We met up with Ceila and Richard at the Hatton Arms. Walked along the Grand Union Canal and back for 50 minutes or so in some unexpectedly brilliant sunshine. Yes, the weather had taken a break from the incessant cold and wet weather we have been having. We met C&R here before several years ago, the metal dragonfly is still in position.
Back at the Hatton Arms we had lunch on the terrace and continued to catch up with each other’s lives.
We had tickets and a campervan pitch for the Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza. There were three acts on the Saturday night, The Black Dyke Band, Corinne Bailey Rae and headliner Brian Wilson.
We drove down on the Friday, stopping off on the way at CJ Van Designs for some advice on wear on the popup roof. He recommended placing some strips of carpet over the lights in the roof before closing down the lid. We arrived at the site and parked the van, but we did not erect the awning as we were only there for a couple of nights. We sat out in the sun and drank our bottle of fizz before eating our supper which was Coronation Chicken, finished off with raspberries & cream.
The site was much as it was as the previous year, except that there seemed to be more campervans (of all ages) this time, and where we had camped last year there were now vans there. The loos were not the composting type this time, but the traditional Glastonbury long drop, a large tank with cubicles on top, open to the weather at their roofs. Even after only a day it was getting pretty stinky. There was also a van this time selling bacon butties (not that I was allowed to buy one).
Next day it was raining, but it was predicted to get better with no rain for the show. We hung around at the campsite waiting for the rain to stop, and headed into town on foot and made it to the pub called The Who’d A Thought It. Alas, as it was lunch time we were unable to sit outside, so had to drink our pints in the bar. Outside I had spotted the long queue to the Glastonbury Festival Office where tickets to the Pilton Party were on sale. When we left the pub the queue was short. Rosemary gave me permission to buy a ticket for the 1st September, so I joined the queue where I soon heard it was cash only sales. I had gone cashless, luckily Rosemary had not yet left the area and was beckoned over to supply the cash.
A couple more hours to spare was spent looking around the weird and wonderful shops in Glastonbury. After a while, we joined the queue and were soon walking into the Abbey where we sat down on our chairs on a small rise. I think next year I shall sit more over to the left of the site, this seems to be the area where Michael Eavis appears for pictures.
First on were The Black Dyke Band, a Leeds colliery band. I thought they were good, Rosemary considers last year’s school band was better.
Next up was Corinne Bailey Rae, sorry did not enjoy the performance, nothing I could sing along too. We used the time to purchase some wraps with Halloumi, salad and Hummus.
Brian Wilson came on finally with his backing band. Much more pleasant, with recognisable Beach Boy sounds. The crowd really enjoyed the performance. Brian is a bit past it, didn’t play much and only sung a little. The backing band and singers though provided brilliant performances. The event ended with a great firework display.
We left quite quickly and were on the second coach back to the campsite. Very efficient service. I sneaked in a JD in the campervan before going to bed.
The morning was a bit soggy, breakfasted and left. Stopped for lunch at 12.00 at the The Cross Keys Inn. We still had time to kill before meeting up with Sue and Ken, so we visited the National Trust house of Lytes Cary Manor. It would have been better if we had skipped lunch at the The Cross Keys and had just eaten at the NT house.
We arrived at Sue and Ken’s, Sue was in, Ken was supporting the pub which had only recently reopened, but he came back fairly quickly. We inspected Sue’s vegetable plots, chickens & cats. Good to see them.
The drive back on the A303 was a pain, Google recommended a big diversion before we reached Stonehenge. Duly taken.
Rosemary and I ventured into London on Chiltern Railways to go to the Proms. We travelled from Bicester with bargain prepaid tickets. Downside was that we arrived in London a little later than ideal and had to travel back home a little later than needed. The trials of cheap tickets. Rosemary also for the first time used her debit card to enter and exit the tube, while Steve used Android Pay on his mobile phone. Not sure what would have happened if the power had run out between entering and exiting the underground.
We did arrive in time to go to the V&A, bought tickets for the Pink Floyd exhibition, alas there was almost an hour wait before we could enter, leaving us with only 90 minutes to view the exhibition. We could have done with an extra 30 minutes to view comfortably, and I could imagine sitting on the floor in the exit hall for much longer listening to Pink Floyd. If you have not been, then I suggest you hurry up, it closes on the 1st October.
We then walked to the Royal Albert Hall and met with Valerie and Norman in the Vivaldi restaurant for supper before the Prom. Simon had booked the table and hoped to be along for desert, but he had been let out of rehearsals early and was able to order the main course with us. The service was smooth and quick, I suppose it has to be because most people eating there would not want to miss the start of the performance they had booked.
