Company weekend away 2012

At least once a year we at Sound Marketing down tools in search of adventures to be had in far and distant lands. And this year’s excursion was exactly that, if by adventures you mean pubs and distant lands you mean the new forest.

On the way down we regrouped at our first ‘adventure’, this proving a challenge in itself with a disbanded convoy putting map reading skills to the test. Replenished, most of us made light work of the further 6 miles we had to travel to get to our accommodation. The Tile Barn bunkhouse exceeded expectations in every field; Clean and comfortable with all modern amenities including a catering standard kitchen.

After a quick 5 mile amble it was time for the Friday night entertainment: socialising, eating home cooked food and a good old campfire singsong complete with real outdoor fire. That was until the directors unveiled some inflatable sumo suits!

Saturday morning saw the sausage sarnie stuffed convoy depart from Brokenhurst and head to the Beaulieu development centre. To our relief Mr Edwards had decided to go it alone and stamp out a route to Beaulieu the night before so he dutifully led from the front with help from Tub.

Ready and waiting to greet us, and leading our morning of team building exercises, were our instructors Dave and Gareth. After the briefest of safety briefings it was they who encouraged, neigh, forced us to run around the woods blindfolded jumping out of 50ft trees all in the name of trust and bond building.

Lunch on Saturday was a sun drenched picnic followed by a gentlemen’s game of cricket. In hindsight perhaps an alternative could have been found for our tinfoil covered tomato-ball that might have upped performance but still, some fine cricket played despite a distinct lack of boundary strokes.

Saturday afternoon was an altogether more serious affair, warfare to be precise. Battle Field Live New Forest armed us with laser weapons and camouflage before letting us loose on each other in a purpose built battle field. War was waged and battles fought, lost and won; by the end we were all so tired we could have collapsed in a big sweaty heap – none of us able to truly recall which side the victor. (more battlefield photos here)

For our evening meal we went to The Snakecatcher in Brokenhurst. Nice decor, good environment and great food made The Snakecatcher a well deserved treat after a hard day’s bonding. Many opted for the steak which came on its own steak cooking stone providing complete control of the cooking – a great idea for pleasing all discerning customers.

All in all a weekend that exceeded all expectations, struck a good balance between the challenging and the relaxing and above all bound us together.

I make that one gauntlet officially thrown down.

Thomas