Well, best start by telling you what the hell this blog is all about. Nope, its not about the life and times of Ian Jeffery and his many random train journeys and photographic exploits, but about Olive the 1975 Bay Window VW Camper Van!

The story starts in a dark place and dreary place, otherwise known as Vic's (my "other half") place of work. She receives a mysterious and rather urgent phone call from Mr Preston (Vic's dad) informing her of the fact that there is a 1975 Bay View Window VW Camper Van (long winded name, I know you all know them as "Bays" but I thought for the un-Volkswagen obsessed i would make it clear!) for sale for £500!!!!!!!!!

I sit quietly at my desk in work, probably drinking coffee and probably laughing at some event, when i feel a strange vibration in my pocket...its my phone! And surprise surprise, for the 10,000th time that day, its Vic ringing me. The dulcet tones of Bristolian yocal bellows down the line, excitedly informing me of the fact that "there is a bay for sale for £500!!!!". Aghast, and somewhat suspicious, i ask more details, "how, where, why, with what, what colour, what engine and what are we having for tea tonight?"

Turns out this dude who works with Vic is selling a Bay which has been sat in his barn for 8 years for £500! We excitedly find more details and decide, in our wisdom to pursue this strange and possibly scary bus to its home.

So bank holiday Friday, sun blazing down, temperature getting hot, clouds running away, is the day in question we decide to go and see this mysterious creature.

We set off, in Vic's smart, my shoes are off, i sit back, put said feet up and relax to the soothing vibrations of the 600cc, 3 cylinder, cabriolet black and silver beast. All the while getting irritated by the crap music that Vic's ipod is spewing out and wondering if maybe barefoot is the way to go...hmmm.

Anyways, bank holiday Friday, us heading down to Bridgewater, good idea huh...i think not! Traffic everywhere, we get held up and cover 8 miles in 2 hours, we also get lost, blame AA routemaster, not me, its not my fault the instructions are wrong, we also didn’t have a map, wise move, again not my fault that i left it in my Beetle.

We ring the Bay man, tell him we going to be late, this is not looking good, how can we possibly get there on time, the traffic is jammed, every man and his dog, with matching collar and tag combo, is out and about today, I can see the trees wilting under the pressure of carbon monoxide as it spews out from Euroboxes and bloody 4x4's as they sit there idling whilst their owners wonder if possibly, using the new Cupornol spray which is new out, would have been better than trying to battle through the traffic on such a gorgeous day.

After much faffing about and direction changing we approach the Bay mans house...excitement turns to shear fear and nervousness...what would we find...would we find anything...would we get ravaged by rabid wild dogs...or worse...rabid wild Bridgewater yocals????

You shall find out tomorrow...