Getting a bit worried now

Another night of disappointment. Not only because Liverpool lost again, but mostly because I didn't manage yet again to get on with that list. The task of documenting everything I need to do before I can even contemplate taking 4 children and a wife on a 1,000 mile roadtrip was doomed the second I opened the box containing my latest toy; a video recorder! I thought we needed one (like we needed the reversing camera) so I bought an 'entry level' model from Superdrug of all places and spent most of last night mucking about with it. I wasted at least half an hour before reminding myself about the user manual thing and after that it got a lot easier. It only cost 70 quid and so far, I'm well chuffed with it. Of course, it's only got 32mb of memory but you can increase that to 1gb by adding a SD card. The nearest rival I could find was in Curry's at £250! Anyway, I thought it would be great fun to record a daily video diary of where we are, how we are getting on, what we have been up to and how we are feeling. So far, I haven't been able to upload a movie file yet, but I'm sure I'll get around that and soon be updating you with moving pictures.

Back to that list. It's still worrying me. There are now things on there (or there would be if it existed) which require urgent attention, otherwise I will run out of time. For example, there are a few bits I need to buy still and Ebay sits waiting, but if I don't get on with ordering them soon, I know I'll have to make another expensive trip to the caravan outlet and/or Halfords. What worries me more though are the things I don't have that I don't know I need yet. There's bound to be some which hopefully I can pick up on the way.

I've been receiving a surprising amount of email from people willing to offer advice. I haven't received any bad advice yet (although obviously I wouldn't know one way or the other), so I am very, very grateful. It is odd to think that buying a Motor Home was only an idea created by my wife about a month ago. We went full in at the deep end without any research at all other than in relation to which model van suited us best and thereafter ensuring we got a good deal for it. We never once considered there would be so much to think about and learn and maybe after this trip we won't think there ever was a lot to worry about or learn. However, right now, 12 days before we leave to drive on roads and stay at places we didn't even know existed, it seems like we have an awful lot to learn still. It's a combination of excitement and fear like a strangely concocted 50p mixed bag.

I've spent ages on the website forum. There is mention of lots of other resources for information on other sites, but presently I can't even cope with the information download from just one site let alone others. Every question I have ever asked has been answered, typically within an hour. I wish I had that sort of resource available in my business life. The help I've received has made me feel far more comfortable about the safety of the stops I intend to make although I got a bit confused earlier about whether a place was being recommended or not. I've asked another question.

I will definitely get on with that list tonight. I've got no choice. The one factor which still taunts me however and which will dominate the final content of the list is weight. I've learned that the E495 doesn't have great payload and although Mrs.F thinks I'm mental for keep waffling on about it, I know we are going to have to be careful, very careful. It isn't helped that I can't find a weighbridge near me to prove my point. More on that another time.