Aw you fking two!!! I’m crying here, lol… one minute in sympathy for your plight, and then Derren just floors me with a one liner!!! Pleeeeease keep the faith. You are our window out of Wales. Our favourites!!!
Awww guys keep smiling in that beautiful sunshine ☀️☀️☀️ I've never heard you swear !! You've got this ..a learning curve as they say ..and you are helping so many other people with your advice 💜💜💜💜 Big love ☀️☀️☀️☀️
🤣 Derren swears a lot, and I spend hours editing him out 😩 But this one, we were so fed up with the motorhome not behaving, losing the food and the lack of electricity, I just thought, do you know what I only have what power there is in the MacBook to put a video up or just not bother…so this was the result 😍❤️ We are back to big smiles now…especially as we are back down from the cold mountains and back into the sunshine 🥶☀️😍❤️😍
It wasn’t a happy few days, and we can’t put brave faces on to cover it up. In the most part though, we have absolutely thoroughly enjoyed it. But the EHU issues the more south we go are testament that we should have brought that bit of kit. Next time though we will be prepared for sure 🤞🤣😍
Sending lots of love guys!! Living the dream!! Loved watching that! Derrens has me in stitches!! Sod all the blips - you’re doing great and your smiles always make up for the rubbish bits xx ❤
Hi Dale and Jackie 😍 How has your first week of no work gone? It’s a very strange feeling that very first week for sure…your body clock says wake up at 5am and your brain is saying ‘sleep’ 🤣🤣 We have since decided that having a fridge is very overrated….🤣🤣😍❤️xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes it’s been strange but it’s not really sunk in yet. We’ve had a lot to sort out apart from the last couple of days. We decided to get away in the van 🚐 and chill. This coming week will feel more real when we really don’t have anything to do! 😁👍 Only been up about 30 mins so that days a lot! 😂 I’m guessing the fridge still isn’t playing ball?? 🤷♂️🧐🤔xx
@@brewtusadventures getting away does you good and whilst you find your feet. Yeah fridge is still not working, but we will get it looked at when we are back in the UK 😩😍xx
Your very welcome Alan, and your absolutely right. We have resigned ourselves to sorting the fridge out when we get home, and just get on with enjoying it here 👍😍
No bullshit guys your probably our favourite channel right now , derren is right coming along tell him to keep f**king doing what he does best 😂. Honestly you guys are living the dream and can’t wait for a catch up ❤
Wow now there’s a statement ❤️ and we love watching you as well and can’t wait to see your epic journey unfold 😍 I really did think about ditching this video….but then just thought, you know what, it’s our memories that we are making this for. We had to rewatch some of our other videos to make sense of everything, as we were really about to stop everything 😍❤️xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes i think sometimes we all feel like that Cassie with anything in life , there little set backs , I was saying to kathryn they’ve got the compressor fridge like mine , as you said you left it at home lol 🤣🤣 xx
Trying to save weight, you’ll soon understand the pressures of full time and payload are not a happy combination 😩 And after the fridge got repaired not long ago and working fine, we figured we wouldn’t need it….😍xx
Nothing worse than when things start going bad. We hope that you get it sorted. Get your arses parked next to those palms and have another beer 😂 it always seems to make things better when things are not going as expected. Safe travels xx😊
Awe thanks Gary and Mallissa 😍 Must admit though, it was a trying few days, but we are now so over not having a fridge 🤣 Well not quite true, it’s absolutely annoying, but what can you do? 😍Xx
That’s why we tune in… no f’kin drama! 😂 nice to hear you’re having trouble in paradise, makes us feel better about writing reports and adhering to deadlines 😉 Keep on trucking kids 🍻
🤣🤣 we cocked up on this trip not bringing the Ecoflow for sure! But live and learn for the next trip 😩 thought we would give you the immense pleasure of paradise troubles after so much glory….but hey…the sun is still shining here 🤣😍
Oh dear! The problems of a motorhome always seem bigger because you are so close to it. Well done for sticking to it and showing us all the ups and downs of motorhome living. On the upside you’re living your dream. You could be back at home freezing and your boiler packs up which happened to us just before Christmas 🤣 we can’t wait to get off on our travels end of Feb to Spain/Portugal depending in the weather at the time. Good luck, Peter&Bev
Hi Peter and Bev, you are so right, and also being so far away from home and kicking yourself that you didn’t bring the items you have sat in the U.K…it was a frustrating few days 😩 But nothing we can do apart from learn for next time. The weather through the north of Portugal and Spain is looking like we aren’t going to visit there this time, we aren’t ready to hang up the shorts just yet. But it should be all good again for when you travel 👍😊
Thank you Valerie so much, Derren is very happy that his drone footage got a mention as he has been so looking forward to getting the shot down the Manga strip, and that beach shot xx
Lovely to see you both so smiley at the start but what a shame that you have had those issues 🙁 but you are doing the right thing and whoever told you to look back to where you were last year was right, you are now living the dream and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!! Keeping topping up the sink with ice and go and enjoy some tapas. Loved the cycle ride although Mark has said he doesn’t fancy going there!
