We drive past the entrance, it is hardly a detour." I suggested.
It SEEMED like a good plan at the time.
We detoured into the Minehead branch of Tesco to stock up with supplies before arriving at Spring Harvest deep down in the West Country.
What can possibly go wrong...
Most people had arrived HOURS before,
but we had been delayed
as the KHT had been taking part in a community panto.
On our way we had stopped off at Gloucester Services for tea,
to avoid having to cook when we arrived.
I do apologise to the poor person who was in the queue after us,as the catering staff checked the allergies Bible
to see what DH could eat.
He was rewarded with his first curry in ages!
We had not stopped at Gloucester southbound before
and boy it bent our brains,
as the layout is the reverse of the northbound,
where we often choose to stop.
With the Cotswold hills as a backdrop,
it is possibly even more beautiful
than its counterpart!
Despite our desire to arrive at our destination,
we could not resist having a quick wander around the grounds.
The fourth member of our party had already checked in and obtained keys.
We found a parking space near the top end of the car park.
Fortunately, there was a trolley, as we never ever travel light.
Plus we had the loot from our impromptu supermarket sweep.
When traveling the KHT's clothing goes on hangers.
If it is packed in a bag it arrives resembles something obtained from a jumble sale.
DH supervised the loading of the trolley,
and, as I had the directions to our accommodation, I set off, expecting DH and the KHT to follow.
I reached the path we needed to turn down.
No reassuring trolley rumble.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Not wanting to go further and run the risk of misplacing my family, I waited.
and waited
And gave up.
Staggering up two flights of stairs laden with clothing and cool bags.
Fortunately, the door was ajar, in anticipation of our arrival.
I deposited the clutter in an undignified heap and returned to the car to a raptuous greeting from the rest of my family...
Err, no!
"Thanks for abandoning me! I had NO idea where to go."
"But we agreed we couldn't take it all in one go. I thought you were following me."
"I would, except the trolley wouldn't move! It is useless!"
"How was I to know that the trolley wouldn't move? Have you tried backwards?"
I turn the trolley round.
It moves.
I tow it to the edge of the car park.
"Ha!" I think, "It just takes some lateral thinking!"
Then I discover that the trolley refuses to turn corners.
"Ha!" mutters DH, "I told you it was useless!"
He is right.
It is useless.
Great, we have the only broken trolley in Butlins.
No doubt payback time for the spoof version I did of one of the Psalms featuring stewards and trollies in one of the creative streams at Spring Harvest several years ago...
A young couple, bright and cheerful, approach us
"Ohh a trolley! Do you know where we can find one?"
They really should not be so happy and jolly and optimistic.
They should be weary and fed up, like we are.
My response comes from the depths of despair.
"No, this was the only one. I would happily give you this trolley, but it is of no use to you.
You are better off without it."
The KHT and I gather up bags containing essentials such as cereal, 5 types of fruit tea and the water filter, more clothing, and other junk and set off for our apartment.
DH stays with the half unloaded trolley.
We stagger up two flights of stairs.
The KHT enters the flat first and insists on holding the door open, whilst laden with bags.
I, too am laden with bags.
She is NOT going to move as she MUST hold the door open for me.
Our matrimonial discord has filtered through to her and she will not be denied her opportunity to also be tired and grumpy.
I have bags in both arms, another over my shoulder.
Additional items are draped over my arms.
My requests for her to move further into the flat fall on deaf ears.
She MUST hold the door open for me, even though I cannot pass her.
I have no energy for arguments, so I apply a sweeper tactic.
I enter the narrow hallway and keep going,
propelling a surprised and somewhat startled KHT, together with all our bags, into the living area.
The pile in front of the TV grows even further.
I depart to rescue a disgruntled DH.
The KHT disappears into her room to arrange 14 out of 15 of the books she has brought with her, plus numerous toiletries.
DH and I carry the rest of the clutter down the darkened pathways.
At the foot of the staircase, the coats decide that they are going to slide in different directions.
The KHT's fifteenth book (by Jacqueline Wilson) slides gently to the floor.
DH rescues it.
I re-sort the coats.
We wearily climb the stairs.
We are here
Not feeling at all spiritual at the moment, but confident that everything will be OK now.
I turn and look at the fridge.
THE FRIDGE!!!
They have replaced the small fridge which had a small icebox with a mini fridge freezer!
This means the small fridge is now significantly smaller!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The essential are carefully stacked in the fridge.
This can only be accomplished by sitting on the floor!
Stuff that does not absolutely need to be in the fridge stays in the cool bag.
Fortunately the weather will remain cool over the next few days.
We happily allocate the top cupboard that no-one else can reach, to DH. so that he can store all his fruit teas, and non-dairy, non-gluten, non-carotene foods in there.
It is nearly 10pm, but we need to sort out what the KHT can do now she is no longer a youth.
We make it over to information just before closing.
and meet a very helpful lady.
We agree that the KHT will try the Young Adults discussion after the morning Bible study.
We crawl into bed before 11pm and have the best sleep of Spring Harvest!
The KHT and I gather up bags containing essentials such as cereal, 5 types of fruit tea and the water filter, more clothing, and other junk and set off for our apartment.
DH stays with the half unloaded trolley.
We stagger up two flights of stairs.
The KHT enters the flat first and insists on holding the door open, whilst laden with bags.
I, too am laden with bags.
She is NOT going to move as she MUST hold the door open for me.
Our matrimonial discord has filtered through to her and she will not be denied her opportunity to also be tired and grumpy.
I have bags in both arms, another over my shoulder.
Additional items are draped over my arms.
My requests for her to move further into the flat fall on deaf ears.
She MUST hold the door open for me, even though I cannot pass her.
I have no energy for arguments, so I apply a sweeper tactic.
I enter the narrow hallway and keep going,
propelling a surprised and somewhat startled KHT, together with all our bags, into the living area.
The pile in front of the TV grows even further.
I depart to rescue a disgruntled DH.
The KHT disappears into her room to arrange 14 out of 15 of the books she has brought with her, plus numerous toiletries.
DH and I carry the rest of the clutter down the darkened pathways.
At the foot of the staircase, the coats decide that they are going to slide in different directions.
The KHT's fifteenth book (by Jacqueline Wilson) slides gently to the floor.
DH rescues it.
I re-sort the coats.
We wearily climb the stairs.
We are here
Not feeling at all spiritual at the moment, but confident that everything will be OK now.
I turn and look at the fridge.
THE FRIDGE!!!
They have replaced the small fridge which had a small icebox with a mini fridge freezer!
This means the small fridge is now significantly smaller!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The essential are carefully stacked in the fridge.
This can only be accomplished by sitting on the floor!
Stuff that does not absolutely need to be in the fridge stays in the cool bag.
Fortunately the weather will remain cool over the next few days.
We happily allocate the top cupboard that no-one else can reach, to DH. so that he can store all his fruit teas, and non-dairy, non-gluten, non-carotene foods in there.
It is nearly 10pm, but we need to sort out what the KHT can do now she is no longer a youth.
We make it over to information just before closing.
and meet a very helpful lady.
We agree that the KHT will try the Young Adults discussion after the morning Bible study.
We crawl into bed before 11pm and have the best sleep of Spring Harvest!
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