On site at 10:15am and helped a friend pitch their tent in the family camping field. Couldn’t believe how fast it was filling up. Here’s a tip if you’re looking for a space next year: you have to navigate past other people’s tents, but there’s a surprising amount of room to the right of the path as you’re going up the hill; so it may not be necessary to keep going up if you don’t want to……
It quickly became hot and burny, so used some suncream at the info point as we weren’t prepared for such sun. Lovely! Wednesday is all about the shopping. Whilst everyone is busy pitching tents and getting settled, I’m out there getting the best bargains before the stalls get busy. My favourite is the 3 for £10 box outside Bohemia. I love their clothes, but watch out for imperfections – these are all shop rejects for one reason or another. In 2011 I accidentally bought a shirt with no buttons! This year I have a dress with a stain on the back, but if it doesn’t wash out, I’ll dye it black.
I also recommend BonBon along circus row. I bought a brilliant £5 bargain in the shape of an ex-covent garden opera house medieval style costume. AND I got a free glitter makeover! So I spent the day shining with gold sequins all over my face. Utterly fantastic. Fished loads out of my bra later, but hey ho.
There were several map changes this year. The moving of the Left field tent was a surprise. Not too bothered as I’m not a fan of Billy Bragg, but there are a couple of comedians I’d like to catch this year if I can.
Food-wise. I felt a little ripped off at paying £5 for a garlic mushroom crepe in the market area. (Kids had a chocolate and a chocolate and almond one.) It had hardly any filling (about 3 mushrooms), but was still surprisingly filling. In the evening, however I had a hog roast with apple sauce in a soft baguette, also for £5 and was huge! Much better value for money and tasted delicious. It was at the top of Glebeland – I love that field. The Ooh Lala Cafe there looked good value too – will try and eat there at some point.
Came home about 7:30pm after a little snooze in the circus field! Quite a good bit of P.E. happening there with trampets and bars and some-such, which was fairly entertaining. Was tempted at seeing if I could still do a somersault, but too afraid of landing on my face in front of a crowd, so didn’t risk it.
10:45pm Paused Marple: A pocket full of rye; jumped out of bed and opened curtains to watch the fireworks and see them light the phoenix and massive bonfire. Shit. Fully intended to go to the Sacred Space to watch that, but had forgotten all about it. MUST remember next year.
