Today I'm measuring up for the kitchen worktop. I've bought a lovely quarter sheet of bamboo plywood and I'm quite nervous about cutting it.

I'm trying to optimise usable worktop space with adequate knee room when I'm sitting on the bench.

This piece of cardboard is currently a little too deep, as I need room to reach into the kitchen storage while the bed is extended. My habit of keeping cardboard boxes, in case they come in handy, has been well justified in this project. 😄

I'm not looking forward to cutting the hole for the sink, but it doesn't have to be a perfect circle.

I secured the kitchen frame to the floor yesterday. Things are starting to come together. 🙂

#PaddyTheCaddy
#VanConversion
#VWCaddy

I decided I needed to stick to a plan and stop dithering when building #PaddyTheCaddy's kitchen.

I'm 85% sure what the design is and maybe 90% sure how I'm going to build that 85%, so I've spent the afternoon carefully re-measuring and constructing simple jigs out of right-angled cardboard boxes, lengths of wood and lots of clamps.

I learnt a lot from making the bed frame and I won't be making those mistakes again. 😄

I needed to get building and let the unknowns sort themselves out along the way.

Tomorrow I'll work out exactly where the floor bolts will go, then screw together the side rails/legs to the floor struts.

I have a nice piece of bamboo to cut for the (split level) worktop.

#VanConversion
#VWCaddy

Making porridge and coffee in a part-converted camper on a Sunday morning. Life doesn't get much better. 😀

#PaddyTheCaddy

@Walkaholic Well done.

I think I've done too much. I've made a loaf (in the breadmaker). Made some Spicy Parsnip soup (in the Slow Cooker). Done lots and lots of thinking about how to build #PaddyTheCaddy's kitchen and now I'm sitting having a mint tea and listening to lawnmowers.

I think I might have a little nap.

I've been going round in circles trying to design #PaddyTheCaddy's kitchen.

I decided that I would use 20x20 Aluminium Extrusion and I've been watching videos and studying the different kinds of connectors and joints.

However, I just don't think I'm clever enough to order the right stuff. Yes, I could phone the friendly and helpful customer service line but I suspect they're more used to dealing with engineers who have a more specific question than "So, what's all this about then?"

About 20 minutes ago I changed my mind and am going to make it out of wood. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. 😄

Wood will be heavier but I can make anything I want. It'll look "homely" but #MyVanMyRules.

#CamperConversion
#VWCaddy

I'm doing the #LDWA #TwoCrosses walk today and I spent the night in #PaddyTheCaddy nearby rather than have a really early start from home.

I am pleased to say that my new bed is very comfortable. 😴

I've made a folding shelf to bridge the gap between #PaddyTheCaddy's bench seat and the folded flat 2nd row seat. This means the bed is long enough to stretch out on.

I need to finish the support struts and I'll need some kind of hook and eye to stop the shelf bobbing about in bench mode when I'm driving.

#VanConversion
#VWCaddy

@Walkaholic I'm going to use the sewing machine to make #PaddyTheCaddy's seat cushions (which double up as a mattress).

There will be some hand-sewing as I need to tack everything together to begin with.

I'm a little nervous but I'll take it slowly and I'm starting with the small cushion so I can make mistakes on the one which is less important.

After mastering carpentry 🪚 I am now embarking on a short qualifying course as a seamstress.

#PaddyTheCaddy
#VanConversion

I've made a bench for #PaddyTheCaddy.

It pulls out in 2 sections to make 3/4 of a bed. The remaining 1/4 will be at this end and built onto a folded down middle row seat.

Bits aren't straight. Some of the joints and screws are woeful and I've already identified things to improve or correct but, overall, I'm well chuffed with that. Look what I made! 😃

#VanConversion
#MicroCamper
#VWCaddy