Camping Reunion in Manchester

You may remember that my friend Amy has, for a lot of years, organised a camping trip for a bunch of people. I've been three times - in 2013. 2014, and 2016. In 2019 Amy had just had baby Daisy, so she hired some cottages for everyone, although Lee and I camped nearby and just joined everyone during the day at the cottages. Covid of course meant no camping could happen, and Amy had another baby, Robyn, last year, and doesn't yet want to take the girls camping. But she wanted to get together, so she hired a room next to a cafe in a park in Manchester for us to get together.

Lee and I weren't sure if we could go, because the night before I was supposed to be seeing Alanis Morissette, also in Manchester, and didn't want to drive over twice in two days, especially not with fuel prices being what they are. But then Alanis got rescheduled for five days later, as she had had a bad throat, so we decided to go along. I'm glad we did, I had a lot of fun. I talked to some of Amy's friends that I haven't seen since 2019, and our mutual friend Gillian was there with her husband and kids so it was fun to see them. 

On our way back from Manchester we went to Glossop to go to The Globe for tea. It's a totally vegan pub and does the best junk food at really cheap prices. We haven't been since before the pandemic and were expecting it to be busy, but it really wasn't. 5pm on a Sunday seems like an ideal time to go! I had a vegan cheeseburger with fries and Lee had sausage, chips and gravy. All so good and all vegan! We both had hot chocolate fudge cake and ice cream for pudding. 

I was wearing this blush pink Yours dress that I had only just taken the tags off. I have had it a while though. I love the shirring and the off the shoulder look - I think this is a good look on me. This is obvious because I have at least four dresses like this, haha. I had my bright blue Snag Tights underneath, you can just spy them under the photo. 

Kids playing

Some of the attendees

Cheeseburger and chips

Lee was happy with his too 

Such nice chocolate cake

And finally, my lovely pink dress!

Camping with My Family 2022

As you'll know from previous years, Lee and I go camping with my family once a year which is always lovely if very tiring. This year because of the extra Jubilee bank holiday we decided to go then, and decided to go near Market Harborough. It seemed to go over very quickly but it was nice. My mum and stepdad went a day early and warned us it was cold at night so we went prepared with a hot water bottle and extra layers of clothing and bedding. It still turned out to be very cold though. 

We got there on the Thursday and got set up. Last year our king size airbed broke, so we had bought two single ones. They turned out to be far more comfortable than I imagined which was good! On Thursday night Rob cooked gumbo, a veggie one for me and Lee and meat for everyone else. It was really nice! My mum also rented Giant Jenga from the campsite so we played that for a bit. It was warm and sunny which boded well but unfortunately the weather turned and the rest of the time was really quite cold and rainy. Rob had also made the Jubilee pudding but I went for the amazing chocolate tart he had made alongside, which I could eat again right now! We had a fire pit in the evening which is always nice, and it turned out to be the best weather for it. 

I slept okay thought with many layers on, and on Friday morning Neil and Caroline made the same croissants for breakfast that Lee and I made last year - you cut them in half, put salami/veggie salami and cheese on, then grill them until warmed. So simple but so good.

Everyone dispersed for the day - Caroline and Neil went to look at some trains, Rob went for a walk, my mum, stepdad, Peter and Beth went to the Space Centre in Leicester. Lee and I went to Coventry to meet some friends of mine. I haven't seen them in forever so it was lovely. We sat in a cafe where I had a mint crunch cake and some delicious coffee. When they'd left us Lee and I went into a goth type shop nearby which had tons of crystals so I bought some and also a statue of a little black cat! 

We got back to camp first so relaxed for a bit. We cooked that evening - we did pasta and different sauces and veggies and some chicken (not for me) meaning that everyone could choose whatever they wanted on it. Everyone liked it. 

On Saturday morning Neil made a full English breakfast with veggie options for Lee and I. It was cold and windy so we were all sitting in their tent because it's got enough room for all of us. Lee and Peter and my mum and I decided to go into Market Harborough, my stepdad stayed at camp and everyone else went to look at a series of locks nearby. Market Harborough turns out to have lots of charity shops so we went in those, and had a coffee before we went back. We also managed to buy Lee two birthday presents for his 40th which is coming up in August, so that was good.

Back at camp we made s'mores. My friend Michelle gave me a kit for Christmas so I thought it would be fun to do while camping and it was! Everyone complained at me about how unflattering these photos were though, not my fault!

Caroline and co had all decided to pack up on Saturday afternoon and leave later that night because there was bad weather forecast so they took their tents down and we all ended up crowding into my mum's. It was her turn to cook but she had decided to order pizzas so we did that which was nice. Everyone left around 8.30/9pm so Lee and I sat in my mum's tent until bedtime. 

On the Sunday my mum and stepdad helped us take our tent down and we set off home quite early. It was a fun time but the weather did ruin things a little. I wasn't in as much pain as I thought I might be but I had been very cold. 

Our car was packed as usual

Getting our tent set up on the Thursday

Peter had forgotten any sunglasses and I keep some in the car so here he is looking magnificent in my heart shaped shades

Playing Giant Jenga

This was delicious!

Peter was trying to build a self supporting bridge but failed

Veggie gumbo

Jubilee pudding

Fire pit!

In the centre of Coventry on Friday now with the statue of Lady Godiva

Mint crunch cake

These must be the only photos from Friday... 

Because here we are in Market Harborough on Saturday lunchtime

Peter and I in the drizzle. I look shocking - it turned out I was a little ill with more gynae problems - I ended up in the hospital on the Monday just as an outpatient and now looking back I can tell I was unwell

Lee and Peter had huge hot chocolates in a nice cafe

Here's Peter with his

Making s'mores back at camp

Peter's was huge

He managed to eat it though

This notice was on the back of one of the toilets and I thought it was funny

And finally here's my lovely tent - here's to next year!

