I've lived to tell the tale

Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and concede that you might have approached an event with slightly less enthusiasm than was both realistic and fair.

I therefore cut to the chase - the camping weekend wasn't anywhere near as unpleasant as expected. In fact, I'll go further; I enjoyed it. And so did everyone else - including Jamie. Indeed, as it stands, I have no real problem with the concept of going next year either. Vanessa is even talking about just the three of us heading away for a couple of nights in a field next month. (Note to wife: never going to happen).

The weekend got off to a very positive start when we arrived to find our spanking new tent had already been erected by Mike, Judy and others including Dagenham Dave (what's he after?!)

We walked to the beach yesterday morning, straight into a typical British summer scene i.e. it was freezing.

But the sun eventually came out and the mood improved.

Jamie had a go in Dave's "Austin Powers" dingy - maybe next time we'll actually put it in the water.

The journey back to camp was a challenge to say the least (that's me pushing our boy).

And then the sand had to be washed off...

...before the barbecue began.

But seriously, it was great. Thanks to everyone involved, especially Mike who essentially organised the whole thing. (And just to stress that, despite the undoubted success of the past couple of days, I'm still not lying in a random field in August. No way, Pedro).