The Prom was very good (much to the surprise of my rock tastes) – Korngold’s “The Sea Hawk Overture” (you could hear Errol buckling his swash throughout), the specially commissioned “Sirens” from Hillborg and finishing with Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherade”. Simon sang in Sirens, which was highly innovative, the choir whispered, whistled, and clicked their fingers as well as sung. A brilliant treat and our thanks to Simon.
We decided to visit Fforest Fields again, after our March trip had been curtailed by the rain. Monday we set off in sunshine and arrived at Fforest Fields in sunshine. Yes, it was warm even enough for people to swim in the lake and take out canoes. It was also warm enough for Dragonflies and the hundreds of Azure Damselfly sitting in the reeds. Despite the swimmers, and dog in the lake, there were Coots, Moorhens and Ducks with their broods swimming at the other end.
Soon Van the Van was parked, and after a struggle, the pod was inflated and attached. I have issues with positioning the pod, this time it was far too close to the van. I should have driven off and driven back a foot further away from the pod and re-attached. Dinner sorted, we were happy campers sitting out in the evening sun watching the House Martins & Swallows.
Tuesday morning we decided on an epic walk to the Seven Stars in the River Wye valley. Unfortunately the campsite had run out of copies of their map, added to which they were not sure if the pub was open because there was a rumour that the actual licensee, had walked out the day before. We decided to set off, we walked up the hill and on the path leading across the ridge. Mixture of bracken, rough grass and (what R calls) winberries. Nothing could possibly go wrong, but, of course, it did. We alas went the wrong side of a marker, came across a fortress of a farm, where the only way through was down a terribly steep hill to the road with no guarantee of access. We decided to give up and retrace our steps. I took a detour and did find the gate which would have taken us on the correct course. We did not continue to the pub, it would have been closed by the time we reached it, anyway. The walk back was tiring, it was hot, we had done more than eight miles and had not taken water with us, expecting to find a pub at the end. Water bottles have been added to Van the Van‘s inventory.
Back at the campsite we bought a few bottles of, what proved to be very good, Welsh lager & beer. There were now a hundred copies of the map to the Seven Stars, and we were also informed that Will (one son) had gone out to paint a big arrow at the place where we had gone wrong.
Wednesday we decided on a short walk to the local Hundred House pun for lunch. The walk took us through the enchanted wood. The chickens and turkeys were still at the house where we exit to path onto the road. (Interestingly the turkeys had disappeared when we retraced our route after lunch. Rosemary suspected a turkey burger stall at the Royal Welsh Show next week.) We arrived at the pub before twelve, bought some beer and order our lunch. Outside where a couple of riders and their horses. They were doing a circular trip from Hay-on-Wye. They left after one horse destroyed a wind vane and shat outside the garden gate. The two horses and their riders were replaced with another six horses who I think were part of the same group as the other two riders.
After an enjoyable and good value lunch we walked back, but this time going by way of Telephone Mast Hill.
Thursday was spent lazing around the campsite examining the ponds in greater detail and watching the Final Cut of Blade Runner on DVD, and the making of Blade Runner. The making of Blade Runner DVD was more than three hours long! Before we started anything, we took down the pod in the dry, tomorrow our leaving day was forecast to be wet.
Friday the predicted rain had arrived and we packed away and left. The further east we drove, the drier it became. We stopped off at a National Trust house called Croft Castle. Croft Castle was one of many old homes that were nearly destroyed in the ’50s, and saved by the National Trust. Some of the home is still lived in by the Croft family. This house stands in a 1500 acre estate, and has numerous walks. I chose the one which took me to the highest point where there is an Iron age fort. This walk took me through various landscapes of grass, mixed woodland and bracken. Well worth the walk, and the rain just about held off. Lunch and tea were at the National Trust cafe.
There was no T in the Park this year (T is for Tennents the main sponsor). Something to do with Ospreys who nest near to the arena making it difficult to use the space. Restrictions including no fireworks. Instead there was a three-day festival in Glasgow on Glasgow Green, which is very near to the city centre. No camping of course, instead hotel accommodation, which of course doubled in price as soon as the festival was announced.
I travelled to Glasgow on the Thursday by Virgin Rail, first class with my Senior Railcard. Nice and quiet in first class, fed and amply watered with wine. I arrived in the evening, checked into my Lenny Henry hotel, and then went out for a rather nice meal at an Italian restaurant.
Friday was the first day of the music festival. Fifteen-minute walk to the west entry of the arena. Despite the warnings of large crowds, long queues and long waits, entry was in a couple of minutes. Armed police in evidence at the gate, we were all patted down. Drugs sniffer dogs were the next obstacle. Inside the arena there were lots of uniformed police and quite a few coppers in disguise.
