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Hi all,

we have been out this afternoon looking at tents.. We have never had a tent before, we have a caravan but it's stored in France. So we had the bright idea that if we had a tent we could go away for weekends/short breaks in the UK. We have decided on a Khyam Ontario 8. Originally we were going to get a smaller one but decided if we take all the tribe with us we will need the space.

We've got the airbeds and sleeping bags but what else will we need (on a budget). Where is the best place to get cookers etc? What type of lighting do you use? Should we have EHU? Sorry for asking lots of questions but I'm a newbie at this.

Could anyone tell me me how long it will take us to put this tent up?

I've got the bottle opener ready

Thanks loads Sue

Hi Sue, When i first started off camping i got a 4 seater picnic table, a two burner gas stove and some other bits from the local bargain pages thinking that if the kids hated camping then i hadn't lost much. If they liked it, i could replace them with newer things when i spotted a bargain. I couldn't afford to buy everything new first time round so i opted to get a good tent and sleeping bags and get the rest as used or cheap.

I use a gas light outside the tent (  e.g. http://www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=189) and rechargeable electric lights inside. I was down at the tent display just off the A34 nr Stone in Staffs and YeomanOutdoors onsite had a twin pack of the gas light above and a matching single burner stove for £22 i think. I'm sure they have been selling for £40 plus last year.

I think one of the best bargains i've had was a little barbecue from homebase. It's self assembly and has legs to keep it off the grass (i've been told that some people get upset at little burnt squares in their field) and it was only £15 on one of their 10% days. I've had it for 3 years now, i use it every trip and it's a godsend really.

I like Jim's ideas above about where to go for first trip. I'm a single parent so i opted to go with friends the first couple of times i went camping. I now have a couple of boxes in the garage with all the camping stuff and several bits of paper i've laminated with my lists of items to pack so i can tick off everything as i pack it. And yet i still forget something or other .... Though luckily never one of the kids!

As for EHU, i've never needed it. I don't have a fridge as the sites i've been to either have a communal freezer or the site shop will freeze my iceblocks. I usually take a frozen spag bol as well so that helps to keep things cold whilst travelling to site. I get most stuff fresh on the day anyway so i don't need to keep it cool for long periods. I've got a battery radio (for when the footie is on!) and to be honest, i'm glad to get away from the tv.

Hope you enjoy your time camping - i honestly thought i'd hate it but actually, i find it really good fun.

Thanks Andy Pandy and Thunder,

some good advice there for me to add to Jim's

Thanks.