Popcorn Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I'm so excited I had to tell somebody. We're going camping Tomorrow We haven't been for a few years, and now that Stefan is with us, our little two man tent will no longer do. Unfortunately, Darren's cousin is getting divorced. Fortunately, she no longer needs her 6 man tent, so she flogged it to us for a bargain It's practically unused, and we got camp beds and tables and chairs thrown in too. So, we've just spontaneously booked 3 nights at a little camping site in Rutland, Oakham and we leave in the morning. I did have a 'condition' on this spontaneous madness. An electric hook-up. I need a few electrical luxuries these days, I'm not 21 anymore, as much as I'd like to think I can rough it with the best of them...... So, anyone got any good ideas, or tips for our mini break at one with nature....birds, bees flowers, trees.......spiders, fly's, midges, earwigs, craneflys, beetles, ants, earwigs..............*shivers* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 How lovely. You'll have a whale of a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Have a great time Gina We have got all the gear for camping, but have yet only managed one night at a time I can't say I am a big fan of camping, I like my home comforts too much, but the odd night or two can be good fun Stefan will love it Happy camping and hope the weather is kind to you, the forecast looks good for the next few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Wow am jealous, have a wonderful time, its been absolutely years since i have been camping. As for the bugs, well, i dont do bugs... . DH has to come and rescue me, .... I suppose it could explain really why i havent been camping for sooo long... How long are you going for?, are you going to be travelling or staying in one place. You must take loads of piccys and post when u get home xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Gina, you must let me know how it goes - we're going on Friday for three nights with 5 children for the first time in years and years! Put the tent up last night for the first time which was successful, they're a lot more complicated than I remember! But have suddenly realised we have nothing to cook with or for the kids to sleep on! They'll just have to manage under their duvets (I don't do sleeping bags!) Lots of sunshine wishes coming your way! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Have a wonderful time It'll be great fun karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Ooooooooooh i love camping, make sure you bring marshmallows and biscuits that way you can toast the marshmallows on the campfire and squash them between two biscuits (i rcomend chocolate ones) have a great time! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Oh, I used to love camping. trying to get Kev to give it a go (I dont think he's ever been) but he's not too sure. Have a fab time. (take board games and wine!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 take wine!! ) That's how I survived a nights camping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Have fun Gina...At least you have a six man tent. When we went to camp last year with school we had to sleep in the old big green scout tents-Like the ones they used in the programme Dad's Army! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Oh Gina have fun, it'll be great and just what you all need. camping is great fun and Stefan will love it BBxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 ok, I am sorry, i have just reread your first post and realised it told me where you were off to and how long for, By the time i normally read down all the replies, i forget the original post. Sori xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Gina you will have a grand time! Nothing like making a brew outdoors is there? Promise me that you will convince my OH about the joys of camping when we next meet as he just doesnt see himself 'roughing it' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Have fun Gina................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Ooooh Gina sounds great, Stefan will love it (mine do! ) Erm a word of warning - it's taken us nearly 3 years to get Matthew to sleep in his own sleeping bag next to his big brothers Take an extra large blow up mattress, a kingsize double sleeping bag and prepare for company in the night!! In fact the first time we went we had a double and a single airbed pushed together with heaps of sleeping bags on top - all the kids joined us! They're a bit better trained nowadays! Electric hook up is almost an essential with little ones - we use it for a camping fridge ... (ooops, need to go, Daniel is trying to ride his bike with a chicken under his arm ... ) Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 When we went to camp last year with school we had to sleep in the old big green scout tents-Like the ones they used in the programme Dad's Army! Liz, I think withthe amount of stuff we've got, we could do with a scout tent!!...and that's just the wine Debs!! Yes, LadyL, it's a three night trip just up the road really. will take us about 40 mins to get to Rutland, so if the heavens open up again, or I get ants in my pants, we can be home in a jiffy. It's a first for us with Stefan, so I'm not sure how it will go. We've had to take his travel