We are back on the journey now, it got to us there for a bit though, and we have realised that some kit you can’t compromise on not bringing. I am not sure we would necessarily want to return there either, although it’s supposed to be lovely at the end we were staying at, but that was the only day we really got out to explore as it was ridiculous high winds 😍
Excellent ride down the strip guys (my weekly does of sun sea and sand 🤠👍) But hey you kept it real (talked about the issues you have been having ect) and it’s made the Vlog better Cassie Derren you hit your first hurdle (first of many i suspect) and won throw 👍👍 Best wishes Simon 🤠👍
Hi Simon it’s a great cycle route down the strip, one we are glad we done as we were going to film this being off grid originally, but it didn’t happen 😩 But the positive is that we know where we went wrong and what is more a priority for bringing on the next trip 👍😍
Thank you so very much, and a cold beer was definitely needed that day 😍 We weren’t going to put this video out, but Derren had got some lovely drone footage, and just thought we had to keep it real and honest. It was a tough few days, and we really should have brought that other kit, but it’s a huge lesson learnt for next time 😍
Nooooooo don't stop your adventures, me and Mrs Millionaire are loving following you!!!!!! Ps. I wasn't very impressed when I went to Mar Manor either. Warm wishes from Millionaire Paul :)
Hi Paul, we won’t stop, well not yet. It is so difficult to try to do stuff when your needing power, eat, film, edit, eat 😩 Mar Menor, thought we were just unlucky in that our experience spoilt it there 🤣👍😍
Love your Kensington accents !.....All you need is a double Yorkshire grit with tonic, and remember, there's some very envious people watching. Carry on regardless !🍻....
Absolutely David, you are so right on every aspect of that comment, thank you so much 😊 🍻 We should have brought that kit, but we haven’t…so we aren’t dwelling on it..just cracking on with it now 👍😍
Love you guys, you carnt just pack in, you always make us laugh, there will always be little bumps in the road but I would love to be in your position. All the best Bryan and Dawn
Hi Bryan and Dawn, we just had a wobble moment. Going on no hook up for us isn’t possible, so with trying to power everything we need for putting a vlog together (as you both appreciate and understand), and then the fridge suddenly not working on gas or the EHU, we had really had enough. And the pressures were put on ourselves by ourselves..we should have brought that extra gear, and we didn’t…but we certainly weren’t expecting the issues with getting on sites here. No wonder loads of people arrive here and stop on the same site for (U.K.) 3 months and most other nationals 5 months. Would bore us doing that, but people just aren’t transiting 😩😍
Lovely vlog you certainly getting steps in exploring! Our family have a place in camping and caravanning la manga and yes I know what you mean about the la manga strip - it comes alive in Summertime though - buzzing for the kids. The mar menor is so salty you can float in it - the spanish call it 'the soup' with the jellyfish! 😂 Good place to explore the nature parks Calablanca, Cartegena, Mazaron etc., our favourite beach is over in the nature park side (past la manga golf resort) 'playa lustre' near Portman fishing village - black sparkly sand 🥰
La Manga was nice…but definitely one for the summer season for sure as there was nothing going on there. But however, we enjoyed it there…and will go back on another trip as we would love to see it buzzing. Need to check out the black sparkly sand beach now as well 👍😍
Been so jealous of you both being able to get away this winter, so on bad days just think of us back here with floods, subzero temps and having to work! 😆 Always going to be issues with motorhomes, just hope you can get fridge working soon.
You are so right 👍😍 The fridge we have decided to give up on it for now and get it sorted when back in the U.K. We were going to see if we could find someone here to fix it….but instead we are going to enjoy eating out and no washing up 👍😍
Derren dropped the f bomb a few times 🤣 We've been there, in the past and very recently too. Van reality isn't easy. Sites are harder to find in Portugal. It's mostly park ups here. The freedom is always worth the difficult times 💜xx
Didn’t he just 😜🤣 normally I try edit it out, but this time, I just thought let it roll. I only had the power in the laptop to edit the video as we weren’t on hook up, and when it came to it I just thought sod it, it ended up being probably the most stressed out we had been for a while. I hate losing money through stupid things, and to lose our food proper peed me off. I even hate it when Derren buys a lettuce and then doesn’t eat it so it gets chucked away 😫😱 Sites are difficult in Spain as well, but had we brought the EcoFlow etc….lessons learnt 😍xx
@TheBabblingBrookes I think the bottom of Spain and the Algarve is where everyone is, if we headed north although its colder I bet the sites and aires are empty 🤣
Hang in there you 2. Myself and my wife are really enjoying your content. We just spent Christmas in Almeria city. We would recommend you stopping there for a couple of days if it's on your path back to Blighty. Great promenade and bars/food there. Safe trip.
Thank you so much, and hugely kind and supportive of you both 😍 Almeria is hugely on our list to visit, but so far trying to book in anywhere is proving rather difficult. Bet Christmas was amazing there 😍
another great vlog guys , please just appreciate what you have got sat in sunny mazarron one of my favourite places is the pueblo (long walk up hill) ,my wife and I were fortunate enough to enjoy early retirement and enjoy exploring Spain so much in our mo ho , just enjoy guys😀😀
Thank you Tim, and we are really appreciative of everything that we have, just a few silly things that we should really have brought with us 😩 in hindsight we would have. Spain is glorious to explore as you know, and the bright side about no fridge…we can’t store anything to cook, therefore having to eat out and no washing up…it’s a tough life 👍😍
It really did just take that one message to put things into perspective 😍 It was just testing all our patience, that we should have done this or that, should have brought this and not that with us etc etc. You just can’t prepare for every situation 😍
Your very near the lovely Cabos there, Cabo De Gata a real stunning place! Wow what a huge site, some next level driving too! 😱 nasty looking jellyfish, no paddling! Nice bike lanes. The weather looks lovely. Covering some miles on those bikes! Sorry to hear about your ongoing fridge woes! Jinxed day! As long as you have ice for the beer thats the main thing. 32 seconds? Thats beaten my record! 👍
Mmmm Cabo De Gato, not so easy to find a parking spot there for us though 🤣 It was an absolutely massive site…and not nice to try to get onto at all…or out of 😱 The weather has been amazing and not sure why the fridge is being a mare, or any of the rest of it, but pick yourselves up and dust yourself down and all that, get a smile back on your face and push forward 👍😍
Derrens the man ain't he lol , dont leave the camera behind. These vlogs are keeping me sain back here in gloomy cold shitty blighty .. Theres a song i recall "danger danger high voltage" or low as in the case .. love watching , keep goin ..
