Summer...maybe

Nearly a month since my last post here, must have been busy! May seems to have been a good month for us, even with slightly questionable weather...like snow. But, it seems people have decided to risk it and get out the house to embrace what the Lake District has to throw at them, which, at the time of writing, is a lot of water. The bank holiday weekend was a good one, good for me because I took lots of money, but good for you guys due to the cloudless sky's and (relatively) high temperatures.

Now the rain is back, though I think only for a couple of days, but we still seem to have a steady stream of customers. Could be tricky when a nice big pallet arrives this week that I have to unload, sort and price, all the time making sure the customers get top service! With more deliveries due, I am hoping that this isn't all the summer we are getting, because if it is, then we will have a some what large end of season sale. Another reason I am hoping the sun will make another prolonged appearance, aside from the obvious joy it brings, is that we have finally got someone to take on the job of camper van welding and painting. Something which has been in the pipeline for nearly two years! And with a baby on the way, it will be handy income! Keep watching for the updates of this progress here.

One of my favourite new products, though not as exciting as the sit mat, is the 12 volt coffee maker, ideal for getting a fresh brew on move! Though I wouldn't want to attempt it on the M6 with out some assistance. Everyone likes a nice brew, so this machine (only £24.99) means that where ever you are, you can have a taste of the good stuff and get perked up for your day ahead. Smashing.

One of my favourite bits of kit...

So having access to a lot of top quality equipment means I am never short of the right stuff for most situations. I can also see which ones actually benefit me the most, and yes there is always place for my Jet Boil, sometimes I'll take the humble Uno stove for a brew up in car park, or for a week away it's the double burner and grill. Three sleeping bags at home plus a whole raft of bags to choose from depending on the temperature and how lightweight I want to go. Tents? Yep, got that covered, 1 man, 2 man, 4 man, and 6 man, choosing based on how friendly feel at the time. Comfy chairs, bright lights, nice knives, got em all but none of these is my favourite, and not one of these things gets taken on every trip. My favourite item comes with me on every trip, one is in the car and left there so it's always with me, it has a whole range of uses but it's main purpose is in the name. The sit-mat. Yes a piece of foam costing no more than £2 is one of my top pieces of outdoor equipment, I love it! Going for a hike? Get the sit mat on the outside of the bag, always somewhere comfy and dry to sit. Camping? Always have it handy for kneeling on when lighting the BBQ or fire on the ground. Ground too rough to safely use your lightweight stove? Pop it on a sit mat! Need to check out a weird noise under your car on the way to a wedding? Kneel on a sit mat, save your best suit for only £2! It will always be useful, and it shows that the simplest things are usually the best. The design can't be improved, technology can't make it perform better, faster or stronger, it's just a piece of high density foam that is there to improve your life. So get one. Get three if you want, just have it ready for your next time outside!