Oh my goodness in a moment of madness I've booked a Feather Down Farm weekend

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

Some of you will know that I've been desperate to go camping for a while but haven't felt able to risk it with ds1 (severely autistic).

So I got the brochure.

Dh was scared about ds1 escaping, but we reckon I could sleep in the box bed with him and he won't be able to get out without waking me.

I was talking to my Mum about it and when I mentioned the word camping ds1 starting shouting and pointing at the brochure and out the door, so I figured he wants to go.

He has come on so much this year that it might work- sometimes we can even reason with him now. And he understands so much more than he did.

DS2 and ds3 are keen as well.

I've booked somewhere about an hours drive away so if it's a disaster we can escape home

Our first family holiday in...... erm 5 years.

DS1 keeps grabbing the brochure and shouting. There are quite a few weeks until we go......

Apologies in advance if you've booked a stay the same time as us

[unknownrebelbang]

Oh I hope you have a fantastic time.

[JackieNo]

How lovely - I hope you all have a fab time. They do look great.

[Lucycat]

How lovely that your ds1 is so excited! I would be too you lucky things. Hasn't AbbyMumsnet been to a Featherdown farm?

[tiredemma]

which one are you going to??

I Desperatly want to go to one- they look great

[hf128219]

Lucky you! Meant to be lovely.

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

A new one in Devon. Dh keeps shaking his head and saying 'oh those poor other people who are going to be there the same time as us'.

I'm just stunned (and excited) that ds1 knows what a holiday is and wants to go. He had no concept of holidays last year. It's very abstract. And he understood the word camping

[hf128219]

How sweet! It really is an adventure for children!

[FrannyandZooey]

they look so beautiful
I hope you have a really fab time

[FrannyandZooey]

they look so beautiful
I hope you have a really fab time

[notnowbernard]

Yurt, I don't think I've ever properly 'spoken' to you but have followed a few threads where you have spoken about your ds1

How fantastic that you are going on holiday for all the reasons you describe in your last few posts

Have a fab time!

(What's a Featherdown Farm, though?!)

[Habbibu]

Oh wow - just looked them up - they look just fantastic. Have a wonderful time.

[artichokes]

Is the site near Salcombe? We are going there this summer - looks gorgeous.

Featherdown is brilliant. We went once before and the tents were stunning and soooo comfortable with ensuite etc. The farmer's family was so friendly. The animals were there for the kids to play with. We loved it and are looking forward to this summer so much.

[Guadalupe]

We are going there for a weekend in August. We have a cottage by the sea for a week right next to the farm in cornwall so we thought it would be fun to try it for thr weekend.

We usually camp 'properly' but I can't be faffed this year with ds2 toddling about and it looks very cosy.

[artichokes]

Guadalupe - we may well be there at the same time!

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

Oh me too. - Same place. I really really apologise in advance if I can't get ds1 to understand 'ds1 this is your tent; that is someone else's tent' Especially as there's nothing he likes more than climbing into someone else's bed

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

notnow (love your name btw- love the book) Feather Down

[notnowbernard]

Wow! Looks amazing. What lovely photographs

Not Now Bernard is a fab book, I agree

It was dd1's favourite book at my time of joining MN, hence the name

[ScoobyDoo]

Wow looks like great fun & the tents look gorgeous & very cosy.

Does it cost an arm & a leg? have just ordered a brochure.

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

It's not as pricey as I thought it would be. It's a bit expensive the weekend we're going (£300 odd for 3 nights), but it is in August! You can go in September etc for a lot less (just under £200 odd for 2 nights).

We go away so rarely that I don't mind splashing out.

we've taken ds2 and ds3 here before which was great but I think there would be some problems taking ds1 there (compost toilet). He did visit us for the day and was very peaceful. I don't think he'd let us goo away without him now, he's suddenly very keen to go away/explore/get taken to place. And a lot of the time he behaves well as well.

The weekend after I've booked him a place on a surfing day for autistic kids. I think that has about a 1% chance of working - but hey ho. I feel like he's demanding opportunities at the moment.....

[misdee]

can i come and help you

i want to go but peter says no.

[Soapbox]

Oh I am so cheered by the thought that your DS is excited about the holiday and that his level of understanding is improving

The FD holidays sound fabulous and there seems to be so much space for running around - maybe it would make sense to get a tracking device for DS (they were hiring them out at Chessington at the weekend for £3 a day)!

Can you download a photo from the website and stick it up in his bedroom? Then he can go to bed dreaming of his holiday - bless him

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

Oh you need to check out my recent post about tracking devices on SN soapbox (please tell me more- lost him in B&Q last week). Think I will get one actually.

[artichokes]

Yurt - the tents are pretty widely spaced so I would not worry about disturbing others (I'm not going to worry even though DD has a tendancy to be up at the first crack of light). Also everyone there will have kids and will hopefully be pretty understanding.

Misdee - why does Peter say no???? Tell him it is a gorgeous, gorgeous place.

[misdee]

he likes his creature comforts.

i think it looks and sounds lovely. i would lvoe it, the kids would as well.

but peter isnt outdoorsy at all.

[Thomcat]

Not sure how to get across in a post how much I want you all to have a lovely time..... I want you to have a lovely time as much as I want to have a lovely time on our family holiday.