We went and woke Ruby up, where she was sleeping snugly in her garage:
Ruby is more of a morning person than I am, she started like a dream!
It’s going to be a gorgeous day!
Category Archives: Splittys
Happy Ever After
Well, that’s it. We’re all married now and set to trundle off into the deep blue yonder to have adventures in our campervan.
People have chosen their parts of the van to name, so at some point we will be attaching labels to them all and taking photographs so that people can see what they’ve bought.
But for now, here are some of our lovely wedding photos, by the talented and lovely Susie Forster, who is not only a great photographer, but a massive VW camper fan, so automatically earns lots of extra cool points!
Dub Freeze February 2013
Due to lots of other commitments, we’d said that we wouldn’t be going veedubbing during February. However, last Sunday, the sun was shining, Rooobarb was raring to go, Custard had only had about 4 hours sleep after her hen do, so it seemed like the perfect time to drive down to Stafford!
Dub Freeze happens twice a year, in February and November at Stafford Show Ground. There’s overnight camping on the Saturday night, and the main show is on Sunday. Inside the hall are traders, autojumble and the Show and Shine vehicles, and outside are lots of lovely vehicles, some for sale, and some just to have a really good look at and admire!
Beetle
High-top van. This made the most amazing noise.
You can’t have a Volkswagen without swag.
Polly Stoker’s ice cream van, Florence, which won first place in the modified air-cooled category, and also ‘most unusual/inspiring’.
http://www.pollys-parlour.co.uk/
I loved this van. Little details on it made me smile!
Lost your centre caps for your Empis? (We have.) No problem!
Light detailing.
A daily driver.
Martin Aylett’s Betty Blue won first prize in the stock air-cooled category.
As you can see, the van is still stock, with a lot of attention to period detail (such as her first tax disc) that set her apart as a cut above.
Such a pretty van, and deserving of first place.
Marshall Foulds’ mint Mk.1 Scirocco came 1st in the stock water-cooled category..
I am more and more drawn to the rat look. I’ve always loved rusty bits of metal and abandoned buildings, so cars with patina are, naturally, right up my street!
This Maltese ambulance is, naturally, called The Sick Bay.
Gorgeous interior, tidy, light and airy, with character. Perfect.
I’m a real fan of these pictures made at BusFest (formerly known as VanFest) and seeing as this year’s will fall on Rooobarb and I’s birthday weekend (6th -8th September – mine is the day before, his the day after!) and I’m 30 this year… we may well attend!
Susie, Membership Renewals Secretary of the Split Screen Van Club had gone above and beyond with her attention to detail (and I’m always a sucker for a bit of nail art!)
I really enjoyed looking across to the camping field, where some vans were being moved, and it looked like a herd of VWs gambolling free in the early morning sunshine. You have to remember I’d not had a lot of sleep!
This Karmann Ghia was attracting a lot of admiring looks, and quite rightly so.
If the owners of this Bay don’t call her Peppermint Patty, they should do. She’s proper lovely!
Type 3 Squareback. Rooobarb is lusting after a Fastback now – he’s well and truly been bitten by the VW bug!
Rat look with cyclops light. I like cyclops lights too – gotta have the right bus to suit though!
And finally, there’s a funny story to go with this one. Last week, Rooobarb gave me a lift to work, as I was going on a residential trip and didn’t want to leave my car outside school for two days. As we came off the motorway, this van was a couple of cars ahead of us, and Rooobarb pulled up alongside and we both grinned madly at the driver. He had an SSVC sticker in the back window, so I posted on their Split Screens Seen forum to say hello, but got no response.
As we’re about to go back into the hall after a late lunch, a bus drives past me, I smile at the driver automatically, and then realise it’s the same bus. I chased across the grass like a nutter to try to go and say hello, as he was sitting in traffic that was leaving the show, but I don’t get across in time, and assume he’s left for the day. Returning to where we’d parked an hour or so later, I see the bus parked up in the camping area and finally get a photo. Still didn’t get to meet the driver though! (I’ll be honest, would he want to meet a slightly deranged lady who runs after his bus at VW shows? Thought not…)
So, we had a great experience at our first VW show, and we’re looking forward to lots more. What shows will you be going to this year? Post in the comments and let us know, and if you see us at a show, come and say hello!
On Top of the World!
Over the past couple of days, I’ve been building an epic playlist for our roadtrips. It is now 8 hours long!
You can listen here if you have Spotify.
Here is a preview of the first few tracks:
I’d be tempted to pop my maracas in the cab so that if I feel the need to do a Bez whilst driving along, I can rock out in the passenger seat. Because driving along in a splitty isn’t attention seeking enough already, clearly!
I decided to post our playlist after this post from TheBigForest who talk about campers, and make very lovely soft toys and things. Well worth a visit!
Ruby
Shortly before Christmas, I needed to post a parcel. I was reluctant to go to Accrington Post Office, as it is always busy anyway, and it being the last posting day before the holidays, I knew it would be hellish. My colleague suggested another Post Office nearby, which was brilliant – no queues, being able to hear the people behind the counter, easy to park. It became my new regular Post Office, as I could nip there in my lunch break and not get caught up.
Having been to the Post Office one lunchtime, I turned into a side street to head back to work and saw the most wonderful sight:
Meet Ruby. Ruby is a 1967 split screen van, who started life as a purple delivery van. She was lovingly restored a few years ago, given a cream vinyl interior and a “rhubarb and custard” paint job (hence the name). And she is for sale!
She was being sold by Dave of Accrington Beetles and Campers on behalf of a customer who doesn’t have as much time as he would like to give to her anymore, and came with loads of camping gear for a very good price. She seemed to good to be true.
After a couple of visits and a good look round, everything seemed to be in order; sound bodywork, tidy interior and engine looking good. She’ll need a bit of work on her steering and a few other minor bits, but she’s been well looked after and was ready to drive away.
Most Wanted
When you have a campervan, or you tell people that you are getting one, all of a sudden, everyone finds camper-themed things for you. Here are just a few.
My colleague bought me this 3D picture for Christmas to tide us over until we get a real-life camper. As a nice touch, she had added labels with our names on, 1980s Ford Escort style, over the windows!
My parents bought us a camper for Christmas! A Lego one. But it was enormous fun to build and play with. Available from the Lego Shop.
Another colleague sent me a link to this cute camper notebook from Not on the High Street, who have lots of great camper-themed gifts, such as this washbag:
On my travels I’ve also found this funky night light from Lights4Fun:
This biscuit tin (along with other products in the same range) from Happy Camping:
I also love this tea towel – it’s so bright and cheery:
This milk jug (and mugs, eggcups, lamps and more) from New Age Living:
I absolutely love the cards, magnets, coasters and tax disc holders from VDubshop:
Tax disc holders.
The Volkswain.
Camping Medicine Cabinet.
And finally, one of my favourites, a custom designed basket from Handmade by Amber:
I don’t know what I would keep in one of these baskets, but I’m quite sure I need one!
I was not paid to plug any of these things. I just really like them. All opinions are my own.
Campervantures 