Just chilling.........

Just chilling today, but I did make up a couple of side frames to support the kitchen worktop.  The worktop is going to be 5 foot off the ground!!  I did mark up the lorry and it looks real dumb.  I will have to use steps until I have made up the stage area lol.

I also did some thinking (not too much, it was hot today!)  I thought I would screw through the wall and secure a 2"x3" timber to support the back of the worktop and the two frames I made earlier with some 'sticky backed plastic' on either end with a temporary prop in the middle.

Nice lay-by big shit..........

I parked up in a lay-by last night it was ok apart from the traffic rocking the lorry as they went past.  I worked for hours today, but did not seem to get a lot done.  But I was a good day.  Adjacent to the lay-by was a big field so Max had lots of walks, they even provided a rubbish bin for my crap and another for Max's crap.

About lunch time I was desperate for a dump, not sure whether to drive back to camp site or not.  The problem is that it would take a lot of time to put tool and gear away.  Luckily I bought a Thetford toilet a while back(planning ya see)  but never used it, and there is no chemicals in it.  So I lined it with a swing-bin liner and took a dump in that.  Now this  was the dump of all dumps.  It felt more like a mobile home after (strange that).  All tidied away I tied the bag up and placed it in Max's crap bin, kindly proved by the council.  Now this got me thinking about poll-tax. It still makes me laugh now to think, there was probably two doddering old council workers, Bill and John, who's job was to go around the area, emptying all this crap.  When they found this bin I can just imagine Bill saying 'fuck me John, this dog must have been massive!' after finding my deposit. lol

View of the fields looking out my new door.........

The first two sheets of wall..........

The first couple of sheets of ply are up and there is the first conduit installed for later use.  The ply is 6mm and 4' x 8' so I glued the batons at 0' 2' and 4' with polystyrene insulation between.  There is two big metal hooks which go all the way through wall, I tried to unbolt em but they are siezed solid.  So in the morning I will get the angle grinder on them.  Then I can put next sheet on and fix the kitchen worktop.  The lorry is 8.5' high so there is going to be a lot of wasted space so what I am planning is, to have a raised floor half the width and about 2' high.  This way I can store all my heavy tools and bike parts(well that's the plan).  So 2' for the raised floor(stage) plus 3' on top for the two chest of draws that I got from a junk shop.  I will start making up the support frames for the worktop in the morning and make up the stage area seperate.  At least I will have a top to work on.

I might have sold my caravan, I do hope so because I need the funds to buy more wood.  I want to build the partition walls for the 'wet room' but I need to buy a shower tray and maybe a basin, so I know the sizes.

Van collected..........

The problem with a lorry this big is parking the bloody thing.  My landlady on caravan park would not allow it.  I have been asking around locally but no takers.  But I did manage to talk a farmer into letting me park up on his land for 2-3 days, which turned into a week, one bottle of whiskey later and it was two weeks ;)  In those two weeks I did not want to rock the boat as were, so I stayed away.  After a local recon mission I found a couple off possible car parks on a nearby common.  I managed to stay a couple of days and nights.  Before being asked to move on the morning.

In that time, I now have a door.  Whoop, whoop.

I had every thing I needed screws, glue, mastic sealant the lot.  But half way through and the jigsaw blade went blunt, so half was done by burning it's way through.

You can live and work in lorry at same time but it is bloody hard work plus you have to keep moving stuff around.

Try to work with Max around is a complete nightmare.  After having him for 3 day he has started to bark at everything that moves.  He is really stressing me out (at times I wished I never had him) but there has been a couple of times not he has been a really good guard dog.  More on dogers and boy racers to follow.

I have come back to the camp site to do a few things, but do not have long before I drive around for another spot.  I think I have found one but it is a lay-by on a busy road or there is another lay by I might use by some woodland.  But I can be seen here by the police and any parsing cars.  Good thing the lorry is a sleeper cab!

Finally the sun is out..........

Finally got around to getting the sprinter van ready for sale.  Removed the tv ariel, sanded down the bodywork primed and painted, not the best job but just have to drive through some puddles to blend. lol.  Taken photo's so just egay to go. whoop whoop.  I hope it sells first time around, as I need the money to buy more woods for conversion.

I am planning on collecting lorry about midday tomorrow.  That should give me time to load up, park up and chill.  Ply lining  first I think I will save the door cut for Tuesday, in case all goes wrong!

I am really looking forward to the open road, as I have been somewhat domesticated in the last year.  Since dumping the house I have been chilling in a caravan for the last 6 month, but I miss the freedom.

Max - every day there is something new.  3am he started barking at anything that moves, this went on for most of the day.  I let him of his lead today, he was slow to walk around but made his way back to caravan, when I called him back he came running (sideways like a crab).  He did this a couple of times, so loads of fuss and beef chews.  He is turning out to be a really all round nice dog.

Max had his first visit to vet..........

Thursday 12th August 2010 - I took Max for his first vet visit.  He was a bit nervous as we went in and took a seat.  The dog before us went in, and after 5 mins there was a yelp of pain.  I guess this was due to an injection or an anal probe!  That was it for Max, he tried to jump out the window.  Max had a full check up, he is 12-18 months old and still has his nuts.  But on the negative side, he has worms.  He was also diagnosed with arthritis in his back legs.  This was due to an old injury that was not treated at the time.  He is going to take a course of injections, which should be last for a while.  I also went to pet shop and got him some one-a-day chews to help with his joints.

Saturday 14th August 2010 - Max had his first solid dump today it was black with the long white worms wriggling thought it.  That must of been real nasty for him, just to think about it, is bad enough.

Also I have collected in the last couple of days, a few items for the lorry conversion; 3m kitchen worktop, a domestic sink and drainer and today picked up a door, seal and frame from local breakers for £100.  I know you can get cheaper on egay, but they are unknown, plus I got loads of helpful advice on how to fit.  Worth it's wait in gold, as I have not done the job before.  There is also a chance of getting good prices on a couple of seitz windows. ;)

I am hopping the weather is good tomorrow as Sunday is the last day to work on the old van before I cancel the insurance.  I have a bit of body work to do regards paint and remove the old tv ariel from the roof, before it will be on the bay.  I collect the new lorry on Monday,  the only problem is parking since my current caravan park will not let it on site.  I have done a recon mission of the local area and found 3-4 likely spots for next week.

A home is born.....

This is me.

And this is Max

I collected him on Sunday 8th August 2010,  his new 1st birthday.  He was soon to be a rescue dog as his old owner is now on a extended holiday at her maj's pleasure.  He has grown up in a flat, he was not abused, but I think neglected, as he is all bone and is very weak, but that will soon change.  He is such a lovely choice of  best friend for my new journey.

My new home to be is a 7.5 ton Iveco-ford 21' x 8 x 8 box.  I plan on converting myself and will take as many photo's as possible in all it stages.  Hopefully to inspire others to cast of there chains of slavery and not be cattle for the mp and fat cats to feed off.