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).

Me too, I can't help myself when I see camping bits on sale.

My purchases this year have been a day tent, a kitchen stand, a twin hob cooker and probably lots of other things I ahve forgotten.

I want some bette airbeds and new chairs next.

I know that we are fair weather campers.
I learnt that you can't rely on the British weather in summer for camping & we have now booked a cottage in Cornwall for October half term in order to get a 'proper' holiday

Littlefriendsusan!!

We were at Beautiful Days too! Come and talk to me and Sugarfree about it immediately!

I learnt that I take 2 bags too many, with unneccesary stuff (now in attic to be left at home next time)
I learnt that I only wear about half the clothes I take.
I've learnt that a clothes horse put in at the last minute as an afterthought was a brilliant idea.
I've learnt that using a camp bed with a blanket over, hides everything underneath so the tent looks spic and span!
I've learnt that going on a fully catered camp holiday is brilliant!
I leant that next time I'll take 2 seperate single ready beds and not one double one.
I learnt that an airbed with a hole is impossible to sleep in and it's impossible to locate the hole to repair it.
I learnt that Adsa's have good, cheap airbeds!

I learnt that buying a nice new decent quality tent was no guarantee that it wouldn't leak.
That if you have a recurring dream about water dripping in your eyes, then perhaps it really is........
That if you start a jokey cheery thread on the camping section in an attempt to raise a smile, no-one will notice!

filthymindedvixen , only just seen your reply as my broadband's been playing up!

Was it your first time there? We loved it, really want to go again next year and are trying to convert everyone we know LOL. No-one's we've mentioned it to has even heard of it... until now! Where were you camped? We were in family camping, near the storytelling circle, next to the climbing frame

LFS - we have been for the past 4 years. My sons adore it (probably even more than us Our friends were camped very close to you but we were braving the campervan field for the first time (rather noisy). We have always been big Levellers' fans. This year I particularly loved Three Daft monkeys, Dreadzone (as always) Afro-celt sound ssystem. How old is/are your child/ren? Sugarfree and I held Mumsnet's most exclusive meet-up last year (ie me and her ) andthis year we got our families togehter. Twas great, wasn't it? despite the mud! We'll meet you next year then, 5pm at the Otter bar near the big top . Last one there gets the beers in...

Festivals are more fun with other families.

that a B&Q orange bucket is a vital peice of equipment
that it will be colder than you expect
and using newspaper to insulate really works
that there was nowhere to hang stuff up to dry so i have bought a foldable hanging rail so we can hang up wet coats inside the tent
that we can happily survive 6 days without access to a TV.

I learnt that canvas bell tents are amazing and can revolutionise the camping experience.

I learnt that you CAN go camping with a 3 and half month old baby.

I learnt that festivals with said baby are less fun and that if you are kind enough to let your beloved dp stay out late dancing the night away while you go to bed with baby a potty is essential(for you) as otherwise you have to 1.wake up baby,
2.stumble through campsite in the dark and
3.use a festival toilet in the dark whilst holding a sleepy, floppy baby.

Alternatively you can hold on for THREE hours. Which is uncomfortable. To say the least.

I like camping when we take our car. I could never do camping without the car.

Camping is best with lots of wine.

Camping is better with another family - who also have children the same age.

Camping is the one holiday where you have to lay out all the clothes you want to pack for the children and then double it (instead of the usual folklore of laying ot all out and halving it).

I like "posh" campsites. I love Clippesby Hall in Norfolk.

Camping is great for children. It builds a range of skills and confidence that cannot be replicated elsewhere. My sister refuses to camp with her 7 yr old. I think they miss out.

We sometimes camp for the weekend at a campsite a twenty minute drive from us - on the edge of London. You could be very far from home. Lots of friends together, all the children together. Always good fun. The M25 is almost visible but it doesn't matter -we feel far from home, relaxed and always have a good time.

I don't like the massive amount of packing/remembering of stuff to go camping.

I do not like the two full days it often seems to take me to "get straight" at home after a weeks camping. The washing is a nightmare!

ooh scotagm - where is your site near london, am always looking for somewhere close.. but our current faves are still an hour+

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4476

www.campingintheforest.co.uk/our_sites__locations/england/postern_hill.aspx

I LOVE CAMPING!!!

DH just said that I should have learnt that if you go to bed at 2.30 after drinking copious amounts of red wine I will be tired and emotional the next day, though we both agree that I probably wont have learnt that!

I learnt that canvas is so much nicer than nylon

I learnt that not all parents are as sensible as you think they should be (sending kids into woods with knives is not a good idea - not me BTW)

I learnt that a khampa khazi is not necessary (though if there was room I would have taken it!) but that fairly lights and bunting are

3rdnparty

We go to Lee Valley campsite, Sewardstone Rd, Chingford, E4. Really close to Epping forest and a bus (in summer season) that links with Walthamstow tube station, so great for people who want to explore London but also camp. I imagine it will be very popular during the Olympics

Alternatively, try Debden campsite on the Essex border.

I learnt that you should always check that the EHU lead reaches the plug point thingy (whatever they are called) before you get the tent set up..

NEVER EVER assume that the sleeping bags were left in the folding camper after the last trip, always check.....

i learned that tipis (real ones with 24 ft poles) are a beauty to behold but a bloody nightmare to sleep in if you dont know how to put them up properly, its raining and you havent worked out how to manage the smoke flow from your woodburner.

I learned that Dozer mats are a godsend, and make for a comfy night, even in aforementioned tipi.

Next year Im sleeping in the bell tent......

I've learned that camping is much better with heated shower blocks, EHU, a campfire and LOADS of blankets/sleeping bags/duvets.