Alfa - Then and Now - Part 1

The Alfa is finally cleaned. Hooray!

We bought it in October of 2002 so we’re going into the 14^th year of having it.  Here is a picture of how it looked when we picked it up. By the time I took this picture the decal on the nose that said “SeeYa” was already gone. Bill took it off the day after we brought it home.

Here is a picture of how it looks now. The black on the front is Rhino lining – the stuff they put on pickup beds. And the new paint on the bottom.

This is what the living room/dining area kind of looked like when we got it [ a picture from the brochure.] Ours didn’t have two bench seats with the table – we got one bench seat and two chairs.]

Taken this morning - couch is gone, ceiling lights are different,  small TV above chair is gone, tile on wall next to stove. Our set up with one bench seat and two chairs and a computer station next to dining table. New carpeting.

Between Bill's chair and the kitchen cabinets is a bookcase/DVD holder Bill built.  

We took out the small TV above the chair next to the cabinets that came with the Alfa [without the couch we didn't need it] and turned the cabinet into a cupboard. Bill put in the glass. 

The switch inside the cabinet is for the satellite TV- we now have a Winguard dome. Original dome quit working and was replaced. This is also our snack cabinet. 

Some modifications in the kitchen area. Bill built a couple of spice holders. One behind the sink another behind the stove. 

They really come in handy. On the stove top we have a large cutting board with rubbermaid lining on the bottom. Doesn't move when we travel and keeps the burners from rattling. 

The Alfa came with an opening on the counter to a trash can [there is access to the trash from an outside door] Bill cut the lid in two and hinged it so it is easier to use.

All cupboards and drawers are lined with indoor/outdoor carpet to cut down on noise and it also keeps things from moving around. If a piece gets dirty we just throw it out and put in new. 

Bill also tiled the wall next to the stove with mosaic tile - much easier to keep clean. 

I mentioned that when we bought the Alfa we had a chance to do a little design change. Instead of two bench seats - we got one - I like to sit on it and wanted the storage beneath it. Bill liked chairs so we got two chairs instead of another bench seat. Very convenient for us. 

Notice the long narrow box at the end of the table. Bill built it for me to store note paper, pens, pencils, calculator etc in because the way the table is set up we couldn't put drawers under it. I work on my laptop sitting at the table. 

He also built me a real handy item for when I want to do jigsaw puzzles. I tried the roll up mat but always made a mess of my puzzles. So he got a table sized piece of Plexiglas

 - rounded the edges and drilled little holes in the four corners of the Plexiglas and table. I can take it off when working on a puzzle and put it back on for eating, working on laptop or traveling.

Bill uses the computer station for his PC - the drawers have files in them. A printer goes in a cabinet above the PC.

That is a wicker basket next to it - used for extra storage.

We took out the couch not long after getting it and put in a Lazy Boy rocker recliner - my chair. And a couple of years later we replaced the carpet with industrial grade - casino - carpet. Then Bill made use of the big cabinet that was originally behind the couch. He put in a ... I'll finish this tomorrow as I've got to get to the laundry now.