Tag Archive for 'motor homes'

Time for Mandy to party at Ruarc’s motor-home sales business

Published on February 13, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Mandy looked with concern over at her boss Ruarc who was standing, smiling and waving the caravans and motor homes containing his family onto the grass. He ambled over, still grinning.

“You’re looking worried, Mandy” he said. “You don’t need to be. Just relax and enjoy yourself. My family knows what to do. It’s been a successful day for the motorhome sales business and now you are off duty – and that’s an order!”

“Er, am I invited to the party?”

“Gal, if you didn’t come, I’d come and get you. Now get a drink in your hand and start enjoying yourself.”

Ruarc, waved his hand at the rest of the motorhome sales team gathered around.

“And that applies to the rest of you too. You’ve worked really hard and come up with the results. Well done! Now party!”

Ruarc’s family seemed to know exactly what to do to set the party going and it was as if a well oiled machine had gone into action. A hog roast suddenly appeared with a fire underneath wafting wonderful smells across the grass. A few yards away, a bar was set up with barrels and bottles with not one proprietary trademark in sight. Mandy suspected this was some of the famous Irish hooch she’d heard of.

A band started up with guitars, accordions, violins and flutes and a couple of young girls leapt into the circle doing an Irish step dance besides the hog roast. Within minutes the field was alive with the sound of Irish music, dancing and laughing.

Mandy saw Ralph link arms with Katerina and take her onto the dance area. Ruarc, commandeered Gladys who seemed very pleased to be chosen. Suddenly Mandy felt alone. She had worked so hard for this day and it looked as if her job was secure at least for a while into the future. But, even as the party-goers jigged and reeled around her, there was an emptiness that made her heart ache.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and, when she turned around, there was the smiling face of Tom Hutchinson. She slowly and uncertainly returned his smile then he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the dancing area.

They ate, danced and drank their way through the night until it was well past midnight and completely dark except for the fires flickering flames which sent wisps of smoke away into the night. People were everywhere in couples and threes, just talking, catching up with each other, some kissing and cuddling and finding privacy in the dark among the motorhomes and caravans.

Mandy and Tom sat with their arms around each other on a log outside Mandy’s motorhome. Suddenly, Katerina and Ralph emerged out of the darkness.

“I go stay Ralph tonight,” Katerina said, cheerfully. She pointed to the farmhouse. “I OK!”

“Are you sure?” said Mandy, looking worried.

“I sure, Ralph promise be nice.”

As they disappeared off into the dark, Tom and Mandy exchanged smiles then Tom kissed Mandy long and deeply.

A long time later, Tom said quietly:

“I suppose this means you will be alone in your motor-home tonight.” He had a cheeky grin on his face.

“I don’t think so,” said Mandy, “if you are the man I think you are!”

Then she squealed as Tom lifted her into his arms and carried Mandy inside her motor home.

The End – for now …

Motor home hire and rental prize-giving day arrives with Mandy’s fingers firmly crossed

Published on February 12, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

If Mandy had been religious, she would have prayed for good weather but, in the event, the weather on Ruarc’s motor home hire and rental prize-giving day was about as good as it possibly could have been for late November in the South of England.

As Mandy walked over to the motorhome sales office, she mentally ran through all the things that needed to be checked relating to the motor home prize-giving day. The sun was peeping from behind the tall trees and the rooks were cackling and swooping above.

By 11 o’clock when the gates opened, sunshine was pouring down and Ruarc’s motorhome sales was beginning to look almost festive. In the centre of the circle of motor homes had been placed a marquee where visitors could congregate and talk about their experiences and dreams of motorhoming. Outside the marquee there was a raised stage where the prize-giving would take place.

By midday Ruarc’s motorhome sales was humming with people chattering, laughing and enjoying the day. Even Ruarc lent a hand talking to the customers and Mandy saw him leading off a pair of sisters who were interested in a motorhome rental for a holiday in Italy she heard them planning.

Gladys was enjoying seeing all the people she’d been talking to for weeks on the telephone and was even exchanging kisses with some of them. It was almost as if Ruarc’s motorhome sales had suddenly grown an extended family. However, Mandy knew that each new member of the family was a prospective customer and the good relationships that were being developed that day would be needed to see the motorhome sales business through the next months and possibly years.

