Emma Kennedy's hilarious memoir of wet and windy family trips, NOW ADAPTED FOR THE MAJOR BBC ONE SERIES THE KENNEDYS.

So my recommendation is quite simple: If on an overcast January day when the sky is filled with scumble glazed clouds that are certain to deliver a deluge then I would suggest you find a quiet spot, curl up in an armchair, with a hot chocolate and a box of tissues. And if you dare to read this in a coffee shop then other customers will want to know why you are in fits of giggles. And there is an added and significant danger… you may end up snorting rather loudly too! This is an hilarious book written by Emma Kennedy about her and her parents calamitous camping holidays in the UK and France. StudentConsensushaslongseensleepingasunnecessaryandfrivolous,somethinghealthprofessionalsmeaninglesslyrambleonabout.Thisseemssomewhatunfaironboththehardworkingmedicalsectorandourownwell-being.Farfrommeaningless,sleepoffersasolution:itrejuvenatesourbodiesfromthemercilesspressureteachersexertuponus.Sleephasthepowertoenergiseandprepareusforourupcomingexams-sowhyarewedesperatelytryingtostayawake? I spent the majority of this book laughing, but there was also some cringing, and even a little retching. Hadmymotherlearntnothing?Holidayswerenotwhatyoumadethem.Holidayswereinthehandsofmalevolentforceshell-bentonwreakingchaosateveryturn.Holidayswereassaultcoursesofthemindandbody,endurancetestsdesignedtobreakspiritsandshatterspleens.InmynineyearsontheplanetIhadlearntonething:goingonholidaywasawful.Itwasasmallcrumbofcomforttomethatmyfatherwasnowcomingroundtomywayofthinkingandaswesat,chuggingalongdownthenowfamiliarpoplar-linedroads,sunflowersinthefieldsoneithersideofus,Ithought,'Yes,itISnicetolookat.Butinthesamewaycheeselooksniceinamousetrap.'I don’t usually contemplate this… writing my book review so early as I’ve only managed to read the first three chapters!

This book reminded me of family holidays where everything that could go wrong did. They are terrible at the time but funny when you are safely home. It's rare that I laugh out loud whilst reading but the first family holiday had me in stitches. I'm astonished that they tried again - but they did. And I'm glad. If they hadn't this would be a much shorter book. If you've ever been camping, or had holiday disasters, read this. You'll know exactly where she's coming from! She writes with a real flair for comedy and I finished it in a couple of days as I just couldn't put it down for very long. can’treallyrememberbutIput“Areyoulivingthroughyourscreens?”andtalkedabouthowfalseadvertisementscanleadtospendingmoreonfarawayholidays.Foragainstiputthatsomearelivingthroughtheirscreensbyjustwatchingtheseplacesonatravelshowwhenyoucangooutandseethemforlifeexperience I loved every minute of this book, it eked out the last drops of Summer for me (I realise I'm in denial there!). There were many times reading this book, where I irritated my husband by actually guffawing!Jaw achingly funny from cover to cover ... it will strike a chord with seasoned campers everywhere Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Mart It is not often I feel that I am so in tune with an author. However on this occasion her descriptions of travelling to Wales ring loud alarm bells in my head, for I too am a girl from the valleys born behind the gasworks, well no not literally, but in my grandmother’s house in Caerphilly, complete with outside carsy and coal bunker the size of a small shed. I feel I’m almost part of Emma’s film set or rather that she was part of mine, really quite scary on so many levels.

Enough material for a pretty good twenty minute standup slot, padded out to a quite ludicrous length - I'd managed to procure myself an ex-library Large Print edition which managed to stretch the ordeal out to almost 500pp of agony. Thismessageisvitalforallofusstudying,typing,readingandscrollingonourphonesallnight:letsallmakesurethattonight,andinthenightstocomewerestourinuredbodies. Thiswasserious.Norummy,nowhist,nobeggarmyneighbour.Wewereskatingintoacatastrophe.Nowallwehadtolookforwardtowassittingaroundandstaringateachother.'Perhaps,'Ichippedin,inanefforttohelp,'wecouldinventanewgameusingallthosecorks?'Myparentsturnedandstaredatme.'Andwe'vestillgottheSlinky...'QuitewhatweweregoingtodowiththeSlinkyinatentwithnostairswasanothermatterbutbeforethatconundrumcouldbeunravelled,afat,splashingraindroplandedsquareonmyfather'sforehead.I just loved this book. It was set in my era, and my mum is not that different to Brenda, so I could totally 'get' that. I like listening to an audiobook while dropping off to sleep, I find it impossible to sleep while laughing out loud. Therefore I'm glad I've finished the book, as I am shattered! Stormcloudsgatheringoverthere,'saidDad,lookinguptothewest.'That'llexplainthedropintemperature.Still.I'llgetthetentup.' I love camping! Relive the experience with Emma et al - you can almost taste the smell of the damp canvas JO BRAND Samehere,reallyhappywithhowitallwent Thoughtallthequestionswerereallykind!Whatdidyouputforthe4truestatementscauseInevertrustwhatIputeventhoughIt'susuallycorrectlol