words by Williams

So we were at Min Y Don in Harlech, enjoying what turned into a family gathering. It was meant to be us, our niece and great nephew to start off with. Then it became us, the sister-in-law and her wife. Then it became us, the sister-in-law and her wife, and the father-in-law and the sister-in-law's mother-in-law staying separately in a nearby B&B. Oh, and the dogs. Did I mention the dogs?

At times our pitch looked like a mini campsite all on its own. You could call it joyfully chaotic.

What added to that chaos was that it just looked so mad-bonkers too. The wind-out canopy was up most of the time and everyone had brought at least one chair. Some had brought immeasurable quantities of booze, or burgers, or sausages.

And this madness was wrapped up in one of those plastic beach windbreaks we’d bought for a trip to Barmouth years ago.

It looked a bit incongruous amid all the chic multi-panel windshields from some of camping’s finest names. And the drive-away awnings. Especially the blow-up ones.

Our expectation was, that on our return home, we’d investigate a ‘nice’ windshield and, true to our word, we did. It was on the counter at Salop Leisure ready to go. It was already an upgrade from the ex-demo model from ‘round the back’, when someone mentioned drive-away awnings.

Salesman Damian - very helpful to be fair - was in like the pro he clearly is.

Mrs W thought the first example would look like ‘a bit like a pimple stuck on the side’.

Damian’s response. “We’ve got a bigger one and it’s in the sale.”

In one sentence, he’d nailed it. Bigger, and for less. Mrs W loves a bargain.

That’s how, after going in for something to replace the tatty plastic beach windbreak, we came out with a mahoosive blow-up drive-away awning.

And I learned that our wind-out canopy has a handy groove to attach said awning (who knew?).

I’ve been watching videos. Lots of videos.

Looks simple enough. I’ll let you know.