Guide Camps

Catherine couldn’t we just fill a whole blog with stories about Guide camps!!! I’m sure we quite frequently fill whole afternoons talking about them (and given the speed at which we talk this is impressive…) It seems that between a tent, some outdoor activities, a few boy scouts and a few sneaked beverages (oh we know how to live!) so much happens.

Some highlights:

• Our first ever trip together to Brownsea Island. You were much more friends with Jo than me at this time but we had a lot of fun. This was, all in, a legendary trip.
• The nudist beach that we went to on the Brownsea Island trip. Were you there? Do you remember that bit?
• Kayaking with the scout group that we met. I recall some slightly mental kayak ‘tricks’ – sticking the kayaks end up in the water, running over kayaks in a circle, etc.
• Night time treasure hunts / orienteering
• What was the trip where we had to come home together on the train? The one that we have our favourite photo from???

• The one where we were out late at night and all those military dudes were crawling around the place doing a recky and I got questioned about what had happened (why me??)
• Of course then we break out into the camps where we were ‘leaders’, errrrm…
  • First thing I have to say here is Bacardi Breezer, because we seemed to just drink a lot of them!
  • I remember going rock climbing one time and Michaela broke her leg, yikes
  • I think there were a few times that you could only do a coupla days because you were going France / sailing with your family at the same time…

So, as usual, sketchy details from me, but this is only meant to be a starting point…

xLuce

Mexico

(Photos courtesy of Aine. Thank you!)

Switzerland may have been where the ‘bug’ perhaps started but Mexico was when it really got into action eh. This was out first back packing / travelling holiday and started a trend that continues today (for Lucy and Catherine only!)

Highlights (as ever open to edits):

• Our first night when we ate Chinese because we didn’t know what else to eat!
• Our first day where we were all confused and unsure what to do with our stuff – would it be safe enough? what do we take with us?
• Climbing the volcano, well balancing on some old donkeys that climbed the volcano
• Skidding down the volcano. I never got all the ash out of my shoes!
• Bart – my guitar! And singing kum-bay-ya (sp?)
• The boat trip through the jungle to the watering hole where we swam and swang!
• Catching candyfloss in the air in Mexico City
• All the coach trips
• Eating sweetcorn from the street
• Arriving in Acapulo and sleeping on the floor til it was light enough to find a hotel!
• Finding a hotel in Acapulco that seemed like luxury (for our budget), even though it was up a butt-of-steel hill

xLuce

Roz’s wedding

Sadly I missed Roz and Nick’s wedding, so please add any pictures and comments in here.

(Photos courtesy of Monique. Thank you!)

Thank you.

xLuce

Switzerland

ah, the first overseas trip together for Catherine and I… what a nice way to relax after the ‘stress’ of our GCSEs , what a civilised destination but what an unexpected destination to spark in us both the travelling bug (I feel it started here?)

Highlights:

• On our first night, Peter coming home from military service – just seemed bonkers no?
• ‘Popping’ to France, getting the train, practising our French, visiting cathedrals. Just felt so very cosmopolitan.
• ‘Popping’ to Germany, getting the train, practising our German, seeing the Black Forest. Just felt so very… German.
• Spending ages in a shop looking up the right word for carrier bag, ‘sac’, what a pair of losers we felt like.
• Going out ‘for the night’, realising we had enough money for one drink, bailing on the drinking option, getting ice creams and walking home singing out very loud.
• Being whistled and ‘ciao bella’ed walking down the street in Basil.
• Going to Rachel’s tennis club and hanging out by the pool.
• Lac Luzern. It was a wicked day out wasn’t it.

xLuce

Devon

Summer 2005

This was the last summer trip that we did of this kind. As always, completely wicked fun.

Highlights:

• Actually arriving was a highlight for me cos I can still recall how lost we got on the way and how much longer it took!
• Horse riding or watching horse riding and drinking Pimms, whichever you chose
• 118 118. Still makes me laugh when I think of you bouding down the stairs!