2 o’clock came, all too quickly, and the stage was set to announce the winners of the free motorhome holiday. This was a moment they had been working towards for weeks. Mandy’s fingers were firmly crossed that it would go well. How would all the people who had hoped to win a two weeks’ holiday feel when they found it had gone to somebody else? Perhaps there would be a riot. Perhaps they would no longer feel so friendly.

Ruarc, took to the stage and spoke into the microphone, in his rich Irish brogue, instantly charming many.

“Hello, hello. 1 2 3 … Can you hear me?”

The gathered crowd roared “Yes!” Many still had wine glasses in their hands and a contented glow in their cheeks.

“I have to make an announcement before I pass you over to the distinguished counsellor who has not only worked so hard judging your excellent entries but has also agreed to make the presentation of the prize.”

An announcement? Fear clutched at Mandy’s heart. She had no knowledge of any announcement. Ruarc was just supposed to welcome the guests and hand over to the local councillor. What on earth was he playing at?

“I, as proprietor of this humble motorhome sales business have been so impressed by the quality of the entries for this competition that I have decided to offer not one but three free holiday prizes and a few minutes ago, I asked our distinguished judge to select two more winners from the list of entrants.”

Loud applause greeted this announcement and someone even started off three cheers. Relief flooded through Mandy.

“I will now pass you over to our distinguished friend from the Council,” said Ruarc. He winked at Mandy, as he came off the stage. The wink said that he was still in charge and would  run the show as he wished. He was obviously enjoying her discomfort and his little surprise. Mandy suddenly felt she had been warned.

The councillor stepped onto the stage. He was a short round, balding friendly looking man. Mandy could see how many people would feel at ease voting for him. His best quality was that he was inoffensive.

“I must first thank Ruarc’s motorhome sales for the opportunity of coming here and presenting these prizes. Of course it was a very difficult task to choose the winning entries from so many. However, generously expanding the winners from one to three certainly made the choice a little bit easier.”

The names of the winners were called out and they all trooped onto the stage to collect their certificates detailing their prize except one of the winners who was disabled. Instead, his carer collected his certificate and took it down to where he sat in his wheelchair, looking pleased.

There was a lot of clapping and even some cheers. Then it was all over and people started drifting away.

“I hardly dare to ask,” said Mandy quietly to Gladys. “How many sales?”

“Two,” said Gladys.

“Oh!” said Mandy, disappointment washing over her.

“Zero,” said Gladys, with a triumphant smile on her face.

“Twenty! screamed Mandy with excitement. That’s fantastic. Now we really do have something to celebrate.

Katerina joined in the group hug and they were still jumping up and down with happiness when the first caravan appeared bearing Ruarc’s family.

Within minutes, one caravan had turned into a steady stream.

Mandy negotiates motor-home cleaning and Web site design despite opposition from Ralph

Published on February 5, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Ruarc had told Mandy that she would find Ralph at the bottom end field which was their name for a part of the farm that Mandy had not yet visited. All she knew was that it was the centre of the agricultural activities for the farm and could only be accessed by following a narrow farm track with high earthen hedges on each side.

Wearing a pair of yellow Wellingtons in her lunch break, Mandy took the bull by its horns and trudged off to see Ralph.

Fifteen minutes of walking later, at the end of the farm track, Mandy came into a clearing where there were several caravans clustered in a square. In the middle, several pieces of outdoor furniture were strewn around providing seating and eating facilities.  Resting where they could find a space were about fifteen workers, men and women, looking extremely tired. Some were seated on the ground with their backs to the caravans and others were perched on the benches.

Ralph was reading a magazine in a comfortable camping seat. He gave Mandy a crooked smile and dropped the magazine on the grass besides him, making sure Mandy could see the naked female pin-up that was on its front cover.

“So you thought you would pop out to give me some more target practice, did you?”

Mandy considered a sharp response to Ralph’s stupid behaviour the previous day with his shot gun and even more foolish comments. But instead, just shook her head wearily and tried a more friendly approach.

“Ralph,” she said, brightly. “I’m trying to improve the level of service that we offer to motorhome customers by providing them with more information as to what checks have been done on the motorhome before it is made available for motor home rental or motor-home sales. I wondered whether you would be willing to make a list of all the things you do, perhaps a check list that I could put on the side of each motorhome together with details of engine size, van length and any guarantee offered.”

