Monday July 4th 2011 - A field to myself

It was yet another warm and sunny morning, far too nice to go home but unfortunately packing up was inevitable. I wasn't in too much of a rush though so first off was a good dog walk round the site then it was time for some breakfast, though I use the term loosely. Not having any source of power there had been no point taking my camping fridge, and without the fridge I had no butter or milk therefore couldn't make any tea or toast - which was why I'd got something from over at the show on the previous two mornings - so my breakfast that morning consisted of a mug of instant cappuccino and a couple of apple and raisin cereal bars. It was all I needed just then though, and I could always call somewhere and get something better once I left the site.

With the dogs on their beds in the shade of the van I spent much of the morning sitting in the sun outside the tent but eventually I couldn't put off the inevitable any longer and I made a start on packing up. I only had my bed, chair, portable loo and one small table to deal with so within an hour the tent was taken down and everything was packed neatly away in the van. When I finally looked down the field I found that the last two families had left while I had been busy, and apart from some marquees which belonged to the showground the whole place was now empty. I had just enough time to take Sophie and Sugar for one last walk across the field before I left, then having settled them on their beds in the back of the van I put a cd on and drove slowly across the field for the final time.

The journey back was an easy one and I was home for 3pm, with plenty of time to get myself something proper to eat before I had to think about going to work. I'd had a great weekend, met some nice people, visited friends, and got some good photos which would be downloaded to my pc as soon as I got back from work - and when next year's Elvaston meet is arranged my name will definitely be on the list!