camping - how much stuff.....!!!!

[mummydoc]

i am a camping virgin - my dh is very keen as are dc, so i have agreed to go this weekend, am quite excited , but oh my god howm much stuff do you need, 3 yrs ago we went to a mobile hom ein france for 2 weeks and managed to get everything + pushchair+travel cot+ bike into my ford focus, now we do not seem to be able to get everything in for 2 days camping ! by the time we have unloaded and set up it will be time to do it all again inreverse ....am i gogin mad.....

I know, I think we travel quite light, but apparently not! We have a Touran with a roofbox and we can just about squeeze it all in and leave the poor dog a small space in the boot. I leave the carpacking to DH he is very territorial about it and thinks I just fling it all in. He has a "system" that apparently a woman could never understand it, and ignores my pleas about the poor dog needing a bit more room. Usually he ends up with a potty on his head round the first corner! When its done DH's hands go on his hips and he nods his head and we are off.

I haven't any advice really except good luck and maybe a new car? And trim down to the essentials, no duvets or pillows for us!

Really hope you have a good weekend

roof box!

tinateaspoon my dh is the same if i dare pack anything it is removed.

no no no ...i willnot get a roofbox, i draw the line - reall yif we were off to woolley grange ( as i suggested) it would be one small bag between us ...please tell me i am goging to enjoy this ...was excited now feeling ever so slightly sick...this is a list o ghtings i do not like:

mud, dirt, sand in my bed/room , communal showers, getting cold or hot and sweaty in bed, i can only sleep wiht my own feather pillow , i need to clean my teeeth and dring a cup of coffee before speaking in the morning, i hate clutter and stuff, talking to other people when on holiday...packing up to go or come home......

i really do not think i am cut out for camping - how canit be seen as a rest when you have to prepare all meals, getting a coffee involves lighting a stove and boilin water in apan and then washing up ina communal area, traipsing accross a field to go to the loo ....oh i could go on...please positives for me .....

I have the camping stuff spread out in my bedroom at the moment. I'm making a list with things like "small washing up bowl. Disinfectant wipes. Sieve?. Chopping Board... etc "

Seriously, what can you leave out? Chairs and table (picnic rug). Duvets (pyjamas or blankets take up less room).

Can you split fold the back seat of the car and put the child seats closer together?

You will have a FAB time - the weather forecast is great

i love camping but i have a roofbox and lots of clever camping shit.

also HAVE I MENTIONED I AM GETTING A CAMPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

weather good that is aplus i think...also campsite dh booked has a luxury spa onsite so i can retreat to that i suppose + an organic luxury coffe shop ....have quite enjoyed buying poncey middle class stripey picnic set with sweet litte matching salt and pepper shaker amd rug, but now reality biting...i fear it is not going to be like a boden catologue....

You don't have to prepare all meals. There are cafes, pubs, restaurants and take-aways if you don't feel like cooking.

Keep the food really simple. Lots of snacks, lots of wine. Then you can sit in the evening sunlight enjoying the ambience while the children frolic merrily around you.

Let the dc do the washing up as a treat. Mine are still young enough to fall for this.