There were four music venues, three very small and one large main stage. I spent most of my time at the main stage, except when refilling with food and drink. There I typically sat at the old peoples’ tables near to the Jacks Rocks stage, eating and chatting. Usual fare of cider, lager and wine and a very nice Thai food outlet with a reasonably warm green curry.
I watched Rag N Bone Man, London Grammar and Radiohead. Radiohead were the headliners and played all the favourites. They though did not interact with the crowd one bit, and for those not near to the stage there was no way to see them. The stage screens did not have close shots of the artists, but instead a psychedelic screen show. This had also been complained about by other critics after their Glastonbury show. The music was good though.
Leaving the event was fast, and I was soon back at the hotel.
I didn’t dress properly for the weather, it did not rain, was cloudy but cool. The hotel had confused me, I had been wearing my thick long-sleeved Fat Face top and was sweating profusely. The weather forecast said no rain, so I stripped down to a short-sleeved T shirt. It didn’t rain, but by the end of the day I was a trifle cold. It was good to get back into a warm bed. One issue with the venue is they hold you hostage for the day at their inflated drink and food prices. You cannot leave and come back in. No re-entry.
Saturday, it was a lovely cloudless day, though not warm. Plenty of sunscreen was called for. This time I did wear my long-sleeved top. Today I saw Stormzy, a rap singer who had rapturous applause at Glastonbury. He worked so well with the crowd, putting Radiohead’s performance to shame. Was well worth watching. I saw some of Kooks, and George Ezra. I have been disappointed in some live shows with George, where the mixing is totally wrong. You go to hear his voice, not the band. TRNSMT got the mixing about right. I missed Catfish and the Bottlemen, but returned for the Kasabian show. Again, an excellent performance.
Saturday had been a sell-out, and the crowds were huge. The bars had huge queues even before getting into the normal bar queue. The toilets were similarly congested. The patriarchy rules OK and the men had no queuing, The urinals are large plastic tanks with four peeing positions around the tank. You stand facing each other, peeing into plastic urinals over the tank and talking to each other. These loos though are totally open to public view and are placed around the site. So it was odd seeing men in view from the waist up talking to each other and peeing into urinals. Odd on two counts, including the talking bit when at a urinal.
Saturday ended well. I was elated and tired when I was back at the hotel. Straight to bed
Today rain had been predicted, and yes there was rain. Not hard. It had cleared up by the time I had left the hotel. I took my poncho which I did put on when the light drizzle returned. Not too bad, not enough to spoil the event. Later in the evening it dried up so I could remove the poncho for the final gig where I wanted to get to the mosh pit. (A newspaper described the rain as torrential, fake news.)
Crowds were far less today, at my first drink there were no queues and I spent some time chatting with the bar worker from Sierra Leone. She said how most of the drinkers were OK, but there were some abusive and racist people in the queues on Saturday.
Watched the Blossoms from Manchester who played and looked very much like a hippy 70s band. Very refreshing. Next up for me was a band called Two Door Cinema Club from Northern Ireland. Again, a good live session with plenty of interaction with the crowd.
Now we had The 1975 from Manchester, a band I have already seen at T in the Park. The lead singer Matty, (son of Denise Welch and Tim Healy). Matty plays smoking a cigarette (I was told he pays the venue to do so), also looking as if he is high on drugs. His disposition and eye-shadowed look reminded me very much of Richie from the Manic Street Preachers. Now I understand why, when I read WikiPedia and found the name ‘The 1975’ was inspired by scribblings found on the back page of a poetry book by Jack Kerouac that stated “1 June, The 1975”. The Manics were Kerouac fans. It was a superior performance, and they now they have a couple of albums out.
Finally, Biffy Clyro, who I had missed in Reading thinking they were some girly band. Oh how wrong I was, full-on Rock Music. I went down close to the front to watch them. Great rock and roll and great interaction with the crowd. Finished off with a short and explosive firework display.
Back at the hotel had a celebratory drink in the hotel bar, including a dram of Talisker.
Took the Virgin Train back to London. Was wondering why I went to London and did not go to Milton Keynes. When I got home and checked prices for discounted tickets, it became evident that it was cheaper to go from London and not from Milton Keynes. Why?
Monday was Ludgershall Bike Night. We arrived after shortly after seven with friends and parked (our car) on the verge. There were still a few bikes arriving when we arrived. Our friends, who used to be bikers, were amazed at the number and variety of bikes, from modern to vintage. My pictures are mainly of Harleys, because I wanted to email some pictures to another friend, Jon.
