cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

Hello again,

Already nearly two weeks in France on camping Le Soleil Fruité.

For sure there is enough work for me to get the Mobil homes ready for the season.

The courier who was here last season had to leave before the end of the season for health reasons, so they were not really made ready for the winter. And that I can tell!!

Luckily Ron came for a week to repair tabs and all sorts of things; they were broken because they have been frozen during the winter.

In the meantime I have done my exercises to get back in Summer shape: walking around with gas bottles of 30 kg each. That will make my muscles work. By the end of the day my legs were blue, because I used them wrongly to support the bottles. But, no worries, the blue is gone and the sunshine made them with a nice suntan now.

By now the 14 Mobil homes that were here already last season are now all supplied with running water and gas, so it's easier to clean with hot water on board. And cleaning they need: first the aircon, which I have to reach by a ladder. Second the hood in the kitchen, washing all the filters, degreasing the whole kitchen. I have to squeeze my body in all kind of positions to reach high or to reach low the corners, so every evening I have to sooth my muscles by a long long hot shower, so I am able to get out of bed the next morning. But: no complaints, I love it! Finally after a long lazy winter I am using my body again and it feels good to be ALIVE again.

No stupid things (yet) like cutting a finger off or something similar, but I better be careful saying this, because I am far from finished.

Gert-Jan, the Area Manager passed by two times, last Friday he passed by to deliver the inventory of the 8 newly placed Mobil homes. Today I unpacked already one and for the rest there is not too much work at the new Mobiles.

Have been shopping a few times with Ron, but have not been around to see what the area is like. Wednesday we had all day rain, now at the moment it is raining again (Saturday afternoon). Probably on Tuesday Ron is passing by again to connect the boilers and the water in the new mobiles, so then I will have company again.

In the evenings - when I am all on my own at the campsite - it was very quiet. Specially after having the company of Ron for a week, but Ron left a stack of DVD's for me, so now I have some movies to watch during the evenings.

As you can see, not really much to tell, no adventures yet, but I am sure you will get many stories about the area, the adventures, as soon as I will be in Montmeyan, at the campsite Chateau de L'Eouviere, where I will stay the rest of the season.

So: still enjoying it being here, even though I spent most of my time with cleaning and hopefully soon I will have something more exciting to report.

In the meantime, stay well and till next 'report'.

Et maintenant je suis en La Belle France!

Hello everybody,

The first report of your reporter on yet another adventure-trip.

Yesterday I left Holland on my way to the first campsite, where I will be until the 11th of May. Then I will move on to Chateau de l'Eouviere to stay there for the whole season.

It was an easy journey from Zutphen to Dijon. I stopped for a night in a hotel there, because the campsite was closing at 19.00 and I was not sure if I could make it in that time. Vacansoleil booked a hotel for me close to Dijon. I arrived there at around 17.00, but unfortunately the hotel was only what I asked for: a bed. No place to have a drink or dinner, so I walked to a big shoppingmall nearby, but not hungry at all, so just bought a sandwich and walked back to the hotel. Luckely there was a coffee-machine so I was all settled. An early night sleep (what else to do) and this morning I got in my car again at about 8.00 o'clock for the last stretch of 280 kms. Around 12.00 I arrived at the campsite Le Soleil Fruite, where Gert-Jan, the area manager was awaiting me. Together we checked the mobilhomes I have to prepare and Gert-Jan made sure the gas to the mobilhome where I will be staying for about 6 weeks was working. Unfortunately no water yet. One of the other mobilhomes the watersupply was broken (because of the heavy frost in the winter), so the campsite could not open the water yet.

Then I went to a big shoppingmall nearby where I almost got lost in that big supermarket. No worries here that something will not be available! Wow, they really have everything here. So I did shopping for the first week including several bottles of water, so at least I can make some coffee in my new 'house'.