cot, as he's not walking yet and will definately roll off one of the camp beds. He has got a wee sleeping bag though, so he's used to those already. If the travel cot doesn't fit, we;ll just zip him into one of the bedrooms with loads of pillows! Emma, tell OH we're not roughing it at all really. The camp beds are fine with cosy sleeping bags (quite romantic really), a stove cooker thingy with proper pots and pans, knives, forks and plates, table and chairs, TV, hairdryer (essential!) bottle opener and corkscrew, loungers etc.....so if he thinks we're having to chink two stones together to start a fire and drink out of a rolled up leaf, tell him he's wrong and he'd love the great outdoors!! I'll take lots of photo's of our set up and send them to him. I love the marshmallow idea. Off to the shop first thing and they're on the list now Good luck with your 5 Mrs B! I couldn't think of anything nicer than to go camping with all the children. Total chaos, but great to just let everything wash over you and enjoy the open space. Will be thinking of you. Take lots of piccies and we'll compare next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Tie your guy ropes to near by trees, then you can hang your washing or wet clothes etc on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Gina, have a great time . It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to get away and if this sunny, hot weather holds it'll be fabulous . And I really think that it's hard to beat a camping holiday for children. I do have to confess to not being a great camper myself, head for home at the first hint of cold or damp weather, and whinge if I don't get hot showers or electric sockets, but that's because I'm a self-confessed spoilt brat. But in glorious weather canvas is hard to beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 Tie your guy ropes to near by trees, then you can hang your washing or wet clothes etc on them I'm going to hide this post from my OH Fred. I convinced him we needed this special clothes hanger thingy to hang the wet towels on today. Great idea though! Thanks KateA... See you all next week. Byeeeeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Great news Gina, you'll love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 Have a great time Gina - OH is taking Ben and Joe up to Buxton camping tonight - only a 3 man tent, what a shame . I did a night in the garden last year - so OH's turn me thinks . Stefan will love it - freedom, getting mucky and zippy noises from other tents - a little boys bliss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Thanks all for the messages. We made it home in one piece, albeit a day earlier than planned We found the place really easily. The site was in a tiny village called Belton in Rutland. It was a working farm with a B&B in the farmhouse itself. They had a horse, cows, sheep, chickens etc. It was very basic. We did have an electric hook-up, and there was a nice clean shower and loo, but that was about it. No where to wash-up etc. The village was lovely. The locals were great, as was the village pub and the playground where we had a picnic was brilliant. Apparently the owner of the land leases it to the village, and he's built this fab wooden play equipment for them. It also has the obligatory tyre on a rope swing. Darren and I loved playing on that! We pretty much had the camping field to ourselves. Everybody else was in the next field in caravans. We did mingle and chat to some of them. Met a nice couple from Braintree who shared a nice juicy melon with us on Friday when it was scorching hot, and we'd packed all our water! It was a great couple of days - in the daytime, but the nights were a bit too cold for little Stefan. He woke up each night shivering. It was quite hard really, as when he went to bed at 7pm it was boiling hot in the tent, so we couldn't much clothing on him....then when the sun went down the chill really set in, so we had to try and get him in his fleecy Pj's without disturbing him too much. On Thursday night, it was quite bad. He was shivering so loudly in his bedroom he woke us up. I picked him up to warm him up and put him in with us, and he was sick everywhere. A combination of being boiling hot and then freezing cold I think. So, next time we go we need to be more prepared for the colder nights. It will also be better when Stefan is a bit older and we can cover him with blankets etc. At the minute he wriggles about so much he kicks them off. The daytime was brilliant. Lovely warm weather, lots of picnics and we visited Uppingham and Stamford (waving at Kate's house as we drove past!) and they were lovely little towns. Photo's below: Our Tent Stefan in his cot Find a molehill and play with it! Or, a left over sausage from breakfast.... Bathtime Having breakfast... Mrs B.....hope you had a good time. Look forward to hearing about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Love the ingenious use of a tubtrug there Gina I can feel a new thread coming on 101 uses of.................................. Starting with a tubtrug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 that is a fab use of a tub trug. I love it. you look like you had fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Lovely photos Gina, I especially like the last one of Darren and Stefan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...