The Camping and Caravanning Weekend 2009
Well we have all just returned from another successful weekend away,
this time it was held from the 1st - 4th May at the
Camping and
Caravanning Club site at Conkers just outside Swadlincote in Derbyshire.
Okay to be fair we also had some of the group staying in Bed and
Breakfast accommodation. Who was there?
Tents : Chas and Chris Coleman, Gerald Williams
(Gerry), Jo and Ann
Caravans: David and Rachel Cooper, Paul and Gwen
Shilton
Bed & Breakfast: Ruth and Alan Page, John and
Pauline Smith, Jennifer Levy and her Aunt (Vi)
The Shilton's were the first to arrive, a day earlier than the rest
of us, followed by David and Rachel who had such a long way to travel from
Nuneaton, a whole 35 minutes !! arriving about 1pm on Friday. That was the two caravans on site, the wind was getting up and made putting up the awning a little difficult Jo and Ann arrived mid afternoon and quickly erected their tent leaving just Chas, Chris and Gerry to arrive on site a little later. Jennifer and Aunt Vi had decided to come on the
Friday as they were staying in the Youth Hostel (a superior class of YHA !!) at the end of the drive to the camp site. That was the first wave of St John's congregation and friends. We eagerly awaited the arrival of the mobile Fish and Chip shop, which we later discovered was owned by the son of the Site manager, and a very high standard of fish and chips etc,
previously tested by David and Rachel on an earlier visit to the site in March.
Saturday morning brought the arrival of Ruth, Alan, John and Pauline,
unfortunately Shirley and Martin were unable to join us due to ill
health. Also joining us for the day were Kerrie and the boys and
Matthew, Clare and Lucy. Several of the group went off for a walk on one of the many prepared routes available in the area, perhaps not to the adventurous standard of some of the walks led by Jo and Ann on previous weekends but at least the boys enjoyed themselves, especially for Reece as he managed to get a piggy back on Chas's shoulders whilst Josh was able to stay in his buggy.
One of our customary events on these weekends is the evening
barbeque and I would like to think that this one was up to the
usual standard. It was very helpful that the pitching of the caravans
and tents was in a square which meant that we were very self contained
and even included a fixed table and benches to spread the food out on.
Sunday morning we had a problem !!!! which church
service to go to? 9.30 at St John's Donisthorpe - a little on the early
side !!, 10.15 at Netherseal or 11.00 at Blackfordby. David, Rachel,
Jennifer, Vi, Chas, Chris, Gerry and Paul went to St Peter's Netherseal,
Whilst Ann, Jo, Ruth and Alan went to St Margaret of Antioch at
Blackfordby where they found that the vicar was Tom Vale, who had
worshipped at St Thomas's Coventry and well known to many many of us at
St John's.
Sunday evening brings another of our customs - the
Meal!, you may have noticed a common theme of our weekends away - FOOD
and of course some drinking. This year we found the Mason's Arms at
Donisthorpe which had been recommended by one of Rachel's work
colleagues who volunteers on the nearby Ashby Canal restoration Project.
We were joined for the meal by Chris's sister Margaret who lives near.
After the meal it was time to say good bye to those who were staying in
B & B accommodation.
Sunday night/Monday morning brought a lot of rain and not a good time
to try and take down the tents. Rachel made sausage batches for Chas,
Chris and Gerry to warm them up in the morning. The Coleman group went
off for a walk in the hope that the tent would be dry enough to take
down later which it was and they departed later in the afternoon. Jo and
Ann departed in the evening after a very delicious meal cooked by Gwen,
leaving just David, Rachel, Gwen and Paul staying on the site which
after the Bank Holiday was beginning to empty.
So the next decision will be where to go in 2010..... watch this
space as we will start planning in November.
2010 is planned - We going to Oswestry !
Lots of photographs of the weekend are available on our
gallery.