And the wind she whispered so softly....

Sunday morning definitely was going to be a sleep in....until I got the 7am phone call that is....

Would  I like to go the beach....? ....   No.1 Son asked ...

Now waking up in the morning for me is normally a fairly traumatic experience......

I stumble about with only one eye open (the other one is still trying to stay asleep!) and I'm desperate to go to the 'Loo' and desperate to put the kettle/jug on!! ...Usually it's the dog's desperation to get out of the door that wins first....!

Half of me craves more sleep (all those late nights working are great at the time!...) and the other half admonishes me to get up and get into the days tasks.....

So here I am with the desperation level getting serious, still only one eye open and my son asks me a serious question...." Are you awake Mum ?..." he asks  ...well I could have said either "No I'm not "...(truthful answer) or  "Well I am now ..(another truthful answer)...instead I say .."Yes of course I am ..."  ..."Good," he says, "I'm still in bed so can you come in "

aargh!!!

So I stumble in ...and some time later with two coffees in hand I try to answer his question with another question to give me further 'think time'.....

Anyway so yes we are going to the beach 4WDriving....and then he talks about packing.....

Packing...
I think ....what's he talking about...
"Oh, didn't I mention it's camping overnight..." he says.....

Camping overnight...now hang on, much as I love camping ...the last time I camped was back in 1994/95...this is serious business....and I know my mouth is opening and closing like a gold fish...

I really, really need to finish my coffee to take this in......

Okay now I love freedom, I love being flexible, I love the sea and beach, I love camping and 4WDriving......BUT...I need to make a list, I'm starting to stress, I'm starting to feel like a chicken with it's head cut off.....

Then No.1 Son says, "By the way, we leave in an hour and Dad and (Step)-Mum are glad you are coming...."

What the...!!!!
Well thanks for mentioning that honey!!!

Just to add a little more stress to my already stressful life!!!

You Know what....
I had a fantastic time, with great company, wonderful weather and beach camping, and I can't wait to do it again......

However.........without consciously realising it,  I try to keep my self  'under control' for so much of the time that when it came to simply relaxing....it actually became physically and emotionally painful to 'just let go'........now that is scary!!

What else was 'scary' was trying to put up a tent for me with my Sons help... aargh!

Thank heavens the others had a 'porta potty'...now that was fantastic!!

And so was the ocean, the sea eagles, the tiny burrowing crabs, the smell of salt and ocean, the pounding of the waves, the camp fire, the stars and moon at night.....the food and Sons Puppy who was behaving brilliantly...my little home away from home...brilliant....

Note to Self however....remember to take a blanket next time, and two cushions from the couch fit together well on the couch, they drift apart when one attempts to sleep on them, and crawling in and out of a tent and trying to dress oneself whilst in a crouched position isn't so great!!!

Also note to self....... If one is used to staying up late, fresh air, swimming may all be good, but lying awake half the night because I went to bed too early isn't!!!

However the next day more than made up for that little 'hiccup' and I did not want to come home.....in fact I wish I was still there...but with a blanket/sleeping bag and a stool in the tent to sit on and oh...a mattress of some sort is now on the shopping list!!

and so.....the wind she whispered so softly on that dark yet starry night....