Tanya?

The look of disapointment in Kate's eyes was plain to see. She was in the upstairs back bedroom, or office, of our home in Scotland. The computer was on and she was replacing the Telephone into its charging dock.

"They sold it an hour ago." She said.

Kate was ill but in January 2010 we did not realise, or perhaps were in denial of just how ill she was. I guess at some level there is 'a knowing ' of such things which had already prompted us to look ahead and book a hired Motorhome for a weeks holiday in July. This was something we both wanted to do.

The look of disapointment in Kate's eyes was not to do with Motorhomes though. The Minature Schnauzer she had enquired after had been sold just one hour before Kate's phone call.

That look was enough to prompt me to deeper research and finally a trip with Kate to the Scottish borders where Tanya met us and quickly decided we were OK guys to go home with. She immediatly and intuitively settled into her role of loyal and loving companion to us all as a family but most of all to Kate.

Tanya, I am convinced, knew from that first meeting the seriousness of Kate's illness. She gave everything required to fulfill Kate's lifelong dream of having in her retirement a dog who matched the long held, deep and fond memories of her childhood Minature Schnauzer.

Kate, Tanya and I never managed the motorhome holiday. Motorholmes UK were good though and deferred it for a year. That's a story for another post.

Kate was the love of my life and September 4th 2010 was the day she gained her freedom from the all consuming Cancer.

Tanya & I were now an item. We were on our own. Grieving and moving on were the tasks laid out before us.

We've managed Ok so far but it has not been without pain.

Tanya I swear still remembers Kate even now 16months later. I only have to say Kate's name using a particular tone and enquiring stance and her ears pop up, her head cocks to one side, and the eyes give understanding as only a dogs eyes can.

The Start

"No. I want to keep them!" Exclaimed Mags as Pete, in his anxiety to complete the deal, offered me the expensive and complete set of melamine crockery already in the Rapido 972m motorhome I was about to buy.

Pete was duly silenced and the charm and very capable negotiating skills of Mags once again took control.

Ducking and weaving around price continued for a further few minutes but Mags was confident in her product and I too had done my research and knew a good buy when I saw one.

Shona, a much loved and good friend and colleague had also helped. Her accompanying me on this trip to Cumbria to look at a strange thing called a Motorhome was making it a good day never mind whether I completed a deal or not.

Her comment. "Steve, this is really nice" as she looked around the inside of the motorhome was reassuring to me and seemed to put a feminine seal of approval in place which felt important to me.

A deal was finally agreed and I became the proud owner of my first Motorhome.

On looking back I have to say the Universal spirits were with me that day and I bought as near a perfect quality starter motorhome kit as you can get. I bought from two lovely people too, who, incidentally, had treated 'Sadie' the Rapido with loving care and attention.

Sadie? I hear you asking. Well she is a Mercedes after all. Get it? ....Mer...sadies. I tell you it took me a few moments the first time I heard it said.

I've always had a hankering to own a Mercedes. I just never imagined it would come in this unusual shape and size.

So, there I was a few weeks later with the driveway of my three bedroom semi detached in East Kilbride very full indeed. Anxiety is a pernicious and mischievous beast and in those first few weeks I noticed a considerable rise in anxiety, ( panic attack did I hear you say?) as I stared at a very very empty bank balance and then glanced out of the window to a very very full driveway.

I heard myself on several occasions, especially as tiredness started to engulf me late at night, utter the plaintive cry. "Arrrrgh! What have i done."