second attempt camping as a family - help this trip go better!

[hyperhops]

ok, so last summer we went camping with dc for more or less the first time. It was a disaster. I swore I would never camp again.
We did make a fair few mistakes though! We drove 5 hours to Devon, we went for a week and booked a very basic site. Plus the dogs hated it and drove me mad and it rained NON STOP from the second day onwards.

However we cant afford any other sort of holiday this year and I seem to have booked a campsite again!
I am hoping I have learned form last year and have made some changes accordingly. I love the idea of camping and am desperate for this year to go better.

So what I have changed

1. not going so far! Only 1 1/2 away which means we can a) bring 2 cars and b) come home early more easily if all else fails!
   
2. Only booked for 4 nights not full week
   

3.Decided not to take dogs with us - they are going on holiday to my sisters!
4.Booked a site with more facilities. OK, so wont sit well with proper wild campers but last year in 7 days of pouring rain in a (beautiful) field with a portacabin shower and loo and 6 dc and 2 dogs has taught me I need more facilities! Site has cafe and indoor pool - in case of rain!
5.Am packing more clothes. also have put complete outfits in labelled carrier bags for the youngest 3 to save hunting round for clothes. (read this on here - genius!)

ideally we really need a larger tent but cant do that this year.
we have electric hook up and will have electric coolbox.

SO....what would be your other top tips to ensure this goes better....
any little tricks that help things go smoothly...any tips for convincing 14 yr old dd especially who was fully put off by last year!

thank you oh wise mn campers

[hyperhops]

more great ideas! I have packed some playing cards - pennies would be good.
bloody lol!
hadn't thought about taking swing ball - that's a good idea, we have one in the garden.
sadly this whole trip will be alcohol free....trying to be positive about this as at least I wont have hangovers on top of exhaustion!
ok. have been food shopping. have many essentials. large vat of spag bol will be made and frozen tomorrow. milk and various other bits in freezer.
have sourced a swimming costume courtesy of my sister...various bits loaded into car already...
right...need to go eat then get on with it...

[ThatBloodyWoman]

My dc's loved headtorches and glow sticks.

[hyperhops]

yes, we have got some headtorches and glowsticks. They did work well last year...need to get more batteries today though.

I'm exhausted already and we haven't even gone yet. Full day at work today(which was poor planning on my part - wish I'd booked it off) then home to load up ready to set off tomorrow....fingers crossed!

[MyballsareSandy]

Have fun, hope it doesn't rain the whole time. We're off to Devon on Monday - my DD who is 13, sounds very much like yours regarding camping, hair straighteners and wifi .

[hyperhops]

thanks myballs LOL at your dd. sounds just like my dd1 (14) she is now huffing around the house and claiming she can't pack because she doesn't have any clothes she could possibly wear on a campsite!?!

[Ineedmorepatience]

Good luck hyper I hope it all works out for you. My teenage Dd2 used to just take all her clothes

[hyperhops]

thanks Ineed
am begining to loose enthusiasm....so much STUFF
someone give me a kick and tell me to get up and finishing packing, oh and tell me again it WILL be worth it......

[Ineedmorepatience]

You are on the last lap now!! I take a ridiculous amount of stuff camping with us and it is daunting. I am sure you will be fine once you are there.

It actually gets easier the more trips you do because you learn what you really need and what you dont

[millimat]

If all else fails, you'll have a second job as a tourist guide with all your well planned info
There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes harks on dh as I moan about travelling hours in France and the weather being horrendous
Have fun.

[hyperhops]

millimat good idea - I may go round campsite offering my info and top day out tips for a small fee LOL

...repeats mantra: There is no such thing as bad weather, there is no such thing as bad weather......

almost packed. both cars jammed full .....sigh....

wanders off to browse trailers .....

[hyperhops]

right, today is the day!!
I'm up drinking coffee in preparation... then will have a long hot lovely shower before the last of the loading up. Dogs dropped off at my sisters,Spread sheet ready for ticking off...folder of info at the ready and both cars bursting at the seams, ignoring grey sky...happy camping here we come!!

[heronsfly]

Good luck today I'm rather jealous I love camping really, just never seem to miss the overnight downpours !
I was very surprised at the cost of 'wi fi' at the site we went to last weekend I think it was in the region of £3 for 2 hours £5 a day and £20 for the week, I must be very naïve I rather thought it might be free !

