As the last of the small challenges are addressed, we feel as though Dylan is almost bulletproof; well, winter-proof at least. With the internal painting completed, a new slide-out pantry cupboard, log burner flue, and diesel heater; Rob, Billy, and I are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Which is good because as I write this, a good dump of snow is expected in mid-Canterbury this weekend, and I am quite excited. However, we still haven’t found a spot in Christchurch to park up for the next year or so, and until then, Dylan will stay with friends in Methven, and we will split our time between there and Christchurch. Once the house is demolished by about August, we will have to have secured a park-up spot in Christchurch, though – feel free to get in touch if you know of somewhere that may be suitable for a 10.5m house bus called Dylan, a small Suzuki called Edith, and a greyhound called Billy.

We’ve reached a couple of important milestones this month, including Dylan being ready for the onslaught of winter. Rob and I also decided to completely review our new house build. Apart from the fact that the costings of the new house plans came back at almost 50 per cent more than we have budgeted, there are increasing concerns about when building could actually start and finish. We’ve decided to go ‘prefabricated’. I can’t say much more than that right now, but we are looking at a couple of companies after two others were so busy work-wise that they couldn’t take any more clients this year. Sounds like quite a few people are thinking as we are. We’re going smaller (I call it cosier), single storey, and solar.

Bus living means we are used to smaller spaces and love not having a whole lot of ‘stuff’. In fact, we’ve discovered there’s very little we really need. Just to be dry and warm with no weird humming noises in the electrics and good Wi-Fi so we can watch the upcoming second part of Stranger Things.

Bring on the snow, we're ready!