Ever wonder what a “normal” day living in a bus looks like? Well, let me show you—spoiler alert: it’s rarely normal.

Morning Mayhem

I ended the day by practically ripping apart the bus. Honestly, it looked like a total disaster. But the day started with everything going wrong.

I was worried about my mum, who usually wakes up early to feed the birds, but today she wasn’t moving as usual. Once I worked out she was ok it was onto the usual first order of the day – Coffee.

Then everything seemed to go wrong at once: the water pump made a funny noise, the solar controller temperature was creeping up to 58°, and yes… I had a leaks

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The Bus Routine

After breakfast, I checked on my solar system. The MPPT controller was at 58°, which isn’t great, so I set a fan on it to cool things down. Keeping track of solar and battery levels is just part of the daily van-life juggling act.

Next up: feeding mum. We scoured for fresh chichen eggs but there was nothing. I improvised a with a duck egg. because my job here is to make sure she has energy for everything she needs to do.

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Water, Water Everywhere… Almost

Running out of water is never fun. The pump started making noise, so I went to refill the tanks. I filter everything through a one-micron filter—it’s expensive but worth it to keep things clean. I always make sure the hoses are empty afterward, or you end up with puddles in the van.

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Distilling in a Van

Some of you may know I’ve taken up distilling. Using my Air Still Pro, I emptied the previous batch and started a new 25 L sugar wash. Sunny days with full batteries make for perfect van distilling conditions.

The leftover mash goes straight to the garden—technically, I’m calling it “gardening.” After running the still, I had vodka ready to dilute to 40% ABV, perfect for making gin, whiskey, or even homemade Baileys. Afternoon drinks on the deck never looked so good!

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Renovation and Leaks

The day continued with a bit of chaos. The windscreen was leaking, and water had made its way into the footwells. Time to start pulling apart sections of the bus to get to the source. This meant removing shelves, insulation, and tackling some upholstery—basically turning my van into a temporary construction zone.

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Learning and Teamwork

Thankfully, Kevin was there to help with some tricky bits. Between swearing and laughs, we managed to get some tricky components out, including the cabin filter. It was weird having someone assist me since I usually do everything myself, but having help was invaluable.

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Outdoor Adventures and Mum Time

While I handled the bus projects, mom did a little gardening, and Kevin sharpened the chainsaw—everyone had a role. Lunch was prawn salad for mom, scraps went to the chickens, and even cleaning up dishwater became a little gardening moment.

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Wrapping Up

By the end of the day, everything was partially sorted, though the windscreen leak still needed attention. Mom shared some concerning scan results, so I was heading down to my brother’s to talk through that. A typical day? Absolutely. Chaotic? Definitely. Rewarding? Every single moment.

If you want to see all the chaos unfold in real-time, watch the full video here.

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Key Takeaways from Van Life Chaos

• Leaks happen—daily van maintenance is essential.
• Solar, water, and battery management are a full-time job.
• Distilling can be done on the go—but safety and planning are crucial.
• Having a helping hand makes impossible tasks achievable.
• Even chaos-filled days can have rewarding moments and personal growth.