Home from home

This has been our home away from home for the past few days, a weekend cottage-on-wheels in the form of a motor caravan. Packed into its compact length - about the same as a largish saloon - are six seats, a double bed that descends from the ceiling, another one at seat level, space for a removable dining table, a fitted kitchen with hob, oven, sink and fridge, a wardrobe and a bathroom with loo and shower cubicle.

Surrounded by a sea of tents and trailer caravans in our campsite at Le Mans, we felt we had the best of all worlds: much more comfortable than a tent, and faster on the road than a towed caravan. Power comes from a Peugeot diesel engine. The company that makes the 'Compact', Bailey of Bristol, is best known for trailer caravans but has cannily diversified.

The long haul home took all day. We left the campsite after breakfast, and were home to Kent in time for supper. This seagull at Calais ferry port seemed intrigued by our Le Mans lodgings. Or maybe he was just on the lookout for his own supper opportunity!