Tuesday, August 05, 2008 4:34:02 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

This weekend I headed up to Kendal and had myself actually quite a good time, despite the gallons of mud caused by a downpour on Friday night. There are many complaints to be had about the organisation and the price considering the actual acts being put on, but I don't care about any of those things cos there was plenty of entertainment to be had nearly all hours of the day if you just loosened up and enjoyed the chilled atmosphere.

Friday

We arrived on Friday evening, and immediately set up the tent because it had stopped raining. No sooner had we finished doing this and got ourselves and stuff inside the tent then the heavens opened up and started soaking people outside still trying to put their tents up. The Friday night lineup was appalling so we just sat in the tent drinking and listening to the ambient sounds coming from the main tent which we'd parked our tent just behind.



Saturday

The previous night's downpour left us with a field full of mud, so after failing to find wellies that fit me, I just went bare foot and enjoyed it.





I ended up stripped down to a pair of shorts and was soon frolicking in the mud for pleasure. Later on while watching the guys photographed below (no idea who they are) I realised I was pissing blood from my foot after cutting it on something, but the mud and crap soon acted as a clotting agent and put a stop to that...



Photos end here as I was getting a bit drunk and I wasn't going to risk falling over in the thick mud and getting the camera dirty. A good evening though, slightly ruined by the Super Furry Animals being a crap band, but only slightly as the local Kendal talent during the day made up for that.

Sunday

Sunday the mud was getting a lot firmer and after grabbing breakfast I settled down in my favourite tent to watch some folk covers of some awesome songs by Johnny Cash and Steve Earle by the Wild Wood Band (known also as the Wyrd Strings when doing their silly stuff). Talented guys. That tent was lovely too, lots of straw to lie down in and a really chilled atmosphere to boot.



The sun was coming out and straw was being provided for people to relax in, and people started making mud sculptures out of the now rather substantial mud.





It was nice to see people enjoying themselves so I spent a couple of hours just wandering about, flitting between the various stages and getting the occasional cup of tea from my other favourite tent (a cafe serving five bean chilli and doing their own little DJ set).





Next up I met up with some of the delightful people from the bsp crowd and partook in smuggled cider and... another other questionable liquid. It was nice to see some familiar faces and I sat outside my favourite tent with them until it was time to go see The Witch and the Robot (one of my favourite bands at the moment). They were, as expected delightfully odd and a pleasure to watch once more.





Eamon Hamilton was on straight after and was another of the very pleasant acts on this day.

After this, we packed up our tent and after getting a photo of the festival flag in action, I put the camera in the car for the rest of the evening.



On arriving back into the festival site, I headed down to the dance tent where it was probably about time for EMF to be performing. For the novelty value they had to be seen and I was lucky enough to turn up just as they started playing "Unbelievable" and left straight after. Timing or what?!

British Sea Power were as always a delight to watch, and I met up with some fellow flag makers who I spent the rest of the evening with along with some other people who I had met during the day. Having people to help wave mine and Jo's massive flag was a real bonus, and by the end of it my arms were absolutely dead.

I had to spend an hour posing with people and the flag whilst they held on to me for support in the thick mud and I sank deeper and deeper... but I'm hoping at least I'll find a good photo to use in the competition.

A good weekend all in all, although slightly marred by the day after where my grandparents made me go to A&E for the aforementioned cut in my foot. They scooped out all the crap, x-rayed it to make sure nothing else was in there, bandaged me up, and put me on antibiotics while getting a telling off from the cutest nurse I have seen in a long time - I was not complaining. (Hey, if you're reading this get in touch yeah? ).

Trains on the way back were cancelled and I ended up getting a taxi from Birmingham to Reading courtesy of the rail services. Say what you like about our public transport but at least they look after you when things go wrong!