Fifth week of summer holiday 2020

 17th - 23rd August 2020

Weather: A good British mix of everything

Last week we went camping! Since our road trip to Germany, which we were so looking forward to, got cancelled we decided to get ourselves organised with camping gear and give UK camping a go. We decided to not travel too far from home for our first camping experience here so booked at a campsite in Swanage, about two hours from home. We can't compare since this was our first time, but I'd say it was a small-ish camp site and basic although really lovely. Green grass and clean toilets and showers. That was all we needed. Plus being able to walk to the beach, we didn't want to have to drive anywhere.

Part of the fun at this site was that you can't park your car next to your tent (it's actually on a golf course) so you get given a wheelbarrow to wheel all your many stuff from your car to your camping spot.. Luckily Andre brought his small unicycle so when packing up he managed to do the trips to the car much quicker on electric wheel rather than on foot and wheelbarrow-wheel!

Arrival day was very rainy and we actually decided to leave home later in the day so we'd miss most of the rain. We were lucky that it was only drizzling very slightly when we arrived and then mostly dried up while we were pitching the tent. First night it did rain really hard, or sounded that way from inside the tent. Our second day though was a perfectly sunny day. We walked down to the beach, Isabella and Andre spent quite a long time in the sea and playing on the sand. We had ice creams, went for a walk along the coast and cliffs and then had late fish and chips lunch before heading back to the campsite.

The second night was very windy, but as we were expecting it Andre chose a very good wind protected spot for the tent so we didn't feel the wind much inside the tent and all slept well. Our last morning there was still windy and clouds were looking a bit dark so we packed up early after breakfast and headed home. Not sure about Andre, but Isabella and I were also eager to get back to Tabby! First camping trip was a success, although with all the packing we decided to not do it again this week already! Planning another weekend camping in September before winter sets in.

Our garden looking bright and sunny with these Rudbeckias.

Pancakes for breakfast and Tabby supervising.

Nap time in the dolls house.

Each night after I've put Isabella to bed, Tabby likes to be picked up for a cuddle.

Current favourite toy: paintbrushes.

Ending the week with a walk around a nearby lake and a drink in the pub afterwards.