It is a beautiful area here from what I saw driving this way, and soon I will go up and about a bit more and will provide you with pictures. At the moment I am the only soul on the campsite, a good thing that I have work enough to do, to not go crazy and talking to the trees. And the weather...... first thing I did when I arrived here was taking of my long trousers and sweater to change into shorts and t-shirt. For sure I will have a nice sun tan again in a few days time.

Tomorrow someone from Vacansoleil is passing by to help me connect the gasbottles AND more important to fix the water! and then it's time for me to get 22 mobilhomes ready for arrival. The lady of the campsite is really nice and speaks also a bit of English, so now we communicate in Frenchlisch, a mix of French and English. I did bring my French study books and I told Muriel (the owner) that I am learning French and she said she would help me to start speaking it. That would be nice.

Well, I guess that was it for now. Soon I hope I will have some pictures to show you and maybe a bit more to tell. In the meantime, take care and speak to you soon again.

Love Rita

Finally, my program is set, so I have something to report

Hello everybody,

I see this is the first time this year that I am using this site again. Mainly because I had not much to write about. Just pottering around during the wintertime.

But..... Now I do have something to tell: finally my program for this season is set. Today I signed the contract again with Vacansoleil and this is the program:

The 26th of March I will get in my car from Zutphen towards the Drome in France. There I will work for about 6 weeks on the campsite Soleil le Fruitee. I have to get the mobilhomes on that campsite ready for the season and probably the first arrivals I also will take care off.

The 12th of May I will be moving: on my way to the campsite where I will be for the rest of the season as courier: Campsite Chateau de l'Eouviere in Montmeyan, Provence, France.

I am really looking forward to work on that campsite for the season. It will be the first year of Vacansoleil on this site, so I am counting on it that all the material will be brand new. Also this season on this campsite I will be working with the Ottawa tent, the tents are a bit bigger AND they have a wooden floor. Yeh, yippie. So much more easy to get all the furniture level and so much nicer to work with during the season.

Also Campingkids will be there during the highseason, so enough to do for the kids.

I believe it is a very beautiful area, nice for bike riding, water rafting (dingy or canoe), climbing, only one hour drive away from the France Southcoast (Marseille 1 hour, Frejus 1 hour), so as said, I am counting on having a great season. Only, it would be even more fantastic if I could receive some/many guests from the last two years. Maybe you don't feel like staying on this small scale campsite, but maybe to make a stopover for a few days on your way to Italy? I for sure would be delighted.

Well, that is the news so far. Of course I will keep you posted when I am settled in France.

26-03-2012: driving to Chateauneuf sur Isere, Drome, France Working on campsite Le Soleil Fruitee until 11-05-2012.

12-05-2012/27-09-2012: Chateau de l'Eouviere in Montmeyan, Provence, France.

A bientot I hope

Lots of love

Rita

Happy New Year, Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, Bonne Joelle,

Hello my dear Friends,

I want to wish all of you loads of shooting stars for 2012.

Every evening I look up at the stars, thinking of all of you and wishing you all love, health, friendship, the ingredients for happiness.

So, for 2012, just look up at the stars, spot a shooting star and make your dreams come true!

Lots of love, Rita

Hallo lieve Allemaal,

Ik wil jullie allemaal heel veel vallende sterren wensen.Elke avondkijk ik omhoog naar de sterren, denkend aanjullie en jullie liefde, vriendschap, gezondheid, de ingrediënten voor geluk toewensend... Dus, voor 2012, kijk naar de sterren, ziedie vallende ster en maak je dromen waar.

Liefs, Rita.

Ich will euchviele Sternschnuppen wunschen. Jeden Abend sehe ich zu den Sternen hinauf und denke an euch alle und wünsche Ihnen Liebe, Freundschaft, Gesundheit, die Zutaten für das Glück zu.. Also, für das Jahr 2012, schau hinauf zu den Sternen, sehe eine Sternschnuppe und machenIhre Träume wahr.

Mit Liebe, Rita.

