Camp Bestival 2017 as a family holiday

When I tell people I'm off to Camp Bestival I get varying responses. Anything from "festivals? aren't they full of drugs and drunks?" to "how much?! I can't afford that for a few days in a field!" so I thought I'd look at some of the myths around festivals, and explain why Camp Bestival is actually the perfect holiday for you and the kids.

The popular stereotype of a festival is of muddy drunken revellers, peeing on tents and raving late into the night before falling over guy ropes, peeing on your tent and then crashing out on someone else's inflatable bed, only to awaken to a vomit stained sleeping bag, your car keys missing, and it's raining again for the 3rd day. The portable chemical toilets are overflowing and you lost your wallet so you can't buy a beer.

And while it's true I might (have) been to a festival or two that are similar to that (not the losing my wallet bit - I'm very security conscious at a festival) Camp Bestival is very far from this sad damp image. (A big plus point is that the festival site is on chalk, so never muddy!)

Camp Bestival is predominately a family festival. So most people have kids with them. They tend to be happy to have a drink, but take their mummy and daddy roles pretty seriously, so there is a lack of vomiting drunks, in fact, wailing toddlers are more common.

As the festival is aimed at families with kids, there is loads to do for children. So the wailing form the aforementioned toddlers is more likely to be because they can't fit all the fun into their day than because they are bored.

The price of any festival is going to be higher than camping alone, because they are providing a camp site, toilets, water points, as well as activities, musical acts and insurance. If you look at all the things a festival provides it's easier to see it's value for money.

Camp Bestival starts on Friday and finishes on Sunday night, but you can arrive from Thursday lunchtime and camp until Monday lunchtime so actual nights camped can be 4.

There are loads of free things to do. You can bring your own food and drink which can save some money.

Free things include all the musical acts of course, and this year we are looking forward to Madness, Mark Ronson, Louisa Johnson and Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer to name just a few. Surfing dudes will be thrilled to hear Brian Wilson is performing on Sunday. But music almost takes a back seat at Camp Bestival, which Rob da Bank (its founder) designed as part way between a festival and a holiday camp (hence the name), with the holiday camp feel in mind there are Blue Coats to entertain the children in all manner of silliness, an Insect Circus (with real insects), tree climbing and all sorts of woodland and outdoor fun, many different craft activities, comedy acts, Punch and Judy shows, clay modelling, silly science shows, musical theatre, early morning cinema, discos and more! all included in the admission price!

There are extras you can pay for, such as face painting, helter skelter rides, a big wheel or a bounce on the world's biggest bouncy castle too, but the strong minded parent can use distraction techniques to avoid spending too much extra if they are prepared!

For the grown ups there are all of the above (I love the cinema in a tent early in the day with a coffee and a croissant) and a Jam Jar cocktail bar, excellent food stalls, late night discos and stand up comedy.

Camp Bestival is one of the least stereotypical 'festivals' I've ever been to and I love it. We have been going for years now and DD still likes to go even at 17 because she likes the lack of unpleasantness you usually get a festivals, I don't think I've ever seen anyone drunk (Unless you count me tipsy - in which case, it happens every year) and I rarely get a whiff of weed. Security staff there are always polite but firm (ooh er!) and I've always felt safe as a single woman camping with my daughter.

And loos? well a festival loo is really what you make it and most mums and dads seem polite enough to leave a loo as clean as they can. After all - parents are made of wet wipes! The loos are cleaned and emptied regularly and over the years they have improved as festival staff have learned from the odd problem encountered. So yes they are portable chemical toilets, but they are generally well cared for.

So for your money you really are getting a good deal. Why not consider it as a family holiday? Maybe have the start of the week at an ordinary campsite and then finish the week on a high with a family festival that really is first class.

Find out about all of this years acts and grab tickets at Camp Bestival's Website

Disclosure : I'm an official blogger for Camp Bestival and so this year I'm attending as their guest

Summer at Camp Bestival

It's still raining. I find it hard to get excited about the summer when the long lighter evenings are so ... damp. The thought of pitching the tent and doing all the fun things that happen at festivals normally fills me with glee but I'm finding even that hard to summon up today. The only solution is to read cheerful blog posts about Camp Bestival. That glorious festivals and holiday camp by the sea in SUNNY Dorset.

So I wandered the interwebs and grabbed the best posts to read, so you don't have to hunt about. Just sit back, sip our tea and click...

