Oh my goodness in a moment of madness I've booked a Feather Down Farm weekend

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

Some of you will know that I've been desperate to go camping for a while but haven't felt able to risk it with ds1 (severely autistic).

So I got the brochure.

Dh was scared about ds1 escaping, but we reckon I could sleep in the box bed with him and he won't be able to get out without waking me.

I was talking to my Mum about it and when I mentioned the word camping ds1 starting shouting and pointing at the brochure and out the door, so I figured he wants to go.

He has come on so much this year that it might work- sometimes we can even reason with him now. And he understands so much more than he did.

DS2 and ds3 are keen as well.

I've booked somewhere about an hours drive away so if it's a disaster we can escape home

Our first family holiday in...... erm 5 years.

DS1 keeps grabbing the brochure and shouting. There are quite a few weeks until we go......

Apologies in advance if you've booked a stay the same time as us

Those Featherdown Farm things look s-o-o-o-o cool. I like the concept of camping, but am very much a flush-toilets kind of gal. So camping luxe/lite for people with more money than sense - oh yes indeedy, that's got my name written all over it! We tried to book into one but it was full when we could go.

Its such a great idea all round - I do hope that the farmers are making money out of it.

(We were looking at going to one about 20 miles away from home and my DCs are entirely NT, so nothing to feel embarassed about. I also thought it would be good to be close enough to do a midnight flit if push came to shove and I got a bit precious!).

Farking hell JimJams,I have been here four years this year and your wee man has come on in leaps and bounds.

Well done.

Sounds great!

I've been tempted by them in the past. Let us all know how it goes

I hope you have a wonderful break

I'm just hoping we can explain 'this is ds1's tent and that tent over there that looks exactly the same is not ds1's tent' Otherwise he'll be in someone else's bed (he should be OK)

Not remotely worried, just thought it would be funny if it was a mn take over of the place...

How lovely! (The holiday I really want to go to FDF myself and that DS1 has made so much progress over the last couple of years)

hi just read a review of featherdown farm in the more magazine's 'we love uk' feature'. I too have requested a brochure

Sorry to butt in at a late stage but have message for JimJams - we've just come back from Rickham (lovely, btw) but just wanted to warn you that there is no mobile reception. I'm on Orange, DH is on Tmobile and neither of us could get reception anywhere on the farm. Was quite refreshing for us but understand it could be big problem for you.

okay thanks abby.

I might buy a loc8tor and sew the transmitters into ds1's clothes or something. I think they emit radio waves.....

Let me know if you want any other info - was lovely and the farmer and his family couldn't be nicer to the kids... who went pretty feral it has to be said.

Would this work for you JJ?

Child Personal Safety Alarm?

Ooh that does look good FourArms. I think the loc8tor is similar. Wonder if those teddy things are in the UK?

will be in cornwall next week, do you want me to bring the locator JJ and will we be able to meet up, email?

ooh yes please MB.