Видео

@@tarnishedknight730 thank you for the feedback. Truly. I’m no videographer. It’s a skill I’m still in my infancy with. But hopefully will improve as I do more of it

@@timeaston2776 I’m going to have to purchase another body soon. Still undecided whether I’ll get an 850 or find a low shutter count 750 as my current one certainly has proven itself worthy as a travel camera. Its endured all sorts of conditions and hasn’t skipped a beat.

​ @GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Can't go wrong either way in my opinion. The 850 is wonderful and my only problem with it is that the large sensor is rather unforgiving of camera shake or other imperfections caused by my skill level as a hobbyist or while chasing Grandchildren on a nature hike or at soccer practice. Otherwise, if I can control scene, the 850 is a pure joy. As an aside, I have somewhat larger hands, and from the standpoint of ergonomics, either of these options fit me better than any of the mirrorless options I have tried; and like you, the more substantial body and deeper grip is why I shoot Nikon rather than Cannon. Good luck with whichever choice you make. PS. I just watched the updated mission statement and can't tell you how much I approve. Being somewhat older than you I can confirm that one should never walk on egg shells. Express yourself, assume that others assume good will, and let the chips fall where they may. Now a fan, I look forward to catching up with previous posts and following new adventures. One final thought; I have heard it said that you are judged by, and gain entrance into heaven based on how you treated your last dog. I look forward to seeing you there.

@ very kind words, thank you so much 🙏

And because it's harder to do, more and more people are opting out. Problem is, far too many people follow US based vanlife folk on social media and see how easy the lifestyle seems to be there. But the reality in the UK is very different. Harder to find free park-ups. Fuel far more expensive than in the States. Insurance is simply ridiculous etc.

@@Rxke what lens are you using with it? In my opinion this camera is so underrated. It’s a great choice for someone wanting to move into the DSLR game as you can get them fairly cheaply second hand.

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip 28-300 VR visually battered cheap as chips second hand, the combo is suitable for 90% of all situations. Pretty heavy, though, two hours shooting an event and It's a workout!

@@Pitchup-v6x the SNT simply don’t have a clue about running a camping business and how to keep things ticking over in the off peak periods. Really quite sad as they are lovely sites. I’m not surprised the seasonal are leaving, the pitch fees are simply ridiculous for what is on offer especially at the ‘back to basics’ sites. I know of several people who left other of the NF sites since my departure including one who was apparently bullied by the HR person. Sums it up really

Thank you for the explanation 👍 I've very little experience with this type of stuff but as there wasn't another video on YT about disabling this particular relay (which would only be relevant to anyone with an EBL of course) I thought I'd create a video showing how its done. Yes, I've just checked and found your email in my Spam folder. I'll respond shortly 😊

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Gmail is a little keen on false positives, although I should probably add DMARC to my domain...I'll investigate, thanks for letting me know.

@@MrFrobbo mmm. Which email address did you use? The easiest way is probably to contact me via the contact form on my website eltoncilliers.com

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Hi Elton, resent to the email listed on your website (rather than contact form).

@@stuartwallace7536 I’ve got thick skin Stu, I’m not easily offended. And totally agree that many SAFFAs in the UK are considered arrogant. That’s because many of them don’t appreciate they are no longer living in South Africa and constantly want to compare. Or say things like ‘that’s not a Braai, that’s a bbq’ (who the hell actually cares!?) I don’t think I’m an arrogant person. Opinionated, sure, but not arrogant. My issues on the campsites aren’t down to arrogance. They are down to managers who have lost the plot with their ‘power’. People who in any other line of work would never be entertained as being management. What it boils down to basically is that I can earn what I do at a campsite through the services I provide without having to just say ‘yes’ and be treated like crap. The manager on the New Forest site was a total hypocrite. She told wardens off for something that she herself did. She had the wardens mowing her grass around her static caravan! I flat out refused as it simply was a piss take and a total abuse of her title as site manager. On my first site in Devon the site managers were truly awesome people who couldn’t do enough for their wardens. But they ended up leaving with many others that season due to the senior management team in head office and how they were managing their site staff. Those managers had been with the club for 15 years. I would happily work on a campsite over the winter. As there isn’t really much travel and exploring that can be done here in the UK then anyway, but I really need my festival fix. I have worked the past 3 summers and I’m getting withdrawals. So I really cannot consider campsite work over the summer again. Once my pooch crosses over I’m going to head back to SA for a while. I’ve not been back for 18 years so it’s going to be a total shock to the system I think. But I also want to explore the 6 months there 6 months here option. Be well buddy.

@@TCDEWE I think I may just to the same because as you say, towing a motorcycle does make wild parking an issue. Once my pooch crosses over I’m going to store the bike and trailer and do more regular traveling and wild parking. Happy travels.

