I could start this post by saying we are confirmed campers. When I think about it though, I haven’t actually had a proper tent holiday since before I was pregnant with Freddie. I can’t even pinpoint it now. Maybe the Summer before but I think not, so probably even the summer before that. If it was then, then that was the Summer when things were so bad that I actually didn’t go on our family holiday. I stayed home and worked, joining them all for the last few days. So it’s been a while now since I’ve really enjoyed a holiday of that sort, which is a shame, as we have an amazing family tent, as big as the ground floor of our house, if not bigger, solid, comfortable and warm. It’s a bit of a pain to put up for just a night or two though, so when we did have a couple of nights in a field last year, we took another smaller one instead, which is okay.
I have two big problems with tents. One is I have a bad back which doesn’t enjoy the floor; even with a good quality sleeping mat I tend to be really uncomfortable when I sleep in a tent. The second is that, unlike my family who seem to have some form of inner nuclear reaction going on, I get cold and when I feel cold I feel sick and I cannot get warm. In fact, the only thing that has ever kept me warm was having Josie in with me; I’m not sure if using a child as a hot water bottle is good parenting or not? My third problem, yes, okay I have three problems with it, is I end up going to the toilet about 5 times a night. After all those babies, my bladder is not the best and being cold just makes it worse!
I have a feeling that the days in our trusty tent may be over sooner than I would like. I’m not sure I have the energy, let alone the bladder, to keep at it. The last two holidays we’ve had, we’ve rented a two bed cottage and the KIDS have camped! (Bad parents….)
Recently a number of our friends have moved on from tents or upgraded; there have been newer caravans and there have been folding campers and trailer tents. Nothing has quite appealed to me, even though I can see the advantages. The storage would be a problem for us and so, I think, would the upkeep. I can see endless arguments over the choice of caravan insurance and how many crocheted blankets I was allowed to have in it. But I have to admit to a certain envy for the speed of getaway. I can imagine just having it all ready to go. We keep saying we’ll get a trailer and have it packed ready for a fast weekend away, but we never quite get organized.
Perhaps the trick is to be a bit more radical. Perhaps if I had no possessions or packing to worry about, if everything I owned was tucked into my campervan and I didn’t have too many choices or decisions to make, it would be easier. Take our friends Nic, Ady, Dragon and Star for example. Last year they awed us all by decluttering their lives down to a folding crate each and going WWOOFing; in their trusty camper Willow, they’ve been visiting organic farms and intentional communities, learning self sufficiency skills and a simpler style of living along the way. Their blog, Wondering Wanderers, in absolutely inspirational and has really made me think an awful lot about what is important. Stuff, certainly, is less important to me than it was. Family time, as I think this blog clearly illustrates, is a huge priority. So is living a lifestyle we enjoy, even if it comes at the cost of holidays abroad and posh clothes. Living right, not harming other people, not taking advantage of other people, working as a family team and within a community – all those things matter to me. It seems to me that by taking to the road in a campervan, the WW’s have encapsulated an awful lot of what make me happy. Being lethargic and can’t be bothered, whether due to toilets* or being cold or uncomfy, should not stop me living a life I can look back on with pleasure. It’s something that requires thought.
*I confess, I have limits. I’m never going to make lifestyle changes that involve compost toilets. Although admittedly, Nic once said we would never get her to sleep in a field.
Hmmm I’m sure children would love camping and husband very keen – even MIL has said she will take bigger two next year but I still can’t shake off memories of camping through childhood – mostly coz there was no money – through to D of E expeditions. Cold yes, wet yes, uncomfortable yes, toilets ugh. Could be persuaded perhaps to do the ‘glamping’ thing in southern Europe. Haven’t had a decent family holiday for ages, things always get in the way (not least being so busy that I never quite get round to organizing anything). *gathering yet more bad mother points*
Max and I had a pre set up French tent with fridge and beds once. It was great 🙂
You expressed perfectly my problems with camping! Managed 3 nights recently under the awning of my aunt and uncle’s caravan (kids in the caravan, baby between us) next to their house in Scotland, with full use of the facilities so couldn’t have been easier! It was fine as a way to attend a family party without paying for accommodation, but my back was very sore by the end of it, and I was cold (used baby as hot water bottle!) and totally paranoid about having a drink in the evening because of the not-quite-what-it-used-to-be bladder so I can’t say I’d do it for fun. The kids loved it though, of course, and so did their daddy!
Luckily mine don’t mind camping when we don’t!
Bizarre. Have just blogged about our new tent.
Hello 🙂 Nice to see you here. Will look on your blog.
Also bizarre because I am going camping this weekend with my SIL and her partner. We will sharing their tent, affectionately known as the Taj Mahal. (It is similar in scale to yours). I can only handle 2 days of sleeping on the ground at a time now (and I have never done it while knocked up before either) so our camping is limited to once a year. D.G. can’t see the point of owning/maintaining/insuring a trailer although we seem to be in the minority where we live for that view. We have talked about renting a trailer for a holiday sometime, is that a possibility where you are?
You can rent a static caravan; I epxect I could rent a camper, I might even be able to borrow one. Next on my argh list would be towing though – that terrifies me to even think about.
Yes, we don’t own a vehicle that can properly tow anything so we would likely end up renting a motorhome like Daddybean and my husband would do all the driving. (I’m in western Canada). I think what I refer to a “trailer” or RV would be a camper in the UK.
