OK, so I know what you are wondering right now as you look at this picture up here.  Why in the hell is there a picture of me looking like a magical forest fairy that’s about to fly off in a puff of glitter, when this post is supposed to be about the campervan?  Well there’s a couple reasons actually.

First up, I’ve been feeling stuck in this crazy state of limbo.  So in a way this post is probably going to be a little bit about me personally and how this camper year is affecting my everyday thinking already.  But I suppose they all are, so this doesn’t really need to be said.  Anyway, I don’t know if I’m coming or going right now and it’s really draining.  I don’t know if I should do a separate post about it, or if it will all just merge in here as I catch you up on the camper.  We’ll just have to see.

(Edited to note that I’m totes going to have to make a separate post on this)

Secondly, it’s a really pretty picture from a collaboration that I did with Shante Hutton from Rose & Thorns.  And although I shared it on Facebook when it was all released, I don’t think I actually shared it here.  With all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that went into it, it definitely deserves another share.  So go take a look and while you are there, check out the four other amazing women that were featured after me too.

OK, one more…

Right, I’m done.  Moving on to the camper.

Currently:

DOING:  Over the weekend I realised that although we have had the camper sitting in our garden for 4 whole months, we have done absolutely NOTHING to it except for sleeping in it for a couple of nights.  And with it being the beginning of March, and us leaving on 1 July, that leaves very little time to get our butts in gear.  FLIP!

So despite Seth working with torn ligaments and exploded capsules (or something like that) in his ankle, we got stuck in to ripping everything out of the camper this weekend.  It took about 4 hours and we only cleared half of it but it was VERY necessary for my mind space to feel like I’m actually doing something.  (We documented a lot of it on our Instagram stories on my account and on the Alfreenos account if you want to follow along there on the progress as it happens)

Also, it’s very important to me that I am part of this this deconstruction and rebuilding.  I know Seth is the DIY guy around here, but I am quite passionate about this being our project.  So even though I may thread some screws and cause some damage, I’m hoping to keep being able to do things and help out.  I enjoy working on these kinds of projects together.

That picture is the before, with the shower, the cupboards and the base for the beds still in tact.

We managed to rip all of that out, only leaving the one side of the bed base and the cupboard that contains the gas stove and kitchen sink etc.  We will rip this out too but only next time.

Unfortunately there wasn’t much that we could save to reuse, except a couple doors, the bathroom basin and the shower floor.  But that already is better than nothing!

REALISING:  This was built back in the 70’s and often you think that they made things so much better back then.  In this case, it’s not the case.  The craftsmanship is really not that great and they did weird things.  Like all the shelves and walls were nailed in.  BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE!  So that means that when you rip out a shelf, there are about 30 nails with their pointy ends sticking out the wall.  And roof.  It’s basically a death trap.

So we have to cut them all off but I don’t know if you have ever tried to cut a nail with one of those thingys that cuts nails, but hot damn.  I tried until I turned purple and I couldn’t do it.  So that’s why I am glad that Seth is there with his strong man hands to do it.

Also, without all the walls and things, there is actually so much space!  I’m hoping that with Seth’s design of the new look it will still keep that feeling of space even when in reality it’s only 7.5m2!

CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH:  The money for the sale of our flat is finally a real thing and not just something we were hoping for.  Which means that we can really get started on so real renovations now.

MANAGING:  My fear.  Look, I’m not going to lie to you.  As much as this trip fills me with intense excitement, I am also really scared of all the changes that go with it.  I mean just the other day we went to go and look at toilet options for the camper.  Do we have a composting toilet?  Do we have a chemical toilet?  Then we looked at chairs and I was like, “Let’s just go for the affordable options” and Seth was like, “This is the only chair you’re going to sit in for a whole year, you need to love it”.  Then I pretend laugh cried in the store, but a real life tear came out.

So yes, I am a bit concerned about the silly little things like only having one chair to sit in for a year or having to cover my poop with saw dust.  But overall I am still very keen to do this.

EXCITED ABOUT:  Nailing down our first stop.  As we’ve already done a lot of the smaller towns close to Cape Town, we are reaching further out with our first stop.  I’m pretty sure that it’s going to be Mossel Bay for a week or so.  That way we are close enough to home to fix anything that goes wrong and far enough away to feel like we’re really doing this!  Plus we can pop into George or Groot Brak for the day and still get to see the cool things in that area without actually staying there.

FEELING THANKFUL FOR:  Being able to do this.  Yes I might seem like I’m freaking out a bit (I am) and complaining a bit (I am), but the fact that we are able to do this is not lost on me.  Not at all!

OK sorry, I’m still in awe at how Shante could even make me look like this.  Although it was in combination with an incredible team of people ( Styling & Concept – Tapestry, Makeup & Hair – Madeleine Hair and Make-up, Dresses – Jacoba Clothing, Floral creations – Epanouir flower studio, Mirror crown – Magpie Calls and Vintage Mirrors – My Pretty Vintage)