However, why oh why do I never remember that camping in May will always result in coldness and rain. My rose-tinted glasses seem to be firmly attached to my eyes when packing for camping- I didnt pack that well! Was possibly the wettest and muddiest weekend I have ever had at camp, where it literally didnt stop all weekend. When I arrived, already drenched after a brief walk to Limehouse station laden like a donkey with camping gear and clothes (and school work), it was torrential. And I mean- psssssssssssssssssssssssh, it was relentless. There were several miserable looking people who had braved it. At this point, being somewhat of cheeky in nature, I thought, hmmmm, nope, I have no raincoat and only delicate shoes (what was I thinking!!!) so I hatched a plan...
...which was to put up my tent in the barn (well, I had 'happy' helpers who helped me do that). So there I was in the barn with said tent (the conductor looked at me, and didnt bat an eyelid) and then went off to eat dinner (yummy stuff) and lucky old me, just as I came out of dinner, the rain had stopped and with my kind assistant, we squeezed it through the door and pegged it down in the field. And just as I had hammered the last peg in, the rain started again. Nyaaaaaaa haa haaa!!!!!!! (sorry for the errant smugness, I just wanted to
Despite the general shiveryness and coldness and not getting to enjoy walks in enchanted glades, it was truly a magical weekend. Aside from obvious things such as exquisite food provision and delightful company, I have wanted to play 1st flute in Mahler Symphony no.1 since I was 14. It was the first piece I ever played in a symphony orchestra on flute, and my first time at music camp, so it's kind of like I had come full circle and played the piece I most wanted to play. It was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. It's such a beautiful piece. I would recommend it! I have to say that I felt so wonderfully happy at the end of the performance, it's so fab to play a beautiful piece of music. I think my favourite Harry Potter quote certainly describes the feeling. Dumbledore says in the Philsopher's stone 'Music is a magic beyond all we do here...'
That was my last break before the freneticness of school experience. Here's to the next one!
