Emergency Planning

We have just returned from the Derbyshire Centre's 3000th rally and 50 year anniversary weekend.  First and foremost, I have to thank the Committee for a really enjoyable weekend with something for everyone.  I must also commend them for their planning for emergencies during the rally, which, sadly were brought into action.

On Saturday afternoon, a rallier suffered a serious medical emergency.  The contingency planning went swiftly into action with a team headed by a retired paramedic giving CPR.  Chairs were put around the victim and the first aid team to shield them.  The compare for the afternoon's events asked everyone to move back, which request was immediately obeyed, and the crowd stilled automatically.

The emergency ambulance was summoned, and a small team of marshalls cleared the entry to the site, removing cordons and cones to give the ambulance free access.  All other traffic was refused access to the site and parked in an adjacent field.  A marshall with a hi-viz vest stayed at the gate to attract the attention of the ambulance driver.  There were events involving caravans and tents in four fields along the same road.

The situation was so serious that the Air Ambulance was called, and again the marshalls swung into action ensuring that sufficient space was available and that the same guy with the hi-viz vest was able to signal to the helicopter.

The ambulance and air ambulance teams took over care of the victim who was eventually taken to hospital in the ambulance, leaving the helicopter free to deal with other emergencies in the area.

Having watched the way in which the first aiders and marshalls from Derbyshire acted so calmly and effectively, I have to ask the questions - "How prepared are your rally teams?  Do you have qualified first aiders on hand at big events, or even small ones?  Do you offer any advice, training or contingency plans for your club?  If not, should you be thinking about the unthinkable before it happens?

I do not know the outcome of the incident.  It was very obviously serious.  The thoughts and prayers of all the team at Meals in Fields are with the victim, his family and friends.

Why I don't show calorie count

At the recent Yorkshire Regional Meet, I was asked why I don't show the calorie value for each of the recipes.  I was also asked if the recipes are suitable for celiacs and if the local Slimming World counsellor had approved them.  So, here is the long answer for everyone.

Calories
The big problem with calculating the calorie value for any meal is that it relies on very accurate weighing of each ingredient, then serving the correct weight.  Think about serving a meal from a slow cooker.  Does everyone get the same weight of meat?  How about the proportions of different vegetables - are they identical?  Of course not!  If you have no control over proportions of ingredients or portion size, which is the real killer for calorie counters, you cannot begin to even estimate the calorie value of the meal.  Just remember that the real high calorie culprits are fats and carbohydrates - cut those down (not out completely) and you will dramatically reduce the calorie value of your meals.

Celiacs
Your problem is to avoid gluten, found most prolifically in products containing wheat.  So, if the recipe does not contain flour, bread, pasta or breakfast cereals you should find the recipe is more than suitable. Check out the sauces and casseroles on the website, as they are all thickened with cornflour which does not contain gluten - so even these are within your regime.  Something close to 70% of the recipes will fit your needs.

Low Fat
Again, all ingredients are listed so it should not be difficult to see whether or not a recipe has a lot of butter, margarine or lard.  On the whole olive oil, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil are accepted as being very good substitutes for cooking, and stir-frying is one of the best ways of eating healthy low-fat meals.  If you think about it, because you are avoiding fat, eg butter, you will naturally also cut down on carbohydrates because bread without butter is hard to digest, and therefore reduce your calorie count.

Low Carbohydrate
Most of the recipes in the meat, fish and vegetable sections are low carbohydrate - provided that you do not then serve that meal with a pile of potatoes, pasta or rice.  By avoiding bread, pastry, cakes, pies, pasta and rice or at least keeping your helping down you automatically reduce the carbohydrates.  Remember that sugar is also a carbohydrate and generally speaking the one that causes most people to pile on the pounds. You will probably find that your diet naturally reduces in fats as you are not eating the bread and potatoes that would normally be served with butter or deep fried as chips.


The Simple Conclusion
Read the ingredients, and choose those recipes which match your particular eating plan.  The low fat and low carbohydrate options are not mutually exclusive and in fact tend to incorporate much the same meals, particularly those based on fish, chicken and fresh vegetables.


Any meal prepared using fresh produce at home or on holiday will be much healthier and will not contain the added chemicals associated with mass produced 'convenience' foods.  Just read the labels and find out how much sugar is hidden in the "healthy" ranges of pre-packed meals.  It might be hidden as carbohydrate, but just one pack contains more sugar than you would have in a week of eating fresh fish, meat and vegetables.


Remember the old addage "a little of what you fancy does you good." Have a look at your portion size, as that may be the clue to reducing weight.  Try using a smaller plate, it will look full and fool your tum.

I would be interested to hear from the slimming experts, especially with comments on specific recipes which are particularly helpful for different eating plans.

What is healthy eating?

An interesting discussion took place in the pub earlier this week all about healthy eating.  As most women in the group are trying with varying degrees of success to loose weight the pros and cons of vegetarian, low fat, low carb and calorie counting diets ensued.

