However, the cruise was really about getting to know the motor home, and what was wrong with it, and what needed to be put right. First thing that happened was the Swan Whisperer broke the door shelves of the fridge, so he has ordered some more, which we hope will arrive before we go away. Then he bumped his head on the handle of one of the cupboards, and broke it - that is easily fixable, it just wants a drop of glue, but it needs to be done! Third thing was that he didn't close the water inlet properly, and the bung fell out and was lost. This was easily replaceable, and he has learnt how to put it in properly.
The van itself is comfortable, but we still haven't quite fathomed out where to keep things yet. That will come, of course, as it did in our old one, but it feels as though there is less storage. I don't think there actually is, but that is what it feels like. We are going to try using a system of crates in the hold, as it's quite easy to get stuff out of it from inside the van. It also has, rather a nice touch, an outside shower so you can wash your muddy shoes or boots off before getting in! And it was muddy! The first day it rained and rained and rained, and although we were warm and dry inside, the van was muddy and so was the campsite! This being England, we had to use campsites or certificated locations, so we did both.
There are other issues - I can turn the radio off, which the Swan Whisperer can't, but I can't turn the heating on, which he can! We had not been able to resolve the thermostat issue, so took it back to the Sussex Caravan Centre, where we'd bought it, and they were marvellous - the man didn't quite know, but knew where to ring for advice, and it turned out that the wrong thermostat had been installed, so he quickly replaced it. Now we can programme it to come on just before we want to get up in the morning, and even programme the hot water, so no more shivering into a cold van to put the water and heating and kettle on! Even though, as the Swan Whisperer said, we do drink tea before we get up.... They also showed him the knack of emptying the grey water tank (we had both tried, to no avail).
Another thing we discovered is that it has a television aerial on the roof! As it also has a television mount inside, I am seriously looking at buying a 12 volt TV (yes, these are a thing), although we managed perfectly happily without one in the old machine. But then, it didn't have an aerial! And it didn't have anywhere comfortable to sit and watch, either. The best TVs seem to have inbuilt DVD players plus USB connections to one's tablet to watch the Amazon Prime movies one downloaded earlier.... We also think that we have a combination grill/oven; thus far it has only been used to make toast and cook sausages, but I worry lest I succumb to the temptation to buy too many tartes flambées and quiches rather than cook from scratch. The Swan Whisperer cooked supper once and breakfast twice, and I cooked supper twice and breakfast once, so we are both getting used to the kitchen. It is too small, but at least while you're cooking, you're not in the way of the other person getting dressed.
I felt that I used too much water in the shower, so am going to buy a trigger-operated shower head like we used in our last machine, even though this one has a proper mixer tap.
There is still much to learn, so in ten days' time we are going to the Moselle valley on a 10-day cruise, to try to get it to feel more like home. But then, what could be nicer than lying in bed watching the stars through the bedroom skylight, or waking up to a view of trees (and rain) at the end of one's bed?
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