[millimat]

The upside to my atrocious weather in France is the free WiFi throughout the site!

[hyperhops]

evening all!
we are here, tent put up in horrendous wind!
have eaten in cafe and have been swimming - both big hits.
campsite quite crowded, someone had put up tent in our pitch on arrival but staff very helpful and moved us to neighbouring pitch.
weather dry but extremely windy - and cold! Thank goodness for fluffy socks, hats scarves and lots of blankets!
on the plus side wi-fi is free in reception/cafe and only £5 for 3 days for full site which I have coughed up for for dd1...who it has to be siad is not enjoying the experience...
right...off to consider if any of them can be persuaded to sleep yet.....

[hyperhops]

Survived the first night! Not to bad. Very very Wendy but tent survived. Dd1 not happy though and typically her air bed was the only one that seemed to deflate! Still, not bad on the whole. Porridge and bacon sandwiches for breakfast. Sun shining,yay. Swimming in a bit, then off to local seashore town for beach, wander round and Ice cream. Bolognese going in slow cooker for tonite.
I'm enjoying it all, but still need to convince dd1 and she!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Can you get dd1 a new air bed today or do a repair or swap around?
Glad you're enjoying yourself -hopefully dd1 might find a group her age on the campsite to hang out with a bit -but lets face it, at 14, its a tricky age.....

[Ineedmorepatience]

Well done hyper great news about the wifi for your Dd, I agree about 14 being a tricky age, try to build in something she will look forward to if you can.

I used to take a friend for mine when they were teens but I think you already have enough on your plate

Hope your spag bol is yummy and your Dd finds a like minded teen

[hyperhops]

Still here and still going well. Dd1 has cheered up considerably and we all actually had a great laugh day around inside tent singing silly songs and playing silly games last night.was lovely to have the whole family joining in.
We have endured some very strong winds,a couple of tents have had poles snap and 2 families packed up and want to a b&b last night!
Less wind this morning though thankfully. Dh had taken dc swimming and I'm in coffee shop!
Off out to Scarborough for the afternoon later.
I am making mental notes of things to improve on fur next time. We actually do need a bigger tent or two tents I think. And better storage...I seem Rio be forever tidying the tent and there is still stuff everywhere! Well be back onhere fur m more advice on huge tents when I get back!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Ooh, don't tent tidy.
Its a holiday!
See it as a lesson in chaos!

[Ineedmorepatience]

Thats great news hyper so pleased for you all

I agree with TBW and would add that is what the Ikea bags are for, you scoop up all the bits and chuck them in the bag then when the kids say "Wheres my this or wheres my that?" You sit on your arse with a cuppa and say "In the ikea bag!!"

Hope it continues to go well

[hyperhops]

afternoon all
Yes I probably do need to resist my tidying and orderliness urges!

Slight downturn in events. After a lovely day out in Scarborough yesterday,rounded off by fish and chips on the way home, ds2 and dd3 both started vomiting at 2 am last night - within seconds of each other this synchronised vomiting lasted till this morning...this is NOT fun in a tent in the pouring rain let me tell you! We suspect the sausages they both had from the fish and chip shop and don't think it is a bug. They have stopped being sick now but still feel a bit grim....
They don't want to go home today, so are dozing on airbeds...we will see how they go and hopefully will manage to stay tonight as planned...
On the positive side the sun is now shining, all other dc are fine and have been having great fun in the pool this morning.
About to do bbq for lunch time..(for those that can eat!) and keeping fingers crossed for speedy recovery for poorly dc...

have been doing some tent watching and eyeing up various models and set ups for next time!!

[Ineedmorepatience]

Oh no what a nightmare

You were doing so well too

I think you have coped brilliantly and so glad the well ones are still having fun.

You can spend the winter mooching for a new tent/tents

Good luck with packing up

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Oh you poor poor things.
Well if you can get past that and still be happy, which it seems you are, I think you've got it cracked!

[hyperhops]

we are home!
Thanks so much for all your tips and words of encouragement.
definitely much better than last year, despite stong winds, intermittent rain and vomiting children!
sadly though our boiler appears to have packed up in our absence and we have NO HOT WATER!! Do you know how long I have been dreaming of a long hot bath!
am going to start another thread in a bit for more specific tips for next year! first need to go and investigate the bloody boiler!