[Anonymous42019]

My daughter will be 12 on November 1st and has been hinting for a new tent, a new backpack and a book reader. Much as we all love real books, they demand much shelf space which I haven't got to spare yet, until I make a room specially to hold all our books. Until then, almost all readables will have to be electronic downloadable.

Interesting, but my daughter revealed that phones contain far more space than e-book readers. I didn't know that. I dislike Kindles because they can slow down when indexing book titles or authors A- Z, and most only last a year if 18 months if one is lucky. But a phone, she says, is easier to use and in the long run far cheaper. Something to consider, then?

The Peli U140 backpack I bought in a sale is far too heavy for her. Empty it weighs 6 pounds and I didn't know that as it wasn't shown on the website. Load it up and it will weigh far more, so I'm keeping it for myself.

This leaves a lighter weight backpack to buy and she wants a lightweight tent. Admittedly I have no idea.

Laura suggested a nice pair of 3/4-length lace-up leather boots,. and a wax jacket. Good, I like that. What do you think? I like Barbour.

Daughter already has lots of CDs, teddy bears and a nice little laptop specifically for her home schooling. In addition she has a Lenovo laptop into which I put a Net Nanny and downloaded a subscribed VPN. I need her to be always safe when online. Her phone also has a VPN for wifi areas. And an RFID wallet. We all have RFID wallets to ward off data thieves. Our cyberworld has never been a safe place. And it never will.

There is only the three of us. Sadly, all our relatives have passed.

Does anyone have any new suggestions, please? As I return to work next week, we plan to celebrate my daughter's birthday this coming Saturday.

All suggestions welcome!

Lightweight Tents & Shelters | UK | Ultralight Outdoor Gear

And try the new Fire HD from Amazon, rather than a Kindle!

[bpcyclist]

Does she like her earbuds and/or headphones? There are quite a few good ones out there now, including wireless ones (not sure where you come down on the brain health implications of wireless earbuds) that don't cost an arm and a leg. I'm kind of a headphone person and I would be happy to get you some names, if you thought this might be appropriate. Let me know.

[Anonymous42019]

I'm most grateful to you all for helping me.

For the tent I had a look at the link, but had to ask Juni if she had a particular one in mind because all her previous tents weren't great. Last time she used an ex-military parachute which I wasn't happy about.

-Anyway, she knew immediately: 'Snugpak Bunker for 3' - gosh that was costly at £300, but you do get what you pay for and Juni said that would last her well and take all kinds of weather. I can well believe it since last time came home covered in med. The materials of this tent are top notch. I gladly bought it, because after all she is Group Leader and carries a lot of responsibility. The tent is lightweight and erects easily (she says). I'm not a camper, but I do believe her.

Headphones @bpcyclist she's already got a pair of lightweight Koss "PortaPro", tanks. They're on-ear rather than earbuds, which she said can 'easily get lost'. She has a point because I'm still looking for mine.
@littlecat the Fire HD is actually a Kindle, thanks anyway, but on asking Juni, she wants a new phone. Might have known.

Fair enough though because she was given my old iPhone 7 Plus, but it's got tatty so I'm going to upgrade it. And get a 'Batman armoured phone case'. It looks pretty impressive and is very good value.

Juni has a private You Tube channel she made for her outdoor group, so I'm getting a new iPhone for me and her, then she can record videos and take good pics on it. I like that she's respectful of the things I give her and know that our lovely friend Laura is going to buy her those boots. That is most kind of her.

We're driving down to France tomorrow on a hunt for Christmas stuff and some decent wine from a vineyard Laura knows, and hope to be back late Friday. We'll take Eurotunnel which is quicker and better because the sea can get rough and I get seasick. Don't wish to be seen yarking down the lav and losing my cred.

[*Beth*]

I will try to think of suggestions. My first thought is...and I truly hope I don't offend you...is it possible to give her at least one "real" book? I don't know what a bookreader is, but it just seems to me that there is nothing like a real book, with the feeling of the paper, the scent, the sound of the turning pages...

[Anonymous42019]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I will try to think of suggestions. My first thought is...and I truly hope I don't offend you...is it possible to give her at least one "real" book? I don't know what a bookreader is, but it just seems to me that there is nothing like a real book, with the feeling of the paper, the scent, the sound of the turning pages...

Hiya Beth,

You haven't offended me, no worries...but I apologise because from the outset I should have said we already have real books. Lots and lots of them. Haven't counted, but I reckon we've probably about 1,000 or more since my late parents were avid book readers. But until we move back to our home which by then will have been enlarged and renovated come January 2020, then we'll have to use the carton of books we brought to our temporary apartment. This place I'm renting has no more space for books. This is why I'm going to buy my daughter a phone so she can read ebooks from my amazon account, and she can shoot 4K videos and take pictures of her survivalist group activities.

Juni would be the first to agree of loving the feel of paper through her fingers; I agree also about the smell of book and the way...the pages rustle. In fact, we three are so in love with reading real books that I'm going to give you a link to the wonderful author, a brave cancer survivor Sarah Addison Allen.

Here is what she says about books.

Sarah Addison Allen - New York Times Bestselling Author

Isn't what Sarah said just glorious? We have read all of that author's books, and keep them on our shelves back home. Nothing like reading a real book right by the fire during winter.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Access Denied

Hiya Beth,

You haven't offended me, no worries...but I apologise because from the outset I should have said we already have real books. Lots and lots of them. Haven't counted, but I reckon we've probably about 1,000 or more since my late parents were avid book readers. But until we move back to our home which by then will have been enlarged and renovated come January 2020, then we'll have to use the carton of books we brought to our temporary apartment. This place I'm renting has no more space for books. This is why I'm going to buy my daughter a phone so she can read ebooks from my amazon account, and she can shoot 4K videos and take pictures of her survivalist group activities.

Juni would be the first to agree of loving the feel of paper through her fingers; I agree also about the smell of book and the way...the pages rustle. In fact, we three are so in love with reading real books that I'm going to give you a link to the wonderful author, a brave cancer survivor Sarah Addison Allen.

Here is what she says about books.

Sarah Addison Allen - New York Times Bestselling Author

Isn't what Sarah said just glorious? We have read all of that author's books, and keep them on our shelves back home. Nothing like reading a real book right by the fire during winter.

That's wonderful!

I love the lace-up boots and wax jacket idea, btw.

[greentires4me]

I bought my sister and her boyfriend these for Christmas...


They live in ski resort town and probably see lots of snow more then me. There Bluetooth toques. Different styles as you can tell.

I don’t honestly knew where you live or I buy one and send it by UPS. But it seems like UK.

[Anonymous42019]

Originally Posted by greentires4me

I bought my sister and her boyfriend these for Christmas...


They live in ski resort town and probably see lots of snow more then me. There Bluetooth toques. Different styles as you can tell.

I don’t honestly knew where you live or I buy one and send it by UPS. But it seems like UK.

Thank you @greentires4me that is so sweet of you, because I've seen these before and have considered them. Except I'm very sorry because though you are so kind in wanting to ship me those things, I never give my home address away to anyone online. It's for my safety and that of my little family.

Those wearbles do look good and I thank you.