It started with a group of school boys being dropped off by their parents at a field.
The field belonged to one of the parents and was in the middle of a beautiful forest by a river. Idyllic, remote and beautiful.
As the years went on, these school boys were allowed a crate of beer for the weekend, then they came themselves on mopeds, beer attached to the back. At some point girlfriends came too, and the crowd grew.
I went along for the first time around 1994, yup thats 21 years ago. And we have been going ever since, year after year. We even had our children christening on the field.
I remember being the first one with a mobile phone, about 15 years ago, however there was no connection in the field, but still I had my motorola brick with a pull out antennae. As the years went on, girlfriends became wives, some even ex-wives, the first child came and then there were more, and more, and more of them. Tents got fancier, equipment became more sophisticated and cars got bigger. Dogs are now also part of the event!
Yet some things stayed the same.
The core group of boys (now men!) remains the same, the fact that meat is grilled whilst we sit round the fire remains the same, cooling beer in the river remains the same and the love of the event stays the same. It is a huge event in the calendar.
It has been an event and a tradition that has accompanied lifes journey.
And what is starting to happen is that this tradtion seems to be passing on to the next generation. This year getting a seat near the fire was a challenge as the many pre-teens were hanging our there, telling jokes and stories.
What traditions do you have with friends?
What is it that keeps them going?
What is it that makes them fall apart?
Do tell.........
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