@@robertgoh7420 a beach is like any other public space so legally you can. Some beaches are private and may prohibit it. Also nudist beaches tend to prohibit photography for obvious reasons

Thank you 🙏My D750 is still going strong a year after creating this video and like you, I have no intention of replacing it until it ceases to work. And then, if I can find a decent 2nd hand one, I'll likely buy another as I truly am a fan of this workhorse.

Hey Stuart. I'm sure you won't be surprised, but I left the last campsite after 5 weeks of employment. I have decided that campsite work really is best suited to retired folk who don't want to travel. Being stuck for the entire summer, earning minimum wage whilst taking BS is simply not for me. I'd consider a winter contract possibly but I won't be applying for any further Summer work until I'm retired and done with my own travelling. How are things your side? Where are you now?

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip so, you left the one in Suffolk too? i have left the one in Hampshire and am now just trying to test the lay of the land. maybe we could meet up sometime? BTW, I was offered a job by CCC, ........... in Loch Ness .... promptly declined.

@@stuartwallace7536 yea. Left the suffolk one. Will be in my next update video which i hope to record this weekend. I'm up in Lancashire on a 2 week pet sit, then over to Yorkshire for a 1 week sit then back down to 'base' in North Norfolk around 10th August

You're welcome, glad it provided some value 👍

Did I say it was members only? It’s been a while since I made the video so don’t recall 😊 Members just get discounted prices.

You mean the question in the title? Do you struggle with understanding grammar?

I have opted or a low loading transverse trailer now. Far easier to load on my own. It does have its drawbacks as is a proper b@stard to reverse with 😊

Thanks.Are you happy to share the make and model?

Indeed, but in my case the issues that come with that simply aren't worth it. When you're treated like a child and made to abide by ridiculous policies that the business cannot actually give you a reason for it just does my nut. Having to have the emergency phone overnight at least 3 nights a week and not being paid to be on standby is also in my opinion a p!sstake. By law, people on standby should be paid minimum wage, so make no mistake, these camping companies make far more off your efforts than you gain through the employment

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Agree, when i add in extra hours including on-call, i worked out that i was being paid circa 8 pounds per hour. However, their argument is that there are plenty of people who want to do the role mainly because of the free accommodation offering and therefore they think they can abuse the system accordingly. I have been in many sites with tyrant owners/managers who simply have no idea how to manage people and attempt to bully their staff because thats the only way they know how to 'manage' people as they have never had any formal training in management. This is the main reason why i have decided to get out and get a pwopa job with pwopa management!

As per the video, my sister is down in Hampshire so I do get down there when I can. When are you in Hampshire till as its unlikely I'll be able to get down there until the 2nd half of September? Would be great to grab a drink! Once my pooch crosses over I too will not be spending the entire year in the UK. I really do not want to spend another winter here but that all depends on how much fight Shaka has left in him.

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip not sure as things will likely change begin July - will keep you updated. but will def organise a beer somewhere.

Yesterday marked 1000 days living in my MH. In those 1000 days I've met many vanlifers, boatlifers, caravaners etc. In my personal experience of all the folks I've met, only 2 or 3 have been at it full time for more than 2 years. My own experience is that it does become easier with time It seems if you can crack 2 years full time you're good to go. Not sure where in the world you are but living on the road in the UK is becoming increasingly more difficult. Especially so if your main reason for undertaking vanlife is to save. More and more height barriers being put up in parkups that have been there for decades. No camping and/or No overnight parking. This is primarily to a minority of users of these park-ups have zero respect and 100% sense of entitlement and are displaying anti-social behaviour from throwing/leaving their litter, emptying chemical toilets on the verge etc. But of course, when measures are then taken to reduce this anti-social behaviour then the community shout 'Foul!' but will take no responsibility for policing their own community. This means more and more people are now seeking out or having to opt for campsites or pay overnight parking fees in those areas that do permit it for a fee. So whilst many start vanlife, a small percentage go on over 2 years, even less over 5 years etc. My motto about my current lifestyle, is that vanlife is for now and the foreseeable future, possibly not forever. Perhaps the video title is a little 'click baity' I don't believe I suggested anywhere in the video that few people are starting van life. Its just a list of reason why people, in large numbers, quit van life in the first 2 - 3 years 😊

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip No worries. I didn't take your commentary badly...and I agree with much of what you said. I also don't think you intentionally left out the "new joiners" aspect - that wasn't the topic of your video, after all. I also don't think that "saving money" is a valid reason for doing van life - considering that most people end up quitting their jobs and just donig temp work on the road, they're not "saving" anything... they've really just stopped spending money on all the things they used to. If they're not putting money away, then they're not saving anything. I'm in the US and van life has gotten a bad rap (not entirely without reason) and it's getting harder and harder to do. Nothing like in your neck of the woods, but getting there. Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful response - it's great to hear your perspective and follow up!

