Memory of Half Term

Well, what a beautiful week at Tom’s. The weather was glorious, hot enough for tee-shirts and shorts. Was this August? No, the October half-term. Every year we love our week in October, often we are some of the last campers (except for those hardy soles who use the walker’s barn) to leave. This year the weather was better than most of the 2 weeks we spent at Tom’s in August.



So what other memories do we have to tide us over the winter until we can camp at Tom’s next year? The badger finishing off the dog food and snuffling around noisily under our camper van, stealing our crockery if we don’t put bricks on the cover of the washing up bowl and taking out the kid’s balls from under the camper. Wonderful walks in the autumn sunshine with colours more spectacular than in the summer. Fishing on the pier, Pete being bitten by a ragworm and Nick beating Pete narrowly in the annual total catch of fish. The rabbits sitting just feet away from the camper watching Mollie the Collie through the window whilst Mollie sees the rabbits as her version of live TV! The kids snuggling in their sleeping bags to watch DVDs on the lap-top as the evenings become dark so much earlier. Cooking hearty meals that warm up the camper as well as it’s occupants. Mollie sleeping on the bed as a useful free source of heat. The blackbird sitting on the wing mirror of the camper and serenading us with it’s song. Sharing a packet of chips on Swanage sea-front and savouring every last one of the vinegary morsels. Nick and Becky attempting to finish off all of the ice-cream in the shop’s freezer. Sharing crumbs with chaffinches at the National Trust Cafe at Studland whilst Mollie has her last bath of the year in the sea. Lovely warm showers at the campsite. Wearing sandals all week (in October!).



So many lovely memories to keep us in touch with Tom’s until next year. Thank you all for another year of memories of Tom’s Field and Dorset. We will be back (not sure if that is a promise or a threat!!). Love to all, a Happy Christmas and New Year to you all and the wish for good weather next year.


From Sandie Belcher

The end of the season

Once again the season has come to an end. This week we closed the gates until mid March. At some point we will get some sheep in to graze the fields during the winter.
The winter works start again soon and the completion of the solar water system should happen soon!
Purbeck Film Festival was a great success, John and I went to see Scott of the Antarctic on a particularly cold evening and the heater had broken down. A brilliant film but unrelentingly grim.
Here is a picture taken on Swanage Beach last week in the evening.
On another note we took a granddaughter riding for a birthday present. We went to Studland Stables. Very friendly and helpful to complete novices