Never organise a camping trip

Just realised it's only 5 weeks to go before my big camping experience. Not good.

Way back in September, I had the strange idea to organise things so a bunch of people can come here and we'll freeze to death in a field. Or not. Depends on the weather, really. Actually, I had the idea earlier, but officially started sorting it out in September. It was only fair that I organised one, after having been to other people's events in Cornwall, Norfolk, the New Forest and having some others on my list of things to do this year.

So I picked May 5th as a good date. It's a Friday, which is a good day to start a weekend of camping. Much better than starting on, say, a Sunday. That would be stupid. And it was also 9 months away. Sounds like a long time.

Ask some people if they want to go, officially set it up so people can put themselves on the list. (This is on OUT, a website I spend too much time on!). And then check with the campsite owner. Or was it the other way around? Anyway, he says "no problem". (Might change his mind in 5 weeks ;). Doesn't matter about the numbers, should have most of the field available that weekend. Talk to him again in January. Still no problem.

Now I've just got to finish off organising it. Got a bit carried away to start with, huge 10 page PDF document with lots of useful information for anyone that wants to come. Got 11 people definitely coming (as of today), and 26 probables. And a couple of others not on the list. And I'm sure someone will just drag random people along. I'm guessing at 15-20 people in all will eventually turn up.

So it should be a good weekend. Just lots of things to still organise. A barbecue should be sorted now. A wide selection have been left behind at the campsite by previous visitors. This is good, because I'd wanted to borrow one from the local school. But it was destroyed in the Great Shed Fire of 2004.

And then there's the messaging people. I could send out a message to everyone all at once. And I have done. And I will do again in 2 or 3 weeks. But I like to do things differently, which is usually my fatal mistake. Takes a long time to send individual messages to 35+ people, each saying something different. Some people probably think I'm mad. Or will do when it gets to the stage where all I can manage is "Camping! Come! Or I'll tell the king of the potato people!". Which is probably around next Tuesday.

Then there's the "what might people like to do?" question. Ok, so that's mostly a case of making them a map showing the location of the shops and the nearest pub. Also thought it would be good if we could all drive off somewhere nearby. So we (or some of us at least) will head off to a nearby hill to realise the big white chalk horse we were looking for is where we're standing. Then to a pub for lunch. And then to some suitable interesting old house. But that's where I'm running into problems. Need to go and have a look at somewhere soon, make sure it's of a high enough quality. One for next weekend when Phil's here, I think.

Oh, and the mobile phone issue. It might be useful for me to have a phone at the campsite. So anyone that gets lost can phone me and get directions. This is a disastrous problem, because of the lack of phone, and the fact that my directions are apparently rubbish. (Though I still insist that's Phil's ability to follow my directions that's the problem). But I think mobile phones are evil. But give in and liberate one of Phil's old ones. It works. People can talk to me on it. What more do I want? A battery that doesn't die after 3 hours and then beep annoyingly loudly at 6am would be useful, possibly.

Not even started on what happens next. After all the messages. And getting a phone. And finding places to take people. And pestering people to try and decide if they're going to come or not. And then getting there and putting the tent up. And tying special orange balloons to something handy so people can see the entrance to the campsite which is on a main road but not entirely obvious. And then arranging for someone to go and pick people up from Swindon station because they don't drive and neither do I. And remembering to get something to burn, because a barbecue isn't much use otherwise. And greeting people as they turn up and trying to work out who they are, because they don't look like their picture online and I don't know what their real name is. And then finally hopefully sitting down and having a nice pleasant weekend.

It's all mad and a bit scary. But I'm sure it's going to be a fun weekend. Some of the people who are coming are really nice people to spend a weekend with. Many a night spent sat in a field trying to keep warm with them. And some people I've never met, but I'm sure they're just as much fun. I just hope nothing bad happens. The campsite is next to the Thames, so it'll probably flood or something.

And I really shouldn't drink so much coffee. It's taken me about 30 seconds to type all this. Well, 10 minutes. I'd have stopped after 3 words if I'd not been drinking coffee constantly all day. Oh well.