Privacy? Too Bored to Notice...

Mrs. F raised the issue of privacy yesterday. She is concerned that with six of us living in such a small space for quite a long time, we might not find the private space we all need from time to time. Not just the parents' child free space but also the kids' parent free space. I guess what she means is that any one of us might get on each other's nerves at any point and won't have anywhere to hide from each other or from any boredom.

At home, everyone has their own room and can come and go (or be sent) as moods dictate. However, in the van, we will have a choice of two small areas whilst on the move. And even when we stop, I'm not sure how comfortable we will find leaving the kids alone with the van or for us to let the kids wander off from the van alone. I think she has a valid concern but I don't think there's anything I can do to address it.

Initially, I gave no thought to privacy and discarded any concept of boredom for the kids during the trip. However, I soon learned from the Haynes Manual of Motor Homes that power will not be available to the habitation part of the van (something to do with electromagnetic fields which could interfere with the vehicle's electronics such as ABS, like during take-off on a plane). This means the kids will not be able to watch videos or DVD's or the telly as we go along. It's not a problem for us oldens because we will have the scenery to enjoy and traffic to keep us busy (or we can watch a DVD on the reversing camera if we're really that desperate). But, for the kids, there are only so many games of 'I spy' anyone can tolerate and even though we have invented a new game of 'Caravan Car Spotting' (in which the first one who sees and calls out '"Caravan Car" gets a point), I think they will need some extra stimulating entertainment.

I have, therefore, 'borrowed' a lap top from work and, in addition to Auto Route 2007, installed several movies and games on to it which should keep them entertained a bit. Although the battery on the Lappy is very good, it won't last long enough between charges so I have ordered a flexible 12v fag lighter extension lead and a power adaptor which cost less than 20 quid in all. That should help the boredom although I doubt it will remove the 'I can't see' or 'he's sitting too close' or 'tell him to stop looking at me like that' type of spats kids insist on having in a vehicle. Apart from providing entertainment of the digital kind, I have invested in a few board games and card games too. I'm looking forward to seeing how they cope with the entertainment we had to put up with when we were forced to sit in the old man's 1100 Austin for hours on end en route to the seaside etc.

Although I have tried to address the boredom factor, I don't know how to address the privacy factor. Getting up (or in our case, down) for a wee in the night might prove a tad embarrassing for the girls as may wandering around in undergarments for the boys. I think we'll just have to see how we get on and see what happens. But it is a worry. The van will be very cramped at night and unlike our attempted dress rehearsals, we can't just boot one of us out if we can't hack it.

We have given a lot of thought to who is going to sleep where and have organised the sleeping arrangements thus; Mum and Dad are upstairs. Girls are at the back on the side seats, one on either side. Our 5 year old is on the floor between the girls using the 'furniture blocks' to make a mattress, but on the floor, not on the slide out base. Finally, the 16 year old is on the converted kitchen area bed. The consequences of this arrangement not only allows for all of the children to have a separate bed, but as we won't need the slidey out bit for the kitchen bed, I have removed the poles and wooden ends and will leave them behind. That means less weight which means more space for other stuff. The poles are surprisingly heavy and without the wooden end bits, the kitchen area feels much bigger as a result.

There's now only 2 more full days until our first Christmas Day and only 3 days until we leave the UK for two weeks of travelling gypsy posh style. I have got the number of things on my list down to less than 35 and most of the junk I bought during my Ebay spasm has arrived. Some of it might be useful too. If I keep my concentration up and get round to finishing the route, I might even end up clustering some confidence to take with me.