AIBU to let them camp on an island overnight?

[chomalungma]

(Inspired by another thread)

We are on holiday in the Lake District. Lovely cottage. DH is working away. DC's have seen a lovely island and want to go camping there for a few nights. Light a campfire, cook for themselves. They'll get there by sailing boat. Youngest is 6 and oldest is 14.

Would you let them go?

Reading the book at the moment.
Should I have mentioned a deal with the local farmer to get fresh milk straight from the cow every morning?

And toffee molasses!

You could have done this eighty years ago, but times have changed since then and you might like to camp there with them to make sure they are OK.

But someone has to stay at home and look after the baby @BudgieJane

Better a sulky 8 year old then a patronising sad act 😘

Maybe their approach is more healthy.

@ineedaholidaynow

But someone has to stay at home and look after the baby *@BudgieJane*

I didn't mention 'Nurse', did I

Thank you OP I am now re-reading S&A as a result of this thread.
I am hugely struck at how SENSIBLE the Walkers are and how they never bicker or argue...! They do all the washing up, brush their teeth and don't fight over how to sail the boat etc.
The writing is so simple and clear it is still fresh and a joy to read even nearly 100 years on.

@PablosHoney

Better a sulky 8 year old then a patronising sad act 😘

🤣🤣

I reread the novel last night (for the first time since I was about ten) in a fit of insomnia, and what I had not registered as a child at all was how much the mother actually visits and supervises, and checks the older children know what they're doing.

She makes sure they have everything they need before they leave for Wildcat Island, sews them homemade tents and haysacks, makes the children take her out in the Swallow before they leave to check they can actually manage her, is rowed over the first day with the haysacks, leaves the 'duffers' reminder in John's tent, arranges for the daily milk collection at Dixon's Farm (which is also an informal safety check and extra food supply), tests Roger's swimming and awards him the knife, and she also visits when Titty is on the island alone being Robinson Crusoe and is clearly concerned enough then to ask her more than once to come back to Holly Howe till the others return. AS well as making it very clear that sailing by night among the island was pretty dufferish.

It's actually way more supervised than I remember!

I also love the bit when they talk about the death of the Amazon's father Bob Blackett - presumably in the First World War. Such a fine writer.
I remember that years ago they read We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea on the wireless. It was amazing.

@ChiaraRimini

Thank you OP I am now re-reading S&A as a result of this thread. I am hugely struck at how SENSIBLE the Walkers are and how they never bicker or argue...! They do all the washing up, brush their teeth and don't fight over how to sail the boat etc. The writing is so simple and clear it is still fresh and a joy to read even nearly 100 years on.

I think this is why I didn't like them. They were just a but too good (even if they did go night sailing and wander off at inopportune moments on occasion). At least the Amazon's argued. And had arrows.

Haven't read the book but the movie was truly awful. Ds is currently re-reading the famous five books! I actually did let my ds and his friend camp out recently, not on an island though, in the garden . Anyone considering this I recommend preparing by having a nana nap beforehand as whilst they slept like babies all night I think I got about an hour between the wind and seagulls as I slept with the window and one eye open

I also love the bit when they talk about the death of the Amazon's father Bob Blackett - presumably in the First World War. Such a fine writer.

Yes, it's very simply written, but very moving.

@missclimpson

I also love the bit when they talk about the death of the Amazon's father Bob Blackett - presumably in the First World War. Such a fine writer. I remember that years ago they read We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea on the wireless. It was amazing.

Is that in Swallowdale with the cairn?

@Infullbloom which film was that, the original or the new one?

The new one, a colleague gave it to me!

Yes JasperRising I think it is Swallowdale and the cairn.

@Infullbloom maybe see if you can find the original, it is very true to the book.

The new film is terrible. I love the original film, but my grandchildren have stolen it. 😂 When my children were young, we always watched it on the first day of the holidays.

ineedaholidaynow

Will do, thanks for the tip.

I'm quite impressed by how many people just post their opinion and then don't come back to debate it.

@chomalungma

I'm quite impressed by how many people just post their opinion and then don't come back to debate it.

Maybe they think that their opinion should be enough - "I have graced the thread with my presence, given the ignorant riff-raff the benefit of my wisdom - what more can they expect?"

If it's the same posters who clearly haven't read the thread either, obviously they assume that all that is worthwhile is their own thoughts on a subject. It's a special kind of arrogance!

There's nothing as funny as someone having a strop because they didn't understand at first what was being discussed. Bless. Like a sulky 8yo.

I know this is really childish put.

Farringdon

I’ll have another 8 year old strop as I certainly don’t under that post 😂😂😂

I think it is Swallowdale and the cairn

Yup - they'd just climbed Kanchenjunga (Old Man). I like the way they don't use the tourist track, but go cross country - it's the way I prefer to do it. I think they galumph down the tourist track though.

I find it hard to pick my favourite, but I really enjoy Swallowdale, and also Pigeon Post & Picts & Martyrs - I think I like the fell settings, although the sailing is always excellent. Ransome knew his boats.