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Original poster

The Glass of Wine, The Campfire and The Awfully Big Adventure

994 replies

notwavingjustironing · 22/07/2011 03:44

We've all blethered on pleasantly on Seashells' lovely previous thread and, with the school holidays approaching, lots of us are about to start our summer adventures( not all of which are in tents....!) This thread is for us all to check back in and generally keep in touch. So we've packed up our Icey-Teks and our Tarps and our Death Socks, gently doused the burning embers of our planning campfire and rinsed out the wine glasses.

We're ready for our Awfully Big Adventure.

Come and talk about yours here (even if you're staying put!)

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 07:55

I want to say Faraday Cage too Grin. Looking at the forecast for the Rhine next week it looks like I will get my chance. Lots of black clouds with lightening bolts coming out of them.

Your anniversary sounds great lovecat. I thought that bit at the end of HP was titter-tactic also.

Ahh happy memories of commuting on the tube in August with the bonus reward of then treating said sweaty bodies when I got in.
It's raining here so we know who to blame for that...

ChippyMinton · 04/08/2011 08:03

Morning all. I composed a lyrical post this time yesterday and when i hit 'post' the wee fee connection had gone pouf! We are lucky that it reaches our pitch, the folk beyond have to huddle by the communal BBQ or in the shade of the toilet block to surf. Not nice.

Am I the only one left in forrin fields at the moment? Losty, or others venturing across the Channel, do you share the driving? DH has been nagging me, but I am easily confused wrt to right/left and fear getting in a tizzy at junctions. I did drive to the supermarket yesterday, which was ok as I knew the route but have an irrational fear of heading off into the unknown. Pathetic, I know! Come and reassure me!

Weather in London sounds great, apart from the smell obviously. And bon anniversaire for yesterday lovecat.

Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 08:19

Hello there Chippy. So do most sites in forrin parts have wifi then?

Not that it's of any help to you atm but I have purchased a handy little peelable windscreen sticker that shows you what side of the road you need to be on esp for roundabouts and junctions.

ChippyMinton · 04/08/2011 08:36

I am hoping that DH will perform the role of sensible-sounding sticker Grin. He has kept track of every mile driven thus far, will only answer to the moniker "The Driver" and is insufferably smug. I really need to wipe his face with a blast up the autoroute.

Wee fee seems to be available. On the previous site, it was only in the bar ( shame!) and payable (poo). Here it is a free hotspot for which reception issue you a unique access code, good for your stay. I couldn't get blackberry to use it, although it happily picks up the ones in the golden arches -type establishments. And kindle not happy either, but i did use a redundant code and can't work out how to delete the connection.

Speaking of golden arches, I have to say those type of places are jolly handy for soothing frazzled nerves and hot, starving DC. Couple of times, we tried to look for a quaint, lunch under a canopy type eatery and failed miserably. Now, I find it better to stop at retail park on outskirts for refuelling car and people (we quite like the Quick chain), and checking cricket scores, before proceeding into theme-park stylee cobbled towns like Avignon. Especially with the poor exchange rate.

ChippyMinton · 04/08/2011 08:39

DD is sulking over lack of clean undies, so i must away to the communal scrubbing area for some authentic hand-laundering.

Original poster
notwavingjustironing · 04/08/2011 09:17

Chippy!!

How are you?

When are you back ? Not that you probably want to be reminded of that....

It is so going to rain in Wales next week isn't it?

Losty, might take you up on the tea offer!

OP posts:
Kingsroadie · 04/08/2011 09:57

Camping experts - here it begins - stilly questions: Given the weather today I have started thinking about when we go camping, a week on Monday, and what if it rains (which it is likely to do, this is England after all!) Canvas: never been used. And therefore not weathered. No garden in which to pitch it. (Planning on doing a practice pitch in park but probably won't get rained on). I have read some people saying that they didn't weather it first and no leaks when it first rained. What should I do?! I was just going to hope it didn't leak tbh....

Kingsroadie · 04/08/2011 09:59

Or "silly" even...

lostineurope · 04/08/2011 10:00

Bonjour Chippy! We are on our last night in forrin today Sad. DH does all the driving as he is a terrible passenger and an even worse navigator. We've done about 2,000 miles without a wrong turn yet (well we went clockwise round a lake in the Alps when anticlockwise would have been quicker but it was very pretty so I've let myself off that one!)

I too love saying Farrady cage, DH on the other hand phoned his father just to say 'and she made us go in the CAR' or similar in Welsh anyway. I stand by my decision and will probably end up doing the same tonight judging byte weather.

