No camping for me, thanks; used to be game for camping anywhere at (motor)bike rallies throughout the summer, but one ride down to Wales, camping in a leaky tent for a couple of nights, plus a ride back in the most torrential weather which was bad enough to necessitate an emergency stop off at a hotel, for a decent bed, a hot meal and a chance to use their drying room overnight… it kinda put me off a bit! Now I place a premium on Plumbing, flushing loos, comfy beds, showers etc… civilisation.
That is exactly my point. I have done my share of camping in shabby little tents on campsites with basic (or no) facilities. It’s not for me any more. I remember stupidly camping the wrong way round on a hill in Jersey. When it rained, the water and mud flowed freely, sadly, into the tent. We had to decamp hurriedly and find a (cheap) hotel where we could drape our sodden belongings as best we could before sadly flying home.
There once was nothing finer than sitting by ones tent, hopefully on a site where you could still have a fire (they were always the places with the least sanitary facilities and with the highest number of sheep per camper) and gaze at the sunset or the fire. And talk sh*t most likely whilst drinking beer.
Nowadays I need a bed, the comfier the better, and sanitation. And food together with people to cook and serve the food, plus clean the rooms and bathrooms etc.
Sue
And now we can talk shxt without the beer!!!
Pollsx
oh dear, 1983, backpacking with my then boyfriend, up a mountain in Italy I think where the toilets were a shack with holes in the floor and a bar to hang on to on the door - if you were lucky! A tropical storm came as we were trying to put our tent up on the slant of this amazing mountain with its incredible view. Within 10 seconds, everyone was soaked, a torrent was pouring down the hill dragging all the smalls, my pants, towels, everything out of the tent and bag, down the hill covered in instant thick pale mud. We were running round trying to keep at least something dry, no chance. I must have been overtired because at some point standing there in this rain with the thunder and lightening going on and just about everything there was being washed down the hill, I started crying and shouting things like ‘I hate this, I’m going home on the next plane’ at which point he was shouting something back and it all got a bit manic. Anyway, what saved us and broke the blackness of everything was a whole heap of German campers who were hiding in their little tents trying to stay dry who broke into a very loud rendition of ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ in true Monty Python style.
They shared their alcohol with us not long after so it all improved rapidly.
Last year’s camping trip to Tydwilliog where my son was going to put my tent up, I ended up sleeping in the car due to the storm with two quilts, three pillows and cushions, back support leg splints, hot water bottle and tea. Oh and big pills.
This year, no camping. Beggar that! My daughter has booked a caravan which is scaring me a bit because last year when she did that, I caught Scabies which I couldn’t get rid of for months. Cripes.
Hebe you could write a book - it would be a flippin good read!!
It’s all part of life’s wonderful memory tapestry Hebes!
It’s hell at the time, but we laugh about it later!
Pollsx
Monte’s back!!! Missed him xx
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That’s the most worrying thing I’ve ever read.
The ducklings took over for a while, but you know cats!! Can’t be kept out of the limelight.
Xx
Different line…
I went to Krumlin pop festival when I was 17 …deep into Yorkshire’s countryside! It rained, it stormed, it was faffin freezing! I lost my friends and happened upon a neighbour from home…a fit looking lad…we shared a plastic sleeping bag, under a caravan.
There were no shenanigans! We walked home at 5am! I had a damp blanket round me with a hole cut out for my head and a leather strap round my forehead…it took 3 hours!
Mother wasn’t impressed!
As Mohave said…
‘born to be wild!!’
Pollsx
Morning all, it’s been a while. As I’m sure you can all appreciate, times have been hazy sand very very lazy whilst trying to do basic stuff, and I am sure I have missed much of the old foggy do dahs but I see we are onto pros of flushing lavs. Yes this is a definite for me, and although in a previous life I have been very open to camping and rural toiletting in and behind a convenient bush, I fear I cannot get to bush or support myself to enable reasonable ablutions. I am therefore totally in the bed and flushing toilet brigade.
i did wake up on a hillside in beautiful Wales once, accompanied by two others, after a fairly alcohol fuelled evening. Literally a hillside, no tent, I think we must have had sleeping bags or such. Anyway I’m pretty sure that I left my short lived vegetarian days behind me after we finally managed to get back to civilisation, and a local cafe selling bacon butties and hot drinks. Most fabulous xxx
Seems like Wales is the choice Slug for naughty goings on, accompanied by much alcohol, quite a normal day here I’d say!!! (& it rains a lot, I mean a lot, hence ‘the green, green grass of home’!!!) xx
I hope it is ok to chip in?
I don’t do camping. I like a proper bed, a shower and a loo. Could we please do something else as I really need a break.
On a more practical note, getting back to brain fog … my husband and I keep our repeat prescription forms in our respective wallet/purse. All our info is there for the benefit of Drs and paramedics and if I lose anymore of the plot and do my ritual handbag spring clean for want of something better to do, then it may even remind me of who I am and where I live. I will now shut up and go back to my knitting x
Hebe, I’ve been meaning to ask, what does your sign say?
The one in the avatar box. Is it a philosophically deep concept? Is it a message for the betterment of mankind? Will it make our lives richer and more meaningful?
Or does it read “Closed for Lunch”?
Just wondering.
I can make out “life begins…” now I’m speculating on what the rest of it may be …
Why can’t I see my posts or have I totally lost it today ? 
Hi Cassie. .to be clear did you mean to post here??.. If not don’t worry either way because if indeed you have lost it. .you’re most definitely in the right place … p.s any socks you come across are most likely to belong to our General … General madness and lots of it … It? what is it?.. oh yes - it is what you lost … hope I helped …
Hi flutter by. Yes, originally I did mean to post here but now I am not sure …
The fog just seems to get thicker … confusing I know. Maybe the fog is just a different reality for some of us.
There was talk of camping but I seem to have lost that bit of the thread. I don’t know if it is me who is confused or the rest of you but maybe this is the place to be - for the moment anyway
Oh, it says ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone’ and every person who walks in the house knocks it off the wall!
Suffering today, had to de fix the hoover yesterday as it had three years of bits of carpet, thread and tat round it and then went to stand in the garden in my nightie of course and realised it was pouring, but only after a few minutes! Brain fog at its worst.
Well welcome. Leave your sense at the door and your senses in the hall - they won’t be needed … The others will be along in a bit … I’m probably one of the least confused here. … promising isn’t it?!