Voglio augurare a tutti voi carichi di stelle cadenti, ogni sera guardo le stelle, pensando a tutti voi e augurarvi tutto l'amore, l'amicizia, la salute, gli ingredienti per la felicità .. Quindi, per il 2012, basta guardare le stelle, posto una stella cadente e fare i vostri sogni.

Je tiens à vous souhaiter à tous de charges d'étoiles filantes; tous les soirs je regarde les étoiles, en pensant à vous tous et vous souhaite tout l'amour, l'amitié, la santé, les ingrédients du bonheur .. Ainsi, pour 2012, il suffit de regarder les étoiles, repérer une étoile filante et que vos rêves deviennent réalité.

Θ?λω να ευχηθ? σε ?λους σας τα φορτ?α των διαττ?ντων αστ?ρων. Κ?θε βρ?δυ κοιτ?ζω τα αστ?ρια, σκ?φτεται ?λους εσ?ς και να σας ευχηθ? ?λη την αγ?πη, τη φιλ?α, την υγε?α, τα συστατικ? για την ευτυχ?α .. ?τσι, για το 2012, μ?λις δο?με τα αστ?ρια, επιτ?που ?να πεφταστ?ρι και να κ?νετε τα ?νειρ? σας πραγματικ?τητα.

?
????????????????????????????????????????????..???2012???????????????????????

Azt akarom, hogy szeretnék mindenkit, rengeteg shooting stars, minden este felnézek a csillagokra, gondolok mindannyian, és akik akkor minden szeretet, a barátság, az egészségügy, az összetev?k a boldogságot .. Így 2012-re, csak nézz fel a csillagokra, helyszínen egy hullócsillag, és álmai valóra válnak

Chc? wam wszystkim mnóstwo zdj?? gwiazd, co wieczór patrz? na gwiazdy, my?l?c o was wszystkich i ?yczymy wszystkim mi?o?ci, przyja?ni, zdrowia, sk?adniki szcz??cia .. Tak wi?c, w roku 2012, po prostu patrze? na gwiazdy, na miejscu spadaj?ca gwiazda i twoje marzenia.

LOVE, HEALTH, FRIENDSHIP = HAPPINESS TO ALL OF YOU!!!

FROM MY HEART, RITA.

Still alive and kicking

Hello everybody,

Yes, I know, a long long time ago. But still alive and kicking.

I didn't had much to write about, plus on top of that not real inspiration to write, so I left it for a long time. In this meantime I have been one week to Crete, which was nice. Catching up with old friends, wonderful sunshine, nice appartment with swimmingpool AND BBQ, this time I could just enjoy it, without being involved in the organization

Then back in Holland again, where I keep myself busy with doing a lot of typingwork through Internet. This time no dictionaires (I couldn't do that anymore) but somewhat interesting stories, an autobiography of a grandpa for his grandchildren, diaries of a great English writer: Evelyn Waugh. Don't worry, I never heard of him before.

Last weekend I have been to Winterberg, Germany. I was invited there for a second job-interview. It is a hughe hotel in Winterberg, owned by Dutch people (from Brabant) and they wanted me (maybe, but not I found out later) for 3 months to run the ski-school. After a first interview in Holland they invited me to come over for Friday and Saturday. It was a real fantastic hotel, but for me it was too big. The salary was very good, so I thought, if they want me I will go, but when the owner called me on Sunday that they employed a younger (??) person, I was not sad at all. More happy actually, so I did not have to go - only for the money. That is not a good reason I know, but for 3 months I could have done it.

This week I got a telephone call from Vacansoleil and they told me that this season they planned me for the campsite Punta Spin, Grado, Italy. First they offered me a campsite in Lloret de Mar, Spain, but I said I preferred to go back to Italy again, so they found me this campsite. I am looking forward to go there, bought already some guides to find out what to do in and around the area. The campsite is right on the beach, with a beach bar, so that will be different then last season, being 'stuck' on a mountainhill.

