I can't believe I'm posting on this topic - but I need help!

[Snafu]

OK.

I'm taking ds (3) to the Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons this year. Apparently, 5* b&bs are thin on the ground and 'not really in the spirit of the occasion' (pah), so it looks like I'm going to find myself in a tent for the first time in over 20 years.

HELP!

What kind of tent do I buy? It must be incredibly fast and easy to put up - I've very little patience. And I've only got a little car so I can't take tons of stuff or a massive tent.

What else do I need? We're only staying two nights and it's August so hopefully it will be nice weather. But I don't even know anything about sleeping bags. I am a total novice and don't want to ruin my weekend by being completely unprepared. Help me, pleeeeeease.

(I am quite looking forward to it, actually, as long as it doesn't piss down. But I do need lots of help )

[Blandmum]

Money?

[Snafu]

Oh, good question. I have no idea Less than £200? (she says, grabbing wildly at any old number as it floats past...)

[Blandmum]

\link{http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoor_Megastore_Tunnel_Tents_145.html#a3388\this is a little corker of a tent}

Literaly a pop up, but a real tent, not a toy. Make by an excelent manufacturer and very waterproof....I've been to Breacon many a time and trust me it can bloody rain!

Two sleeping mats, two sleeping bags.

What do you want to do about food?

[Blandmum]

Right for bed go for some thermarests
these are the mut's nuts

\link{http://www.facewest.co.uk/pp/thermarest/expedition5reg.htm\ thermarest, sure you can get a better price than these}

and some rreasonable sleeping bags
\link{http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoor_Megastore_2_Season_Sleeping_Bags_241.html\ these would all be OK, but again you can shop around and get a better price}

if you want to have hot food/drinks get some disposable BBQs or a single ring camping gaz stove.


And you think you used to mock us.....

[Snafu]

Ooooh, mb, that's lovely! I saw a friend's pop-up tent the other day like that and thought it was great.

OK, two mats, two bags. Easy enough.

Food...had assumed that some kind of coolbox thingy would be in order (god, I am sooooo naive about this stuff!) It's space that's going to be the issue re: car, I think.

[Snafu]

I know, I know I mocked but secretly I also coveted...

It is quite addictive when you start thinking about it, isn't it?

[Blandmum]

for two days....do you have a cool bag for your shopping, the sort of thing you can buy in sainsburies? Take your first nights meal and breakfast.....got to do bacon butties! frozen and some frozen milk and freezer packs. That should do you, if you are only going for 2 days. You can always get some odds and ends while you are there. EHU milk is OK.

WE managed a week on our freezer box at whitsun

[Blandmum]

ha ha ha (evil chuckle) another one addicted......

Yes it is.
The tent will not be roomy, you understand, but would be great for a couple of days if there are only the two of you.

[Snafu]

You're a star

God, I'll be hiking next at this rate...

[Blandmum]

You will join me in growing a beard and drink real ale....who knows where it will all end!

Shop around for all this stuff, you can get some stunning bargins.

Take a pan and frying pan etc from your kitchen. Get plastic plates from Asdas....you can get a full set for 4 for about 2.99

ds will have the time of his life.

Oh don't forget a corkscrew and some wine!

[Snafu]

Oh, I'm hoping there will be many beards and much real ale anyway - it is a folk festival after all

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

Snafu - won't they do food as well at the festival? You then wouldn't need to worry too much about food.

MB - those mats are a good price at £49 each? I didn't get any when we went at the end of May but really felt the need for some afterwards. We're going again in August and I want to buy some but I had imagined they'd be a fiver, like a yoga mat or something.

[Blandmum]

\link{http://www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products.asp?category=Tents&Subcategory=2-4%20Man%20Tents&product=Outwell%20Jersey%20Pop-Up%20Tent\some hardcore camping porn now....go to this site and you will find a video of someone erecting your tent}

Fnar, fnar!

You'r need to guy it out as well but that would only add 5 minutes!

[Blandmum]

no, those mats are expensive on that ste. You can get simple foam ones, for 4.99, but these are self inflating thin matresses, that those in the know say are excellent. I've seen them for 29.99. Excpensive but v good if you are not going to have an inflatable....which wouldn't fit in that tent

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

Thanks, MB, just wanted to check the price range.

Last weekend we went to the local park and put up a beach shelter - not a tent, I know, but a start. (When I took the kids camping someone else put up our tent.)

[Blandmum]

We have ordinary foam mats on top of our camp beds, we are using them more for insulation. But in a tent this small you have to sleep on the mat, so would need sometjing a bit more comfy to get a reasonable nights kip. My db has a thermarest and he says it is excellent

[Snafu]

THere will be food but as festival food can be a) expensive and b) horrible it would be nice to not have to totally rely on it all weekend, iykwim...

That vid was hot stuff, mb - phew! I'm sold - even I can manage to chuck a tent in the air and stamp on a peg or two

[Blandmum]

You have to say the next bit in a South Walian accent

' Look at that boys, the fastes erection in the field!'