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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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:
MisSalLaneous · 08/08/2011 22:19

Sorry, have been glued to news about stupid riots. I really shouldn't, it's just making me more nervous. Thanks for asking, Yellow.
Well, officially our area is unaffected, but the there were some trouble not far (about 10 minutes) from here earlier - you could hear helicopter and sirens in the background. All now quiet, so hopefully they've stopped. Stupid, stupid people. I feel so sorry terrified people being stuck inside. There was this one man on Sky - I think he moved a terrified old lady to the police cordon, and then he couldn't get back to his own flat where his wife and small daughter were stuck, both scared. So sad. Hope the rest of you are ok.

Anyway, on a nicer note: pegs. notwaving, you make me snigger there!
I am an utter disgrace pegwise. I only have the ones that came with the tent. I really do need rock pegs though, and think I'll buy deltas at the same time. Have only ever heard great things about them.

MisSalLaneous · 08/08/2011 22:20

night notwaving!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 08/08/2011 22:26

For me, it's the easy insertion and recovery that make Delta pegs a must. Always one for the easy insertion, me.

(Missed out on swapping DC stats earlier, but I also have two boys (what IS going on??) and they are 3.5 and 7 months. DS1 is a wee bit of a primadonna but in comparison to the emerging character of his brother, a haven of peace and calm. DS2 is, frankly, a loon. At the moment. Maybe all 7 month old babies are loons. I do hope things will improve as he grows older.)

ReshapeWhileDamp · 08/08/2011 22:29

G'night, NotWaving! Smile

JetLi, it was ages ago you asked, but I was in the middle of a field (not in tent, in PIL's farmhouse) on a line between Scunthorpe and Gainsborough.

I have Deltas now. I am impressionable and bought them after reading about them here 8 of them. I haven't actually needed them yet, but damn it, they look serious stuck round the tent in all their yellow glory! Grin

YellowDinosaur · 08/08/2011 22:53

pmsl at 'I don't know about you but I Demand my base member provides a large surface area' Grin. Sorry but I am very childish with a sense of humour not dissimilar to my small boys!!!!

Get you Reshape with your yellow deltas!!! I'm thinking that yellow deltas around my tent would make people piss themselves laughing at the fact that I have pegs far superior to the tent they are holding up!!!

Glad you're OK MissSal - must be scary to be on the edge of it all and to be able to hear stuff going on. Watching the news coverage here too. Thinking of you x

Night night lost and notwaving

MisSalLaneous · 08/08/2011 23:03

Thanks Yellow. It's all quiet now, so I take it we're fine.

I'm off too. Night night all.

lovecat · 09/08/2011 07:21

Morning! Didn't get a chance to get online yesterday, was trying to keep DD calm re. rioting. Well, looting. Well, bunch of eejits smashing up our local JD Sports and trying to nick whatever they could lay their hands on.

T'was a bit scary coming home from work, as one woman's phone rang and she announced really loudly 'they're looting the Ilford mall, the station (which fronts onto it) has been closed' and given I'd been held late at work and had to run anyway to get to DD's holiday club before it shut, I had a minor panic attack, but thankfully it was just rumour - there were a fair few sirens, but the train did stop there and we all went out the side entrance rather than chance the front - didn't see anything untoward, but there were large gangs of men hanging around everywhere (I suspect they were the shopkeepers' families/friends hoping things didn't kick off, but it still felt v. intimidating). As it happened, there was looting but the trouble later was more towards Barking.

Soooo.... delta pegs? I keep meaning to buy some, but the price is putting me off - as the tent has 13 guys, I may have to buy them in 2s and 3s til I get a full set, and avoid coastal campsites til then. I do have some Rock pegs, though. In a shiny case, as I've never had to use them yet... DH keeps picking them up out of the boot and going 'what are these, again?' with a pained expression...

(Just catching up with the rest of the thread, we were told by everyone that we must be having a boy because of all the 'signs' - position of bump, yada yada - and DD was so active in there that we named her 'Disco Stu' - it was a huge surprise when she turned out to be a she! But yes, she is a very boisterous, mud-obsessed tree-climbing girl, even though she also likes pink, tea parties and Barbies. Which flummoxes me, cos I never did dolls and don't 'get' them. More camping needed!)

notwavingjustironing · 09/08/2011 07:33

Glad you and yours are ok Lovecat. I expect there will be a huge knockon effect for those travelling into London this morning.

