Tent Sniffing for Beginners

Last Sunday DD and I cycled to our local Asda. It is a new store, about a 25 minute cycle away (at our leisurely pace) and most of the journey is along a cycle path so its rather nice. This Sunday dawned sunny and bright. I had almost forgotten that this sort of weather existed. I decided, much to DD's lazy horror, that we should repeat the experience. Last week I treated myself to a cycle helmet (DD insisted, because I made her wear hers) it is pink and has old style tattoo patterns on it, so appropriate. We kitted up and set off. It was lovely to get out, the weather was as lovely as it looked, the trip gave us exercise, fun, was good for the planet and enabled us to buy some essentials, some cake mix (more of that later) and some new boots (not sure how that happened !) What a nice way to spend a morning. I'm planning on making it a family tradition. Starting now. I may also include a fried breakfast at the cafe next time!

It's coming up to Christmas. It's cold out and most tent campers have packed the canvas away until spring. (not all of you though I bet! and I STILL have 'camping in deep snow' on my bucket list..) So finding things to blog about is not always easy. Then I realised that gifts for the next season would be a good theme. This is not a sponsored post . And it's based on things I own and love and things I don't own but really deeply desire for camping. A Top Ten Gift Ideas for the Camper A Storm Kettle . I have a Kelly kettle , though other brands are available. Boil water in moments using sticks and other fuel found around. It seems like an expensive item but it will last for ever (barring bear attack, being trampled by herds of wildebeest, meteor strike etc) and saves money by enabling you to cook without buying fuel. It also makes cooking fun, slightly dangerous, and entertaining. Feel like a proper mountain man, and have a great excuse to send the kids ...

Keeping clean at a festival. Ah to wash or not to wash, that is the question... Many people queue for the showers at a festival. The shower queue starts early and grows as the day goes on. Many people don't mind queueing it seems, especially if they have nothing to go and see during the day, many young festival goers are clubbers in the real world and therefore quite nocturnal! But if you are a parent is it worth the long (and often boring) wait with you kids? Is it essential to shower at all - or even wash, after all most festivals are only a few days. Shower before you leave and shower when you return should suffice surely? Oxford Playhouse at Wilderness Festival - Bath Time  Ah but the smell, the joyous aroma of unwashed bodies that have been sweating in a field and staggering through vomit, clinging to a grimy portable chemical toilet in the fading twilight... Camp Bestival  Yes maybe you have a point maybe you will need a wash at a festival. But queueing f...

They are not a popular shoe in many circles. The first time I saw a pair of Crocs was in a hospital environment, used as they are very spongy (so comfortable for those, like nurses, who are on their feet all day) and easily cleaned. They were (apparently) invented as a boat shoe. They don't absorb water, they are non slip on deck and if they fall off they float! They have holes around the edge to let water drain too! They are extremely ugly . No amount of fun colours is going to disguise that. But the Croc, the classic style clog with heel strap, is not a shoe that was ever made for beauty. It was made for function. And it's a little gem! You can slip a Croc on to bare feet or over socks, they will even fit on over a onesie (another fashion faux pas?). They are perfect for all seasons. And as a camper or festival goer you really should have a pair. Left by the door of the tent they are perfect for slipping on to nip to the toilet block at night. A little mud does not...

So back from Camp Bestival and with only a day or two until Wilderness I read a fab article on the BBC website confirming my (and Stornoway' s) belief that we are Free Range Humans and need to camp more!! While at Camp Bestival  I met some rather delightful and scrumptious 'mummy bloggers' (and ladies that tweet) and many of them had small children with them, even babes in arms! And when I tweeted about it I had a few parents show interest in camping but who were also nervous novices to the whole 'life under the stars' thing. So I thought I'd compile a few top tips. I have camped with DD since she was 8, we go to several festivals a year and camp in between. We have camped from March to November and have met and talked to many parents camping with young'uns. (We listen out for parenting/camping tips too when we camp...nylon and canvas are thin...)   Camping is not scary. Any one can do it. You don't need lots of stuff. Too...

I am missing being under canvas. Yes the joy of canvas - and when I say that I'm not euphemistically referring to all tents, I actually own two proper canvas tents. I have a nylon tent too and it's fine, waterproof, light, easy to erect (steady!) but it's not really the same. it doesn't have the authentic camping feel, it has the wrong smell.  Ah the smell of a canvas tent, the lovely warm summer smell of the tent as it warms in the sun, or the autumn smell as it dries after rain.  Rain which on a nylon tent is noisy but in a canvas tent has an oddly solid 'thump' to each drop, leaving one to assume that the Armageddon of storms is taking place when actually it's a light shower. At least the wind doesn't bend the firm steel poles of my canvas tent though. The canvas might snap and crack like a whip but the tent stays firm in the onslaught of a spring wind. I am longing to be back in the tent (and playing with my new storm kettle again!) with ...

I went camping with my brother and his daughters last week. We both leave our spouses at home as they don't see the same delight in tents as we do. We stayed at Hurst View in Lymington i n the New Forest, we had perfect weather and the campsite was lovely. Big, and quite comercial but very friendly and lovely walks to the coast, nearby pubs, lots for the kids to do. The well maintained showers and toilets were always clean. The fields were large but not regimented. Open fires were allowed and loud music was banned after 10pm (and patrols did come and tell people if they over stepped the mark) The kids enjoyed crabbing the most! All in all we had a great time.