These Boots Are Made For Walking...

Yesterday I posted about my foray into the world of camping.  As a new tent owner I am now ready to embrace the great outdoors.   However I don't see why my fashion and sense of style should suffer.  I predict the big new trend in fashion will be "Outdoor Camping Chic".  You heard it here first!

So it was with great excitement that my latest purchase arrived via courier from the UK.  Behold my new boots...

Hunter Wellington Boots 2010 Collection

Hunter's black Wellington boots get a luxe update with the addition of crocodile-stamped panels and silver-tone rivets.  

Hunter boots are legendary and here's why...

Originally, Hunter rain boots (circa 1856) were designed for traversing Scotland's rugged terrain and combating its unpredictable weather. 

Production of wellington boots were dramatically boosted with the advent of World War I when the company was asked by the War Office to construct a sturdy boot suitable for the conditions in flooded trenches. The mills ran day and night to produce immense quantities of these trench boots. In total, 1,185,036 pairs were made to cope with the Army's demands. The fashionable boot was a functional necessity.

For WWII they were once again called upon to supply vast quantities of green wellingtons and thigh boots. 80% of production was for war materials - from ground sheets to life belts and gas masks.


In 1977, having continued to supply wellies to the Royal Households for decades, Hunter was awarded a Royal Warrant from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. This was shortly followed, in 1986, by a Royal Warrant from HM The Queen. Providing great recognition for their work in keeping some very important feet dry!

That's right, only the best quality wellington boots.  However no old fashioned ones for me.  We are talking rock chick fashionista at the camping ground.    And if the rain turns it into Glastonbury, then like every fashionable UK concert goer, I'll be ready! 

             

Fashion aside, they are pretty sturdy and you know they have to be good when the English Royal Family have Royal Warrants on the products.   I can imagine them all walking over their Balmoral Estate in Scotland in these things.   Or the Queen walking the corgis around the castle in a pair.  Maybe she has a pair of these ones.  Who says everything has to been khaki green. 

They look superb even though they didn't really help Camilla when she fell in a rabbit hole and broke her foot.   However at least if I do fall into a hole or experience any other calamity whilst camping, I'll at least have the peace of mind to know I look fantastic when I'm being taken away in a stretcher.   

The Great Outdoors...

I will admit that I like my creature comforts.  Weekends away should include good food, wine, crisp white sheets and cocktails by the pool.  As I work most days of the week I live for any time away and make the absolute most of it. Not having to cook, clean and room service a phone call away.  Bliss...

My husband loves these weekends away too but he also loves the great outdoors.  He grew up camping and fishing and loves nothing better than sleeping under the stars.  Whether it be camping in the outback or 4WD vehicles on a empty beach, he loves "roughing it".   

My two boys also love it and so the pressure has been building to go camping as a family.  I remember camping years ago.  Not fondly.  No hot showers, clean bathrooms, hotel beds and certainly no cocktails from the menu.  Dinner on a camp stove and waking up to dip in the ocean was certainly a new experience.  Spiders and other creepy crawlies.  No power points in the tent - a disaster for hairdryers and straightening irons - the horror of it all!

So to the utter surprise of my husband, I suggested (aka: "capitulated"), we finally buy a tent and go camping.  It was like someone had just announced he'd won the lottery.  And so off to the Camping and Caravan show we went.  Held over Easter, it is a Mecca for camping enthusiasts.

With every conceivable camping gadget and portable item, it is amazing how modern "roughing it" has become.  I have to say that I was impressed by some of the new developments.  Real beds that fold up rather than a cheap and nasty blow up mattress and a sleeping bag.  Portable toilets and showers!  Who would have thought it.  Mini fridges and folding kitchens.  Hello, it is a whole new camping world!  Mind you, you need one big van to haul it all in.

And the big news?  We actually came away from the show with a new tent!!

 

 

I am quite impressed.  We now have to work out a time to take our family outdoor getaway.  My boys are very excited and I have reached a new level of "coolness" in their eyes.  It will be quite the experience for me.

