Two last questions before the off ...

[Pawslikepaddington]

We are pretty much set to go for our camping trip (first ever, mummy tres tres scared as I am on my own with an easily bored dd, and am v unsure I can get the tent up on my own!!!).

1. Is a bucket with a lid a necessity? And am I using it for what I think I am? A friend said you should do it al fresco behind the windbreak , but am thinking not too pleasant at 3am?

1. Is there any reason I should not take deck chairs as opposed to camping chairs? I find them SO much more comfortable, but no camping shop sells them, so am thinking they are not good for camping?

1. It depends on whether you think you'll be needing to use said bucket at 3am or not. I've never taken one camping but then I have never taken DS camping - it may be more useful for a child.

1. If you are camping next to your car or can manage to carry them from your car to campsite then there is no problem with deck chairs.

Have a brilliant time and good luck with the tent!

Ok, have another-does anyone cook using something like this? I have a trangia but have fallen in love! Or use these outside?

Am really sold on the whole no phone, no music, no tv, just books and snap and swingball get away from it all mentality of camping (and am SO mad I hadn't discovered bell tents before I bought my dome tent!), so want to use these while I can (but have torches and LED lights/lanterns for inside the tent).

Ooh - I like both of those. The bonfire is a tad pricey though - could turn out as value for money if you intend to camp often though. We use a wee gas stove like this one now as I found the trangia took sooooo long to heat anything.

They have lovely stuff on that web site. I love the idea of the bunting!

We don't bother with a bucket and lid
None of us wee at night...and dd (6)when she was little used the tommy tippy travel potty ...we still take that if we can fit it in( but more often don't )
If you can get the chairs in your car and find them comfortable then just take them

Thank you for the replies-am so excited!! We are planning 5 trips this summer (at least), so we are talking a LOT of camping!! Don't quite have enough money for the bonfire yet, but am hankering after one at the mo. Trangia only being used for heating through thawed stew/curry/soup, and the whole point of camping to me is the total lack of gadgetry-no speed cooking for me (he he)! Can see me using the bonfire as a funky accompaniment to BBQ's too for the more saucy-based things (after the kids are in bed obviously, or with a fence around it!) -I love it! xx

1. I have never taken a bucket camping and would think nothing of going in the bushes if I needed to at 3am.

1. Deck chairs are fine if you have a car and they fit in.