yet more holiday?!

So I'm off to the British Grand Prix from tomorrow.

As in all other cases, the Grand Prix itself will be on the Sunday afternoon, but I'm going for the whole thing, which also includes two practice sessions on Friday and practice and qualifying on Saturday.

When I've been in previous years there's also been lots of 'support' races too. I'm pretty sure GP2 will be there and I'm guessing there will be others as well, but I've not checked. Occasionally they would have some other event in place of the support races, but I tend to prefer other races.

When I used to go as a kid with my dad we would camp. We used to own a motor home and we'd take the awning and camp out.

Now that my Dad's getting on he prefers to use a travel company. You basically stay in a Travelodge type motel and they coach you in every day. I'll also be doing this, but my sister and a couple of her friends will be camping.

I could camp, but given the option, I'd prefer to stay in a hotel. Especially as I've been to a few British Grand Prix where it's pissed it down - that can be a miserable experience as you're totally exposed to the elements at Silverstone. Even though there's stands, if there's a bit of wind it can push the rain in if you're not deep under the cover. And they're always open, so if it's chilly (or hot) you're exposed to that.

I'm hoping the weather is similar to what it's been recently. The prospect of rain showers always adds spice to the race, but as noted, prolonged rain can be unpleasant. Silverstone started life as an airport (it sill is) and so as you'd imagine there's not much in the way of trees or cover in general.

One year I remember it drizzling constantly and we got drenched, because you're just in it constantly. And because you're camping you don't really ever get out of it, and your clothes never really dry out. Pretty miserable, but the racing was great.

We'll have to see how the race is as a spectator at the track, with the new tyres and DRS and KERS and stuff. Also, the track itself is relatively new and this year they'll be using the brand new pit 7 paddock complex.

I'm slightly worried that it will be so complex I won't be able to follow it. I'll be leaving my PVR to record it, so I'll watch it when I get back too, but I'm thinking on the day there may just be too much to keep up with. It's always much more difficult to follow the races at the track.

Not that I'm complaining, as you get everything else to compensate - the noise of the cars, the atmosphere, the crowd, seeing the overtakes and the action as it happens. It's a brilliant experience going to the race live.

I'll actually be going down to my Dad's on the Thursday, which is the first day I'm taking off, then Friday we drive to Silverstone. Monday we drive back to my Dads and then Tuesday I'll drive back home. I've then got Wednesday as a 'bonus' day to sort stuff out or just chill or whatever, then back to work on the Thursday.

If I was in a situation where I had fewer demands on my holiday time this year I'd have just taken two weeks off, but I've been struggling to get a sensible balance of holidays. The whole Royal Wedding Easter thing didn't really help on that front, and plans later in the year meant I could only really take 5 days for this. Hope I'm not useless when I get back.