my stuff
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brain dump camping re-hash
I woke up this morning feeling like I was going to collapse as soon as I stood up. The alarm had been going on for about an hour and we both kept slapping it on snooze to give us the much needed 9 whole minutes of sleep – it’s funny how such a small amount of sleep can seem like it’s going to save your life at the time.
After I did stand up and got my legs working properly, my eyes open properly and my sorry soul into the bathroom I realised that I was in fact, not 2 steps from death, but several hours short of my required amount of sleep over a weekend.
Oof. Bandito’s birthday camping weekend went very well. Too well, if that’s possible. We were camping on a friend of a friend’s field (amazingly lovely and friendly people) 45 miles out of Edinburgh so it was nice and close for everybody to dip in and out. As it turned out, everybody dipped in, there wasn’t much dipping out – so that was even better. Friday night was the usual drinking wine by the fire, eating good food and catching up with everybody. I ended up peaking FAR too early. One (or 10) too many red wines for me, I was knackered and drunk and very snoozy sitting by the fire and when I went off to get something from my tent I had a little look at my bed and sleeping bag and decided to stay there. The fire was making me feel a bit sick too. And not the wine, oh no – not the wine.
Saturday we just lay around the campsite, playing tunes and having a nice lunch and reading and stuff and then the rest of the troops arrived in dribs and drabs. By 8pm we were a decent sized camping crowd – some we’d known were coming and others who gave us no clue. Nice surprises.
So, with so many people there was only one thing for it – big party. And big party we did. And long party. I think we went to bed at about 10am on Sunday morning. Up again at 3pm to pack up the site and head home. Fun, fun, fun.
It’s really nice at the moment actually, because we’re making some new friends and I really like this stage where it’s exciting seeing people again and learning new things about them. This couple live quite close to us and although we’ve known them for about 6 years, it’s only been in the last 2 years that we’ve started being a bit more than ‘hello – how are you?’ friends. We didn’t know they were into camping, but when I invited them, they decided to come along too – it turns out they’re mad into cycling AND biking so I think we might end up doing fun things with them. They’re going travelling next year (typical) but we’ve got a few months to form a better friendship with them and do fun things together.
We drove home on the Sunday afternoon, dirt under our finger nails, filth caked onto our jeans, grass in our hair and a definite happiness in our hearts. None of us really wanted to go home, yet the appeal of the sofa and a take away curry was too strong! Plus, it was Sunday – what else could we do?
That’s the worst thing about camping – going home. It’s great after the showers are had, the camping gear is put away in the cupboard and the first wash of clothes has started up in the machine. The thought of packing up the car, driving home, unpacking the car, washing everything in site (including us) and then getting a nice couple of hours on the sofa seems so huge, it’s much easier to sit about, staring into space and pretending you’re not that bothered when you look at the clock and it says 4pm.
But that’s also the best thing about camping – getting everything done and flopping on the sofa with the take away menu, a beer in one hand so many funny things to look back on, it’s so satisfying. The hard work is so worth it.
And now it’s put me in the mood to go camping again really soon. I think Bandito and I are going to go on a camping holiday next month. We’ve finally got a bit of money to play with and so we thought we’d go and have some fun. Bandito and I seriously need some time together. The holiday that we’re having this week is decidedly non-Bandito-and-Heeland-Lass-time-together orientated! Still – it’s not costing us anything so who’s moaning?
And only 2 ½ hours to go till it’s home time and this evening. I even turned down some overtime tonight so I could have a nice quiet night in with B. Thank god for that – another early night for me I think.
I’m just brain dumping now. I’ll go. You don’t have to tell me twice!!
3:10 pm - 26 June 2006