“I could also wipe your bum,” said Ralph, helpfully.

Then his face transformed into a snarl.

“Are you absolutely out of your mind. Where am I going to get the time to do that? And what makes you think I actually do anything anyway? The motorhomes come in and go out and whatever guarantees you give about their condition are not in writing so customers can prove nothing.”

Mandy tried to stay calm and reasonable, although her pulse was already racing with anger in response to his naked aggression.

“But that is exactly the problem, motor homes come in but they will never be sold these days unless customers are confident enough to buy them or to rent them. Part of the reason why we haven’t been making enough sales is because of the lack of customer confidence. Our customers need to be confident about the state of the motor home they are buying so they can drive away full of their dreams and not be worrying about practicalities like breaking down.”

“As you can see,” Ralph waved, indicating the field workers, “I’ve already got plenty on my hands. You want it done, you do it!”

“Well, OK, could you spare one of your workers on a regular basis to go through the motorhomes and clean them, say once a week. The motorhomes get dusty quickly and it doesn’t help with selling them or renting them out.”

“I don’t get this,” said Ralph. “It’s all about what I can do for you. What about you doing something for me.” He picked up the magazine and stroked the naked female body in the photograph to indicate what he had in mind.

Mandy felt she’d just about had enough and was getting ready an extremely sharp reply when a small voice spoke up from a young woman who was resting her back against one of the caravan wheels.

“If you want some cleaning done, I would be happy to help.” She had a strong accent that sounded East European.

Ralph looked down at her and set his mouth in an expression of distaste.

“I suppose you could have her!” Ralph indicated with his thumb. “I have!” He smirked at his play on words.

“She’s no damn good in the fields – too weak. I was going to send her back when the gangers next come around.”

Mandy looked at the woman. She was young and skinny, almost emaciated.

“I’m willing work hard but I am office worker at home,” the woman with the tiny voice said. “But I can clean good and also good on computer, if need  office work.”

A gleam came into Mandy’s eye. Rita had consistently refused to talk to Mandy about the Web site which still needed updating and which would need a lot of maintenance to record the promotional motor-home competition results and the extensive presentational improvements that Mandy wanted.

“Have you done any Web site design?” Mandy enquired.

“At home, I am computer programmer – of course.” The woman’s eyes were bright with hope.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted building new life where pay better – not intention work field.”

“You want her, you take her,” interrupted Ralph, “but you’ll have to pay her and give her time off when I feel like coming around. He made a rude gesture with his hand.”

Mandy made a snap decision.

“Come on,” she said to the girl. “Let’s get out of here.”

As they walked away from the small caravan encampment, Ralph was leading the workers back to the fields.

“My name Katerina. He Devil. Do bad things me. Please no want see again,” the young woman said.

Mandy nodded, hoping she could keep her promise.

Mandy’s discount motor-homes and motor home competition plan to beat the recession

Published on February 4, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

On arriving back at the motor-home sales office after seeing Gladys in her home, Mandy had outlined her plans to Ruarc and got a grudging acceptance.

A week later Mandy’s strategy for expanding the motorhome sales business was already under way. In fact everything was really going very well with the exception that she had not heard from Tom Hutchinson.

Even Ruarc seemed pleased.

“Well done gal, said Ruarc, “It’s a bit different to the ways we are used to but its no time to be picky. I’ll hold off the deliveries on the  new motor homes from my supplier for a few weeks, just to be on the safe side, as you suggest.”

Gladys had come back off sick too, and, for a change, she was getting down to work instead of merely filing her nails. She still hadn’t been paid but Ruarc had agreed, at Mandy’s suggestion, that she could have the use of a smart little Romahome motorhome to drive too and from work and for the occasional holiday.

The Romahome motor home was small, compact, agile in traffic and economical on fuel. Plus there was no other way that Gladys and her husband were otherwise  likely ever to be able to afford a holiday so this was a good holding plan. However, Gladys would need paying eventually and her wage arrears caught up.

Mandy had also taken over writing the motor-home advertising copy, with the proviso that it be approved by Ruarc before going for publication.

Her first strategy was to extend the motorhome sales business mailing list with a  promotional competition. People could win the prize of a free motorhome holiday for two weeks by providing the best description of what they would do with the motorhome if they won.

