Monday 10 August 2009

Found the kettle, forgot the ketchup ...



Please forgive my laziness, we've reached the point in the holidays when it seems that we've all stepped down a gear. Lazy mornings, lazy days, lots of sunshine, lots of lovely food and Mr Roses at home have all meant that little time has been spent in front of the computer.
Last week we went camping again. Now I know you've all seen millions of our camping photos this past year and heard in great detail all about the highs and lows of the Rambling Roses exploits so not too many photos this time and fewer words. Suffice to say that we had the most wonderful time, having slept in yurts and in our own tent we plumped this time to hire a bell tent so that we could really take advantage of the little time we had there. Oh the joy of arriving and not having to put up the tent. To walk into a beautiful white canvas structure that has a properly fitting ground sheet, doesn't leak and has mattresses waiting for you ...




We meant to savour every moment - and we did. The only low spot was realising that I'd forgotten the ketchup! It seems that I'd become a bit too blase in the old packing department, leaving everything till the last minute. My goodness, packing for a camping trip for us must equal packing for a major expedition for most. We were hardly miles away from civilization yet the need to ensure all (and I mean all) our possessions have been packed is paramount. For me what was uppermost in my mind was the kettle which had gone mysteriously AWOL - life under the trees may be good, but without a cuppa in my hand first thing in the morning, wuuld be pretty miserable. Kettle located finally by Mr Roses under a pile of blankets, I breathed a sigh of relief and continued to pile up the possessions in the hall. Mr Roses has long since stopped trying to pare down the items that us 3 female Roses deem to be essential on a camping trip and quietly packed the car which had once again assumed its tardis like qualities for the trip.
So kettle found, holidays could begin in earnest. Except for the missing ketchup (and, it seems, anything else that came in a jar or bottle, as I somehow managed to forget opening the last cupboard door in the kitchen that housed all the culinary delights we needed to take). Normally life at home would continue quite blissfully without the addition of ketchup, here under the stars the loss of ketchup took on epic proportions. The peace and quiet of the tipi trail was punctuated by wails from the Roses' tent "I can't believe you forgot the ketchup", "How could I forget the ketchup".
Time to call for the cavalry ...Emma and her boys were going to join us for one day adventuring and running feral and she gladly agreed to bring the ketchup - phew, disaster averted.



We enjoyed evenings under the starriest of skies, the fullest of moons and the quietest of nights. Days spent playing rounders, reading in the dappled shade, swinging from trees. We had an awfully big adventure with Mrs Sew Recycled and her boys on the Bluebell Railway - thanks Emma for the most wonderful day - an Enid Blyton/Darling Buds of May kind of day that brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.



So once again we survived the camping, feeling better for it. A few days away and feeling a million times more refreshed on our return. I may have forgotten the ketchup and oh so many things in the kitchen department but I did remember one essential thing that must earn me rather a lot of points in the blogging world - if you're gonna go camping, forget the ketchup, forget the peanut butter and the jam, remember the kettle, but most of all, do try and wear shoes that match the campfire!!!!



And whilst I'm glowing in the warmth of that campfire moment, I did remember to paint ALL my toenails the same colour (ironically, a nice ketchupy red) but for some reason the big toenail on the right just didn't want to play ball - that would just have been too perfect ...

24 comments:

A Bun Can Dance said...

Hello Kim!
Your camping experience sounds great, and let's be honest if you hadn't forgotten something essential it just wouldn't have been a camping experience, would it? Wonderful pictures, truly glorious.
Wishing you a Happy Week.
Denise x

Emma said...

Hello Kim.. I used to go on the Bluebell railway when I was a little 'un! Coming from Brighton as I do, it was a day out for us! Your trip sounded idyllic. Our camping forays rarely turn out that way! Emma

Tracy said...

Hi, Kim...love the tomato-ketchup-red toes! ;o) Keep savoring the magic moments of summer! ((HUGS))

Emma Herian said...

