Very happy campers

Why a motor home? For regular readers of this blog, you will know that my husband and I are currently travelling round Europe in a motorhome, before setting off for a few months in southern Africa – sadly not in our own sweet home on wheels.
Those who know us well were slightly taken aback, nay gobsmacked, when we announced our intention to throw in our jobs and take to the road. Their shock intensified when we revealed our mode of travel for the first leg – a second-hand, Hymer Camp 544 motorhome.
Not as surprised as we were it has to be said. We, like most people of our sensibilities: Waitrose shopping, Guardian readers of the punk era, held the staunch view that caravanners, motorhomers and others of that ilk were sad, boring people who read the Daily Mail, wore polyester slacks and drank copious amounts of tea.
But when we researched the best way to get round as much of Europe as possible in eight weeks we came to the sad conclusion that a home on wheels was the only way to do it.
After much research – yes we did buy Practical Motorhome magazine, we found a company in Kent that offered a buy-back scheme, which suited us perfectly. It was cheaper than hiring, with the promise of a guaranteed sale on our return.
We fell in love with our little Hymer on first sight. It is German made, so every last detail has been thought through, from the copious storage space to the hidden toilet roll dispenser in the loo. It has hot and cold running water, a fridge, electricity, a shower and a full size wardrobe for all the clothes I am never going to wear.
The upholstery may be early 90s grotesque, think shades of purple, turquoise, mustard yellow and tan and you won’t even begin to imagine how awful it is. But that is a small price to pay for freedom.
As I write we are parked under a cherry tree, in a small park in the outskirts of Prague. We are the only vehicle so we have the shower block to ourselves. There is a restaurant next door and a shop selling beer and fresh fruit and veg. The city centre is 8 km and we are a few short steps from the bus stop. Over the next few days we will visit Poland, Serbia and Hungary before heading to Athens.
We have added a few personal touches including a memory foam mattress topper from John Lewis that has turned the cabin bed into five-star luxury. I haven’t slept this well since I was a baby.
We have an MacBook, an i-Pod and several mobile phones, so are always in touch – if we want to be, and we have cheered up the rather bland – okay – horrible fake cherry wood walls with some postcards, family photographs and, of course, a Barack Obama campaign poster.
We have a pullout awning to protect our picnic table and chairs from the midday sun, and I have perfected the art of two-pot cooking – red wine always helps.
We are proud, and very happy campers.