Peak District Camping with the Singers

Get this, a weekend that dawns bright and sunny and stays that way AND when we are camping - get in!!!!!!!

Setting up camp

This was a weekend we have been planning for ages - a meet up with the Singers - it has been way way too long (about 5 years we think) and silly considering we aren't a huge distance apart!  Helen got the ball rolling by suggesting we go camping somewhere and found us a campsite in the Peak District.

It is a hassle to camp for one night - but it was the only way we would meet up, so we fixed a date.  Saturday morning was spent filling the car with all our equipment including our huge new Eskimo which plugs into the car to stay cold (how posh!).  We went the long way round, via Cheadle Hulme to see Matt's old house (from when he was 1 till he was 6).  We found it - unfortunately it was looking quite unloved.  It was in an area of gentrification, so might not be long before it is looking a bit happier.

Photobomb!

We carried on our way towards and through Leek and met up with the Singers at 'Cottage Delights' tea room which was very nice.  Finn and Tom got on immediately as did Al and Matt and Helen and me.  Funny how friendships work isn't it? I hadn't seen Helen for 5 years but it was more like 5 days. Al and Matt hardly know each other but they have a common love of motorbikes and beer and fatherhood which is more than enough to chat about for a weekend.  Tom and Finn couldn't remember each other, but because their parents are friends, they are almost by default going to get on.  It is almost as if they know they are going to be friends, because they have been pre-approved.  This happens every time we meet up with friends and their children.  It's a new phenomenon, well for me anyway as I can't remember ever staying with friends of Mum and Dad.  I guess the Internet, ability to drive and a bigger disposable income etc has made staying in touch with friends much easier for us.

Climbing trees

Anyhow, after lunch we headed to the campsite and pitched our tents.  Ours was about 3 times the size of the Singers one - but they had bought their small one.  We only have one!  Finn had his own tent - which he was sleeping in for the first time ever.  Once we were set up we sat down, cracked open the beer and lager and sat down, relaxed and enjoyed watching the children play - they found a great den under a tree and were making up games with other children.  We were made to play cricket as well, you'll be glad to hear!

We had a BBQ - the Singers of course had a proper one, whilst I positioned a disposable one on top of a couple of rocks I found in Tom and Finn's den.  The difference between me and Helen - she tends to stress about everything and is therefore prepared for every eventuality whilst I am happy to go with the flow and make things up as I go along e.g. she had 3 pairs of shoes, I had 1!.  The food tasted good.  The sunset was amazing, chatter was easy, it was a good night.

The morning saw us having breakfast - cake for us (don't need to spread it or cook it) whilst the Singers were a little more prepared with cereal, tea and coffee.  We had a lazy(ish) morning, packed up and headed to Dovedale for the afternoon.  We couldn't walk far as Matt's foot is still hurting him, but we managed to get to the stepping stones.  Matt dipped his aching feet in the cold water whilst the children played.  Finn was straight in, Tom a little more nervous, but with Finn to follow he didn't hang around long.  They were playing in the water for ages, it was FREEZING,  I was impressed.

Crossing the stepping stones

Great friends

We walked back to the car park and said our goodbyes, we headed home whilst the Singers went for lunch (our cake was still satisfying us!).  We went home via Buxton and Glossop.  Poor Finn ended up in Buxton Hospital on the way home with a urinary infection - he kept it quiet until we left and then told Helen that he was in a lot of pain - bless him!

Anyway, it was a fab weekend - made brilliant by the fact the sun didn't stop shining.  Thanks Helen, Al and Finn, lets not wait so long before we do it again!