Funtime - DH said this morning that he'd been asked to go to the Great British Beer Festival by a mate, but had had to say no. It used to be an annual fixture in his diary, pre-kids! He was all 
. I just inwardly wondered when the last time was that I'd been out to a pub in the evening...
Well, our Inaugural Big Adventure (to small campsite 5 miles from home) went reasonably well. A hell of a lot of packing and unpacking for one night - in fact, I could swear we spent longer preparing than actually camping! It's a lovely campsite, one I could recommend if you're ever in need of one at the west end of the Chilterns. Lovely and tree'd - they've planted small maples forming little copses in the field we were in, so it feels less like one big field. Chickens free-ranging and rabbits going lippety-lippety at the edge of the field. Quiet, though you could hear the motorway a bit (3 miles distant). Clean free showers, free plug-in for chargers, etc, 3 sinks and washing-up stuff provided - all v nice. (You can tell I've hardly ever stayed at commercial sites before - am easily impressed!)
So. DS1 got understandably excited and also a bit freaked out by his sleeping bag, which he'd never used before. DH did a sterling job reading his bedtime stories in a whisper (I was stretched out next to DS2, keeping him asleep with the power of breasts), but then he thrashed about for 45 mins and eventually fell asleep off his mat and out of his bag! DH isn't sold on the whole SIM thing, probably because I puffed too much air into his and it was too hard. I, on the other hand, was lying on a SIM that had a puncture or leak. My lovely cheapy Aldi SIM doesn't work! It was fine in the tent when we had it up in the garden, so must have popped when DS1 was being boisterous with them, or even when I rolled it up to pack. God, I was uncomfortable! Also, quite cold, because unlike DS1 and DH, I had no sleeping bag - since I sleep next to 7 mo DS2, I tend to wrap a duvet round my waist so as not to smother him. I had a single, winter-weight duvet. And two pairs of PJs. 
Boys woke between 7 and 8, entirely acceptable. DH and I woke at about 5.30 and lay there, grimacing in discomfort due to too much/too little air in mats.
Absolutely stunning weather first thing this morning though. Croissants for breakfast, but I regretted not bringing stuff for a fry-up so much that I nipped out to the local Coop and brought back the bacon!
Things we have learnt:
-don't rely on crappy 3 quid rubber mallet bought from beach shop for erecting windbreak. The head will come off every two thwacks, making you curse all Malletkind.
-don't forget a cooking utensil. Coop sells wooden spoons, however.
-check sleeping equipment before leaving, and memorise the quickest route to closest Go Outdoors.
-DS1 might need to get used to his sleeping bag beforehand.
-Don't leave a beaker of water by your pillow, you numpty!
-nappy wipes are not an optional extra.
-bell tents contain an awful lot of air. An awful lot of cold air. Consider getting the inner tent.
(oops. Sorry about the 'what I did on my mini-holidays' essay. 
)