The camera cost too much to leave behind, and we are over that phase now 🤣 There is definitely more low amps here, not experienced anything like it before regards the inconsistencies of what you get. But we will keep on with it and just look back and laugh at us being so daft by leaving it behind 👍🤣
Chins up guys your beautiful people don't let anything get you down do what you do best and make the world smile ps vlog was sad but also bloody awesome 😁
Thanks Paul and Helena, you are both absolutely wonderful people as well, and thank you so much for the kind words, very much appreciated 😍 Loving your new van build, and you look like you had an awesome time up in Scotland 😍 xx
Ah so this is the moment you were telling me about I didn’t realise you had that much of a wobble, that person who said think back to where you were and what you were doing this time last year was right, you wouldn’t want to be back there on the thread mill. Every time I get the wobbles about selling this place and going fulltime, and I’ve had a lot of wobbles I remind myself of why I’m doing it, I imagine life continuing as it is now and know as scary as selling up and moving to FT on the road is I have to do it. I’ve watched lots of full timers talk about their down moments, everyone goes through the same wobbles, it’s natural especially when it’s all new and you’re getting problems, doesn’t matter where you are when something goes wrong house or van it’s a pain but you find a way to overcome it, and it looks like you have already with this one 😍 I mean the beers are cold what more do you need 😂. I love watching you guys, you remind me of us in so may ways, you’re vlogs are great, I love how you give honest reviews on the places you visit, showing the good the bad and the ugly, you’re just at the beginning of your new journey into freedom, I love that quote “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”. ❤ Not sure if you have the lighter 3,500kg chassis and that’s your issue with carrying more gear, we’ve found the bigger motorhomes on the lighter chassis don’t have a big payload, we’re looking at 7.5 metre motorhome and we’re finding to carry the stuff we want like plenty of solar and batteries etc we’ll need the heavier chassis.
Hi Tracy, yes this was the moment. It was a real testing few days, and made us realise things we should have brought as a priority over other things. It was even down to Derren went to get a screwdriver out of his tool box, and realised that he hadn’t brought one of those either 😫 You are so right about the wobbles, and it really doesn’t matter if your in a van or a house…you will encounter problems along the way. We had no electric so couldn’t power the fridge, but then when we had electric it wasn’t strong enough to power it either. Then coupled up with the amount of equipment needing to be charged to film, edit and put a video up….we questioned what was important. And that quote is so true about the smooth sea never made a skilled sailor 😍 We are on a 3500kg chassis and don’t have the payload at all, hence not bringing it…..a heavier chassis is definitely the way to go, but when we bought ours we weren’t considering full time at that point 😜 Mind you, should have known that it wasn’t going to be enough payload even at that point 🤣 Thank you so much Tracy, for your really positive comments, they are hugely appreciated and always just what the heart needs 😍xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes fridges are a bloody nuisance when they won’t light, we’ve had that happen a couple of times at the beginning of a holiday, fully stocked won’t light, puts me in a right mood moaning about not checking before we left, even worse when you’re in it full time, still onwards and upwards, good excuse not to cook and eat out instead! 😁 are there any motorhome places you can go to over there to get the fridge fixed? x
We had a look at trying to find somewhere to get them to look at it, but then got lost in translation on my Google search, so gave up looking, and we have instead prebooked up some sites with guaranteed 10am supply (so they say 🤣🤣). To be fair she hasn’t worked since we fuelled up with the gas from Spain, and we have heard others have had issues with the gas mix here. So hoping that’s all it is, well fingers crossed for sure 🤞🏻😍xx
Might be tight but looks marvellous on the seaside, and with the palm trees! Amazing place to spend a night or two, isn't it ☺️ the jelly fish apparently loves warm water 🤣 but wants it an octopus? Ah that bike riding, got me straight in the heart guys! And btw where is everyone from this town??? Empty streets! I am not complaining this must be marvellous...
