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So this is how it goes..... been a pretend camper for a number of years (me and the trusty Halfords special go back a long way you know!) Anyway spring comes bright and shining this year and im in my static up in North Yorkshire looking for something to do. "theres a tent exhibition at Ripley Castle" my Mrs says, "take the boys over to have a look whilst I do dinner".....

Off we go, we spend an hour looking at the Vangos, the Outwells....a new world of opportunities outside of the draughty Halfords opens up....we return to the van...."yeah it was good, you know we said we couldnt afford to go on holiday abroad this year due to the credit crunch?......can I buy a new tent instead??....

Next morning...back at Ripley Castle...."Right boys, is it the Nevada M or the Carolina 3?" ..."Nevada M please"...."Sorry out of stock"......."Ok Carolina 3 then please"........and so it begins.

"Well I need some new camp beds dont I?, the boys cant sleep on a cold floor and you know what those inflatables do to my back"...."Oh and we need some new sleeping bags those Halfords jobbies are not up to the task"......You know my one ring suitcase stove just isnt enough, I need two, and a fold down picnic table"....."I believe a carpet and footprint are well worth the investment, so much warmer and snug"....Those Halfords lights we have? Phft...need new ones, Aldis are having a camping day, shall we go? New plates, pans, kettles, cutlery, pen knives, extensions. roof boxes...where does it end?......The possibility of a Mitsubishi Warrior to replace the Volvo S40 is now being given some serious thought...

My cheap replacement holiday has cost around £1000 so far this year and 5 trips with more to come later do you know what?? ive loved it!!!

Camping is like a lot of serious hobbies... it takes an absolute mint to set up, but once you're in business the kit lasts years and years, and you'll get enormous pleasure out of it!

The thrill of camping in a new tent, with all the nice little extras you never had before, is sufficient reward in itself for the outlay and the list-making and domestic stress!  Once the tent is up and the kit deployed, all the hassles are forgotten in the joy of the adventure!  And you can do it again and again, with only the pitch fees to worry about.  ENJOY!

FoO

Quote: Originally posted by sunvalleysue on 02/9/2009

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Carolina 3........and theres 4 of you ???? Must be a tight squeeze.

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Quote: Originally posted by sunvalleysue on 02/9/2009

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Carolina 3........and theres 4 of you ???? Must be a tight squeeze.

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Quote: Originally posted by mikerox on 02/9/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by sunvalleysue on 02/9/2009Carolina 3........and theres 4 of you ???? Must be a tight squeeze.

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It would be sue but the mrs wont camp, something about lack of hairdrying facilities! So its me and the two boys..me and the little guy have the bedroom pod, the bigger one has his own pup at the other end...another 40 quid now you mention it! Just as well its got a big living area...mind you its the ready made excuse too buy a new one next year!

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Last year my husband bought a starter tent from Halfords for £99.00 with sleeping bags, air beds etc when I went to Spain for a week with the school I work at.  Him and the children camped in the garden for the weekend!  This summer we were supposed to be going to Almeria where we have been for the last couple of years but because we were worried about my husband's job we decided not to go and decided to go camping instead.  So we needed some stuff.  Stove, cool box, EHU, table, chairs, gas bottle, kettle, dinner set, cooking stand - it started to add up!!  Anyway off we went to Sherwood Forest for a few days and we loved it - it was better than Almeria, we've got the camping bug now and are going again this weekend before we are all back at school. 

The thing is we really need another tent - the one we have got is ok but it it what it is and we want to go away for longer next year.  The way that I see it is that it's an investment really, we buy all this stuff, tent and equipment but then once you've got it you've got and as I said to my husband after next year when we have bought the new tent we should have got everything and the only thing we will have to pay for is the site fees..............Or is that wishful thinking!!

Quote: Originally posted by Monks on 02/9/2009

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Or is that wishful thinking!! 

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Hi campers

OMG I have bought so much camping stuff past 2 months. got the bug hey!!!. But cant wait to go camping again for the week-end later this mth.I started off with my vango 900 brill tent. All my family are now joining me so the money I spent was well worth it for the quality time I will be spending with the family.