So we’ve spent the last few days on our annual Easter pilgrimage, camping out in a caravan park and I was given pause yesterday and stopped to think about the different types of people that one finds in a caravan park.
There’s a few stereo types that I thought that I’d take a moment to share.
In previous years, there’s been the young girls that like to strut about the caravan park in all sorts of weather in their bikini’s. And whilst one can be appreciative of the aesthetics that this provides, when you look around the caravan park, you have to stop and wonder just who it is that they would like to be impressing. Because as far as I could determine, what they lacked was an audience of the young single male type. But that was a couple of years ago and clearly most of them have moved on.
There is of course the contingent that is made up of us and our family and friends (quite possibly referred to by those outside the group as breeders), which means families of kids that terrorise the caravan park in various ways. In years past it was the crying babies as we put them to sleep or during the middle of the night whereas these days, whilst the baby trend has continued with the extended group of friends that are part of our ‘party’, our own contingent’s terror now takes the form of t-ball games during the day or noisy games of spotlight (reminiscent of my own activities here some 20 years ago) at night, or even bicycles screaming around the asphalt roadway at excessive speeds.
And of course, there’s the group down the end that show up with trail bikes and noisy toys and like to party into the night. But given that we’re up playing cards on most nights until late, carrying on drinking and being silly, this isn’t really a problem for us.
And of course, then there’s the demographic that gave me pause and prompted me to sit down and write this. It’s the older blokes of the greying set that you find wandering about the caravan park.
Because you know when you’re standing in the amenities block, shaving or waiting for the shower early in the morning and a rotund, somewhat elderly, Mediterranean man walks in, toiletries bag tucked under one and towel over the shoulder and heads straight for cubicle number two that it’s time to swiftly vacate the premises. It doesn’t matter whether you’re only half way through shaving or partly unwashed, just grab your stuff and get out. Because the aural explosion that swiftly follows the closure of the door to cubicle number two is nothing compared to the violent and sudden assault that is about to confront the olfactories!
You soon learn to recognise these guys as they walk in and begin your hasty retreat.
Mar 25, 2008
Mar 16, 2008
The Long Stretch
I am currently sitting in a plane on my way home, something that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time as you’d probably realise if you’re a regular reader. I’m on the longest leg of the journey right now and due to the vagaries of international travel, I’m not actually sure what the time is or exactly where I am.
I know that the current time in Fort McMurray, where my journey started is 12:35pm. I also know that I left Vancouver at 11:55pm Vancouver time (which is 12:55am Fort Mac time) and I know that the flight duration is just a touch over 15 hours.
15 hours. My God that’s a long time. I’ve attempted to sleep, recognising that this is surely the best way to consume time on one of these jaunts and have had varying degrees of success. I think I managed about 2 hours the first time and then another hour during the last movie that I was watching. The inability to get horizontal to sleep is a big inhibitor, which is really frustrating given that during the time that I worked offshore, I used to boast that I’d developed the ability to sleep anywhere. I even slept on a scaffold plank under an oily tarp once. Of course, the key there was that at least it was nearly horizontal. But sleep on aeroplanes in the main part eludes me. Probably because I end up with my neck contorted in a manner that eventually just bloody hurts. I bought a travel pillow and that has been mildly successful.
But I am really struggling on this particular flight with just how bloody long it is. I mean based on the mental arithmetic that I am trying to smash through my sleep deprived head, there’s still something like 5 hours to go. I have to wonder how the hell Caroline managed to do this and stay sane.
Because of the departure time, all of the flying until now has been in the dark. And just at the point where the sun was starting to caress the horizon and a slight bit of colour appeared, they came around and asked everyone to pull down the shutters. Hell, I was actually looking forward to getting see something, even if it was just a bloody cloud or the wing of the plane. Because with the cabin lights dimmed, everyone is essentially trying to sleep (though there’s a lot more movement about the cabin now than there has been for the last 7 or so hours) which means that even if I was the sort of person inclined to strike up conversation with random strangers (ie Caroline) there’s really no one to talk to anyway. At least I have a vacant seat between myself and the guy next to me.
The irony that I feel compelled to document is that I can be a real shit to travel with, because I really dislike having a conversation that I feel everyone for 3 rows around me can hear and so I tend to opt for watching movies in silence, but of course presented with no other option, I’m almost bursting to have a conversation with someone!
Let’s not forget that I started this journey 6 hours before I even got on this plane …
I know that the current time in Fort McMurray, where my journey started is 12:35pm. I also know that I left Vancouver at 11:55pm Vancouver time (which is 12:55am Fort Mac time) and I know that the flight duration is just a touch over 15 hours.
15 hours. My God that’s a long time. I’ve attempted to sleep, recognising that this is surely the best way to consume time on one of these jaunts and have had varying degrees of success. I think I managed about 2 hours the first time and then another hour during the last movie that I was watching. The inability to get horizontal to sleep is a big inhibitor, which is really frustrating given that during the time that I worked offshore, I used to boast that I’d developed the ability to sleep anywhere. I even slept on a scaffold plank under an oily tarp once. Of course, the key there was that at least it was nearly horizontal. But sleep on aeroplanes in the main part eludes me. Probably because I end up with my neck contorted in a manner that eventually just bloody hurts. I bought a travel pillow and that has been mildly successful.
