Martin’s cheesy balls

Last time we went camping together we were fortunate to manage to pick a dry, sunny weekend – although the nights were a little chilly reminding us it was autumn.

We revisited a favourite campsite – Hale Farm. We hadn’t been for a few years, partly as we have to drive past some of our other favourites to get there, and party because it is often fully booked! The facilities had been improved since we last stayed, so we updated our review.

There are good footpaths for walking straight from the campsite. We had hoped to call in at the nearby cafe & village shop on the way home, but for some reason it shuts early on a Saturday!

It’s a great site for taking children as the farm is open each morning to visit the animals. There is something therapautic about stroking a friendly donkey! The farmer also sells lamb burgers, sausages and eggs – we purchased some burgers, but they are still in the freezer so we can’t give you a proper review of those yet!

What we can review are Martin’s cheesy balls!! You might remember this was a recipe picked up from a fellow camper Martin whilst on a road trip. Well, we’re pleased to report that they turned out to be very tasty! They worked well as a starter while we waited for our main of pulled lamb to slowly cook on the fire.

Here’s the recipe:

Martin’s cheesy balls

Ingredients:

Torn bread, egg, grated cheese, finely chopped garlic

Method:

Mix everything together and leave to soak. Shape into golf balls and fry in oil.

They will be crispy on the outside but soft and squishy inside.

Enjoy!

L & R

The first stealth camp

Stealth camping is where you sleep in your van but not on a campsite. I wanted to try it out and thought I’d better get on with it before the weather got too autumnal, so the other week I made a plan!

I did quite a lot of planning. I wanted to stay somewhere I was fairly nearby, so I could drive home in the night if I decided to abort. But I wanted to go far enough away that it felt like an adventure – I didn’t want to sleep round the corner from my house!! I wanted to stay somewhere that was quiet, but not remote from other people. I was thinking a residential street felt safer than a car park, but I wanted to feel I was in the countryside.

In the end I had my dinner on Epsom Downs, with an amazing view of the London skyline. I then drove down to the edge of Epsom Common where there was a quiet residential street, with houses on oneside, but open to the common on the other. I arrived after dark, parked up by a property with a hedge, shut all my curtains and locked myself in. I didn’t pop my top in order to be more stealthy! I had a cosy time with a cuppa and a cake, doing my crochet while listening to a podcast and then I made up my bed and went to sleep!

Sunrise over the common

I slept pretty well, considering, just waking the once. I got up reasonably early, made my morning cuppa and took it with me for a walk. I was curious as I had seen another van the night before and I wondered if I perhaps wasn’t the only person sleeping stealthily! I’m pretty sure I wasn’t – indeed there could have been two others, but I couldn’t quite decide.

Breakfast in Horton Park

I then set off for Horton Country Park where I squeezed under the height barrier and then popped my top and made my breakfast. A quick wash up and I was home in time for the morning church service!!

L