Mum got stuck on M1 so arrived too late to go last minute shopping at Go Outdoors. Had started raining by the time we left, but our spirits were not dampened. We were probably one of the closest attendees, but still one of the last to get there. Here's Bumble (full of crap) at his first rally...
While I (ever so kindly) put up her tent in the rain. Payback for not letting her sleep in my van I suppose.
This was kind of a learning experience trip, with the back up of just going home if it all went wrong.
Lesson number 1: the double airbed does not fit in this tent. Result: Mum stole my bed and I had to sleep on a fleece blanky!
Lesson number 2: never lend Pops your camping kit.. he doesn't wash up after doing a cooked breakfast but just hides it in the garage for a year. Result: I laughed and felt all righteous, Ma felt guilty, Pops blamed Ma.
Didn't put us off enjoying our 'first brew in the van'. Asked Ma if we still had Grandad's Primus, and it is indeed in a shed somewhere, so I suggested digging it out for a brew up down Hemsby over the summer. However, Grandad never let anyone else use his Primus, so no-one has a scooby how it works!
Shopping list 1: Thermal insulated mug. Lost my outside one.
Had pasta for tea, nice and simple, as I was in a hurry to head off to the entertainment tent. Got there in time to hear the last couple of songs by Bamalama, the retro covers band. They were really good. Then the 80s vs 90s disco started... with Baggy Trousers!!! So I was knackered after one song. The whole disco was brilliant... the 80s were of course the best. Some of the 90s ones got a bit dull, but Sesame Street was ace.. I bought it on tape! Mum pulled while dancing to Katrina and the Waves and I rocked to Guns n Roses with a fun group of blokes. Was a fab evening, and we lasted all the way to the end.
Back to the van for cocoa before bed :-) Shopping list 2: a kettle. Should prevent spillage from incompetent pouring.
Woke up late the following morning to see a Dragon outside my window!!!
Our first recipe from the Campervan Cookbook that Ma got me for my birthday, the Exploding Egg Banjo...
So, yummy breakfast, eaten in t shirt and board shorts! except when a cloud blew over, then it was LS tee and shorts. V windy as usual. Eventually got ourselves organised and headed over to the main arena. And then it RAINED! so we ran back to the van. Had bagels and chocolate raisins for lunch and played Blink while we failed to dry off. Then went back to the arena, this time in trousers and waterproofs. A few vans to look at, mostly conversions/restorations done by professional companies. Lots of trade stands. Everything had a CV on it. Dangerous. I tried v hard not to buy everything! The felt hoodies were especially hard to resist. Also you had to watch where you step.. could get a nasty bite..
Shopping list 3: a flag, to enable finding of your VW in 3 fields full of them. Shopping List 3b: a mallet to get the stake in far enough.. had to go borrow one
Had spent all our cash, so came back to the van for a cuppa, and to set up Bumble's Bee. Having refreshed our selves and our wallets we headed back over for more shopping.
Shopping list 4: a petite driveaway awning.. for a bit more room when its raining, and somewhere to leave stuff, maybe an extra sleeping space. This one looked like a good size.. others were huuuuge.
Shopping list 5: one day... a purple Splittie??!
Bought a t shirt and a towel for Bumble, and a wedding card for Jon. And a new water bottle. The crappy one from Halfords had two holes in by then. Maybe Lesson 3: don't buy camping kit from Halfords, or maybe its just a design flaw). Then went over to the main tent and chilled out to a brilliant covers band for a bit. The atmosphere the whole weekend was brilliant. Everyone was friendly and chilled out. Back to camp for an impressive tea... sweet and sour chicken. No room for afters! Back over to the arena for the evening's entertainments. Not as good as the Friday night. Smileymic was good.. beatbox/guitar/singing all done by recording loops. Got a bit bored of the Ska bands after though.. so I fed cheesey doodles to a Westie pup. Had to stay late, as some bloke was 'resting' in one of our chairs! Cocoa then bed.
No Banjos on Sunday, had to head back to Loughborough. Was my first time playing drums at Beacon. Got there at 9.30 desperate for a pee and really nervous. Quick practice went well, only one stop and laugh mistake. Slim turned up especially. Growled at him then left him with Mum. It actually went really well.. that God takes over thing happened, so somehow I knew when to build/go quiet etc. Is cool when that happens, and it must be God cause I definitely don't have that sort of musical ability! Scrummy cupcakes and tea after, so not really the quick getaway I was hoping for, especially as we had a chat with Denise and Andy, and then Phil wanted to see my van.
Back to camp to find that the Bee's umbrella had blown away. Very sad. Dashed over to the arena to catch the Show n Shine. Some really lovely old bays. Some ideas for Bumble, different 'bonnet bras' etc.
Think having colour co-ordinated luggage, wellies and old skis artfully arranged is a bit much but maybe the Show n Shine trophy is more coveted that I thought! Here's Rufus, an impressive T4 that started off as a beaten up old white van.. so there is hope for Bumble yet!
Last minute shopping (Rally t-shirt for me and a cab carpet for Bumble.. oh, and a hat!) then another healthy meal (Funnel cake and crepe) before heading back to a rather lonely and abandoned looking Bumble. Lesson 4: people seem to pack up early on Sunday, so if you're going only for the day, get there early.
Weekend mood ruined by letter from school. So need a new job. Played SW monopoly to distract brain. Ended up being really mean and not letting Mum quit until I owned everything in the galaxy. The last of the bacon and egg Banjos for tea, and Tangled at Flix.
Monday: wedding shopping. Ended up finding my purple shirt in Primark for £3.80!! No purple all stars though (Mum found in Norwich on Tues :-) ).
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