1st one of the year

Sooooo........, We've done it, broken the fast and successfully completed our first camp of the year. 4 of the most beautiful days in an even more beautiful campsite in Staffordshire.

After all my going about making sure you can put your tent up on your own and the like, it came to my attention, after the tent was up an I was well on the way to attaching my awning/kitchen/dumping ground that I had never actually done this on my own before (this being a new addition to my considerable camping equipment last year). My tent at the front is much taller than I am and I simply couldn't get the awning over it, so after much swearing and shouting and 'no mummy isn't cross with you, mummy is cross with the tent-ing', I had to admit defeat and ask the very lovely couple camping next to us for a hand. After another 30 minutes we were all camped and ready for our holiday.

This fortunately was the only unexpected problem..... oh apart from forgetting my can opener which resulted in a quick run to the nearest supermarket, problem solved..........(if only Sainsburys did a tall person carry out service to assist you with awnings!)

Anyway, I digress. We spent the first night chatting to our new found camping buddies around the communal campfire......Bliss. By 8:30 my wee one was worn out and was asleep almost as soon has her head hit her pillow. The joys of plenty of fresh air and exercise! I spent the remainder of the evening reading (this is an alien concept for me, to actually pick up a book of my choosing and read it cover to cover, having just completed a degree).

Day 2 was for exploring the surrounding area, we took a stroll down to the farm which runs the campsite, as on their website they advertise a tea room. On arrival we were informed that the tea room was being re-floored but the lady would gladly make us some refreshments to take in the garden, refusing to take a penny for it for the inconvenience. I can honestly say that when she arrived with a huge pot of earl grey, a jug of orange juice, 2 cornettos, a plate of biscuits and some cake I was shocked. I would not in a million years consider sitting in the beautiful gardens of a 17th century manor house, sipping earl grey and eating ice cream, biscuits and cake as an inconvenience at all, but maybe that's just me?

We managed on day 3 and 4 to take full advantage of my National Trust membership having days out at Sudbury hall (with it's museum of childhood.....YAY!!) and Keddleston where parts of the Duchess with Kira Knightly was filmed.

And today sadly we had to return to our every day life. Packed up in record time, with little one in charge of peg collecting as usual. ready for our next camping adventure on the 7th of June.

Things I have learnt this holiday.

1. I can't put my awning up on my own (This will be countered by attaching a weight to the other side of the awning and thrown over the tent. Update on this to follow after initial testing).

2. Double check the essentials: Lamps, torches, air bed pumps,,,,oh and can openers, in case for some reason, which you have no recollection of doing, you have removed them of your camping stuff at some point over the winter.

3. Eccentric campsite owners will give you free stuff if they feel you have been inconvenienced

4. Compost loos do not smell!

5. The real words to twinkle twinkle little stare are indeed.......
                                      " Twinkle twinkle little star
                                        Owl wonder what you are
                                        Up and on the weasel high
                                        Like a Simon in the sky"

6. My daughter cannot look in her own mouth no matter how hard she tries and whatever strange face she pulls.

Now.....................To unpack the car..........Possibly the worst part of camping.............Bye for now
                                   

The Basics

So here we go again, another year of Happy Camping just me and my 3 year old. I can understand that venturing off on your own with small children may be a daunting prospect to anyone who has either never been camping before or has only been camping with adults. Well fear not I'm here to regale you with our experiences to hopefully inspire a few more single parents to take the plunge.

Firstly a little about me (YAWN) I know but in order to understand how I manage to have wonderful camping holidays you'll need to know a little about the way I think.
I'm a single mum in my 30s, I have 3 children but there is a large gap in the ages so my older children no longer come camping with us (obviously just not cool enough) so off we go, just me and the wee one.

I'm a strong believer in "have children will travel", cooped up indoors with only a TV to amuse them or even worse a slightly bonkers Mum mustn't be good....... right? And what's more exciting than sleeping under the stars, toasting marshmallows on an open fire and making up stories/singing songs/generally being a bit silly.

I don't stress about things, if my little girl gets muddy or grass stained or even decided she is going to bring a Duck to visit the tent (yes a Duck) it really doesn't matter. Dirt will wash and Ducks can be returned, albeit a little shamefully, to very understanding farmers. What matters is that She and I have had loads of fun.

I make do and mend, improvise and generally adapt to all camping situations with good humour and just a sprinkling of patience. Almost always something happens that you wish hadn't but what can you do! You'll forget a tin opener (someone will lend you one) or in the worst case scenario you'll accidentally set fire to your hand (it's a long story) but even then I finished my camping holiday with a cheer in my heart and a Wine in my hand.

Finally, I always remember it's my holiday too, I'm not just a portable skivvy to cook, clean and wash while I'm away. I get my little one involved and anyone else that happens to join us too for that matter. Everyone mucks in and helps.

Here are my top tips for camping on your own with small children.

1. Make sure you have a good tent - if you are not sure if camping will be for you see if you can borrow one. If it rains and your tent leaks and you have to sit for hours in a tiny space getting cold and dripped on whilst trying to keep small people happy you will have a miserable time. My tent has a largish living area where all the windows are see through (obviously there are covers for the night time) but this means even if it's tipping it down it's light and spacious.
2. Make sure you know how to put your tent up before you go. I'm sorry to be so cruel but it is kind of funny watching people who have no idea try and put up a tent. If you have the added distraction of trying to keep an eye on the small people at the same time the ordeal will be very stressful. I strongly recommend tunnel tents for ease. You can put the poles in, peg it down at the back and heave-ho it into position ( takes me about 10 minutes).
3. Pack for all weather types. I have been caught out both ways, when the weather has given lovely I have had to make a mad dash for the nearest charity shop just for some dry clothes, but equally my poor little one has had to run round camp sites in her vest and pants because the overcast with light drizzle forecast has turned into 28 degrees of scorching sunshine ( I always have sun cream and a hat in the car even if I'm not planning on camping).
4. Take food that doesn't need refrigerating - it doesn't have to mean tins of beans and pot noodles, most supermarkets sell packet risottos, flavoured rice and the like or if you air on the side of veggie like me, dried soy mince makes a great camping spag bol.
5. Take things to do - as you will be their sole point of amusement make sure you have planned ahead and take things like colouring books, bats and balls, books and toys. You will probably find that they will have more fun making little friends and generally running around like crazy's but it's always best to be prepared.
6. Finally make sure you have something to do after they fall asleep. You may find that you are so tired after all the fresh air and excitement that you want to sleep when they do, but personally I love nothing more than when my wee one is sleeping, pouring a large glass of something and turning my attention to a good book for an hour or two before I retire.

Above all ....................... KEEP CALM AND RELAX!!

All that said lets now get on the the serious business of this years plan. We are off to a lovely if very basic campsite in Staffordshire and already things have not exactly gone to plan. You cannot park next to your tent on this particular site but I was so in love with it that I cheekily asked the owners if I could borrow a wheelbarrow. This was no problem and has actually resulted in an offer by them to help me unload. YAY!!! Things usually turn out OK :)

So we are off tomorrow afternoon for 4 days, I will report back later.............Camping Mum......Out!