Well, I take it all back...almost

[JoM]

John took the boys camping up the Chase on Friday teatime, there's a tea room over there and they've used some of their land to make a camp site and it's really lovely. I was going to have a do nothing night on Friday but decided to walk up to visit them with Billy instead. I didn't think we'd stay long because I thought Bill might be a bit of a pain in the backside but he just stayed by the tent, watching what was going on, so I didn't get home until around 10.
Saturday I did a few jobs and said I'd walk up again mid-afternoon, we'd get a chippy tea and then I was going to come home to watch the match that I was recording.

I got home at 10am on Sunday morning.

I've NEVER camped out before, have always said that I never would, and Joe was nagging at me to try it so I just thought what the hell. I had to come home and get some warm clothes to sleep in, my toothbrush and a duvet and pillow. It was cramped with all four of us, plus Billy, in the 'bedroom', especially when he couldn't decide where to settle or when he heard the wildlife in the woods, but it was fun and it was lovely waking up in the morning and being in the middle of the Chase. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that I couldn't get a shower - there was one there but I like to know who's used it before me!! We packed things up after breakfast and Tom and I went home at 10 as we wanted to be in Birmingham early afternoon. I said I'll definitely go again if they use that site so that I can nip home in a morning and get a shower

[meriad]

I'm going camping this weekend, definitely not glamping, but not quite camping either. All tent pitches have an electric socket so I've invested in a small counter top fridge so my wine stays cool and I've bought two of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intex-Caf%C3%A9 ... ble+chair; one for my sister-in-law and one for me . The tent is nice and spacious and I've declared my pitch a child free zone

In addition I will have my proper bedding (I don't do sleeping bags) so all in all it should be a fab weekend (and the weather is meant to be good as well - bonus!). As for the showers, I don't mind using them as I'll have flip flops with me and will wear those in the shower

[Workingman]

Whoohoo a convert!

It's the best time ever. Freedom to do what you want. Out through the zip and into fresh air. Me and the kids used to do three weeks in France every year and odd weekends in the dales - just to get away from it all.

Jo, forget all this cottage malarkey and get camping.

ETA. I do like the look of those chairs Ria, all we had were the normal fold up ones.

[cromwell]

Camping - oh dear me no. No no no no no no no.
Last time I went camping was to Bisley when we went shooting. Some other inhabitants of the tent rolled in in the early hours, somewhat the worse for drink, and woke me up. Then fell into a drunken stupor, snoring so loud it took me a while to get back to sleep. Then I had to go to the toilet at 5 am; it was 200 yards away and it was chucking it down with rain..
Then Mad Ken the early riser was cooking bacon and singing outside the tent at 6.15 am...
Camping? No. No no no no no no.

[Lozzles]

Camping? shudder! One night in the woods at Hochenheim was enough to put me off for life. No ta. Home comforts for me please

[Ally]

Camping?! Ooooh nooo not for me.

Now if there was a hotel in the middle of the Chase...

I do like a nice hotel.

[JoM]

There used to be Ally...but it's a Baptist bible college now

LOL Frank - we're off to a cottage this weekend. I'm taking the camping stove to the beach

[Osc]

Only ever camped once, and it was fun, but I wasn't impressed that the airbed had a slow puncture so by morning himself and myself were lying on the ground We went for two nights, Miss Osc was a guide at that stage and her input was invaluable - it rained one of the nights and we all needed a wee, so the grass around the back of the tent got an extra watering The shower and toilet block was fine, but I do like a proper bathroom. Like Ally, I love a good hotel and thankfully Mr. Osc knows this

[saundra]

never been camping
but we all like caravans and they didnt have loos in them
in those days (ugh spiders in the shower block )
but since the boys grow up and left home
B and i liked hotels been to some fab ones

[Workingman]

Spiders, punctured beds, hair in the plughole - all different colours, liquid sunshine (rain), items of clothing left in the shower, snorers three tents away, gas running out half way through cooking, towel falling down on the way back from the shower ....... now THAT'S great camping for you.