BESTIVAL

Having been lucky enough to go to Glastonbury three times now, and it being my first festival ever, I have been known to turn my nose up at anything in comparaison. Earlier this year I attended the Isle of Wight festival with Laura and Amy. Although the line up was truely amazing (seeing Sir Paul McCartney was probably a high light of my summer) and the work behind the bar was extremely fun, I just didn't think the rest of the festival matched up to the hype of Glastonbury. So as the time approached for Bestival, I was excited, however I must admit, I was slightly sceptical that it wouldn't match up. (oh god, I'm a Glasto snob). But if ever there was a time to eat my hat, I believe it would be right now. Bestival was nothing other than Magical. Yes, that's right, with a capital M.
Everything about the festival was amazing. The different fields and areas, each had their own distinctions and features, from the Wishing tree to Bollywood to the Fantasy field to the Magical meadow to name but a few. There was such a fantastical feeling running throughout, which was only intesified on the Saturday when almost every single person was transformed into a magical fantasy character.
The thursday was pretty chilled out, with no bands on we knew we were free to explore and roam the fields as we wished. I was pleasantly surprised to find The Bimble Inn (a quaint little pub in a tent decorated with fabric and tea lights) situated right in the same field we had pitched our tents. We also found little pods to sit in with your own little speakers and music to listen to, a giant tree stump known as the Wishing Tree, the Chai Wallahs tent, the Cabaret tent (which later turned into a silent disco), a fair ground, Club Dada (an actual club built out of wood), beds scattered all over the fields, giant deck chairs, a giant spider stage and the Sailor Jerrys tent where actual tattoos were being done. Then there were the stages and various tents where artists and bands played throughout the night, every night. From country dances to house to techno to dubstep, drum and bass.The list is pretty much endless.
Throughout the weekend I managed to see Eliza Doolittle (who we also spotted later that evening in the crowds of festival goers), Ellie Goulding, Rolf Harris (Genius), Dizzee Rascal, Four Tet, The King Blues, The Prodigy, The Flaming Lips, Mumford and Sons.
Highlights? Joker on the Arcadia stage was pretty amazing and The Prodigy on the Sunday night. I wasn't even excited about this band, I'd never been a fan, but I will never forget how much fun and laughter I had with Laura that night.
I would definately go again next year, it was like Glastonbury in a smaller version. Venues were easier to get to and the amount of costumes made the festival truely enchanted. All in all, Bestival well and truely lived up to it's name.

River Island make fab parkers.

Size Ten. Yes Please.

Sunshine Superman

Oh my. What a fantastic summer I've had. Probably one of the best yet. I picked up my photos yesterday from Boots, not hoping for anything special, (I had taken them on a crappy disposible afterall) only to be over taken with warm happy memories of the summer months. Having got caught up in looking for jobs and the realisation of not returning to uni over the last few weeks, I'd forgotton how much fun I have had! From Glastonbury, to Spain, to France with Eddie, to camp, to uni reunions in Southampton, and finally Notting Hill Carnival last weekend, it's all been fantastic! Bring on Bestival next weekend is what I say! I'd better get cracking with my costume....

1.

Anyone who has heard me talk about Radio 4 will know that Desert Island Discs is my favourite program. Now, over the years I wonder each time I listen to the numerous amounts of people interviewed by Kirsty Young, which 8 tracks I would choose to take to a desert island. I think I have found number one however. The Mingulay Boat song is an old shanty song sang by fishermen when they came home from the Atlantic to Mingulay. It's a beautiful song which I have always associated with camp, as I first heard it on FSC. Port Isaac's Fishermen's Friends sing a fantastic version which warms the cockles of my heart. I will therefore allow this version as number one on my Desert Island Disc list. Now for the other seven...well, I'll keep you posted.