Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

ani_26

I'm sure you must have had a fantastic weekend, fw. Brilliant weather

Memory_Girl

Just dropping this in for when you come back.

"WE LOVE YOU" you mad, brave, remarkable,talented, headstrong, loving woman

MG and the Boys

MrsMoo2U

Hey FW as the weather has been lovely (here at least) I am expecting that you enjoyed at least some part of the weekend. I guess the out of sorts feelings were due to the changes that you were facing. Even when we look forward to a change it still has some kind of impact on us. This is a big thing for you if you have always worked and to suddenly be faced with a year without structure must be huge. I agree with Ani (who put it so beautifully), go focus on anything but the writing for a short time. Then you can structure your life in whatever way suits. Is there any reason why you couldnt do all of the different kinds of writing?

Karmacat

cherisong wrote: »

I guess the out of sorts feelings were due to the changes that you were facing. Even when we look forward to a change it still has some kind of impact on us. This is a big thing for you if you have always worked and to suddenly be faced with a year without structure must be huge.

This is soooooooo true!

Firewalker

Good evening. Just to say that I am back and absolutely shuttered. Need bed and sleep. Already had a good scrub - this camping lark is going to defeat me but about the whole experience more tomorrow.

Firewalker

Craftyscholar

Firewalker wrote: »

Good evening. Just to say that I am back and absolutely shuttered. Need bed and sleep. Already had a good scrub - this camping lark is going to defeat me but about the whole experience more tomorrow.

Firewalker

Glad you are back safe and sound FW.
I have managed to avoid camping for all my um-tiddly-tum years and I aim to go on avoiding.:D

ani_26

Firewalker wrote: »

Good evening. Just to say that I am back and absolutely shuttered. Need bed and sleep. Already had a good scrub - this camping lark is going to defeat me but about the whole experience more tomorrow.

Firewalker

Aaaaw bless, sounds ominous


Are you shuttered or shattered ?

thriftyscotslass

Hope you had a blissful night's sleep in your own bed FW . 'Tis all over for another year .

Firewalker

Was I shuttered or was I shattered? Both! I wish I were able to say that MSE Forum was my first call but alas...it was my shrink. Who said that camping is a cheap holiday? It is not a holiday and as for cheap – it will cost me loads in therapy, chiropractor fees and time to recover.

Where shall I start? Oh, well...may as well start at the beginning. After a mad rush we got in the car and left. Three miles from home I remembered that we don’t have waterproofs but decided not to go back. Arrived at the campsite and there was nobody there. Oh, so much longed for reprieve, I thought. No, people started arriving – and this was nice; we like everyone who comes to this event. Started pitching the tent – and discovered that one of the beds we borrowed is missing a part. Oh, dear! OH announced that he will sleep on the ground – not a good idea. Then I realised that he decided not to take the nice chairs because he borrows a table with chairs; chairs one cannot sit on for longer than three seconds. The course was clear – OH had to come back home and bring a bed and some chairs.

I was coping well and then at about 8.30 pm the temperature dropped – but it dropped so much that I had to put on all my clothes including my dressing gown and my woolly hat to be able to have a drink with the others. Imagine what it was like during the night? It was like sleeping in an ice-cream truck. Even the space blanket was powerless against the elements.

Next day – the reverse! Sunny and hot; both OH and I have sunburn overlaid by insect bites. We didn’t manage to do our customary walk and went around a reservoir – lovely. But then again, the part of camping I enjoy is the walk; any walk. The second night was not that cold but sleep was chased away by someone who got terribly drunk and first argues with his partner, then the whole thing degenerated into a string of colourful, vivid obscenities. Which of course all children heard – they were woken up by this.

While not enjoying myself I was keeping entertained by figuring out why. I have it and here it is:

1) Camping is not for people obsessed by cleanliness (remember this is one of my five protected wants);
2) Camping is not for people with (mild) OCD – I felt helpless all the time and could not find anything or figure out how to do things;
3) Camping is not for people who prefer coffee bars to nature.

So, there – I am not spoiled, I am not a ‘continental wimp’! Camping is not for me and I am not for camping and does anyone want a tent – free to a good home.

Firewalker

Marru

I used to camp in my mid to late teens but I am with you on it that at the mature age of over fourty it is soooo not for me. Give me a narrow boat or even a caravan any day. BF and DD as brave scout/beaver are welcome to it and they know they can't expect me to join them :cool: