Account of New Forest Welshie camping holiday.

I don’t think we would be on our own in saying that this year’s SEWSSC caravan and camping event organised by Sandra Blackford was an extremely successful one and despite Sandra’s car developing clutch trouble upon arrival (luckily ending well with a recovery vehicle taking her all the way home)she maintained a happy smile throughout our stay and gave everyone a lovely time.

It was pretty obvious upon arrival that our camping holiday was going to be a fun time, with lots of hollering and hooting, going on, some of it even from the Welshies.

As most folk will know, this annual event takes place during the Bournemouth Championship show each year and though the showing part of the schedule is taken very seriously indeed by most of us, the camping club side of things allows us all to let our hair down, take part in some silly Welshie type antics and meet with friends, many of whom haven’t seen one another for many months, all in the lovely surroundings of Greenhill farm in the New Forest,

Tradition plays a major part of the annual get together and this year was no different. Hopefully Sandra would agree that though the annual event is organised, she organises in an unobtrusive way and plays very little part in actually organising anybody, simply allowing them to do as they please when they please and provided all are happy so is she. A number of times dog walks would happen quite out of the blue, or drop in visits for tea, coffee or cakes, spontaneous and fun. However, when it came to the evening feast planned each year, it was brought together like a military exercise, food, drink and laughter being the order of the day, such was the case again this year, everyone gathered together under Julie and Peter Revills awning and extended marquis, enjoying yet another evening of gaiety. Our theme this year was the colour red and many of us turned up, making the scene look like something from Clint Eastwoods “Pale Rider,” but seriously, a good time was had by all.

Another of the arranged get-togethers is the fish and chip supper organised by Julie, this is a wonderful supper and this year took place under Gordon and Sandra Batey’s awning which was the only one big enough to accept twenty raucous Welshie owners, yet again the fish and chips fetched by Peter and Gordon were superb and the evening was ripe with the sound of laughter, banter and even more silliness.

A particular favourite evening was a quiz night under the cover of Ralph and Silvana Wright’s awning and the hilarious way in which Ralph delivered his questions had us thinking it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for him to become question master on Mastermind, however, what a night and when the ladies among us (no names mentioned here in case of legal repercussions) tried to incorporate the answers into a song, well..... need any more be said?

Through fair weather, and foul, a little of both, everyone made the most of their days, in the hot weather a little horseshoe throwing was organised on the green where many grunts, tings, or DAMN, missed, were to be heard, the field during this time appeared to be fairly free of people, very likely all taking cover in the nearest underground shelter, luckily there was some degree of accuracy, so all was well. Later in the week, Sandra introduced our dogs to some basic agility training, which delighted Welshies and owners alike, Brenda and I were particularly pleased as Thira our eldest girl took to the training like she was born to it and later Sandra’s sister Penny arrived with a slightly more sophisticated set up and though raining quite heavily by now, the dogs and owners thoroughly enjoyed their new found skills.

The “Safari Breakfast” as it’s become known was our final morning of the break and everyone joined in with cooking, tea making, bread buttering to make yet another great get together.

Some good news was announced for two of our contingent during the break who have in recent times been living the life of nomads in various caravan parks, they received good news that the house they have been waiting for so long to become available, was now free from probate, so congratulations to them and well done for sticking it out for so long.

Unfortunately, we were unable to be around for the whole stay so hopefully our account has given a reasonably accurate summary of events, in what was a simple fun packed and happy break. Roll on next year.

TIM JENNINGS