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7 Deadly Sins of DF Camp 2010
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Could Embercombe be any more sunny-hills-of-Devon? No. And though it would be difficult to find a location further from Edinburgh while still being in Britain, I feel that this alone almost made the journey almost worthwhile. Considering the 6am start and the walk from where the bus dropped 40ish of us off which was long, hot and hilly (not helped by the taunting ‘Not here!’, ‘Nearly there!’, ‘Nearly there!’, ‘Almost!’, ‘Not this one!’, ‘Still a few farms down!’, ‘Just a couple more hills!’, ‘Nearly!’ signs put up which lied viciously to us), that’s me saying it was a very pretty site.
However, the rest of the week put the worthiness of the journey beyond doubt, and the first thing to be said should be thanks to Nikki and Gina Tomkins and Alec Mezzetti for putting the thing together and to the KPs Laura Feltham and David Neibig begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting for delivering the food on (DF) time. Also, to others who had a hand in the organisation of tents or in the providing of the vast array of wonderful workshops available. Thanks also to the owners of Embercombe.
A combination of DF time (an hour and a half forward) and the mere presence of DFs meant that the camp had an awesomely chilled atmosphere, and wherever I went, I heard strains of guitar, ukulele, singing, or while the ceilidh band were practising, guitar, accordion, banjo, violin, and bongo. However, the ice-cool ambience and social nature of the event didn’t mean that stuff didn’t get done! Workshops included the ‘Mini-Thing’, (the ironic name of which was pointed out several times; a good sixty/seventy people turned up to it, more than ever do to Things) which led to an interesting and enlightening discussion of campaigns.
Introductory Mest-Up training and a workshop on dreams were also available, but two personal workshopping highlights were the completely quiescent Quaker conference which was perfectly placed to punctuate the partying, and the potting which I would have enjoyed even more had I been any good at it.
As a social event, the partying was probably one of the more important aspects of the camp, and each day and night had a theme, one per deadly sin: Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, and Lust. Pride was country gentleman day, and there was a stonking good bit of cricket in our cravats, tweed jackets and wellingtons for our sins. For Wrath, a massive bonfire, for Sloth, a day in our pyjamas and an even more chilled attitude than normal, and for Lust an underwear night, which was a welcome excuse to strip off considering the temperature in the hall during the ceilidh (thanks to Bridget and the naked band for that lovely night). Greed made for a Vegas night and the Chapel of Luurrrrv where much, much bigamy and polygamy and many, many semi-consensual marriages took place. For people who felt like a night off the skite though, an outdoor cinema was run every night, and nearby that a bonfire.
Of course, it would require a review of a few thousand words to include everything worth saying about DF Camp. But no one would read that, so the above is my very rough guide. It was a truly fantastic week, and thanks again to everyone who helped organise it, and also to everyone who turned up. Brilliant.
Blue Skies Ben
Could Embercombe be any more sunny-hills-of-Devon? No. And though it would be difficult to find a location further from Edinburgh while still being in Britain, I feel that this alone almost made the journey almost worthwhile. Considering the 6am start and the walk from where the bus dropped 40ish of us off which was long, hot and hilly (not helped by the taunting ‘Not here!’, ‘Nearly there!’, ‘Nearly there!’, ‘Almost!’, ‘Not this one!’, ‘Still a few farms down!’, ‘Just a couple more hills!’, ‘Nearly!’ signs put up which lied viciously to us), that’s me saying it was a very pretty site.
However, the rest of the week put the worthiness of the journey beyond doubt, and the first thing to be said should be thanks to Nikki and Gina Tomkins and Alec Mezzetti for putting the thing together and to the KPs Laura Feltham and David Neibig for delivering the food on (DF) time. Also, to others who had a hand in the organisation of tents or in the providing of the vast array of wonderful workshops available. Thanks also to the owners of Embercombe.
A combination of DF time (an hour and a half forward) and the mere presence of DFs meant that the camp had an awesomely chilled atmosphere, and wherever I went, I heard strains of guitar, ukulele, singing, or while the ceilidh band were practising, guitar, accordion, banjo, violin, and bongo. However, the ice-cool ambience and social nature of the event didn’t mean that stuff didn’t get done! Workshops included the ‘Mini-Thing’, (the ironic name of which was pointed out several times; a good forty people turned up to it, more than ever do to Things) which led to an interesting and enlightening discussion of campaigns. Introductory Mest-Up training and a workshop on dreams were also available, but two personal workshopping highlights were the completely quiescent Quaker conference which was perfectly placed to punctuate the partying, and the potting which I would have enjoyed even more had I been any good at it.
As a social event, the partying was probably one of the more important aspects of the camp, and each day and night had a theme, one per deadly sin: Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, and Lust. Pride was country gentleman day, and there was a stonking good bit of cricket in our cravats, tweed jackets and wellingtons for our sins. For Wrath, a massive bonfire, for Sloth, a day in our pyjamas and an even more chilled attitude than normal, and for Lust an underwear night, which was a welcome excuse to strip off considering the temperature in the hall during the ceilidh (thanks to Bridget and the naked band for that lovely night). Greed made for a Vegas night and the Chapel of Luurrrrv where much, much bigamy and polygamy and many, many semi-consensual marriages took place. For people who felt like a night off the skite though, an outdoor cinema was run every night, and nearby that a bonfire.
Of course, it would require a review of a few thousand words to include everything worth saying about DF Camp. But no one would read that, so the above is my very rough guide. It was a truly fantastic week, and thanks again to everyone who helped organise it, and also to everyone who turned up. Brilliant.
