Hesfes highlights
Talked about the hesfes highs and lows over the dinner table tonight, it was interesting to hear what the children liked and didn’t like.
Their favourite things were: woodwork and copper beating workshops, plus the hot chocolate in the cafe. Oh, and the cabaret.
Worst things: the girls couldn’t think of any, but Josiah did say that he didn’t like the toilets. Our toilets (in the house) are nice though, apparently 
I think I’ve already said that I really enjoyed it this year, but I’ll say it again 
The manky campsite didn’t manage to detract from the experience, for me. Being in the company of friends was great, and as usual I appreciated being able to build on online friendships in real life. I think the kids got far more out of it than they have managed to articulate, as well – in friendships, freedom, and probably lots more besides. Still nice to be home though, and both girls agreed that they liked sleeping in their beds better than in the tent!
We’re still recovering, here, I think – Joe’s just fallen asleep in front of Doctor Who which is unheard of, he must be super-tired. Just as well we didn’t go out to the Devon County Show today – one thing that seems to always clash with Hesfes … I’m wondering if I could just do day visits next year then manage to get to the county show as well … will have to wait and see if it stays in the same place on the same sort of dates, I suppose …
May 21st, 2005 at 19:25
yeah, we’ve debated doing wusses HESFES next year by booking a night or two in the local hotel / B&B and coming across each day over the first weekend. More to do the socialising thing and perhaps partake of some of the evening stuff without any of the scary asides to actually staying there!
May 21st, 2005 at 19:36
It’s interesting what parents remember compared with children. My Mum still goes on about a holiday we had in Exmouth which was spoilt by the house we’d rented really smelling of smoke. Hardly a childhood memory of mine – I remember the digging at Exmouth and chips on the seafront. Sarah, you may be scarred for life by the manky toilets but you can rest assured your kids won’t be!!
May 21st, 2005 at 20:31
Sarah, do you still have the post with the map of Europe showing which countries you had visited?
May 21st, 2005 at 22:08
erm, why?
May 21st, 2005 at 22:09
I was theorisizing about relative toilet experience……
May 21st, 2005 at 22:12
aha! No, have done french hole in the ground loos but prefer to avoid them wherever possible … although in fact have been to cleaner ones of those than the hesfes loos. At least you don’t have to sit on the hole in the ground kind so therefore you don’t actually come into contact with anything too yucky.
I think toilet experience is different for girls and boys though!
May 21st, 2005 at 22:46
I was thinking more of not going to the toilet for 48 hours on a train from Belgrade to Istanbul, gulp. I still think Nic should add temporary catheters to her money-making ideas for HESFES 2006.
May 22nd, 2005 at 11:54
A service area in Mozambique springs to mind for the worst ever loos. That and a 4 year old with diarrhea who HAS to go and you’ve got the picture
I gag to think about it.
May 22nd, 2005 at 11:55
I’ve spelt diarrhoea incorrectly above haven’t I? What a pain of a word.