ok I'm trying out this camping lark for the first time

[Twiglett]

is there a definitive list of what I'll need to take

only doing one night to begin with

with kids .. 5 and 2

Tent,

Box of Wine!!!

Large Wine Glasses!!!

bottle opener

You need glasses so you can see the bottle of course, sally.

My saddos definitive list is on \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2417&threadid=176285&stamp=060524141217#3660553\this thread here} it's the 2.12pm version, the first one is weird!!

btw we didn't need half this stuff!

brilliant list. i always forget to bring a tea towel and washing up stuff so i am off to pack that now.

which half, lucy?

Well we didn't need the tent light cos it didn't seem to get dark! oh and the sleeping bags and Ready Beds were too toasty by the end of the week. The dd's didn't use their chairs, they sat on the floor, erm no washing line & tablets/Vanish stick, buckets..... well perhaps not half but certainly it will be revised for the summer!

and we took no food, bought it all locally, fantastic local produce - yum!

Just seen this thread " THANK YOU " what experts you are !!! ever thought of writing an " Rough guide to camping " ( or is there one already ) We are new to camping and planning to go in the holidays How SCARED am I !!!!!!

Take a bucket to wee in (a nappy one with a lid is good) because once you are tucked up in your sleeping bag you will not want to get up, put a fleece and wellies on, and go to the toilet block in the dark.

would a 2 year old be ok on an air bed or should I take the travel cot ?

You could take the cot if you have the room - but it's not far to fall off an airbed. My kids end up half on the airbed, half on the floor anyway.

its not the falling i worry about its the getting up and wondering around !!! Ds 4 already wakes at 5.00 am but DD likes 6.30 I worry the something will wake her and she'll be off !

My dd2 was 2 last year and she was fine on an airbed. Well half on her airbed and half on dd1's - just zip the bedroom compartment up to the top so they can't undo the zip and escape.

My ds3 is 2 (well three next month but the size of an 18 month old) and he was fine in a readybed Whitsun. Not the baby one either, a hand me down from Sa.

Luce, we NEVER take food! Apart from the huge space issue we have we enjoy buying what's local and looks yum, markets and fishmongers and stuff. yum!

If I'm really unlucky dh will present me with some mackerel caught off the beach - gutting mackerel is not one of the more pleasant aspects of camping a la campcats

Nah, DH buys scallops or something FILLETED and we do kebabs with salad, and maybe strawberry and pineapples on the grill with greek yoghurt.

YUM!

Or this year y speciality is fresh paella, we're going to a site in July overlooking the beach.... [aella cooking away.... glass of bubby.... perfection

Sounds much more appetising than my mackerel! the dd's just look at them with horror so they will have kebabs or sausages instead. We are overlooking the beach too so I've bought some delta tent pegs in case it's a touch exposed!!

also could consider taking a small blow up paddling pool
hours of fun for dcs just by the tent
or your feet in it with glass of wine in hand