It was very tight, but still a fantastic stop location wise even though there was jellyfish in the water. Or was it an octopus….🤣🤣 There is so many thousands of miles of cycling here, you would love it for sure. It’s strange here as it’s very cold between say 6pm and 9-10am, and then people start appearing as it warms up. So very strange, but still as you say marvellous 🤩 ☀️😍
Hello from Marbella we are new to your channel if you are staying in the area of Malaga we would be only too happy to take you to see Ronda for the day
Aww guys, vans are always going to throw a spanner in the works! We know exactly how you feel after our recent trip! We had a chat and I said, let’s not “knee jerk” every time something goes wrong 😑 Cos it ends up becoming a bickering fest 😂😊 Deep breaths and know you’re not the only ones, I do hope you get your cold beer 🍻 Ask yourself, would you rather be in Spain with no fridge, or in Britain with no water or heat? 🤣 Chin up, Em 💜
Awe Em you are so right, and we were properly sniping at each other, about it all 😢 Whilst it’s not good to know you have also been in the same situation, it is also good to know that we aren’t alone experiencing these emotions 😍 We will buy in each day, and eat out whenever we can now, and sort it all out when back in the UK. Thanks Em as always for your wonderful support 😍xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes yes, it happens, we ended up sniping too ☺️ Then I just said, Wtf are we doing, it’s neither of our faults! Let’s just deal with the issue as best we can & try not kill each other 🤣😇 (joking) It’s so hard though, at that moment you feel like it’s the biggest problem in the world 🌍 Just remember why you started, adventure? Well you’ve got it in bucketloads and in a few years time, you’ll be saying, do you remember that winter in Spain when Derren (ya doorknob) 🤣 didn’t take the eco flow or solar & the fridge broke 🤣 you’ll laugh about it and reminisce. It’s all part of the experience, if everything was plain sailing, there would be no memories! Although, there would be more money 🤪 Take care xxx
@@vansforthememories awe Em you are so right, and this will 100% be one of those look back on and laugh moments…and you know what, there is nothing we can do about not bringing it, but if we had we would have had to sacrifice not bringing something else…and would the problems just have shifted to something else? Who knows. Thank you for such a beautiful message Em 😍❤️xxxx
The peninsula of La Manga is really the least attractive part of the Mar Menor. The coastal towns and villages like San Pedro, Lo Pagan, Santiago de la Ribera, and Los Alcazares, etc.are the really beautiful parts, with no high rise structures, and miles of magnificent beaches.
They absolutely definitely are, we were a little surprised of how many high rises there were on a strip of land 🤣 and the top of it was like a ghost town apart from the amount of motorhomes parked up free there 😍
Great Honest video Guys, Thank goodness you ain't running the starship enterprise, you can image these Nob head dilithium crystals are giving us F@cking grief today, and the warp drive is completely F@cked. 😄.. I've just been going through my MH yesterday, I think I'm going to get a guy in to explain - Service it .. I suppose it's. Like a house things go wrong, but well done, for turning it around, and sharing with us, the ups and downs, from what I've gleaned, the more people that go from the site, the more of your services are coming back on line, more voltage to go round. So do a leaflet campaign explaining how the prices are about to double, and wallah Mass exodus, and your van will be pumping. 😄 In all seriousness, if the fridge is down its annoying, great how you've adapted and overcome, I can imagine that things are more intense in a van, as opposed to a house, but, as yous said look at the life your now living Quality time with each other, in a peaceful relaxed environment, building memories.. stay with it Guys, as they say, don't count the days, make the days count ..Top couple 👍
Flipping love the leaflet idea…absolute quality 👍🤣🤣🤣 Thank you so much for such an uplifting comment, and it is not all plain sailing, but we stupidly let it get to us, whereas we should have just said sod it and got straight on with it. You can’t plan for everything, and as we had no intentions of being Offgrid very much, there were some places we had in mind. But now we are just running with an empty fridge…and buying food/eating out daily. Life is all good again, and we will get it fixed when back in the UK 👍😍
Ha ha Derren would take the mockery don’t worry, about his helmet hair 🤣🤣 Hindsight is a glorious thing, we should’ve brought that kit, but we haven’t, so just need to crack on with it. Eating out and no washing up has to be all positive doesn’t it? 🤣🤣👍😍
@The Babbling Brookes I feel your pain on the tools versus belongings payload anxiety, but where do you stop? Only take 2 pairs of Derren's pants so that you can squeeze in that extra 3/16" socket that you might use once a blue moon? Try asking on this Facebook group to see if anyone knows someone local to you who could reliably have a look at it for you. There's a vast network on there and you generally get answer to most questions. European touring caravan, campervan and camping friends.
It is, but then Derren without a clean pair of under crackers….almost as bad as supplying him with a warm beer 🤣🤣 Will mention it to Derren about having a look on the fb page, although we have decided to book up some sites in advance with guaranteed 10 amp hook up (so they say) and base ourselves for a while. It’s Derren’s birthday coming up beginning February and he wanted to be be somewhere that he’s not quite finished with 😜
Aw you fking two!!! I’m crying here, lol… one minute in sympathy for your plight, and then Derren just floors me with a one liner!!! Pleeeeease keep the faith. You are our window out of Wales. Our favourites!!!
Awe you are absolutely awesome, what an amazing comment. Derren was 100% on form that day for sure 🤣🤣🤣 😍
Awww guys keep smiling in that beautiful sunshine ☀️☀️☀️
I've never heard you swear !!
You've got this ..a learning curve as they say ..and you are helping so many other people with your advice 💜💜💜💜
Big love ☀️☀️☀️☀️
🤣 Derren swears a lot, and I spend hours editing him out 😩 But this one, we were so fed up with the motorhome not behaving, losing the food and the lack of electricity, I just thought, do you know what I only have what power there is in the MacBook to put a video up or just not bother…so this was the result 😍❤️
We are back to big smiles now…especially as we are back down from the cold mountains and back into the sunshine 🥶☀️😍❤️😍
Thank you so much for being so honest about vanlife. I think too many youtubers tell us how great everything is but you guys didn't hold back!!