Though I do think I will pack Martini glasses and byo cocktail mixers anyway.  One can't give up every luxury you know!  Given that I've said yes to camping my husband won't mind being bartender.  Sounds like a fair trade.

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes.

What do you think? Women come out on top!

The UK Daily Mail reported a couple of days ago that children prefer their mothers behind the wheel.  Apparently they feel safer.  Yay for Mothers!

Here is a bit of the article. 

(I will be making sure my husband reads this one!)

Six out of ten say they are happier and more relaxed when she is behind the wheel.  Fathers, on the other hand, are accused of driving too fast, being more aggressive and losing their tempers when in the driving seat.   Mothers are less likely to give in to road rage, don’t dodge in and out of traffic and are more considerate to other motorists, according to the young critics in the back seat.

The poll of 1,279 children aged from five to 16 found a motherly tendency to stall the car or have problems parking were a small price to pay for a much calmer journey.  David Williams, from GEM, the breakdown cover company that carried out the poll, said: ‘Dads seem more intent on getting from A to B as quickly as possible, whereas mums will take things slower.’

Mothers :-

Talks to keep the children entertained

Sings at the wheel

Drives at a reasonable speed

Is considerate towards other motorists

Is much calmer

Fathers:-

Drives too fast

Shouts at other drivers

Dodges in and out of the traffic

Is too aggressive

Has more accidents

More than half said their fathers shouted at other drivers, while 35 per cent said they felt nervous when he lost his temper.  The study also found that children didn't like their fathers being impatient when driving, and 83 per cent said he often drove too fast. 

Two thirds of children said a man was more likely to weave in and out of the traffic, and change lanes at speed to avoid getting stuck in a jam.  By contrast, 70 per cent of children said mothers sang while driving, and 52 per cent said she talked non-stop. 

Despite having a good reputation with her passengers, mothers still got into trouble with basic manoeuvres required for everyday driving.   Seven in 10 youngsters said their mothers were more likely to stall the car when pulling away from a junction or performing a hill start. And 64 per cent claimed reverse parking was beyond her capabilities.


Mr Williams added: 'Unfortunately, the survey shows a third of children are embarrassed to be driving round by their parents - regardless of whether it is mum or dad.  'But mum still gets the thumbs up as the person they would prefer to drive them to school, or to friend's houses.


'This research should send a clear message out to dads, to be more careful and considerate when driving - not just towards other motorists but to their children as well.  'It is important that children do not see their parents driving aggressively as this could have a long term affect on what they see as 'the norm'.


'There is a general belief that kids exposed to poor driving could mean that they copy this action when they start to drive


So what do you think?  Hello to my husband.  Are you reading this! :)

Hello Weekend! Hello May!

Loving that the weekend is finally here.  The weather is fantastic and although the nights are cold, the days are still warm enough to get outdoors.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, my son is part of a sailing club with his friends.  Rain, hail or shine they go out in their little boats.  For me sunny days are preferable but sailors must get used to all conditions.  Which means that the parents have to as well!  Unless you have a brilliant husband like mine who offers to take them instead. 

The kids really love sailing and there is a great sailing community on the northern beaches.  My boys love their water sports and if they're not sailing then they are learning to surf.  Or they take part in "Nippers" (Surf Lifesaving).    My eldest son has great balance and so seems to be a natural with the sailing and surfing.  He does not get this from me! 

One day he was showing me how good his balance was on his ripstick (skateboard).  I decided to give it a go and lost control.  I had more than a couple of bruises after I crashed and tumbled off it.  I should know better after watching funny home videos every week with them.  Even I laugh at the parents who try to do daft things.  Thankfully my "stack" was not filmed.

That is why I'll stick to my art.  Obviously we are all talented in different things.  As for my youngest son, he's yet to reveal where his talents/skills lie.  He's a bit of a dare devil so that should be interesting.  I definitely won't be giving what he chooses a go!