It is dead, over, left this fair earth, no more, done. After a horrible night sleeping in the Arctic (or so it felt) we have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that camping (within a tent) is not for us anymore. This is kind of sad as we used to love it many years ago, but like so many other things, camping with a two year old is a totally different experience. Maybe we’ll go again in a few years or maybe not, but for now camping has passed away.

After a hot ‘cuppa’ of tea and oatmeal with almonds, pan fried blackberries and honey we went for a drive with the heating set to ‘tropical’ so that we could warm up. It felt good to be warm.

We decided to cut our trip short and head back home. Part of us was sad especially as the new campsite was fantastic in every way but we didn’t want anyone to get ill either. We also made a pact that the next two days at home would also be spent as a holiday, but thought it would be OK to sleep in our bed rather than the tent

After we had packed up (once again) we headed to the lake for lunch and a paddle. Lunch consisted of a picnic under the shade of a large tree. We had pasta with Ukrainian sausage, Russian red garlic, asparagus, extra virgin olive oil and salt to taste.

After lunch we hired a rowing boat and took on the wind and current. There is nothing better than a good row to show others how unfit you really are (actually Claire already knew this). That being said it was our first time as a family on the water together. It was short but it was fantastic. Helena wanted to row, so we let her try her hand at it. She was fantastic, almost as impressive as her Dad.

We squeezed our way back into the car and headed home. As we came through the kitchen door we looked appreciatively over the clean and tidy kitchen knowing too well that in a few minutes it would be covered with the contents of the car. A few minutes later everything was unpacked and yes, the kitchen was a disaster. A mess to be tidied on another day, we may be home, but we are still on holiday.

Even though our trip away might not have gone as expected or to plan it was still the longest time we have all spent together at one time since Helena’s birth. For this I am extremely grateful and had a brilliant time. We laughed, we froze, we hugged and we threw some small rubber pigs into a metal dish, what else could we have asked for? (well actually, a camper van would have been wicked– lol).

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