There were various stands there, including the Oxfordshire BMW owners club, fish and chip vans, burger vans, a bar and hog roast. The event is short because most bikers like to leave in day light.
Glastonbury 2017 was greeted with great expectations. There had been a long period of dry weather during the build up to the festival. The few days before there had been a heat wave with temperatures in the 30s. The weather forecast predicted no more than a couple of millimetres of rain. I set off early on Wednesday, did some Tesco shopping for drinks and arrived at Love Fields with hardly a car on the way.
Collected my Glastonbury EPO wrist band (Easy Pass Out) from Love Fields and made my way into the festival. The EPO wrist band means you do not need to show a ticket and re-entry pass when you go in or out. It is fast as it also bypasses the queues. Most volunteers get these bands. The other neat thing I found with the EPO was that it enabled me to enter some of the back stage bars when I was accompanied by my friends who were working at the festival. I was also helped by my Love Fields band which matched the colour of their bands.
The Wednesday was hot, and you heard cheers from the crowds when a fleeting cloud covered the sun for a few moments. Wednesday was a getting-acclimatised-day. I met up with Ed, Bob and Mary for a pint on the Park area just after sunset. and we all watched the fireworks. We then made our way to Avalon, going through the closed barriers where the one way system had just been started (EPO band working) and had a few cocktails in the Avalon backstage bar (EPO band and Lovefields band). Really quiet oasis from the madding crowds around us. Cocktails were good as well.
Thankfully it was cooler from now on, with the occasional very light drizzle. Today spent most of the day exploring in the circus /theatre/acoustic/Green Fields area. Also spent an hour trying to Salsa at Glasto Latino. Not a success, but fun. The evening was spent in the South East corner where I saw Napalm Death play, and Son Yambu.
The first full day of Glastonbury. I saw Confidence Man at Williams Green, then watched Lucy Kitt at the Acoustic Stage, apparently Ed Balls was in the crowd. The crowd was small so I am surprised I did not see him. Spent some time looking at and filming the people and acts in the Theatre and Circus area. Then on to The Other Stage. Late evening spent some time in Shangri-La, The Common, Block G, Unfairground and Glasto Latino, so missing out on Radiohead. Just before dawn, I walked over to The Park and had a beer at the bar. Watched the sun rising. Not a spectacular event, there was a very light drizzle and the night just got slowly lighter. Amazed at the number of people who asked when the sun was going to rise, it had already risen an hour before. Maybe that is the result of living in cities.
Walked over to The Wood. Never been there before, an oasis of ponds, trees and paths. There were some Moorhens being aggressive to their chicks. Rushed back to the acoustic stage to meet Ed and Mary. Later Jeremy Corbyn was on at The Pyramid Stage, and then came over to The Left Field stage where he spoke for an hour. I listened to his longer speech at the Left Field. Then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching the headliners on The Pyramid Stage, finished with an excellent set from the Foo Fighters
More band watching finishing with Ed Sheeran on the main stage. Ed and Mary had been let off their stewarding duties, so I met them at The Wood bar. Arrived just as it closed. They thought of trying the John Peel back stage bar as it had some good reports. We arrived and entered easily. There was music there, including the organiser of the John Peel tent area playing and singing. We then moved on to the Silver Hayes bar where we stayed until 6ish. I walked back to Love fields, getting there at 7.00. for some recovery time.
It was peculiar watching people leaving the Glastonbury site for home site at 5 am in the morning, they were in total silence. They all must have been feeling sad because they were leaving after a dry and superb Glastonbury .
On the 24th June 2017 Jeremy Corbyn spoke first at the Pyramid Stage and then at the Left Field stage. This is his full speech at the Left Field stage. Sound only.
Glastonbury 2017 #Glastonbury2017 #Glasto2017 The naughty corner, the south east corner, shangri-la, block 9, the common, the unfair ground. Napalm Death, STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE
Starting with a view of the circus field from Love Fields above pedestrian gate C. I quick amble through the theatre and circus field sees all sorts of entertainment.
Napalm Death playing at Glastonbury 2017 on the Truth stage, Thursday afternoon.
Son Yambu playing at Glasto Latino on Thursday evening
Confidence Man played Williams Green on Friday
Glastonbury 2017 Lucy Kitt at the Acoustic Stage. Apparently Ed Balls was here as well.
Halsey playing the Other stage at Glastonbury 2017. Loved the inflatable balls at the end.
Various cuts from the glade, the park, the wood and finally backstage at the John Peel stage. Jim Fox the organiser of the John Peel stage singing on the Sunday night.
