First weekend with bell tent! What do I need?

[lapumpkin]

Ok I have sleeping things for us all (2 adults, 2 DCs) got an inner tent for DCs, got mats for inside tent. What do I need for putting the tent up? (Hammer I'm guessing?)

Also do you try to make DCs area dark with anything? (Imagining very very early mornings otherwise!) they are used to sleep with a dark blind to block out light.

Anything else apart from torches, loo roll, potty (? DCs are 4 and 2)

What are good camping foods to have in the cool box/ snack box?

Thanks everyone!!

Hi lapumpkin - good choice, although I bet it isn't long before you come over to the glamping dark side with the rest of us bell tenters and need a second mortgage on your house despite camping being a 'cheap' holiday!

Take a mallet rather than a hammer to put the pegs in and maybe a peg puller to get them out again? (THe ground is quite dry at the moment).

Although the tent is very light, after the first night you DCs will probably be so worn out with all the fresh air and running around they will sleep like logs. If that doesn't work, then long term, I guess you could dye the inner tent a darker colour? Maybe someone else will have a better idea.

Take a bucket for you for night time wees - means you can drink far more wine before bed than you would otherwise dare. Some people line theirs with a bin bag and a nappy or cat litter at the bottom to absorb the wee. We have something called poo powder but it is quite pricey.

Head torches are useful for everyone to keep hands free. Also maybe a larger lantern to light the tent if you are likely to be sitting in there. I won't mention tealight chandeliers (oops I have) as they tend to be more of a long term purchase.

What about table and chairs or are you planning to sit on a picnic rug? Either is fine. You will also need a cooker of some description and a couple of pans (kettle maybe - not essential) unless you plan to eat out every night,. You mention foods for the coolbox. It is a good idea to cook up some one pot meals at home like casseroles/chilli/bolognese and freeze them. They then act as an extra ice pack in your collbox and you can just heat them up at the site. All you need to add then is pasta or rice maybe.

Don't forget tea/coffee/milk/sugar and of course WINE!

Oh and mugs/cups and plates/bowls if you are eating on site. ANd a water container (you can just buy a large 5 litre one from Tesco with water already in and then reuse it).

Dyeing the inner tent - genius idea! We are camping with other people who are doing the cooking so won't need to sort out meals but I was wondering about in between meals? Any camping proof foods?! MPFT I managed to only buy one hand loomed rug (on the argument that it is an ethical purchase) but hopefully this weekend will go well and I will slowly acquire all necessary items to make my bell tent the envy of all glampers whenever we go! ;)