Things you have learnt when camping this "summer" (using term loosely!!)

[Kbear]

I learnt that it is better to wake DH and tell him I am creeping across him to reach my bag than to make him jump and think we have an intruder

I learnt that waterproof on the label of a jacket doesn't necessarily mean that.

I learnt that no matter how many pairs of socks the kids have you will need to treble it.

I learnt that no sleep is not conducive to happy marriage. (High winds, tent flapping, stress of being blown into lagoon = no sleep).

learnt to face door downhill so torrential rain that runs in can run right back out again.
I alsoleanrt don't bother packing changes of clothes for a 12 yo cos they wont bother and on the train on the way home, when they remove the wellies they've worn all week, half the carriage will start gagging

littlefriendsusan, which festival were you at?

Littlefriend Susan - we were at Trevornick from the 30th July - to the 6th August in the Pond Field - nearest to the footpath to the beach but also nearest the golf club house!

Welcome btw - us campers especially are a friendly lot - if a little obsessed at times

LittleFriendSusan Did you go onto the River Dart site after Trevornick? We went onto Dornafield just outside Newton Abbott - easier to get home form Devon than Cornwall!

Filthymindedvixen, we went to Beautiful Days in Devon. 1st time there and it was fantastic, loved it (despite the mud!)

I still have two trips to go this year but I have learnt so far that:

You must always take wellies even though you are only going for three nights and the forecast is sunny.

It's great to make something really tasty at home, freeze it and then take for your first night's food. Fish curry is our favourite.

Always take a windbreak when you're camping by the sea.

Our cooker is rubbish and we should have spent more than £20 on one.

Camping is really expensive when you have to spend money on indoor activities because it is raining.

I still love Ewelease even though it was so much busier this year after being featured ion the Guardian.

I learnt how to cook on a small stove with no windshield without using one gas canister per cup of tea.

I learnt to simplify my stuff so that I can fit enough for 3 adults and 2 kids into a small supermini, with no roof rack.

I learnt that camping is actually a bloody easy way to look after kids. They play, you knit and gossip, and yet, oddly, you feel like a virtuous mummy.

I learnt that actually I hate commercial sites. Places with marked pitches best avoided by me.

Lucycat - yeah, we had 6 nights at Trevornick, 6 nights at River Dart, then 3 days at Beautiful Days nr Exeter. Had planned on setting off Monday morning, but actually ended up leaving Sunday evening and driving through the night. Glad we did as the kids slept most of the way (we did the same on the way there too. They woke up about 2 hours before we got there and it was a nightmare. Don't fancy 7 hours of that!) and we avoided the crowds getting out.

Easier for us to get home from Devon too (we're in North Lincs, so a fair trek) - we booked Beautiful Days first and sort of worked our holiday around it Thought it best to end with the festival rather than start with it - good job too, judging by the state of the tent!

Would like to go back to Cornwall / Devon next year, probably more St Ives / Hayle way on though. That's where we originally wanted to go this year, but the campsites we liked the look of were all booked up for that week.

I have learned that even a 2 berth 20 yr old caravan will always trump (beat) a tent .

lol @ trumpy caravans too many beans?

We actually preferred the Dartmoor countryside but with the Cornish beaches littlefriendsusan.

You may have seen me eating lots of cream teas at Widecombe

We had a lovely 'swim' at Dartmeet.

oh ar$e, lucy beat me to it

was going to say that trump does seem like an appropriate word in the context of caravans.

I learnt that the way to avoid the 3am pjamas/camping hair trip to the loo is to sip whiskey instead of drinking beer.

Trum is verp appropriate In most cases as we are usualy eating beans and Fray Bentos pies .

We have cupboard space for lots of alcohol and proper glasses.

Plus you can drink yourself silly inside not get eaten with midges then just lieback and you are in bed, I can almost pee in my porta potti while keeping my toes under the duvet, hell I could probably pour my self a drink and cook a 3 course meal while still ensconced in my duvet on the convenient fold out bed/seat/diner combo.

KBEAR
We are camping in Poland. Many campingsites are locally run, where there are pitches around in the forest (or just about ON the beach), with electric points hidden about the bushes) It has not been "laid out", but you drive in and just find a nice place. There may be some picnic benches carved from logs dotted around. And a simple shower and toilet cottage, with running water for washing dishes. Most have playgrounds, and some even have good restaurants, set back so as not to intrude. We spend between £3 to £6 per night to pitch with a campervan and 4 people. On one such restaurant we paid £12 for dinner and soft drinks for 4 people. My 5 year old had wind surfing tuition on our doorstep for £3!

Oh that sounds perfect.

I learnt that flip flops are a good idea in communal showers.

I learnt to ignore DH when he says he has keys, the power cable, the power drill, the lead the connects tv to dvd...

I learnt that I adore my own bed.

I learnt that my children love the freedom of a camping holiday and we'll be going again soon.

I learned that you can never wear too many clothes at night. Dh even slept with his shoes on one night!

I learnt that all you need are good friends and lots of booze and chocolate for a fab trip

oh and a tent ice box camp beds chairs stove swing ball table .............

I learnt...

I can cope with rain but not gale force winds. Very scary

I will always overpack...

To ignore text weather forecasts which say Norfolk will be sunny everyday.

You can never have too many fruit juice cartons.

Underfloor heating is the most wonderful thing for those 3 am loo trips

Oooh, I also learnt that your zip always sounds 10x louder at night when getting up for those loo trips and I also learnt that I seemed to be the only one on the entire campsite that needed to get up to the loo.

That when having sex in your tent you need to turn off the heater as it creates Silhouette as much as your lamp that you turned off.

I learnt you need to be at langdale by thursday on a bank holiday weekend to get a pitch,

I learnt not to reverse a car on a windy uphill road with a steep drop in the middle of the night- or that will be where you will spend the night.

I've learnt not to overpack for short trips . It's taken me 15 mins to load up the car with everything. Havn't done the clothes of fresh food yet but that won't take long tomorrow.

I've also learnt that I love buying camping stuff