IT’S five months into 2008 and we need to catch up!

2007 continued with a couple of trips to Dent and a base in Johnny's field twixt Cowgill and Dent - within walking distance of the popular Sportsman's Inn. Johnny’s field at Ewegales doesn’t exactly boast all mod-cons, but it’s a tranquil spot with a friendly owner, the River Dee flowing alongside and good walking from the site.

Park Coppice, on the outskirts of Coniston followed. A Caravan Club site it has open and shady pitches on various levels, just a stone's throw from the lake and a 20 minute walk into Coniston.

Two weeks beckoned in June with a pre-planned visit to Scotland. New England Bay on the Mull of Galloway had been recommended - rightly so. The rain stopped, the sun came out and two nights became three. A must-visit is Port Logan - the setting for the TV drama series “2,000 Acres of Sky”. A definitely unscheduled visit to Stranraer’s Community Hospital, where staff and facilities are praiseworthy, led to Dr “Highland Fling” recommending mainland only for the next week! Arran was put on the back-burner and instead we headed up the coast, taking the ferry from Gourock to Dunoon and on to North Ledaig - a large site (pictured) overlooking the sea with Mull as the backdrop and lots of walking on the doorstep. We had been the only “campers” in the sea at New England Bay and it was much the same story at Ledaig!

Heading up the the coast to Lochaline, we marvelled at the fabulous scenery. From there we boarded the ferry to Fishnish, then a short drive to Craignure. Our shieling club site was close to the main ferry terminal, a few shops and a short walk from the miniature railway to Torosay Castle and gardens. It was on Mull the dreaded midges became more pronounced. In Fionnphort, the beach was the domain of Highland cattle (pictured) and the ferry to Iona offered another excellent day - as well as the best swim of the fortnight in sight of Staffa, on a deserted (until the next ferry came in) sandy beach.

Of course we had to visit Tobermory. (If only to tell the grandchildren “we’ve been there!”) Three nights were spent at the small site above the village, having stopped off at and enjoyed the beautiful Calgary Beach (must revisit!) en-route. Tobermory is TV’s Ballamory; a popular day trip destination with a couple of good walks from the village offering a speedy departure from the crowds.

From Craignure back to Oban by “big” ferry before our last few nights were spent at Killin. We opted for the wooded site out of the town. By happy coincidence we spotted friends in Killin whose property was in Kenmore, several miles up the road at the top of Loch Tay. It was a perfect end to our inaugural Scottish visit with our final day spent with our ski-ing amigos, followed back in the motorhome by a couple of super Scottish beef steaks from the site's mobile butcher. Just five hours - as the weather turned back to rain - and we were home.

In August we travelled to the midge-free flat-lands of Norfolk - where sun is almost guaranteed and our bases were at two small sites within easy reach of family. First the delightful CL garden of Bramble Park, Roselea just outside Cromer, and then on to the Broads for a few days and the much larger club site at Broadlands, Ludham, near Wroxham.

And a weekend back at Brotherswater finished the year as we began!

THE years are ticking away and it’s time to explore our own country.

Having been to Scotland twice, Wales only a few times more and Meath country, Ireland not at all, having a good look around our own part of the globe makes sense.

With a sister in Cornwall and a step-daughter in Norfolk, those two counties have been quite heavily visited. Several of our favourite cottage haunts have been sold and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find others that compare. Now, thanks to Winifred and Jack, East Lancs motorhome connoisseurs for years and years and proud owners of 14 in all including a Winnebago! - our very own “trampervan” has come early.

We’ve done all the pre-purchase things that motorhomers do - visited the caravan and camping exhibition, returning home in shock in the realisation we could have bought a small house for the sum requested - ventured into one of the numerous outlets specialising in holidays on wheels - seen what we wanted, realised it cost too much and was too big - and put it off again.

Then an advertisement in our own series of newspapers caught my husband’s eye. It had in fact already caught mine, but having only days earlier decided to put off a purchase for another year, I’d decided not to mention it. Bad move! Busy Tuesday at work and the phone rang at 5 p.m. Not only had he spotted it, he’d been to see it, had a cuppa with Winifred and Jack - and arranged for me to visit later.

So it was that by the end of the week, we had another acquisition. It was, of course, just too good to miss.

For Jack and Winifred it was a parting of the ways and the end of a very lengthy era. Successive motorhomes had taken them the length and breadth of the country and this one, they assured us, was the best yet.

Night after night, my other half pored over manuals, instructions. It was, we were quickly to realise, a very steep learning curve.

Our first problems - the heating and the gas hob. We couldn’t make them work. Winifred and Jack came to visit, to no avail. Gloom descended. Calls to the Hymer centre were increasing and “trampervan” made its first trip there with its new owners. It was the regulator. A new one fitted, we tried out everything we could at home and, convinced it was all shipshape, we set off for our first overnight stay - to the Lakes. Bob the dog of course came too. Now 11-plus, a little arthritic, but a veteran of Meath outdoor adventures, he was as excited as we were, having acquired a new dog bed along with dog tie post, shiny new dish and extra bones.

Everything on board, we needed fuel. Out came the handbook. How did Jack say we should open the fuel cap?! Help at the petrol station and we were off.

We pre-booked a site at Brothers Water. We had rented a cottage there when Bob was one. Would he remember? I don’t think he did, but he thoroughly enjoyed himself and didn’t spend the night on his new comfy bed - the front swivel passenger seat was apparently a better bet.

And the evening meal which we intended to have at the pub. It was a rugby final and the pub was full to overflowing. We’ll eat inside, I declared. Then the realisation - I hadn’t brought a pan! We had, though, a new microwave and grill that Winifred and Jack had never used. I even had the instructions! Our evening meal took a long time, I made a mental note to put a small stool on board - at 5ft nil I couldn’t see into the microwave - but it worked - and I will never forget a pan again.

Now the maps are out, the weather forecast for summer 2007 is good; it’s Dumfries, Galloway and Arran for starters - and Scotland has suddenly become huge!