What are you 'treating' yourself to, for camping this year?

[Wolfgirl]

My extra little buys are:

new LED lantern (big one); luxury inflatable mat; snuggly warm sleeping bag; Kampa Karze toilet

Will be getting as well: x2 single air beds, x2 self inflating mats, a carpet for the tent (not got one, and I think it is beyond essential ... what else! Mmmm.... I'm sure there just has to be more.

Oh, and I want a combi cooler, one that hooks up to same gas cylinder as the stove thingy.

[troutpout]

I want this

[Fennel]

All I've bought for the forthcoming camping trips is 12 paperbacks, that's my idea of luxury on camping. and lots of wine.

I do want new camping crockery, nice patterns and colours, in plastic or melamine, does anyone have any good suggestions?

[mollymole]

little gas barbecue -

[SeaShellsAndTheInlawInvasion]

Nettlegreen has great melamine-it's expensive but I've built it up over the years

Sainsburys did have 25% off their picnic crockery which was pretty

[SeaShellsAndTheInlawInvasion]

Wine fairy- camping does not save any money what so ever. It just a more wholesome materialistic craving than many others!

[notwavingjustironing]

I'll second that. I could have had a fortnight in a villa in Monaco for all the family if I added up all the money I've spent on camping stuff. Because its done in bits and pieces you don't really notice it as much. Until DH someone points it out to you.

[winefairy]

Oh, Slubber. I am useless. Useless. I have been trying to fathom out your cryptic clue but my head is too full of camping nonsense to think straight. What is the it (them) and are you wearing it (them) now?

And thanks all.....camping is indeed not cheap. And I haven't even been yet!

Love the Nettlegreen melamine but went to Habitat (admittedly, felt a little like a vulture) and they have some gorgeous melamine and really convincing, sturdy plastic glassware (for want of a better word!) and the most lovely tiffin boxes all reduced of course. And fantastic flat folding picnic stool/table things in solid wood. I'm ashamed to say I bought quite a lot.

To make matters worse, the lovely folk at Soulpad emailed today to say there was a small mistake and they are out of the 5m hybrid so they are sending me the 5m hybrid Genie at no extra cost!! I'm going to want the Blaze stove at some point, aren't I?

[Slubberdegullion]

socks.

They are socks

Special socks that are impregnated with some sort of bionic chemical that not only repels biting insects but also (and here you have to suspend belief slightly although the nice and very earnest man in the outdoors shop told me so) they actually can kill the insect.

Death socks.

I own two pairs of death socks.

They also kill bacteria so don't stink, and are seamless so won't rub.

[smugmumofboys]

After years of wet UK camping, I have treated myself to going to France.

And if it rains I'll be sodding well suing someone.

[Lucycat]

You won't be needing socks 'en France' - twill be scorchio - just a lacey fan to waft yourself elegantly.

I am still tempted by Palamos 6.......

[Fennel]

We went camping in France the last two summers, but this year we are instead going camping in what I think must be the most expensive basic camping field in the UK - in the Scillies. I do sort of feel that camping in the UK should be a cheap option. Has anyone camped in the Scillies recently? I did at 16 but I think it might be different now.

[Slubberdegullion]

Lucy, socks are part of the evil German tick defences. We are only taking sandals (and flip flops) so wanted something ultra grr [clenched pecs] to wear under the sandals and to tuck the trousers into.

Nice.

Scillies sound great Fennel. My mum went last hear and loved it (not in a tent mind)

Lol @ strawberry bunting. Now bunting made of strawberries is a concept I could embrace.

[MisSalLaneous]

I feel a bit mean as they were the cheapest for my stove, but...

I bring you the camping essential:

The Log . Or you can just grab a normal one for free, of course.

And for those storage nightmares we all have. It's perfect really - arrives flat pack, and won't ruin the rustic, back to nature (!) look. Discounted as well. You can't not, can you?

[Slubberdegullion]

Roar @ the storage unit

[winefairy]

Socks, Slubber? Socks?!

Okay, socks with the ability to kill are admittedly pretty cool......if they work. I fear I'd spend far too much time attempting to feed them flies and small insects to prove the theory, much the same as I did with the Venus Fly Trap my mother had when I was little.

But camping in France. That's something I could really get excited about!

[Slubberdegullion]

not just socks if you please, Death socks.

I will feed-back on creatures killed when I don them.

And I'm not going to France. Germany here. Lucy is going to France, she is always going to France.

[notwavingjustironing]

Blimey Slubber we NEED pics on the profile - you don't need to out yourself just the sartorial items in all their glory

[winefairy]

Photo, absolutely. Death socks. Death socks and sandals.

And apologies, Slubber, the last part about France was directed (albeit very indirectly) at smugmum. Realised you were not debuting the death socks in France.

[Lucycat]

Why aren't you going to France slubber? The wine is soooo much better as is the cheese. Are you going for the gateaux?

[Slubberdegullion]

Oh God, sorry. I thought you were talking to me and my giant swollen id.

sorry.

tbh the death socks aren't All That to look at. They do indeed just look like socks. It is what is in them that makes them so deeply awesome. I will photograph chez walking sandals when there is an opportune moment.

[Slubberdegullion]

France-Schmance.

Sausages it what I'm after. Sausages and Rhine-land wine and German beer and more sausages. And then black forest bateaux for pudding.

[Slubberdegullion]

gateau

Jeez this autocorrect is really getting on my tits

[Lucycat]

And black rye bread.....urgh. Although I'm with you on the beer front.
My French is much better than my German though- I.e non existent.
How do you ask for a camping pitch in German?

[Slubberdegullion]

I have it written down somewhere. I may laminate it and then just point.