Rain and camping

Am sitting up in bed, enjoying the slightly cooler temperatures and the sound of rain falling rather heavily on the roof. Curtains are drawn and it looks rather bleak outside. I'm not complaining - my garden badly needs the water - but I am wondering about three of my children and their families who have gone camping at Kai Iwi Beach this long weekend. With 9 children between the ages of 2 and 11, they'll be praying for sunshine.

Actually one of the children is celebrating his second birthday today and I am off to join the merry throng very soon. I have to go - I have the birthday cake to take out. His mother thought it would be a bit difficult throwing that in amongst all the camping gear when they left yesterday. That particular family had to take two trips to set up camp as they don't have a trailer or a very large car. Thankfully the camp is only 20 minutes drive away so two trips was not a hardship.

But this weather reminds me of a camping trip we did as a family many years ago when my five children were aged 2 - 10. We were living in Invercargill at the time and had had 10 lovely days in a hidden quiet spot, complete with trees, grass and a delightful running stream. The kids lived in togs and t-shirts the entire time and we had several suitcases which were never opened.

When we returned home, friends invited as to join them for a week at Colac Bay. In my wisdom, I decided that only two sets of clothes and togs would be needed and off we set - with an extra child in tow as well. While we were setting up the tent, the older children asked to go swimming. Despite being told "no" they went anyway - in their clothes. That was change number one. Oh well, we'll just hang those out to dry, I thought. Wrong! As soon as the rope was hung between poles, the sun disappeared and the rain started. It wasn't ordinary rain - it was cold, heavy and very wetting. Within 24 hours there were no dry towels, children had run out of clothes and were wearing whatever they could find and I had run out of humour and patience. Being cooped up with six children in a tent (which was getting smaller by the minute) was no picnic. We were home within 48 hours!

I look back now and laugh and in a way, think it would be hilarious if the same thing happened to my now adult children. Not that I would wish it on them - of course :)