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Where to begin?! Having taken on Nigella in the Autumn, my first winter, when often teaching away from home and having to stay in her overnight, would be what I'd call one hell of an endurance test. Profaning to anybody who'd listen that my campervan was the best thing, (besides my daughters), that had ever happened to me; the reality was that after little sleep, I'd wake up on freezing cold mornings with icy water dripping down the rusty roof struts onto my bedding and with a strong smell of damp that I could never extricate from either my van or my nostrils. Then I'd teach for 8 hours, crawl back exhausted into the van, pull out the damp duvet and pray for a better nights sleep. Oh the glamour! (Tip - if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, get a mighty little ceramic heater, a decent electric fleece blanket and a dog to snuggle).
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It became blindingly obvious that my first major renovation had to be a new roof, one that not only didn't leak but that would lift up revealing a platform underneath, big enough to fit a small double mattress on. No more damp I thought and no more having to sleep surrounded by baskets full of tools and soaked willow… In late Spring 2019 Space Roofs, based local to me in Okehampton Devon, performed the what seemed to me, miraculous major operation. I gained a glowing teal colour pop top roof, a roof of ones own with a view and much peace of mind.
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To me, it was obvious that my first statement willow piece had to be a new spare wheel tyre cover. What other better way could there be to announce Nigella’s arrival and to announce my intention of renovating Nigella, than by crafting everything I could in willow and rush, and moreover, use only traditional English techniques and inspiration to do so? An underfoot tied slath basket base is little practiced anymore anywhere in the UK, but had been used by commercial basketmakers for centuries to create bases for anything from small fruit baskets to large farm and fishing baskets. Having only ever once made this type of base once before, (although now 2 years on whenever I can I teach this English method), I followed the only instructions that I could find in the small pamphlet book “Baskets and Basketmaking” by Alastair Heseltine published in 1982. Adjusting the large withy butt base instructions to size, after a couple of attempts in which to get the “dome” height right, I squeezed the base into the spare wheel cover and was incredibly relieved when it fitted!
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Using chemical white willow, (buff willow that has been bleached white in colour), though less environmentally friendly than I would wish, this has enabled longevity. Natural white willow quickly greys and degrades when outside but, 2 1/2 years on, Nigella’s spare wheel cover has mellowed to a lovely creamy colour, standing the test of time and ahem a few bumps - after all this is my campervan's version of a bonus bumper!