Well lets see

Jules and Rob go camping to a Folk Festival

We came back early

Thursday was fab we got there set up camp, wandered down to the festival site and looked around and less than 2 hours after arrival the music started - we spent the first half of the evening in the beer tent (which was also a venue) and watched a couple of bands in the main marquee started getting colder but that was to be expected and I wasn't really feeling it that much so we crashed and looked forward to the next 3 days

That night was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever encountered it was freezing cold and extremely uncomfortable not to mention damp (this is considering the Christmas I nearly broke my leg and the colonoscopy/surgery I had last year)

The following morning my spirits were somewhat subdued but after some brekkie and a coke we went for a walk into Southwell to see one of the acts that was performing in the Minster they were very good if a little experimental but they made the list of 10 or so artists I'm going to be getting CDs for

The weather 'improved' which meant that the walk into Southwell was longer than expected and the sun was brutal so quick coke in a pub in Soputhwell and then off to the minster act great/seats really uncomfortable but free tea and coffee

Then several hours until any act at all and it wa back to the bar/tent for a littel whle then off to Marquee 2 for a few really good acts and then main tent

I was falling asleep and Rob had nexk/back pain so we caled it early and crashed - where I spent all night not cold this time I was well wrapped but couldn't get comfortable and didn't sleep much - woke up the following morning uncomfortable, a bit down but looking forward to the days music and getting dripped on slightly from Dew coming through tent or condensation on inside not sure which and waited for Rob to wake up so we could plan the day

It took a little conversation that basically covered the fact that we hated the camping and loved the music/festival part

so we decided mutually to come home

Now it's been a considerable number of years since Rob or myself had been camping and we perhaps had a somewhat off idea of how cold it would get but we came away with something of a better idea of what we would have needed to remove the only unpleasant part of the weekend

Larger more insulated tents, thermal undies, the stove also seemed to be overly complicated so we ate quite a bit from vendors at the festival

I am now still recovering from Sciatica (full leg cramp for the first time really interesting that was), a bruised rib on the right side or pulled muscle and it looks like I've been attacked by a man wielding a microwave my arms were purple yesterday and really sore and my face looks like ive been slapped for hours

However lets break this down to get some perspective

Cons

Camping was rubbish (uncomfortable/cold)

Someone in the wee smalls on Friday morning walked into some of the larger tents and nicked stuff (one guy had credit cards and cash and car keys taken and another that was talking to him caught the bastard walking into his tent and chased him off)

My sinus throat thing did not react well to all this and was unpleasant in the mornings and when ever the temperature changed (think it may have been humidity as well)

Friday daytime was a bit rubbish (music wise) there weren't any acts on till lunch time and then none for several hours (but they were good)

You cannot walk with a filled to the brim pint pot without spilling it down you FACT

Pros

I got to spend the 3 days with one of my oldest friends just me and him and there wasn't any awkwardness or uncomfortable silences it was just fun, music and chillin'

The music was great and I've got a list of 10 or so bands/artists I'll be looking onto

Everybody there was really friendly

The Beer festival had about 40 or so real ales opn and they weren't massively expensive and were really nice beers - the most expensive was ordinary Carlsberg and that seemed to be watered down

The food was a bit expensive but really nice (had a massive cooked breakfast on the morning we came back and it was lovely)

And the really attractive lady on the hat stall that sold my my 'hat to prevent my head from melting' for just £8 asked me if I was doing Download as well (and now I sorta wish I could)

all in all positive

follow on

If me and Rob go next year (likely I think some things are to be different)

Proper 'make things a comfortable as possble' camping gear

Only go for the weekend

try and get other people to go

Loved it, I came away feeling really good it was a whole friendly atmosphere there that I really fit into (sorry it had to end at all never mind the way it did)

Am going to see more live acts from now on

on the way back we chatted about things and one of the things was my health and lifestyle and Rob said something that could have been taken as a challenge - 1 year to get thinner and healthier, to get the flat and ailments sorted and to stop being single

Challenge accepted

J