The competition was designed to identify people who had some sort of interest in obtaining a motorhome, ‘qualifying customers’ as Mandy described them to Ruarc. The recession meant that many of them had delayed their plans even to look at motorhomes. But, if they could be persuaded to come forward, perhaps ways and means could be devised to provide them with a motor-home despite the recession.

If Ruarc’s motorhomes could supply people with the motorhome of their dreams at a cost that was acceptable to both, however big the discounts, the business was working, decided Mandy.

“It’s all a matter of flexibility,” she had said to Ruarc. “The closer we can get to our prospective customers the better we will be able to create opportunities for the motorhome business.”

Gladys looked happier too. Mandy had given her the job of ringing around prospective customers and arranging their visits to Ruarc’s motorhome sales so they could choose the motorhome they wanted for two weeks, if they won the motor-home competition. She was very chatty on the phone and did the job well. It meant that Mandy could spend her time dealing with the customers personally when they arrived and it was a system that was beginning to work with one motorhome hire sale made already when a young couple decided, bearing in mind the discounts, they would go ahead and take a rental immediately with the chance of an extra one for two weeks later in the year, if they won the competition.

When Mandy confronted Ruarc, in his office and suggested that the best use of the income from the young couple’s motor home rental sale was to bring Gladys wages up to date, after a lot of harrumphing, he grudgingly agreed.

“Gladys is doing a very good job on the telephone bringing in the motorhome sales leads. We need her to be motivated and she can’t work properly if she’s worried about paying her own bills at home,” said Mandy, persuasively.

That day Gladys went home looking really pleased and the day after she was in early to the motor-home sales office and Mandy could see she was now giving the job her full commitment.

With Ruarc’s motorhome sales marketing now on an even keel, Mandy turned to other practical aspects of the business. These involved Ruarc’s son Ralph. She approached Ruarc with her ideas and he, after considerable discussion, gave her the OK.

“He’s got a mind of his own, though. He’s not really interested in motor-home sales and he doesn’t like being told what to do, especially by a woman.”

“I’ll try my best to deal with that,” promised Mandy. “But our priority is to shift motor-homes and his help is absolutely necessary.”

Mandy pays a home visit and admits to having further plans for the motor-home business

Published on February 3, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Gladys was sitting up in bed looking worried as Mandy entered her bedroom. She didn’t look ill but she didn’t look happy either. She’d obviously decided attack was the best form of defence.

“I suppose Ruarc wants to know when I’m coming back to work for him, well he can go and take a running jump. I haven’t been paid for two months and no pay no Gladys is my new rule and I don’t take kindly to him sending people to check up on me.

“I’m not checking up on you,” said Mandy, taken aback at the outburst. “May I sit down.”

Gladys hesitated, nodded and Mandy sat down gingerly at the end of her bed.

“Ruarc said he was worried about you and wanted the know if there’s anything he could do to help.”

Mandy was making it up as she went along. It didn’t sound as if Gladys was coming back to work and the fact she hadn’t been paid for two months made her position, in Mandy’s eyes, seem very reasonable.

“He’s probably more worried about his creature comforts than the motor home business and disappointed I’m not providing them any more,” said Gladys, archly.

“I think your personal relationships are between you and Ruarc,” said Mandy, evenly. “I can only talk about the business.”

“The business is going bust,” said Gladys, aggressively. “It’s been on its last legs for years and the recession is making it go completely belly up.”

“I don’t think you can assume that,” said Mandy. “I’ve made a couple of sales of motor homes, recently, and the new motor home hire and motor home rental options means that people don’t have to find so much money to be able to afford to drive a motorhome away. After all, motor home holidays might even become more popular if people stop going abroad for their holidays because of the economic downturn.”

“Okay,” said Gladys, looking Mandy in the eye, “bottom line – tell me straight – did you get paid this month?”

“I must confess that I did,” sighed Mandy, “but I think only because a rental sale I’d made the day before provided the cash to pay me. Of course, there was a complete lack of any wages paperwork which is an irregular way to go about things.”

