Cycle panniers and computer

A quick shopping trip to Lidl in Germany yesterday resulted in my acquisition of a pair of panniers and a cycle computer. The panniers seem pretty good - I wouldn't plan to use them for an end-to-end cycle tour of Africa, but as I'm only planning on local cycling at the moment they should be fine. It only cost €10 for the pair so I really couldn't resist. I can't take them in my backpack to Prague next week, so I'll have to wait till the end of the summer to get them as then my brother can bring them in his empty suitcases. 

The computer was only €3.99 and apparently does lots of whizzy things like tell me how far I've gone, my average speed and how many calories I've burnt. So it should be fun to play around with. And it's small and light so I can take it with me when I leave here.

2012 Twelve March Review

1.  Floating in a floatation tank (I'm hoping to do this in London during the February half term)
 
2.  Reading at least 10 books from the BBC Big Read list (if I read 10 a year, I'll have the whole 200 knocked off in the next 12-13 years!) - I still haven't read any
 

3.  Taking at least one photo every day of the year (this will improve my photography skills, be a photo-diary of 'year in my life', and help me to learn to use my new camera) - not been very good at this either
 

4.  Coming up with a fitness plan and sticking to it (the start of my training for Kilimanjaro, though I may not actually climb it for several years yet) - nor this
 
5. Leading at least 4 of my own walks (good practice for my walking group leader's qualification) - I've volunteered to lead some walks at school as an extra-curricular activity, but this wouldn't start until at least September and may not actually happen at all
 

6.  Buying another house (need to get my finances in order first) - I've made a very limited start on going through my paperwork
 

7.  Learning to use at least 3 new pieces of technology or computer programmes (not counting my new camera) - nothing done here, though I'm getting slightly better at using Apple Macs
 

8.  Doing a writing course (depends on the length of the course whether I'd complete it in the year or not) - still haven't started this
 
9.  Getting at least one piece of writing published (paid or unpaid, as long as someone else makes the decision to publish it and it's not self-published)
 
10. Making a start on sorting out my photos (putting the prints that are currently still stuffed in packets into albums and getting all my photos scanned into the computer - no way will this be completed in a year, but I'll feel good even if I get started on it) - done nothing about this
 
11. Buying a car/van that I can sleep in (and doing any necessary conversions/adaptations) - I've bought a van and started researching conversions.


12. Getting into cycling (even if it's just short cycles along decent paths) - almost a step backwards on this one as the cycle rack I bought last summer won't fit on my new van (anyone want to buy an unused cycle rack for a hatchback car?)

Well, reading over my review I realise I sound rubbish! I don't even have the excuse of March being a short month. But my major achievement this month was buying my van and the whole procedure of looking for one, checking it out, buying it and sorting out insurance did take an awful lot of time. So I'll use this as my excuse instead. 

I'm writing this in Germany. I've only been here a couple of days and I've already done a few things I can write about in my April review. How much easier it is to achieve the things I want to do when I don't have to go to work! 

Ballooning

I've just checked my groupon emails and there is an offer on the London email for hot air ballooning. I missed out on this offer this time last year because I was in Germany and only checked my emails too late. I've still got a day and a half to apply this time but I'm not sure if I will. The price is #99 and supposedly this is half price. But when I check the Virgin balloon site #99 is the full price for a weekday morning flight in the North West anyway and it's only slightly more expensive for flights at other times and days. So I'm thinking I'll hold out and see if there are any similar offers on the Manchester email which would hopefully be cheaper.

Chess

Chess is one of those things that everyone seems to know how to do except me. I've tried to learn at different times over the years, but each time I find someone with a chess set and the knowledge and patience to teach me, I get a few lessons and then we end up in different countries and that's the end of my chess for another few years. By the time I get to have another go I don't remember anything and I'm back to square one.

I've been on the lookout for a cheap chess set that I can start to play around on and try to teach myself a few moves using the internet and books. Last night I was in Tesco and found a game that combines chess, draughts and backgammon. It isn't anything fancy but it's all I need for starters. It should have been a tenner but was marked down to £2.50 - how could I resist? So I now have one less excuse to put off finally learning how to play chess.

Vango Force 10 Helium 100

What gorgeous weather. It's hard to believe it's only March!

I made the most of it and finally got to erect my new tent on my mum and dad's grass. I'd bought it a few weeks ago and needed to put it up to check it was ok, but the lawn has been way too soggy. It's a Vango Helium 100 and is similar to my existing tent just a bit smaller and almost 2 kilos lighter. I'll use it for walking as I realised on the Great Glen Way last summer that I really need to get my weight down when I want to walk for days at a time carrying all my gear. Although I loved the walk, it was much more enjoyable on the last two days when I had a base camp and didn't have to carry everything all day.

I spent a lot of time looking for this tent and have read loads of reviews. I wanted something light, but not too low. Something easy and quick to get up when it's chucking it down and blowing a gale. It has to be able to stand up to bad weather and not be draughty. It has to fit me and my backpack comfortably inside. And it couldn't be too expensive. Once I'd decided on this one, it then took a long time to find one at a reasonable price.

It didn't take me long at all this afternoon to erect it (I took longer than I usually will, with it being the first time). Once it was up, I lay in it and fitted perfectly. It would be a tight squeeze for anyone much taller than me though (I'm 5.4). It feels very flimsy but supposedly the material is made that way to be light but is still really strong and weather proof. I guess I won't know till I get to use it in a storm.

The weight, by the way, is just under 1.25kg (slightly more than the advertised weight).

Van Insurance

It was such a lovely day today and I've wasted most of it sitting indoors at my desk in my study which doesn't get any sun during the day. Why? Because I had to insure my van. I've got a week's free insurance with it but that'll only last till Wednesday. I thought it would be easy to switch my insurance from my car to the van, but no. Endsleigh doesn't insure vans. So they've cancelled my policy and are sending me a refund for the remainder. This meant I had to find another insurance company. I've rang so many and done lots of searches online.

Specialist van insurance companies don't want to insure me because I don't have my own business. Campervan insurance companies don't want to insure me because it's not a proper campervan. Car insurance companies don't want to insure me because it's not a car. The few quotes I did manage to get were astronomical. Finally after hours of searching I found a broker who has insured me through Aviva. Whilst I was on the phone I ran my details through the quote section of Aviva's website but the quote was several hundred pounds higher than the price the broker was getting for me. So I've gone with the broker.

I'm a bit miffed though that so many companies seem to think you should only own a van if you have your own business. Have these people no imagination?!

Van Owner

Well I have my van. I picked it up last night after school and took it for a short drive. It's very different to driving my car. The brakes are so keen I ricochet forwards even when I barely touch them - thank goodness for seat belts! On the other hand, I have to use a lot more gas to get going and pick speed up. This is probably due to me not being used to driving with diesel. I don't have to go very far though for me to start getting used to it so I'm sure I'll be feeling at home driving it in no time.

The interior sides and floor have been hardboarded over and there's also a piece of board completely blocking off the cab. This makes the cab feel a bit claustrophobic and shortens the length of the available space in the back. So my first job this weekend is to take that piece out. I want to be able to climb into the back from the front when it's chucking it down so that's another reason for it to go.

I feel quite excited about my new project but at the same time it was quite a wrench letting my old car go. It's served me well over the last six or seven years and I have some great memories of trips and holidays made in it. I really hope my van turns out to be as good and I get lots more great memories from it.