One whole week at Glastonbury

So many pictures I don't know where to start!

It's a long way to Glastonbury and six of us travelling in the 7-seater cab of a truck designed to transport workers short distances was not exactly comfortable for an over 200 mile journey. From leaving North Wales early last Monday morning... we intended leaving at 3am but actually set off at 5.45, only to return for Phil's phone half an hour later... we eventually arrived some time after midday to set up our camp.

Our camping site on the Green Crafts field was full of workers setting up tents of every description to display their crafts, from metalworking to weaving to jewellery making to pottery and everything in between, not to mention the various food tents. Tim, who does all the signs for the field, was provided with tickets so we were able to go in as a family... four generations with me and my daughter, her daughter and her daughter... and it was a great experience!

This is me with my glamourous grand-daughters.

The first three days before the general public arrived were quite relaxing, but by Friday the peace was well and truly shattered by music of every description blaring from several large stages, often at the same time! As we were camped above the busy centre on the hillside, all the sounds floated up together, so I heard Bruce Springsteen late on Saturday night at a million decibels, while in my tent! (It seemed that all the speakers were turned up at night, the later the louder!)

This is my diary entry for Friday...

I'm sitting in the Peace field on the hill above our camp in the dying light of the setting sun, having worn myself out traipsing round the festival with Cathy, ploughing through thick gloopy mud from yesterday's rain in my boots, which are still drying out.

Noise all around from every part of this huge gathering; a low growling beat from far away mixed with the distinctive sound of reggae and some guitar playing nearby. Roaring swells from the crowds like howling gusts of wind or crashing waves on a beach. Now lights are going on all over the valley as the sun sinks lower in the red sky; maybe better weather tomorrow!

Up here on the hill the grass is still fresh and green, unlike down in the valley where it's become a mudbath!! I'm cleaning mud spashes off my clothes and thickly caked boots.

Everything down in the centre is excessive... music; loudly incessant... people; hordes of them... food; in abundance, smell, taste and texture... drink; plenty.

Sitting up here on the grassy knoll is the right place for me right now.

Getting ready

I'm busy packing this morning, trying to decide what NOT to take with me to Glastonbury! Should I take a suitcase or a backpack? At least I don't have to carry everything on my back, as I did many years ago, backpacking round Wales. I am not famous for travelling light and tend to take things 'just in case', but I'm really trying to keep my bags to a minimum. (I'm known as the 'bag lady' in my family.)

Five of us are going together in a big truck; though how big remains to be seen. Hopefully, big enough to accommodate my big bag of bedding, containing a thick blanket fo a base and duvet to ensure a comfortable night's rest in the tent we'll all be sharing! A bag of toiletries and only a small bag of clothes; as we'll be camping in the outdoors I'll only need a few layers to change around according to the weather. Then there's a bag of jewellery making kit that I intend to use and hopefully sell a few beads and earings I've been making recently, which I find satisfies a creative need at the moment. I've acquired a toilet tent with a borrowed portaloo, essential for nightly emergencies! Also a couple of folding chairs and small folding table if there's room.

The forecast is good for the next few days, but you never know! Glastonbury is famous for the mud when it inevitably rains. We'll be away for over a week, close to nature, as well as thousands of other people, but also far from my laptop and home comforts! How will I cope? I'll return no doubt with many pics and tales of our Glastonbury adventure!

Car Boot

Sunday was warm and sunny for a change so I did a Car Boot Sale with Annie. This is our stall with Annie's bric-c-brac displayed and we also had a rail of clothes, which went quite well.

Anyway, it was very pleasant sitting in the sun, waiting for people to give us money. The important issue is 'What's it worth?' What I think it's worth is usually far higher than someone else's valuation. While some will pay what we ask, others will offer a ridiculously low figure, which we then haggle about. They get something really cheap and we get some cash to take home, which is what it's all about. All good fun!

I find these sales of other peoples' old stuff quite interesting. Mostly the stuff people are trying to get money for are the same sort of 'tat' filling other peoples' cupboards and attics. Annie's 'stuff' is of a higher quality and really too valuable for a Car Boot, although she knows the regular dealers who'll pay a good price for the right item. Unfortunately, the delightful camel didn't go this time.

Having unloaded most of my old stuff along with all the stuff I inherited from my parents, I only have clothes that have lived too long in my wardrobe without seeing the light of day. This can be difficult for me; I could be slim enough to wear that lovely dress one day. And how can I bear to throw out that favourite jacket, even though I've not worn it for the past year or few, because it's simply outdated!

