WORDS REBECCA HARKIN

There’s nothing quite like knowing that when beer O’clock rolls around on a Friday afternoon that you will soon be enjoying your drink in front of a fire at your campsite of choice. The only obstacle that is standing in between you and your well-earned weekend of rest and relaxation is the successful set up of the camper. Enter the better half, the kids, the dogs and even the mother-in-law. All of them seemingly put in your path to derail any attempt at a picture-perfect start to your weekend.

The warning signs are generally there before you even leave the house. As you throw the kids into the car and slam the door fast so that they can’t escape, you can almost hear the hum of the first mosquito as it zips by your ear. By the time you reach the end of the street, only to turn around again to retrieve the forgotten teddy/sunglasses/phone charger, you wonder what those strange alarm-type bells are that are sounding inside your head.

FEATURE Camp set-up strife

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You arrive at your destination, your weekend haven, after two hours in the car, two toilet breaks, one wrong turn and numerous threats to leave the kids on the side of the road. It’s amazing how many times the invisible barrier that separates the seats in the back can be infiltrated by the little cherubs in such a small period of time. With the screams of “she breathed on me!” still lingering in your mind, you prepare for the epic task of unpacking the car and setting up camp. A task that has been known to separate the men from the boys, and more often than not, a man from his wife.

Without fail and right on cue, the wind picks up to a level that would be great if flying a kite, but not favoured when the only fabric you are attempting to clutch onto is the kitchen awning, currently flapping several feet above your head. With a child each clinging for dear life onto a pole, you can only watch helplessly as the aforementioned better half dangles from a ladder trying to secure the tent before you all do a Mary Poppins across the beach. After another half an hour of helping, you are rewarded with a not-so-gracious request to take the kids and dogs for a walk far, far away. The echoes in your mind of the kids’ cries in the car are quickly replaced with a string of much less polite words, drifting behind you on the wind.

BELOW See how long you can work together before the squabbling starts...

“It’s a task that has been known to separate the men from the boys, and more often than not, a man from his wife”

“You arrive at your destination, your weekend haven, after two hours in the car, two toilet breaks, one wrong turn and numerous threats to leave the kids on the side of the road”

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After building several sand castles, investigating every semi-interesting bush and encouraging a handful of games of chase to wear out the kids, there’s no choice but to return to the place of horror, I mean campsite, to prepare dinner for the hungry hordes. With a stroke of luck, which reminds you to buy a lotto ticket next week, the tent is fully erect and a campfire is well underway. The better half is firmly entrenched in a comfy chair looking smugly at the drink in hand, the battle won.

Several hours later and the kids are finally tucked away in bed. One of them is invariably using a rolled-up jumper for a pillow, the original probably left somewhere at home, likely next to the spare rolls of toilet paper. It is time to finally sit down in front of the fire and enjoy the serenity. As familiar words drift over from the newly arrived family at the next camp over setting up in the dark, you even manage a wry smile. This is about the time that you are able to finally look at each other.

You shrug your shoulders and say, “I’m sorry for what I said while we were setting up camp”. Even at the time you say it, each of you know that you are likely to repeat history the next time you go away. But somehow the memories of the harsh words begin to melt away with every passing moment. After all, they may drive you crazy, but at least they are your crazies. You have your family together and are ready to make memories. This is when you realise that what you really meant to say was:

#Sorrynotsorry

BELOW Time to sit back and admire the handywork

FEATURE Camp set-up strife

There’s nothing quite like knowing that when beer O’clock rolls around on a Friday afternoon that you will soon be enjoying your drink in front of a fire at your campsite of choice. The only obstacle that is standing in between you and your well-earned weekend of rest and relaxation is the successful set up of the camper. Enter the better half, the kids, the dogs and even the mother-in-law. All of them seemingly put in your path to derail any attempt at a picture-perfect start to your weekend.

The warning signs are generally there before you even leave the house. As you throw the kids into the car and slam the door fast so that they can’t escape, you can almost hear the hum of the first mosquito as it zips by your ear. By the time you reach the end of the street, only to turn around again to retrieve the forgotten teddy/sunglasses/phone charger, you wonder what those strange alarm-type bells are that are sounding inside your head.

WORDS REBECCA HARKIN

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

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You arrive at your destination, your weekend haven, after two hours in the car, two toilet breaks, one wrong turn and numerous threats to leave the kids on the side of the road. It’s amazing how many times the invisible barrier that separates the seats in the back can be infiltrated by the little cherubs in such a small period of time. With the screams of “she breathed on me!” still lingering in your mind, you prepare for the epic task of unpacking the car and setting up camp. A task that has been known to separate the men from the boys, and more often than not, a man from his wife.

Without fail and right on cue, the wind picks up to a level that would be great if flying a kite, but not favoured when the only fabric you are attempting to clutch onto is the kitchen awning, currently flapping several feet above your head. With a child each clinging for dear life onto a pole, you can only watch helplessly as the aforementioned better half dangles from a ladder trying to secure the tent before you all do a Mary Poppins across the beach. After another half an hour of helping, you are rewarded with a not-so-gracious request to take the kids and dogs for a walk far, far away. The echoes in your mind of the kids’ cries in the car are quickly replaced with a string of much less polite words, drifting behind you on the wind.

“It’s a task that has been known to separate the men from the boys, and more often than not, a man from his wife”

BELOW See how long you can work together before the squabbling starts...

“You arrive at your destination, your weekend haven, after two hours in the car, two toilet breaks, one wrong turn and numerous threats to leave the kids on the side of the road”

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

ADVERTISEMENT

After building several sand castles, investigating every semi-interesting bush and encouraging a handful of games of chase to wear out the kids, there’s no choice but to return to the place of horror, I mean campsite, to prepare dinner for the hungry hordes. With a stroke of luck, which reminds you to buy a lotto ticket next week, the tent is fully erect and a campfire is well underway. The better half is firmly entrenched in a comfy chair looking smugly at the drink in hand, the battle won.

Several hours later and the kids are finally tucked away in bed. One of them is invariably using a rolled-up jumper for a pillow, the original probably left somewhere at home, likely next to the spare rolls of toilet paper. It is time to finally sit down in front of the fire and enjoy the serenity. As familiar words drift over from the newly arrived family at the next camp over setting up in the dark, you even manage a wry smile. This is about the time that you are able to finally look at each other.

You shrug your shoulders and say, “I’m sorry for what I said while we were setting up camp”. Even at the time you say it, each of you know that you are likely to repeat history the next time you go away. But somehow the memories of the harsh words begin to melt away with every passing moment. After all, they may drive you crazy, but at least they are your crazies. You have your family together and are ready to make memories. This is when you realise that what you really meant to say was:

#Sorrynotsorry

BELOW Time to sit back and admire the handywork

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