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Or, "What I did at the Larmer Tree"
Of course, it should be remembered while reading this that I get anxious and paranoid in even in the most ideal situations, so we'll ignore all the stuff that went on in my head and focus on the fun things, :-
So take:-
15 or so wonderful people (including Scott and Annabel (two of my old house mates) and their 2 and a half year old daughter (one of the nicest, most unspoilt and charming children I've ever met - although, coincidentally "Lola" by the Kinks (I think), came on the radio as we were driving to the festival, and, as that's her name (it took me a little while to get used to but it does sort of suit her), I had earworm all weekend (I do think it's a shame that Lola was not, apparently, named after the song - that means they'll never get to have this conversation: -
http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2004/05/in-which-author-finally-has.asp
:) ))).
About 5000 others, ranging over every part of the age spectrum.
More vodka and Kick (a cheaper, more virulent form of Red Bull - it has a Caution on it, in big black letters, for god's sake) than the human body can reasonably be expected to tolerate.
The best massage I've ever had - I think it was Thai, you know, the sort that pushes your body to the extent that it actually hurts but leaves you flying :) - from a lovely guy from Hamburg.
Some gorgeous Victorian gardens, complete with peacocks and parrots.
And a heatwave.
And add the following (and more). Simmer on a low heat. And enjoy:-
Kate Rusby, whom I've wanted to see for years (especially since she supported Billy Bragg on every date on his tour a few years ago except in Liverpool, where we were subjected to some local musical atrocity called Amsterdam). It turns out that, in the flesh, she is, as well as being extremely talented, just goooorgeous (with the cutest Barnesly accent), and very funny. She didn't play 'I am stretched on your grave' or 'Drowned Lovers', unfortunately, but still a great set. And, briefly at least, I fell in love :) .
Stringybark McDowell ("me name's not really Stringy. It's Kenneth") - whom the program describes as a 'raucous Australian blues troubadour' and who kicked some fairly serious arse- *did* play 'I am stretched on your grave' - mmmm, gravelly - and followed it up with the ever popular, self-penned, classic "Kylie Minogue's gonna have my babies" ("you spend your life learning hundreds of the greatest songs around and all people want to hear is some piece of shit song you knocked up in about 10 minutes"). Wickedly funny and effortlessly entertaining.
Smerins Anti-Social Club - a really very bounceable jazz, ska, funk, rock fusion. Bizarre , but great fun.
Afro-Celt Sound System - Celtic/African fusion, with a modern dance kick. Just storming.
Shooglenifty - As Scott likes to put it, fiddlededee that kicks arse.
The Martin Harley Band - which included the most effortlessly fluid slide guitar I've ever heard, or seen. Jesus, the man can play ...
And so it went on. For various reasons - see above :) - I didn't appreciate the music or the company as much as I could have, but the fault there is entirely mine (I should say, though, that I was far, far less anxious etc, than I have been in the past. I think I may be growing as a person ;)).
So verdict: two thumbs up (despite the fact that I find it sooo incredibly difficult to relax and get over myself) :), and highly recommended.
--------------------------------
*With apologies to Daniel "Oz" Osbourne.
For those of you who aren't obssessive Buffy fans - and I know there's at least a couple of you out there - and because almost everything Oz ever said is worth quoting, here it is in full:-
Oz - We should figure out what kind of deal this is. I mean, is it a gathering, a shindig, or a hootenanny?
Cordelia - What's the difference?
Oz - Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig - dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well it's chock full of hoot, just a li'l bit of nanny.
I love Oz soooo much :)
Of course, it should be remembered while reading this that I get anxious and paranoid in even in the most ideal situations, so we'll ignore all the stuff that went on in my head and focus on the fun things, :-
So take:-
15 or so wonderful people (including Scott and Annabel (two of my old house mates) and their 2 and a half year old daughter (one of the nicest, most unspoilt and charming children I've ever met - although, coincidentally "Lola" by the Kinks (I think), came on the radio as we were driving to the festival, and, as that's her name (it took me a little while to get used to but it does sort of suit her), I had earworm all weekend (I do think it's a shame that Lola was not, apparently, named after the song - that means they'll never get to have this conversation: -
http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2004/05/in-which-author-finally-has.asp
:) ))).
About 5000 others, ranging over every part of the age spectrum.
More vodka and Kick (a cheaper, more virulent form of Red Bull - it has a Caution on it, in big black letters, for god's sake) than the human body can reasonably be expected to tolerate.
The best massage I've ever had - I think it was Thai, you know, the sort that pushes your body to the extent that it actually hurts but leaves you flying :) - from a lovely guy from Hamburg.
Some gorgeous Victorian gardens, complete with peacocks and parrots.
And a heatwave.
And add the following (and more). Simmer on a low heat. And enjoy:-
Kate Rusby, whom I've wanted to see for years (especially since she supported Billy Bragg on every date on his tour a few years ago except in Liverpool, where we were subjected to some local musical atrocity called Amsterdam). It turns out that, in the flesh, she is, as well as being extremely talented, just goooorgeous (with the cutest Barnesly accent), and very funny. She didn't play 'I am stretched on your grave' or 'Drowned Lovers', unfortunately, but still a great set. And, briefly at least, I fell in love :) .
Stringybark McDowell ("me name's not really Stringy. It's Kenneth") - whom the program describes as a 'raucous Australian blues troubadour' and who kicked some fairly serious arse- *did* play 'I am stretched on your grave' - mmmm, gravelly - and followed it up with the ever popular, self-penned, classic "Kylie Minogue's gonna have my babies" ("you spend your life learning hundreds of the greatest songs around and all people want to hear is some piece of shit song you knocked up in about 10 minutes"). Wickedly funny and effortlessly entertaining.
Smerins Anti-Social Club - a really very bounceable jazz, ska, funk, rock fusion. Bizarre , but great fun.
Afro-Celt Sound System - Celtic/African fusion, with a modern dance kick. Just storming.
Shooglenifty - As Scott likes to put it, fiddlededee that kicks arse.
The Martin Harley Band - which included the most effortlessly fluid slide guitar I've ever heard, or seen. Jesus, the man can play ...
And so it went on. For various reasons - see above :) - I didn't appreciate the music or the company as much as I could have, but the fault there is entirely mine (I should say, though, that I was far, far less anxious etc, than I have been in the past. I think I may be growing as a person ;)).
So verdict: two thumbs up (despite the fact that I find it sooo incredibly difficult to relax and get over myself) :), and highly recommended.
--------------------------------
*With apologies to Daniel "Oz" Osbourne.
For those of you who aren't obssessive Buffy fans - and I know there's at least a couple of you out there - and because almost everything Oz ever said is worth quoting, here it is in full:-
Oz - We should figure out what kind of deal this is. I mean, is it a gathering, a shindig, or a hootenanny?
Cordelia - What's the difference?
Oz - Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig - dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well it's chock full of hoot, just a li'l bit of nanny.
I love Oz soooo much :)