It wasn’t a happy few days, and we can’t put brave faces on to cover it up. In the most part though, we have absolutely thoroughly enjoyed it. But the EHU issues the more south we go are testament that we should have brought that bit of kit. Next time though we will be prepared for sure 🤞🤣😍
Sending lots of love guys!! Living the dream!! Loved watching that! Derrens has me in stitches!! Sod all the blips - you’re doing great and your smiles always make up for the rubbish bits xx ❤
Hi Dale and Jackie 😍
How has your first week of no work gone? It’s a very strange feeling that very first week for sure…your body clock says wake up at 5am and your brain is saying ‘sleep’ 🤣🤣
We have since decided that having a fridge is very overrated….🤣🤣😍❤️xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes it’s been strange but it’s not really sunk in yet. We’ve had a lot to sort out apart from the last couple of days. We decided to get away in the van 🚐 and chill. This coming week will feel more real when we really don’t have anything to do! 😁👍
Only been up about 30 mins so that days a lot! 😂
I’m guessing the fridge still isn’t playing ball?? 🤷♂️🧐🤔xx
@@brewtusadventures getting away does you good and whilst you find your feet. Yeah fridge is still not working, but we will get it looked at when we are back in the UK 😩😍xx
Really nice video.. it looks perfect.. expecially the sunshine. Looking good Nobber.. see you soon. Take care. Have fun.
Can’t wait to see you all again soon 😍 Derren says miss you me knobber, look forward to meeting up in some U.K. sunshine 👍
Thank you for the WTW locations. Chin up guys. Life is full of ups and downs.
Your very welcome Alan, and your absolutely right. We have resigned ourselves to sorting the fridge out when we get home, and just get on with enjoying it here 👍😍
Another great natural Vlog, just keep being you. Remember your living the dream whilst we are at work freezing 🥶 lol
Thank you so much….and that certainly puts it into perspective 😊😍
No bullshit guys your probably our favourite channel right now , derren is right coming along tell him to keep f**king doing what he does best 😂. Honestly you guys are living the dream and can’t wait for a catch up ❤
Wow now there’s a statement ❤️ and we love watching you as well and can’t wait to see your epic journey unfold 😍 I really did think about ditching this video….but then just thought, you know what, it’s our memories that we are making this for. We had to rewatch some of our other videos to make sense of everything, as we were really about to stop everything 😍❤️xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes i think sometimes we all feel like that Cassie with anything in life , there little set backs , I was saying to kathryn they’ve got the compressor fridge like mine , as you said you left it at home lol 🤣🤣 xx
Trying to save weight, you’ll soon understand the pressures of full time and payload are not a happy combination 😩 And after the fridge got repaired not long ago and working fine, we figured we wouldn’t need it….😍xx
Nothing worse than when things start going bad. We hope that you get it sorted. Get your arses parked next to those palms and have another beer 😂 it always seems to make things better when things are not going as expected.
Safe travels xx😊
Awe thanks Gary and Mallissa 😍 Must admit though, it was a trying few days, but we are now so over not having a fridge 🤣 Well not quite true, it’s absolutely annoying, but what can you do? 😍Xx
That’s why we tune in… no f’kin drama!
😂 nice to hear you’re having trouble in paradise, makes us feel better about writing reports and adhering to deadlines 😉
Keep on trucking kids 🍻
🤣🤣 we cocked up on this trip not bringing the Ecoflow for sure! But live and learn for the next trip 😩 thought we would give you the immense pleasure of paradise troubles after so much glory….but hey…the sun is still shining here 🤣😍
Oh dear! The problems of a motorhome always seem bigger because you are so close to it. Well done for sticking to it and showing us all the ups and downs of motorhome living. On the upside you’re living your dream. You could be back at home freezing and your boiler packs up which happened to us just before Christmas 🤣 we can’t wait to get off on our travels end of Feb to Spain/Portugal depending in the weather at the time. Good luck, Peter&Bev
Hi Peter and Bev, you are so right, and also being so far away from home and kicking yourself that you didn’t bring the items you have sat in the U.K…it was a frustrating few days 😩 But nothing we can do apart from learn for next time.
The weather through the north of Portugal and Spain is looking like we aren’t going to visit there this time, we aren’t ready to hang up the shorts just yet. But it should be all good again for when you travel 👍😊
Look at that gorgeous weather. Great drone footage too. Tomorrow's another day in paradise xx
Thank you Valerie so much, Derren is very happy that his drone footage got a mention as he has been so looking forward to getting the shot down the Manga strip, and that beach shot xx
Lovely to see you both so smiley at the start but what a shame that you have had those issues 🙁 but you are doing the right thing and whoever told you to look back to where you were last year was right, you are now living the dream and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!! Keeping topping up the sink with ice and go and enjoy some tapas. Loved the cycle ride although Mark has said he doesn’t fancy going there!
We are back on the journey now, it got to us there for a bit though, and we have realised that some kit you can’t compromise on not bringing. I am not sure we would necessarily want to return there either, although it’s supposed to be lovely at the end we were staying at, but that was the only day we really got out to explore as it was ridiculous high winds 😍
This was a tough time
It absolutely was, but then it got epic again
Excellent ride down the strip guys (my weekly does of sun sea and sand 🤠👍)
But hey you kept it real (talked about the issues you have been having ect) and it’s made the Vlog better
Cassie Derren you hit your first hurdle (first of many i suspect) and won throw 👍👍
Best wishes Simon 🤠👍
Hi Simon it’s a great cycle route down the strip, one we are glad we done as we were going to film this being off grid originally, but it didn’t happen 😩
But the positive is that we know where we went wrong and what is more a priority for bringing on the next trip 👍😍
A good honest video, we all have bad days but a beer always make it better. Loving your channel and following your travels, one of our favourites.