First off let's zoom on our festival bus over to You Baby Me Mummy for a glorious look at photos of 2015 that will be a great start, a reminder for us all and a teaser for anyone that hasn't been before! After a few jam jar cocktails we will stagger on ...

and would you believe it - 76 Sunflowers only has a fab set of photos too! Well now I really am getting more in the mood.

Seeing those gorgeous blue skies....

Now I have never taken a toddler to a festival - so struggle to think of the sorts of things that parents of young kids need to know - luckily I found a great blog with advice for you! Hooray! Grab the suncream, wet wipes and juice cartons, pack the trolley and trundle down to the main stage with your little ones. For some tips on taking babies and toddlers to a festival check out Enchanted Pixies hints.

And Louise over at My Gorgeous Boys took her little ones and wrote about her experiences. Some lovely photos there to inspire you too - look at the joy on those little faces!

I have been going to Camp Bestival both as a regular festival goer and as an official blogger every year since 2010. I love it every year, even more now that Rob Da Bank realised that the older kids needed something extra - and they now have the Den for teens, perfect for DD as she's now 16.

And Penny over at A Residence Blog has been going for a fair few years, checkout her video from 2012 here.

Over at The Parenting Trials excitement and planning is the order of the day! As a list of 5 things that are essential not to be missed is emerging...what would yours be? Have you seen the official Camp Bestival Line up? Amazing! I challenge you to only pick 5 'must sees'!

I'll leave you with a list of top tips of things to do see or take to Camp Bestival, have you forgotten anything? Got your glo-sticks?

OK I'm proper in the mood now - sod the rain, grab your wellies (just in case) and join us! Oh and before I go - here is a link to 2012 at Camp Bestival in which I dressed as a horse - I wonder what I should dress up as this year?

Let me know if you are going to be at Camp Bestival - I'm on twitter at @tattooed_mummy or like my facebook page.

My happiness non-negotiables

I’ve been nominated by Mama Bear over at ObliviouslyAwesome to post about my happiness non-negotiables.
These are the things that you just can’t live without in your day-to-day life, the things that, without them, you just can’t be happy.

Initially I though "well that will be simple, I'm a happy soul, I should be able to rattle off a few things no problem" but then I saw that family was sort of assumed and not really allowed to be in the running, which is a shame as Darling Teen Daughter makes me not only happy, but on occasion even makes me cry actual tears of laughter, she always has done, she's hilarious. And then there is dear husband's beard...but  I'm losing the thread...I was wondering what I would add, books? music? TV? birdsong? squirrels? the feel of a raw egg yolk in your hand? ... none seemed quite 'me', I had a longer muse... and so here they are, my happy things.

Festivals and Camping

Being in a field in my tent, near my tent, with a fry up or beer or gin in a tin...I love festivals and camping so much I have a whole 2nd blog devoted to it! The feel of a lack of urgency about life, no need for clocks or schedules, no need to wash (for a few days - I'm not that scuzzy) , the joy of drinking as and when the mood takes, just the general freedom...so yes, getting into the wild or into a festival full of folk dressed up, dancing to unknown bands in a field these are my extreme happy things. I hope heaven is just one huge music festival, with camping, no rain, and free beer and bacon.

Cava

I love a glass of bubbly. I am rarely flush enough to afford champagne and prosecco isn't made in the same way, so I opt for the slightly cheaper version, sparkling Spanish wine made in the champagne method. I like to start each Sunday with a glass (or two) while peeling the potatoes for the roast dinner later. And a Friday and Saturday night are not complete without a large glass of fizz to hand. A wine that is easy to drink, makes me light headed though not properly 'drunk' and never gives me a headache, a wine that can be as cheap as £4 a bottle, that is a definite 'happy'. (reading this back I realise I sound like an alcoholic....I could give it up; if I wanted to)

My Bed

I am always tired. Partly due to having Charcot-Marie-Tooth, but mainly just because I'm me I suspect. I can sleep for England. I usually go to bed at 10pm as I get up at 5.30am for work, but at weekends I have no trouble sleeping 12 hours straight, and when camping I love to snooze in in the morning, no hurry, just laying half awake, half dreaming, eyes shut, listening to whatever is going on, feeling the soft warmth of the bed. Snuggly. I love my bed.

