Am I doing picnics wrong? Need picnicspiration!

[Iggypoppie]

I'm dreaming of the day when I can have a proper lazy picnic in the park or beach but I've just realised that I never actually enjoy them for various reasons

• food is always bread based and bland
• uncomfortable sitting on ground for any length of time
• never have the right cutlery or Crockery
• carrying loads of stuff (I have no car)

Does anyone have good picnics advice u can share, I'm desperate at age 40 to have nail a proper picnic...

You need a chair like this Low slung makes it easy to eat the picnic of the blanket and is comfy. I hate sitting on the floor, my back aches.
We eat things like sausage rolls, crisps, biscuits, fruit and drink a flask of tea that already has milk and sugar in.

Sushi is nice in a picnic too.
And devilled eggs.
Lamb koftas.
Falafel.

We had a picnic today.
Fresh focaccia pre-cut in squares
Couple of cheeses
Tupperware of sliced up cucumber and pepper
Tupperware of sliced tomatoes and tonnato sauce
Large pork pie
Bag of salted almonds
Tub of olives
Punnet of ripe strawberries
Big bottle sparkling water

Our other favourite picnic is:
Whole roast chicken (pref from a supermarket)
Fresh bread
Jar of garlic mayo
Punnet of cherry tomatoes
Small cucumbers
Punnet of cherries or other ripe fruit
Bottle of wine

We have a wicker picnic basket with plates, knives and forks, and plastic cups always ready to go, and a couple of picnic blankets with a strap.

We have friends who have a little collapsible wagon that their kids ride in with the picnic stuff and a sun tent.

I have (well had, the zip burst) a backpack from morrisons, it contained blastic crockery and cutlery.

I think the art of a picnic is to have as many treats as possible so home made quiche, smolked salmon, nice sausages cooked and cut up.

The next two things are people and location, I'm quite happy on my own but have done picnics for groups.

Location, well this is individual, not parked up in a lay by (I know you said you do not drive but I'm referring to a memorable one where my mother shouted at us that 'You will sit down, you will eat it and you will enjoy it').

So pate bread and a glass of wine in the back garden is fine. If you are anywhere near London then Kenwood house (postponed this year) have great concerts and you can hear the music in the grounds.

So youget music, but in the background so your toddler can run around, as it drops dark you get fire works and then, actually by then you will be carrying a todler and picnic so maybe not the perfect end.

If you can get to Oxford then Christchurch meadow is fab (particularly when drinking champagne and holding up score cards to the people punting).

@Xiaoxiong - the tonnato sauce , do you make it or buy it ? Had it in Italy and it's fabulous!

We have a lovely wicker basket but it never sees the light of day u less we can drive to the spot. It is also not suitable to keep food cool, so another bag is required anyway.

We have once given a picnic rucksack as a gift, the main compartment is a cool bag and the front one has cutlery and plates. We then have another backpack with drinks but for just two people the picnic bag is plenty.

We normally get a baguette or if we hike we get a pack with small rolls and take cheese, salami, Boursin, pate, cold grilled meat, smoked fish etc in containers and everyone does their own food. Much nicer and less waste than preparing sandwiches at home who are always squashed and soggy.