Tag Archive for 'VW campervan'

Mandy goes dating and receives more than expected

Published on January 23, 2009 in motor home and motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Tom Hutchinson picked Mandy up outside the motorhome sales office and drove through the night until they reached a quiet country pub.

Before they went into the pub, Tom Hutchinson passed Mandy a package.

“This is for you,” he said, smiling.

“What you mean, for me,” Mandy said in surprise.

“You mentioned the other day you didn’t have a radio. It must be very dreary living in that motorhome with no music. It’s a wind-up radio so even if your electricity gets cut-off you will still be able to listen to the music and keep up with the news.”

Mandy opened the package and gazed at the blue radio inside. Experimentally, she tried winding the handle and watched the green charging light indicate she was charging the battery. She pressed the on switch, tuned and listened for a moment to some classical music.

“It’s beautiful and just what I need. Thank-you,  I really don’t know what else to say. It’s so expected.”

“It can be the start of your new collection of household belongings,” said Tom Hutchinson. “The first of many nice things I hope. Now, let’s eat!”

Inside the pub, it was warm and welcoming. There was a man sitting on a high chair singing songs from the ’60s. The menu was simple but looked inviting. They both chose chicken in a basket and shared a bottle of house white wine.

For Mandy, after days of surviving on omelettes and fruit, even the chips were very tasty indeed and she suddenly found she had a very good appetite.

They talked inconsequentially – about their previous lives, where they went to school, previous relationships but never about the future. For Mandy, the future was completely obscured as if by an impenetrable fog and Tom Hutchinson didn’t appear to want to share with her any of his dreams.

At the end of the evening, they drove back together and arrived at the motorhome sales just before midnight. For a few moments they sat in the campervan feeling uncomfortable.

Then Mandy broken the ice by leaning over, turning Tom Hutchinson’s face to hers and gently kissing him on his lips.

“It’s been a lovely evening and thank-you for the radio,” then she opened the VW campervan door and got out.

Tom Hutchinson waited until she’d got the door to the motorhome open before starting up the VW campervan and driving off with a cheery wave.

Inside the old motorhome, Mandy’s switched on her new radio to a music channel. It really lit up the small motorhome and made it a much better place. Clever Tom!

As she climbed into bed, she thought of Tom Hutchinson and that perhaps life really might get better for her sometime in the near future.

With the radio still on, she fell asleep and for the first time since moving into the old motor home between the trees on the edge of the wood, Mandy heard no screaming that night.

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?

Motor home advertisements keep Mandy busy

Published on January 13, 2009 in motor home, motorhome, online novel and serial novel. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

As it turned out, Mandy wasn’t able to ring Tom Hutchinson the next day. Ruarc had put motor home advertisements in the local newspaper which brought in a number of people to look at the motor homes and Mandy was kept very busy showing prospective customers around.

Of course, Ruarc didn’t miss the opportunity to moan that she had not made a sale to Tom Hutchinson there and then.

“Strike while the iron is hot,” he said, after calling her into his office, and he clapped his hands together for emphasis.

“Strike fast, like a snake, so they don’t know where you coming from. It’s the only way to make a sale. There’s no point in shilly shallying around. Your wages have got to come from somewhere at the end of the month.”

Of course, he was completely ignoring the fact that Mandy had just made a good sale of a rather old and decrepit motorhome that had been hanging around Ruarc’s neck like a millstone for months.

In the end, it was Tom Hutchinson that telephoned a week later early in the morning.

“Tom Hutchinson here,” he said.

“Good morning Tom, how you?” Mandy didn’t have to make an effort to make her voice friendly.

“Thinking of you – and the good deal you might be able too offer me on my VW campervan.”

Mandy felt a thrill going through her body and paused, lost for words. Tom had been thinking of her. It sounded good – but she told herself not to be foolish. He was a customer.

“I’ve only got the lunchtime today,” he continued, “but I could come around somewhere between twelve and 2 o’clock. I’d quite like to try the Adria Twin motorhome on the road. Perhaps we could take it for a drive while your Ruarc is looking at my camper van. We could stop off somewhere for a bite of lunch. ”

“I’m afraid that the arrangements here don’t exactly run to an expense account to pay for customers lunches,” Mandy grimaced down the telephone, feeling inadequate.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be my pleasure. Shall we say twelve midday?”

Mandy put the telephone down and looked into the distance at the green countryside that lay around Ruarc’s motorhome sales. She noticed for the first time that the lambs were skipping in the fields and needed a few moments while her heart slowed down to its normal rate.

Then she walked through to Ruarc’s office and checked he’d be available at lunchtime to price up the VW camper-van.

“His wreck is not worth much, so don’t get your hopes up,” said Ruarc, uncompromisingly.

Your dream motorhome

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

Silly me, thought Mandy, as she checked her hair and repaired her make up in the small mirror behind her desk. He’s probably short, fat and ugly with sweaty hands.

But Tom Hutchinson wasn’t. As he got out of his VW campervan and Mandy walked towards him across the grass, she saw, instead, that he was tall, slim and athletic with brown hair. As they shook hands, his grip was firm and his eyes seemed to draw her into his soul.

