Bailey Phoenix

I was very lucky to be invited to the launch of the new line of caravans from Bailey. They where founded in 1948 and is the longest established uk independent manufacture. This year 2018 is their 70th anniversary! Happy anniversary Bailey!

Phoenix

So if you have followed me for a while you will know I love retro, from dresses, cars and caravans. Here I was looking around a brand new caravan. I have never been a fan of white boxes, old vans, have so much colour and clever ideas. Having said that, I was wowed by the new Phoenix vans. They had really thought out the layouts, offering a lot of different set ups. Keeping the vans in neutral tasteful colours, means they are really easy to personalise. 

Sitting down in the 650 (above) I really fell for the large front window. Walking into the vans, gave me such a relaxed light feeling and others joked that I wouldn't need to scrub and paint down a chassis! I do think though it would be easy to put your stamp on these vans, also very easy to live with the calming colours they come in. 

You can pay extra for dressing pack, which includes the throw pillows and blanket above.

The range: 

Starting with the two berth Phoenix 420 

There are four different layouts with 4 berths, Phoenix 440, 640, 642 and 644.

Phoenix 440

Phoenix 640

Phoenix 642

Phoenix 644

They have one layout for their five berth.

Phoenix 650

Also a six berth with this layout. 

Phoenix 760

If you need help on picking which one is the perfect layout for you, they do have a way of comparing on their website. Click here for a link to their site.

So which one would I pick!?


Phoenix 650

I think I would go for the 650, I love the bunk beds. I would leave them up in the day so each child had a place to chill if they wanted. That would also mean I would only have one bed to make up each night. Making good use of outdoor dinning if I wanted to leave up the bed ;) Am not sure how I would get on with a rear bathroom but my children are good sleepers so I don't think it would be a problem walking passed them in the night. I like that I would close a partition to where the children where sleeping if I was up later, cooking etc. They have really thought out layout, keeping the vans clear looking yet inviting. 

They do stand out from the rest of the modern white boxes, with the huge front window and clean lines of the outside design. 

I like that they have opted for a side storage locker and kept the front clear. 

I must say there was a lot that I liked. Simple, ready to go, easy to use, well thought out. I was also surprised how much they had fitted into this prize bracket. These vans didn't feel like entry level caravans, they didn't feel basic. Just ready to go and easy to add too. 

The price range is £16,699 - £19,999. 

If you look at the price of a new car, and think about what you are getting for the money I was really impressed. Is it out of my range, yes, but I still think its not a huge amount of money when you look at the cost of just one holiday! 

I just looked up the cost of a weeks holiday for a family of four, one week (let that sink in, just one week.) In August is between £2605-4447 for just one week! 


Ok so when you take your new van away you have a few other costs, insurance (this is not a legal requirement but I highly recommend it!) Possibly storage costs, petrol and site fees. Having said that, once you have your van, you can go away as many nights as you want, every weekend! Just for a few weeks, heck you can do like I have and have her on the drive and just sit and have a coffee brake in her when its been a stressful day! You can stay on sites from five pounds a night, up too about 30-40. Join a club and go on rallies, building life long friendships for you and your children. You can go away on your own, with your partner or your whole family, getting extra sleeping room in the awning. A caravan is freedom! From just staying in a site up the road or traveling the world, once you have your van you can holiday your way! 

Even with my huge love of vintage van, I can still see so much I love in these new Phoenix caravans. Well done Bailey you have impressed me, will these vans make me think of a modern van....maybe...I think I need to stay in one to compare. I do have room on the drive for another ;) 

Thank you so much to Bailey for inviting me to have a look around the new range. 

Click here to check out their website.

If your looking for your first van, I highly recommend having a look around this well thought out range. 

Take me away

Take me away, far away.

From the sun, from the sea.

Take me away, far away.

From your eyes, from your stare.

Take me away, far away. 

From the moon, from the stars.

Take me away, far away.

From the breeze, from the waves.

Take me away, far away. 

From the dark, from the cold.

Take me away, far away.

From the secrets, from the dreams.

Take me away, far away. 

From your love, from your pain.

Take me away, far away.

Never explain.

First weekend away in Margo!

Titchfield Abbey


My first weekend away without my mini people, Margo's first tow in over 20 years, first time Ditto my Volvo had towed, first time with a new A-Frame!! 