Having decided that, provided you don't go to extremes either reducing fat or reducing carbohydrates will work for most people, and both are easier than trying to calculate calories. The general agreement was not to follow the high fat 'Dr Atkins' versions, but simply to cut down on bread, potatoes, pastry, cakes, pasta and rice leaving the healthy fish, low fat meats and fresh vegetables.  Partial concord then between the low fat and low carb camps - both agreeing that meals based on fish, chicken, turkey and fresh vegetables would give plenty of variety and vitamins and not too much fat or carbohydrate to upset anyone.  We almost got around to agreeing a menu for a BBQ.

That, of course is where the Veggies took exception, and where the rest of us just don't understand the logic.  Instead of looking at the wide variety of vegetables and fruit now available, the exponents of the 'no meat under any circumstances' and the 'Oh I couldn't eat anything with a face' militia began to extol the virtues of some stuff called Quorn.  Having upset the Veggies en masse by asking why they wanted something to taste of meat if they were so against eating it and beating a rapid retreat back home, I decided to find out more about this substance.

The main ingredient is a chemical called mycoprotein which is basically a fungus grown and produced in giant fermenters.  A further cocktail of chemicals has to be added to give a texture and flavour which is acceptable to the human palate.  How can this possibly be considered to be a healthy lifestyle - especially when the food developed from this process is fried or cased in pastry!!


Sorry Veggies - all meals should start life in a field, develop naturally and bring their own flavours and textures to the plate.  The only ingredient to taste of meat is meat and unless we eat it there will be no cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and so on grazing the fields of this green and pleasant land.

Everyone can tow a caravan - its easy

Every time I tow the caravan onto a site, I find people staring as if a woman should not be driving with her husband in the passenger seat.  Why not - I sit on the left when he is driving.

First of all, the breakdown services are there for genuine breakdowns, not a get you home service.  I know of more than one occasion when the breakdown truck was called because the regular driver was unwell and the 'other half' would not tow.  That is selfish and puts up everyone else's cost of breakdown cover.

Members of the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravan Club will be able to find details of towing courses through their club.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning to reverse properly - even though I had been towing for nearly ten years by the time I went along!!!  These courses do not lead to the new test but will reduce your insurance premium.

If you passed your car driving test after 1997 you need to take an additional driving test with your caravan.  The test is explained on http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521.Tests are generally carried out at the HGV test centre where there is room to manouvre the outfit away from the traffic.  Most HGV driver training centres also offer caravan/trailer training to meet the requirements of the new test.

With two drivers it is much easier to take the caravan on longer trips.  The sensible way of working is to think in terms of "tacho hours" http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=1081597476&r.l2=1082103262&r.l3=1084756056&r.s=tl&topicId=1082144445.  Keeping it really simple, each driver drives for a maximum of two hours, then stop for a comfort break, change drivers and carry on again.  It is much safer than leaving one driver to do all the work, and get far too tired to be safe on the road.

Remember that towing a caravan behind your car needs more concentration, and whether you are towing alone or with a "co-pilot" breaks are essential to avoid becoming over-tired and causing accidents.

Enjoy your caravanning holiday - wherever it takes you - and stay safe on the roads through sensible planning and the right training.

Thank you Leeds

Wow - what a wonderful weekend Leeds Loves Food proved to be.  Wall to wall sunshine, and food from all corners of the world to sample and enjoy.  The smells of paella, tacos, venison burgers mingled and wafted across the square - delicious.

We met so many people who share our passion for fresh local food, simply cooked to maintain its special flavour and high quality.  Thank you everyone who suggested places to shop for good quality food - all over the UK.  We had recommendations from as far afield as Bristol and Northumbria, with plenty from West Yorkshire.  Its going to take me another few days to get all of them onto the website.  Thank you again.  Together we can help to keep the small businesses on the high street.  Now we have found them, we all need to use them.

The next newsletter is due to go out at the end of this week, but I think it might have to be delayed until early next due to the Bank Holiday and another show to attend; this time in Mansfield.  I have added all the new requests for the newsletter from Leeds.  If you would like a copy, just go to the home page and sign up.  There is no charge.

Let me have some of those recipes you talked about at the weekend, and I will publish them on the website for you.  Keep things simple so that the most novice cook can produce the meal.

Don't forget to keep those recommendations flooding in - we can only get these directories to work with your help.

See you in Mansfield, Tuesday 5 June.

Look for this problem

Check your tyres - caravan and car - for damage at the bottom of the tread

In the photo the dangerous cracking can be seen in the left hand side of the tread very clearly.

The cracks will open as the tyre flexes in use, causing a blow out.

If you find this problem - CHANGE YOUR TYRES.

Are your tyres an accident waiting to happen.

My caravan will be two at the end of the month.  The annual service was carried out on Monday, and the engineer called me to say that one of the tyres was 'cracking'.

My immediate response was 'impossible', after all the caravan is used throughout the year, so the tyres do not bear weight in one position.  We use the caravan at least once a month, even in the depths of winter, and make regular visual checks of the tyres before moving off.  Add to that they are only two years old, and have plenty of tread depth.  