“Everything at Ruarc’s motorhome business is irregular, often highly irregular, you just can’t imagine how irregular” said Gladys. “The whole family comes from a gypsy background and they’ve never properly integrated with the rest of society. They have their own way of doing things because they don’t know any better. When they purchased that corner of the old airfield for a motor homes business, we locals thought that they wouldn’t last very long but that was five years ago and slowly they seemed to expand, buying up farmland and building their business, apparently successfully. The local people usually take a long time to accept newcomers, I should know, I’ve lived here all my life. And it doesn’t help that they’ve never made any effort. I only went to work because it was a last resort. It provided me an income for a couple of years but now the business looks finished and there’s nothing else locally in prospect. My husband is only interested in his pigeons and keeping the Benefits Office off his back so he’s as much use as a burst tyre.”

A tear trickled down Gladys’ cheek which she rubbed away defiantly with the back of her hand then pulled the blankets up to her chin as if to keep her safe from a threatening world she couldn’t control and didn’t understand.

“If you won’t come back to work again, I suppose you’ll need to send Ruarc your resignation, together with your reasons why,” said Mandy, feeling the whole visit was looking like a waste of time.

“But I wish you would give the business another chance. I have some ideas that I really think could work and the more people to help bring them to fruition, the more chance they have of success.”

“What ideas?”

“I’d rather not say,” said Mandy, cagily. “Especially if you are not going to be working with us any more. It would be revealing business secrets. I think you have to make a decision about whether you are going to come back first before I can say more.”

Gladys looked at Mandy, as if trying to sum her up.

“I’ll have to think about it,” said Gladys, finally. “Can you see yourself out?”

It was a relief for Mandy to be driving the Nu Rio motorhome back to the sales office. She wondered whether the ideas that were slowly germinating in her head really would be successful and whether the revenues generated would be enough to pay Gladys and herself, especially after Ruarc’s family had taken their slice.

Mandy resolved to approach Ruarc with her ideas for beating the recession and saving the motor-home sales business as soon as she got back.

Moral dilemmas and motor homes

Published on January 30, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

When Mandy got back to the motor home sales office, she half expected recriminations. She had no doubt that Ralph had realised it was her before he had shot his gun and no doubt he’d have told his dad.

Instead of a belligerent message, it was a pleasant surprise to find a pile of five pound notes and a scrawled message to say it was her pay to date. She counted the money and was surprised to discover there was even a bit more than her most optimistic hopes. Of course, there were no details about how the amount had been calculated or how it related to the basic salary that had been agreed during her interview.

She threaded her way to the other end of the motorhome into Ruarc’s office where he was going through some advertising copy.

“I thought the quicker we got the word out to the newspapers that we were now renting out motorhomes, the quicker we could get in some money to afford your salary,” Ruarc, muttered. It wasn’t a complaint but he seemed incapable of saying anything that didn’t have a hard edge.

“Thanks for the money,” said Mandy. “I must admit, it was a bit more than expected. But it would be nice to know how it was calculated and shouldn’t you be wanting my P45?”

“I’m not bothered about your P45, if you’re not,” said Ruarc. “I’ve got bigger fish to fry than worrying about paperwork. I need to order some more motor homes to satisfy all the motorhome rentals that I’m sure you’re going to produce for me and that means cosying up to my suppliers and getting motorhome discounts and a good line of credit.”

“I would have thought they would be very keen to get any business at the moment,” said Mandy. “Surely, if you are buying motorhomes in a recession, you’re in a strong position.”

“I may be in a strong position  buying motor homes because of the recession but the discounts I get from these people are exceptional. They are the sort of business people that need a lot of looking after … and they’ll expect some looking after when they come down and do business with me.”

Ruarc, leaned back in his executive chair. His eyes openly dwelling on Mandy’s long black hair, white blouse and tight green skirt that terminated just above her knees.

“You are a good-looking woman, Mandy. Normally Gladys would help me with a lot of the ‘looking after’ but she is not keen on coming in at the moment, what with feeling ill and all that. I could double the cash you have just received, if I could be guaranteed someone special would go away happy.”

Mandy’s eyes widened. She hardly felt shocked because Ruarc’s suggestion was entirely in keeping with the way that she already saw him. His admission that Gladys did not only provide secretarial duties was hardly surprising, given the number of times Gladys had disappeared into Ruarc’s office, with a knowing smile, before locking the door firmly behind her.

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or to be angry,” said Mandy, slowly. “I reckon you have a nerve even to ask me – not to mention legal aspects relating to harassment.”

“Just trying to put a bit of money your way, gal,” said Ruarc. “If you don’t want it, more fool you – there’s plenty of others that will!”

