Fakenham

So to Fakenham for Jim's first experience of camping, and my first trip since Namibia in 2001. Having spent most of Thursday evening cramming every last cubic inch of the smax's considerable boot with assorted tents, chimineas, sleeping bags etc etc, it was with a certain amount of tension that we headed off on Friday evening. I had had a relatively stressful week at work, starting a new role after they ditched my smart grid team, and had been flirting with the idea of moving to a different company, so I perhaps wasn't as relaxed as I might have been. Still, we picked up the Jimster and the girls and got there in good time. Children very excited, and I don't think we got them to bed until about 10:30. All very chilled with Martin and Jerry, but of course I didn't make the most of it due to being in an unfamiliar environment with Jim, pitching tents etc. The boy was in his element, by contrast...

Went to bed not long after the boy and failed to sleep properly. Sleeping bag was annoying, tent was annoying and cold, inflatable mattress was annoying. I got airline-quality sleep before being woken by boy at 6, which was at least later than I had feared. Was inevitably exhausted and not on particularly good form, but C played rounders with the chillen while I crawled back into the tent and had an extra sleep. Felt a bit better by the time we headed for the beach at Wells.

I confess that I might have had a little sleep on the beach too. Wells beach is lovely but it was very windy which meant that if you sat in one place for very long you'd develop your own little sand dune. Kids were happy - Jim fascinated by jellyfish sighting, and we were... ok :-) We were lucky with the weather considering the general awfulness of the summer - one excitingly heavy shower in the morning that involved taking shelter in tents and then a brief smattering on the beach. After ice cream at Wells we went back to the camp site, showered, and went to the club house for pub food in lovely sun.

A much better night on Saturday, due to everyone being very tired (but children still happy and well-behaved) Was tucked up by 10:45 and Jim didn't wake until 8:15! Had a bad moment at 5 (in full daylight of course) when he woke up complaining of being cold, but I gave him an extra blanket and he went straight back to sleep. Excellent boy.

I should say of course that it has been a lovely new experience to share a tent with Jim, and he kept saying things like "daddy, camping is really fun!"

Next morning we packed up and went. There was a small incident with a head bump in the neighbouring wood. It was no more than 50 yards away, I had been in with them the first time, and there were loads of adults and children around that we knew, but I still felt guilty for letting him go with Amy and not accompanying. It would likely have made no difference had I been there - he slipped off a log while clambering over it, but still, what is the right thing to do? I felt it was a safe opportunity to let him off the leash a little, but I don't suppose his mother would agree... Anyway, the headbump was cured with judicious application of lollipop.

Easy journey home, then a relaxed afternoon, during which Min and Jim produced cute pictures of us all camping, at the beach etc.