We're off to Carfest next weekend and are camping newbies. Would anybody be kind enough to check my list?

[TheSkiingGardener]

I think I've gone through various checklists and hope I've thought of stuff we need. If you have any advice or comments they would be gratefully received. It's me, DH and DS (2.2) DH and I haven't camped since 1998, so I'm counting us as newbies, certainly with a toddler in tow

Tent
Tent pegs
Mallet
Peg extractor
Airbeds
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Camping chairs
Camping table
Windbreak
Power station and airpump
Torches and lanterns
Stuff to sleep in
Cooker
Gas bottle
Connection kit
Frying pan
Tongs or spatula
Kettle
Saucepan
Plates, cups, bowls, cutlery
Milk bottles and drinking bottles for DS
Chopping boards and knives
Can opener
Gas lighter for cooker
Tea and coffee
Salt and pepper
Travel mugs
Collapsible bowl
Washing up brush/liquid
Tea towel
First aid kit
Storage bags
Bin bags
Wellies
Waterproofs
Towels
Coats
Toys/games/crayons
Fire bucket
Batteries x lots
Water carriers
Suncream
Sun hats

That is the conclusion we have come to... and just swallow the extra cost!

My DDs are 8 and 10... and might stretch to face paint... doubt I will get them to dress up!!!

We have a CampingGaz 2 hob and grill thing. It's 15 years old and they still seem to sell the same design. It's blooming brilliant. You can get cheap single hobs with little gas bottles now though, which would be easier. The limit on gas bottle size is 2.2kg which means you can only take the smallest of the proper gas cylinder things.

TeamEdward that's exactly the stove we have. Morning bacon sandwiches and coffee without having to put a bra on. Lovely!

I'm going too!

Love the frozen milk suggestion. I'm taking a frozen spag bol that I made today, for tomorrow night, lots of drinks, fruit and those individual porridge pots for breakfasts, but then I plan to take full advantage of the food available there .

I'll be in the wake of two very enthusiastic children (9 &12), who want to do EVERYTHING!

Will come to say hello at the cake v pies tent hoping for a slice of the fruit cake

Quite excited now!

insect stuff to stop them biting you - or antihistamine for when they do

Ok, DS is hyperactive and I'm now panicking about putting the tent up with a 2 year old about.

Oh, and Mary Berry was on the breakfast show and I think my cake is going to be by far the most boring one there! (Sob)

I think when you arrive there...the first thing to do is allow time for the running around and burning off the initial curiosity and energy for an hour or so....maybe then your DC would sit in the buggy with a drink and snack and you can pitch the tent???

I hope you have a great time....

It's a good idea whatthewhatthebleep but it takes a VERY long time for DS to stop running. When we took him to see Nanny and Grandad in their camper van, we arrived at 12 and he stopped running at 9 that night.

I can do most of the tent on my own though, so maybe I get on with that and DH takes DS for a good explore. Worth a try.

Well we made it back! I ache like nobodies business but we had an amazing time. how did you all get on?

Good list of tips!

We're lucky enough to be off to Carfest North in a fortnight, we didn't do half of what was available this weekend so I do agree with needing to do it again to do it all. Just loads and loads of things going on all the time.

And I have No idea how my cake did because that just all got lost in the rush!

We had a fabulous weekend too. Really loved it all and would definitely do it again. We were in greenfields but no idea if we were next to you... Though I am sure I spotted your wagon when wandering around teamedward.

Which greenfields row were you in?

How about you shopalot?
Just w ondering if I was close to any of you without realising!

We were g204. Where were you?

I fancy booking another family festival. Any suggestions? It was such fun and I felt so safe

I saw the superheroes but didn't say hi as you said not to out you to dh. Your children looked gorgeous!