A good time had by all

Breakfast time, Janet's Birthday

We all had a splendid time and the weather was perfect and very warm for November, 18° or more with bright sunshine. The stovepipe is at a bit of rakish angle in the tent owing to putting things up in the dark ... we cooked fresh pineapples in the fire and flambéed them in Jamaican rum for dessert; it turned out to be surprisingly smooth and drinkable resulting in some short term memory loss during the latter part of the evening. Sallie was pessimistic about cooking a casserole over the coals on arrival but thanks to much valiant stirring by Anna, it all turned out very flavoursome. The Barnett's birthday cake for Janet was fittingly decorated with a chocolate button molecular model of salyclic acid. After breakfast we all climbed Leith Hill, the highest point in the South East of England, for tea and cake at the Tower. Lovely!

Janet's Jumbo Birthday Jamboree

This year Janet would like us to help re-create the happy, carefree days of her youth with an evening around a campfire in woodland in the Surrey Hills, after a spot of bowling at the Spectrum Leisure in Guildford.

The bowling is booked from 15:00 on Saturday 12th November.

We'll be leaving from our house at about 14:30 for the Leisure Centre, it's just a short distance away - but if you're arriving by car, parking at the Spectrum is easier than on our street. If you're coming by public transport, come to ours first and we'll give you a lift over (we're close to the bus and train stations).

Tentipi with chimney plume

Because it's November, we thought it best to book spots for any tent you may wish to bring plus two tentipis, one with a wood stove, at a farm site about 25 minutes by car from us. The site is close to Leith Hill, is surrounded by woodland, and has great walks nearby. It has a small wash block and no problem with fires being lit by campers. We have been told by the owner that there will be one other group on the 1.5 acre field with us, doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award - the site is otherwise closed to the public from the end of October. If it has been raining heavily, it is best not to bring your car onto the field, which can get quite muddy - there is parking in a small carpark next to the site.

The aim of the evening event is "glamping" rather than survival - but you might want to bring:-

• A warm duvet or sleeping bag
• A pillow
• Warm clothing and headgear (points will be awarded)
• Something to keep you off the floor of the tent when you are asleep, like a Thermarest or Karrimat
• Boots or wellies for a walk up Leith Hill on Sunday
• Slip-on footwear for trips to the washblock
• A hot water bottle
• A torch
• Your own tent, if you want to sleep alone. Or earplugs maybe.

We'll bring supper and breakfast things - we're planning to cook something with lamb or beef on Saturday night, and porridge with a cooked breakfast on Sunday before a walk up to Leith Hill, the highest point in South East England, which has fine views and does tea and cakes/sandwiches for lunch on Sunday. We'll pitch the tipi tents and set things up before the bowling on Saturday. Lifts back to the train station/bus station available at about 1400 on Sunday. Any questions or dietary requests, drop me a line!

(Last update: 15:45 11-11/11)