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

[notwavingjustironing]

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!)

Chippy, haven't quite got that far... I don't know, to be honest!

Hmm, thinking now, might be completely impractical, but options I can think of at the moment include:
Decathlon shower tent as a tent,
then use flexible garden bucket (that we have already and always takes anyway) to stand in if shower water needs to be emptied elsewhere.
I originally thought of just making a makeshift shelter with a circle tubing (similar to a hula hoop) and some heavy duty builders tarp for privacy - almost like a shower curtain. Then thought might as well get pop-up shower tent, as we often camp a distance from showers and in my dreams I'd like to do wild camping, where trees might not be available to hang from. Of course us going wild camping is never going to happen, but you can never be too prepared.

I could also just do it naked in the open and kill the whole campsite, which would bring me closer to wild camping...

I could of course just skip the whole shower idea and wash in the trug in the utility tent (Quechua base full), I guess, but like the idea of a shower. Won't bother for overnighters, of course - then only bell, no other tents.

These people are good JetLi. My brother lives near the shop and gets all his brewing stuff from them (and mine too as he's got a loyalty card ).

My next door neighbour is selling her Bongo as she's upgraded to a static caravan (spit) and it's got a converted galley/removeable table and everything!

notwaving you have reminded me that the people pitched next to us recently had a FAB pirate flag that I coveted against my better judgement! The boys would LOVE it. Feel a search coming on for similar... They also had green solar powered fairy lights in the shape of dragon flies hanging down from the top of the flag. Although instinctively I dislike the idea of fairy lights and tents actually I have to admit they looked great. Think dh might divorce me if I went that far though!

lovecat sorry about your dad. Was it some time ago that he passed away? Only you don't sound too upset so presumably either time has passed or you didn't get on too well, and having a dh who can't stand his dad I wouldn't wish that on anyone else.

MissSal loving the shower ideas! I now have an image of you standing in the flexible bucket and knocking over the flimsy looking shower tent with the power of the pressure washer! That would be funny

Well rather uncharacteristically I am sitting here with a glass of PINK wine. Not normally my thing but I have recently discovered some goodies (and the white was warm in the cupboard so needs must!).

I have also discovered a FAB cookbook Annabel Langbein the free range cook. My sister who lives in NZ recommended it to me (she is based in NZ also) and reading the recipes to day had me salivating! In her intro she goes on about back to basics cooking on 2 rings with a wood bread oven in rural NZ so in principle some of her recipes could be used while camping. However they would probably involve taking more spices / herbs than I normally would do! What I like though is the emphasis on flavour, good quality fresh ingredients and just cooking relatively simple things well and with interesting twists. No idea if any of you are as into cooking / nice food as me but if you are give it a go! She does a strawberry cloud cake for starters that is to die for - at least one of your 5 a day !

Raises a glass and 'rest in peace' to lovecat's dad (if that's not too familiar).

Yellow, you think I joke - anyone who survives the shock of seeing my naked bottom would need serious therapy for years!

That cookbook sounds good, will go and look now. I'm a rubbish cook, but owns loads of cookbooks. It's my version of porn - looking and drooling over things highly unlikely to ever be found past the front door...

Yes I'll join you in a toast to lovecats dad funtime. Just re-read my post about your dad lovecat and it comes accross as incredibly flippant and insensitive. Sorry - it wasn't meant that way at all.

MissSal I am a bit addicted to cookbooks too. Have a whole shelf full and they all have pages turned over for recipes I like. Then end up cooking same old same old all of the time. Used to have loads of dinner parties pre kids but not so much anymore. I LOVE cooking (and not too bad at it) but when cooking for family meals it becomes easier not to be too adventurous since half the time the boys will turn their noses up at things anyway

Yes MisSal I was only joking about the tent blowing over but you have to admit its an accident waiting to hapen! Probably easily prevented with usse of Delta pegs for the shower tent though...

oh! I hve dragonfly fairy lights (they were from Woolies closing down sale, are led and awesome!

I also have a selection of flags.....

Slubber owuld KILL me.

I put it down to years of minimilist camping and now having a huge feck off vehicle....

chippy - not seen other thread??

Am just looking for bedding options for the upstairs bit as we did have 2 futon cushions which we have used for years but they are grim now. The bongo roof space is not wide enough for air beds. Thinking cut to order foam might be the answer.

here FMV - a new Bongo-ista seeking like-minded folk.

