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Just back from a few days away, using our new footprint groundsheet and I have to say it really does make a difference - both to the ground protection and the benefit of not having to clean the base of the tent.

Ours was immaculate this morning when striking camp, I'd been expecting some condensation at least between the two but both were as dry as a bone.

Incidentally, we'd taken the usual assortment of rugs for the floor of the main area (we always put a blanket down on the bedroom bases for toastie feet in the mornings) but got really annoyed with the trip hazards the rugs in the main part caused this time by the end of the first day.  So, even after reading all the comments against the Outwell carpets, we decided to invest in one and I have to say - I am a convert!   

No more tripping up or having to rearrange the rugs when they moved as a result of chairs being moved.  There's a really good backing on them that helps the floor insulation and helps to even out the little bumps underfoot.   Hey, we even got it back into the box!!!! 

Temperature wise, it was a mite chilly outside overnight.  Kids had long PJs on, with socks, in their thick sleeping bags and were warm as toast.

We had 2 foil-backed foam roll mats taped side by side on top of our blanket 'carpet' with an Intel high rise airbed on top of them.  A fold-up car picnic rug (the waterproof backed type in the bag you buy for around £5) on top of the airbed to counteract any condensation, covered with an Ikea single duvet covered with a fitted flannelette sheet on top of that.  Then it was us with our 15 tog goosefeather and down duvet, topped off with a light blanket to repel any air moisture settling on the duvet cover during the night and we were really cosy.  I just can't sleep in sleeping bags or at floor level!

We took a halogen heater as well as a fan heater - not using them at the same time of course!!!    For the first time I noticed that when we used the halogen you could still see your breath when you spoke - because the heater only heats you, not the air around you.  The fan heater heated the air all around you in the tent so you didn't get the visible breath but neither heated us sufficiently enough to be really comfortable. 

We wondered if anyone had ever used something like a Super Ser heater in their tent in cold weather?  Any comments - good or otherwise?

So, first venture this year complete.  Looking forward to many more.

We are also just back from our Easter camp and the footprint groundsheet was brilliant under our Vermont - I also agree that it did a better job than I excpected.

We also invested in the Outwell fitted carpet and I have to say that despite my reservations it was absolutely brilliant and combined with the footprint the living space floor was really comfortable. We noticed just how good the carpet was this morning when we took it out to shake it.

Both footprint and carpet packed away much better than expected.