This time next week I shall be in a tent, camping for the first time ever.
I think I’m looking forward to it but I’m a bit worried about the cold, possibly wet part and a lot worried about the lack of internet and running water part. We had a trial run in the back garden last week but I had to come inside because I couldn’t get a reception on my phone and The Voice was on 😉
This was our practice tent but we’re going with some lovely friends who have loaned us their tent and even promised that they would help put it up for us.
For those fellow camping virgins out there, I wanted to share some things that I’ve learned this week to help you make an informed decision about whether camping is for you 😉
- Apparently I need to take lots of warm clothes, sleeping bags, thick socks and blankets…. And I’m still going to be cold even if the weather is nice!
- When you’re camping, kids wake up even earlier that they do at home.
- There are no branches of either Starbucks or Costa Coffee in the vicinity of our camp site.
- On the subject of where we’re staying, the website says camp site but I’m reliably informed that it’s really just a field.
- There isn’t a lit pathway to the toilet block so if I need a wee on a night, I have to walk through a minefield of tents, barbecues and empty bottles to get there.
- WiFi – what’s that?
- Some pitches have electricity – ours doesn’t as we booked quite late. This means that there is nowhere to plug my hair straighteners!
And to prove my lack of camping expertise, this is how the conversation with the owner of the field campsite went after I’d made my booking:
Man: Thanks for booking, I’ll send you a confirmation e mail straight away.
Me: That’s great, thank you. Do I need the e mail to pick up our keys.
Man: You haven’t been camping before have you love?
Me: Erm no, why.
Man: You’re bringing a tent so you don’t get keys from us. You do know you need to bring a tent don’t you….
I’m sure you understand now why I think I’m possibly not cut out for camping! I bet you can’t wait for the post camping update post can you?
I really hope that we enjoy it because it’s so cheap and would mean we could get away more often and see more of the country. The two night stay that we’ve just booked for next weekend cost £36 in total and even if they’d had the electric hook up pitches, it would have only been an extra £10.
If anyone has any camping tips for me, please let me know….
