Most of the packing and loading of the car was done Thursday evening so after knocking off work early Friday things were simple - just get me shorts on, sling the last bits and pieces in the car with Helen and Liz and hit the street, destination Peterborough.
There were quite a few of us making the 100 mile-odd trip on Friday, all leaving at roughly the same time. We hadn't been going all that long when we saw Chris "Top Banana" Biggs peeling off the A2 (no pun intended eh? - Ed.) at the Black Prince en route to the Viking's gaff where he was meeting Malc and Paul, so we fully expected to see them blat past us somewhere on the journey. We had a good trip, only getting held up around Stanstead airport for a short space of time. On arrival at the site we checked in pretty quickly and were let in early, which was good - a lot better than the farce of the previous year.
When we got into the field there were three of the Bexley chaps already there so our claim had already been staked. Helen and I got cracking on the assembly of our home for the next two nights which took about an hour - pretty good going for us. Still no sign of the Top Banana and his party, I was beginning to think something had gone tits up or they were all behind a hedge in the next field having a beer waiting for all the graft to be done with our tent before putting in an appearance.
A few more started to arrive and things were starting to chill off a little and darkness was also falling. There was also a slight problem - White Van Man Lee Sykes hadn't shown yet and he had everyone's kit so I'm thinking: our tent sleeps six at a squeeze, we could charge £12 a head - a nice little earner. But that wasn't to be: Lee turned up and Camp Bexley was sorted in about half an hour, all except one. Mr. and Mrs. Sykes and the boys started on the construction of what can only be called a portable version of the Millenium Dome - this thing was huge. Anyway the dome was soon up, due to a good team effort.
Chris, Tom the Viking, Malc and Paul had arrived with tales of dramas at the Dartford Tunnel and Paul's kit almost being spread over three lanes of the M25 but I think everyone that should have been there was so it was time to hit the beer tent big time and treat ourselves to a nice bit of junk food as well.
We all left Camp Bexley at about the same time but trying to stay together was a bit of a tall order. Helen, Elizabeth and myself had a go at getting in to see the bands and the pole climbing but it was no go, so it was back to the beer tent. On arrival back at Camp Bexley the dome was in full light and the Stray Cats were blasting out. Liz was tired so she crashed out - that's the trouble with these three year olds, they can't keep up the pace - so we all necked back a few beers before crashing out ourselves in the small hours just as the regulation rally penis (I could say prick but there may be ladies reading this) starts revving his bike to popping point for about ten minutes. I think that Malc got a bit pissed and had trouble finding his way home but he got there in the end; I guess he must be used to it.
I was up and could hear voices all round the tent. Chris "Top Banana" Biggs, who was our guest for the weekend, was also just starting to burp and fart his body into life for the start of another day. It was only 7 o'clock, why do all the camping types get up so early? I'm told it's something to do with the bladder, you wake up busting for a slash, walk God knows how far to the port-a-loo by which time you're wide awake so that's it, no lay-in.
Anyway it had really chucked it down during the night so we were all hoping for a dry day. A few went over to the breakfast tent for the full Monty but we got the kettle on and started knocking out some bacon sandwiches which seemed to go down well with the troops. Once the show opened we all piled in looking for those bargains which I think a few of us got. Everyone was doing their own thing, just bumping into each other during the course of the day. The weather came over black in the afternoon and I nearly thought we were going to get dumped on but it held off and by early evening it was very very nice.
By the time we got back things were starting to get going - I forgot to mention that before we went over to the show we put up the club marquee complete with lights and music. The BBQs were just being fired up and everyone had a tin or bottle of something in their hand; it had the making of a bloody good night. Everyone who was due up on Saturday had arrived and sorted themselves out as well, no dramas unlike the previous day.
I had a good chat with Gary Lineham who was telling me he was worried about peaking too early as he did last year and then being out of the game from about 8 o'clock. I said to Gary that as long as I could stand and speak I would keep my eye on him and this pleased him no end. A few cameras came out and some pictures were taken, they should be really good. It was quite late into the evening when everybody ventured back over to the entertainment tents and basically it was a repeat of the previous night with Malc getting home OK and Gary staying the course. Oh, and the prick revving his bike up must have had his mate turn up because we got it in stereo in the early hours of Sunday morning!
A nice lay-in until 7:30 a.m. - what a result. I think the last one up was Uncle Bob Colvin; he was up that late he missed out on all the bacon and sausage sandwiches so kindly cooked to perfection, I might add, by our lodger Chris. I only saw evidence of a few minor hangovers, this must be due to sleeping under the stars and fresh air I suppose (although I wouldn't say the air was all that fresh in our tent, Biggs!)
Packing up was something the military would have been proud of - tents down, bikes loaded, cars loaded and Lee's van loaded in next to no time. Lee had a bit more space in the van for the return trip owing to the fact that every single drop of booze he took up went. Normally a few cans do the round trip but not this year so you can guess from that what type of weekend it was.
So almost everyone went back over to the showground and did one more lap before heading home, some straight down the motorway and others taking the scenic route stopping of for some nosebag at the café on the A10. I don't know how many went in the end but there were a good few of us - forty at least - and we all had a good time, so roll on next year.