My main hobby is scouting, I run a local cub pack and on average have 26 children there a week. Last weekend we had our indoor camp which we amalgamated with the scouts and had 31 children in total. It was great fun, we did loads of activities including Fencing, Air Rifles, Assault Course and a Bungee Run. I come home from these weekends totally shattered and don’t feel like eating for a week as everyone eats so much due to all the activities.

Yesterday I attended an Emergency First Aid at work course, this was fun and I managed to refresh my knowledge, and am now a nominated first aider at work.

Well it’s a very mild Tuesday here in Southend and I am putting together my notes for a meeting with one of our valued Insurance partners tomorrow, this will be the first review of the year and we can put a plan in place for 2012.

My son continues to be a maverick and certainly his speech is improving at an unbelievable rate which is good as he is going to nursery in February. I still can’t believe he is that old!!

Coming soon….I will be doing a video blog, oh dear!!

Thanks

Mike

You can click here to read what we’ve got to say about our rebranding, why we’ve gone with it and how it helps our customers deal with their caravan insurance needs. Leave us your feedback in the comments section – we’d love to hear what you think of our new look.

So Watford FC, my team, are slowly lifting themselves away from the dreaded relegation zone and we earned a good point at home to Cardiff on Boxing Day. On the down side rumours are flying that Blackburn may bid up to £5m for our England U21 striker. Taking into consideration the amoujt of goals he has not scored for us perhaps this is a good deal. It will be if we are actually allowed to spend the money rather than it being used to pay debts and line the owners pockets.

Our new Caravan Insurance branding comes live in January and it may even happen, as planned, on or around the 4th January. It is exciting times for us here as it is a brave and modern new brand and is not for the faitn hearted! I am comfortable with it but then I would be wouldn’t I?

This is the official inbetween Xmas week where it ie neither still Xmas nor is it the New Year. Should there not be a name for it? Maybe Fat Week of feel guilty week for having eaten like a herd of horses week?

I hope you all had a great Xmas.

Richard

Reports from experts within the industry suggest that caravan thefts from service stations are on the rise again. After years of positive figures it appears that caravan owners have relaxed and this has led to a sharp increase in crime, and of course as you are on the road more of your prize possessions will be stolen with it.

The thefts are the result of organised gropus where the owners may only have stopped for 10 minutes to grab a cup of coffee as many owners do not fit their wheel clamp and hitchlock, but whilst this is a pain it could save you thousands of pounds by securing your van and the hours of trouble that ensue.

Another idea is to fit a tracking device, whether it be pro active or target, which can be monitored to improve the chances of a recovery.

Other advice is to park with other caravanners, avoid extended periods of vacancy and to invest in security equipment.

Mike

“As a new caravanner I was delighted with the advice that I received and the patience shown over my inexperience!!”

Well the temperature has well and truly plummeted and I am sure we are all feeling the cold. It snowed today, and unlike some people who think it causes inconvenience and chaos I really love it. We all just need to make sure we are careful on the roads and not to take any risks. Although we are good on the roads doesn’t mean our cars will behave, just like mine, my car now has no heating in it and only blows out cold air. It’s as cold in my car as it is out I can even see my breath! Oh well can’t have it all can we.

A few recent events in my life have put alot of things in perspective and I am now not trying to moan about silly little things (which is tough I can tell you). I think all of us need to sit back and see how lucky we are, and its amazing to realise what you have compared to some.

On another optimistic note I would like to congratulate my partner Simon who has now started his new job, if you read my last blog he was out of work for a while and it was getting us both down with job hunting and he has finally found something that is right up his street. I am very proud of him and we can now have a nice relaxing Christmas together.

We are currently in the process of completing our Christmas caravan newsletter, and I hope you are looking forward to it. Has a slight twist to it making it more fun and exciting, and of course our caption competition with a different prize. You will have to wait and see though can’t be going around spoiling surprises.

So again be careful on the roads and look out for the newsletter coming soon!

Take Care

Sophie