Also (not including driving Daisy onto the drive once) only my second tow! So as you can imagine, I was a little worried! If I couldn't do it, now being on my own, what would I do, no way I could give up on caravanning! 

Well, we all knew she would, Ditto towed like it was no big deal. Margo bumbled along behind with no bother and me, well I spent the whole drive with the BIGGEST smile on my face!! Me towing, check me out doing it! As soon as I pulled off the drive (thank you so much to the boys next door who helped me with her stuck jockey wheel) I felt elated and free. Now I knew I could take my children anywhere and not have to worry that I was now on my own. Don't get me wrong am not living on cloud 9, thinking that towing and caravanning as a single mother is going to be a bed of roses but at least I know that I can do it! 

She may need a lot more work, but wow am so proud of Margo and me! In this photo you can even notice I haven't finished painting her legs, as it was too hard to get to them at the back (she was mega close to the house) also she has a lightening board on the back as I need to do more work to her lights :) 

I have to say a HUGE shout out to my best mate James, am very lucky that I have a few best friends who means the world to me and this guy is one of them! 

 Its been a very hard few months, but he has come over and helped to keep Ditto (my 1985 Volvo 240) safe and on the road. Helped me out loads with Margo too, knowing how desperate I was to get away he came over to help get her ready in time. Huge thank you to everyone who has been there for me, messaged me everly day to remind me to eat, or just check in on me. All the people who have turned up with gifts to make me smile and given up their time just to let me talk and help me get through it. Thank you to you all. All my wonderful twitter followers who have checked in on me too! Thank you!!

Wanna make me smile like this? Tell me I can have a drive of your classic car! Thanks James, made my weekend having a go in Bluebell! I can't wait to film her for you all, just a few jobs he would like to finish so she is perfect for her tour! 

I love going on a Retro Caravan Club rally, as its like stepping back in time. Here is Ditto, my 1985 Volvo 240 with Margo my 1967 Sprite Major and Bluebell, Morris 1970 (am going to get shot if I have got this right but I can't remember if she is 1970 or 1972, I bet I am well out now I have written it down) and Maranda 1968 Sprite Major. 

Me and my bestie went for a walk around the beautiful Abby, which is free to do and then for a drive in his amazing Moggy!

As you can see, Margo still has loads to do and even currently has a lightening board on but she's on the road and being used for the first time in more than 20years! 

I have only 2 more curtains to make (I ran out of backing) Its so wonderful to get all my bits in the caravan and what I have found is there is so much room and storage!! LOADS. Its fun to try things in different places to see what would work and fit where.

Had a lovely view of the Abby from my van too! 

She is completely perfect for me and my three mini people. I couldn't have picked or found a more perfect van. 

She still needs another coat of paint on the walls and ceiling, loads of jobs but she's rolling on her own wheels and new a-frame! 

Am a little in love with the Babycham beer mat...this may go for a walk about to my van if he's not careful...

Yes this has been my first chance in years to have a drink with friends......

So after I cooked dinner in my Major, we headed back for drinks in James. 

When I say drinks, I mean a LOT of Babycham.

I was feeling pretty sleepy the next day, but my eyes where green which means I was showing how happy and relaxed I was in the van.

What do you do when your away without your mini people, take loads of photos of your self it would seam! Am not used to being in the videos of when we have gone away, so I wanted to make sure I was in this one! 

I spent the most part of Sunday, laying in the sun drinking coffee and playing records. I don't remember the last time I was truly this relaxed. 

If you don't have a sun lounger, get one, wow! It was so lovely! 

It was lovely to chill out and we had our pick of Majors to sit in! I loved looking for the small differences in just one year. Drawers are so different in the 1968 compared to mine! 

The fabric is just so perfect and you would think it came with the van, so different to my yellows in Margo. 

Lots more work to do on Margo but so worth it. Just one night away and it was like the world had lift from me. I can't wait to get traveling in her this year and to finish a few more jobs on her! 

Am truly lucky to have such wonderful friends and this one is pretty much my little brother. Thank you for all your help with Margo!

Here is my video! 

Mini Glen 1971 - Retro Caravan Tour

Daisy 

Mini Glen 1971

Christine has rebuilt this beautiful little Mini Glen. Putting her own clever touches and details. Truly beautiful charming little caravan! 

She even made the beautiful canopy! 

She rebuilt the kitchen, walls, even window catches! One of a kind caravan, even though she's small she feels light and bright inside. Still cozy and welcoming! 

***Video Coming soon***