Thank you so very much, and a cold beer was definitely needed that day 😍 We weren’t going to put this video out, but Derren had got some lovely drone footage, and just thought we had to keep it real and honest. It was a tough few days, and we really should have brought that other kit, but it’s a huge lesson learnt for next time 😍
Thanks for sharing, hang on in there .
We are thankfully over it now 😍 We will get the gas etc sorted out when we get back in the U.K.and for now….no washing up and just enjoy it 😍
Nooooooo don't stop your adventures, me and Mrs Millionaire are loving following you!!!!!! Ps. I wasn't very impressed when I went to Mar Manor either. Warm wishes from Millionaire Paul :)
Hi Paul, we won’t stop, well not yet. It is so difficult to try to do stuff when your needing power, eat, film, edit, eat 😩
Mar Menor, thought we were just unlucky in that our experience spoilt it there 🤣👍😍
Love your Kensington accents !.....All you need is a double Yorkshire grit with tonic, and remember, there's some very envious people watching. Carry on regardless !🍻....
Absolutely David, you are so right on every aspect of that comment, thank you so much 😊 🍻
We should have brought that kit, but we haven’t…so we aren’t dwelling on it..just cracking on with it now 👍😍
Good to hear... you're certainly interesting to watch, ⌚
@@davidrobinson630 thank you 😊
Thanks for a look around. Best travels.
Thank you Starry 😍
Fantastic 👍🍾
Thank you 👍😍
Love you guys, you carnt just pack in, you always make us laugh, there will always be little bumps in the road but I would love to be in your position. All the best Bryan and Dawn
Hi Bryan and Dawn, we just had a wobble moment. Going on no hook up for us isn’t possible, so with trying to power everything we need for putting a vlog together (as you both appreciate and understand), and then the fridge suddenly not working on gas or the EHU, we had really had enough. And the pressures were put on ourselves by ourselves..we should have brought that extra gear, and we didn’t…but we certainly weren’t expecting the issues with getting on sites here. No wonder loads of people arrive here and stop on the same site for (U.K.) 3 months and most other nationals 5 months. Would bore us doing that, but people just aren’t transiting 😩😍
Another lovely place to get to see! Shame you had a few bad days, but glad you’ve had the beer to get you through!! 🍻 X
Le Manga is a lovely place, and we would have stayed had we not had issues. Definitely one for a return visit when we are all fixed up next time 👍😍xx
Lovely vlog you certainly getting steps in exploring! Our family have a place in camping and caravanning la manga and yes I know what you mean about the la manga strip - it comes alive in Summertime though - buzzing for the kids. The mar menor is so salty you can float in it - the spanish call it 'the soup' with the jellyfish! 😂 Good place to explore the nature parks Calablanca, Cartegena, Mazaron etc., our favourite beach is over in the nature park side (past la manga golf resort) 'playa lustre' near Portman fishing village - black sparkly sand 🥰
La Manga was nice…but definitely one for the summer season for sure as there was nothing going on there. But however, we enjoyed it there…and will go back on another trip as we would love to see it buzzing. Need to check out the black sparkly sand beach now as well 👍😍
Been so jealous of you both being able to get away this winter, so on bad days just think of us back here with floods, subzero temps and having to work! 😆 Always going to be issues with motorhomes, just hope you can get fridge working soon.
You are so right 👍😍 The fridge we have decided to give up on it for now and get it sorted when back in the U.K. We were going to see if we could find someone here to fix it….but instead we are going to enjoy eating out and no washing up 👍😍
Derren dropped the f bomb a few times 🤣
We've been there, in the past and very recently too. Van reality isn't easy.
Sites are harder to find in Portugal. It's mostly park ups here.
The freedom is always worth the difficult times 💜xx
Didn’t he just 😜🤣 normally I try edit it out, but this time, I just thought let it roll. I only had the power in the laptop to edit the video as we weren’t on hook up, and when it came to it I just thought sod it, it ended up being probably the most stressed out we had been for a while. I hate losing money through stupid things, and to lose our food proper peed me off. I even hate it when Derren buys a lettuce and then doesn’t eat it so it gets chucked away 😫😱 Sites are difficult in Spain as well, but had we brought the EcoFlow etc….lessons learnt 😍xx
@TheBabblingBrookes I think the bottom of Spain and the Algarve is where everyone is, if we headed north although its colder I bet the sites and aires are empty 🤣
They certainly are all there, as it’s where the weather is best, although the winds have been awful…80kmph gusts, not nice to travel in for sure 😱😍xx
Hang in there you 2. Myself and my wife are really enjoying your content. We just spent Christmas in Almeria city. We would recommend you stopping there for a couple of days if it's on your path back to Blighty. Great promenade and bars/food there. Safe trip.
