a Brave New World

Saturday 12th May

Well Jacq and I have decided to try and camp and cook for the first time. We found a campsite that was local to Guildford on the web and here we are at 6.30pm in the evening on our little pitch having had a first course of noodles and awaiting a possible second course of soup and chopped vegetables later.

The campsite is a bit of a find as it has a nice little lake at its centre where other campers appear to be trying their luck at catching whatever they can. Also the facilities are very clean and user friendly (clean toilets and showers). The surrounds of the site have oak trees which signal the gentle breeze that is blowing around us but also provides some coverage for the stove action that is a prime feature of evening entertainment.

It certainly feels like we have walked into a whole new world of outdoor living. As I type this a warden of the site (singled out as he wears the green branded campsite sweater) is relaying some paving stones at theentry gate to this section of the site. Next to this gate is a large motorhome with attached tent gazebo which makes me imagine the wardens may actually live permanently on site.

I conjure a semi retirement lifestyle of motor home existence where one becomes more and more in tune with nature nestled in this little quite community of people who enjoy the outdoors.

Another thought rumbles past my head which is that we have been blessed with agreeable weather. There are a few white clouds across the sky stretched by the prevailing wind but with plenty of blue gaps behind it which is beginning to darken into a purply hue as the light starts to fade.

Clearly this helped me to cook relatively smoothly without things being rained on, blown everywhere and having to suufer a diet with all foods eatern a la mud/grass/insect depending on the slant of unforgiving environmental conditions.

I'm told Canada in May and June is the insect version of Tottenham Court Road in rush hour so I may need to further sharpen my camp craft in the weeks to come....