(Photos courtesy of Monique. Thank you!)

xLuce

Wales

Summer 2004

Big, beautiful house and garden. I don’t think I’ve got any pictures of this but I’m sure plenty of people have, and I know there’s a video somewhere…

I’m not gonna write highlights because I’m pretty sure we all think the same thing: the Saturday night was hilarious and the best bit was Niki’s Tina Turner. There we go, just putting it out there.

(Photo courtesy of Monique. Thank you!)

xLuce

Cornwall

Summer 2003

This was the first of our summer trips. And some argue, the best. For sure it was a beautiful place and we had a very relaxing couple of days with plenty of food, chat, walks, wine and dancing.!

Highlights:

• First night pasta bake….
• Walking to the beach and mucking around on the sand
• The ‘P’ party. So simple, so fun. And kicked off another trend – the Saturday night fancy dress bbq!
• Our ‘dreams n aspirations’ chat at the end of the garden
• Breaking and mending the bed, too funny!

xLuce

Marie’s trip to Syders

January 2009

I have written the same first part for these times we spent together. I always found it an odd thing to put in my brain properly because, obviously, moving to Australia separated us massively. And yet, if I hadn’t moved to Australia we wouldn’t have had these incredibly special times together. We know it’s true; when would we have had a fortnight’s holiday together? Even in our best dreams.
Very different experiences with both of you (as you know) mostly down to the fact that I didn’t have a job when Catherine came (= all the time in the world but no money), and I’d just started my job when Marie came (= more money to spend but restricted time). But, if there were never three better people to make the most of the situation at hand and sculpt dream holidays & special times….

You both know how hard it is to choose highlights and the ones I’ve selected might be a bit obvious but honestly, I could write forever….

• All the mornings when we got up (so early!) and went to different beaches to see sunrise and have breakfast; beautiful start to the day

• Our ‘birthday’ night out to the Shangri La for cocktails (French Martinis natch), the water taxi across the harbour and the gorgeous dinner at Chowder Bay. Such a lovely evening. Happy Birthday!
• Our last evening ‘out’ in Sydney. The drama of the Cafe Sydney incident (sorry again). Finding Tanqueray 10 at The Ivy. Going for dinner on Finger Wharf. Honestly, I nearly cry when I think of that evening cos we were chatting about so much and the evening seemed to last forever, and I really really didn’t want it to end.
• Our weekend away: driving up to the Hunter and having the full treatment at Peppertree, personalised wine tasting madam? Cheese plate for you? Oh yes please! Our lovely farmyard ‘cottage’ and sitting out on the verandah all night eating more cheese and olives and drinking wine, oh and talking non non stop of course! The sunset and sunrise walks around Nelsons Bay (great theme to the holiday eh)
• Tapas picnic up at Queenscliff on your last night. Do you remember how much food and wine we’d taken! And everyone was running and training and we just ate and ate….
• That legendary night at the theatre. Oh yeah, we’re really ‘in’ to this play. Oh, Cate Blanchett’s not in the second half. Let’s go… G&Ts back in Manly. Brilliant.
• Walking over the Harbour Bridge and having drinks up at the rooftop garden bar (the only place in Sydney that I’ve been with every visitor: you, Catherine, Hugh and mum.
• The moonlight cinema evening. Wasn’t it fun having the picnic and getting snuggled on our funny chairs. And the film was a bit random but good; well, I mean Brad and George were in it, who cares….
• You driving home (from work?) and going the wrong way. Sorry, just tickled me. You were a star driving my car around, nipping about making everything happen.
• Watching the Australian Open as much as we could. When it was on this year I always thought of you
• Australia Day: you getting caught in the rain with suncream running down (yes, I know!), the washed out bbq at mine and the party where you and Kylie nattered away (so lovely how you got on) and we ‘cheated’ at Rapidough. Ha.
• And of course, all the bits that I wasn’t there for that I loved hearing about: your walks (especially the scenic walk) and swims, and banana bread outings, and shopping trips.

xLuce

Catherine’s trip to Syders

May 2008

I have written the same first part for these times we spent together. I always found it an odd thing to put in my brain properly because, obviously, moving to Australia separated us massively. And yet, if I hadn’t moved to Australia we wouldn’t have had these incredibly special times together. We know it’s true; when would we have had a fortnight’s holiday together? Even in our best dreams.
Very different experiences with both of you (as you know) mostly down to the fact that I didn’t have a job when Catherine came (= all the time in the world but no money), and I’d just started my job when Marie came (= more money to spend but restricted time). But, if there were never three better people to make the most of the situation at hand and sculpt dream holidays & special times….

