Cornwall & More

Yippeee we finally made it to Cornwall,the camp that was put on hold.
The weather is glorious on our arrival and the site is very peacefull.We are not the only campers we have several other tenters caravanners and motorhomers for company.Many of whom have taken up late season special offers.On talking with fellow campers we are suprised to find that they had the mother of all storms last night.The weather report for the week is looking rather soggy.Not put off in the slightest as we have waited far to long for this break.

The site littlewinnick is in the beautiful district of St Austell.A site we would readily come back to.
There are plenty of walks from site and it also boasts direct access to the Pentewen Cycle Trail.We walked to Pentewan beach which also had a quaint pub

Although our week was at the end of the holiday season we still found there was plenty to do and see,the benefit we found was no queues or bustle.Just what we both really needed.
We spent our days wandering around the harbours and small villages.Where we were very impressed with the meals on offer.Our evenings were spent relaxing in the tent planning where to go tomorrow.

We were asked by familly to stay in contact whilst we were away.So to give them piece of mind,we took along our laptop and skyped our elderly parents from the tent.Their reactions were pure amazement as we gave them a guided tour of our home from home for the week.

As with all holidays it comes to an end so much quicker than you want it to.We brought back the usual gifts and information packs however I also came home with a new hobby.Having fell in love with the many driftwood sculptures that are in every shop window.I decided to try my hand at making a driftwood tree.I ordered the driftwood from the internet and set to, working out where and how I would have the space I needed..Hubby has set me up in a small garden shed.So once again I have another sanctuary.

I'm really enjoying working with driftwood,I have found it to be very relaxing.I've also found an artistic side that has been buried deep within me.Family and friends have suggested selling my items but I'm just happy doing what I do for now.Maybe one day I will though at the moment I don't need the stress of another job,which i'm sure it would turn into eventually and the added risk of losing my enjoyment.I might add that I have not had any panic attacks,since I put my mind to work on my new hobby.

Our latest camping trip took us to the coast,yes I know not the weather for the seaside.However I had other plans.Finally managing to get a pitch here Graffitoe Farm ( awesome views of the beach ).Quite a lot of the open all year sites were waterlogged and we struggled to find a coastal site.

Kind of like two birds one stone,I decided to see if I could collect some driftwood from the nearby beaches.I did manage to source enough to make a small item.Yet to be decided though.I felt like a bigkid again running up and down the beach without a care in the world.How I needed that.Hubby also had his turn at being a bigkid, catching waves as they came crashing in.Though one wave has cost us a new camera,we had lots of fun and came back wet through of our own choosing.

The weather again was suprisingly mild for November. Views were amazing and again no hustle and bustle.We were the only Tent and had one caravan for company.Again another site I would really like to return to.

Watch this space.

My next blog will cover the trials of a new year camp.
I may also set up a page to display my handmade driftwood collection.

If you have time I would really like your feedback on my blog

What a Year !

I can't quite believe it has been a whole year since my last post.

So I've got quite a lot to catch up on.Blogging and reading your blogs.

Big thanks to all of those who have stuck by me.

Quick recap for new readers    I LOVE CAMPING  my blogs start HERE

So the reason for no blogging look no further than the HUSBAND or rather his sudden heart attack.Either way he is getting the blame! Bit harsh I hear you cry ....... NOT when he decides to have this heart attack 5 days YES 5 days, before we are due to camp for a week in the height of the camping season at no other than CORNWALL. A complete bargain booked and paid in full the prior January! To top it all off we are also having a heatwave a rareity in the U.K.

To be fair to hubby he was arguing with the Drs that we were going camping, only we all knew we were going KNOW WHERE ! Hubby was as dissapointed as myself, but again our health comes first.

Unless of course you are a stubborn man.At this point I must tell you we are both fully qualified first aiders.Turns out darling stubborn hubby had been having chest pains for sometime and just kept ignoring the signs.The evening IT happened hubby was trying to pass it off as heartburn / indigestion. Not one to take any flack I rang the emergency services.

However it was not all plain sailing.Hubby doped up on medication given by the paramedics grinning from ear to ear on route to our local hospital.Myself sat wondering what happens now,when the paramedics start arguing over the radio with the local hospital.The local hospital want hubby taken to a specialist hospital some 30 miles away, not a problem it has a very good reputation. What I heard next shocked me to my core.Paramedic's response "He wont make it ,we are less than 3 minutes from you.He needs attention now".

Everything that happened from this point I seem to remember from a far away point.As though it was happening but not real to me.Kind of dream like but no dream.

Three hospitals and two operations later, hubby is fighting fit.Back at work and generally under my feet once again.

A huge thank you to all the medical staff that have helped us through this traumatic time.  

