Welcome to The Importance of Being (Imp of Be)....... Learning to take life at a slower, simpler pace. After decades getting stressed out in well paid but unfulfilling jobs, a health scare last year has allowed me to take time out, slow things down and appreciate life a lot more! The perfect vehicle to enable me to do this is my 20 year old camper van - A Mazda Bongo! Join me on my journey to this new way of living.... taking the slow roads, simple cooking and enjoying the views! No crowded places or tourist hot spots on this channel guaranteed! To keep up with my weekly vlogs just hit subscribe and if you want to get notifications as soon as a new video is uploaded - click the bell notification Thank you for watching and hope to see you on the road! Julia x
You used to be able to walk from the harbour area down to Port Talbot beach. Sadly the path is now closed alongside the river. They built a 6 foot wall across because the path is subsidng.
Hi we did source to Cricklade on first day which was 12 miles then cricklade to Lechlade was another 12 miles. Hope you enjoy the walk as much as we did. Don’t expect to see too much water on day 1 😂
It was a relic form the steam age. It was a water tower for steam locos which were used on the Tetbury branch. On the other side of the station you would have seen the platform for the Cirencester branch. Both branches closed in the 1960s.
I looked into one of these corroding death traps-the best tool for a Bongo is called Gov.UkMot history checker ... youl never spend a penny on one as youl end up buying something else..
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy the videos that I have just come across. I have a 2001 PopTop Bongo! I have not modified it yet because I am on-call as the deso driver for my daughter & friends. lol, I'm in Australia. Cheers, Deb :)
Watching from Sherwood in Nottingham. I’ve been watching your channel after buying a wreck of a bongo a year ago. As an early import 1997 on an N plate, It’s back on the road after 8 years in a shed, and just about finished converting it; we’re hoping to get a start using it in earnest this March/April hopefully. Love your calming videos, thanks for the tips on the way
Just found your channel Julia and I love it 😊. Going in the Bongo to pick up some ex battery hens tomorrow, to bring home ready to move into their new house and run my husband has built for them.
I have a great guy up here in Cumbria, but that's possibly too far away for you? He only does Bongo's, nothing else, and knows what he's talking about.
I’m getting a new ( well used but new to me) Bongo at the start of December with my redundancy money. My currant one is on its last legs :( I plan to slowly work my way all the way around the coasts of the UK during the course of 2024 before going back into employment in 2025. I’ve worked full time since I left school at 16 in 1994 and see this as a good opportunity to do this tour. Would be lovely to bump into you and a Richard for a good old chin wag if out Bongo paths ever cross. It’s great to see another vid from you. It has lifted my day :)
I love this ⬆️ Good on you! Sounds a wonderful opportunity and it’s great that you are grabbing it. Similar to me. I’ve just retired early and want to do a Bongo challenge too. Use them or lose them I say 🚐
Really interesting and useful thanks, I’m going to look into insurance again when I renew next year. I had my sills and arches done this year, I think you have that info? Also Autocraft, great garage in Cardiff that know bongos, unfortunately not for the bodywork though. Nice to see you back!
Interesting Videos .I had a Bongo for 10 years (P) Only one year I got through MOT without anything Rust every time but with all sorts of other things including front crossmember one year . You are right about finding the right people to do the welding .. I couldnt get the right people.. Mostly patch jobs with lots of paint to cover it... I did manage to fit new glow plugs and replace rocker gasket myself though. I loved my Bongo but gave her up last year and sold her without MOT as the welding bill was 2k. Love your hardtop.. and good th learn you had her undersealed way back then .. Happy days !!
I got surrounded by a similar crowd about 15 years ago. The surrounded me in a crescent fashion with my back against the barbed wire and even more bullocks were on the other side of the wire. I ended up roaring at them while throwing my hands in the air while working my way to the end of the field. It was an awful experience. But the relief once out of harms way was so nice
You did well to react so well in that situation I’m sure if I had had the presence of mind to shout and wave my arms they would have backed off but I’m afraid I rather panicked 😱 I think they were curious more than hostile But you never know 😳
@@TheImportanceofBeing my bunch were more curious than anything when I look back, but it didn’t stop the fear at the time. I remember getting flash backs of newspaper headlines of “ hiker trampled to death by heard of cows” and “ hiker dies after 1 year in comma after cow trampling incident” etc since then, I have always entered fields with a pre planned escape plan just incase. Well done to you for getting out of your situation 👍 All the Best
Hi Julia, just watching this for the first time and you were contemplating maybe selling your lovely Bongo and wondered whether that might be something you’re still thinking about? My wife and I have decided to take the plunge so I thought it might be worth gauging where you are on this?
You have great ideas, keep on thinking about the big picture, august 2023 and due to others ( you know WHO they are ) wants to reduce your savings and money in money boxes, prices are higher still, and will get worse, the world is preparing why shouldn’t we? Thanks for your bongo lifestyle
OMG! I can’t help but laugh because last Saturday (22nd July), four friends and I got chased out of a field by approx. 30 cows in the Vale of Glamorgan area. Two of us were wearing red, including me, but I think the red thing is a myth and only used for bullfighting. 🤷🏻♂️ Anyway, none of us are fond of our bovine buddies and we were glad to escape unharmed. 😂 Thankfully you were too, but in those situations you’ll do anything to get away. 😮
I think these guys were only young and being playful but at the time!! I probably would have attempted to climb over razor wire 😂 Glad you escaped unharmed as well
I'm planning to get a Bongo and would want a bike rack. It's just me and my 5 year old so I won't have any help. Your hubby is super tall and seeing him put those bikes on it made me question how easy it is for someone whose 5ft 2. I guess a foot stool would be needed. So I just want to ask, are you, being 5'3, able to put bikes on and off the rack yourself?
Hi there I have tried to do it myself but to be honest my bike is really heavy and I found it difficult I guess there are some lighter bikes out there which would make it easier?
Great to have you back! I’m finally getting our van back tomorrow, I’ve missed her and being able to just have that freedom to explore in gorgeous places. Funnily enough, we’re going to Pembs day after we get her back! X
I came here because of the Bongo content, but it’s important to remember that the Bongo is a part of Your life, not the other way around…! I’m looking forward to see what will happen in the future, with all the aspects of Your life You want to show us…! And it’s YOUR channel, if You don’t like what You’re doing then it’s not going to be worth it in the long run! Best of wishes to You 💜
Thanks Pelle. As it happens I’ve just come back from a few nights away in the Bongo - I’m back in love with it 😆😍 Will do a video on the trip for next week
Literally just picked up a Bongo and loved hearing you vociferate how I am feeling about actually going places! Long story but aren't they all anyway thank you for sharing.... oh and the bunting 😂😂
Glad you enjoyed 😊 I made this video so long ago I forget what I said haha but I still don’t have any bunting 😂 But I do still have my Bongo Happy travels in yours 🚐
Hi, lovely to see you again - hope all ok with you. I’ve just caught up with your walk on the Taff Trail too, just at the right time to inspire me to get out and about again as our bongo comes back this weekend after some bodywork. I’m looking forward to getting her prepped too, have really missed the freedom of just jumping in and getting out there.