I should have known that I have a daughter after my own heart….she didn’t really enjoy sleeping in a tent. Camping does not even make it onto the bottom of my Top 100 things I want to do in life. In fact, it probably is at the top of my list of “Things I am old enough to know I hate and never have to do again in my life”.
She arrived back this morning – a day early – a bedraggled, cold, dirty, hungry, tired, little girl. She had the coldest, wettest night of her life huddled up in a soaking wet tent last night and she and her five friends were delighted to escape this morning. The text she sent last night was:-
“We are cold, our tent is flooded!! There is poo everywhere and it stinks – we wanna come home”
Apparently (not being tent aficionados) they arrived at the campsite to find it packed out except AMAZINGLY for a clear patch that was free. They couldn’t believe their luck. Didn’t really think about why that might be until a day of torrential rain made them realise that they had set up their tent in a boggy wet ditch.
I don’t think they even got to see many bands. She got knocked over in the Mosh pit and trodden on until one of her brave friends shouted “FUCK OFF ALL OF YOU” several times very loudly to the immediate crowd and successfully managed to terrify the life out of everyone long enough to get them hoisted back up.
She hasn’t been able to talk about it much so far. Every time she starts she thinks about the “toilet” facilities and starts gagging. She said “I wish I could have put a teeny weeny bit of that revolting…retch…smell….retch…into a jar for you, then you’d know what I’m talking about….retch….it was revolting….retch….you could see everything….retch”.
How sweet of her to want to bring me back a little corner of an English field. So thoughtful.
Still. Happy to have her back safe and sound. She’ll sleep well in her own bed tonight.
Kelloggsville
August 26, 2012Camping and festival camping are two very different animals. There is no way ever, no, no, and thrice no, that I would do festival camping. Camping with the guides (even at a large jamboree, even with toilet tents if necessary and wash tents) is clean, non smelly and even if wet, still fun.
I cross my heart and hope to die, I promise you a Guide camp is good, clean fun. (http://kelloggsville.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/difference.html)
Family Affairs
August 27, 2012I KNEW YOU”D SAY THAT! I’m only interested if it’s “Glamping” or safari. Very different. That is shocking about the difference in the litter etc – no respect whatsoever for the environment then at those festivals. Lx
Kelloggsville
August 27, 2012Im all up for glamping, you should see the a,out of bedding I take to guide camp!
I saw a large group of very tired post festivalers arrived at our local Station today. Lots of them. All grubby ( I didn’t go close enough to smell!) but what struck me the most was how quiet and almost sullen they all were. I’m guessing the hangovers are going to take a while to pass!
Family Affairs
August 27, 2012Well that would have been four nights of little or no sleep! Lx
Anna
August 28, 2012Poor thing! This must have been really uncomfortable. I bet the night seemed eternal. I cannot imagine coping with the filth: I was almost gagging in a spacious, top of the line porter potty at a small horse show this weekend.
I’m with Kelloggsville ,though, real camping is not like that at all. It’s all about good smells, fresh air, restful sleep.
Family Affairs
August 28, 2012Yes, although I do think safari camping is one of the best and I can’t say that I’ll necessarily be getting a restful sleep with all those wild animals outside the tents!! Lx
Anna
August 28, 2012Safari is undoubtedly on most people’s dream lists, but I can’t forget your friend’s account of a camper finding a black mamba under his blanket one night. I think he first thought it was a mouse brushing against his thigh. Apart from the danger of the bite, just the visual would be enough for me to swear off safari.
Family Affairs
August 28, 2012OMG conveniently I’ve forgotten about that one!! Lx
Shiny
August 28, 2012Oh, how I recognise that! We had a similiar experience as students after going to an outdoor music festival. After two days, we were dirty, smelly, and grumpy. On arrival at one of our friend’s parent’s holiday house which happened to be nearby, we were met with gasps of horror and fingers pointing in the direction of the bath! xxx
Shiny
August 28, 2012P.S. Glad she’s home safe x
Family Affairs
August 28, 2012Thank you and yes – straight to the bath for her too!LX
Expat Mum
August 28, 2012I can’t sleep anywhere other than a bed, preferably my own. Even did the “sleeping on the beach” thing in Greece when I was 20 and hated every minute of it. Especially as I had parked myself under a tree which then dripped sap on me all night. Sigh.
allison ogden -newton
August 28, 2012When Chris asked me to marry him, all very romantic etc in Paris, I said yes…as long as I never had to go camping ughh…