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YellowDinosaur · 09/08/2011 08:56

Glad you're OK lovecat. Sounds very scary SadAngry

JetLi · 09/08/2011 09:20

Glad you are alright lovecat, MissSal. Don't think the riots have reached the Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire yet. Must be very frightening. Rumours of Leeds though, and Birmingham.
I think we need some Deltas before the next jamboree with DP's family. The brothers do like to out-do one another with their kit, gadgetry & superior knowledge. Watching them pitch though is a joy - a bit like the Amish raising a barn. And it means the wimmin folk get to unpack the chairs, drink gin and discuss why any of us opted to go swimming in that particular gene pool.
Have been practising with my buff. Look like a twat mostly Hmm

Off to have a Brew

ReshapeWhileDamp · 09/08/2011 10:35

Love the idea of a well-choreographed tent-pitching being like an Amish barn-raising! Nice image.

I found a whole aisle of Buffs in Blacks the other day, and realised that I did, in fact, know what they were. You can't move in American outdoorsy, national parky-type shops without knocking over a display of them.

Quenelle · 09/08/2011 12:28

Hello campers (that can't be the first time that's been said I'm sure Blush).

You all chat so much (after several glasses of wine/pastis/beer) that I can't keep up with you. Have caught up now and must say what a funny bunch you are, in a good way of course.

Glad to hear all the Londoners on the thread are ok. It looks just terrifying, what's been happening. And isn't it just so depressing?

Just to add to the stats then, I also have a DS (2 years old). We've just started trying for DC2 and I can honestly say I have no preference at all. Tbh if we had a boy it would be easier because it would be harder to pick a name for a girl, and she would end up wearing all of DS's blue and robot patterned handmedowns anyway.

Well we tried the Quechua Base Seconds out on Saturday night and it was a huge success. I bloody love it! It took 8 minutes to pitch, including pegging out, and the same to pack away. I was half expecting a chorus of 'oohs' and 'aahs' and a round of applause but was gutted to find that absolutely nobody on the campsite was watching.

That's all the camping for us until just after the bank holiday. Tell me, parents of older DCs, is the last week of the school hols exceedingly busy? I haven't booked a campsite yet, have been trying to decide on the best site in the south east to go for. Norden Farm in Dorset looks nice but DH and I are both strangely drawn to the Kent coast for some reason. Any recommendations?

Funtimewincies · 09/08/2011 12:44

Grin Yellow and shudders at the thought of anyone from work seeing me in labour.

Lost - I really hope that the special place in heaven is at the bar Grin!

Good to hear that your lot are OK Lovecat.

What are delta pegs like in hard ground? The North Wales coast is windy and impossible to get anything but hard ground pegs into Hmm.

notwavingjustironing · 09/08/2011 13:00

"You don't have to be mad to camp here, .... but it helps!"

OP posts:
Kingsroadie · 09/08/2011 13:13

Have been keeping an eye on all you camping mentalists on here Grin.

Funtimewincies · 09/08/2011 13:20

Retentive organising of camping equipment pays dividends when it comes to finding what you want and is half the fun always worth it Grin.

Newsnight last night came as close to saying 'we've got a Tory govt again, oh look, riots. Remember the '80s?' as they could have without getting into trouble!

lostinwales · 09/08/2011 13:34

Right everyone from London on this thread, throw your tent in the back of the car and head west on the M4 until you run out of road, I am offering refuge from the madness in a field looking over the sea. Kingsroadie you can borrow one of my tents I have enough for all. Can't bear the thought of any of you having to worry about the ferral idiots on the streets around there. It is mildly sunny here, I have just been to the weekly local producers market for bread and meat and then had lunch in the deli. There are a couple of Community Councillors amusing everyone by the pond by playing saxaphone/harmonica and it's so idyllic I want you all to come down for a while to escape. (especially if you bring home brewed beer and an iceytech full of gin, my hangover had gone now!)