Dogs

We used to have two border terriers, they were mine for over 13 years but they are now chasing ghostly rabbits over the rainbow bridge (they are dead! Enough with the euphemisms) So we currently have no dogs, but a dog makes a house a muddy, hairy, messy home and I do love dogs,. Cats are OK, and I have kept mice too, I like all animals but there is nothing  quite like the stupid, tongue lolling face of a dog to greet you in the morning. The daft worship on their face when you magic a tennis ball from your pocket or toss a tiny scrap of bacon to them as you sit in a pub garden enjoying lunch, the sun and a pint. Dogs are slaves, I don't fool myself. For years we have bred an animal to be obedient and do our every bidding, yet at the same time we have bred in a love, a desire in them to please and adore us. I don't know what sort of person it makes me , I suspect all dog lovers are seeking adoration and love (who wouldn't love that!) and so a dog, or dogs are on my happy list. (I realise saying I must have a dog to be happy while having no dog is a bit of a contradiction, I'm filling the dog shaped space in my happy with cava)

Twitter

Last I'm going to name Twitter as a happy. Maybe it should have been first. I once gave it up for a week and was as miserable as the most miserable thing you can imagine. Twitter is still my love despite all its changes (many of which I dislike). Twitter is a sounding board, a place to whine and whinge, a place to show off, to just spout rubbish, to 'let my brain leak' as many people have said. But mainly Twitter is a link, a link to other people all over the world. Friends that I have never, and probably will never meet, but who I can talk to about anything. I have met people in real life that I know on twitter but friends are friends whether you've met them in the flesh or not. Twitter is a place where someone is always awake, someone is always there to be silly, to be serious, to console or to cajole. Twitter is a place where people will send you a recipe, a beard picture or a kitten as necessary, a place to make you care about others, a place to move you to tears both of sadness and joy.  And so Twitter, my very happy place, filled with my friends, that is a happy.

And so there is my list. What would yours be? Come over to Facebook or twitter and let me know. And in the meantime I tag MamaCrow over at Views From The Crows Nest to tell us her happy non-negotiables. I'm also tagging Siren of Brixton and NotReallyALlama. And if you would like to be tagged let me know and I'll add you here.

When your child goes to her first festival without you.

I blog a lot about camping and festivals over at www.tentsandfestivals.co.uk but this post needs to be here.

I've been taking DD to festivals since she was about 7. And she loves them, she loves the music, the dancing, the food, the people, the dressing up, the not washing, the chaos, the queues, the weather....she loves them for all the things that make them a festival so it shouldn't be a surprise to me that when her friend asked if she wanted a spare ticket to Wildlife Festival she leapt at the chance.

DD is 15. Her friends are a similar age. The festival was a two day affair but did not involve camping, so she'd sleep over at her friend's house, and her friend's parents would be taking them, and while they wouldn't all stay together in the festival itself, it all seemed pretty tame and safe. So at midday on Saturday, clad in short shorts a crop top, black and silver wellingtons and shades, my daughter, now looking at least 17, set off for the festival.

At 3pm I sent her a text hoping she was having fun. My internal monologue was saying
don't text her, she's fine, she doesn't want to be fussed by her mum, what could have happened in 3 hours? nothing that's what, leave her alone, the sun is shining, she's fine

No reply.
At 5pm I sent her a text saying I hoped she wasn't too cold. (She did pack a jumper)
internal monologue : she's fine, she didn't reply because she's having fun, she's with her mates, she hasn't been raped and left for dead behind the portable chemical toilets,stop it! where did that thought come from, she's fine, good grief, give it a rest, stop texting her.

No reply.
At 10pm I went to bed, I sent a text to say good night and would she text when she got back to her mates...so I knew she was alive.
internal monologue : well now you've blown it, she'll know you are worried, you've spoiled her day, her friends will think you are nuerotic and she'll hate you, but what if she's taken dodgy drugs and is in the hospital even now? for goodness sake her friends mum would have text you, go to sleep!

Waking at 3am I glance at my phone ...no reply.
Internal monologue : go to sleep, she's not dead...she's probably dead, you'll blame yourself about this forever, go to sleep she's fine.

at 8am my phone buzzes ...text "Sorry we got back at midnight, had an ace time, we were right at the front by the barrier, best festival ever, can't wait for more today"

Yeah...me too

Looking forward to 2015

Having looked back over 2014 and looking forward to 2015 I can’t help but think I’m a tiny bit predictable!

