I have a bazillion [hyperbole] questions about camping on the continent.

[SlubberdeSuetPudding]

DH announced this weekend that he has got six weeks off in the summer for us to go camping abroad.

The last time I camped on the continent I was 12, we had a big orange frame tent and English men wore sandals and socks with no shame.

I have not done a family camp yet somewhere that is HOT. Properly hot sit in your shorts at 10pm with a cold drink hot.

The very vaguest of plans is to do Germany, Austria, Switzerland and then maybe back up through France.

Here are some of the questions:

Anything else we need to do to the car apart from stick those stickers on the headlights?

Car breakdown cover, how does that work then?

No EHU. How do we keep things cold? Can you do ice block exchange over there? Do we need a deeply impressive new esky?

Is it very hot at night? I'm going to be too hot in a 3/4 season down sleeping bag aren't I? What is the best bedding to take?

Maps. Tell me about maps.

Should we book all our campsites in advance or can we be breezy? How booked up do the campsites get over there in advance?

Anything we absolutely HAVE to take that might be additional or different to two weeks camping in the UK?

Good campsite review website in addition to ukcs?

Um what else.

Strategies to avoid long term campers crack-up please.

LOL @ down the phone.

Your song for Europe isn't working Chippy. Have you linked me Ode to Joy? I love a bit of Beethoven.

It's a song from Billy Elliot - 'Electricity'

Nope iPad will not have it. Will have to check it out on the pc later. Are you mocking my anti EHU stance?

It's a song about freedom. And electricity.

aww chippy. I'm sure it is a lovely song, and thank you for the thought.

Seems like all the computers in this house are dead set against me listening to it. I've just tried it on the pc, got the first two bars and then computer is saying no to Billy.

I always take our 3 season sleeping bags when touring in France summer. Then a cotton liner for each of us. It is often too hot but in mountains or towards the end of summer you can get some cold nights. I keep my sleeping bag unzipped, then if it gets chilly pull the other bit over like a blanket.

We're off to Germany and Italy this year, can't wait

Thanks Soups. I think we might give our proper down bags to the dds as they unzip fully to act like a blanket. Am quite keen on sleeping next to dh properly this holiday, rather than just bag to bag, so am going to see how squishable a lightweight down duvet is and take a few fleece blankets in case it gets very cold.