Kingsroadie · 09/08/2011 13:43

Aw thanks lost! I do have my very own tent actually (as well as a camping shop full of brand new equipment - just no idea how to use any of it yet - perhaps you can help me Grin. I was honestly thinking about doing that actually - just going and sleeping in my tent in a field in the middle of nowhere.... we're quite near the M4... And yes please to icytech full of gin Grin

We are actually going camping on Monday although I suspect it may have calmed down by then. It's a bit like fleeing the Blitz! Stupid yoof.

SeaShellsMyDogSmells · 09/08/2011 14:31

Marks place on thread with DELTA peg.

I'm entreating visitors again but pleased to hear everyone is ok. Bloody stupid opportunistic thugs Angry

notwavingjustironing · 09/08/2011 14:34

Hello Ms Shells, we've missed you!

Are you back at work today/tomorrow?

OP posts:
YellowDinosaur · 09/08/2011 15:12

Hello all!

Kingsroadie sorry to hear that you have been in the thick of it. I am scared just watching it on the tv and hoping it doesn't reach Newcastle...

Lost I would dearly LOVE to come and take refuge in your field (even though I have nothing to take refuge from Grin) but dh and I have had A CHAT where he said that he will not entertain the idea of camping again before next year, and then only for 3 nights max, and then only if ds2 is sleeping better. Boo hiss. He's not averse to kit buying as he acknowledges that camping will be more fun with better kit so not all bad! And he does say that he thinks it will be fun when boys are older.

Funny that if you looked at both of us there is him who is off out cycling every chance he gets and me who is into nice food, wine and shopping. And you would put him as the camping one not me but it is totally the other way around!

Seashells you are back from mat leave this week aren't you? Good luck! I found both times that I couldn't remember a thing but it came back pretty quick!

Funtime sniggered at this 'Newsnight last night came as close to saying 'we've got a Tory govt again, oh look, riots. Remember the '80s?' as they could have without getting into trouble!'

Base seconds sounds good Quenelle. May have to get one if dh persists in being a miserable git anti camping so I can get away on my own with the boys. Think it would be possible in the tent we have but add rain / wind / tired boys into the mix and it would be no fun at all

So today (and tomorrow!) both boys are in childcare and dh and I have somequality adult time. Necessary as we don't have any family locally so its the only chance we get for some time out. We have chilled this am, had a fish pedicure, been for a lovely lunch with wine, and will probably go out soon for a coffee before getting the boys. Something nice about doing something that feels so indulgent in the day! Fish pedicure was interesting - I have always been adamant that itwas minging and I would never try it. I couldn't contain my giggling for the first 5 mins as I have very ticklish feet but then got used to it and it was strangly captivating. Feet are definately more smooth although there are other meals to be had there Grin

Anyway quality time with dh probably doesn't involve MN so off with me now but I will be back later...

notwavingjustironing · 09/08/2011 15:26

Yellow

I've got a plan...

Bring the boys, lets go down to Losty's, my DH hates camping anyway and is only coming with us on Thursday under duress.

We can do the nice food, wine gin from iceytek and show off about what nice bits of kit we've got.

And mug up on our Delta Peg written assignment for Mme Slubber

Whaddya think?

OP posts:
Kingsroadie · 09/08/2011 15:31

Ugh - it is all kicking off just around the corner and on the main road apparently. Am starting to feel scared again and am on my own again tonight (though will be sleeping at a friend's house for sure!)

notwavingjustironing · 09/08/2011 15:42

Seems a bit disengenuous to be mixing rioting with comedy on this thread. Sad

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lovecat · 09/08/2011 16:09

Losty, can I take you up on that offer?

Have just had to go pick DD up early from her holiday club as the whole town centre is on a lockdown, in anticipation of more trouble... if they do this tomorrow we are utterly f*cked, I have to go up to Liverpool for the interrment of my Dad's ashes and DH flying up to a meeting in Manchester in the morning, coming back 11ish to be in time to pick her up - if the place stays open... and all our rellies are away on holiday. Eep. Would much rather be in your field. I still have half a winebox left from Cornwall and a bottle of gin but no icey-tek...