My friend Bean

3 years 284days

We arrived at the JumpingBean's house about midnight and settled into bed straight away. Katie, my usually very early riser, slept latest of all. But as soon as she woke, after a snuggle with mummy, they were very quick to be playing together. They've not seen each other in 18months. You couldnt tell at all. They had the most wonderful time playing outside. Digging in the mud patch, eating all the bean's raspberries and blackberries, climbing. They spent ages playing inside, reading stories, hide and seek, chasing. They were so happy together. They just grinned at each other for a lot of the time. We packed up the (giant and fabulous) car with children and mountains of stuff and headed off for a weekend of adventures.

The second the tent was set up in sufficiently stable form, the kids were in it. Katie was fit to burst at the prospect of playing and sleeping in it. The "bedrooms" had a fabric wall divider. It had a gap under it. We wondered how long it would take them to realise this. We thought it might be a while. We underestimated. It took them 3 minutes.

An explore of the small but friendly site revealed a trampoline, ducks and chickens. It also revealed fish & chip night in the country pub. Dinner sorted. Shortly after eating a huge portion of fish, Katie asked for bed. She fell asleep snuggled in the tent, very happy, very content. She likes camping, she declared.

Late evening, the sweetdustybones family arrived. After setting up their camp with them, the grown ups had a fun time hanging out. Poi were played with and photographed, the world was put to rights. Happy happy times with dear friends.