First Weekend Away (And minor problems)

After deciding during the crazy season not to go away we ebventually relented and decided to go away on the 10th and 11th of January 2008. The kids had decided that they wanted to come with us (accompanied by boyfriend and girlfriend) so we chose J-Bay because the caravan site although right on the beach, is also close enough so that they could walk into town to the surf shops etc. Kirstie and her boyfriend decided that they would like to stay two nights so we took two cars so that Grant.Ashleigh and myself could come home on the 11th and I would shoot out after work on the 12th to tow the caravan home (about 70km).
We had to wait for Andrew to finish work before we could leave (not that we would have been ready before then anyway !) and got away at about 1.00pm. By 2.00pm we were there and by about 2.30pm set up (not much to do with tiny, but a tent to be put up). We managed to get a site right next to the sea. Here you can see the view from the camp site. I however had forgotten to pack in the electric cable and so went back to PE to collect it ! Although one of the reasons for going away was to try out the awning, it was very windy and so we didn't bother until later when we discovered the first problem was that the poles didn't fit through the eyes in the awning! Something that must be sorted out.

We basically just lazed around for the rest of the afternoon before having a braai in the evening. Whilst I was braaing Kirstie, Vanessa and Andrew decided to play Skip-Bo and, to my surprise so did Grant and Ashleigh. Here are some rare photo's of Grant playing cards. A bigger rarity would have been if I could have got a photo of him reading, but that would have been asking far to much, like trying to get a photo of Kirstie not reading whilst she was busy with Twilight !

Here's a photo of the others playing cards before Grant joined them. We will never know what possessed him , whether it was the fact that Ashleigh was playing or whether he'd run out airtime ! Anyway the bottom line is that everyone enjoyed playing skip bo. After Skip Bo we ate and then Vanessa and I went to bed whilst the kids went and chilled on the beach in front of the campsite with Mr Hub.
The next morning started off early with tea and coffee and some very sleepy kids (no ideawhat time they and Hubmon went to bed ! You can see in this photo the brilliant view that we had from inside tiny. Despite the view Vanessa is looking a little grumpy which could have had something to do with my snoring in the night or the fact that I got up at about 6.oo am and apparently disturbed her (which I find hard to believe as I am normally as quiet as a mouse !

I started with breakfast and the kids were woken up to finish the dishes from the previous evening as well as get the table ready for breakfast. These photos show the shocked expressions at being woken up ! Kistie first and then happier because things go better with Coke !

The others looked much the same when they woke up, sleepy and bleary eyed !

Thanks however to my fantastic cooking skills smiles were soon put on their faces as they tucked into bacon and eggs.

After breakfast and tidying up the kids took a walk into town, whilst we stayed and lazed around. Vanessa, Kirsie and Andrew decided to stay for another day whilst I woukld take Grant and Ashleigh home and fetch Tint after work the next day. We lefft at about 5.00pm and shortly after Tracy and Emma arrived at the campsite to visit. Below is the site as it looked when we left, it clearly shows that the tent is bigger than Tiny !

When I arrived back after work the next day everything was ready and we simply hooked up and were on our way. Disaster was narrowly averted when I misjudged the amount of fuel needed to get me back home and the fuel warning light came on well outside PE. Slowing down considerably I eventually managed the approx 40km from Thornhill to Greenbushes despite the fact gthat the onboard computer had said 10km when I left Thornhill. Lesson learned. Overall a most sucessfull first outing !