“I’m sorry, ” said Mandy, feeling her throat tightening, ” if you want somebody to serve the canapes and to engage in social conversation or even to negotiate a price, I am happy to help. But, if you want somebody to go with your business friend and and provide personal services, and Gladys isn’t available, I’m afraid, neither am I.”

Ruarc, got up out of his chair, walked over to Mandy until she was convinced that he was going to hit her but instead he merely sneered and walked passed her out of the motorhome office and away to the farmhouse.

Mandy slowly returned to her office to spent the rest of the afternoon telephoning the remainder of her client contact list. The pleasure of receiving her first wages was gone with this new uncertainty in her job prospects.

By the end of the day she had several more possibilities for motorhome rentals but no definite sales. It occurred to her that perhaps Ruarc was expanding his stock a bit too quickly before demand for this new service had properly been quantified. It worried her that she would be expected to satisfy excessive demand in his new business plan.

It also worried Mandy that Ruarc might still hope she would play a part in satisfying not only his business partners demands but also potentially his own in the absence of Gladys.

Ruarc had posed a moral dilemma to Mandy about which her opinion would normally be clear. Yet, scarily, she found herself wondering how far she might be willing to go to save her new job in motorhome sales.

Motor-home sales staff meeting convened at the farmhouse

Published on January 27, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

The motor-home sales staff meeting was convened in the farmhouse kitchen with Mandy sitting on one side of the table and Ruarc, Ralph and Rita, who was Ruarc’s sister, sitting on the other.

Mandy had met Rita who spent most of her time in the farm shop tending to the steady but small stream of customers that dropped in, mostly collecting eggs laid by the chickens that clucked their contented way around the farmyard outside.

Rita’s face was almost as mean-looking as Ruarc’s. Ferret like, her dark features had something of a gypsy in them. When Mandy had collected eggs to eat from the farm shop, she hadn’t wasted her words. Her reply to Mandy’s enquiry asking the cost of the goods was simply, “Later.” Now Rita just sat there, silently, and, Mandy thought, rather venomously.

Ruarc started the meeting off.

“This meeting has been convened to consider the effing economic situation and the effing poor sales results of this motorhomes sales business recently … Since Mandy has been with us, mainly. So what have you got to say for yourself, gal?”

Mandy looked across at the three, their faces set and wondered whether it was a lynch party. She thought they were reckoning she would walk away from this table without a job and part of her wondered whether that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. As employers, they left almost everything to be desired. Perhaps it was better to be rid of them. Her problem was that at least it was a job, her accommodation came with the job and she didn’t think there was any chance of her finding another job elsewhere.

She decided the best form of defence was attack.

“Firstly, “she said, “I have sold five motor homes in the last three and a half weeks . I would have thought that the profits from those sales would be much greater than my meagre wages however high my bonuses.”

She saw Ruarc, mouth the word ‘bonus’ with contempt. Perhaps he was trying the word out for size. Mandy doubted whether it was a word normally in his vocabulary.

“However, I have two suggestions,” Mandy continued. Then she outlined her idea of improving the motorhome web site so it reflected more accurately new motorhome stock.

Ruarc’s main response was to moan that the motor home Web site didn’t need updating if she never sold anything.

Mandy’s suggestion to rent out motorhomes with a new motor home hire service drew more interest, though, especially from Rita who pointed out there may be cash income opportunities.

The mention of the word ‘cash’ brought knowing nods from Ruarc’s family. It was obvious they liked the word ‘cash’.

Mandy wondered whether there was a hidden safe somewhere at the farm where they stashed their wealth well away from the tax man.

It turned out that Rita was the Webmaster of the family and she agreed to update the Web site if Mandy would take the photographs of the new stock, if and when there was any. Rita also agreed to include motorhome rental details on the web site.

Ruarc, promised that he would include that the motor homes were now available for rent or hire in his newspaper advertising and the meeting was suddenly at an end.

As Mandy walked across the grass back to the motorhome sales office, she watched the rooks cackling and squabbling in the high trees above the farm, not a lot different to human beings, she reflected. The sun seemed to be shining more brightly and, amazingly, she still had a job and somewhere to live.

Perhaps, there was even still the possibility of romance.

She wondered when Tom Hutchinson would ring again.