So far my plans (subject to change) are looking like this

Starting January with no alcohol, for a month! Yes ladies and gentlemen of the internet, I’m signed up for Dry January to give my waistline a chance to shrink, my purse a chance to refill and maybe my liver to take a holiday! Following on from that my year is shaping up like this:

Spring. In the February half term I’m hoping to visit China Town in London for the Chinese new year and also, at another date, meet up with Motherscuffer for the infamous Pizza Express meal (which I won before she was up the duff and so now I have to drink all the prosecco myself! Which I think you will agree is pretty tragic)
In May I am all booked up for the Elderflower Fields Festival (keep checking my blog for news on tickets for this, I’m hoping to have a competition and some discount codes soon)

Summer will continue the festival theme with a repeat of some of the great festivals of last year, kicking off with Camp Bestival (this year with UNDERWORLD / CLEAN BANDIT / KAISER CHIEFS, and THE CAT IN THE HAT and even DICK & DOM! ),Then Wilderness again, and once more the mad glory of Wadfest – if you have a wacky sense of humour and a Nerf gun (and a tent) you really should join me – so cheap, silly, and kids go for 1p!!

Autumn is looking empty at the moment….plans to be made, DD and I have been toying with some more travel and Iceland is looking like a popular choice, we need to browse some travel sites and books.

Winter will spell my 50th birthday – I probably should have a party – I may also get a new tattoo.

Have you any 2015 plans yet? Or are you just hoping to survive! Let me know what you are up to!

Camp Bestival's Bearded Beauties

Many of you know that this year the lovely folk at Get Involved invited me to be a Camp Bestival Blogger . (I say 'invited' , I think they got fed up with my whining about wanting to go, to be honest) anyway, it did mean that I could attend the festival for families that this year really lived up to its circus theme of the greatest show on earth.

Now this is a short blog post, just a teaser really before the main event. Because I'm off to another festival on Thursday so, what with work, getting the washing done and re packing, I'm a bit busy!

I thought I'd share a few photos from around the Camp Bestival site. Showing all the fun and the beards...wait...I was distracted...beards


well yes there were a few fine beards and yes maybe a few hot dads and yes maybe I took some pictures...

and maybe I'll share some with you...ready?

This beard was so awesome I asked if I could take a picture!

But that's not all I, oh no, I also ate food, danced, got tipsy and dressed up...

But more of that in my proper review, for now be content with beards.

The Great Outdoors

Camp Bestival is bringing the great outdoors...erm outdoors!

One of the best things about festivals (for me anyway) is that you get to live in a field for a few days. Kids love it, entertainment is easy - there are always chores to be done, and they are more fun outside somehow, I don't even mind washing up!

Children can run about at all hours, there is grass, sometimes mud. It's all very 'back to nature' (but with beer tents)

Camp Bestival News

For those that pop over to Tent Sniffing for Beginners, or those that follow me there it will be no surprise that I'm excited about going to Camp Bestival this year.

Having worried last year that DD and I might have outgrown it, it seems that Rob da Bank and the team are pulling out all the stops to ensure my every desire is catered for! So with this years theme being Circus, they have embraced the entire historical circus theme complete with Oddities (Ooh I may be able to wear my beard as the bearded lady! Exciting!) and bizarre science to confound and astound. It is with great joy I read 

"No circus is truly complete without a touch of magical miscellany, curious attractions and inexplicable distractions. And so, Camp Bestival’s most aberrant roustabouts have not only created an inspiring world of discovery with Oberon’s Observatory, the LEGO Imagination Factory and the Science Tent, but they’ve also brought together a breathtaking collection of oddities like Caravan of Lost Souls and Britain’s Not Got Talent that will enthral the whole family at Lulworth Castle this July 31-August 3."

What can this mean? I wondered... The caravan of lost souls? Sounds odd enough that I would love it!
Igor Rasputin’s Caravan of Lost Souls is an incredible ape-powered pop-up circus providing wondrous entertainment for your delectation and appreciation. Witness magic, contortion, hula hoop, mime, an amazing array of circus skills and more from this cabaret of curiosity, popping up in all four corners of Camp Bestival! Well that sounds PERFECT!