Tyre pressures are checked from time to time, usually when we fill up the car.  Bailey's have very kindly put the tyre pressure on a plaque beside the door, in both psi and bar, so the job is really very easy to do.  We also keep an eye on the tyres when we are loaded and ready to go - after all, even radial tyres are not supposed to look squadgy or bulgy, or just plain flat.

Because the caravan is kept in secure storage, we use a mobile engineer for servicing (Bailey and NCC approved so no warranty issues) and he was quite adamant that the offside tyre was not safe.  So, we promptly went over to the caravan, phoned the poor engineer, yet again, and asked him where to find the damage.  Eventually we saw what we thought could be cracks, and asked advice on replacement tyres.  Thankfully there is a national, mobile tyre fitting service - etyres - who came recommended by the mobile service engineer.

I was asked to attend the fitting of the new tyre, and met Mike from etyres just before midday.  He removed the off-side wheel and showed me the problem.  At the very bottom of the tread was the evidence of cracking. Both inner and outer walls were in perfect condition. The depth of tread suggested that there should have been plenty of life still in the tyre, but Mike explained that these cracks along the bottom of the tread pattern could prove lethal if left alone.  This type of damage can soon lead to the tyre bursting, potentially with catestrophic results to the caravan.  The tyre was, of course, replaced on the spot.

This type of damage is not unusual, but it is not always checked.  I can only thank eagle-eyed Jamie from Charnwood Caravan Services and Mike from etyres for their technical expertise which may well have prevented a nasty accident. Thank you both. 

All I can ask everyone else to do is check along the bottom of the tread pattern of your tyres and make sure they are not cracking too.  The tyres in question were Trailermaxx, made in China, and fitted at the factory.

Fire and Fumes

At the risk of appearing to jump onto the band wagon, I want to remind everyone to check that their gas and electricity systems are safe.

Too many accidents have happened in the past few days, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17980441 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-17981586, and it is vital that we prevent recurrences.  How safe are you?

Do you have a working smoke alarm in your caravan?  OK it is a nuisance when it does not recognise toast or crisping bacon, but it is very simple to press the 'silence' button when you are cooking, and it might save your life at other times.

Do you have a carbon monoxide (gas) sniffer in your caravan?  They are not yet fitted as standard, and perhaps the caravanning community should start to petition the manufacturers.  CO is colourless and odourless and kills.  It can be detected and you can be warned before its too late.

How about preventing disaster?  Simple precautions:-

1. Unwind your electric cable before connecting up to the EHU.  Always connect the caravan/tent end first and EHU post end last - the cable is live as soon as it is connected to the EHU.
2. Don't travel with the gas switched on - it goes without saying, but . . . 
3. Have your caravan serviced regularly.  A service will include a full gas check.
4. Keep the BBQ outside.  No matter how cold the night, never be tempted to use any form of BBQ inside the tent, awning or caravan.
5. Don't be tempted to turn on the gas rings/grill to provide heat.  Only used heaters as fitted by the manufacturers within the caravan.
6. Check the colour of the flame whenever you use any gas appliance.

Think safety at all times - and enjoy your meals from the BBQ.  Cook outside and eat inside if its chilly.

Genetics - or food faddies

The Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9241088/Vegetarians-may-be-genetically-disposed-to-avoid-meat.html suggests that people who 'don't like the smell of meat' may be genetically programmed that way.  Fine, wonderful, but they should not be allowed to insist that everyone should become vegetarian, or imply that a vegetarian diet is in some way superior for the health of the nation.

Personally, I am allergic to nickel.  Nickel is found in a huge range of vegetables, and so if I and many other people with a similar problem were to eat those foods, the result is an extremely unpleasant and persistent eczema.  How healthy is that?

Why do we never see any articles about the negative effects of a vegan diet, or the need, especially for small children to have a good intake of first class protein - animal rather than vegetable?

The human food processing system is designed for a little of everything, a mixed diet containing meat, vegetables, fruit and dairy products.  Start with the teeth - we have teeth designed for stripping meat from the bone, and teeth designed for grinding.  We only have one stomach, so cannot digest vegetables in the way that true herbivores do.  However, we need roughage found in abundance in the vegetable world to keep our intestines working efficiently and healthily.

The countryside needs meat eaters.  If we all rejected the wholesome and tasty meat from our local producers, there would be no cows, sheep, pigs or game animals in the fields.  Is this what we really want to see?  As for the laboratory produced meat - NO THANK YOU.  How can anyone talk about a "healthy" diet when they are including bacteria and other chemicals by choice?  If you need artificial meat to make a meal, try replacing it with the real thing.

Perhaps our grannies were right when they used the old cliches - "One man's meat is another man's poison" and "a little of what you fancy does you good."

For me, every meal should start life in a field.  Think about it - naturally produced meat, fresh caught fish with fresh local vegetables and fruit.  Delicious.

Insuring your caravan- a guide

Rachael Miller from moneysupermarket.com has offered this advice to everyone who owns or is thinking of buying a caravan.  It is timely advice coming at the beginning of the summer holiday season.  No one wants to think about the worst happening to them, but with proper insurance the blow can be softened.