Not this season. And I certainly would never work for the CCC again and would advise anyone looking for a warden role to avoid them at all costs. Hope you're keeping well?

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Got any jobs there?

Thank you very much. As I say in the video, I can deal with cold. Its the damn combination of rain AND cold that I really will never come to terms with. And the sheer number of days of rain we have had this winter especially here in the UK

Cheers boet 👍

I’ve endured 26 winters o& the UK. Each one has been more challenging so I’m afraid for me personally there will never be a time that I’m used to it. So will just need to head abroad once that’s an option 😊

For most of the Winter period I have been house/pet sitting so parked up on peoples properties. When I'm not pet sitting I stick to small campsites before I tow a motorcycle on a trailer which means finding parking in city streets isn't really an option. I'm not sure which city your friend parks in but its getting increasingly difficult to enter, let alone park in English cities these days with all the low emission zones going up.

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip Leeds

Not sure I follow?

I’ve not heard of that. I will look into it. Thank you

I think hairstyle is a bit of a stretch 😂 There certainly is hair, but no style at the moment. I need to get to a hair salon. Thank you 🙏

That is absolutely the intention once my pooch crosses the rainbow bridge. As mentioned in the video he is too old (14) to put him through getting all his injections up to date etc. But one he does cross over I won’t spend another winter in the UK.

Thats a very kind offer Jackie, thank you very much 🙏 I've been on the road for 30 months now and this winter is the first time I've really, seriously considered throwing in the towel on this lifestyle, but then I realise how little I've actually explored for my long-term photography project. I'm totally fine during Spring/Summer, its just the Winters that I really cannot deal with anymore. It's clearly not in my DNA to be wet and cold.

also sorry if you mentioned it and I skipped over it, but where are you parked up right now?

I’m going for Moses. I had bloods around this time last year and there were no detected deficiencies. But I’m going to book another blood test and ensure they specifically check vitamin levels as I’m not entirely sure what was checked in the last test. It’s definitely exaggerated by frustrations of being confined to the van. Or attempting losing a wellington boot along a footpath (this has indeed happened to me twice so far in my travels). A walk in Nature should be relaxing (my personal preference) not an extreme sport.

Hi. You typically have a rota of set hours and days off. Well I did on that particular site. But I know quite a few people who work as wardens and they all have set hours and days off which makes it easier to plan your time and days off.

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip I new to this, I'm on small site 105 pitch, have 1 day a week off, and Sunday I'm not expected to do jobs but be around for campers leaving, gas sales etc, I'm only warden on site and just can't find a cut off point in the evening for my time., if I tell owners I'm off site few hours that's fine . What's you thoughts. Great vlogs well done

@@penguinpeter6912 105 pitches is not a small site! A small site is 5 pitches. It is ridiculous that you are the only warden. They are surely taking on more for the Spring/Summer season as there is no way you can manage a site that size on your own in the Summer. I don't know what your renumeration etc is so its difficult for me to really comment on it but seems a little harsh to me. You need to have days off. Are they paying you to be on standby? By law if you are required to be on standby you need to be paid at least minimum wage. There are loads of warden jobs out there so I'm sure you could find a better setup for yourself.

It looks like a lovely town. So much so that is on my list of possible places to look to buy a house.

I’d ask if you’re live been drinking but it’s too early in the day surely? 😂

+ I have a D3500 already so I want a worthy upgrade

The main differences are the fact that the D750 is a full frame camera whilst the 7500 is a cropped sensor. The 750 is 24MP whilst the 7500 is 21MP. If you do video also then the 7500 does 4K video whilst the 750 only does 1080P. I’m sure you whichever you choose to upgrade to will be a worthy upgrade 😊

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip thank you for the response! I’m not planning on filming with my camera at all. Personally I’m leaning more towards the D750, as i think the image quality is better (at least photos from Flickr) It’s also cheaper and I think it’ll be better value for money, as long as it’s goes with a AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm

@@jakeee114 sadly that lens is not full frame compatible. One of the reasons I've not upgraded to mirrorless cameras is because I don't want to have to purchase new lenses as I'm happy with the lenses I now have.

@@GrumpyGitsRoadTrip oh I never realised that… maybe I’ll have to go with the Nikon D7500 then because of the lense Update: I can do a couple of trade ins at Wex and get a better lense than the one I have already (Get the Nikon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 lense)

Thank you Tanya 🙏 Merry Christmas to you and yours if you celebrate it.

You must be fun at parties bro. Want to explain where I have made mention of having any ambitions of earning money from RUclips bro?

What is the weight of the GS? Its a heavier bike so you may struggle to find an EasyLifter with the capacity to carry it. I think the max load capacity I have seen is 250kg. In my opinion I wouldn't put a GS on one. Its another reason why I've opted for the low loader trailer as it can take a heavier bike and its my intention to upgrade to an Africa Twin down the road.