And Lego! Who doesn't love Lego (though with festivals having a ban on glass to protect naked feet running about I do fear a little for the parents creeping to the toilets at night "Oh bugger! I stood on a  Lego brick" we shall hear shouted in the dead of night)

Entering a world of discovery, we are extremely excited to announce that LEGO will be joining us to kick off the summer holidays in style, with the Imagination Factory. A celebration of ‘free build’, this magical environment will immerse you in the LEGO belief in the power of each individual’s imagination. Doubters might see a pile of bricks and accessories but ‘we’ see a jet fighter, a beautiful flower, an alien monster, our dog called Spike or the skyline of New York. The golden rule of The Imagination Factory is that there are no rules – no rights or wrongs – just inspiration to let LEGO enable you to build anything that your imagination can conjure up. 

And for the show offs, show men and show girls there is ...   the Showmany Calliope, a mixture of traditional fairground showman heritage, pyrotechnics, a full independently powered 4K sound system and a bowtop caravan themed stage, that will play host to the devilish Mosschops and Sidewicket’s Britain’s Not Got Talent. So, do you want to perform on the craziest stage of all time? Have you got a talent? Have you not got talent? We don't care, because we haven't; so anything goes! From Dutch didgeridoo dancing to skateboarding budgerigars; panpipe duets to five-year-old Frank Carson impersonators (keep it clean please), we need you! Terms and Conditions do not apply. 

I'm starting to plan what to wear now, and wondering about the rest of the CampBbloggers, I wonder what they are up to..

 

Camp Bestival Has New Stuff!!!

As you know (if not why not) I have been blogging (daily) over at Tent Sniffing for Beginners, a countdown to Camp Bestival because I'm a bit excited to be going there this year as an Official Besti-Blogger!! I'm covering different topics each day, stuff like getting kids to sleep, mobile phones, food, security, lots of past festival pictures, a giveaway or two, loads and loads of stuff, do take a peek!

And Camp Bestival are sending me emails to make me even more excited (I hope I don' burst with joy before we get there!)

The latest exciting thing is that there are THREE new arenas! (and the return of an old favourite)

 Ringmaster Rob da Bank says: “*drum roll* Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, the team at Camp Bestival HQ proudly present for your delectation and wonder, a host of beloved and brand new venues! Please welcome to our circus arena the Travelling Barn, The Pigs Big Ballroom, Caravanserai and Project Wild Thing! 

 Our new venues are causing the family and I a huge wardrobe dilemma: we'll want camouflage face paint and explorer gear for the feral activities in the Dingly Dell with Project Wild Thing, cowboy boots and chaps for the all-family toe-tapping hoe downs in the Travelling Barn, dancing shoes and circle skirts to swing along to Greg's Greats in the Pigs Big Ballroom and vaudevillian circus outfits to explore Caravanserai! Can't wait to discover it all with the nippers and a different outfit on every half an hour! See you there.” 

I'm really excited about Wild Time with Project Wild Thing, who will have a village tipi based at the entrance to the Dingly Dell. I've always loved the dell area and getting back to nature is lovely so I'll be looking forward to exploring the listening spots in the woods, trying the creative nature writing sessions, wild story-telling, an un-nature trail, creature mask making, bird spotting (and stepping), shadow drawing, a perfect digital detox for screen addled minds, Camp Bestival are sure Project Wild Thing will help kids and their folks re-connect with the wild and they’ll help you take that habit back home. 

Ticket Info

Ticketline / 0844 888 4410 / www.ticketline.co.uk/camp-bestival

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £195 Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 31/07/2014

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £180 Student Tickets are for Students with valid ID

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £113 Age 15 to 17 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 15 to 17 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £88 Age 11 to 14 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 11 to 14 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 26*

* NB: All teens (aged 11 to 17) MUST camp in the same area as their families with a maximum of 2 teens per adult (over the age of 26)

Age 5 -10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £20 These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 4 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - FREE (but ticket still required) Age 4 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 4 and under on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Camping Plus Plot - £125 Advance Car Parking - £11

Campervan Ticket - £72 per vehicle

Caravan/Trailer tent ticket (includes a car parking space) - £83

All Tickets:
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold

Camping, joys of camping, camping with kids..a plan

So back from Camp Bestival and with only a day or two until Wilderness I read a fab article on the BBC website confirming my (and Stornoway's) belief that we are Free Range Humans and need to camp more!!