If you are looking to buy a caravan or already have one then it is vital to ensure that you have the right insurance in place.  The type of caravan insurance that you need depends on the type of caravan that you have and what you will be using it for. Here are the three main types of insurance caravan owners should be familiar with:-

Static Caravan Insurance

While you do not need to have insurance for static caravans, it is a good idea as it gives you financial protection if your holiday home is damaged. Standard static caravan policies usually provide cover for damage arising from a number of different circumstances such as fire, storm, lightning, flood, theft and falling trees. However, some policies may not cover you for damage caused by the elements, so always read the small print before you sign along the dotted line.

Cover is generally on a 'new for old' basis. In the event that your caravan cannot be repaired, market value is paid. Public-liability insurance is also usually included. This provides you with cover if a third party suffer damage or injury as a result of your use of your caravan. It is also possible to purchase additional cover for your contents and personal belongings.

Touring-Caravan Insurance

It’s highly recommended that you take out insurance on your touring caravan to make sure you’re covered in case the worst happens. It’s not essential that you do, but it will put your mind at rest. Your caravan should be covered under your car insurance policy when you’re towing it on the road, but your insurer must be informed as soon as you buy a caravan in case a claim needs to be made, or the premium is affected.

Touring-caravan insurance usually covers the cost of repairs or replacement, up to the market value, if your caravan if it is damaged or stolen. The better policies will give new for old cover for the caravan itself and all equipment and contents of the caravan.  European insurance cover is generally provided, although you should check the policy details as there can be limits on the length of time you can be away or the level of cover that you will be provided with while abroad.

Check carefully that both your personal possessions and the caravan equipment is covered.  Not all policies will cover clothes, crockery etc, and some do not cover expensive specialist items such as awnings.  Specialists will offer a policy covering the theft of or from the caravan and damage to the caravan.

Don’t forget to check with your breakdown cover as it may or may not include the caravan if the car breaks down.  The very best, usually specialists, will include ‘double journey’ cover taking the car for repair and the caravan on to your holiday destination and back home if the car is not fixed in time.

Motorhome Insurance

If you have a motorhome then you must have third-party liability insurance to meet the minimum legal requirement, although a fully compressive policy is best to insure against theft or any damage to your motorhome.

Windscreen, personal-accident and personal-belongings cover are commonly included under motorhome policies. European insurance cover is generally provided, although you should check the policy details as there may be limitations. You may also be able to extend your motorhome insurance policy to include legal-expenses cover, key cover and breakdown cover.

When it comes to the inside of your motor home, make sure your insurer makes it clear whether they insure your contents. Most home insurance policies will not cover equipment that is exclusively used in the motor home, so by going for a policy from a specialist in motorhome insurance, this should cover all ‘extras’, like your motorhome’s contents.

Other Considerations

·         While your caravan insurance will provide cover for damage and theft arising out of your use of the caravan, it will not meet any costs that you incur if you need to cut short or cancel your holiday. It could, therefore, be advisable to consider taking out European or UK travel insurance. This would provide you with financial protection if, for example, you were made redundant and could no longer afford to go away or if a close family member was taken ill.

·         If you are travelling to the EU then travel insurance will also provide cover if you require medical assistance or are taken ill while away. Although a European Health Insurance Card (the replacement for the E111 card) will provide you with the same level of cover as the locals in state-run hospitals, this could be a significantly lower level than that provided by a travel insurance policy.

·         Make sure your contents are covered. Most caravan insurance policies will cover your things, however if you bring something expensive in from the house, including electronic technology like tablet computers, e-readers and laptops, these may not be covered. Specialist insurance companies may include these items if you declare them when first taking out the policy. This will mean that you’ll have to give an accurate value of personal property carried in the caravan.  

·         Always read the small print before you commit to a policy. Some insurance companies will sell policies to caravan owners which will only cover them for the spring/summer months, which isn’t suitable for everyone as there is still a chance your caravan could be stolen or be damaged while static in the winter months. Make sure you’re covered all year round.

No matter what the age of your caravan, mobile home or motorhome,  it is important to check what insurance you are legally obliged to take out and also consider the benefits of taking out additional cover that provides you with further protection. Your caravan is a substantial investment and the right insurance will give you peace of mind as you enjoy your holidays.

Safety Tips for New Caravanners

Do you believe in co-incidence?  Try this. Early last week,  I was asked to prepare a guest blog for moneysupermarket.com which you can read here suggesting ways of getting started without breaking the bank.  Out of the blue, last Saturday, my son asked me to go with him to look at a caravan as his first buy.  Result - information exactly as required for the blog based on helping my lad and his lady to buy and equip their first caravan - an elderly Elddis.

