Camping, in real life, two nights and everything...

After a week of anxious weather-watching, we headed North Norfolk way and to Kelling Heath for our first-ever, proper, not in our back garden, camping trip on Friday and made it home this morning, bleary-eyed, smelling not to bad at all and feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

The weather was fantastic, if not a bit weird, but that's weather in Norfolk for you. The glorious sunshine on Friday gave way as sea mist rolled in. The next morning it still hung over the campsite so we decided to head out in search of the sun via the pool at nearby Sheringham which comes fully fitted with wave machine and 150 foot water chute.

Luke was surprisingly keen to go down the slide, but it was no double rides so naturally I had to try it out first and, like most dads who spotted the timer at the end, spent the rest of the morning honing my technique chasing a sub eight second run. We were there for almost three hours, I don't think I've ever spent so long in a pool in my life.

Foodwise, we did well. We're pretty good on the cooking outside front thanks to the braii masterclasses over the years, and I'm beginning to perfect cooking on disposable BBQs, but the real triumph was breakfast on Saturday - bacon and egg rolls. Even if it was a little gas stove, there's something very pleasing about the sound and smell of bacon frying in the outdoors at that time of the morning. Next step is to cook it on an open fire!

All in all, it was a roaring success, but we do have to review the sleeping arrangements. A double airbed with two people on it does not a good night's sleep make. Needless to say, we're looking at other solutions...