Exhausting week

We went away last Sunday (20th September) for a break and to see family which we have been looking to. Bandit was dropped off at the kennels at 10 am and was quite happy to be left as he knows he has play dates most of the day. He is also very spoiled. When Rick got back we left straight away as it was a long journey and we didn’t know how my back would cope with being in the car for so long. As it turned out we had our usual two stops, one for a toilet break and a meal, the second just for a toilet break.

The first night was spent at a Premier Inn as we thought the extra night would be helpful for having extra rest. It was a lovely room but the double bed was too high for me to get on so Rick went down and asked if we could make up the single bed . The staff agreed to that and came up to make it as we would have been charged otherwise which was very kind of them.

The following day we took the short journey to the Haven site where the ‘fun’ started. When I made (online) I added that we are disabled which I thought was self-explanatory that we would need a disabled friendly van. Earlier this year we were given one. Unfortunately when we got to the caravan it had steps with the first being quite high and short plus I knew I would have problems getting up them.

Rick went to reception to see if we could have a different caravan or a ramp to make it easier for me to get into it. The person who he spoke to admitted that I had put down we are disabled but he couldn’t move us to a disabled friendly caravan and they don’t have temporary ramps on the grounds of health and safety. Whilst I understand the health and safety rules it doesn’t take into the health and safety of the customer so it was a case of put up or go home. I didn’t want to stay but knew it wouldn’t be helpful for when I complained in writing.

It made me very miserable having to go up and down the steps which was difficult and painful. Then the second problem came up which was the double bed. It was difficult getting down the side of it due to lack of space and in the other bedroom it was difficult to get down the middle for the same reason. I spent the next three nights lying across the bottom of the bed which was lumpy..

It was good though to catch up with Rick’s eldest sister, my sister, brother in law, youngest niece and three youngest children. Her youngest is 4 and has been diagnosed as non-verbal autism – he is adorable. We also met up with the youngest niece on Rick’s side and her 4 month old baby. He is a happy baby and enjoyed all the attention.

By Thursday we had had enough of the discomfort in the caravan so left. It was a relief to get home and be back in our own beds which is sad considering I have a hospitable bed. By Saturday morning I had sent an email of complaint to Haven and they have 21 days to reply.