My son was once Chairman of the Centre's Teenage Committee so I did not have to give him my usual safety lecture - he was well aware of potential dangers, but here are the points we both agreed that everyone should think about:

1. Make sure your car is able to tow the caravan of your dreams - and revise your ideas if it is not gutsy enough for the job.  The simple rule is the caravan, when loaded, should not exceed 85% of the kerb weight of the car.
2. Check your licence - if you passed your driving test after 1997 you are limited in what you are allowed to tow.  There are training centres (usually the people who teach lorry and coach driving) and test centres around if your licence does not cover you.
3. Fit a stabiliser, and use it every trip.  No matter how well you think you have loaded your caravan, gusty conditions or the 'envelope' from an HGV can and will cause the caravan to 'wobble' and a 'wobble' can soon become a full blown 'snake' if not damped by the stabiliser.  There are plenty for sale secondhand, just check out the on-line auction sites.
4. Never, never, never ever carry a gas bottle inside the caravan, and never travel with the gas bottle on its site - no matter if you think you have got it safely in some sort of frame.  See information from Calor Gas on using and transporting gas.  Essentially the valve is designed for gas, not liquid.  Laying on its side the liquid gas can leak from the cylinder and lay on the floor.  You work out what happens next.  It is not pretty.
5. Don't overload the caravan when travelling.  The manufacturer's payload is there for a reason.  You do not need to weigh every item, just be sensible.  If there are four of you, you need four plates, not forty four.  
6. Pack the caravan carefully.  You will need some noseweight, but once you have put your gas cylinders in the gas locker that is it - don't be tempted to create a mobile garden shed in the locker.  Put heavy objects low down near the axle(s) and lighter ones in the overhead lockers.  Take care when you open the lockers - the contents may move during the journey.

OK moan over, but please, stay safe and enjoy your caravan.  It will give you the freedom to take off at the weekend as well as providing a base for longer summer holidays.

Can you live without electricity?

Helping a new to caravanning couple equip their first ever caravan this weekend lead me to thinking how things have changed over the years - especially the priority equipment.  Their number one must have??? A mains hook up lead, of course.

So started an interesting debate.  On my left, the diehard traditionalists who believe that mains power to a caravan is a sacrilege and on my right the new caravanners and those of us who have the latest models that really are not designed to run on gas and 12V alone for more than a couple of nights in an emergency.

Which side of the fence do I sit on?  Problem here, I love rallying, but at this time of the year, I really do not relish pitching up without power, as the battery just won't stay up for the whole weekend, and you can't read in the dark.  We understand the issues of power consumption and have been caravanning for over 20 years, but still can't eake out the power in the winter months.  Once the days are a couple of hours longer than the nights and the solar panel can keep the battery topped up successfully, things change and mains power is no longer a priority.

The problem with the latest caravans is that so much power consumption is hidden - the loo flush needs the battery, the cooker will only ignite if your battery  is supplying power, the water heater and fridge both rely on battery for their electronic circuits, add the gas fire (electronic controls again) any lighting you may need and all those telltale lights in various hues and you can almost hear the power being sucked out of that battery.

So purchase number one - a new 110 amp hour leisure battery, rapidly followed by the mains hook up cable, after all the battery will need charging even if they are not using 240V all the time.  Don't make the mistake of buying a vehicle battery, they are not designed to take the long slow drain. 

Next came the lecture on Ohms law - volts times amps is watts, and Wardens' Law - patience diminishes in direct proportion to the number of callouts to reset the trip, exponentially rising in the rain, cold and hours of darkness.

The point is that you have to consider all that 'hidden' power usage before working out what is left from your 10amp supply on site.  The first piece of equipment to be switched on is the fridge.  Once the water has been connected, on goes the water heater.  If it is chilly, or the caravan has been standing for a while, the heater will go on, possibly with the fan to blow warm air into the washroom.  

You have an absolute maximum of 2400 watts, assuming a full 240 volt supply.  The heater alone can consume 2000 of those volts leaving just 400 for the fridge and water heater.  No wonder the trips are tripped so often.

The solution is simple - just keep doing the maths.  Turn the room heater down to 500 watts.  Do you need to leave the water heater on?  With the room heater down to 500 watts and the fridge still running, you have somewhere between 1800 and 2000 watts left.  That domestic kettle needs 3000 watts - oops tripped again.

Suitably chastised, the domestic electric kettle was consigned to the boot, and a shopping trip for a low wattage kettle was scheduled.  Other power saving ideas then started to surface.

Caravan dealers often have low wattage toasters in their accessory shops.  You don't need a domestic sized vacuum cleaner for a caravan, try one of the battery operated types (G-Tech do a fantastic powered sweeper which is charged from the mains then works for weeks in the caravan).

We got around to cooking, where the two sides polarised once again.  Electric slow cooker -v- casserole in the gas oven.  The slow cooker is very low wattage and can safely be left on whilst away from the caravan.  At this time of year though, a casserole in the oven will keep the caravan warm without needing the heater.

Then of course we started on the comparative costs of running on bottled gas or the electric hook up.  Another can of worms opened.

Thankfully we all agreed that the discussion needed another glass of wine, or possibly a beer. 

Improving mealsinfields

The major overhaul of mealsinfields is now in progress.  On Friday last week we agreed some major changes with the website designers, Devmac of Burton on Trent, which will make the website easier to use for everyone.  The changes need some serious programming so please bear with us for a couple of months whilst we make sure that everything is ready and that all the recipes and all the information on where to stop, shop and dine are properly migrated to the new system.

What can you expect?  Here is a short list of the most important changes - many of which are in response to your requests.

