Back to Basics

I was very fortunate recently to be invited with one of my cub leaders to attend the Back to Basics Scout
Camp for our group.

Camped in the middle of the woods, gathering firewood to feed the camp fire and lots of free time to enjoy the experience. We all learnt about knife safety and sharpening, together with starting a fire without matches to light the mud ovens that had been prepared for the 4 roast chickens. 

The leaders, some who were just sleeping in hammocks strung between the trees shared their immense knowledge showing the scouts how to use an axe safely and making a makeshift bivvy to stay in for the night.

I opted from my new Vango Hurricane 300 over my usual Karsten as I purchased this solely for the cub/scout camps. We also took a tarp just in case the weather turned, but luckily it was too cold for rain!

All in all a thoroughly knowledgeable weekend and looking forward to many more! 

Dog Control

So after our great Easter break I fired up my work computer - 212 unread emails - great!. Mostly spam although the filters are set really high, and a few good leads for our business so something to get my teeth into straight away.

At the end of 2012, we had a new member join our family - Bella the rescue Weimaraner. She's absolutely beautiful and as gentle as can be - great with the children, but oh boy can she pull. As you know, we have just spent Easter in Norfolk (where coincidentally there was an abundance of Weimaraner's),  but one of the other owners was using a Halti collar to control theirs. Having chatted for a while we moved on amazed at the claims of this other owner in respect of this canine head collar.

Needless to say, this morning I purchased one for Bella and we proceeded to go for a walk. The result was instant. She did fight a little once it was first attached - pawing etc... but she soon realised it was there to stay until she was over the field and could run. Couldn't believe how something so simple could have such an effect. Worth every penny.

Anyway, we were lucky that the Grandparents looked after the children for the afternoon - Think they had missed them over Easter, so we collected them in the early evening and whilst driving home was presented with this fantastic sunset.

Going to be a cold night!

Journey Home

Having had a great weekend at Clippesby Hall and the surrounding area we packed up in the sunshine (typically best day) hitched up and were away within 2 hours. It was really good to see clear roads ahead especially as the sat nav also reported no delays.

On the way home, we thought we'd treat ourselves to a McDonald's but alas, there was no way on this planet I was going to be able to park so we just continued home and completed the entire journey home in under 2 hours. 

What I was also impressed with, was the fact that I had only used 3/4 tank of diesel towing the caravan  for 4 hours in total and travelling around the area for 4 days whilst on holiday - result!

The house felt extremely large on arrival and it's wasn't long before Suzie was looking at another site to book!

Easter Monday

This is traditionally the day in which we join everyone else on the roads trying to wind our way home - sitting in traffic, bored of I-Spy and all generally fed up. Not this time.

We booked an additional night so enjoyed watching everyone else pack up and leave allowing us to have the whole camping field to share between ourselves and one other tent. Out came the football's, aerobie and rocket launcher and a great late morning was had by all. We then had a quick trip to a local camping and chop - stocked up on more equipment as you do, some vital and some just because... we all do it! and headed back for a bite to eat for lunch. 

Games galore filled the afternoon together with exercising the dogs - mainly chasing the balls being thrown for them. We then proceeded down to reception to challenge the on-site 18 hole crazy golf course before heading to the campsite pub for another great meal as the sun was setting. 

A perfect ending to a great few days away