Wacky Weekends

There is a rhythm to life on a site when you stay a long time out of season. Mornings are quiet, there are the early risers, the late sleepers, the wardens morning stroll to see all is well, the shower block rush (why does everyone need a shower at 8-9 am?) and the daily exodus for local attractions. In the evening there are BBQ’s, beers, neighbours catch up on the day, have a chat and settle in. Those in tents go to bed early – the snores are often heard by 9.30 pm, and the van folks watch TV or read. Generally it’s a quiet and gentle place. 

But Friday night all hell breaks loose. The weekender’s arrive. There’s a flurry of vans and cars arriving from about 3.30pm. Some tents go up some calmly, others not so much. Kids in school uniform are pouring out of cars and running around like crazed animals, followed by dogs galore! The noise level increases by about 90%. It isn’t bad noise and it’s great to see the kids having fun, but before you know it there are balls hitting Agy (that does not go down well) and we retreat to the safety of our home on wheels. Of course there are lots of beautifully behaved kids, like the little lad who came over very politely to ask if he could borrow a tin opener as his mum forgot theirs and they needed one to be able to have tea. How could we resist, despite being mid bed making at the time? If you haven’t put a fitted sheet on a bed that is chest height, with 2 corners located in a cosy nook that it impossible to reach without laying on the bed, then I suggest you think about wrestling a very heavy duvet into a cover one handed...it’s the closest I can get to describing it. Impossible to do with any dignity. Poor boy, I’m not sure how he survived the sight, but he did. 

However, weekends are crazy, they come with tents, gazebos, blow up sofas, kitchen work stations, flags, fairy lights, music and microwaves! Yes, microwaves – even we don’t have a microwave. They are here for 2 nights, eat out or have a BBQ, what is the microwave for? I’m flabbergasted. When we went camping it was nothing like this – and all for 2 nights. A 3-week stay, maybe I can understand, but not even 48 hours. There’s no slumming it on this site! 

We keep away, sticking to ourselves and await Sunday lunchtime. Sunday lunchtime is amazing, they all leave (have to be out by 11) and calm is restored! We catch the eye of our neighbours who have been here 2 weeks, smile and breath – we’ve survived another wacky weekend.