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CAMP 2008 (Llansteffan Revisited!)

Whitsun week and the unmistakeable signs that Camp was once again upon us - overladen lorries and jeeps, bags bulging with winter woolies (yes I know it's May but it's also Camp!), jackets styled by Harry Hall - hair styled by rain and north, south east and west winds, excitable children and even more excitable ponies arriving under stormy skies to bravely cling to their lorries, awnings (and if the ponies/children were very small - these too) in the "spring breezes" that floored power cables and trees half way through the week, but couldn't stop everyone from having a great time, both in the school and in the pool.

Luckily Claire had volunteered (or did we volunteer her by promising her a week by sand and water - kindly supplied by the indoor school and a gap in the roof) to instruct for the week, and worked tirelessy throughout, putting the groups through their paces. The lessons included jumping, dressage and bareback riding (I forgot to breathe watching this lesson as Alex rebounded off the wall and slid gracefully down the side board. Note to self - don't put a coat wipe over Dino again before any bareback riding!). We saw "hoarse whispering" Dare Valley style as Claire's voice finally gave out, not only ending the week a little hoarse, but also on a little horse as she braved Nibbles on the beach - no that's not the name of Nigella' Lawson's next cook book! We also did our bit to support the local traders, dodging showers taking regular trips to Countrywide and Town & Country. A very nice lady in Countrywide recognised us immediately as Pony Camp (after all who else would be out in this weather) and their offers of the week took a bashing.

The sun did break through by the end of the week and the renowned beach ride could take place (plus games on the beach and swimming lessons with Tammy). There were even games, mounted and unmounted, for the little ones (including some of the bigger ones too!) All rounded off with the presentations on the last day.

Why does the hot weather always return when you have to clear the stables on the last day! However it wasn't too hard a task for Alex as Dino had kindly been leaving his deposits on the shelf that ran around the wall of the stable all week, obviously didn't want to get his bedding dirty as he seemed to enjoy eating it! As we emptied our 12th wheelbarrow in temparatures of 25 degrees plus, at least I could say we had made a contribution to the environment (at least I think that's what she meant when Alex said she'd gone green!) - the size of the dung heap we left (high sided but perfectly flat) and the amount of wine bottles (and J20s, honest...) we had donated to the bottle bank were enough to power Llansteffan for the rest of the year!

Once done, cars were packed (and the doors shut very quickly before contents could fall out again!) and, providing the front wheels were still on the floor, hitched to the trailers and the ponies loaded. Sally was warned that we would be returning next year as we waved each other off onto our respective homeward journeys - a great time had by all!

On behalf of all campers - a big thank you to Amanda, Andrew and Claire.

Enjoy the photos.........Hi di hi

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