New Year Good Wishes from Alde ambassador Nigel

In December 2023, Kay and I (becoming creatures of habit!) were due to have our “usual” week in the caravan in York, from where I would have sent you all our good wishes for Christmas and the New Year. However, nature put a stop to that.

We arrived at the campsite which is located right next to the River Ouse and by the end of the evening the Christmas decorations were up in the caravan, and we’d enjoyed a glass of “festive spirit”! Little did we know what was to come.

Having set the Delayed Start function on the Alde system, we headed into the city for a wander around the shops and to revisit some of the historic sites. Walking back to the caravan in the mid-afternoon we were surprised to see several motorhome and car/caravan outfits leaving the campsite (you must leave by 11:15 due to the narrow access roads). At the gate, we were greeted by the Site Warden who informed us that they had received a telephone call from the Environment Agency saying that they expected the campsite to flood that night, so everyone had to leave. It’s not the first time that we’ve either had to leave or been cancelled prior to arriving. Disappointing, but sadly a hazard of that particular campsite’s location. We’ve already booked to return next year!

So, whilst we haven’t been able to enjoy that stay, it has given me time to reflect upon this past year and the adventures that we’ve experienced.

You might remember that we took delivery of our current caravan two days before we had the trip to York in December 2022? Although the caravan is very well equipped, over the past year the superb Alde system has been enhanced with the addition of a Battery Back-Up, an Outside Temperature Sensor and the brilliant AquaClear water purification system, all of which add to our holidaying convenience and in the case of the AquaClear, potential safety because it doesn’t matter where (within reason) our water comes from, it will be pure at the taps.

Throughout the year, we experienced all kinds of weather and temperatures. We had snow and frost in the colder months, and then had been very glad of the Truma Air-Conditioning that links seamlessly with the Alde system to give full Climate Control at warmer times. I was lucky enough to be involved in a trip that took caravans/motorhomes into the Sahara Desert earlier in the year, and we could have done with Climate Control there!

I’ve now mastered the various settings on the new Alde 3030 system, all of which work brilliantly, and as we know, the Alde heating system is not only so versatile, but is pure luxury.

Although 2023 didn’t end in quite the caravanning way that we’d wished for, we look forward to more adventures in 2024.

To that end, may Kay and I wish you all a very happy and blessed 2024 wherever your travels take you.

Nigel Hutson

Nigel Hutson, a lifelong caravanner from Chesterfield, Derbyshire in England. Purchased his first caravan in 1984 and has since then toured the UK and Continent on a regular basis, alongside his wife Kay. In addition to being a husband, he is also a father and grandfather.

Since retiring from the police in 2011 Nigel has become a regular contributor to various caravan and motorhome publications, as “someone who enthusiastically writes about their hobby rather than a journalist”. Nigel is also a keen musician, enjoys travelling and has a great interest in all forms of transport… and he is a Manchester City fan.