So who's going to the caravan and camping show this weekend

[ifeelloved]

It's at excel

wheres excel?

Me! We're going Saturday. I'm forcing the whole family to go so I'm not the most popular person at the moment! We want to sell our caravan but need to decide on what to replace it with. I fancy a smallish camper van which would double as the 'big' family car but I also like the idea of folding caravans/trailer tents. So I'm going with an open mind and hope there is lots there for us to try out!

Trinity - Excel is in London. Docklands area I think.

thanks, sorry, I'm geographically dense

I went yesterday. There were millions loads of campervans and motorhomes. I'm very much a tent camper, but even I was drooling over some.

Also a lot of Vango and Outwell etc tents. Less canvas and, as far as I could see, no bushcraft type of stalls, which was a bit of a disappointment.

Good tourist boards representation though, so brilliant for ideas.

Oh, and I saw one cookery demonstration (Cobbs), which was good.

All in all, it was ok, and I'm tempted to drag dh and ds there with me tomorrow as I was in a bit of a rush yesterday. Just wish tickets were a little cheaper, especially when you're mostly going for a browse or for a short while.

Have the Icey Tek cool box people got a stand?

I'd like to avoid the massive p&p charge...

Blue, no, which I was really disappointed about - I was hoping to find one there as well.

I know MNHQ is looking into possibly getting us a MN discount on Icey Teks, but haven't heard back yet. If that works out, hopefully it'll cancel out the delivery costs.

In case anyone is interested in seeing a Frontier Stove in real life (for scale, stability etc), the BCT stand has one in its bell tent. I'm obsessed with it a big fan.

We're going on Sunday - can't wait. Sad I know. Am hoping for some last day of show bargains - particularly want a breathable groundsheet to go in the awning of our old Cabanon bungalow tent so that we can pad inside-out on our summer holidays in S. of France without getting dusty feet. Even if it's not a bargain, if we can save on the P&P costs that's better than nothing.

I'm not what you would call a 'back to basics' camper... (and am secretly hoping to use the show to persuade Dh that we should get a caravan!)

Ooh, Sal, ask MNHQ how it's going - I'll definitely be a customer if they can do a discount!

Cool, will do Blu.

I know it's sad that I'm so excited! Have no need for a tent (unless the have the emperor there!) but want to have a mooch and look at accessories. Plus it beats cleaning out the garage!!!

Blu, I've spoken to the lovely Olivia who confirmed that they are still on the case. Hoping to hear something by the end of next week. :) I really hope something can be agreed, as there are now many of us that I think would go for it pretty immediately if a decent deal is offered.

oooh, how exciting!
Perhaps they could have one as a prize in a home page competition?

As well as the camping fans, I thought that the smallest Iceyteks, or maybe the smallest Yeti, could be used by people needing to reliably store ebm when out and about - but probably all the boxes are too big for that.

I still can't decide whether to get a Yeti with a handle, or an Icey tek...and can't really afford either...dither dither....

Where is Slubber? She posts on that secret thread, doesn't she? I have NO idea how to get to OTBT.

Not sure if she's around tonight, but will put up bunting to draw her out tomorrow.

Ah, yes, that will alert her, especially if it flaps overnight.

oooh, yes, I suspect I will...

Shame the show isnt at the NEC. First time we haven't gone for years.

What is this Icey tek I keep hearing about?!

What secret thread?! I feel I'm missing out

The Icey Tek is a wondrous non electric coolbox that keeps things cold / frozen for days and days, and is also incredibly stylish see here
Invented in Australia to keep the tinnies cold for days in the scorching outback, so designed to be very efficient.

As for secret camong threads - there is a section of Mn called 'off the beaten track' which cannot be searched and it's for sensitive personal matters or cliques of posters whose thread titles are too irritating to appear in active convos etc. Slubber has some sort of camping thread in there - I found it once and maybe joined in - but have never been able to find my way back.

It's not really secret ifeelloved, I'm posting there too. But yep, as Blu says, it's really just nattering on about nonsense, so don't want to clog up the proper topics and bore everyone else to death.

Is it active at the moment, Sal? I have now managed to find Off the beaten track - it's under the 'Other Subjects' menu under all talk topics -but has been taken over by numerous vampire threads. I think.

No camping chat at the moment except for here - nice thing about the improving weather is that the Camping forum is coming to life properly again. Mind you, I did see Slubber recommend Deltas in Style and Beauty the other day, but I think it was posted in error.