1. As soon as you recommend a business to be included in the Where to pages, brief details will be added automatically.
2. Businesses will be able to access and amend their own personal pages as often as they like.
3. You will be able to search for a business in a particular county, matching your criteria. No more trolling through a long, long list to get what you want.
4. You will be able to add recipes yourself straight from the website - no more e-mails to me and a delay whilst I add the recipe for you.
5. You will be able to add photos of the finished dishes when submitting your recipe.
6. We are adding a printer friendly version of the recipes so you will be able to print without copying and pasting.

In the meantime, we still want your recipes and your recommendations of new businesses to add to the website.  We will add all the businesses, but may hold some of the recipes over for the launch of the new look meals in fields.

Please bear with us.  This is a massive project as there is so much data to move.  Don't worry, you will not lose the website - we will simply replace the old with the new.  The old version will keep working until we have everything in place ready to make the switch.

We will keep you posted on progress, but expect to see a new and exciting website in the early Summer.

A Big Thank you to Kelly from Food Matters

Kelly has kindly added five recipes this month, suitable for cooking on a BBQ.  They are all low fat recipes with loads of taste.  She has used Tabasco sauce and Dijon mustard, both of which come in small sizes suitable for storing in the caravan.  These meals look so tempting, I think they will be on my menu at home, especially when the weather improves and we can eat in the garden in the evening.  Once again, thank you Kelly.  A new recipe is published each month on http://www.foodmatters.co.uk/

Coeliac Awareness Week - 14 - 20 May

Did you know that one in every hundred people has coeliac disease?  It is a condition which affects the immune system and has no cure, but is managed by diet.  Details of the disease and its management can be found on http://www.coeliac.org.uk.

It strikes me that feeding yourself or your family with a gluten free diet should not be too difficult.  Choose recipes which are not based on bread, cakes, pastry or pasta and you really do not have a problem in knowing what is safe to eat.  Check out our recipe section and you will find plenty of really filling meals using fresh local produce which do not contain gluten.

I have been asked if I can put an icon against each recipe to denote whether or not it contains gluten.  I have thought long and hard about this, and decided that it is not really necessary, as any sufferer already knows the foods to avoid, or has a supplier of gluten-free products to replace the usual pastas and breads.

The really big problem has to be in finding places to eat out who really do understand the issues of cross-contamination and take them seriously.  It is one thing to say that a particular dish is gluten-free, but if the restaurant also produces dishes using 'ordinary' bread or pastry products, it is all too easy for cross-contamination to occur.  Restaurant owners and chefs can contact Caroline Benjamin on info@fatc.co.uk  who runs awareness training courses which cover issues of cross-contamination in the kitchen and in the serving area.

Take the time to find out more about this very serious condition and how to ensure that you do not inadvertently harm anyone when you are entertaining.

Food Allergies

Maybe its because it is April, but I fear that many people are making light of a real problem that affects more of the population than you may care to realise.

In yesterday's Daily Telegraph they published 'gluten free recipes' as if making a risotto with rice was a new idea, or that rice ever did contain gluten in the first place.  It is starch that washes off rice when cooked - not gluten.  The theme continued using normal everyday ingredients - so why the issue?

Everyone with any form of food allergy knows how to avoid those foods that give them the problem.  Like millions of others, I am allergic to nickel.  It is found in tea, legumous vegetables, tomatoes, onions, pears, brown rice, cereals, and absolutely anything preserved in a tin - shall I go on or do you get the picture?

The problem is getting other people to understand that your "diet" is not dangerous for you, and adding just a little bit of the forbidden foods could cause serious complications.  In my case it is just a very nasty excema, but for others the practice of 'just try one Brussels sprout' could kill.

So my plea for the day is please, get to understand what it is that affects your friends and family, learn to prepare meals that are safe for them, and stop trying to make them eat something that perceived wisdom says is good for you - like crusty brown bread and salad!

Chester Food and Drink Festival

What are you doing for Easter?  We are off to Chester Racecourse to take part in the Chester Food and Drink Festival opening on Saturday, 5 April and running through to Easter Monday.

CamperFest runs alongside the festival and they are organising a cooking competition on Sunday at Midday.  I don't have the rules for the competition, but we do have plenty of recipes that will work inside the very small kitchens provided in the campervans.

 Just look for these symbols next to the recipes.  In sequence the top symbol indicates that the recipe is suitable for cooking on the BBQ, the middle one usually needs two rings, but could include a grill, and the last one is a one pot meal.

Can't be easier - there are some really good ideas for Sunday lunch too.  Try BBQ lamb joint to really impress, or one of the many stir fry meals.  Whatever your taste, meat, fish or vegetarian you should find something to please the judges - don't forget the dessert and drinks.

Good luck to everyone taking part.  If you would like to add your favourite recipe, please do so.

Look out for our caravan at the Festival.  You can't miss it.  Seen here at a Leicestershire Centre Rally.

Food and Drink Expo - NEC Birmingham

What a fantastic show!!  For the last three days we have been explaining the purpose of mealsinfields.co.uk to the food and drink trade.  The response has been over-whelming.  Our picture already features on www.nfuonline.com, as their editor on site thought it so important that their members know about our work to give the small business a loud voice.