Looks like your feet are almost the colour of your shoes/fire too!

Hooray for the Ketchup Calvary!
Anytime my dear...just call! Ta da dah!!!!!!
Emx

silverpebble said...

That sounds absolutely wonderful - and what glamorous camping toes, or should that be glamping toes? I've been enjoying every single one of your camping photos. My littlest is still a bit little for camping but I think the next couple of years should bring our first family trip.

Thimbleanna said...

You're too funny Ms. Roses! Forgetting the ketchup would have been a mortal sin with my boys -- the world would have come to a screeching halt until more ketchup had been procured. There have been days when I've threatened ketchup dinner -- why cook when it will be drowned in ketchup? Looks like you had a fabulous camping trip -- Yay!!!

Hollace said...

Funny, I wrote about forgetting the ketchup too, in my blog 'The Refrigerator" a little while ago. Camping is so great, and I always wonder afterward why I made such a big deal about it beforehand...

Tinyholder said...

Hi Kim,

Lovely pictures. I love that you holiday where we live! :-) One of my neighbours was telling me that a family who live less than 5 miles away come to Heaven farm on their holidays every year. I thought that was a sweet story. It just shows you don't need to spend a fortune and go abroad to enjoy yourself. Forgetting the ketchup though, heaven forbid! ;-)

Sian x

periwinkle said...

At least you didn't forget the tin opener and long sleeved tops for everyone like I did on our first camping trip lol

Lisa said...

Oh that's what family summer hols are all about!
Lovely photo mosaics.
Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous pictures, what's all this rubbish about this summer being a washout? I was in our village shop yesterday and a couple of holiday makers were bemoaning the fact they had forgotten towels and were having to use a teatowel! Unfortunatly, bath towels are one of the few things our little shop doesn't stock. Plenty of ketchup tho'! Carry on enjoying the summer...x

Petit Filoux said...

Lovely photos. Haven't been camping for a few years, think we should invest in a good sturdy tent and give it all a go, sounds like a lot of fun!

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Rowan said...

Your camping holidays always sound so idyllic, you seem to have found the perfect place to go. The Bluebell Railway really appeals to me, I love steam trains and all the old-fashioned things that go with them. For me it's real nostalgia as I'm old enough to remember when travelling on steam trains was what everyone did - the overnight train to Torquay was the really exciting one, once a year in June for our annual holiday, we nearly always went there.

Meggie said...

Well, I must say, your feet look to be very healthy!! haha. Glad you had a good time.

A time to dance said...

Hi Kim, I was just admiring those brown feet and neatly painted toes...looks like a lovely holiday

Ticking stripes said...

Absolutely gorogeous photos. Thaks for mentioning the Ketchup _I've just been and put a bottle in my Holiday Box ready for when I go glamping - not long now!

mollycupcakes said...

Dear Kim,
Your Mr Roses sounds alittle like my Mr Cupcakes, he just puts everything in the car and says nothing about the amount of eiderdowns, cushions or toys that go in lol but just trusts my packing and organising skills. Sounds like Mr Roses is the same. Awww our men don't you just love them.
Lovely to hear all about your camping holiday, I've just got around to blogging about ours, feels like it was months ago now boo hoo!
Hope you well lovely lady and i love my Hovis bread tin, thank Milly and Dottie X
Hugs,
C x

Elizabethd said...

What fun you had! But who is looking after the shop??!

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Hi Kim ~~ just stoppin' by for a visit and catching up on blog visiting. Like you, we have been so busy doing this and that. Glad to hear that you had a wonderful time getting away and being able to relax under the stars.

Cute toenails!! :)

hugs from California,
becky

Unknown said...

WOW!.... That sounds wonderful! and what glamorous camping toes, or should that be glamping toes? I've been enjoying every single one of your camping photos.

--
Jhon
Home Security Systems no CREDIT CHECK everyone is approved

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