My name is Kbear and I'm a camp-aholic!!!

[KBear]

I love it. Can't wait to go camping again.

We had a great time (site wasn't great for various reasons that I WILL go into later(!) but we didn't let it spoil it). We stayed near Romsey in Hampshire, right near the New Forest.

We were blessed with FANTASTIC weather (if you don't count pitching the tent last Saturday in torrential rain and taking it down again today in torrential rain and an almighty storm in the early hours of this morning when we nearly ran for cover of the toilet block but braved it out!).

We visited some great places for real family days out, Paulton's Park and the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm were highlights.

I am very proud of my camping stove and can't wait to clean it now I'm home(???? - saddo I know!).

Right, where we going next?

Its fab isnt it. I love camping. We are hoping to get away for our first trip of the year soon (weve been broke so ahvent been able to so far ). I love waking up in te morning in a test and crawling out to make breakfast or even better getting dp to make breakfast esp when it raining . Theres nowt like it.

God, I'm a campaholic too!

I'll investigating camp beds at the moment and getting quite excited. Dh thinks I am so sad!

I'm another saddo although considering a caravan.

Ohh, dh will not even think about a 'van!

Great news KBear, had been thinking about your week, especially last Saturday when it was torrnetial rain! Saw you made it to Paultons, did your littlies enjoy it?

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Not sandy balls cod, Hill Farm Caravan Park, near Romsey which was a let-down - stuck under a pylon (although apparently switched off!!), next to a hedge behind which was a goddamn trampoline which was inhabited by the screamy, swearing teenage and younger brigade which made us leave the site after breakfast and come back at 9pm when they closed it - GRRRRR. Also tents too close for my liking. Apart from THAT - had a great time.

Yep, bluesky, Paultons was great - perfect for kids under 12 I would say. DS is nearly 4 and there was only ride he couldn't go on.

We went to Oakdeane park near Bournmouth because Sandyballs was booked up and it was very nice. Big pitches and not too close together, mind you I was there in whitsun, not sute what it is like in the summer hols

Kbear we love it too. We went to a lovely couple of sites recently in Horam and Horsham. Not going to far for the b/hol, sevenoaks/maidstone way.
We have a folding camper hercules THIS IS THE ONE I WOULD LOVE, BUT OURS IS NEARLY 20 YEARS OLD

We are looking into buying a coolbox/fridge because we did waste a lot of money throwing food away that didn't keep as it was so hot (lucky us!).

Any tips on fridges anyone?

Also the best sites in the new forest seem to be the ones where you need a chemical toilet so we are going to get one of those too. The site we were on was so noisy and we want wildnerness and found the perfect place - Aldridge Hill in Brockenhurst. That's where we'll go next time.

Got to pitch the tent in the garden today to dry it out from the thunderstorms on thursday night.

We have just put the tent up to dry it out and packed it all away again. Now I really want to go camping again but everywhere is full - boo!

Ours is up in the garden, for a wash and brush up before we put it away

Can you suggest a good cheap price range sleeping bag as am off camping soon but v small funds to buy with.On ebay the array of choice is mind boggling-don't want mummy type ones just nice and warm.

Seen some on the Camping & General website - extra large singles reduced to £25 I think. I think sleeping bags is probably something you can't economise on but happy to be proved wrong by someone who bought fabulous cheap ones!! I need these too - took the quilt this time but takes up too much room in the car!!

Thats still a bit too dear for me-was thinking nearer £15.00!

Thats still a bit too dear for me-was thinking nearer £15.00!

Some good advice I was given was to get some blankets as well as a sleeping bag, useful to lie of to make the beds more comfy and warm and also you can wrap them round you if it gets very cool at night. Ikea do them at good prices.

Also got my camping pans from ikea 3 pans and a frying pan for £10.

I'm going to Camping & General in Essex on Tuesday on the hunt for sleeping bags - will report back!!!

Sorry to say got carried away eating cake and chatting with my friend and her twins to visit the camping shop!!!

We're off again on Thursday to a site near Battle - woo hoo, can't wait.