| Camping for girls who like floral smelling bubble bath, freshly laundered sheets and not looking feral. |
| Written by Amy Donohue |
| Sunday, 27 December 2009 18:49 |
|
Some people are natural campers. They wear khaki. They like canned spaghetti. Their attempts at setting up camp consist of more than staring at the collapsed tent, willing themselves to suddenly acquire psychokinetic powers. Sometimes camping is a necessity though. And so is the case for RHYTHM AND VINES this year - after all, how will I swoon over the Anglo-romance of Editors’ Tom Smith and his ladysqueeze, Radio One DJ Edith Bowman if I don’t attend? Absence is not acceptable and due to a lack of luxury accommodation, camping in the very handy onsite campgrounds is the only option. I am loathe to admit that I found myself in the same situation at last year’s Rhythm and Vines festival. And I don’t think I have improved much since then. I am, and will probably always be, a rubbish camper. But if you’re just as terrible as me, I have thought of a few hints to save yourself the embarrassment that plagued me last New Years. And with these tips, fingers crossed, I will be clean and presentable enough for Tom and Edith to want to adopt me. 1) Mirror. This might seem obvious. We did not have one last year. Four days with very little idea of what you look like is possibly the most traumatising experience of my life. The only options you might have in terms of bathrooms are Port-A-Loos and toilet stalls with long queues. Bring a BIG mirror. Not a little dainty handbag one. A mammoth, conceited, heavy mirror - that you can check your outfit, hair, face and whatever else in. People may snigger but I guarantee you will be asked by strangers to borrow it. I will ask you to borrow it if I see you. 2) Hand sanitiser and baby wipes. Last year I remembered these and I consider myself a genius for doing so. Baby wipes are cheap, so you can use them with merry abandon. And as for sanitiser - don’t make me go into detail about Port-A-Loos. Just trust me. 3) Strong boys (or girls). Don’t get me wrong, sexism is bad. I recommend strong boys not because I think they are stronger than the female variety of strong people. It’s just camping is a traditionally macho thing and boys have a mindset that they CAN do it. And they WANT to prove their manliness to themselves, their man friends and the ladies. So step aside, sip a lemonade and allow a boy to help set up camp - you will help them to feel effective and useful. So with one small lazy gesture you will have assembled your tent with minimum effort AND done a good deed for the day. 4) Torch. Torches are darn fun. You can make shadows and make yourself look like a character from the Blair Witch Project and find things when you drop them if you’re as klutzy as me. Do not be tempted by novelty torches. I am proud to say so far this year I have resisted a Lego man torch from The Warehouse and a growling tiger one from Farmers. This is a massive achievement. 5) Suzie Snoozem. This is my most favouritest soft toy. I don’t care if I look like an overgrown five year old. Soft toys are probably the most comforting thing in the world. It is a heck of a drive from Auckland down to Gisborne and I will spend quite a bit of it snuggling up with Suzie, even more so on the way home when I am sunburnt and sleepy. Plus, camping is a bit uncomfortable. My air mattress will be one step closer to my bed at home with Suzie. Just hide your soft toy from strangers. It’s not worth trying to explain to them. |