So if you are passionate about good food, sourced locally and prepared specially for you, sign up for our monthly newsletter, and make sure your local farmshop and high street retailers know all about our website.  We cannot do this alone - we need everyone to shout about the difference in taste and quality when you buy from the specialists.

We had many farm shops, deli's and cafes commit at the show to joining the website and you will soon find their details on the where to pages.  It can be quite daunting to write 300 words, but it is less than an A4 sheet and does allow for plenty of information to be given to customers.

Beer seems to be the new wine

This article will really cheer Dave http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/food/2012/03/how-to-pair-food-and-beer---pa-2.shtml he drinks beer with any meal, and this confirms that he should do so.

So to keep up the beer theme for the rest of the day, I think it will be beef in ale for tonight's meal.  If I get the slow cooker going in the next few minutes, we can eat anytime after six.  Click here for my recipe.

Ready for the first exhibition of the season

The Food and Drink Expo at the NEC draws ever closer - scarily closer if I am honest.  Just today and tomorrow in the office before it is time to pack the bits and pieces and drive down the M42 to the NEC.

It will be the official launch of our Where to Stop, Shop and Dine section, so we hope to meet plenty of business owners who agree with our campaign to keep the high street alive.  See http://prlog.org/11828993

If you run a food shop, restaurant, farm shop or catering business, anyone who has a food outlet on a campsite, why not come along on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.  You can download a ticket here.  Just remember it is a trade show and no-one under sixteen will be admitted.  Doors open at 10:00 am.

I hope to meet everyone who has already decided to advertise with us, and plenty more who will join us at the show.  Have a safe journey to Birmingham.  You will find us in Hall 6 on Stand A113 - right near the bar.

 

Are we agreed?

Following the discussions - should that be disputes - on Radio 2 this week, I think we can safely say

A cake is baked and served cold.

A pie is made with pastry and can have a sweet or savoury filling, served hot or cold.

Anything else is pudding!!

So the question now is should we or should we not include pies and cakes on the recipe sections of this website?  Is it sensible to think that folk away for a break will want to spend a longer time in the kitchen baking pies and pastries - or do we prefer to be out and about.

Let me know what you think?

Cakes in Caravans

I have been reminded by some very clever ladies that the Caravan Club have a baking competition at the National Rally each year, and somewhere in one of the classes is a cake.  All sorts of cakes have been involved in the contest, including a Victoria Sandwich.

The problem is always going to be getting the right temperature in the oven, consistently. I own a 2010 Bailey Olympus 504 which has a reasonable oven with a regulo type setting.  However, it does seem that the temperature at, for example mark 6, is not always the same and is affected by the wind conditions outside the 'van.  As a result cooking times can vary quite dramatically.  I have to admit that I have never tried to cook a cake in the caravan - but would love to hear from anyone who knows how to do this successfully.

Next questions - should we include recipes for cakes on the website and if so how complex should they be?

Pies or Cakes

Thanks to Chris Evans on this morning's breakfast show, its time to think about making pies and cakes in tents and caravans, ready for his CarFest - even if we don't get to go along.

So what is a pie?  Does a cake have to be baked?  What can you do in a tent to create an oven?  So let's take one topic at a time - or more properly, one per day.

What is a Pie?


Most people will think of a pie as having at least a pastry base, or, more properly, a pastry base and a pastry lid.  If you are in a fairly new caravan, you will almost certainly have an oven with a regulo, and after using it a few times will know how it behaves and might be confident enough to chance making pastry.

I think this might be a good time to cheat and buy ready to roll pastry - but that is because I always make a mess rubbing in, whether I use fingers or a food mixer.  Oh, don't forget that at this CarFest there won't be any hook-ups, so it will be back to basics.

So - does a pie have to be a traditional pastry pie to qualify for the name?  Listening to the show, it seems that Chris will accept almost any type of pudding, citing Bannoffee Pie, which traditionally has a biscuit base, so I guess that lets in cheesecake.  As both have a biscuit base why is one a pie and one a cake?  If you are in a tent the best bet might be to bend the rules and look for no-cook cakes and pies.

To make a start have a look at what we've got so far under desserts, then please send me your ideas to make our very own pie section.

How do you help a friend?

A friend of mine has recently started his own mobile caravan repair company.  It is very cleverly named NAVARAC.  It fooled me - I was trying to make something from his name, Nick Rosen but take a closer look, its CARAVAN backwards.  Nice one, Nick.

He has had to spend a small fortune on training courses and tools for the job - not to mention the vehicle to work from.  He is meticulous in everything he does, and always makes sure that he has full details of the caravan before agreeing when and where to do the job.  The reason for this?  Despite all the training, he is not allowed to work on any caravan which is still subject to a manufacturer's warranty, and they can now last for ten years on certain parts of the construction.

The problem then, take a look at the majority of the caravans on a rally site - how many are actually out of warranty?  The sadness is that the vast majority of his friends who would really like to help him make a success of his new venture have our hands tied.

