Glamping – glamourous camping

The Daily Telegraph carried a piece yesterday about camping days in the UK overtaking the number of bed and breakfast bookings. Apparently, the pounds slump against the euro, now on the mend at nearly 1 20 to the £, and no bank charges with Currencies Direct, and the recession being the main reasons. I was disappointed however that the Telegraph  the media hype about England’s summer, we were rained on at some  every one of the 23 days we spent there this month. It also went on to talk about “glamping” the name used for glamorous camping, which picks up my theme from yesterday. 

Glamping was exactly what I was trying to describe yesterday, new style camping combining some elements of camping without the drudgery of canvas. This is of course nothing to do with caravans, which I detest, campers vans are cool, even Jamie Oliver has one!

Personally I am with Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear on that one, caravans are epitome of uncool camping, if you want a reason not to have one then Moira Beckett, the ugliest politician in the world has one. Actually, that is a real double whammy.  To be un-blessed with good looks is certainly unlucky, but thereafter to choose to be a politician should be unthinkable, but there you have it. 

On previous campsites I have noticed kindred spirits, the camper van owning, Montrachet drinking gourmet, enjoying the excitement and romance of making camp, whilst enjoying good food and wine. Unfortunately, the campsite we have chosen, and which was recommended by a good friend who shall remain nameless, but for argument’s sake we will call Claire Warner, seems full of campers rather than glampers! My first experience of a camping car was at Glastonbury 3 years ago, which had to be one of the wettest festival on record, but I still enjoyed not just the festival but the whole camping thing. I have recently discovered a very luxurious way of doing Glastonbury, in butler served tepees having four-poster beds and fresh linen, drinks on tap for 20 hours a day and a Michelin star chef on hand to rustle up something for you any time of day and night. Coupled with full back- stage pass access, this has to be the way to do it, if you can afford the £3500 per person cost! 

My picture today is of the beach at Juan Les Pins as the sun went down the night before last.  It is somewhat spoiled however not only by that hugely tall guy who must have been standing behind me, but also the ugly flats behind. 

Dinner on the beach at Juan Les Pins, with some tall geezer lurking around in the background

Today sees my long-awaited return to golfing action with the Landlubbers organised by Dave the Fade who has promised good weather. Opio Valbonne is the venue and those silver dancing golf shoes of mine will once again light up a path around the golf course. One can only hope that the path is the one intended, ie via the fairways, rather than the unexplored bits of Provence I discovered when I last played there. 

Chris France       

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