2021

ATTENDEES

Welton, Warwickshire – Matt and Evelyn

Stuart, Alex and Beth

Lanark, Motherwell – Heather with daughters Isobel and Kathleen

Frome, Somerset – Claire and son Otis

St Breock Down, Plymouth – Sue

Wraxall, Bristol – Amy and Adam with children Alfie, Sofia and Orla

London – Myvanwy and daughter Scarlett

Worplesdon, Surrey – Sue and Anthony

Upper Farringdon, Hampshire – Antonia and Daryl with children Tiana and Isaac

Caversham, Berkshire – Megan and Mark

The Sands, Surrey – Peter

London – Tanya and Ravi

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

For the 2021 games Matt and Evelyn very generously hosted a camping weekend at Gimswood. This was a wonderful opportunity for us all to revisit the woodland created from scratch by Gill with the help of friends and family from an agricultural field. The wood is now maturing and provides a peaceful haven for visitors and wildlife.

Deep into the woods, cars arrived to disgorge their happy(?) campers. Tents were raised, barbecue lit, pizza oven fired up and endless rounds of sausages and pizzas lined up. Kathleen, self-designated wine waiter, was ever ready to take our orders. The campsite was beautifully prepped with marquee, kids pergola, catering tent, loo facilities, running water, paddling pool – you name it. Matt and Evelyn’s attention to detail was hugely appreciated by all.

The games kicked off with a scarecrow building competition. The photos attest to the ghoulish nature of the entries. Little people were dispatched on a bug hunt which brought back slugs, snails, ants, spiders, wood lice, toads and Tiana’s winning grasshopper. Space hopper horses galloped round a course of jumps including a water hazard which scuppered some of the front runners. On to the ‘Marshmallow Medley’. Marshmallows big and small were throw, man-handled by chopsticks and finally stuck to our foreheads. The stickiest character turned out to be Adam.

Afternoon tea approached so Evelyn, as judge of the cake competition, bravely sampled each entry declaring Ravi’s to be the most moist, tasty and beautifully decorated. The day concluded with everyone gathered round a fire pit where Evelyn’s sons Alex and Stuart entertained us with their guitars and a medley of songs rehearsed and ‘not so’ – everone joining in to fill in the missing lyrics. Sadly it all had to end. Sunday morning dawned wet and drizzly. Isobel created a very popular beauty parlour for the kids giving the parents space to strike their soggy tents. The girls were returned to their parents looking like they had just arrived back from the Glastonbury Festival covered in tattoos, sparkles and rainbow crayon.

Everyone then headed home with a Gimswood mug and pot of honey to remember a wonderful weekend. This year’s winners, Tanya (senior) and Tiana (junior) have a medal winging its way in the post.