Caravane, carte grise and crochet

It has been a busy day. I’m sitting down to write and not quite sure where to begin. It’s one of those days when I wonder how we managed to squeeze it all in!

We have decided that we are going to take a holiday this autumn, not so easy with three dogs! We had been looking at campervans and motorhomes, however they are prohibitively expensive. Then of course there is the insurance all of which makes it even more expensive. So we decided we needed to think again. A caravan has its own problems. They can be difficult to tow and of course you need a vehicle that is heavy enough to cope. So far we are no closer to a solution. We needed to think again. In France they have what are known as caravane pliante. It is a form of folding caravan. Unlike trailer tents and folding campers that are available in the UK these have solid sides. When up they look very similar to a normal caravan but when folded they are a large trailer with a solid roof. We decided that this might be the answer and started to look.

At the weekend we found some. We arranged to see one on Monday but unfortunately it sold just before we were due to visit it. I had seen another that I wanted to see first. The owners had been slower to respond however this was probably to our advantage. Luckily it was still available. On Monday we were able to visit it. The couple who owned it were absolutely delightful. We agreed to buy the caravane and the deal was sealed over a bottle of cider!

The couple selling it seemed genuinely pleased that we had agreed to buy it and that we were looking forward to using it. They were also pleased to have met us, apparently they don’t know any other English people and they hope that we will go for a meal at some point. So a delightful encounter and a profitable one!

Yesterday I spent time negotiating with the bank before eventually I was able to transfer the funds to the sellers’ account. This was not an easy process. At the moment we are having all sorts of problems with our bank but that’s another story.  However it was done and I was able to let the sellers’ know that the money was on its way. They agreed that we could collect the caravan today.

So this morning we set off to collect it. There are many differences about owning caravans and trailers in France as opposed to the UK. In France trailers over 750kg have their own registration plate that stays with them in the same way as a car’s does. You have to register the trailer in your name and insure it separately too. A complex process. We were given all the necessary paperwork and set off home.

When we got here we thought that for now we would put it in the bottom of our field. It seems that that entrance is steeper than we realized. The car pulled the caravan off the road but became stuck. We tried to disconnect the caravan but because it was on a slope that wouldn’t work either. So we were in a position with the caravan attached, the car refusing to move and the entrance blocked! What next?

Given I was supposed to be at Knit and Natter I suggested that we pop over have some lunch then come back with a clearer mind. So that is what we did. We came up with a strategy in which we would reverse back into the road, drive to a flat spot, disconnect the caravan then push it onto the drive. Amazing what some food and some coffee does for you! So we came and put the strategy into action. I’d like to say that it was all plain sailing but of course it wasn’t. Firstly the corner of the caravan caught on the road as we came back out of the field. After a few manoeuvres it came out, no damage done. We then drove up the road to a flat spot. Disconnection was not simple either. After a while and with the aid of a mallet we managed to get it free. It was then simply a case of pushing it up hill onto our drive. It was a bit of a puff but we managed it!

Then was simply the process of registering it and insuring it. The online registration wasn’t simple. For some reason it wasn’t possible to register it in my name but it was possible by using another browser and Chris’ name! I won’t go into that today. The registration payment was taken so I assume that the carte grise, the registration document, will arrive in due course. I managed to phone the insurance company and insure it. I’m always pleased when I manage something on the phone in French. I find talking on the phone much more difficult than speaking face-to-face. So although I’m now shattered I think I have done well. We are hoping to go away for a night at the weekend to test it!

Until tomorrow…