Motor home sales needed to save Mandy’s job

Published on January 22, 2009 in motor home. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

The next day the sky was overcast and everything looked slate grey outside. As Mandy gazed across to the motor home sales office, it seemed an oasis of light in an otherwise dark and damp day. The weather perfectly matched the way Mandy felt.

Nothing that Ruarc said, when she got to her office, made her feel any better.

“When you going to get a sale out of that Mr Hutchinson,” said Ruarc, belligerently. He had taken his favourite spot leaning against the wall opposite Mandy’s desk with his arms crossed.

“I don’t think he liked the price you suggested for his VW camper van,” Mandy stated flatly. “It was practically insulting.”

“Insulting was it, “Ruarc’s face suddenly became red and suffused with rage. “I’ll give you insulting.” He leaned forward and glared into Mandy’s face.

“Okay, the price you offer is the price you offer. It’s nothing to do with me. I passed the price on to him and there was nothing else I could do. He obviously didn’t like it. I suggested that a bit could be shaved off  the Adria Twin motor home but it didn’t seem to help, however, and I think he’s coming back again so there is always the chance that he might change his mind.”

“We need to make some more sales, gal,” said Ruarc, grimacing. ” It’s almost the end of the month and, at this rate it’ll be you that’ll be paying me wages for you being here.”

It was more than Mandy could take. She stood up angrily, glaring at Ruarc and stabbing her finger at the air between them.

“How dare you say that. After all the hours I have put in and the sales I’ve made, not to mention the cleaning I’ve done of your dirty old motor homes. In return, all I’ve had from the farm shop is a few provisions so that I could eat and some cleaning materials so that I could make that tatty motor home hygienic you are renting me to sleep in and a few threads of curtain material so that I could have some privacy from peeping-toms. Furthermore, why won’t your sister ever tell me how much I spend when I visit the farm shop. I ask each time and she always gives me some evasion. I want to know how much I’m spending as I go.”

“You are spending more than you can afford,” snarled Ruarc, pushing his face into hers. “And you’d better pull your stockings up, otherwise you’ll be out of a job. There’s a recession on you know and you can’t be choosy. Unless this business is profitable we’ll be shedding staff like the thousands of other businesses that are putting their workers on the dole all over the country. It’s your choice. Stay or go. I don’t care. And if you stay, I want more from you. That’s your last warning!”

Ruarc stormed out of Mandy’s office, crashed down into his executive’s seat and, minutes later, Mandy was not surprised to hear him calling for Gladys. Perhaps she knew how to handle him, thought to Mandy. Without any doubt, whatever Gladys did for Ruarc was certain to be out of Mandy’s league.

Wearily, Mandy started going through the telephone lists she had compiled from the visitors’ book and which she had separated into hopeless and not completely hopeless.

Sighing deeply, she started telephoning the ones that she hoped were not completely out of the question once again.

Unfortunately, her original assessment had been largely correct and not one revisit could be squeezed from the list of telephone numbers. By 6 o’clock in the evening, Mandy’s mood was as dark as the evening outside.

Then the telephone rang and it was Tom Hutchinson. He wanted to know if she would like to go with him to a local pub where there was some live music playing that evening.

Lost for any reason why she shouldn’t, but with strong misgivings, Mandy agreed.

VW campervan valuation disappoints

Published on January 16, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

The note under the windscreen wiper of the VW campervan gave Ruarc’s valuation. Mandy looked at it, tried not to pull a face and passed it to Tom Hutchinson without comment.

“It appears that your boss is successful at least partly because he doesn’t give any money away,” Tom Hutchinson said wryly. “I’ll have to think about it.”

“I’m sorry,” said Mandy. “Perhaps we could shave a bit off the asking price for the Adria Twin campervan.”

They both looked back at the Adria Twin.

Mandy had to admit to herself that Tom Hutchinson’s VW campervan did look rather old and forlorn in comparison with the newer Adria Twin. Perhaps Ruarc’s assessment of its value, she thought privately, had not been so far from the mark.

Mandy noticed a young couple walking amongst the motor homes, obviously looking for somebody to help them.

“I’ve got to go,” she said, with a sigh. “Customers waiting.”

She laid her hand on his arm. It felt strong and full of muscle – not at all like a writer’s. She wanted to tell him that she wanted him to came back but could think of no words that would be appropriate. They hardly knew each other. He was  just a customer.