Camping in Essex - Day 4

Day 4 was our last day camping. Time to put everything away and go home! Rob and Beth had had to leave really early in the morning, so we had said goodbye to them the night before. But Neil made pancakes for breakfast - I had two with chocolate and one with lemon and sugar. Absolutely delicious! 

Peter helped us put the tent down which was so helpful, and then we helped with bits of my aunt's and uncle's tent. My mum and stepdad were staying another couple of nights, so we had to say goodbye to them too sadly. 

Lee and I drove home, stopping to get a sandwich on the way home, and picked up the kittens, who were really happy to see us. We relaxed for the rest of the day, we were both so tired! 

I was wearing this dress from Yours that I've had for three years, I only wore it once or twice when it split on the seam. It's been in my mending pile for ages but I finally got round to sewing it up! I love it and the asymmetric hem, plus the pattern. I'm so happy to be able to wear it again! I wore it with this ancient knit crop top from New Look. 

Everyone trying to get the roof box shut

It needed rearranging

Here's this gorgeous navy dress with green and yellow flowers, plus crop top!

Camping in Essex - Day 3

After a better night's sleep I still woke up early but that meant I got to see the sunrise, which was lovely. I went back to sleep for a bit, but I never sleep well on low airbeds. I'll have to do some research and see what we come up with!

When I got up again I had a shower and then got to making breakfasts again. We made something simple - croissants cut in half and layered with salami and cheese, and toasted under the grill. I had vegan pepperoni which was really nice. Everyone liked it, people said it was a bit like breakfast pizzas with no tomatoes. It was simple but effective and set everyone up for the day. I enjoyed thinking up new things for breakfast! 

My mum and aunt's cousin Sue lives in Essex, so she and her husband came to see us on Sunday, they arrived about noon. My aunt and co went off for a walk, and I sat cross stitching in the sun. It was so changeable though, which was a shame. We had some lunch and sat chatting. The others came back and got some lunch too. I went to Tesco with my cousin. People played games and just generally relaxed. 

About 5pm we went to the beach where Rob decided he would have a swim. If it had been warmer I would have gone myself, but it was just a bit too cold. Lee and I paddled though, and the water wasn't as cold as I thought it would be. I'm glad I went down to the beach though. 

In the evening Rob and Neil made two types of carbonara - one with veggie bacon and one with regular bacon. The veggie one was SO good, I will have to try to make it myself. We moved the tables inside the tent as it was warmer in there. Sue and Eugene left around 8.30 and the rest of us played games until it was bedtime. 

Sunrise at around 5.40am

Breakfast croissants

Peter taking photos

The team photo, Sue took this as she's not in it

Eug took this one!

Down on the beach near the caravan site

It was quite muddy

Rob considering swimming

And then swimming!

Doing okay!

Proof that Lee and I paddled

I took a video of this too once everyone else had gone back to camp

Veggie carbonara

Beth and Lee and I inside the tent ready for tea - Lee and I are failing at looking at the right place on my phone, obviously

Neil, Peter, Rob

The same but with hoods up and serious faces

My mum, aunt, and Sue :)

Camping in Essex - Day 2

After our disastrous night of sleep Lee and I were both really tired, but we were doing breakfasts and it had to be done by 10.30 so we got started. We were doing toast with smashed avocado and fried eggs - I couldn't fathom poaching eggs for so many people so we went with fried instead. I mashed the avocado with chilli, pepper, lime juice, tomatoes. My stepdad helped with the toast and eggs. I also made tofu scramble! I've been meaning to forever but haven't got round to it. I crumbled firm tofu into a pan with some oil, and fried it for a bit, then added chilli and turmeric. Everyone tried it and a couple of people said they really liked it. It is like a firm scrambled egg. I'm glad I made it and will do so again!

After breakfast a few of us set off to Tiptree to go to a craft shop there. My aunt had arranged to meet her friend at the shop and for lunch, so she went with my cousin's wife Beth. Lee, my mum and I went in my mum's car as we weren't sure we wanted lunch. The shop was like a Tardis - it just went back and back and back! It had craft products of ALL kinds including yarn, fabric, scrapbooking stuff, dolls house stuff... all kind of things! I was quite restrained though and didn't buy much. My mum bought some fabric. 

We set off back to Mersea Island and decided to stop at a shop nearby to have a drink and a piece of cake. I had a fantastic scone with jam and clotted cream. We bought some souvenirs at the shop, and then went back to camp. I'm not sure what everyone else had been doing while we were gone! Caroline and Beth arrived back some time after us, they'd enjoyed the shop too.

Lee and Peter and I then went for a drive to West Mersea. There was a gala on so it was quite busy, so we didn't stop, but it had lots of nice shops and pubs and I would definitely go back one day. We did park at the end of one street and went on to the beach. We sat there for a while which was lovely. Did I say I've been trialling contact lenses? I had them in as you can tell in the selfie photo! 

Back at camp my aunt and uncle made curry for tea, it was so nice. It was cold again so we ended up sitting inside the tent again. It was a nice, relaxed day. 

We went to bed but then I needed the loo again - I'd been drinking White Russians with my cousin and I was drunker than I thought! But my new phone has a thing that opens the aperture for longer or whatever, and I managed to get photos of the stars! I'm so impressed, in the original photo you can see loads! 

Fried eggs and tofu scramble on the way

Cream tea for lunch

My stepdad, mum, and uncle being ridiculous on the way to the loos

West Mersea beach

And the channel

Looking the other way

Me and Lee and Peter

It was a nice beach

Peter trying out his depth perception

The sunset was pretty

Rob and Beth made pavlova for pudding

Stars! I'm so happy I got photos