Tomorrow morning I will fly to England, Birmingham. Finally I am going to visit my very dear friends Pete and Tina. They used to come to Crete all those years, but since I left Crete I haven't seen them anymore, so it was about time I jump on a plane to go and see them. Very excited about it. Sunday late afternoon I will fly back to cold and grey Holland again, where more typing work is awaiting me.

Still surfing the net for a job for the wintermonths. If anyone has a suggestion: I am open for it. Any kind of work, from December till end of March, half of April.

As soon as I am back from England I will surf the internet for more information about the campsite Punta Spin and will let you know about it, if it is interesting enough.

Would of course be great, fantastic, super, if I will see many of you there this season. A nice beach holiday, close to Triest and Venice, nice weather, etc. etc.

For now I will sign off, a bit more typing to do and then time to pack my little suitecase for the weekend.

Wishing that all of you are happy and healthy and...... looking forward to some news from your side? Keep checking my emails, but inbox stays empty..........

Take care, because I care and......... I'll be back on the net soon!!!

Kisses, Bacci bacci, filakia Rita

Hello Holland, Bye Bye Holland

2 Days in Holland was enough for me.

No, just joking, it's not that bad. I enjoyed the few days of sunshine in Holland, but in a few hours I will get on a plane for a short (one week) holiday.

Together with Ineke we are going to terrorise Elounda.......... watch out, here we come!

After 2 years since I left Elounda, this will be the first time for me to go back. This time it will be totally different, the first time that I will a tourist..............

Thanks for the nice reactions. In about ten days you can expect a post from me, with pictures, of the one week Elounda. For now I am going off line, see you again in about ten days.

Ciao, Arrivederci, Yamas, tot gauw. Rita

Definitely the lost post from Italy this season

Well, here I am. Sitting on a terrace in Alessandria, waiting for the train to come.

This morning I left around 12.00 the campsite, what's the use of hanging around any longer and better to be early in Alessandria then racing against the clock. Around 14.00 I arrived at the trainstation and straight away I could check in the car. They told me to come back at 16.00 when the loading would start.

The loading did start around 17.00 and as soon as my yellow monster was locked on the train I went for a walk into Alessandria. So, as said, here I am, sitting on a terrace opposite the trainstation with my last glass of Vino Bianco Secco in Italy.

It was so funny when they checked in the car: they wrote a paper with - in case there was - damages of the car!!!!

You see what I mean, if that was truly the only damage to my yellow monster...........

But the girl only draw two lines of scratches on it. Probably she realized that if she had to mark the dents her Bic would run out of ink and the paper would be black, with an invisible image of the car on it.

Thursday evening I had a nice closure of the season. Renske, she works at the reception of the campsite took me to Allassio, where we met up with some more Dutch ladies. They always meet each other the last thursday of the month and this time I was 'fit' enough to join them. We had a lovely evening at a nice bar situated on the beach of Alassio, the sound of the waves, a fantastic temperature and good company. One of the girls had her 50th birthday earlier this week, so one of the other girls came all dressed up as Sara. You should have seen the faces of some of the people passing by.

Sara in Alassio!!!

Then yesterday I had a lazy day, packing all my stuff in a way so I could get it on the car leaving the rear window free. And I succeeded. Around 18.00 when the sun was setting behind the mountains my sight was drawn towards the church on the mountain opposite the campsite. The sight made me wonder: would the people who build the church ever have realized how the light was 'attracted' straight on the front door to light up the Madonna?

(Sorry, forget to turn it, but anyway you see the LIGHT....)

One of the best views to close my stay at C'era una Volta, don't you agree?

Don't know if I wrote about my nose? Well, my last working day I was in kind of a fight with some non-moving, not cooperating objects of one of the last tents and I ended up getting smacked in my face with it. Aughhhhhhhhh, luckely I was wearing my glasses, otherwise maybe it would have been even worse. For 3 days now I am walking around with a kickboxers nose and slowly it turns more and more black. Wonder how long it will take before the 'nice' colouring of my nose will be gone. But, at least it is not broken, I think.