You both know how hard it is to choose highlights and the ones I’ve selected might be a bit obvious but honestly, I could write forever….

• Our trip to the Blue Mountains, the fun train ride, hiking around from place to place, the youth hostel (wine n olives), the dinner out – oh this was too classic for words

• Our various nights out in Manly, I don’t even know that I can remember them all!
  Jamil’s (which isn’t there anymore!) on a Friday then Thai??
  Oh, we went out in Manly after being out in the city – this was the Henry Afrika’s, Boatshed night wasn’t it – I don’t know how many times I’ve told that story…
  Shore Club ‘for one’ one evening
  Am I missing some???
• Our ‘routine’ weekly trip of walking up the Northern Beaches. This was an inspired decision you know – so many people love it when I tell them about this. One of my favourite bits (you know it) was when we tried to cross that lagoon and only changed our minds when we were wet to the thigh, and had been clocked by those two guys, ha ha ha.
• You helping me, and putting up with, and celebrating my various work applications, interviews etc. Of course, you got your reward perving at all the suits when you drove me to North Syders for my interview!
• Body boarding – we went a few times eh? Oh yeah, cos I’d bought my wetsuit. Remember when we had a spat of catching the same wave together, that was cool.
• Of course, going to the Fishmarket the day after the big night out at the Boatshed. So funny how I thought you were in a mood with me, and you were like ‘Lucy, I’ve had 4 hours sleep’ ha ha. Cycling round wasn’t quite what we needed, nor the fishiness! But it was worth it for the brekkie and the ‘refreshing’ ferry ride back. I was just gonna say we were probably drunk in charge of bikes but that wouldn’t have been the only time on this holiday would it…. remember your little tumble.. now which night out was that???
• Ah, kayaking on the day you arrived. What a great idea, and what a beautiful evening, until you got damaged of course. Bl**dy vital Michael!!
• Our other trip away to the Hawkesbury, kayaking (once I managed to work the thing!), eating Tim Tams waiting for the car ferry, pitching out tent in the dark, keeping warm at the bbq, keeping warm by drinking litres of red wine, seeing the kangaroos when we had brekkie the next day. Too good.
• There weren’t many things you did on your own. Oh yeah, remember how you cycled to West Head when I did that random coffee shop shift. That’s about the most tired I think I’ve ever seen you!!!

xLuce

Zakynthos

June 1998

(Photos courtesy of Aine. Thank you!)

(Photo courtesy of Catherine. Thank you!)

(Photo courtesy of Monique. Thank you!)

There’ll be a lot to say about this and many people more competent than me to give a full and accurate account! In short, what a holiday! The ultimate girlie, post a-level, let your hair down two weeks.

Highlights:

• Matching t’shirts, and thinking that we were original for having them!
• Correct me if I’m wrong but did I take a ghetto blaster????
• Personally I liked how we went out for dinner each night then came home for casual boozing before going out again
• Dancing on the bar. A life ambition ticked off at the ripe age of 17. ha ha.
• Paragliding was something of a highlight for me.
• The pedal boating / turtle spotting / skinny dipping outing. Simply too funny for words. Am I remembering right that we should thank Roz for this particular ‘excursion’?
• Of course, Helen’s bikini going ‘missing’ (here’s your chance to put a confession in writing Katie..?!)
• The last night when we pretended it was our birthdays to get free booze! (Like we needed to attract any more free booze.)
• When we went in to school as soon as we got back and we were all brown as nuts!!

I will say right now (and sorry if you didn’t know this already) but I lost my Zakynthos matching bracelet some time ago. I’m not altogether convinced it made it home! Ah well. As they say, I’ve got the t’shirt….

xLuce