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We set off for Roundway Down on Friday after the most hectic day you could possibly imagine. An award ceremony for Katie in the morning, followed by a talk on the Civil War (lots of plugging for Cheriton), an end of year BBQ at playschool with the boys, followed by another BBQ at Katie’s school. By now I am thoroughly sick of BBQ’s and with another one looming on Saturday am wondering if this is a very good idea.
We eventually leave home with me wondering what I have left behind and dreading the inevitable argument as we attempt to erect the new tent. As we reach Devizes, I suddenly have this fear that I haven’t packed the toiletries bag, (which contains my glasses and contact lenses), explain this fear to Richard who very calmly says that he will kindly return home to fetch it if it’s not in the boot (well words to that effect!). As soon as we arrive, Richard frantically jumps out of the car and after much rummaging, pulls out said toilet bag – hurrah!! I will now not be in his bad books for the rest of the year. As he holds toilet bag aloft, Guy and Lucy pull up and tell us that they have left their tent poles at home, Di comes over to admit that she has left her knickers at home and Bryan to tell us that he’s forgotten his chair. Feel much better now.
We agree to let Guy and Lucy share our new tent in return for some help in erecting it, and with at least 5 others also helping, the Fortress is eventually up and ready. I am now worried that Richard and I will divorce when we attempt to put it up on our own, especially as the salesman assured us that two peoplemaximum was all that was needed!! Hah – shows how much he knows …
Head off to the beer tent for a quiet drink and a catch up with old friends – well, that was the plan, however Richard orders up Panda Pop drinks for Craig and Edwin which are so full of colours and E numbers that they go into hyperactive overdrive, rolling all over the floor, fighting, running around like demented hyenas (just acting as normal then, I hear you thinking!), so bang goes our quiet drink and we’re all tucked up and asleep by half ten.
Saturday kicks off with a bit of drum drill for our new drummer, Sue and then off to Devizes to get food for the BBQ with Kate and Katie. Return just in time for form-up and the battle gets off to a bad start when we realise that Parliament will desperately need reinforcing if the battle is to go ahead. Quickly change sides and save the day – hurrah for us!!
A quick breather before preparing the magnificent feast in the party tent and the BBQ can get under way. Thanks goes to Guy, Ed and Owen for cooking the meat, however as they couldn’t get the burgers cooked quick enough for Barry (Spud) Gregory, he proceeds to eat most of the new potatoes – well 28 potatoes in fact (he was counting). For all those who didn’t get a lovely hot, dripping-with-butter new potato, you know who to blame!!!
Later in the evening, Richard tells me he’s just popping to the beer tent to get himself a cider as there’s none left and he’ll be straight back (knowing him quite well by now, I settle back in my chair knowing that he’ll start waffling and won’t be back for hours). Sure enough, an hour later Orv appears asking me if they can keep him a bit longer and I reply that’s it’s OK as long as he’s not embarrassing himself by disco dancing – I had previously popped to the beer tent in search of Katie to find most of the young lads boogying to disco songs (especially that nice quiet boy, young Matt Howson who obviously had had far too many Alco pops and was trying to become the new disco king). A few hours’ later Richard bimbles back telling me how he was dancing (?) to The Ace of Spades!!
Some time later Orv appears again and asks if I’ll look after Mrs King, who had also had far too much to drink? So there’s me with Gilly throwing up at the back of the party tent and Orv says he’s off to find Blabber – he promptly trips up the ropes of the tent, walks through all the burnt out BBQ packs, stumbles over the pile of pikes, wades his way through the beer cans and falls over a few chairs – I fear hemay be some time. He eventually does find Blabber who attempts to be sympathetic to Gilly’s needs and says that he’s going to sit outside with her all night if necessary. It is now getting cold, so I send him off to find a coat. He goes to his tent, forgets what he has to get and promptly falls asleep. It is now 3 o’clock in the morning and I have just persuaded Gilly that it’s a good idea for her to go bed now (and I am praying that my kids will want a lie in), however, Blabber is now spread eagled in their tent and I can’t move him. The only two people left up are Richard and Kev Jackson who tell me to kick him in the head to move him. I tell them to move him nicely and eventually get Gilly in and myself to bed – at last!
Sunday arrives and it’s bloody hot again!! A quiet day is in order I feel. Gilly tries to chuck a sickie to get out of drill, but Richard is not having any of it and off we go again. The battle is much as normal – lots of banging, fighting, etc. Dave G’s head gets over-baked in his jacket potato oven and he promptly collapses during the parlez, amidst lots of jeering that he has dropped the colour again – can’t beat your mates for a bit of sympathy!! Well, the weekend is finally over and we head off for home with us and three tired, dirty children who have all had a great weekend – what more could you ask for?
Jane