Avignon etc are truly Disney beautiful aren't they? Driving round Burgandy is the same, impossibly beautiful little villages where you could drown in Wine before you found a food shop.

ronshar · 04/08/2011 10:05

Can I also ask for some collective wisdom?
What camping stoves do you all use? I am looking to buy one before our second camping trip next week. We are a family of 5 and so need a fairly robust one.
All suggestions are welcome. Budget flexible as I am happy to pay a bit more if the stove is good and doesnt break when I am trying to make my morning cup of tea.

Original poster
notwavingjustironing · 04/08/2011 10:10

Losty!

Last day in Forrin, how sad. Bet you feel massively empowered having done such an epic adventure.

Wales will never feel the same again....

So are we near you at Bala Lake then?

What do we do if it rains

DH is coming and this is meant to be the trip that turns him onto camping forever (like that is EVER going to happen) Grin

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 11:08

Kings it won't leak, but you might get a very fine mist coming through, that's what we got. just for the first time and then it's tight as a badger's arse after than.

Oh losty Sad how I have enjoyed your posts. You can fling me the boozy travel baton when you return and I will pick up where you left off, although I suspect there will be more beer/schnapps reviews from me.

Chippy, ah interesting about golden arches connectivity and guilt free child refuelling. lol @ pants washing.

Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 11:10

notwaving I have TOLD you what there is to do in Bala.

  1. swimming pool (good showers, shit cafe)
  2. crazy cafe with stuffed animals (good stuffed animals, shit cafe)
  3. steam train (good train, good cafe at the end, no showers or stuffed animals)
Original poster
notwavingjustironing · 04/08/2011 11:11

Hi Slubber

Do you go on Sat? How's the pile of "stuff" coming along?

OP posts:
Original poster
notwavingjustironing · 04/08/2011 11:12

sorry yes, you did

And I've got to look for the weirdy thing in the middle of the lake or summat?

OP posts:
Kingsroadie · 04/08/2011 11:13

Thanks Slubber! I can cope with a fine mist I think... Smile

Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 11:25

oh god yes, what was it in the lake, some sort of creature wasn't it? And the pure waters on the English Dee not mixing with the filthy depraved bog that is the rest of Welsh lake Bala

Kings, yy mist is no problemo.

Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 11:25

Sunday morning we go.

MisSalLaneous · 04/08/2011 11:51

Uhm, looking out the window, all I can say is sorry sorry sorry everybody.

Honestly, no-one ever listens to me. The rain gods must have had a quiet day...

Original poster
notwavingjustironing · 04/08/2011 11:58

Harrumph.

OP posts:
MisSalLaneous · 04/08/2011 11:58

Grin I was getting a bit worried there.

OneHundredPercentFucked · 04/08/2011 11:59

I hope it isn't going to be like this when we go. Not on the first day anyway. after that the weather can please itself!

SeaShellsMyDogSmells · 04/08/2011 12:28

Its pissing down here! Beginning to lighten though :)

I'm trying to revise in a cafe, but it's full of peopleqho have Very Important Jobs and are being very judgmental/rude about anyone they know who Want A Part Time Job After Having Children shock horror slacker!! Why do medics feel they have to be doing an 80hr week to be any good at their job?!!! An why discuss it soooo loudly?!

I use a cobb and Colman stove in answer to question up thread.

Safe return Losty!!

JetLi · 04/08/2011 13:42

Curses Sal - wet AND hot here - lordy I'm melting. This cannot be... I have ironing to do!

Cooking, Kings - trangia for weekends where only a brew is necessary, but with leetle people around, I found it dangerous. Likewise the Coleman F1 lite - ace for packing but unstable when toddlers are around I find. So I'm using the old Campingaz bistro stoves with the gas canisters at the moment, & I use my Cadac on longer trips. Try the B&Q website Kings if you are happy with the Bistro type stoves. They have some bargains in at the moment here but I got this from the Martin Lewis email so they may be getting sold out. They have the gas canisters for a quid each.

Sad good journey home losty - what with the tour & the pastis it sounds like a fab hol was had by all. Sad its over

waves to all - gotta go, baby crying...

Kingsroadie · 04/08/2011 14:05

Jet - think it was ronshar who asked re stoves but thank you Grin

I have a Cobb and a 1 ring burner and ehu for first trip so contemplating taking a kettle

( I was the pathetic one asking whether I would get soaked in my never been used canvas tent...)