Excuse no 456 for needing Deltas. Yellow, brilliant idea, I like it!

Tell me, is ANYONE out there as annoying (to self - not too fussed about annoying others ;-) ) as I am when "buying" online? I spend hours looking, researching, sometimes even adding to basket, and then, for some unknown reason, never actually goes ahead and order the damn things. Then, usually 3 days before I actually NEED them, I realise it's too damn late. Followed by mad dash to the shops where I buy something less nice for twice the price. What's wrong with me? I don't know why I keep doing this.

Recent examples are: Deltas (which is why I remembered about this stupid habit), rock pegs, fire steel, axe, new school backpack for ds, inflatable booster seat for taxi trips, ... the list goes on.

Hello! 5ofus here checking in from campsite via iPhone. Love technology!

Off to catch up with rest of thread...

Oh MissSal I know just what you mean. DH thinks I'm the research queen, gets a bit desperate at times .

Hellos 5ofus!

MissSal I too am the research queen online and drive dh absolutely demented with this habit! Prime example was prams when expecting ds1 - I got a bit obsessed! Think he is a bit scared that the new tent will become my 'new pram'!! He is probably right.

Don't usually suffer with the 'putting things in the basket and not buying' affliction though. Oh no. Rather the buy all manner of random crap essentials which I then forget about and struggle to justify

Sal I definitely become an overnight expert on the current thing-lots of researching and searching for options. Drives dh mad though he appreciates it really, especially when I'm a know it all tour guide on holiday having devoured and memorised the guidebook on the plane over I add lots to wish lists but never buy (my amazon list is pretty comprehensive!)

Yes I've got a pretty huge Amazon list (or lists ) too Seashells! I am also obsessive at looking for a bargain - once I find somehting I like I then look and look until I am satisfied that I have got the best possible price. Which is all very good and thrifty except I'd probably save more by not buying so much STUFF in the first place!

Hi all, I am posting from my iPhone in sunny Cornwall. We have had rain, sleet, driving rain, misty rain, rain that is just 'there', high winds, light winds and winds that go right through you. We arrived on Monday and the kids have been in the pool, to the beach, for walks through the dunes, having adventures discovering ancient amphitheatres, Geocaching, blowing bubbles and painting. Weather? What weather?

You don't know what a relief it is to see we're all weird the same!

Wow Moaning, you're hardcore!

Moaning I wish I had kids that were happy to just get stuck in whatever the weather... Maybe when they're a bit bigger! How old are yours?

You and me both, Yellow. Ds has recently decided that "a little rain is fine". Compared to his previous reaction to even the slightest risk of damp coming within 5 miles of him, I was just too grateful to try and push for more. Maybe when he's 18 he'll stop dissolving when wet. I blame the genes.

Am v. impressed, Moaning! We had that weird white mist creeping in off the sea when we were in Cornwall a few weeks ago. Not cold, but just odd.

Re. my dad - he died nearly 3 months ago, but had been getting progressively worse with Alzheimers. He was in hospital, and talks were taking place about transferring him into a long-term care home (as Mum couldn't cope with him any more) when he suddenly and unexpectedly died. As he was vehemently against the idea of a home (with what was left of his marbles), it was probably a blessing that he did so and was something of a release for the rest of us as well. The funeral was just before the late May bank holiday, so it's enough distance (for me at least) not to be entirely choked up about it. This was the interrment of his ashes in my grandparent's grave, it was a bit odd all round, none of us really knew what to do, there was no sort of ceremony about it, and the gravedigger was a bit insistent that we all had a hold of the little casket before it went in... which was slightly weird... but still...

Thanks anyway :) You are lovely people on this thread...

And yes, I am another obsessive list-maker and researcher, but DH is the same (only with cars/computers/technology stuff) so he doesn't roll too many eyes at me.

I think Slubber knows I'm beyond saving now... we have a chinese dragon windsock and butterfly solar fairy lights .

Lovecat, I'm rubbish in saying these things so can't get the proper words, but thought of you today. x

My three DS's are 9.6, 5.10 and 4.2 and just love to be out. Me not so much, I am usually dressed like a Michelin man and still freezing.

The worst is my DH's snoring like a buzz saw waking me up and we have just had new people pitch up next to us and he snores too but the worst is I can kick my DH I can't kick the fecker next to us and neither does his OH. This is the first night and I don't know how I am going to cope. DH says ignore it but I can't. I am sensitive to noise and can't not hear it. I may have to get some ear plugs.