We are not quite back to normal (whatever that is) as the shock of watching hubby fight for his life has left me in a state of panic. For those that know me I'm the fighter the gobby one the daredevil and yet now Im left with Anxiety and panic attacks.I also must say that both my mother and mother-in-law were also hospitilised and underwent major operations during this period.

These didnt come on until several days before hubby was due to go back to work.Ive never experienced anything like them before.Three lots of medication and im now on a suitable dose and coping very well.However again one of us is off work, no work no camping.Keeping the mind busy with positive thoughts is advised for panic attacks.A new hobby has been a great source of help for me.A total novice but I'm playing at making items from driftwood.Hubby has set me up in a small shed in the garden.It's very relaxing sanding bits of wood.

 A huge thank you to both our employers who have also been there for us both and with no pressure to return, just to get well soon.

The good news is we have camped 3 times now with no sign of a panic attack.Yipeeee. It was my worst nightmare that I wouldn't be able to cope with camping.

At the end of all this upheavel in our lives, we both know now that our health is not to be taken for granted.Listen to your body and take action.Do take care of yourself when a loved one is ill as I found out, working full time, visiting the hospital and housework along with playing receptionist  to all well wishers, does and will take it's toll on you.Hubby also gets the blame for this too lol.

My next blog will cover our 3 camping trips and my new hobby, hopefully it wont take me a year to post. 

Easter In Norfolk

We spent Easter in Norfolk at  Moat Farm  a small quiet but adequate site. It was also our first chance to use the new Outwell tent that we had grabbed in the January sales.An Outwell Cleveland 5.As it turned out we had been led to believe it was a poly cotton, on arrival we realized it was nylon.But never mind we still liked the look and the layout of it.

The weather behaved itself and we wandered around Thetford Forest taking in the woodland trails.  The local shops were not far away from site and were quite busy.We also ventured into Norwich and our first experience of Go Outdoors.After wanting more than needing most items, we settled on a new pan set.

Back at the site we were itching to try the new pans so we actually set to and cooked a meat and veg dinner.The pans passed the test and we use them at every opportunity.Why do household pans not give you the same enthusiasm for cooking?

We loved Norfolk and decided that we would return later in the year.

Thetford Forest

Charity Dig

Ok so the company I work for sponsor a different charity every two years.The votes have been cast and counted and the lucky charity is St.Luke's  a local primary school for pupils with moderate severe and profound multiple learning difficulties.

We have been asked to help in the removal of a small garden to enable a sensory memorial garden to be re-built.In remembrance of pupils who have passed away.

Posters are put up at work requesting volunteers to attend. Several dates are listed and to bring a spade.Monday is listed as removal of bedding plants,re-planting and general garden work.

Monday morning arrives with the rain. Myself and four colleagues armed with spades set off for St.Luke's, now none of us are quite sure where it is but we have a vague idea.The lady whom usually deals with our PR is off work ill.So we arrive at St.Hugh's school. Armed with our spades and wellies we march into the reception.We are met with some very curious stares,whereby our appointed leader asks if they are expecting us.With a look of sheer puzzlement they realize that we have turned up at the wrong school.Easy mistake to make at the moment with all the local schools currently being renamed.After being given the correct address and directions we set off again laughing at our mistake.

On arrival at St.Luke's we are met with a joyful hello come this way.We are taken to the garden only to find out that,our agenda for today has changed as the school had managed to start on Friday.Today we are expected to remove the raised beds and the soil contained within.Ok so one member of staff has just returned to work from having a back injury.We all look to one another,it's still pouring with rain and these beds that stand proudly before us must contain at least three tonnes of soil each!

We set to moving potted plants from harms way.Now who is going to swing the lump hammer,as to get to the soil we need to remove posts a meter high by twelve Cm's thick.A manager takes the first swing and the hammer just bounces back,this is a demolition crew job.Well after some heavy swinging and the obvious who are you thinking of with a big grin to match,we manage to make some head way.The soil is now reachable and we start to barrow it up and remove it to, yes you guessed right,the other side of the school.

The rain is still pouring down and we are determined to make our mark.All the time plotting not to tell the next crew of colleagues what they are really in for.From what we are able to decipher the Boss is bringing a crew of high ranking managers,later today.The camera comes out and several pictures are taken to catalogue our progress.

We stop for a brew and our thanked immensely by the school volunteers who are pottering around doing small jobs.We are shown the plans for the new garden and it looks great.

After another hour we call it a day due to work commitments,some of us are required to start our own shifts.We have managed to demolish one bed halfway.

Charity Dig

The rain is still pouring down and the school volunteers decide that they are also going to call it a day.

