Tent Sniffing for Beginners

I love dressing up for festivals. As a teen I loved fancy dress parties, toga parties were a popular diversion when I was at school, tarts and vicars was another. I once held a garden party where everyone had to come in the national dress of a country and bring a plate of food (and some booze) from that country - all great fun. As I got older the opportunities to dress up seemed to lessen, and while I plan on ballgowns and tiaras when I'm 80ish, in my 40s I fear it would either get me arrested or ensure that the teen and Dear Husband would disown me forever. How lucky then for festivals! Festivals are well known for funky wellingtons, girls in short shorts wearing feathers and flower head bands, and for groups of young men in onesies. They often have a theme and a specific fancy dress day (not that you can't dress up every day!) and many people go to amazing lengths with their costumes. This year I'm excited for the 'Wild' Theme at Camp Bestival The usua

There are lots of places I like, there is a country road near my house that follows the sweep of the valley and the view is lovely, proper English countryside, mixed farms, sheep downs, little copses of trees. It's beautiful, but it's not my favourite place.  I also love California where I've visited a friend twice, gorgeous weather, skies that stretch for miles, water lapping on sandy beaches, but that's not my favourite place either. My very favourite place, the place where I'm happiest is a moveable one. My happiest place is in my tent. I have three tents. One is Nylon, it was free and while it's better than no tent, it's not that great. It's just a tent. But my other two are canvas and they are both beautiful. I'd be hard pressed to pick only one. I like being in a tent for so many reasons, it usually means I'm on holiday and when I camp I can let time pass, I don't check my watch, I eat when I'm hungry and start drinking whene

Once upon a time I went camping, I thought I'd packed everything. I had food, tins of beans, soup, noodles, sachets of sauce, a block of cheese, bread. I had beer, wine, all the essentials. I arrived at the campsite. Pitched my lovely tent. Sat for a while in my camp chair to rest and take stock. Then I realised a beer would be nice. I took a bottle from the cooler and...yikes! No bottle opener! Panic...then the decision to move to wine and seek the bottle opener later...but wait..no corkscrew! Lordy this day was going from bad to worse! I made a cup of tea and decided to have some bread and cheese...but what's this? only plastic cutlery? Nothing to slice with? Grrr I shall have to warm a can of beans and ...NO CAN OPENER!!! That's it! This has gone far enough! This camping lark will be a disaster unless someone has a device that can open beer, wine bottles, cans, slice cheese.. and so ladies and gentlemen of the camping world may I present...the Swiss Army knife(aka

Festival season is coming and first on my list this year is a bit of a 'spring fling'. A new festival for me so I'm quite excited! Here is what I know so far... This year (2015) Elderflower Fields will take place from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th May (which is a bank holiday and the start of summer half term for most schools). It is going to be held in Pippingford Park, in the heart of the Ashdown Forest. Pippingford is big, beautiful and wild! It’s got loads of space to run around in and stunning views across rugged heathland and ancient woods. Is also really easy to get to from both Brighton and London... The tickets are currently at Early Bird prices and are Adult Weekend –  £95 + booking fee Child (5-16) Weekend –  £45 + booking fee Under 5 Weekend –  £0 + booking fee But I have some tickets to giveaway! (Do I hear you squeeeeee? are you excited yet?) For nervous festival goers this could be a great first festival, they have flushing loos! and