Ash Vies in Africa: T is for tents, torches and toasting marshmallows

Last weekend was a camping one. Katie had her first overnight school trip - a whole year camp on the school field. She was soooooo excited. Even the boys' world weary questioning as to why anyone could get excited about a night under canvas on the hockey pitch didn't dent her enthusiasm. Her rucksack was packed days before the trip and when I went to pick the boys up after school she and her friends were already in their home clothes and raring to go. And a small army of groundsmen was surrounded by tent poles and mattresses and green canvas.

When I picked her up in the morning it was clear that sleep hadn't featured much. But she was very happy with late night marshmallow toasting and early morning "caterpillar" fights in sleeping bags as the highlights. So we headed to a beautiful spot in Naivasha with a group of friends for more Tent action, surrounded by Zebra, wildebeest and gazelles. The kids played, Tim got the tent just right, we had tea and cake and gently unwound. Then it was time to build a great camp fire, cook lots of sausages, drink beer, eat by torchlight and toast more marshmallows. All the kids (and some adults too) agreed with Katie that marshmallow toasting was the best bit.

But I personally liked the bit when Tim and I were making the fire safe before turning in and could hear hippos rustling near by. We turned the car headlights on and saw a hippo waddle off at pace about 50m away. We wisely decided not to tell everyone else - turns out the danger hippos signs had led to some anxiety.......

Sunday was just as chilled, with horse riding, a boat trip and a yummy lunch at this beautiful spot. Even the drive back to Nairobi up the Rift Valley escarpment - possibly one of the hairiest drives we do here - wasn't as terrifying as normal. And we came home happy dusty and tiered, with lots more lovely memories and a belief (which I fear will be proved to be misplaced in coming years) that camping is fun.