Disasters and only 2 days to go!

So I'll start where I left off - or at least what I can remember.

 

A few weeks ago Pete and his step dad changed the oil and filter on the van, which we needed to do and all seemed fine. Only thing was they realised they hadn't bought enough oil and Pete drove off (in the van) the buy more oil to top it up. On the way loads of black smoke came out of the bonnet and the van stopped in the middle of a single track country road. Pete and the van were blocking loads of cars and as he went to phone his step dad to come and help his phone cut out! Ahh! All the drivers were being useless and just getting angry, but thankfully a nice old man came out to help push the van out the way and even offered Pete a lift to his dads house, where he could charge his phone and get help! What a nice man. Apparently the old man said it was great to have to opportunity to do something helpful. :) Once the oil was topped up the van was fine - phew. As we still hadn't had the chance to drive the van much we thought we would charge the battery with a charger and it would be all ready to collect next weekend to start packing!

 

Pete and his step dad sorting the van.

Not much happened over the next week - until Friday where we had our leaving do. Thanks to everyone who came, although we barely remember saying goodbye to people! A very fun night, involving far too many jagerbombs!

Party!

So after a day of rest we drove up to Henfield (to Petes dads house) to collect our van. But to our absolute horror it wouldn't start. Because we'd charged the battery we assumed it was that so we tried jump starting it under the bonnet, which didn't work. Then we tried to jump it directly off the battery - when we discovered there were actually two batteries! But jumping didn't work off either of them. By the time we'd done all this it was getting late and we had to head back home, feeling quite worried as we were leaving in just over a week. The next day Pete had to go back to work so I went up on my own to remove one of the batteries and replace it (we'd worked out that one of the batteries was okay because the lights were still working.) They never make anything easy and just getting the battery out took an hour! Anyway, eventually it came out and I took it to Halfords to be tested. They actually said it was okay, just a bit low on power, but I bought a new one anyway and took it back to fit it. Still nothing! After that there wasn't much else we could do. None of us knew anything about vehicles, RAC cost 200 pounds to get out and the only people we knew who might know what to do were on holiday. Thankfully my parents were actually coming back from travelling the next day, so we just had to wait for my dad to have a look at it. This was not relaxing as time was slowly slipping away and we were imagining the worse!

 

The next day we cleaned up the house and in the afternoon went to get my parents from the airport. We had a nice evening welcoming them home after seven months away!

 

Mum and dad home! SO BROWN!

The next day, before dad could even un-pack his backpack, I dragged him off the Henfeild to see the van! We tried to jump it again - to no avail - and decided it must be the starter motor. So we attempted to bumb start it off the drive AND IT STARTED!! Never been so relieved! I was able to drive it back to our house in Brighton so we could access it easier. We bought a new starter motor that day - although didn't replace it as Pete was at work and I needed him to help. I did start packing our stuff in the back though, which is very exciting. Slightly worrying too as it's looking like it won't all fit.

 

How do we have so much stuff?!

So that was Wednesday. On Thursday Pete fitted the starter motor and we are very pleased to tell you it is now starting perfectly every time. Hopefully that's the last of it. In the evening Pete went to see his best friend to say goodbye and I had more 'leaving drinks' at work! Friday was my last day at the pub, but we went home and had an early night as we were both very tired from the previous evening. Saturday and Sunday day (today) were spent seeing my relatives.

Leaving card :)

 

Me and 3 of my cousins :)

Now the LAST THREE evenings are going to be spent eating out with our parents and trying to pack the last of our stuff in the van. It's still not seeming real that we are leaving so soon. We are very excited, and starting to get a bit nervous now!!