Oh, by the way Sandra - it looks like I'll be getting a new tent this weekend, so if all goes well I won't need to take you up on the kind offer of your tent.

I've picked out the one I want already - it's just a matter of going and getting it. We had to wait a while and see if the finances would stretch. They barely do, but it will be worth it I think. The main space in this tent has about the same floor area as my previous tent, but there's an extra bit out the front - like an extra little room with doorways in the side. So it will look like quite a big dome tent. Since tentmakers have been getting more creative with dome tents, it seems you can get more tent for your money than before. It has other interesting features, where you can open the flies out in all directions and join them up, making extra covered areas all around.

Sandra, I know this might come as a shock to you, knowing my camping habits, but I might not bother with a tarp at the National this year! Snalbans is a different matter. We always have the Giant Tarp there for all our friends to camp and gather under. Last year we travelled in convoy with Ricarda and Nick, and put our two big setups side by side. That was the Tarp Mahal extraordinaire! Since they have moved out to Woop Woop, it might be a little harder to coordinate this year - but not impossible.