Camping virgin needs help with basics

[FellatioNelson]

Hello Campers, Hi-Dee-Hi

Firstly I should say that I DO NOT intend to get completely bitten by this camping malarkey bug, but:

I have just bought an almost new second hand tent from a friend - a HUGE tunnel tent which sleeps 8 comfortably with a big living bit in the centre. It's currently taking centre stage in my back garden, is very bright blue with flourescent guy ropes, and I suspect it can be seen from the moon.

Intend to trot around the country (occasionally, odd weekends and school hols) following my sis in her caravan, who has all the sophisticated gubbins, and I mostly intend to just blag and leach off her for the finer things in outdoor life. I want to travel light, and keep it cheap.

However, I appreciate that I will need some basics, to make it all remotely tolerable. So far I have airbeds (will need to get an electic pump that works from the car battery)

And need to buy some semi-decent sleeping bags, obviously.

Apart from that, what can I not do without?
Remeber this won't be our main holiday, but more of a minor diversion, for a few days at a time. I don't mind a top box if absolutely necessary (have an estate car) but don't really want to get into trailer territory.

Thanks lovely people.

Chairs, table, if you are cooking - a stove.
Lamps.
Plates, bowls and cutlrery
Plastic wine glasses
Washing up bowl

Camping list for two adults and two children.
Probably too over the top for you but I thought I'd reply anyway!

Basics

tent

pegs

hammer

footprint groundsheet

Kitchen

campstove

gas bottle

connector

matches

saucepans x 2

frying pan

kettle

cutlery

can opener

slotted spoon

sharp knife

small glass chopping board

4 large plates

4 small plates

4 bowls

2 mugs

2 sippy cups

washing up liquid

washing up gloves

washing up sponges

washing up bowl

tea towels

Blue wiping cloths

kitchen roll

food bags

dustpan and brush

wooden spoon

cool bag

Named iceblocks

flat water carrier

Washing clothes/ cleaning/toilet

laundry liquid

washing line

pegs

loo roll

tissues

Kandoo wipes for children

antibacterial hand soap

antibacterial hand gel

antibacterial wipes

white bin bags

potty

pack of nappies

pack of wipes x 2

nappy bags

changing mat x 2

Showering

2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner

body wash

razor

shaving brush

micro fibre hand towels

large micro fibre towels x 4

Sleeping

Sleeping bags x 4

Sleeing mats

white sheets

blankets

pillows x 4

ear plugs

sleeping mask for me

Seeing in the dark/first aid

lantern

torches x 2

spare batteries for torches

picnic blanket

suntan lotion

calpol and spoon

ibuprofen and spoon

plasters

savalon

cotton wool pads

paracetmol x 2 bottles

tissues

Other stuff from around house
clothes for each person
Coats
fleeces
boots
shoes
drawing stuff
flip flops to use in shower
sun hats

and food of course!

OK, got the plates/glasses etc in a picnic hamper thingy. Got a spare new w/u bowl.

Got some fold-up beach type chairs that go in bags.

Checklist: Need table and lamps. Torch as well I suppose. Bucket? I figure it might be useful for night-time weeing, is that the doen thing?! I just had to pee on my own lawn last night (slept in tent in garden with DS) and couldn't be bothered to go indoors at 3am. But that behaviour might not go down well on a campsite.

I bought the Vango Galaxy XL sleeping bags which look to be nice and warm and very cosy. £35 each. Vango midi Galaxy for two year old £17. Vango Sono sleeping bag for 5 year old £30. I looked at alot of sleeping bags! The ones i bought for me and DH are extra wide (120 cm) so plenty of room to curl up. They are long too. They're 3 season, I sleep cold though so I have got a sleeping bag liner my mum made from old duvet cover and I have fleece blanket to lay on top too. I bought all the sleeping bags on -line.

Bucket for night-time wees very useful - get one with a lid on - mines an old mothercare nappy bucket.

I usually take a couple of the waterproof backed picnic blankets to put on the floor of the tent - makes it much cosier underfoot.

Blankets essential as it can get cold at night - I also use those fleecy mattress toppers over the airbed to add another layer of insulation.

some sort of door mat to minimise the grass, sand, mud etc being dragged into the tent.

Something to hang towels etc up to dry - washing line or fold up airer - you can use the guy ropes but not terribly satisfactory.

The list goes on and on - every year we go I come back with another idea for improving our trip.

Enjoy - and I'm sure you won't get bitten by the camping bug!

I have to say, my luxury item for camping (and I'm prepared to make sacrifices on other items) is my Kingsize duvet sod any kind of sleeping bag!

I must admit I agree with you nancy but I'm not sure I've room in the car. Having said that, I've yet to fold a sleeping bag back up into the same tightly coiled form from whence it came, and as for getting it back into those too-small bags...

After reading poppyboo's post I've decided the best, and possibly only place to camp is my garden. That's the only way I'll ever have a chance of having everything on her list to hand....

forget trying to get the sleeping bags into their carry bags - way too hard. Spread them over the back seat of the car - saves space and is nice and comfy for the kids

In that case we may as well take quilts? Or at least the nice cotton sleeping bags that are not tapered, and zip together. Don't think we are planning on conquering Everest or anything.

Today I purchased:

A lidded bucket for night-time peeing

A groovy little camping stove with two burners and a grill, with the gas bottle. (about £40 plus gas)

A lantern.

A nice sturdy table (quite good size) that folds/rolls into a bag - £54.

A set of basic non-stick cookware that stacks like Russian dollies.

We've slept in it four nights on the trot now. I quite like my back garden as a holiday venue. It's cheap, and the journey's not too bad (very little traffic) and the site is very well equipped, and they are happy to let my dogs in. The clubhouse is done out exactly to my taste as well, and I'm allowed to help myself from the fridge and the bar.

FN - sounds perfect.

I've just come back from my first camping trip - top of shopping list for next time - windbreak!

Also earplugs. I haven't slept that well due to hearing every fox barking, pigeon or owl flapping, and the sound of fidgeting and zips going in the middle of the night when someone needs a wee!

FN we've got bitten by the camping bug (although after reading poppyboo's list I'm now very ) but there's nowhere we fancy available BH weekend, please may we join you? It sounds divine.

Absolutely. What's the going rate for a pitch with no hook-up? Why don't you all come? Bring your caravans, and we'll lay some dodgy tarmac and chain up a few dogs outside. Get a bingo hall and burger van on site. My neighbours will be thrilled.

I could bring a karaoke machine (tis gas powered!).

For real? Surely not? If so then you are in! That sounds mad. I could annoy my neighbours for hours at 2am on a gas-powered karaoke machine. Must start brushing up my specials...

Feel orf my chair FN.

Naah, but I sense a gap in the market?