Summer Camp

This year didn’t get off to the most auspicious of starts, with Cornwall being lashed with storms, Veryan being the epicentre of this miserable wet weather. Allegedly the Weather had been beautiful until Saturday morning. 

The World famous Bristol Love Bus had a larger crew this year which made the loading up an interesting experience. The only way we could have got any more in there would have been by taking the engine out.

With this in mind the Love Bus decided to help out and decided that she didn’t want to play anymore, finally  packing up about 30mins from camp. This left the Bristol Crew stranded. In the rain.  With a van full of vacuum packed equipment that they were too scared to unpack.

Luckily, the local Constabulary helped out with getting The Love Bus onto the verge, ensuring that we didn’t hold up any other happy holidaymakers.

 Eventually, after a 4 hour false start and amid growing insanity,  the RAC managed to rescue us and deliver us safely into the hands of Master Dew.

Thanks RAC.

 Eventually, after the tents were all set up, in the rain, and the camp was preparing for their week of fun and hard work, the weather improved and the sun, finally choose to make a much-needed appearance. Giving everyone time to dry all their wet things, just in time for the next deluge.

A quick meeting followed to welcome everyone to camp. The happy campers then retired to local hostelries to catch up and think about the week ahead.

The first morning was just pure entertainment, as  the camp virgins struggled out of bed, not quite sure what was going on or what they had let themselves in for. Aaaaaah, poor newbies.

The regulars also had that look of “what the hell am I doing here again, its 6:30 in the morning!!!!”.  Alas no sympathy for this lot.

 Pretty soon everyone was being introduced to the beach, via  a brisk walk. Sorry painful run. Once at the Beach the first torture session (ooops, sorry, training session) commenced. “Hello Mr Sea!”

Ever wondered what it would be like to play for England football team, and have the Paparazzi taking an endless amount of photos, while you pretend to smile? Then come to Summer Camp the start of the first afternoon session is the photo shoot, where you stand there and a group of people snap till their fingers starts to hurt.

Once you’ve had the shock of training in the lovely warm sea, ( according to Mr Hay and Mr O’Neil)   and the pain of the  afternoon session, with Miss Lambert and Mr Dew smiling as they help you find muscles you didn’t know existed, the rest of the week is a walk in the park (I am an instructor, you have to say that it makes it easier for the students).

 The rest of the week was full of achievement, hard work and a lot of fun, just like every year. Mr Barrett had everyone touring the whole of Cornwall and Devon on his legendary quiz,  - I swear at one point I saw a sign that said “Paris 27 Km” .
Mr Taylor meanwhile had planned a sports day that should surely replace the Olympics (I understand Sky Sports will be showing TKD summer camp sports day 2007). 

The end of the week came quickly as every year does, and although you feel depressed that another year has gone, you soon perk up for the party. Once again the aches and pains seem to just disappear, as the dancing shoes go on with the Bridgewater / Glastonbury crew getting the dancing started. ( Well they said it was dancing) Marcus Dew was on hand at the bar to make sure that everyone got the right amount of alcohol down them (for energy ), and ready the hang-over for the next day. There couldn’t be a day without pain could there?

 Slowly on the Saturday morning people packed up and said their good byes, and went back to their homes. Apart from some of us, who made a rapid escape and managed to be in Manchester drinking Champagne before the Bristol Love Bus got to Plymouth!

If you have never been to a South West Summer Camp before, you really don’t appreciate what you are missing, until you finish the week of camp.
If you have been before, it’s more than likely that you’ll be back again. It’s that kind of week – it gets into your blood. Or Master Dew will hunt you down!

 So, goodbye to Summer Camp 2006 and bring on 2007, where I'm sure we will see you!!

Come on!!!!!!!!!

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