“Now you must tell me absolutely everything that you want … in your dream motorhome,” said Mandy, smiling her best smile.

“Sales are down, are they?” Tom Hutchinson was clearly looking for a bargain.

“There’s a recession, everybody knows that,” said Mandy. “It’s hurting everybody but of course it means that you can get some really good deals.”

Tom Hutchinson wandered over to an Adria Twin.

“That’s the sort of thing that I want,” he said. “It has a good dining room up front where I can do my writing – I’m currently writing an online novel – and a fixed double bed at the back which I can fall into after a long day’s work.”

“It also has a very good bathroom”, observed Mandy. “Do you travel alone or would they be somebody with you? ”

“Mostly alone,” admitted Tom Hutchinson. Then a twinkle came into his eye… “unless I’m lucky of course.”

Mandy gave Tom Hutchinson a rather prim and proper sideways look to put him in his place. There was no mistaking his innuendo but it was said gently, with humour and a very endearing smile which Mandy rather liked.

She opened all the cupboards for him and stood back as he tried the bed.

“If you like the Adria Twin, you may also like a Ford Transit camper van over there,”  said Mandy. “It is very similar to the Adria Twin and about the same price. Would you be wanting to trade in your VW camper van?”

“It depends on the price you’d give for the the VW camper-van in part exchange.”

“Ruarc, the owner here, tells me he gives the best prices in England for motor home part exchanges.” Mandy had chosen her words carefully. She didn’t want to lie. It was true Ruarc had told her that he gave the best prices but then he’d added the word ‘not’ and hugely enjoyed the emphasis.

“I can’t stay too long this afternoon, “said Tom Hutchinson, “but perhaps I could come back another day and get your Ruarc to give me a price on my VW camper. Then I will know what I have to play with. I can check out the Ford Transit at the same time”

As he drove away down the road, Mandy stood watching. His cheery wave made her stomach feel strange in a way it hadn’t for years.

Mandy resolved to call him the next day to make a date, then stopped herself and rephrased it in her mind to ‘appointment’ to get his VW valued.

Mandy starts motorhome telephone sales

Published on January 9, 2009 in motorhome. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

When Mandy arrived at Ruarc’s motorhome sales office the next day and sat down at her desk, she felt a cold draft blowing on her shoulder.

The reason was easy to spot. The motorhome office window was open and a wire had been passed through which now meant that the motorhome window would be permanently open thus causing a draft.

The purpose for the wire was obvious. A rather antiquated telephone now rested on Mandy’s desk and there was a note besides the telephone saying:

“It’s time to get the sales going, gal! Get phoning.”

A scruffy visitors log lay besides the note. A brief inspection showed, in extremely scrawled handwriting, details of potential customers who had visited Ruarcs motor home sales office, left their telephone number and sometimes their address, but had somehow managed to escape with their money intact and without buying a motorhome.

“Have you seen the note?” roared Ruarc from the other end of the motorhome.

“I could hardly miss it given the draught through the window that the wire is causing,” snorted Mandy.

“I’ll get it fixed properly, when you get the sales up – as a bonus. The whole country’s panicking because of this recession and I’ve got more motorhomes coming in to put up for sale soon. You’re my great white hope! Get going gal! I’ll make it worth your while. Anyway, the fresh air will keep you awake! Think positively.”

Wearily, Mandy opened the visitors book at the first page and started telephoning.

As the morning wore on, there were no drop-in visitors to the Ruarcs (wrecks) motorhome sales, as Mandy was privately beginning to call his business. So Mandy was able to concentrate of her telephoning. It seemed that Ruarc was not the only one to hear the doom and gloom on the radio.

The feedback that Mandy received as she telephoned around previous visitors was that they had come away with an impression of really bad customer service. The general comment was that they thought the motor homes were OK but could rarely get anybody to answer to their questions or even open a motorhome for closer inspection. Few showed any interest in coming back, partly because of the transport cost of getting to such a rural location and partly because the unprofessional ambiance of the business had completely put them off.

Mandy put the telephone down once again after yet another unsuccessful sales pitch. Ruarc was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets watching her moodily.

“I’m getting a lot of negative feedback from previous visitors to your motor home sales, Ruarc,” she said.

Ruarc’s response was graphic and included references to the customer’s parentage that didn’t bear repeating. He then slouched off back to his office, hands deep in pockets, shoulders slumped.

After a while, he called his secretary, Gladys, into his office, presumably to cheer him up. Since she appeared to have done nothing so far that day except file her nails and check her bouffant blonde hair. At least he was at last giving Gladys a reason for being there, thought Mandy, bitterly.

After another ten calls, Mandy came across a man who currently had a VW campervan and wanted to buy something bigger. Like the others, he’d been unable to find anybody to talk to him when he’d previously visited but was prepared to try again, especially as Mandy promised to look after him personally.

There was something about his voice that Mandy liked. He came over warm and friendly. It had been a while since Mandy had spoken to anybody who was warm and friendly. She found herself looking forward to his visit at two o’clock in the afternoon and, surprised, even wondered if she’d been a bit flirtatious. Perhaps that was what it took to get people to come back to Ruarcs wrecks, she thought.