Well we unpacked our trailer this morning and stored all the kit away up in the attic and under the stairs. So it's the end of our camping for this year. I make it sound like we've been camping every other weekend but actually we managed 3 trips, the 2 Bank Holiday weekends in May and a week in August. Not bad for our first year and we're definitely going to continue going next year.

So what have been the positives and negatives? Well I guess the best thing was the kids reaction. They love it! When we were unpacking all the kit today they were asking if we were going again in a hopeful way. I think that alone would make it worth it, I remember going camping as a kid and the increased freedom it brought. Playing in a dinghy in the river that ran along the side of the campsite, swinging on the rope swing that some kids who had already left had so helpfully rigged up or just being allowed to explore the dunes at the beach. I am glad my kids get the same kick that I used to.

As far as negatives go there haven't been many, it was a bit chilly on the Mayday Bank Holiday but nothing we couldn't manage. Jack knifing the trailer and in the process denting the car was a bit annoying. That was about as bad as it got, which I guess means it went quite well.

So I guess we settle back to normal life and potter around until next spring when we start planning all over again. Over the winter we have a few things to mend and a new mallet to buy, I'm also interested in investigating some means of keeping the booze cold without needing an EHU and a couple of other 'little tweaks' that are at the back of my mind. I'll let you know all about them if and when I get around to them.