Well, its that time of the year again....

[debih]

The sun is out, the smell of bbq's is in the air and I convince myself that I really, really, really do like camping.

I bought a new (to us) tent from ebay last year and although it is lovely it is a pain in the bum to put up as I can't put it up myself and because you have to put the inner up first when it rains the inside gets soaked before you put the outer bit on and it is supposed to sleep four in two bedroom pods (2x2) and it doesn't and only sleeps one in each pod and the other two in the living area which means that you have no living area and the porch is too low to stand up in to cook. So actually, it isn't lovely it is cr*p. But it only cost about £75 so I'm not too bothered. I am intending on putting the thing up soon to make sure it is okay (it got completely covered in mud on our last camping trip as the weather was soooooooooooooooo lovely) and hopefully putting it back on ebay to sell to some other poor unsuspecting mug.

Anyway, I have spent the last few days looking at tents on ebay (I refuse to buy new as I know I am such a fair weather camper and will only use it for 2 long weekends a year and then only if the weather is good) and reading the reviews and looking at pictures on UKcampsite website (I have such a fascination with other people's tent set up's, its real voyeurism for me looking at their pictures!!). I have just bid on a tent. I am currently the winning bidder at £51 and I have bid up to £100.

It is hooooooooooj. So huge I daren't even tell Mick. I have told him that I have bid and shown him pictures of it on the camping website but I "accidentally" entered the details for the Vango Kura 600 instead of the Vango Kura 800 dlx. There isn't really all that much difference - just an extra bedroom pod and an extra 9 kilos in weight.

I shall just play dumb if I win it and we put it up and he realises that we can actually have a disco in the living area.

[Diflower]

But would you be able to put it up by yourself?

[debih]

:lol:
But would you be able to put it up by yourself?

Going on my past performance when buying a tent, no!

But I will be able to throw a party for everyone that helps me.

[Workingman]

Oooh, I love, love, love camping. I have two dome tents, dead easy to put up single-handed. I had no choice in the matter as the kids were off as soon as we arrived anywhere!

I also have a gazebo as a seating/dining, area, and a kitchen with all the mod-cons: a two ring burner - for burning a variety of foods, pots and pans for burning the food in, utensils for removing the burnt food and a magic wand thingy for lighting the bloody incinerator from a safe distance.

Eating out was always popular!

[debih]

I love the idea of camping and if the weather is good, then I love camping. However, the last time we camped (August bank holiday last year) the mud was up to our knees by the end of the trip.

I find that camping causes huge domestics.

However, what Mick and I class as essential camping items is far, far apart.

As far as he is concerned a tent, a sleeping bag, something to sleep on, cook with, wipe your bum with is all that is needed.

Now me - I feel that the camping kitchen stand, little larder cupboard, rugs for the floor, duvet (I don't "do" sleeping bags") and linen basket (to name but a few) are essential items.

It all works well at the beginning - I pack the car so he doesn't see exactly what is going in it. (This year I have a lovely new metal lantern for a candle to go in - well, maybe not that little - and two new sets of solar lights). Then when we get there he helps put up the tent and then thinks that I am wonderful wife as I do all the putting in of stuff on my own (so he can't see exactly what I have bought).

But the problems start when we are going home because of course it never packs away the same and he realises quite how much I have bought with me. World War III usually breaks out.

I have told him I will cut back this year so I think I might leave the tablecloth at home. Well, one of them.

[Workingman]

Duvets, tablecloths, rugs...... larder?

Mick, you have to get her sorted.... and I mean SORTED. Before you know it she'll be taking shower gels and soaps and, God forbid, plug-in air fresheners!

[debih]

Duvets, tablecloths, rugs...... larder?

Mick, you have to get her sorted.... and I mean SORTED. Before you know it she'll be taking shower gels and soaps and, God forbid, plug-in air fresheners!

You'd be proud of me at our August bank holiday camp. In a field near a river in the middle of Wales. No running water and only a latrine - no flushing toilets there.

But you still need your table cloth and pop up laundry basket.

[miasmum]

That has really made me laugh

[Workingman]

One year we stopped in Montreaux in Switzerland after being soaked the night before in Bavaria. We pitched up in the warm afternoon sunshine and everything started to dry out.

In the early evening our neighbours turned up - he in his linen suit and straw boater, her in her Laura Ashley ensemble - very pawsh. They were a real hoot. Out came the table and chairs, the Pimms and the fruit salad.

We were invited round and had the most fantastic time, esp the crazy golf. It was him and me v her and the children..... and the rules were so flexible that the men's team had no chance of winning.

[Rodo]

Most of our camping trips in this country were rained off big time. Now camping in Europe is a whole different matter. We have had some excellent times on campsites in Belgium, France and Germany. Once the children had left home hubby and I went camping in France with just what we could squeeze into the Metro. We camped on farmers' fields, not proper camp sites and had a super time. Those farmers often brewed their own wine so we had some bottles of very good stuff dirt cheap. Those were the days.