Max does tend to do all our driving; lately he’s been suggesting I drive the car and he follows on his motorbike. If we end up with a family of 7 again next year, that might yet happen!
Pah, you can NEVER have too many crocheted blankets xx
Well I agree. Preferably one more each time you get back!
You’ve just described almost exactly our holidays over the past few years. Camping is out of the question for us while I’m still pumping, and I have the very same issues with the cold and my bladder!
My mil offered us her camper recently, but it just wasn’t big enough for all of us. Woody and i always say we’ll get one when the children have all grown up, and maybe we will. I’ll definately be filling it with pretty blankets and cushions though, and hopefully a grand child or two.
x
Lalalala! to grandchildren!
I have to say that much to the embarrassment of my kids I always have a bucket handy for late night bladder issues! Actually recently I have downsized to an ice-cream tub with lid -this must be a decent tub – a Sainsbury’s value one isn’t up to the job!
I confess I have a rimmed nappy bucket with a flap lid which makes a great loo. With a bin liner and cheap panty pads in it, it is ideal. Mind you, I’m not very good at weeing when I can be heard and although Max has seen me do many things, I struggle to wee in a bucket when he is in the tent!
Have really missed the camping this year – last time we went camping was Maybank weekend. Ok we did have 2 weeks in a motorhome in Canada, which was great, but still miss being in the tent. As for a trailer – yup it has made a great difference to us – msot stuff packed and ready to roll, and also packing up is mcuh easier/less stressful/quicker (Cara – where in the world are you? sound like you are using trailer in the ‘something to live in’ type rather thna something small to put your stuff in)
As for cold/sleeping on the ground not an issue for me, but is for SWMBO – a decent (as in good enough qulaity.warm enough) sleeping bag is the answer here. As for sleeping – it’s a pain 9literlally) for h’s cronky hip – but a decent sleeping mat work pretty well for her. But it’s a very much a personal thing, and thicker isn’t always better. Someone with a bad back we know (waves at Tim) seems to prefer a thin self inflating mat. Just about the worst thing cold wise is an airbed though.
caravans don’t appeal at all really, did love the motorhome moslty for it’s ease of moving on, and having everything with you (oh, lets stop here for dinner/breakfast etc.). Wil probably get one one day
Motorhome, if I had a big drive and never wanted to go to Dartmoor, is probably the most appealing of the lot I think.
We tried so hard with self inflating mats, but the best nights sleep we both get is on an airbed now. It’s an ancient 70’s or 80’s one mind, not sure that modern ones are so good.
Caravans make me shudder 😉 Although I ought to stop saying that as I’m likely to get one with that attitude!
Have to say I’m really looking forward to camping under proper canvas and not polyester this weekend 🙂
Well, on past form, I suspect you’ll own one inside a year!
we are about to go and stay in a yurt for week in herefordshire with 6 children, we did it last year and it was so fab we are going back, we are staying in a yurt with materesses for the kids and a huge bed for us. It has a lovely woodburner in the middle to keep us cozy. It is on a small friendly site that is all enclosed with lots of privacy space and safe enough to let children go off and explore (even better not too expensive!).
A seperate building houses a kitchen with fridges and ovens and all cutlery plates mugs etc are already there, never thought that it would be something that i could do as I am not great at camping but I am so glad that we discovered it and if you would like details let me know.
claire
Nic has just had a week or so in a Yurt, it looked completely lovely. My first neighbour at HESFES was in a yurt. They look very cosy.
OK, after 5 months in a tent I think we’re clear we love camping ( and WWOOFing) but…. we’re shopping for a huge caravan! We don’t want a house for winter ( but have a job to return to) and, after seeing families living in a caravan, it appeals more. We’d go for a yurt but we want to pack up and move easily as well ( best of both worlds), and we can’t think of anywhere to live except a caravan site ( eurgghh- fine for a holiday if we have to, but we prefer a field to ourselves) to be close to my work. Until this trip I HATED caravans, and said I’d never have one.
For sleeping we have 6 inch thick foam which I covered in water resistent fabric. Bit if a pain to fit in a car (we got a transit van to fit our camping stuff BEFORE we planned this big trip!), but if you get a trailer….anyway, you can be comfy in a tent, honest! We also have a pee bucket- I’m not the only user 🙂 Much easier to use than taking child to a toilet or for cold dark wild wee xxx
I’d go mental putting our Khyam up and down weekly for 5 months. lol.
Love camping, but haven’t really been since I was pregnant with DD (2 next week!). Now that our little ones are getting a bit bigger, we are considering taking two tents, and having them sleep in one while we have the ‘big’ tent to ourselves. But our big tent is not really v. big – I can just about stand up in it… Bladder/night trips to the loo not much of an issue for me these days (although I always *used* to get up in the night before we had kids!) I find the first night the worst, but sleep bettter after that – although I do really need a proper pillow. As for staying warm, the key is to wear many layers! You can always strip off if you are too hot and it’s easier to do that than to get warm again. A vest, a short sleeve top, a long sleeve top, a sweater, a fleece (pref windstop) then a jacket/hat etc. At night I usually wear a long sleeve thermal top (sometimes with a fleece/sweater too) plus socks and thick/warm pyjama bottoms. hot water bottles are always an option – human or otherwise!