Suitcase wheels

Really grumpy now. When daughters went to America last month they took one large and two small suitcases. Large one came back with one of the four wheels disintegrating. No problem I thought. Look online, order replacement and replace

Measured up and found match online, delivered next day. Came with four wheels, nuts, bolts(axles) washers and two Allen keys. Terrific. Went to take of broken wheel...however none, and I mean none of my tools fitted. One end which was very flush to frame was domed and totally smooth so nothing to get hold off. None of my Allen keys fitted, not torx nor any other tool at the other end

No problem I thought, I have a set of bits to remove broken screws, all that did was spin the whole assembly round. After about 90 minutes hard labour using combination of drill and multi tool saw blade I finally got old wheel off.

10 minutes later everything tidied up and new wheel fitted a dream. Initial plan was to replace all four wheels but looking again the other three are still in good nick so box with them is stored inside case and will be replaced as needed going straight in with multi tool.

Design of wheel looks easy for manufacturer to put together but home repair very difficult. Suspect many people would have given up , binned suitcase and bought a new one. Wonder if that is manufacturers intention.

Off for a cuppa before putting fully working suitcase back in attic

Last week daughter was moaning about having to buy new suitcases for their next cruise because one wheel on each one was damaged. 
As much as I prefer fix before spend she bought two new ones from Mataland. I doubt them surviving baggage handlers any better than the old ones but they have the money for a cruise every year. At their time in our marriage our holiday budget ran to a tent holiday once a year.

. . . . and now that cruises are cheaper than staying on a typical British camp site, my vote is for cruising. I have had: one free carribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Carribbean, one at £17 / night courtesy of P&O ( a long cruise, Southampton to Sydney and return flight), one at £35 / night - where was that, I forget.  Several at about £45 - £50 ( all these are per person per night). Now I regard anything more than £100 / night /  person as too expensive. For that of course you get to stay in a mobile five star hotel, full board and west end quality entertainment every night (alcohol is extra) which goes to palces you will never reach in a motorhome. And at this time of the year you can set your central heating thermostat to 3 degrees, turn off everything else electrical, jack up your motorhome and remove the wheels, close the mains water stop valve under the sink thus saving £130 a month on utility bills.
Compare that with buying a -  I don't know, what's an average? - camperwagon for let's say £50,000 (Halfway between £10,000 and £110,000 for a panel van) and you can get an awful lot of countries under your belt for that sort of expenditure.
We are about to seriously consider an upcoming transatlantic cruise. This time of year a lot of the cruise companies do what they call 'repositioning cruises' which are one way UK to The Carribbean where you cruise from UK to the Caribbean, take a week going to the loverly sunny, warm, musical, sunny, warm, golden beaches and swim in the bath-temperature clear blue sea and listen to steel bands and reggae music. And did I mention the Carribbean is sunny and warm? Then you fly back to the cold dismal dull foggy short days here. 16 day cruise including flights back is £1300 each.
Should I or shouldn't I? We are both getting older and creakier, I am losing my ability to jack up a wagon and change the brake calipers, let alone remove a gearbox or even change a wheel.
Back to the subject, there are variations in quality in wheeled suitcases. I always put a drop of oil on the axles when I get a new one . . .

And when we were 55 years younger I remember the first time we traded a tent for a caravan. We sat in it, outside the rain was coming down in bucketfulls (in Wales of course) looking out at the poor tenters who were dripping wet and we were snug and warm and we were there playing cards in the dry. I don't think we had a heater - I can't remember. Certaily it didn't have hot water, probably a rubber pump you pushed with a foot, sucking water from a plastic jerry can under the sink.

OK you've got a deal. Pay me £100 a day and you don't have to go on a cruise!
This is a Time Limited offer . . . . . 

The way I see it is that I can't go to India, Malaysia, Sydney, The Azores, Falkland Islands, Cape Horn, Brazil, Chile, Peru, The Caribbean in my motorhome, but I can on a cruise, and I have, at a cheaper rate than staying on a UK campsite. The Arctic circle is a bit borderline - I've been there on a cruise: it would be possible but a bit of a trek in a camper. And a bit slippery. And Cold with a Kapital K.
I won't go on a cruise to anywhere in Europe where I can go in my camperwagon, that would just be silly.
On a cruise you can eat when you like, sleep when you like, have evening entertainment, go swimming or exercise in a gym, attend fascinating seminars and see places you will never see with a motorhome. And stay warm. And you don't have to spend hours waiting at an airport.
Also I would agree there are some awful ships I wouldn't go on. I rate ships on the number of passengers it carries. 2000 is perfect, it's bigger than a cross channel ferry but not as big as a 4000+ passenger mobile city which is just ridiculous. They are like trying to use an American RV in England, there are only a limited number of ports they can call in to. And there are places I wouldn't go again: anywhere in the USA or Dubai - ooh what an awful place.

The thing about Cruises that worries me are the people you cant escape.  I am sure the majority are perfetly nice.   But they are all around you.  
In my Trident, I pick my spot.  Set up camp, walk the dog, take in the view and drink Mojitos i make to my own strength.  If somebody pops up nearby to try and tag into my life, who may build an encampment where they insists on playing what they consider to be the best music?  I say nothing.  I pack up quietly...and move to other side of the field.  Peace ensues.  Live, and let Live.  I am in control of my fate, destiny and my Trident.
  
Queen of the Road and the Certified Site. 
Dont hem me in.

We were surprised that daughter decided to go on the same cruise this year. Apparently the ship they are on is going one way to lay up over the winter as per last year. This is why the tickets were cheaper. Last year their balcony opened on to a walk way so people were walking past whilst they sat out. 
I don’t think us two would like cruising because we like our own company. We are not antisocial but motorhome life gives us the freedom to be on our own if we feel the need. Occasional visitors we don’t mind when they bring cake for afternoon tea, hint.

I've never had any problem with people around me. If I don't like them I simply go somewhere else. If you want to be alone you can go to your cabin or walk the outside decks. But I have never met any obnoxious people on a cruise.
And I forgot Alaska. If you have never tasted fresh Alaskan salmon caught a few hours ago, I can assure you that it tastes far far superior to anything we get. Unless you get it from Fortnum and Mason or Harrods I might suspect. In which case it will nevertheless still be older than what you get on a cruise ship in Alsakan waters.
Anyway I am just saying I like an occasional cruise, perhaps once a year, and at this time of year just before and just after Christmas you get to go to warm places, very cheaply. The trouble comes when you return home. You pick up cold knives and forks from the drawer, get in a warmed up shower and pick up cold soap. Everything is so flipping cold. . . . .
Unless you are a Government personage who decides what we can and cannot afford in the way of heating in which case you can afford to stay warem.
Is my typing shivering as I write this? Cos I certainly am . .