Second to last weekend of prep

So I'm back from Blackpool after the second to last weekend of preparation before my leaving weekend kicks in.

As you'll have seen in my previous blog I had quite a list of bits and pieces to get done but the first thing to do was get to the garage and hope that the keys were available for me to collect Julian. I arrived just as the owner was about to leave on his bike and yes, the keys had been left in the usual place. He has passed his MOT and so that was the last garage time for him before leaving.

The weight of the trailer effecting the tyres

I got back to the studio and hooked the lights through into the storage unit with the idea of starting work on the tray for Sassy's travel hutch. This plan was revised when I saw the tyres on the trailer; I am sure they are OK however with all the weight sat on them, and it not moving for weeks, it struck me that this could put a flat spot or cause them to become misshapen.

A manually-movable trailer

So I tidied the unit and then started unloading the trailer. Again. It didn't take me very long at all, maybe 30 mins or so, and I found that I could still leave the desk top and the table in (though I may remove the table when I'm there on Tuesday again) and still move the trailer by hand which I did to have the weight on a different part of the wheel.

Most of the stuff for Thomas

I had reorganised the unit a bit before starting the unloading and pulled the stuff which is going into Thomas into one specific area on two pallets. This will mean, when I arrive on the last Thursday, I will be able to reverse Thomas in and immediately put all this kit into its place. This is really important as, if I am loading things that leaving weekend I need it all to be really conveniently arranged so it goes on fast; I don't want to become exhausted shifting things around and tripping over stuff.

Anyway, more of that another time.

By the time I did all of this I discarded any thoughts of making the cleaning tray as all I wanted to do was rest so I did my books then jumped into Julian with my Kindle and read for a bit before turning the light out; he really is the most comfortable of vehicles. I slept really well.

Next morning it was time for another epic Julian cooked breakfast and then I got started on some of the little bits and pieces. First of all I found the dustpan and brush and swept through in Julian, something I've been wanting do to for a while as dirt and muck had been trodden in while loading the back. Happily it looks like my waterproofing has worked again as despite heavy wind and rain in the night there were no drips.

Cable tidy and suction grip

I then unpacked the suction grips I bought for the walkie talkies, and the in car chargers for the same, and worked out where they would sit in the vehicles. I also fitted cable tidies in Julian, and replaced the broken ones in Thomas as well as adding a few more to take the power to the walkie talkie. This did not take me very long at all however I'm a bit disappointed with the car chargers as they are actually the wrong size fitting, and come with an adapter which makes them quite unwieldy. Oh well.

Starting to cut out the foam

Next task up was to begin working out exactly what would go in the Laycorn boxes and potentially cut up some of the large foam blocks to support items in them.

Man-bandage :)

While cutting a shape out of the foam with my Stanley knife I slipped and sliced deep into my index finger (which was careless) but obviously as a man I just grabbed some gaffer tape and wrapped it around my finger to protect it, and kept going. It bled so much the tape slipped off within a minute or two so I got some toilet tissue, held it on with more gaffer, and this sufficed to protect it until the worst of the bleeding had stopped.

I have worked out what is going in three of the four boxes; the pictures following show bottom right (camping gear), top right (charger and jump start cables) and top left (other associated car mechanical stuff like oil, tyre pump and snow chains). I am sure I'll work out what to put in the bottom left box over the next couple of days.

Bottom right - camping gear

Top right - jump start kit

Top left - other mechanical stuff

Finally in the unit for now (I was starting to feel hungry again) I had a few things to amend on the humanure toilet, specifically with regard to the bucket and raising it so the lip protruded a little above the base unit. While I was measuring this up I noticed that the little legs on the toilet seat needed rotating so they didn't interfere with the bucket; this didn't take me long and then I turned my attention to fitting a shelf for the bucket to sit on.

Rotated leg on the toilet seat

All I needed to do was screw this across the bottom of the box as the height of the box (without legs) was almost exactly the height of the bucket. A couple of drilled guide holes and I used the manual driver to put the screws in really tightly and then a quick sit down and proof that it'll be fine. One thing I think I am going to have a look at next weekend is whether I can squeeze the toilet in Julian for the journey; I often need to go in the night and it'd be good to just have it there for urine if not the other stuff.

Bucket support shelf

By this time I had become very hungry and so I went to Julian to cook myself a second breakfast before I cracked on with all the other little bits and pieces I needed to do. For some reason I had the idea that I'd put some music on while I was doing this and this is where my plans fell apart. I could not get the radio to turn on at all. I fiddled around behind the unit for a bit, finding a rats nest of tangled cables, some loose, some not, and made a decision quickly; I would see whether I could find a professional to do a proper job on this. There is no way that I am going to embark on a six day drive with a radio which may stop working at any moment.

So I ate my second breakfast (just as awesome as the first) and went online to find someone; pretty quickly I had arranged to take him to a place in town where he could stay til Tuesday (when I am back for the studio birthday party) and get the wiring sorted and maybe even fix the fascia so it is solid in its fittings.

I walked back from this place across town after dropping Julian off in a quite cold, but lovely and sunny, Blackpool spring day and as I had my camera I took a few pictures.

Evidence of flood defences

Blustery day but people still on the beach

Slightly dilapidated fun fair wheel

Blackpool Tower

When I got to my unit I did a few more little bits and pieces of tidying and then settled myself down to watch the Six Nations games. Because of how focused I am on leaving I have so far not watched a single game this year however I am pleased I made the decision to watch as these two games were probably two of the most exciting matches the tournament has seen for years; Scotland won with a drop goal on the 79th minute, and England beat Ireland after an amazingly close and well matched game. It always cheers me up when England win.

So, I am into the last fortnight; in two weeks as I'm writing this I will be approaching my parents house after the first stretch of driving. This is getting very exciting.

****EDIT***

I had a parcel waiting for me when I got home from my friend in Bulgaria and I am now proudly wearing my Baba Marta band. Thank you so very much for this; the exciting part is I will be able to bury this in Bulgaria, on my land. The last one of these I had I planted underneath my Apple tree in the back garden of my last house.

Me wearing my Baba Marta band

To quote (directly) from the card inside the package:

Chestita Baba Marta....

Welcome Grandmother March is a holiday celebrated on the first of March. Martenitsa - using in the form of a wrist band, woven by combining red and white coloured threads - are worn on that day and through March, until a stork or a tree with blossom is seen, symbolising warmer weather and well being. There are various theories and suggestions about these two particular colours - red and white, from which the bands are made. A common belief is that 'red' represents 'life or birth' and 'white' denotes 'anew' or 'on clear grounds'. Combined they mean 'newborn', 'rebirth', 'a new beginning'; a celebration of Life and Survival. Another popular explanation is that white stands for wisdom and red for good health, which means that anyone giving you a Martenitsa is wishing you both throughout the New Year.

 I can't wait to chose where to bury it :)

***EDIT 2***

It fell off in the night and I have been told off anyway for putting it on; apparently I need to wait until March 1st. So it is next to my bed and waiting for the propitious date.