While at Camp Bestival (full details and blog post to follow) I met some rather delightful and scrumptious 'mummy bloggers' (and ladies that tweet) and many of them had small children with them, even babes in arms! And when I tweeted about it I had a few parents show interest in camping but who were also nervous novices to the whole 'life under the stars' thing. So I thought I'd compile a few top tips.

I have camped with DD since she was 8, we go to several festivals a year and camp in between. We have camped from March to November and have met and talked to many parents camping with young'uns. (We listen out for parenting/camping tips too when we camp...nylon and canvas are thin...)

• Camping is not scary. Any one can do it. You don't need lots of stuff. Too much stuff can be a hindrance (and expensive.)
• If you want to give it a try but don't want to buy a load of equipment try asking around your friends, lots of keen campers have more than one tent and are happy to loan you some kit.
• Ebay and Freecycle are both great places to find camping bargains. And look in the sales at the end of the summer.
• Camp for the first time in your garden! (or a friend's garden) That way you can experience the joys without the risk of forgetting anything. Kids will love it.
• Children sleep better in the open air. Let then run about. Give them 'jobs' to do. Even washing up can be fun in a field.
• Don't expect children to 'help' unless you are specific, even teens! Don't say "can you help!" say "please pump up the beds" "please tidy the tent pegs away" etc
• Don't set bedtimes, just play it by ear. As the children get sleepy suggest a story in the tent, or colouring while laying in their sleeping bags
• Take plenty of toys but don't feel you need to fill every minute, kids can amuse themselves with very little. Let them learn to make their own fun. Or suggest a scavenger hunt.
• Toy ideas - bubbles, a Frisbee, colouring books, a quiz book, a ball, wooden/plastic swords and dress up things. Encourage the children to put on a play for you in the evening!
• Don't worry about mess. If you eat out doors dropping food doesn't matter. Assume you will wash all clothes (and children!) when you return and just let them have fun. Take wellies, children have a habit or finding water anywhere.
• Many campsites these days have toilet/shower blocks. It is not primitive. (some even have hairdryers)
• You don't need electric hookup. No, really, you don't.
• Festival toilets can look 'nasty' - talk to your children before you go about poo! you may see it - it doesn't bite.
• Carry wetwipes and hand gel so you can eat without panic over germs.
• Don't panic about germs.
• Take a woolly hat and socks to wear in bed.
• Take wine (unless you don't drink then take lashings of ginger beer)
• Don't wear a watch.
• Sleep when it's dark, get up when it's light.
• Relax. Try not to plan too much.
• Camping will create memories that kids will remember forever, keep your temper, smile, make the memories lovely ones.
• But...do have a few rainy day activities up your sleeve. Visits to museums, quiz games in the tent, making plasticine people etc

Have an awesome time. Let me know if you are inspired to try camping, or add some tips if you already camp with small folk.

 

Swamps, Stages, Sun, and Sweat (Glastonbury ...continued)

Friday arrived damp and drizzly. We donned wellies (and clothes, I wasn't allowed to wander naked, the teen DD had forbidden it, tsk, teens eh) And headed down to the festival for some breakfast. The field by the Other Stage was a quagmire. Proper sticky, slippy Glastonbury mud. Hungover festival goers slithered and slid along the walkways, sometimes falling with a satisfying 'splat'. We stopped for breakfast of bacon and egg in a bap (well I did, DD claimed not to be hungry) and then walked about in the mud, we squelched onward and suddenly were forced, FORCED, to eat warm blackberry and apple pie with cream, when we spotted the aptly named Just Desserts (absolutely scrumptious!)

 We then staggered onward to the kids field as DD had been dying to visit and see what was going on there. By this time the sun was out, so I lounged while she played in the spider tower, the pingpong thunderdome and other assorted amusements. I wasn't just watching beards (I was).

Later we went to Williams Green to meet Lemon Fancy at the Ecover Bee, we also bumped into Ptolemy the bee's creator. We chatted, admired the bee and then popped into the 'souper' Soup Library, a place we discovered last year at Wilderness, and one we were delighted to see again.

We were sad to miss Amanda Palmer but DD was very happy to catch up with Rita Ora's set on the Pyramid stage.

We had pizza (cooked in a wood fired oven, smokey goodness) for lunch, and also had to eat crumpets after spotting old friends from Camp Bestival the Strumpets  with Crumpets (I seem to have turned  into a Glastonbury food critic and it's true we did eat ALL THE TIME! but it's hard work festivalling) DD had two luxury jam crumpets, while I had the Bloody Mary - best crumpet ever!