Thank you so much, and hugely kind and supportive of you both 😍 Almeria is hugely on our list to visit, but so far trying to book in anywhere is proving rather difficult. Bet Christmas was amazing there 😍
another great vlog guys , please just appreciate what you have got sat in sunny mazarron one of my favourite places is the pueblo (long walk up hill) ,my wife and I were fortunate enough to enjoy early retirement and enjoy exploring Spain so much in our mo ho , just enjoy guys😀😀
Thank you Tim, and we are really appreciative of everything that we have, just a few silly things that we should really have brought with us 😩 in hindsight we would have. Spain is glorious to explore as you know, and the bright side about no fridge…we can’t store anything to cook, therefore having to eat out and no washing up…it’s a tough life 👍😍
Sometimes is just takes that one message, but we all get bad days. Glad you didn’t fly home 😊 great video
It really did just take that one message to put things into perspective 😍 It was just testing all our patience, that we should have done this or that, should have brought this and not that with us etc etc. You just can’t prepare for every situation 😍
Your very near the lovely Cabos there, Cabo De Gata a real stunning place! Wow what a huge site, some next level driving too! 😱 nasty looking jellyfish, no paddling! Nice bike lanes. The weather looks lovely. Covering some miles on those bikes! Sorry to hear about your ongoing fridge woes! Jinxed day! As long as you have ice for the beer thats the main thing. 32 seconds? Thats beaten my record! 👍
Mmmm Cabo De Gato, not so easy to find a parking spot there for us though 🤣
It was an absolutely massive site…and not nice to try to get onto at all…or out of 😱
The weather has been amazing and not sure why the fridge is being a mare, or any of the rest of it, but pick yourselves up and dust yourself down and all that, get a smile back on your face and push forward 👍😍
Derrens the man ain't he lol , dont leave the camera behind. These vlogs are keeping me sain back here in gloomy cold shitty blighty .. Theres a song i recall "danger danger high voltage" or low as in the case .. love watching , keep goin ..
The camera cost too much to leave behind, and we are over that phase now 🤣 There is definitely more low amps here, not experienced anything like it before regards the inconsistencies of what you get. But we will keep on with it and just look back and laugh at us being so daft by leaving it behind 👍🤣
Chins up guys your beautiful people don't let anything get you down do what you do best and make the world smile ps vlog was sad but also bloody awesome 😁
Thanks Paul and Helena, you are both absolutely wonderful people as well, and thank you so much for the kind words, very much appreciated 😍
Loving your new van build, and you look like you had an awesome time up in Scotland 😍 xx
First 🥇
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh the golden snitchers 😊
Ah so this is the moment you were telling me about I didn’t realise you had that much of a wobble, that person who said think back to where you were and what you were doing this time last year was right, you wouldn’t want to be back there on the thread mill. Every time I get the wobbles about selling this place and going fulltime, and I’ve had a lot of wobbles I remind myself of why I’m doing it, I imagine life continuing as it is now and know as scary as selling up and moving to FT on the road is I have to do it. I’ve watched lots of full timers talk about their down moments, everyone goes through the same wobbles, it’s natural especially when it’s all new and you’re getting problems, doesn’t matter where you are when something goes wrong house or van it’s a pain but you find a way to overcome it, and it looks like you have already with this one 😍 I mean the beers are cold what more do you need 😂. I love watching you guys, you remind me of us in so may ways, you’re vlogs are great, I love how you give honest reviews on the places you visit, showing the good the bad and the ugly, you’re just at the beginning of your new journey into freedom, I love that quote “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”. ❤
Not sure if you have the lighter 3,500kg chassis and that’s your issue with carrying more gear, we’ve found the bigger motorhomes on the lighter chassis don’t have a big payload, we’re looking at 7.5 metre motorhome and we’re finding to carry the stuff we want like plenty of solar and batteries etc we’ll need the heavier chassis.
Hi Tracy, yes this was the moment. It was a real testing few days, and made us realise things we should have brought as a priority over other things. It was even down to Derren went to get a screwdriver out of his tool box, and realised that he hadn’t brought one of those either 😫 You are so right about the wobbles, and it really doesn’t matter if your in a van or a house…you will encounter problems along the way. We had no electric so couldn’t power the fridge, but then when we had electric it wasn’t strong enough to power it either. Then coupled up with the amount of equipment needing to be charged to film, edit and put a video up….we questioned what was important. And that quote is so true about the smooth sea never made a skilled sailor 😍
We are on a 3500kg chassis and don’t have the payload at all, hence not bringing it…..a heavier chassis is definitely the way to go, but when we bought ours we weren’t considering full time at that point 😜 Mind you, should have known that it wasn’t going to be enough payload even at that point 🤣
Thank you so much Tracy, for your really positive comments, they are hugely appreciated and always just what the heart needs 😍xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes fridges are a bloody nuisance when they won’t light, we’ve had that happen a couple of times at the beginning of a holiday, fully stocked won’t light, puts me in a right mood moaning about not checking before we left, even worse when you’re in it full time, still onwards and upwards, good excuse not to cook and eat out instead! 😁 are there any motorhome places you can go to over there to get the fridge fixed? x
We had a look at trying to find somewhere to get them to look at it, but then got lost in translation on my Google search, so gave up looking, and we have instead prebooked up some sites with guaranteed 10am supply (so they say 🤣🤣). To be fair she hasn’t worked since we fuelled up with the gas from Spain, and we have heard others have had issues with the gas mix here. So hoping that’s all it is, well fingers crossed for sure 🤞🏻😍xx
Might be tight but looks marvellous on the seaside, and with the palm trees! Amazing place to spend a night or two, isn't it ☺️ the jelly fish apparently loves warm water 🤣 but wants it an octopus? Ah that bike riding, got me straight in the heart guys! And btw where is everyone from this town??? Empty streets! I am not complaining this must be marvellous...
