BOURNEMOUTH CAMPING 2010

A large number of caravans, campers and tents descended on Green Hill Farm, Plaitford on the edge of the New Forest for our Annual Camping holiday and Supper in August this year. The week was arranged, as usual, by Sandra Blackford – to whom our grateful thanks must go. This was a new site to the ‘SEWSSC Camping and Caravan Club’, and I personally believe that it is the best yet. We even had toilets and wash basins, with HOT water very close by, and showers on the main campsite which we could use if required. I did try to count the number of Welsh Springers at one stage, but gave up at around 35!! We also had some wee puppies with us this year – see pics.

Pat Barrett owns some land adjacent to this site and allowed us to use this for some Gundog Training, which was fantastic - thanks Pat. During the week, we had dog races, ball & spoon race, relay races, and some agility, in which we all participated with varying degrees of success! Croquet was played, plus swing ball and various other energetic activities, which many of us just enjoyed watching rather than taking part in!

A fish and chip supper was held one evening and almost every night we got together to have a chat and a few bevies, the largest awnings being used for this purpose as the weather was a little ‘changeable’ during the week.

The Supper was held on the Saturday prior to Bournemouth Championship Show and a large number attended, but unfortunately a lot of those who had booked a pitch did not come along and they had been catered for, so a lot of food would have been wasted if we had not had another ‘supper’ the next evening to use it all up! Janey Sutherland’s Profiteroles had to be seen to be believed, and so very tasty. How she managed to make them in a caravan, AND having an unwell dog to care for too, is beyond amazing. Thanks Janey.

One sad event happened during the week, a group went out for a walk and came across a donkey stuck in a bog up to its neck, and it was obviously about to give up. Sandra and Ralph plus others in their group all worked hard to release this poor animal and passed it over to the New Forest Rangers very weak and not expected to survive – but it DID we heard later, which was wonderful. They did return from this walk slightly less clean than when they left! See the photo.

The supper this year had a ‘Circus’ theme and if anyone is thinking of joining us next year, it will be ‘the 60s’ so get your thinking caps on. Due to the problems with catering this year, a slight change will be made to the organisation for next year; bookings will take place as normal via Sandra, but once on site each camper planning to attend the Supper will be asked to pay in advance – a member of the SEWSSC Committee will circulate and collect this money BEFORE the shopping is done to ensure that we do not have so much waste. There are always a few who like to attend just for the Supper and anyone who believes that they may not be there in time to pay on site, should send a cheque for the cost before the week of the Camp. There will be NO exceptions on the night, anyone who has not paid, WILL NOT EAT !! The website will carry full details next year.

Julie Revill