds to be dug over, the rhubarb to be covered with a clay pot and the raspberry canes will just fend for themselves as they do every winter.

I've a little project to work on with some outdoor succulents that currently live in tea pots and cups under the cover that will be transferred into some old wine crates with plastic liners and broken clay pots looking all 'rustic'