“Mandy,” Tom Hutchinson said said. “I’ve really enjoyed our lunch together, not only because it was a chance to try out the Adria Twin camper van, but also because I feel I might have found a kindred spirit in you. Perhaps we could get together again some time, maybe for a walk and perhaps another picnic. My VW campervan might not be as impressive as the Adria Twin camper-van but it does have an awning and I’m sure I can dig up some more caviar vol-au-vents, if I try hard.”

“Tom,” said Mandy, gazing into his brown eyes. “I’m not sure if I have understood you correctly so I want to make sure. I have been hurt too much in recent years and am very fragile. I’m also very poor. Do you see that motorhome over there, the scruffy one. That is where I live and it comes with my job. I have almost nothing at all except the clothes I stand in, a few personal belongings stored in a rented garage in town and the small hope that there might be people out there that think I am worth something just for myself. If you are one of those, I would love to see you again – anytime you suggest – irrespective of selling you a motorhome.”

They stood facing each other. The bond that had quickly been growing between them suddenly seemed overpowering, yet their relationship was still bounded by the proprieties of customer and sales.

A plaintive voice of complaint came from across the grass where the young couple that needed service.

“Excuse me,” said Mandy, hurriedly. “I have to go.”

“I’ll telephone you,” Tom Hutchinson promised.

She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and turned on her heel.

As Mandy crossed the grass to help the young couple, she could see Ruarc’s son, Ralph, glaring at her from where he was standing in the shade of a motorhome. The glare spelt trouble.

Tom meets Mandy to try out an Adria Twin motorhome with the fixed double bed

Published on January 14, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Tom Hutchinson arrived on time with a cold box and Mandy and he were soon bowling down the road in the Adria Twin motorhome with the fixed double bed.

Tom Hutchinson drove and Mandy sat in the passenger seat keeping quiet while he got used to the controls.

They climbed up the hill along quiet country lanes until they reached a viewpoint with the countryside spreading all around them. In the distance there was an estuary and behind them they could just see in the distance Ruarc’s motorhome sales and  farm.

Tom Hutchinson pulled into the parking area and switched off the engine.

“It runs very nicely,” he said. “A bit different from my rattly old VW campervan.”

Mandy smiled sideways at Tom Hutchinson. She was feeling very mellow.

“If you move the Adria Twin motor home over there onto the grass, we can pull out the motorhome awning and I’ve got a table and two chairs I put on the back earlier so we can eat in comfort… and I brought an apple.”

Tom Hutchinson started the engine again and pulled over to the grass as directed. Mandy felt relieved that the awning wasn’t difficult to open and retrieved the table and two chairs from the back of the motor home.

Tom opened up his cold box. Mandy observed that he had far more than he needed for himself and even a bottle of white wine at the bottom keeping cold.

“You are going to have to help me eat this,” Tom Hutchinson said.

“It looks an absolute feast,” said Mandy. “What on earth are those?”

“Caviar vol-au-vent!” Tom Hutchinson gave his easy smile.

“Don’t you think that caviar is a bit expensive for a working lunch? You must be a very well paid writer!”

“I get by. Unfortunately, my income is only ever as good as my next work. That’s the way it goes in my occupation. It’s a winner takes all market. I’ve been a winner a few times but that gives no guarantees for the future. How about you? Have you always sold motor homes? ”

“Certainly not. I did a degree in music but it’s a very difficult way to make a living – probably like writing – so I turned my hand to office work for a while. Then I got married and my career seemed less important as I followed my husband around Europe with his job in Finance. When we split up, after five years, I didn’t know what to do with myself so I started a ladies boutique but it never worked and I lost a lot of money.”

Tom Hutchinson passed Mandy the dish containing the caviar vol-au-vent and a glass of white wine with a smile of sympathy and pointed towards the motorhome sales business in the distance.

“Your Ruarc seems to be making money, even in the recession, how does he do it?”

“He tells me that he provides customers with what they want,” said Mandy. “He keeps quite a big stock and relies on turnover to make it worthwhile which benefits the customers through low prices so they keep coming back.” It was the official line and, even if Tom Hutchinson’s eyes were gorgeously brown, it wasn’t the time to change it. How about you? Are you successfully married as well as being a caviar and white wine writer?