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Hi new campers here

Going camping for the first time next Tuesday (30/05/06).  Decided to go for 2 nights but wondering if we are been a bit adventrous?  There is myself, my husband, 4 kids and 1 large and lolloping black labrador!!! (Love him to bits but no use putting a tent up!! (yes the dog not the husband!!)). 

We have had a trial run putting the tent up (Lichfield Arapaho 9DLX) and managed it in about 40 mins.  Read loads of all your tips and know alot of them will come in very handy (thanks).

Mainly need any tips on how to keep my husband calm when that intrusive spider with doc martin boots comes stomping in and rufuses to leave (p.s can a spider claim squatters rights on a tent????)

The Greens x x

Hi and welcome to UKCS - beware posting on here is a very addictive passtime.

I think going for a couple of nights for the first time is a great idea - its what we did.  We went to a site about an hour from home, working on the theory that if the kids didn't like it we could get home, and I could stay with the kids and OH go back for the tent.   As it was the kids loved it from the outset.

We've never had any both with creepies - was going to say insects, but technically a spider aint an insect - then again they don't bother us.     However is you do have a spider claiming squatters rights, just evict it in the same way as you would at home.   Or tell the spider that you will set your lab on him.
If you husband drinks beer - then just supply him with large quantities and that should help.    Failing that sleep in with the dog, and leave your husband to sleep by himself.  
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Good luck with your camping trip. Im sure you will love it,I know the kids will. As for your husband ....I can understand why he's worried, it's my phobia too.Our tent has a SIG so I dont have to worry. 

Take a big slipper just in case

Oh and welcome to ukcs.

Kay

 It's not the spiders you worry about its the kids  outer peoples .we always become the camp babysitting site my kids always go come to our tent to play

oh well it make the holiday interesting

seems all the more  reason not to moan about british weather spiders hate rain also .. so u see few of them ... logic in everything

Thanks loads to you all for your advice.  If I have taken all the advice on board right, I have to sleep with the dog, ply my OH with lots of alcohol and give him the odd thwack with a slipper!!!!  Well this should make an interesting 2 days!!

I thought he was coming round to the idea that we are actually going to be camping on Tuesday but the non web making spiders and wonderful thought of sluggs have set off those goosebumps again!!  (Thanks Roo!)

Also know what you mean Haggy,  my kids usually bring home a couple of kids each to the house if they do this with the tent I am going to feel like the pied piper!!

Found the biggest piece of advice so far that has gone to the top of my list is corkscrew!!!  I can see wine coming in handy with husband, dozens of kids and creepy crawlies.

I always make sure I put a can or two of lager into the cool box to help `chill` hubby out, but on the whole he`s not bad. Luckily we have a 13 year old son who is a Scout and very handy at tent erecting , when hubby gets flummoxed, son steps in and hubby just does as he is told and the tent is up in no time. Thankfully hubby is not one of these men who has to be right all the time, and is quite happy to follow orders from his `expert` son.

As for spiders, if they are not too enormous, our 10 year old daughter will quite happily catch them with her bare hands (it freaks me out to watch her) and evict them from the tent. We have a new tent with a SIG this year so I am hoping that will be a rare occurence.

I know what you mean about kids though, my two always seem to go out and arrive back with half the campsite in tow. But you have to look on the bright side, as it`s usually through the kids making friends that you meet the others kids` parents and so make friends yourself.

The MOST important piece of camping euipment you must ALWAYS take with you, is your sense of humour..............and it sounds to me like you will be fine!!

Don't forget to let us know how the first trip turns out!

We had a mole under our tent last year...every night you could feel it running around under the groundsheet, and it tried to make a molehill beneath the case of beer. Ghostly chinking sounds at night! When we took the tent up, it was like the tube map underneath with all the half-dug tunnels. There`s more wildlife out in campsites than mere spiders, belive me.

Presumably it will make the dog`s night if you have a mole under the tent though. And yours, if the dog starts to dig the mole out at 4am.

(Spiders in the tent? Take a fly swat, or a rolled up newspaper. )