In one of the shops DD cunningly bought a Jessie J T-shirt for a £5 (I say cunning, it was priced at £10, I said no, the guy selling instantly reduced it LOL) And then we went to the Cider Bus for beard watching warm cider. We could hear The Vaccines playing from there so it seemed churlish to move, it's a bit blurred at this point to be honest. :-)

We went to watch the rather fab and funny Dizzee Rascal complete with swearing and balloons, a rather spirited and fun performance that DD loved, and we stayed  for the Arctic Monkeys set too because I rather love them.

After dark we went back to  Williams Green to see the bee in the dark, and it didn't disappoint, cunning light effects rippled over its body and it looked amazing.

 Saturday Morning broke bright and warm. The mud had all dried, and after an  ostrich burger for breakfast we were off!The green kids field was first on the list as DD was obsessed with the climbing wall there. The people in the field were so lovely and friendly too, oh and we were dressed as bees.

 We took a walk up to The Park to the Crow's Nest hoping to see  Professor Brian Cox but it was so busy we couldn't even get close, reminded me of stories of people trying to hear Jesus! So we took photos of the lovely view over the festival, and had some lunch then walked back past the stone circle (where we saw the most romantic of marriage proposals, he: down on one knee, she:crying and saying yes, everyone:hugging)

We went to watch some comedy next, DD's choice, and chanced on Torann Drummers (young, hunky, sweaty topless drummers, what's not to like?) and then listened to Jeremy Hardy and some other people that raised a giggle or two.

Tea was a fishfinger butty while watching stunt men lay on beds of nails. Which fortified us to go and see The Proclaimers in the Accoustic tent.

 We nipped back to the tent for chairs and shmangles so we would be comfy for The Rolling Stones later. The field was heaving with fans and we were far far away but it was amazing. I was exhausted just watching them for over two hours, incredible the stamina they have and Mick was clearly loving it all.

Sunday. Dressed as bees again today after washing our hair in a bucket by the tent, no queueing at showers for us! Even though there were free showers in the Green Futures field, stocked with Ecover products.

We caught a bit of Zulu Winter on the Other Stage, and DD danced about with her breakfast ostrich.

We went to the West Holt stage to see Riot Jazz (mostly by accident, you really do find all the best things by accident at festivals)

Then we spent an hour or so at the Circus Pavement (DD's favourite spot) watching such great acts as Great Dave, Billy Kid and Mr H. (no Photos of Billy Kidd though - too busy cringing as she dislocated her shoulder to escape from a straight jacket)

 And at 1:30 we were back at the Other stage for what turned out to be my favourite act of the festival (and the cruel BBC didn't film it!!) Stornoway, so there I sat sipping gin from a tin, listening to lovely music on hard baked earth that had been a swamp only days before.

Lianne La Havas (someone we discovered at Wilderness and instantly loved) was great on the West Holt stage later, I sat eating Goan Fish Curry (delicious and very spicy) while listening.

Mumford and Sons performed a stonking set later, much of which we listened to from the comfort of bed, we really are wimpy festival goers :-)

Monday. I'd been dreading getting the trolley back up the hill but I needn't have worried. Delightful friendly men helped us at every steep bit, one guy helped push for so long that we awarded him a medal (I bought some at the 99p stores for just an occasion such as this, we had already awarded one to one of the litter picking team) and so we were gone, driving away from several days of action packed fun. I miss being in the tent, I can't wait for the next festival.

All the photos you've already seen plus a whole load more are in the slide show below. (Well done if you read this far)

Big thanks to Ecover for sending us to Glastonbury

Created with flickr slideshow.

Glastonbury: beats, bars, bands and bees, with Ecover

Early on Wednesday morning (I say early it was actually 8am - the time the gates opened at Glastonbury) I set off with some trepidation, (and DD)  to the biggest music festival in the UK.

The journey was stupidly easy, no queues anywhere despite AA signs and dire warnings online of long waits around the site. We arrived at the Purple car park as instructed and were shown to a parking spot about as far from the main festival site as was possible without still being at home.

The view from the car park (which was high on a hill) over the festival was amazing. We had packed light (we hadn't) and so we put the trolley together and set off.

