Sunday 5 August 2012

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A Glamper not a Camper!


I have come to a final, irreversible, earth shattering conclusion this year, that despite having the biggest and most equipped tent on the site, despite having a queen size air bed and a king size duvet, despite taking provisions for just about every eventuality for the kids...........

I am not a camper! 


There you have it. Remind me of this next year when I am about to change my mind!

 This is our 9th year on this particular camp - it is a church camp with about 8000 campers all there at the same time so you can imagine the sanitary arrangements! The kids have activities all morning and evening which they love and we cant get away with not going anymore - I even went with a 5 week old baby one year! This year, as in previous years, it just rained every day and not just a shower, the sort where you are soaked within minutes of stepping out in it. If we lived in warmer climes, then maybe a tent is feasible, but in this weather, it is an endurance for me rather than a holiday....or maybe I have just reached the age where enough is enough? 

So is the solution .... 

A caravan !? 


We have been eyeing up other peoples caravans, peering in through the windows, hoping not to catch them in any compromising situations and there are some lovely little vans ( actually not so little ) out there! You can get some superb awnings with sleeping pods for the kids too so they feel they are not missing out on the camping side. There is also the possibility of being able to plug in my straighteners - yes I went a whole week and did not straighten my hair... and I survived, although I got told constantly that I looked tired - damn those under eye bags! I am definitely more of a glamper, needing my luxuries, than a hard core camper who is able to stand the wet and cold. 

So, despite some high points, I am home, exhausted, with mounds of washing, dirty children and a resolve not to camp again! 

And a few photos of the tent........ and yes, one of me,to give you a taste of reality, with un- washed, un- straightened hair, in a hoodie, clinging on to a glass of wine!

Before the tent got trashed!

Probably the only sunny day?


My kitchen!

One hand for cooking, one for drinking!



Are you braver than me and do you enjoy the camping adventure ?



12 comments:

  1. Hats off to you - I am well impressed. I can imagine I would be popping prozac with one hand with wine in the other :) But your kids will have great memories of camping when they get older...and that thought will probably mean you'll be pitching that tent again next July! Welcome home! Avril x

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  3. I've tried everything in order to enjoy camping. But not only is it boring to me, but like you I brought all my bedding from home and used a high quality instant mattress and was still not comfortable. So, we gave all our camping equipment away to our tent city homeless dwellers. When they saw me start to unload our truck they swarmed us in delight for all the free equipment. I'm thrilled someone is using it in comfort cause I sure wasn't comfy.

    I have always been curious about those pop up things though. You're braver than me!

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    1. What a lovely idea to give it to those who need it!! I'm not sure about brave - I am very vocal about my moaning when Im there! x

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  4. I applaud your bravery and after seeing your kitchen - I'm pretty sure it's not for me - but the kids can be persuasive can't they? I like the one hand for cooking and one hand for drinking - I think that would be me too and I don't even drink!

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    1. They gang up against you don't they!? I think I can cope with a caravan though - some have full size cookers in them too! x

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  5. Caravaning is def the way to go! I'm hoping for one but a kitchen is on the cards so I'm not pushing it! ;-) Glad you survived! xx

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    1. I feel bad for moaning as everyone else was so happy and chirpy about camping and enjoys it! I just don't and I ache like an old lady. ha ha ha. x

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  6. I haven't been camping for 10 years ahaha :).

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  7. I camped once in my early 20s and that was enough to put me off ever since!! I would be clinging to the wine bottle never mind the glass!:)On the other hand if the weather had played ball I'm sure you would have enjoyed it...your tent looks great! We were in a tiny yoke lol:)
    Have a lovely week Claire!
    ~Anne xx

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    1. I was a little possessive about the bottle! And 'wine o'clock' did move forward an hour or two ! Can't complain too much as I did have a fab holiday in Cornwall in June that did not involve camping! x

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  8. Claire, your tent is amazing!! :-) I'm with you on the caravan! Enjoy being back to home comforts. Xxxx

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