We can't believe our high ranking managers are going to get away with it.We slowly make our way back to work,feeling that we have done our bit even if we were misled.Knowing now what we do, we are all eager to volunteer again as the project gets moving.Just awaiting the rain to disappear.

Muddy and wet I make my way home for a hot bath, before returning to work to start my nine hour shift.

 

 

      

St Patrick's Meet

March brings with it a St Patrick's meet. Several other campers whom we have met on sites through out the last year are having a meet.

The meet takes place at keviki. A small site with basic facilities.

We also get to meet new campers,and campers we've only chatted to through the forums.

There is a good range of tents including a Tourag,Cabanon Guadeloupe,Our Sunncamp Gite,a Vango Icarus and a new Vango air beam, which we are all eager to see.A couple of caravans and a small pop up tent.

We all gather around as the Vango air beam is brought to life.Impressed with how quick it went up.Happily throwing good humored insults back and forth between us all.

Keviki

For the occasion some of us have put bunting up,and it flaps gently in the breeze.The weather is quite mild for March and we have sunshine.

We all sit around the camp fire as one camper tries out her new cobb,serving up Irish sausages followed by Irish themed cup cakes what I have brought.
Some of the campers have decided to take a stroll up to the local pub,but it's not long before we are all sat around the camp fire once again.

As the night draws in the weather turns and we are rained off, all heading into our own sanctuary's.

The following day is pretty much the same, with everyone swapping tales of their travels.The weather is behaving once again and the children are enjoying the trampoline on site.It's not long before the adults are vying for there turn on the trampoline.

We end the day sat having a good old chat around the camp fire deciding where and when our next meet will be.

The following morning goodbyes are said as we wave each other off .

 

Tents for all seasons

Well so much for our New Year's resolution. Both the hubby and myself have been laid up with one injury or another through January and February.

So we decided to put the time and camping pennies to good use and bought some more tents along with other camping goodies.

Sunncamp Gite 5

Our first purchase is a Sunncamp Gite 5 frame tent, for quick weekends through the summer,loving the attached canopy. Again it's canvas and very bright.The kitchen area is just adequate enough though  the two bed pods are small (five people never, with just the two of us it was tight). Removing the smaller bed pod gave us a bit more room, but It's not doing it for me......maybe it will grow on me.

Our next purchase is from the great makers Cabanon.The Cabanon vis-a-vis an older version of the much loved bora-bora . Again a fantastic piece of canvas with removable sun canopy,two separate good sized sleeping pods.A good sized living area makes me think this tent will get lots of use.On the plus side it is a lovely shade of green.

Cabanon Vis-a-Vis

Our third purchase is a bit of a hasty bargain buy.An Outwell Cleveland 5 now this tent has space it's well thought out,goes up quickly.But it wasn't Polly-cotton as I was led to believe.We did however use it just the once though before we sold it on.Had it been Polly-cotton it would of been a keeper for those weeks away maybe even stretching it to weekends.I do like Outwell, so we kept searching for our perfect week away tent.

Outwell Cleveland 5

We have found it, though it is an older model again. Boy it ticks all the boxes for us.Purchased from a young couple who had just invested in a caravan,there was the usual marks from a second hand tent.These were soon rectified and all but one have gone.This mark was pointed out to us "the wife went mad with fly spray". Well we have tried most safe methods of removing it to no avail,so we now live with it.After all it's not the end of the world,or maybe it is for me.It can't be seen from outside but on stepping inside I'm drawn to it.One day it will be gone!

Kampa Holkham 6

After trialing all our new tents we have decided that the Kampa is for weeks away,the Cabanon is for summer weekends and Bella is for winter camping.          

New Year Camp

This is our first ever New Year camp and the hubby didn't take any persuading.I was expecting to go into full debate mode about staying home,in the warmth with Television,computer etc but no he wanted to go.

We booked Walesby Woodlands for three nights with Ehu.

On arrival we were met by the owner who was rushed off his feet, with his wife laid up ill and a toddler to look after.We were quickly booked in and shown several pitches to choose from.We were also invited to use the cafe on an evening.The owners had decided to open it up to the campers,as a meeting place to sit and have a drink ( fridge available to cool your beers) and would be holding a disco on new years eve to bring the new year in with all their customers.This was a lovely idea and many people took up the offer.

We was the only tent on site,the remaining pitches all took by caravans.
The pitch we chose was between two trees as to give a bit of shelter.The weather was chilly but not overly cold or windy.The night sky was clear and full of stars.The owners also placed a couple of reindeer shaped led lights on the site to make everyone feel christmasy.

The weather held out on us and no snow was forthcoming,maybe this year we will get snow.

We both made a new year's resolution to have more nights camping in 2013.