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we helped our neighbours in the wind last week and lent them a mallet. When they were going home, the young girls came to our tent with some lovely handmade thank you cards.  One of them wrote that she wondered if my husband (who looks the part) was Santa Claus on his holiday :)

I always offer to help if I see someone who looks as if they're struggling, especially if I see someone with the instruction sheet . My teenage boys used to say , OMG, mam, don't be so cheeky, they might think you are an interfering so and so, they probably don't want you poking your nose in.. male pride and all that. but they have been brought up camping,have had all kinds of tents from frames domes tunnels and caravan awnings and are pretty good at it so can't really see how some have no idea how a tent works. After asking if they need help , they usually say, oh thanks, we only bought the tent this week,and  don't have a clue what to do.

 Lots of times I've seen people who don't know what the ring and pin is for, and loads who just hammer the pegs straight in, not angled. I've seen flysheets that have been left hanging in folds instead of being stretched out fully, making the tent look half the size it should have been, and explained that if its left like that the rain will soak through, if the wind doesn't rip it to shreds first. I saw one tent that was only about 3 feet high, they hadn't done up the tension straps, when we did them up it was about 7ft high. Most are really grateful, even if you only give the slightest help, like holding up the poles inside the tent while they do the ring and pin. or lending your mallet.

Only once I was ever told no thanks I know what I'm doing,quite abruptly, by a guy who had exactly the same tent as my sister, which I had just finshed putting up with her. he was obviously struggling, it was a very big tent,and  it needed someone to go inside and support the weight of the poles. his poor wife was almost in tears as he was shouting at her, hold this, pass that. it had a pole that you had to insert in a ring in the front of the tent before you could put the rest in place. Next thing we heard was an outburst of foul language as the pole snapped and ripped through the fly of his brand new £300 tent. Then his wife did burst into tears.

Funnily enough he did accept help when my oh arrived  a bit later and went over and offered him duct tape to do a repair. then we all pitched in and held the tent up and got it sorted. silly macho man wouldn't accept help from a woman, who could have saved him ruining a brand new tent.

we went camping for the 1st time last year ,we borrowed my brothers very large canvas trame tent, it was to heavy for the car & we broke down on the way, had to phone my Brother law who came down with a spare part for the car ( new cat ) that we fitted on the forcourt of the garage where we had broken down, he headed off home, we headed off to the camp site in Weymouth, car still not running well, when we finaly arrived it was 10.00 oclock at night & it was blowing a gale & pouring of rain, I said to the wife lets all sleep in the car tonight & get the tent up in the moring, but she was having none of it, so I had to get out & atemp to put up the tent ( now I had only put this tent up once before ) in my brothers garden in the afternoon in the sun ) So I was realy struggling to get anywhere in the night in the rain, next thing I know the man in the tent next door came out, & helped me to pitch the tent, even though he was getting absolutely soaked, I would never have got that tent up without his help. the next day the sun came out & the rest of the holiday was great.               

Quote: Originally posted by etive on 11/8/2007

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hi dezzie dae a know you

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Quote: Originally posted by dezzie on 12/8/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by etive on 11/8/2007

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hi dezzie dae a know you

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Not sure? Kilmarnocks not a place im too familiar with, but its no too far from me though,,                             apologies getting mixed up with another person,,                         

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Being a nosy old bat that can`t resist a chance to play with a new tent, I always offer to help and chivvy Hubby off his b*m to help too. (He`s better at pushing caravans.) I just go in with "I hope you don`t mind me sticking my nose in but you`re about to destroy your tent/put it up inside out/there`s an easier way...." Hardly ever get refused, and I don`t mind, honestly, if folk prefer to go it alone..

But...you know what quite often happens then? Someone will come across with a cold beer for Hubby....who would have been oblivious behind his paper the entire time if it wasn`t for me. Humph!