Otherwise known as shows, food, and walking. Oh and that Shakespeare bloke who apparently had something to do with the town I guess since his name is on just about everything. A friend and I went up on Saturday morning and came back on Sunday afternoon and had a great time in between.
 We went up to see The Penelopiad at the Swan Theatre. I’d never been in the Swan and it’s a lovely space. I haven’t been to the Courtyard Theatre either and having now seen photos I want to go! But we decided since we were going up to see the show we might as well hang around and see a bit of the town. We got lucky as well and the weather was wonderful. We finally have summer here.
 The show was, well, uneven. There were some directorial and design decisions that just should not have been made. One local reviewer was dismissive of the script, but the script was actually very good; it was the directorial decisions that were on the dodgy side. There was some very strong acting and over all it was enjoyable, but there were a few moments that were just unfortunately cringingly awful. Actually the review in the Guardian by Michael Billington really says what I want.
After the show we wandered around Stratford. Walking to the theatre we realised the Bulldog Bash was going on as there were hundreds of bikes around, most parked up along the waterfront. So after the show we had a look at the bikes and headed up to the birthplace of that poet bloke. Got tickets for the three properties in town and went through the house and gardens. We saved the other two properties and the church for Sunday. Seeing the town and houses was fun. The church is lovely, the houses are well kept and interesting, and a lovely time was had. Generally though we just took it easy, took our time looking around, and lazed by the river watching the boats and swans.
Lovely weekend and really must do it more often. Hmmm, the RSC are doing every one of the History plays, all in order, over a week or so.
Frog Blog
Didn’t do much yesterday. It was pouring down and I could hear the Jazz World stage from the tent (well, most of the time) so I just stayed in, read my paper and listened to the Jazz World stuff. After a while the rain stopped and Joe poked his head into the tent to see if we should do something. So we headed out and went for a wander though the mud. Rain and mud just make it difficult to get around and enjoy things. But we saw Trash City and the circus area and had a lovely dinner in the Juke Joint (Oliver’s chefs apparently).
Headed for the Jazz World stage early to hear John Fogerty; ended up listening to the end of the Guillemots set but weren’t very impressed. However, Fogerty was wonderful! Played for about an hour and a half, old and new tunes and we were all singing and dancing in the mud (except Joe who was sitting in his chair, with his whiskey, singing). Great time and of course the music was great. We then headed over to the Avalon stage for the Saw Doctors which were also very good. We got there a bit late (slogging through the mud) so ended up just putting our chairs up just outside the tent and listened.
Joe’s idea to bring the folding chairs was a brilliant one!
So Sunday. At least it stopped raining for a while yesterday, today, well not so much. It was pouring this morning so I read the rest of my paper while hoping it would stop. It didn’t. So I got into all the wet weather gear and headed out carrying my chair. It did manage to stop raining for a bit while I sorted breakfast (doughnuts and coffee), then set my chair up in Left Field with my breakfast. Then it started pouring down again. Luckily Left Field is covered so I sat there for the environment talks and Tony Benn’s talk. Wonderful with some very good comedians as well. Joe joined me during the comedians and just before Tony Benn’s talk. We laughed quite a bit and then headed out for a walk. Ran into Dan who was going to see Dame Shirley Bassey – I hadn’t wanted to go through the crowd on my own but joined Dan and his friends for the Pyramid stage. Had a great spot so stayed through to the end. Saw Dame Shirley (a wonderful showperson), Manic Street Preachers (good and loud), Kaiser Chiefs (loud), and finally THE WHO!! Yea! They were wonderful! The sun shined for Dame Shirley but then the rain set in again and it stayed and got cold, but despite being very cold and very wet we really enjoyed The Who and stayed through until they told us to leave. It was worth every drop of rain.
Frog Blog
I’ve spent the day wandering around the site and think I’ve probably walked around it twice. It’s a big site. And it was pouring it down off and on throughout the day. So I’d walk for a bit then duck inside a tent while it rained. So this morning I watched jugglers in the circus field tent, Big Beat in the Cabaret tent (drums from various bits and pieces and really good music), then some interesting poetry, then I just walked and looked at things. Ended up down at the John Peel stage in time for a Finnish metal band – very loud. Then the cinema field where I saw most of An Inconvenient Truth. And finally to the Avalon stage where I was waiting for the one act I’ve been trying to see since 2004. First though there was a very good boogie band and that was fun.
So in 2004 Joe and I had headed to a stage advertising Chumbawamba acoustic, but no one seemed to know what was going on and they never came on. So a few months later I saw a concert of theirs advertised, but then couldn’t get tickets. So this year, at the Avalon Stage today was Chumbawamba acoustic and third time lucky – I was there, Joe was there, Olly was there, and Chumbawamba was there. Playing old and new folk and protest music. Hooray! And they were wonderful.
In all a very good day indeed.
Frog Blog
At Glastonbury at last. Finished work at 4 yesterday and headed for the train. Went much better than I expected so I was put on the 4.30 train. That stopped in Reading and the managers were saying ‘if you are going to Castle Cary and standing you must get off this train’; that would have meant a yet another change at another station. So I slunk away from the door and on into the train where a nice man, who had been standing by me at the door, jumped up and said there was a seat next to him. That was lucky as later there were signal failures (good ol’ railway in Britain) so that train was quite late in.
Having said that, once at Castle Cary everything went easily – no queue for the bus, for the entrance, everything was just walk on. So once on the site got ready to find the Greenpeace field only to find Joe had come down to meet me. So off to the tent (it’s a long walk from the entrance gate to the Greenpeace field). Saw ActionAid people and Greenpeace people, had dinner and a very short stroll, sat by the fire, then sat in the big wooden seats in the garden trying to keep the idiots from pissing on the tents. What is it about people that they will by pass a loo to wee against a wall?
Up far too early this morning and am getting ready for a stroll around. First thing I really want to see is this evening. Otherwise I’m just going to wander around and see what there is to see! The fun of Glastonbury.
Frog Blog
This year the organisers have said don’t bring loo roll. So you can take that off your list. It’s being provided on site by Nouvelle and is environmentally friendly. So no soap and no loo roll. But definitely wellies as the met office are still predicting showers. It wouldn’t be Glastonbury without a bit of rain.
Frog Blog
Well, I’ve registered for the Hydro Women’s Challenge again. For some reason. Not sure why after last time but it’s done and I’m running for ActionAid again. Hoping to get a bit more money in a bit less time, though to that I ought to get training!
You can sponsor me here! You can donate from where ever and if you are a UK taxpayer you can also tick the box for gift aid which also helps. Obviously having worked for AA for over three years I support the work they are doing and hope to raise quite a bit more this year.
Frog Blog
