Friday 3rd Oct
It was that time again, Hertford Oktoberfest. We had got the tickets months ago and our outfits were ready to go!
We booked three nights at the Hertford Camping and Caravanning club site thinking that a grass with no electric hook up would be ok but when we got there we decided to upgrade to hardstanding with electric for £72.
We had a lovely chat with Emma and she told us that as we knew the site so well she will open the barrier and let us choose our pitch and come and see us later after she had upgraded us.
We drove in and choose pitch 30, just opposite to services area and we pulled over to fill and empty as usual before setting up on the pitch.
We had arranged to meet some friends, Rose and Peter, at the site today but they got stuck in heavy traffic on their way to us and we all decided that it would be best for them to abandon the trip today and we would meet up at another time.
So we sat outside the van watching the squirrels and enjoying the tranquility for an hour and then a quick walk around the site stopping to chat with Dave who we had met when we had a seasonal pitch a few years back.
We carried on with our walk to the little gate which lead to Balls park. We got back to the van and sat and relaxed for the rest of the day, Andy sat outside listening to a play for an hour and then came in to join Sue in the warm.
Sat 4th
Up early and Andy got the lederhosen on and Sue the dress etc.
We walked all the way from the site, down the hill and into Hertford (15 minutes) passing the locals, some with knowing smiles on their faces and some with surprised looks.
We got to Wetherspoons and ordered a couple of pints and sat waiting for Julie and Aaron to turn up. They arrived half and hour later dressed the same and looking great and so we ordered breakfast.
Then it was off to Hartham common and the Oktoberfest venue, a massive marquee filled with loads of tables and a bar!
After a quick security check we chose our spot and took over a table at the front and the lads went to get the beers, four steins which cost £15 odd each! We decided to buy pints in future at about £7 a pint.
There was a DJ on stage playing club music which was ok but not oompah music that we expected, we thought that it would change as the afternoon went on....
As we all drank and sang and danced together we were enjoying ourselves but we all agreed that this year wasn't as well attended and the marquee was half empty and a lot of people hadn't bothered to dress up.
We were all waiting for the oompah band to come on but then a solo guitarist jumped up and played some non oompah tunes....He was very good and used some loop pedals to add something to his performance but a strange choice of act for an Oktoberfest!
Julie and Aaron went to find someone to complain to and managed to get an apology and a free drink for all of us, nice one!
At last we got a sort of oompah band on stage and by now we had all had far too much to drink to be bothered about how bad they were!
Soon it was time to leave and so before we set off for the children's play area, of course....where else, we decided to have a drunken go on the magic carpet ride! Why oh why?
The visit to the playground has become a tradition over the years and we all migrate to the 'big swing see-saw thing in the park and take turns.
Brilliant fun all day with great friends and we ain't finished yet!
After the swing we walked up to the White horse pub and sat ourselves upstairs for a pint before ending up at Elle's kitchen, a great Asian fusion restaurant for a bite to eat and a couple of bottles of wine.
Full of great food we said farewell to Julie and Aaron who where heading to the bus station and we staggered back up the hill to the camp site where we collapsed in a heap.
What a great day!