Hello folks, I am back from the green, green hills of Derbyshire, from the appropriately named Greenhills Holiday Park. We are all a little tattered after our three nights camping it has to be said, but still enamoured with tent life. Even though we actually no longer have a tent. Even though our tent was ripped beyond repair by howling winds and ended up in the skip. Camping is still Great!
I mean, just look at these views, how can you not love waking up to a view of green hills, trees and yellow buttercup fields?
Plot number 17 in Hawthorn Field was our home for 3 nights and for the most part it was lovely. Scenic. It was even sunny on Saturday when we arrived and I took these first few photos look. But even when the sun was out it remained cold. I spent the weekend dressed in almost all my clothes all on at once, layer upon layer of woolly socks, teeshirts, jumpers, fleeces and jackets. Luckily it remained dry until our last night, but the wind.....oh my, the wind was a monster. It howled and gusted and blew through the place like you wouldn't believe. Some folks lost tents completely, others (like us) just had a bit of ripping and shredding and flapping. It was ferocious, but we didn't mind too much because we were on holiday and with friends. And the weather should never get the better of you.
My Oxfam blankets hardly ever left me, I wrapped myself up in them day and night. Here we are, blanket and I, with our morning cup of tea. Waiting for bacon and eggs to cook. When we camp, J does all the cooking. I don't think he trusts me with the gas stove, and thats fine by me, Blanket and I can just stay snuggled up together and wait for hot food and drinks to be handed to us.
The windy days are full of walking, playing, chatting, laughing, exploring, picnicing, reading, crocheting, tea-drinking and general merriment. And as the evening approaches we move on to beer and a barbecue supper. It involves a surprisingly small amount of organising actually, to cook for 12 Big People and 12 Little People. The men light the fires, stand around drinking beer and manage to cook a staggering amount of meat and meat products. The ladies sit down under the gazebo to drink beer and open up bags of salad, crisps and bread rolls.The Little People run riot. And somehow it all comes together and we enjoy a lovely meal.
And after dinner has been cooked and the barbecue coals are smoldering nicely, we supervise the Little People with some marshmallow toasting.
All twelve Little People are snuggled in bed by 9pm and we light up more barbecues to provide heat under the gazebo. Blanket and I are best buddies and we stay up chatting and drinking and laughing into the night with our friends.
Now then, what do you think of this most beautiful tart? It came from The Bakewell Tart shop and was the one thing we bought home with us.
The Bakewell tart is a traditional English baked cake native to the town of Bakewell. The tart consists of a shortcrust pastry shell, covered in jam and covered with a sponge style filling enriched with ground almonds.
And it tastes bloody good. Rich and moist and sweet. Put the kettle on and make a cup of tea to go with it and we can sit in front of the fire. Indoors, home, cosy, and not a wisp of wind. I do love camping, but coming home again is bliss.
Such lovely pictures! Sounds like a fun camping trip, despite the weather (OMG @ the winds - that would have sent me straight home lol). Bet the kids thought it was great though.
Posted by: Alice | June 03, 2008 at 09:16 AM
sorry to hear about your tent, but hope it hasn't put you off camping?! I said to my husband yesterday that we should have gone camping this weekend, but there are plenty more to come. Glad your lovely blankets came in useful, I am off to Oxfam here tomorrow to see if I can make a purchase of one myself!
Posted by: Anna | June 01, 2008 at 10:53 AM
You and I shared a chilly weekend I see. I love the oxfam blanket and I think I needed one last weekend too. I just love those green fields and the yellow buttercups are heaven, no green fields here at all. But how exciting to have a storm brew while out in the wild. I think I'd like to do that at least once in my life. As long as there are no big trees to fall on me.
Cheers.
Posted by: Maddy | June 01, 2008 at 12:48 AM
We love tenting too. Glad to hear you had a fun time, even despite the weather. And glad to hear your blankets came in so handy!
Posted by: Chris | May 31, 2008 at 01:09 AM
Sounds like you had a fab time. We haven't camped since a very wet week in Somerset some years ago when the tent appeared to be in the path of a small river..I'm a bit of a fair weather camper, love it in the sunshine but soggy tents just make me want my bed!
Posted by: Gill | May 30, 2008 at 10:11 PM
It has rained incessantly here for almost a week although now drying up. The photos are great. I bet the children had the best time ever especially toasting marshmallows!
Posted by: simone | May 30, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Good grief!! That was a mean wind that was blowing in Derbyshire that weekend, glad you still had fun though!! At least the rain held off, that's the worst thing when you're camping, or walking for that matter, walking in the pouring rain for days on end is no fun!
Mmmm, bakewell tart, one of my favourite cakes ever.
Posted by: Brenda | May 30, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Me again, I've also tagged you (do you think I like you...lol) have a look at my blog to find out more....Claire x
Posted by: claire | May 30, 2008 at 10:51 AM
you brave things, the weather was awful, looks like you had a fab time!! I've been to the The Bakewell Tart shop, I love Derbyshire!!
You have won one of my pay it forward goodies, if you email me your address via my Patsi Bea website, you will get some surpises in the post....sometime...lol... Claire xx
Posted by: claire | May 30, 2008 at 10:38 AM
It looks like so beautiful and sounds like you had a great time. You've made me want to go camping.
Last time I went was to Brands Hatch to watch Super Bike racing - it was October, freezing cold, very muddy - my friend's 4X4 got stuck in the mud and we had to get rescued by lots of gorgeous biker types! Everyone else was freezing cold but we were snuggled in a little two "woman" tent with four duvets, several blankets and more pillows than you've ever seen! Fabulous.
The bakewell tart looks divine. Did you save us all a piece?
Clairey xx
Posted by: clairey | May 30, 2008 at 10:35 AM