Monday 5th May 2003
A HAPPY ENDING
Every story should have a happy ending, and this one most definitely did. Monday morning was a bit windy but the sun was starting to shine through. After breakfast expertly cooked by David and Chris the lads packed their rucksacks and were despatched with Kay, Louis and Dee to the onsite indoor pool (I have been to this site many times before and did not until this weekend realise that it had an indoor pool, and a really nice one at that). While they were swimming Rob, Andy, Dave, Alex and I packed away the kit and tents and by 1.00pm we were ready to leave.
I had on optimistic feeling when we left the site with half the kids to find an eating-place, the other half of the kids were still swimming with Kay, and Rob. The first place we tried was a local village pub that we had not noticed the night before, they could fit us in but the choice of food was limited and it was a traditional Smokey pub, not really suitable for our lads. Next we went back to the pub ‘The Valley’ that had been full the night before. There was room inside but we would have had to site on different tables. Alex’s heart sank when I said I was not really happy with us being spread around the pub (he had visions of the previous nights run around). Just as we were getting into the cars he shouted ‘how about the beer garden’, it was at that point I realised that the sun was out and it was the most beautiful day. When we walked around the back and found a sunny garden with picnic tables and play area I nearly screamed with delight. The lads and leaders in the cars were ordered so save some benches and Alex and I went back for the rest of the group, they were waiting at the entrance of the campsite ready to jump in.
By 2.00pm we were buying everyone a drink, ordering the food and the lads were playing on the playground. The food menu was unbelievable; almost every dish had a lighter option (a smaller portion, a bit bigger than a kids meal but a bit smaller than a full meal)
Luke Steak, Chips and Salad
Leo Steak, Chips and Salad
Chris Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Bean Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Beavan Gammon, Chips and Salad
David Scampi, Chips and Salad
Oliver Scampi, Chips and Salad
George Lasagne, Chips and Salad
(I think the above is right!)
When the food came it was wonderful, we were all sat around in t-shirts laughing and joking while eating good food in a beautiful garden. It was worth going through everything that had happened on this camp just so that we could have these few hours. After we ate (almost every plate had been eaten clean) Kay and Dee decided it would be fun to play on the swing (if you can image and fibreglass tree all painted up with swings on its arms and a slide coming out of its trunk surrounded by wooden climbing frames and bridges and cargo nets). Alex warned them that it was probably not strong enough to hold their weight but would they listen (I think not). After about 5 pushes from Dee, Kay landed on her back with the swing underneath her and the chain that was holding it up across her chest, the lads fell of the benches with laughter. 10 minutes later I had fixed the swing and Luke kindly plucked up the courage to test it.
Lots of joke then followed about Kay and how much she must weigh, and then a football match with one of the climbing structures as the goals and Tom Bevan as the Goal Keeper.
3.40pm time to leave our little paradise garden and get the lads to the station. We managed to get seats together on the way back, although the train before ours had been cancelled so at every stop twice as many people were trying to get on as were getting off. After the third stop our train was officially announced full. The lads were not fazed but any of this and just sat playing cards and eating the crisps, fruit and biscuits we had packed for the journey. When we pulled up at Crewe every single one of the lads shouted aloud through the window to whom every was picking them up, one of the loudest being Tom Bean who was overcome that his dad had been able to get too the station to pick him up.
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