Conversion work

It had been almost 3 years since I'd sold my flat, and I think the van project was similar - I like making stuff. Too much time sitting behind a desk at work fuels this, building shelving in my shed had given me (misplaced?!) grand ideas. I hadn't decided how much to do myself and how much I would have done professionally - I actually wasn't too fussed by it all, it just needed to be practical to go away in.

Firstly I removed the extra seats in the back - jamming a socket onto the bolts then crawling underneath to undo each one. I also had a go at removing the welded half bulkhead - after hours of slow progress I gave up, demoralised and having had what would turn out to be the first of a few sliced fingers.

Next was to have the windows fitted - I found a mobile windscreen fitter so took it to the garage he worked from. Not that mobile. I told him to mind himself on the sharp bulkhead and we got talking, he offered to have a go at removing it for me. After a couple of hours reading the Sun in a greasy spooner I got a call to say it was ready. I returned to find the guy covered in blood - windows in, bulkhead gone!

It was at this point I decided to take her to Devon for the first time. When my parents first saw my Flat project they'd commented on the nice hotel down the road. They'd obviously learnt from this experience and Bertha was left neglected on the road outside. Grandad on the other hand was bordering on being more excited than me.


The bulkhead had dampened my spirits/been a dose of reality so I decided to have the electrics and lining done professionally. I was starting to get quite attached to her and wanted her to look good.

Next stage was to fit a bike rack - or remove the spoiler to be able to fit the rack. A very carefully placed kitchen knife meant the paint stayed on the van. Along with all the bond stuff.