So, if you live within reasonable travelling distance of Leicester, have a caravan which is no longer in warranty, please give Nick a call - he is a great guy and an excellent technician.

More lost shops

The loss of shops on the high street has made BBC Radio news today, and seems to have raised an editorial head in a variety of papers.  Check out http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article4135511.ece for a very detailed article in The Sun.  My question is - why have they not mentioned the really important independent shops that provide the personality of the local high street.

The importance of the skills held by the local butcher, delicatessen, bakery, fishmonger - everyone who knows about locally produced food - seems to have passed over the heads of the journalists.  So join in our campaign and become a part of mealsinfields.  Sign up on any where to page.

Save the High Street

Have you heard that the Government is budgeting a whole £1m for high street regeneration?  How does that work?  Surely this is a mere drop in the ocean.

Here's a better idea from mealsinfields.  With a few days research we have been able to identify 500 high street businesses in each county - none of whom are part of a large chain.  Now, if just one in five of those joined our directory pages, at less than £2 per week, we could afford the type of national TV marketing that the big, out of town, stores enjoy.

So first step is to join in - download a form from the where to shop pages and talk to our sales team.  Second step, come and see us at the Food and Drink Expo in Birmingham on 25 to 27 March and lets get some momentum behind the cause, before it is too late.

Freezing Friday

We are going nowhere with the caravan today.  Its a shame because it is Friday and that is the weekend so we should be out and about.  A weekend at home won't hurt us, but if we were so stupid as to take the caravan out on the roads, we could seriously hurt someone else.

Caravans are perfectly warm and safe inside in this weather, but they are not designed to be pulled along icy and snow-covered roads.  So, unless you have no option, stay off the roads for a few days until this cold spell ends and we can all safely tow again.

Pup Tents

Today's thoughts start from an incident many years ago when my own son's pup tent was run over.  Thankfully he was not in the tent.  It was pitched correctly alongside the caravan in place of the awning, so the car driver was not obeying the rally rules and weaving between the lines.  We never did find the culprit.

My concern is preventing similar incidents, or, potentially, a fatal accident.  After the incident, the Leicestershire Centre Chairman at the time recommended that all pup tents be surrounded by a windbreak.  That works because a car would hit the windbreak first.  The members still follow the recommendation.

Recently, when attending various shows and events, and visiting other clubs, I have seen pup tents pitched in the 'road' behind their parents' caravan.  Not a good idea at all, especially at large events.

Should we start a simple campaign for children's safety?  Keep them close to the side of the caravan.  Hem them in with a windbreak.  Use hi-vis guy ropes and why not suggest they decorate the windbreak or outline the tent with a few solar lights at ground level.

Full marks to the camping and caravanning club who teach their children all about tents and camping, and allow them to join a special area - when they have passed the formal training sessions.

Kids are very special - let's all look after them properly.

Hello, good day and welcome

This is an entirely new idea, and something that I am not entirely sure that I will be good at.  I have never kept a diary - well not for more than a couple of days each year when the new ones are delivered, and my work log book is not the most detailed in the world.  Still here we go.

Let me introduce www.mealsinfields.co.uk.  The website is just one year old and we have a growing community interested in creating healthy meals in caravans, tents, motorhomes, boats and even student lodgings.  The basic premise is that you need good healthy food even if the preparation area is limited.

Try cooking in a boat with limited headroom as it sails across a river or estuary and you will know just how difficult cooking can be - eating in this situation is another problem, but I'll gloss over that one.  Tent campers will also be aware of the issues of safety and the problems of trying to cook outdoors in the pouring rain.  Caravans and motorhomes have it easy - lovely kitchens with almost full sized gas ovens.  Umm but, they are connected to gas bottles which run out, and from time to time as the bottle gets low so does the flame - never trust the 'regulo' number.

So this blog will look at some of the problems of being creative and healthy in cramped conditions, but most of all we will also look at the benefits of using lovely fresh food from local producers and the independent retailer.

Let's start with the old chestnut - fire buckets.  Oh dear, oh dear, why do so many people still believe that a bucket of water outside their tent or caravan will be any use whatsoever in a real emergency?  Ever tried actually throwing the water accurately when you are in a panic?

I was on a fire training course last year and asked the trainer (a firefighter) what he thought of the practice.  We had a great time then with a simple fire on a tray that we tried to put out by throwing buckets of water at it.  The results were quite amazing.  Some people managed to scatter the burning material, thus making the fire worse, and others missed altogether.  You cannot stand above a fire in this exercise as you would not be able to get above a burning tent or caravan.  Water replaced by extinguisher - fire out in seconds.

The second problem is the materials.  Water may have been fine in the old days of wooden caravans, but with modern materials used in the construction of the caravan, not to mention the presence of both gas and electricity (ok 12V from a battery - but) water could make things worse.

The final advice - you are more likely to drown an inquisitive toddler in the bucket than put out the fire.  Carry a small (1Kg) extinguisher - keep it on the A-Frame if you like - and use that only on the smallest fires.  Generally, move other units away and call the fire brigade.  They do know how to tackle the fire.

What do you think?