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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2009 19:36:17 GMT
Mrs FA & I are thinking of buying a family tent and going camping. We've both done it before and enjoyed it but not for years and never with the kids.
However, before we take the plunge and invest, we're going to borrow a tent from friends and try it out.
Are there any experienced campers out there who can give us some hints, tips and advice on essential bits of kit we might need and such like ? Any "do's and don'ts" you can think of ?
All advice and info gratefully received !
FA x
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Post by Chuckles on May 18, 2009 9:56:32 GMT
Brilliant idea FA, lots of folk appear to be looking at doing it apparently with things as they are. One of my sister always camped with her two kids, then went on to a trailer tent then a camper van. As far as I remember she just used to have a collection of basic stuff for cooking, took games to play in the evenings or if the kids got bored. I'm not much help here really am I ;D If it is getting as popular as they said on the tv last week you'll need to get booked in somewhere sooner rather than later  |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 19:35:00 GMT
Hello FA,
I have a few hints and tips for camping, i can think of quite a few so here goes.............
1. Do a dummy run putting the tent up, so you know how it goes incase you arrive in the pouring rain.
2. have a little something for the kids to do when you arrive just so you can keep them occupied while you put the main bit up, then you can all join in.
3. take some air beds so its not uncomfortable at night, nothing worse than waking in the morning with chronic back ache.
4. you have to be tidy and organised when camping so try to keep a set area for sleeping and another for food etc and limit kids to a few toys otherwise its a nightmare.
5. take a potty for kids needing midnight wee's - you never know how far the toilet block is!
6. an old yogo mat is brilliant for taking kids to showers with. Then you avoid the yukky wet floor and keep everything clean whilst drying and dressing wet wriggly kids, its a 'woman thing' - nothing worse than grass and yuk on floor when you are showering little ones.
7. Try to think of a few simple dishes to cook if self catering alot, then you don't have to take endless amounts of utencils and equipment.
8. I always freeze a large chilli or spag bog so it defrosts while traveling and you simply heat for a nice meal on your first night. you might want to suss out where the nearest supermarket is for groceries, as campsite shops although well stocked will be expensive.
9. Tents don't have fridges (yes really), so take a big cool box and you can replace freshly frozen blocks daily (small deposit from campsite shop). So only buy small amounts of cold stuff otherwise it will go off if the weather gets really hot.
10. if the worst happens and the weather is awful or kids need quiet time a portable DVD player or laptop is a good idea so a pitch with electric hook up is good too. Some people i know take micro-wave ovens and t.v's but it depends on how much of the whole camping thing you want to embrace!!
( if you go for electric hook up you need a special plug and extention lead thingy)
I think that's it for now, if i think of anything else i'll let you know. The kids will love it and make friends easliy so will make their own entertainment, just a few bats and balls and stuff, oh, swing ball is a good thing to take too.
Mainly have fun and don't worry about the posh lot in their caravans.......they were all campers once! and even caravans get flooded too! ;D
Hope thats given you plenty to think about,
Flower x
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Post by Auricula on May 20, 2009 11:01:46 GMT
Blimey - now I remember why one ( cold,wet,windy ) night under canvas was enough for me ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2009 20:15:12 GMT
Well hello there Flower my very lovely friend. I hope you're well ! Thank you for all your excellent advice hunny. I'll definitely refer to it when we have our first go at it ! Not sure about the people in caravans being "posh" though........ ;D ;D ;D  FA x PS - Folks, I should explain.....Flower and I have been friends for about a squillion years (well, at least 27 of my 41 years so a large chunk of my life). She is an extremely lovely person and one of my oldest and most trusted friends. I sent her a link to here so that she'd ask someone else about planting potatoes in pots..........  (just kidding sweetie ;D). Be nice to my good friend or you'll have a miffed lard arse to deal with ;D |
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Post by Auricula on May 21, 2009 17:58:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 20:36:11 GMT
Even if he is a misguided Tractor Boys supporter  Oi !!!!! Could be worse though. I could be a Norwich fan........ ;D ;D FA x |
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Post by Auricula on May 22, 2009 0:13:08 GMT
Poor Delia!!!  ;D |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2009 8:42:43 GMT
Thank you FA, What a kind thing to say and i thought you liked giving me advice on my potatoes in pot, infact they are 'pods' and now they have sprouted, they are going mad!! Tis true i've know you for too many years to count now, and what a treasure you are.....bless Flower x |
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Post by andy on May 23, 2009 18:29:58 GMT
Go for it mate...i love camping but, apart from long fishing weekends, haven't been for 10 years. Some of the tents are superb these days with almost 7 feet of head room.....have a look on ebay before you buy one.
A decent gas stove with toasting fascility is a must and get a couple of windbreaks (nicknamed "breakwinds") to keep the front of your tent sheltered.
I prefer a campsite with a bar and maybe a bit of entertainment at night....nothing too flash, just local bands etc.
A decent nightlight is useful and i'd recommend taking a small radio just so you have a bit of music/chat
Enjoy mate, these will be the best years of your kids lives.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2009 18:28:38 GMT
i thought you liked giving me advice on my potatoes in pot, infact they are 'pods' and now they have sprouted, they are going mad!! Well then let's hope that husband of yours is looking after them while you're away in Helsinki. I wouldn't want you to come home to find them all dead....... ;D ;D Oh, and by the way, I don't mind giving you spud advice at all. Any time dearie, any time. FA x |
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Post by andy on Jun 13, 2009 9:21:12 GMT
Just got back from 3 days camping with the school and absolutely loved it. Trouble was, us adults (teacher, teaching assistant and me (parent helper)) only had small 2 man tents and it was a bit cramped getting in and out....especially at 3am when you need a wee !!!
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Post by andy on Jun 18, 2009 17:32:07 GMT
Im replying to myself on here ;D
well Andy (me) have you thought about a trailor tent ?
Well funny you should say that but i was looking on fleabay today and those things are bloody huge....like a tardis !!!. Im seriously tempted to get one for next year providing i can store it properly....they have things like cabinets in the bedrooms, fitted kitchens and enough room to hold a small festival. They're not tents, they're mobile marquees.
Well nice one Andy (me) i wonder if any of the other garden world members have any experience of trailor tents ?
Hope so....be nice if they could give some advice on them
;D
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Post by Missredhead on Jun 18, 2009 17:34:18 GMT
Talking to yourself Andy?? ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 18, 2009 19:10:59 GMT
One of my sisters went from tent to a trailer tent, think she upgraded the TT after a couple of years and got a newer one with several rooms and a canopy thingy out front, sleeping bits on each side too. I remember her saying the only problem with them was if you had rain you really needed a space big enough to put them up when you got home to allow them to dry out fully. Hope that helps Andy ;D She's now on her 2nd motor home, kids are 19 and 22 so back to hols with her hubby now. I've only ever camped once in my life, it was 33 yrs ago I was 18 and remember it well, near Dawlish in Devon with a boyfriend ;D ;D
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Post by Barbara on Jun 19, 2009 17:58:13 GMT
Well Andy, our neighbour had a trailer tent, kept it at the side of the house until, some kind soul wheeled it away one night.  so if you do get one lock it up. But in reply to the original thread, yes we have camped out, its easier if a few go together, then you share kids and chores, you really do need good weather to make it feel like a holiday, otherwise folk get grumpy, well my lot do anyway.  and do not pitch you tent near the loos or folk will keep waking you up at night. other than that, it's a nice way to see the country, and make friends, and have a holiday that doesn't cost a packet. |
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so if you do get one lock it up. 