Having set off early on the Friday morning, just as the rain started! and by the time we got to Family Farm BP petrol station north of Oxford, we were totally soaked and very very cold. A brief visit to Starbucks was not the best place to try and warm up (all hand driers were out of order)..
Once we arrived at the M40 the sun came out and we got to the event in Chipping Warden at about 10:30. We pitched the tents and started to help unload the van, install the festoon lighting and help where ever we could.Before too long it was time for the great taste of a bowl of stew and a couple of pints…. Just what was needed as the temperature outside was dropping very quickly. A cold night was to follow - good job I took the ex-Army Artic sleeping bag !!
The following morning there was frost everywhere and I took advantage of the kitchen prepared hot and delicious sausage, egg and mushroom bun for breakfast.
There were some brilliant presentations during the day. The day was only dampened by the news that a friend of 21 years had passed away over night - so sad. We raised a glass or two to Colin Hitchcock… We had only visited him at the hospice on the previous Wednesday.
That evening the wind got stronger and the driving rain came in giving me a another restless nights sleep. Then after assisting with some packing up of the festoon lighting etc, we packed up our tents and hit the road home accompanied by the dreaded cross winds.
All in all a good event and it was great to meet up with some old friends
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| The Late Colin Hitchcock |