It was very tight, but still a fantastic stop location wise even though there was jellyfish in the water. Or was it an octopus….🤣🤣 There is so many thousands of miles of cycling here, you would love it for sure. It’s strange here as it’s very cold between say 6pm and 9-10am, and then people start appearing as it warms up. So very strange, but still as you say marvellous 🤩 ☀️😍
Hello from Marbella we are new to your channel if you are staying in the area of Malaga we would be only too happy to take you to see Ronda for the day
Wow how very kind of you. Derren really wants to go, but it’s not for me. Will let you know if we get to Malaga for sure👍😍
Aww guys, vans are always going to throw a spanner in the works! We know exactly how you feel after our recent trip! We had a chat and I said, let’s not “knee jerk” every time something goes wrong 😑 Cos it ends up becoming a bickering fest 😂😊 Deep breaths and know you’re not the only ones, I do hope you get your cold beer 🍻 Ask yourself, would you rather be in Spain with no fridge, or in Britain with no water or heat? 🤣 Chin up, Em 💜
Awe Em you are so right, and we were properly sniping at each other, about it all 😢 Whilst it’s not good to know you have also been in the same situation, it is also good to know that we aren’t alone experiencing these emotions 😍 We will buy in each day, and eat out whenever we can now, and sort it all out when back in the UK. Thanks Em as always for your wonderful support 😍xx
@@TheBabblingBrookes yes, it happens, we ended up sniping too ☺️ Then I just said, Wtf are we doing, it’s neither of our faults! Let’s just deal with the issue as best we can & try not kill each other 🤣😇 (joking) It’s so hard though, at that moment you feel like it’s the biggest problem in the world 🌍 Just remember why you started, adventure? Well you’ve got it in bucketloads and in a few years time, you’ll be saying, do you remember that winter in Spain when Derren (ya doorknob) 🤣 didn’t take the eco flow or solar & the fridge broke 🤣 you’ll laugh about it and reminisce. It’s all part of the experience, if everything was plain sailing, there would be no memories! Although, there would be more money 🤪 Take care xxx
@@vansforthememories awe Em you are so right, and this will 100% be one of those look back on and laugh moments…and you know what, there is nothing we can do about not bringing it, but if we had we would have had to sacrifice not bringing something else…and would the problems just have shifted to something else? Who knows. Thank you for such a beautiful message Em 😍❤️xxxx
The peninsula of La Manga is really the least attractive part of the Mar Menor. The coastal towns and villages like San Pedro, Lo Pagan, Santiago de la Ribera, and Los Alcazares, etc.are the really beautiful parts, with no high rise structures, and miles of magnificent beaches.
They absolutely definitely are, we were a little surprised of how many high rises there were on a strip of land 🤣 and the top of it was like a ghost town apart from the amount of motorhomes parked up free there 😍
No f***in drama🤣 Victor meldrew, eat your heart out. 🤣🤣🤣
Ain’t it just 🤣🤣🤣 it’s your meet up soon, any plans for any others as we can’t get to this one?
Title should be La Manga. 'Le Manga' suggests scarcely knowing the place (let alone its people).
Great Honest video Guys, Thank goodness you ain't running the starship enterprise, you can image these Nob head dilithium crystals are giving us F@cking grief today, and the warp drive is completely F@cked. 😄.. I've just been going through my MH yesterday, I think I'm going to get a guy in to explain - Service it .. I suppose it's. Like a house things go wrong, but well done, for turning it around, and sharing with us, the ups and downs, from what I've gleaned, the more people that go from the site, the more of your services are coming back on line, more voltage to go round. So do a leaflet campaign explaining how the prices are about to double, and wallah Mass exodus, and your van will be pumping. 😄 In all seriousness, if the fridge is down its annoying, great how you've adapted and overcome, I can imagine that things are more intense in a van, as opposed to a house, but, as yous said look at the life your now living Quality time with each other, in a peaceful relaxed environment, building memories.. stay with it Guys, as they say, don't count the days, make the days count ..Top couple 👍
Flipping love the leaflet idea…absolute quality 👍🤣🤣🤣
Thank you so much for such an uplifting comment, and it is not all plain sailing, but we stupidly let it get to us, whereas we should have just said sod it and got straight on with it. You can’t plan for everything, and as we had no intentions of being Offgrid very much, there were some places we had in mind. But now we are just running with an empty fridge…and buying food/eating out daily. Life is all good again, and we will get it fixed when back in the UK 👍😍
soz meant mojacar
👍 we knew exactly where you meant as soon as you said ‘pueblo (long walk up hill) 👍😍
I was gonna mock Derren's bike hair until I got to the last bit. Had issues ourselves in the past, not funny at the time, but you'll get it sussed.
Ha ha Derren would take the mockery don’t worry, about his helmet hair 🤣🤣
Hindsight is a glorious thing, we should’ve brought that kit, but we haven’t, so just need to crack on with it. Eating out and no washing up has to be all positive doesn’t it? 🤣🤣👍😍
@The Babbling Brookes I feel your pain on the tools versus belongings payload anxiety, but where do you stop? Only take 2 pairs of Derren's pants so that you can squeeze in that extra 3/16" socket that you might use once a blue moon? Try asking on this Facebook group to see if anyone knows someone local to you who could reliably have a look at it for you. There's a vast network on there and you generally get answer to most questions. European touring caravan, campervan and camping friends.
It is, but then Derren without a clean pair of under crackers….almost as bad as supplying him with a warm beer 🤣🤣 Will mention it to Derren about having a look on the fb page, although we have decided to book up some sites in advance with guaranteed 10 amp hook up (so they say) and base ourselves for a while. It’s Derren’s birthday coming up beginning February and he wanted to be be somewhere that he’s not quite finished with 😜