2007 - Murphys and Brains in Newquay: Week 17

Week 17 - a special week in caravan folklore as its time to say goodbye to an old friend. The Caerphilly Pinks put in an appearance as Jonathan takes a long weekend and are joined by Ann and John on Saturdays and the Murphys on Saturday afternoon.

This was a scorching weekend and a fitting one to say goodbye to the caravan which has served us all so well over the last decade in Newquay so despite the weekends barbequing and complaints from the neighbours as Ann fed Bouncer (Annes Dog) sausages from Jonathans belly button as Jonathan was semi comotose on Saturday night and complained that bouncer had furballs all the next week - I am going to dedicate this post to some of the top moments in a decade of caravan enjoyment for the Murphys and Brains and some very happy memories.

Emotional farewells

Some of the top memories we take with us

Stranded in the rain

Moira OAP neighbour from behind gets stranded in our van as the rain creates a lake outside the caravan and security have to build a bridge of pallets to get her home - how can I put it - its not my kind of air sea rescue (caravan in joke).

Wine gate

Leanne goes off on one for reasons best known to herself and storms drunkenly out of the caravan after dragging the blankets off Ann and the kids who were trying to sleep and not very happy after Amanda, John and I had drunk a bottle of her favourite white wine. Not known to us as we talked about the incident on the Veranda Leanne had been hiding in the bushes and only stormed off 5 yards from the van eventually returning with the line - "I know I shouldn't have but I (have been hiding in the bushes and) have heard every word you've said about me"- oops

PJ Party

Peter and Yvonne spend the night down the caravan and whilst the men (minus me) went to play snooker everyone else got dressed in each others PJs and danced the night away to Van Morrison - great fun it was until the guys got home and found everyone completely smashed and in very nice evening lingerie- John was not happy - no not at all.

Cross Dressing

Walking from the caravan to the Welly which is a fair distance - we were heading for a meal with Peter and Yvonne. As we ordered our meals and got comfy in the pub - Amanda remembered she had left the chickens on in the caravan - being a young fit guy at the time- I volunteered to run home and switch off the oven. After the two mile run in the scorching sun and after everyone had by now eaten their meals I got back to the pub - I brought a new tee shirt to wear after the excersize- "sorry John but I couldn't find my tee shirts so I've borrowed one of yours" - Not mine said John - no mine said Amanda as I sat in the pub looking like a lovely little sailor boy with a white plunge line shirt on.

First Aid

After a heavy session on the veranda - Daryl in the caravan next to us fell off his chair and chipped a bone in his arm - Amanda, Jane and Ann run next door armed with vital first aid training and at least 6 bottles of wine in their veins to wrap the poor boy in a chiffon scarfe, insist on making him drink disgusting sugary tea and try to explain to the completely sober and not amuzed ambulance drivers how they had treated their patient before packing Daryl off to hospital on his own armed with £2 and a mobile phone. Caravan angels I reckon.

Lake Shitty Ka Ka

Before Morgan and Lewis were on the scene we went for a trip to a lake just outside Beddgelert which is a beautiful and scenic place- the plan was to walk in the hills and picnic. This wasn't Leannes plan who had pub gardens on her mind before we left. "This isn't it is it - this is a load of shit this is" as she tripped over her bottom lip. Not talking to Jonathan or any of the rest of us for the rest of the afternoon she eventually shot off in their car before calming down and trying to get back on Jonathans good side who was not having any of it - it was a long journey home I can tell you. This beautiful scenic lake has since been affectionatley known to all who pass it as Lake Shitty in honour of Leannes memorable visit.

Llys Y Fran part 1

After their fortnight holidays Ann and John had spent an afternoon with their friends Marlene and Arnold and a visit to a local beauty spot - Lys y Fran - a lake about 40 miles from the caravan. For weeks after this any suggestion to go anywhere was inevitably directed to Lys y Fran by Ann. Eventually - to get the monkey off everyones back - we made the long journey south to find the lake and start the walk around it - when after spending an hour and a half trying to find the place again we discovered that Ann has turned up for the hike in her best gold effect high heeled shoes. - In fairness she was the best dressed hiker of the day and did make the hike all the way around.

Lys Y Fran part 2

A number of years later we revisited Lys Y Fran and decided to go mountain biking around the lake. Big Mistake. The lake is a 7 miles round trip through rough terrain up and down steep tracks all the way. Ann had not been on a bike of any denomination for 40 years and it was apparant what we had taken on when the first (and only) tarmac'd hill we came to within 50 yards of the start - Ann pushed the bike down the hill and didn't ride. By the time we got back the hire centre had closed, everyone was completely exhausted after making the journey on a scorching hot day, taking no water and eating a huge picnic before we even got on the bikes- not excatly Olympic style preparation. Mountain biking is now off the menu - permanantly.

and finally - Foofgate

Leanne after taking a shower in the afternoon lies on the setee with everyone else out for the day. Phil from the caravan behind comes to call but can't get in. Later he tells us he came to see us but only got to see Leanne laying on the settee half dressed - "so what - you got to see my bum Leanne joked" - "I saw more than that Leanne" says Phill as Leanne curls up in the corner.Phil has since lost his job and been on long term medication.

We have had a lot of fun and many happy memories in this caravan over the last 10 years spending our time watching the children grow up and the familys expand and it was a moment tinged with real sadness to lock the doors one last time and glance back at the empty corridors and bare spaces that been the backdrop to so much adventure and happiness.