But I am really struggling on this particular flight with just how bloody long it is. I mean based on the mental arithmetic that I am trying to smash through my sleep deprived head, there’s still something like 5 hours to go. I have to wonder how the hell Caroline managed to do this and stay sane.
Because of the departure time, all of the flying until now has been in the dark. And just at the point where the sun was starting to caress the horizon and a slight bit of colour appeared, they came around and asked everyone to pull down the shutters. Hell, I was actually looking forward to getting see something, even if it was just a bloody cloud or the wing of the plane. Because with the cabin lights dimmed, everyone is essentially trying to sleep (though there’s a lot more movement about the cabin now than there has been for the last 7 or so hours) which means that even if I was the sort of person inclined to strike up conversation with random strangers (ie Caroline) there’s really no one to talk to anyway. At least I have a vacant seat between myself and the guy next to me.
The irony that I feel compelled to document is that I can be a real shit to travel with, because I really dislike having a conversation that I feel everyone for 3 rows around me can hear and so I tend to opt for watching movies in silence, but of course presented with no other option, I’m almost bursting to have a conversation with someone!
Let’s not forget that I started this journey 6 hours before I even got on this plane …
Mar 11, 2008
Today it rained. The snow is getting washed away and turning to brown muddy slush on the sides of the road at the moment and it seems a strange time to finally go and escape the winter wonderland. Of course, they are forecasting about 5cm of snow tomorrow, so winter is far from over. Talking to everyone back home and reading the news, I've noticed that its been a little extreme with the heat and Caroline told me that it's supposed to be 39C when I get home, so I thought that I'd check the forecast and see just what it was that I was going home to.
Ye gods, this is going to be a shock to the system!
Thursday Dry. Sunny. Min 24 Max 39
Friday Dry. Windy. Min 28 Max 39
Saturday Dry. Partly cloudy. Min 20 Max 38
Sunday Dry. Sunny. Min 21 Max 38
Monday Dry. Sunny. Min 23 Max 39
Tuesday Dry. Sunny. Min 25 Max 39
Ye gods, this is going to be a shock to the system!
Thursday Dry. Sunny. Min 24 Max 39
Friday Dry. Windy. Min 28 Max 39
Saturday Dry. Partly cloudy. Min 20 Max 38
Sunday Dry. Sunny. Min 21 Max 38
Monday Dry. Sunny. Min 23 Max 39
Tuesday Dry. Sunny. Min 25 Max 39
Mar 7, 2008
The Bachelor
Yes, for the last two weeks I have been here in Canada sans family; left to my own devices and fending for myself.
I had some grand plans for this time alone and some of them have come to fruition and others have fallen by the wayside. Principally the ones that haven't have been things like cleaning the house, where as the ones that have have been along the lines of maintaining an exercise regime.
And of course with a new job, there's been more than enough to keep me busy. When you consider the fact that after I dropped Caroline and the kids off in Vancouver I was only then home for 3 nights before going away for 4 nights, then back late on the Monday, in Calgary for Wednesday and today is only Friday, things have really been just a little bit hectic.
With the exercise regime that I've kicked in to go with the Fit n Firm Challenge that I am participating in, by the time that I've cooked, eaten and exercised, there really hasn't been time for much else. But considering I've managed to get my weight below what it was when I left home, I'm pleased ... but there's a long way to go still. Coming home to real take away food and chocolate is going to be a hell of a challenge on my will power. Especially over Easter.
Of course, I did manage to squeeze in a little skiing in the Rockies (but I can't say that I enjoyed it too much (I did, but I can't say it – people might get jealous)). Which if you happen to have noticed the little photo thingy at the top right, you'll see some evidence of.
It is very strange to come home to an empty house and not have it invaded by the noise and chaos that we consider normal within the household. I find myself going to bed and saying goodnight to the kids bedrooms, just because I don't get to go in and give them that final kiss at the end of the night. I'm really looking forward to my hugs.
I had some grand plans for this time alone and some of them have come to fruition and others have fallen by the wayside. Principally the ones that haven't have been things like cleaning the house, where as the ones that have have been along the lines of maintaining an exercise regime.
And of course with a new job, there's been more than enough to keep me busy. When you consider the fact that after I dropped Caroline and the kids off in Vancouver I was only then home for 3 nights before going away for 4 nights, then back late on the Monday, in Calgary for Wednesday and today is only Friday, things have really been just a little bit hectic.
With the exercise regime that I've kicked in to go with the Fit n Firm Challenge that I am participating in, by the time that I've cooked, eaten and exercised, there really hasn't been time for much else. But considering I've managed to get my weight below what it was when I left home, I'm pleased ... but there's a long way to go still. Coming home to real take away food and chocolate is going to be a hell of a challenge on my will power. Especially over Easter.
Of course, I did manage to squeeze in a little skiing in the Rockies (but I can't say that I enjoyed it too much (I did, but I can't say it – people might get jealous)). Which if you happen to have noticed the little photo thingy at the top right, you'll see some evidence of.
It is very strange to come home to an empty house and not have it invaded by the noise and chaos that we consider normal within the household. I find myself going to bed and saying goodnight to the kids bedrooms, just because I don't get to go in and give them that final kiss at the end of the night. I'm really looking forward to my hugs.
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