Newstead Nuffer!

Post your images from any Bush Poetry events here.

Please keep the file sizes down to under 150kb. If your greatest image dimension is 600px or under, there will be no problems keeping within the file sizes.
Keeping the LARGEST dimensions at 600px means, if the length is 600px then the width could be the same but preferably less. Conversly, if the width is 600px then the length could be the same but preferably less.
Forum rules
Please keep the file sizes down to under 150kb and the dimensions UNDER 600 X 600px ...
Post Reply
User avatar
Stephen Whiteside
Posts: 3784
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
Contact:

Newstead Nuffer!

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:37 pm

My casual attitude to the erection of tents finally caught up with me at Newstead last weekend.

Violent thunderstorms passed through the town late on Friday afternoon, while Maggie Somerville and I joined the other "Grumpy Old Poets" at the Anglican Church - a charming venue, and a charming show. Alas, events not at all charming, of which we were at the time quite unaware, were taking place barely a stone's throw away...

This is the scene that greeted us at about 11 pm that night when we returned to our camp site and shone the headlights on our tent. The storm had whipped the fly off the tent, and snapped one of the poles. Everything inside the tent was sodden, and there were large puddles on the floor.

It was too late to book accommodation and too hard to try to scratch around and borrow a tent from somewhere. Eventually I managed to prop some of the tent off the ground with a shorter pole, and found some bits of bedding that were merely moist. I actually didn't sleep too badly. I don't think Maggie fared quite so well.

Fortunately, the next day was extremely hot, and everything dried out quickly.

The jury rig (Matthew Flinders would have been proud of me, I'm sure!) served us well enough for another night, but it wasn't with any great sense of sorrow that I dismantled the tent on Sunday morning, and stowed it in the back of the car!

Moral of the story: Guy ropes and peg loops are actually attached to tents for a good reason. Ignore them at your peril!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

vwalla
Posts: 160
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 10:44 am

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by vwalla » Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:39 am

Stephen
Maybe a good poem there :lol:
Val W

User avatar
Stephen Whiteside
Posts: 3784
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
Contact:

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:22 am

Maybe. Can't think of anything else good that's likely to come of it! Except a new tent. And a more conscientious attitude to future tent erection...!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

User avatar
David Campbell
Posts: 1232
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:27 am
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by David Campbell » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:41 am

Maybe not a poem, Stephen, but definitely a lesson. Various tent-related experiences taught me long ago that you can't beat four solid walls, a roof, a comfortable bed, and an en suite bathroom.

Cheers
David

User avatar
Stephen Whiteside
Posts: 3784
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
Contact:

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:00 am

No argument there, David, but it's very hard to fit four solid walls into a back pack - or even into the back of a car!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

User avatar
Shelley Hansen
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
Location: Maryborough, Queensland
Contact:

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by Shelley Hansen » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:58 pm

Goodness me Stephen! Are you sure your tent was hit by a thunderstorm? It looks suspiciously like the aftermath of the “fart from outer space” to me!!

I’m with you David ... my tenting days are a nostalgic memory and definitely not something I wish to revisit in my senior years!! The caravan will do quite nicely, thanks!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

User avatar
Stephen Whiteside
Posts: 3784
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
Contact:

Re: Newstead Nuffer!

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:59 pm

Fair call, Shelley. Something hit it - and hard!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

Post Reply