This idea that some day I'll be the right size and shape to wear some beautiful garment is the 'stuff' of fantasy that goes with; 'One day my prince will come' and; 'When I win the lottery'. Sometimes it's not easy to be realistic and let go of those old dreams.

Maybe I could trade in those old outdated desires for new realistic goals. What value do I put on being that slim again? I can haggle with myself about that. When I recognise that it would take a lot of time and hard work to regain a sylph-like figure, which I may choose not to do at my age, I can make it my goal to eat healthily, take regular exercise and be happy with what I've got!

I'm happy with that, so now it's time to go out for a walk.

Mark home

Saturday morning and its good to have Mark home again, recovering after his journey from the other side of the world! I've yet to catch up with his latest adventures... riding his bike up the east coast of VietNam for a few days before flying home!

I'm getting quite excited because I've been offered a ticket for Glastonbury Festival! Several members of my family already booked to go, were discussing their travel arrangements and I began to feel that I could be missing out on a great experience, so I casually mentioned that I'd be interested in buying a spare ticket! So many people were after it that it seemed unlikely, so I didn't hold my breath.

Actually I have been to Glastonbury once before, on the 21st Anniversary, whatever year that was! At least 10 years ago!

I remember the crowds, cramped camping space, rain, mud and disgusting loos!

But I also recall wonderful entertainment; from circus and comedy to music of every kind, not to mention the food! Don't dream of cooking for yourself; there is food of every description at very reasonable prices. I discovered the peace of the Healing field where practitioners of every kind offer their ministrations. Maybe I could offer EFT sessions to any stressed souls... if I have the time!

Rich will be performing this year, so its a real family affair as I'm going with Julie and her family and they have a tent big enough for us all. I believe we're also taking our own loo and loo tent, thank goodness!

So from next Sunday I'll be offline for a week at least.

On the Edge

I do like to live beside the sea... on the edge so to speak, because that's how I feel most of the time... on the edge of something; a new viewpoint, experience or insight perhaps.

I just noticed that this is the 100th post since I started almost one year ago! So I'd like to say something to commemorate this milestone.

I just love writing and since I returned home I've been meeting and hearing from people who tell me how much they've enjoyed reading my blog, so I'm heartened to continue with my very personal musings about my travels, both out in the world and in the labyrinth of my mind.

I'd love to know who's reading this, so please click on the button to register yourself as a follower and leave a comment sometime... it costs nothing to communicate and I'd really appreciate it!

My claim to be wise is not because of something special about me, but simply that in my long life I've somehow managed to absorb so much of interest from the writings of others, both spiritual and psychological. The many fascinating books and newsletters that I constantly read, by others more wise and informed than I am, I believe are beginning to have an effect on our collective consciousness, which needs a serious overhaul if the human race is to survive much longer.

Maybe there was something about growing up during wartime Britain that convinced me at an early age that the World was coming to an end, yet somehow I learned to accept death as a necessary part of life and began to take an interest in religious ideals. I'm glad to say that I finally left religion behind in favour of higher and more interesting philosophies.

My real passion in life is disseminating information that will help others and especially the techniques that I've learned to help overcome the fears and limiting beliefs that hinder most of us at times from really enjoying life. It's taken most of my life to overcome my fear of just being me and going for what I want in life and thankfully I've learned to base my life on TRUST rather than on fear, which stunts growth and inhibits love and joy.

In spite of having a pension, for which I'm truly grateful, I still have to earn more in order to do the things I enjoy, which includes travelling and last year when I took the opportunity to go abroad, I paid for all my travel arrangements on Credit cards, trusting that I'd be able to earn enough to pay them off, which I'm managing quite well so far. Living on the edge can be risky but it stops me being too complacent!

Anyway, this morning I awoke with the idea of inviting anyone who needs the kind of help I can offer, to spend their holiday cash on some time with me here in Llandudno, to experience some intensive therapy; specifically EFT and Coaching.

I live in a top floor flat with a view of the Great Orme, only a few minutes walk to town and the Promenade in one direction and the quieter West Shore in the other. The Orme is a wonderful place to explore if you have the energy and I'd be happy to accompany you or take you on a guided tour of Snowdonia if there's time! Good homemade meals would be included; vegan, vegetarian or with fish as desired. My time would be yours for the time you're here, which could be anything from a day to a week, so how about it?

Who will Come to the Edge with me?