The end
We visited Ann, Liz & Bob in Norwich and stayed a couple of nights. On the drive over we stopped at Eaton Socon and had a coffee in a pub called The Rivermill. This was a converted mill building on The Great Ouze. They were quite happy to serve coffee, In fact they seemed to have a morning coffee and-cake special running. Rosemary was quite taken with some flats overlooking the river. Nothing was as we remembered it. We then drove past are old house, 183 Great North Road, which was still standing as was the Leylandii Hedge that I planted in the front in the late ’70s.
We stopped in the park by the river in St Neots and ate our picnic lunch before heading on to Norwich. As we had plenty of time we stopped off at Grimes Graves. These are prehistoric flint mines in the Brecklands. I last visited then in the ’60s and Rosemary had never seen them. You can still go down one of the mines. There are a couple of others which have been excavated. The landscape outside is Breckland grass, but here there are lots of round dips caused by the pits. There are many pits which all apparently inter-join below ground.
On to Norwich where we all went to the theatre to watch The Play that Goes Wrong. A comedy about a play that goes wrong from beginning to end. This had been recommended to us. Amazing timing by the actors as scenery fell down around them. An audience member got to the stage of laughing where they just squeaked intermittently.
The next day, we raced off to my favourite online camera shop. I’d never seen the bricks & mortar shop. Later, we accompanied Bob on a walk to the local Waitrose via the club where he plays golf. Lovely scenery and very edible wild cherries. Expanding our local geography even further, In the afternoon, we took a walk in Eaton Park, where Liz jogs. A huge park in Norwich which was created after the First World war. It has a large boating pond, and tracks for miniature railways. Despite going to school in Norwich, I had never been to either place.
On the Saturday we returned via Cambridge for the Caius benefactors May week garden party where we met up with Richard and Andrea. (And yes, it was June, but that’s Cambridge for you.)
Visited the Ludgershall Village fete held at the Old Rectory. The weather turned out reasonable, so I was able to site outside and eat my promised cream tea. We spent quite a time there, exploring the gardens and woods which back on to the Marylebone / Birmingham Snow Hill line. The vegetable garden is pristine, no weeds, neatly tilled and presumably no rabbits. There were also a number of vintage cars and vintage tractors. Jim was doing tractor rides around the gardens.
Oyster Catcher and chick at Southwold harbour
Oyster Catcher at Southwold harbour
Monday we set off in Van the Van, .to Southwold for a camping trip with Robin and Tessa We drove a round about route as I wanted to stop off at Norwich Camping and Leisure store in Blofield. This was a large camping shop, garden centre and farm shop. I was incredulous at the size of the gas fired BBQs they stocked. The designs were also fabulous with one which looked like an engine from a motor car. We searched around and found a Kampa Air Pod canopy. It allowed all the sides to be removed for when the sun is out and the weather is hot. It was a little bigger than the canopy Rosemary envisaged. We purchased this along with a collapsible table with integral cupboard which will be used for storage and cooking in the pod.
Off we set again onward to Great Yarmouth to purchase some fuel and goodies, We ate a picnic overlooking the grey North Sea at Gorleston-on-Sea. Back in Van the Van, we headed to Southwold. Alas one of the crossings at Oulton Broad was closed, forcing us to redirect to Lowestoft where we were caught in a traffic snarl-up for a longtime. We arrived at Southwold long after Robin and Tessa. Parked and then proceeded to erect the canopy. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, the wind was strong, but peer pressure and help from Robin soon had it installed and pegged down.
Southwold Harbour
That night we ate in Robin and Tessa’s van, a lovely fish stew with fish locally sourced at the harbour.
That night the wind blew, the rain tipped it down and the canopy generally thrashed around, keeping me awake. Finally, it came off the rail connecting it to the van, First job in the morning was to take it down and pack it away before the rain set in. Rosemary muttered on about how the whole point of a campervan was No More Soggy Tents. I ignored her.
The rest of the day was wet, very wet & windy, too. We all walked along to the harbour eventually succumbing to the elements by sheltering in a cafe from where we sent Robin back to the campsite to get their car. The harbour was really pleasant. No doubt, even better in sunshine. We drove the short distance to Southwold town which was absolutely drenched in rain, but I still managed to purchase a limited edition Fat Face top to add to my collection. Rosemary came away with two large silver-plated tablespoons for Van the Van. Supper eventually ended up as lunch in the Sail Loft, with asparagus & Tessa’s own artichokes for a post-snooze supper . Somehow we managed to have a preprandial drink at the Harbour Inn.
A short visit to Southwold, but we will definitely be back this year, hopefully with less inclement weather. The harbour area looked interesting, and I must also do a brewery/distillery tour. These were sold out when we were there.
