The Camp Community

Being on a campsite long-term is like living in a village. Lots of people know each other as they stay during the same months each year so when you appear at your regular time, you are surrounded by faces familiar from previous years. Friendships are formed usually from taking part in activities together, for instance we are part of the walking group so most of our pals are from that set.

However, there are inevitably some folks who seek you out and you wish they wouldn’t. There’s one chap who only wants to talk politics, particularly UK immigration. He’s a great fan of Hitler’s administration; need I say more? Another will have your day organised for you. Tap,tap on the caravan side at 8.30am. "We're going to Bol Nuevo today, OK", says this voice which must be obeyed. He is actually a nice person!

There are camp ailments, too. “How’s Joan today,” you might ask, hearing someone’s wife is not well. The reply could well be, “not so good, she’s got camp cough.” Having survived “camp cough”, for some campers, is like a war wound, to be bourn with pride and recounted in detail at every opportunity. Perhaps a medal should be struck and a thanksgiving day established for these heroes.
“Well, what is camp cough”, I hear you say. It’s any condition, real or imaginary, involving a cough lasting any length of time with variable degrees of severity for which there is no known medical treatment. Fortunately, symptoms can be alleviated by frequent potions of cheap local wine and total sunbed rest.