Well, my dear friends, I think it's about time to insert the pictures and then close my laptop, ready to walk to the station to get on the train, which will be arriving around 19.00. Tomorrow morning at 05.35 I will be in Neu Isenburg (Frankfurt) from where it will be a 3 hour drive to Eindhoven where my family is waiting for me.

Will catch up with you soon again and of course I will keep you updated about my 'adventures' during the winter and plans for the next season. Once again thanks for your friendship

Ciaoooooooooooooooooooooo

No more welcome, but for the moment GOODBYE , Arriverderci Bella Italia

Ciao, baci baci Rita

The only proper way to close the Pini season..........yep, a BBQ!

At the moment I have only 4 tents left with guests at Pini. Me, myself and I am staying in a mobilhome since one week; the camping gave me a key and I could not resist the luxury after living 5 1/2 months in a tent: my own shower and toilet, a 4 pits cooker, running water........... wow!

But the week before still all the 13 tents at Pini were occupied plus 3 tents on the terraces.

And what would be a better closure of the season then one more time a BBQ?

First I was too busy with still so many guests and the preparation for making the tents ready for transport, but then Mark tent 5 arrived! The first he said when he got out of the car was: and... when is the Pini BBQ?

Mark tent 5 (I called him this way, because he always introduced himself as Mark tent 5 on the phone).

That was on Saturday and on Monday I had to agree with his idea: time for another bbq. I delegeted the organization to Joyce and Marietha (tent 6), so I could continue the packing up and all the other things to do when there are still so many guests around.

Joyce made a round to ask who wanted to join in and all except 2 tents were joining us.

Joyce, the organizer, Thanks sweety xxxxx

She collected the money and together with Marietha they went for shopping. Without them I don't think we would have had such a wonderful pleasant evening. Thanks ladies!!!!

The men collected the bbq of the bar and tried to get the fire burning................

Mark and Chris, trying to get the fire ready........

Yeh, yeh, a bit of smoke, but the meat is cooking..........

What you mean..... smoke? Where??????????? (Chris and Ron)

The ladies all have been busy with preparing the side-dishes, which resulted in a tasteful table: a yummie pasta-tuna salad, tomato-mozarella-basilicum, bowl, a fresh fruit salad, green salad, sauces, bread, and of course......... peanutbutter sauce (sate saus, thanks Freek and Charlotte, with every bite I had you in mind:) ).

Also the kids had a good time and we spend a lovely evening with tasty food, tasty drinks :) until around midnight. As said: could not think of a better way to go towards the end of another season at Pini!!!!

Mark and Karen taking care of the 'decorations'

And Hugo was - as always - smiling...........

R and J brought a 'small' bottle of wine...................

This last week I have been very busy with rapping up things for the transport. OMG it's hard work, doing it all on my own. Stef is missed, and also his company. On the other hand, in the evenings I am too tired to be in the mood for company or to go somewhere, so also for that reason it is great of the camping that I can stay in the mobilhome.

Guess I have been overdoing it a bit: taking the double-beds out the inners, stacking up the single beds, taking down the inners and all the rest of the materials in the tents. Since two days now I can hardly use my left hand - think this hand is trying to tell me to slow down :). Which I did, still finishing of the other tents, but leaving the beds now as they are - not 20 anymore and I want to be able to drive home in a week (first of october). Instead I am now walking all the chairs and tables to the store-tent as a kind of making up because nothing wrong with my legs (yet).

Well all my dear friends, not sure if I will post something more from Pini, otherwise you will hear from me again when I am on the road again.

I would like to thank all the fantastic guests I had the pleasure to meet this season and for your warmth and friendship. Thanks to you all I once again had a fantastic season here at C'era una Volta. Gracie and baci baci........................

P.S. Anyone who has also photo's, you can send them to my email: [email protected] and I can post them, to share with all of you. xxxxxxxxxxx