We camped on Hitchin Hill as the family camping was already full when we arrived at 11am. It was very steep but luckily DD's beauty and my feeble helplessness attracted manly types to grab the trolley and RUN with it to the top of the hill in a show of awesome macho-ness.


We pitched the tent, dropped the trolley and our valuables off at the free lockup and then wandered off to the Green Fields, through the circus fields, to Williams Green where we could finally see the holy grail of our journey, the finished Ecover Bee sculpture by Ptolemy that we had previously seen in pieces in Brighton. The bee looked amazing. So different to last time we saw it. (more of that in later posts)

We bought ourselves a Glastonbury T-shirt each and moseyed on back to the tent via the craft field and the 50p tea tent (the clue is in the name there) where oddly everyone was spilling their tea....

At the tent by 7pm and DD was out for the count, all that healthy exercise, early morning rising and hauling a stupidly overladen trolley across Glastonbury will do that to a person.

I had a gin and watched the sun setting.

On Thursday we were raring to go, a great nights sleep (although my hips were aching - I must be getting old - not sure how that happened) We started the day with coffee and hot chocolate at the tent (ah ha bringing the camp cooker suddenly seemed like a better idea!) And then went down to the festival site to shop, stare and eat.

We spent time at all the best places, the Cider bus, the kid's field, played giant twister, made stick people in the green kid's field and then....then it began to rain

 We braved the rain for some time, chatting to friendly hot pork sellers (ooh er) and getting wetter and wetter. Finally as there were no bands we were desperate to see we went back to the tent. 2 early nights...what was going on!

It continued to rain all night, and when we woke it was still raining, luckily I had two pairs of wellies...

to be continued .....

Did I mention......?

I realise this may come as a surprise to some of you as I've kept it pretty quiet but Ecover are sending me to Glastonbury to be a citizen journalist. I know, I know, quiet shy retiring little old me in the worlds biggest performing arts festival with only a 13 year old to keep me sober safe, why would Ecover do such a thing! It must be my obsessive love of camping and all things eco and green and hippy I guess. Maybe also my new found bee obsession. Honestly when Ecover told me about the sculpture and the bee connections to their product I was a little perplexed...bees? But then I started reading about bees and...well bees are amazing! no really, amazing

So much is written from the 'urban myth' (Bumble bees, if looked at aerodynamically, can't actually fly. Einstein claimed the world would will end in 4 years if all the bees die.) to the amazing facts about how they reuse and recycle in their own hives. Like tiny eco warriors, buzzing busily among the flowers collecting either nectar (in a special nectar pouch BUT they can switch a 'switchy thing' if they get hungry and send some nectar to their stomachs!! ) or pollen stored in rather cute pollen pouches on their legs. They transform the goodies from the flowers into honey and use the honey to create wax which they mould to create the amazing cell structure within the nest.

Just take a few minutes to google the bee. Amazing.

And Ecover are doing amazing things too! Not least the awesome art work by Ptolemy (better known for his sharks, fish and hubcap creatures) which will be unveiled in all it's glory at Glastonbury - I'll see you there - did I mention I'm going?

Created with flickr slideshow.
And also in their new take on eco cleaning products ..

Surfactants are the surface-active ingredient found in most household cleaners. Typically, they are produced through a petrochemical process, through a high-energy, high-pressure process that is, unfortunately, toxic to the environment.
However, sustainable cleaning products contain surfactants produced from plant-based alternatives. Plant-based surfactants are biodegradable and rely wholly on renewable resources, rather than fossil resources.  Sounds like an ideal solution, right?  Well… almost.
The problem is, plant-based surfactants use the same energy-intensive process as the petrochemical-based surfactants.  We needed to improve on that aspect, too.
So, after seven years and over 50,000 hours of research, our scientists invented a new biological, energy-efficient process derived from yeast that could take the place of petrochemical and plant-based surfactants.   This is not just any yeast, but the kind that was discovered in bees’ nests. This particular variety is uniquely capable of combining water-soluble sugar (glucose) and non-soluble fatty acid (oil) to produce a completely natural emulsifier – an Eco-surfactant!

 Extract from Ecover Blog

So now I'm bee obsessed, loving bees, nearly crying at some of the awful things in the news about bee deaths. And secretly hoping to convince my hubby we should get a hive!!

Follow me on twitter or check out the #beeclever hashtag to keep up with what Ecover and I are up to.