Camber Sands, July 2002

So, it was my third Camber rally but the first ever with my son, Sam.   It started off well, we sneaked off to the swimming pool early, before anyone else got there and caught me in my bikini.  We had the pool to ourselves and it was really warm.  There was a slide which Sam made me go down a few times but each time I made sure I didn't get my hair wet as it would more than likely go green from all the chlorine!

Everyone else arrived later on, after teatime, and settled in before Sam and I made the first of many trips to the amusements.   We then paid a trip to the Queen Vic pub which was handily next to a play area so everyone was happy.  I managed to sit in some bird poo which clashed with my black trousers so I went back to sort myself out.  Gary and Rich had bet Jamie that I would get changed, but sadly for them I didn't - I just wiped off the poo and came back all clean!  Jamie subsequently lost his winnings to me though as he bet me that Jade would be evicted in Big Brother - but as I predicted it was Adele for the chop.

There were many familiar faces already there, including the Talismen, various A5's and Kev Brooks who popped over for a brief chat.  It then got a bit chilly so we moved inside....

Sam wasn't really into the do but as I could drink my Strongbow in the amusements I was happy for him to take on Jamie and Talismen Lee at air hockey and pool.  Sam also found a football game which he became quite good at and he won a prize ticket each time he scored a 'goal'.    Sam stayed up until about midnight which wasn't bad going, so we returned to our apartment.  After putting Sam to bed, Gary and Linda joined me for Big Brother which we'd taped from earlier.  

On Saturday, Sam didn't wake up until 10 o'clock which was a result.  Stacey had been a party animal and stayed out the latest, putting us all to shame.  Jo and Duaine arrived just in time for the custom show, which wasn't as good as last year (in my opinion).  However, Jamie was very pleased with the trophy he picked up for 'Best Other Make' for his Tango scoot.  This was very odd as I wouldn't class a P-range with sidecar as an 'other make'.  Sam managed to turn a wobbly tooth into a tooth hanging on by a string - so I yanked it out!  Do tooth fairies visit scooter rallies?  We'd have to wait to find out....

Anyway, on Saturday afternoon we took on the Talismen in the games room.  Duaine gave us an early lead with a win over Lee in the Virtual Fighter game.  I beat Mark Fleming at pool but it was a hollow victory as he was so hungover from the night before that he could hardly see straight!   Gary won at air hockey which was just as well as Jamie managed to lose at the penalty shooting game and table football.  It finished Midhurst Detours 18 points, Talismen 10 points - a resounding victory!

And so to the evening.  We set up camp in the big ballroom and Jamie entertained us by squeezing 50 flying saucers into his mouth.  We then ran out of them so we'll never know whether he would have equalled the record made last year which was something like 80 or so.  The second band were quite good and Sam managed to stay up for all of Desmond Dekker's set - with frequent trips to the amusements, thankfully accompanied by Jamie and Duaine which was fantastic!  Rich caused a minor crisis by riding home but once he texted me to say he'd arrived safely I managed to relax a little. 

Sunday morning.  Luckily, a rather hungover tooth fairy managed to fulfil her duties in the nick of time so Sam was happy.  We then went and 'spent' his 350 tokens on a cheap yoyo watch (why combine a yoyo and a watch?  Answers on a postcard please!) and a stylish ring for his girlfriend at school.  All in all it was a good weekend.  Better than last year, which was mainly due to the weather.  Can't wait for the Isle of Wight!