On The Road With A Jucy Campervan + The Kids

In search of a bit of pre-Christmas simplicity and to escape the maddening shopping crowds, we’re on a wee road trip.

And I see I’m not alone in that search for a bit of slowness at the moment. I read Mrs Woog’s and Sonia’s at Love, Life and Hiccups’s posts on simplicity yesterday and could so relate.

I was so ready to run away from home for a few days.

We’ve been loaned a Jucy Rentals campervan– thank you Jucy.

My first plan had been to drive over to Dubbo Zoo but the twins begged to visit the Christmas Lights Spectacular again at the Hunter Valley Gardens and how could I refuse?

When I was a wee girl in Scotland our family went camping a lot. Later Dad had boats and we spent our summer holidays sailing up and down the lochs and islands and mountains of the west coast.

On a boat you live simply and everything has its place. And the campervan is just like that. It’s all very compact and has loads of nifty features.

Jucy Rentals Campervan- We are loving:

+ The ‘penthouse suite’ which is like a mini-tent which pops up when you lift the roof. Cute! . So popular with the kids that I will never get a turn

+ The dinky fridge

+ The camping stove that slides out

+ The whistling kettle

 + The roll-down blackout blinds with press studs, they block out all the light

+ The comfy bed that slides out inside the van itself. Myself and twins slept there and it was fine

+ Love that sheets doonas and towels are provided

+ Camping chairs are also provided and I brought a little table of our own.

Who doesn’t love a singing kettle?

Any problems?

No room to pack bikes which would be great to have.  The DVD player in the back won’t work for us, is it me? But we have many iDevices so movies are still showing.

A simple first breakfast in the van… second and third breakfasts follow soon after

The freedom of the open road is all too fleeting though.

Our plans to spend another couple of nights at Shoal Bay won’t work out as the dear old mum of a dear old friend has died.

So we are heading south to commemorate her long life later this week.

But I knew I’d love a campervan. It does remind me of sailing as a child but without the rain the wind and the drunken sailor dad.

Ah we’ll be back on the open road some day soon. Like snails carrying everything we need, land-based wandering sailors.

In the interests of reflecting real life, I have to tell you that the twins are driving me mad with their bickering and whinging.

Their big brother is occasionally going mental with them and even I lost my temper after a twin tantrum caused by being asked to brush teeth. I ask you!! Tears were shed this morning – mine!  But then we went for a swim and all calmed down.

So just the typical family situation.

No idyllic family togetherness here.

But we’ve got a cute wee kitchen, so what do we care?

Are you managing a few moments of simplicity?

Did you have to run away from home like me to get some?

Any top tips for the learner campervanner?

 Thanks to Jucy for loaning us the van. I paid for all other expenses incurred and haven’t been paid to write this post.