It can only get better

Right - we're warm, dry, fed, watered and de-watered, and we've done everything we can to protect our belongings, and to dry bits and pieces over the line which runs down the inside of the ridge of the inner tent. It's 7.00pm and we're done for, so we snuggle up in our sleeping bags. Or at least they do, and I share. And despite the noise and movement created by the wind, rain and flowing water we go to sleep straight away.

At  10 minutes past, a cacophony of sound woke us all up as a group of staff and kids arrived to take up occupancy of the Outward Bound hut. After about half an hour of noise and mayhem, we settled down again to be woken on the hour every hour by the staff coming out for a 'fag' break. At least we think it was the staff. An offer of a cup of tea and a warm in the hut would have been gratefully received but was not forthcoming.

The rain kept coming down and at some point in the proceedings they realised that; the very expensive, very technical, and very new tent.....was leaking!!!

The hours dripped by and we all lay there pretending to be asleep, until at 4.30, he could stand it no longer, and dad said "come on, let's pack up and get down to Glenridding".

It was still coming down in stair rods, so we packed everything in the rucksacks, which mum stacked in a leeward doorway of the hut, attached to me, whilst dad dismantled the outer tent, and mum went in search of my coat which they had hung on the doorknob in the hope that it would drip dry. Of course they hadn't reckoned with our friendly OB inhabitants who had very kindly cast it aside in a puddle. Nice to see such organisations leading by example!

Despite severe provocation, I want you to know that we made no noise whatsoever.

We paddled through sheet water all the way down the hill until we reached the village where they took it in turns to use the public facilities to have a wash and brush up prior to going in search of some breakfast. It was now 9.30am.

Not one catering establishment opened before 11.00am. They found a newsagent which did machine coffee (at least that's what they said it was) and close-to-sell-by-date pork pies, and sat on a wall to eat a very make-do breakfast. I had my favourite - Burns and Gravy Bones.

And then almost instantaneously, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and so did my mum's smile

Keep spreading he word.

M
xx