when I was in devon someone was struggling with a argos hand pump to blow up airbeds. My brother in law used that in nottinghamshire last year and they are noisy and crap. So I took my aerobed pump over and asked if they would like to borrow it. In 5 minutes the arbeds were up! He admitted the pump they was using seemed to take more air out than put it in and were really grateful.
I have also offered to help put up tents when people are struggling, its raining or its extremely windy.
Its a shame to watch people struggle.
------------- Camped since 2008 and still loving it!
Doesn't cost anything to offer to help if they look as if they need it. After all we were all new campers once. Even with experienced campers sometimes an extra hand to hold a pole can be really appreciated. Or the offer of a cuppa. I too am a tea addict and will often take a flask of hot water, and have a tea bag and milk handy so that I can make a cuppa when I arrive on site, or at least half way through pitching,
Loved the one about not wanting to help the moaning group - I think that I'd have left them to it as well.
Quote: Originally posted by TheShaggyDA on 19/4/2010
Depends, if they have kids that look like brats, I'll want them to have the most miserable time possible, leave early and swear to never go camping again :-)
Confession time: We were pitched once next to the family from hell: two couples with five kids, parents were p*ssed by lunch time, foul mouthed, kids running in and around everyones tents swearing and shoving people, fighting and all the rest. It was a grotty campsite anyway and we had decide to move the next day, not just because of this family so we were making the best of it.
However...I did notice that the rear pod of their huge Argos 12-man dome (which incidentally was pitched over the clearly marked line onto OUR pitch) had come unpegged a bit and the groundsheet was sticking out. And it was raining. Oh. Under normal circumstances I'd have told them about it but really, I didn't feel like it this particular time. Yes, their rear pod flooded during the night. Ooops. Quite fun listening to all these totally hung over parents and their whining kids trying to deal with soaking wet sleeping bags at 7am.
I expect that's why I broke a pole next time i pitched my own tent though. Karma!
I always think it doesnt hurt to offer assistance if needed to anyone pitching up.
I wouldnt refuse help if i needed it.
Like you say ' Karma'
'Valk_scot' they sounded like my tent neighbours last year, we prayed for them to be drunk by dinnertime so we didnt have to hear them in the evenings!!
A friendly smile and a brief "need a hand?" is my approach (when I can - the kids keep us on our toes so helping others isn't always an option...)
The most helpful anyone has ever been to us is when we were pitching in the worst rain I have ever seen and someone offered the use of their tent & telly to entertain the kids (and the Mother in Law) whilst me & my wife pitched the tent.
They did offer to help pitch (which was really nice as they were all snuggly warm & dry), but we (politely) turned them down as we have a little "system" (we've pitched our tent enough times to just know the exact order we do things in so another pair of hands may have gotten in the way).
When we first had our tent, we were in the same position and if it was an elderly gentleman who must have been in his seventies giving a hand we would probably still be there now trying to pitch. If a man in his seventies can help then there is no reason for me to stand around and watch others struggle so we also offer.
------------- "If you get up one more time than you fall down…you'll make it through"
If I see anyone struggling with an awning or tent I'd offer a hand. One site we went too we hadn't even got out of the car & we were offered a cup of tea etc before I even started to set up which was nice. Although myself & my daughter were struggling with the awning on the caravan last year (only due to it being the wrong type) & no one offered any help till we were finished grrr I expect they were having a nice quiet giggle to themselves though. Maybe camping Karma will strike on those people
We were eternally grateful for help after we arrived at our campsite after travelling for 2 days including a ferry trip. It was our first ever camping experience although we had pitched our tent on a field near our house a few months before....however this was our first public pitching....
We had 3 tired boys under 5 who had all fallen asleep in the car...but just as we spread out the footprint groundsheet it started to rain...so we had to put all the rest of our stuff back in the car...then 2 of our kids woke up...one sooooo shocked and tired that he yelled and screamed for 2 hours!!!!!1 Thankfully a neighbour offered help to my OH and they had our Maryland up in 20 mins while I was dealing with our children!!!! Eventually my little one calmed down the tent and insides were up and we went to the onsite restaurant for a well earned meal.....
I then offered help and tea to a couple a few days later who arrived equally tired with 3 small kids but they did not want it.....but I would always offer help....
Needless to say we were really friendly with the people who helped us and met some other great people who then helped us with packing up in the rain so we could catch our ferry....It is so great meeting people when you camp it feels like a little community!!!
good idea about a tea and food before pitching will try that next time!!!
I have been on the receiving end of help (very much appreciated!!) and have offered to help (and always been accpeted!!)
I generally just saunter over, nod and seay hello and ask if they need any help. Then I drop in a comment like "the quicker we get this up, the sooner your holiday starts"
Thank you all for your support. OH now in agreement. He thought most people would want me to mind my own business. Has now been shown that this is not the case - result
I now also have some excellent "breaking the ice" lines to use.
Thanks so much to you all.
Pauline
------------- I have NEVER been lost, though I do admit to spending several hours locationally challenged
More tentage = Campus Sherpa 4 - reproofed and still going strong
In Memorandum = Vango Quest, Khyam Chatsworth, and a frame tent OH wouldn'try!!!!
as an independant/stubborn single mum, i am now greatful of any offer of help. although the first time i thought "no we have got to do it ourselves" (me and a 7yr, poor child) it was v. windy and a family with the same tent offered. i said no, and then proceeded to lose it. but then they asked again and accepted. the next day we had force 10 gale winds, two poles snapped on our tent when we were out, site was almost emptied, loads of broken tents and bits all over site. this family came back to help us and several caravaners too. they shoved all our kit in the car dismantled the tent. and we drove the four and half hours home. my son was so upset, but refuses to go to weymouth ever again lol.
thank you soo much to that friendly family (they had 4 young children).
always offer, accept help if you need it, if they say no and still are struggling offer again!
if nothing else you make for a happy campsite and make frinds and when all said and done that's what it's all about.
------------- TTFN
Vonnie
______________________________
KARSTEN CAMPERS DO IT WITH INFLATABLES (OO ER!)
Wished we camped were you guys go. Last year even with a broken elbow and wrist the OH insisted we still go away. On arrival, Chap on pitch next to us came over to look at the frame tent, said something along the lines of "you've got a big'un there and that will be a job with your arm" then turned around and sat in his caravan and watched us !
We often offer help. You've only got to look at their faces to know if they need it. However a few years back we watched a couple trying to peg their tent down with twigs as they had forgotten the pegs. After a good laugh behind canvas, we went across and gave them enough pegs to secure the tent. Wish we hadn't as once their friends arrived they were the most noisey rude swearing crowd we've ever come across, with not a second thought for us or anyone else. Wanted to sneak over at night and take our pegs back !!!!
It human nature to offer help, that's why were all on this planet, and of course to annoy one another - get satisfaction out of both.
------------- Why yearn for tomorrow when you can have chocolate today.
Even though we are newish to camping, I am quite technically minded and helpful by nature. I would help, and would appreciate a hand if I was struggling. During the wind last summer in Woolacombe myself and my 'neighbours' basically helped each other, and other campers to repeg and hold poles. I think its just a 'neighbourly' thing to do on a site.
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Topic: Would you? Should you?
