Festival Family

Boys working hard

On Friday we picked Tom up from football and headed straight over to Battersby Park near Thirsk for our first festival.  We finally had run out of excuses not to use our tent - it was to be done, we were going to camp.  We got over there in good time, got ourselves a festival trolley and loaded it up with as much gear as possible.  We then walked to the campsite (about a mile away - no exaggeration) to find a pitch, then we panicked.  The campsite looked full.  We asked a lady where would be best to find a pitch and followed her suggestion.  We were just about to give up when we found a thin sliver of land which we thought might fit our tent.  It did - phew!  We unloaded the trolley and then I sprinted back with it (we were on a time limit), headed back to the car to pick up all the bits that didn't originally fit in the trolley and walked back to the site.  We then put the tent up - it went up pretty easily (we did a trial run in the field last week).  We then pumped up the air beds, got the sleeping bags out and made the tent feel homely.

Happy campers

By this time we were starving so we headed into the festival - the first thing we saw were a big collection of catering trucks making food from all around the world.  We were to discover that the food was exceedingly good and very reasonably priced, meaning we ate very very well (some might say too well) over the weekend.  We started off with half a roast chicken with chips which we all shared and which hardly touched the sides!

Once we finished the meal we went for a look around the festival site.  We didn't get too far as there was a small fun fair and a certain little boy wanted a go on the helter skelter.  We then found the bar (very important find), we were just about to indulge ourselves, when Tom piped up that his tummy was feeling funny!  It transpired that he was still very hungry and needed more food - so we got a bag of mini donuts.  Just as we were tucking in we heard from our friends (Rachael, Graham and Isabella) who had got there in the morning - they directed us towards them and we ended up spending the evening with them.  It was fantastic for Tom as he and Isabella get on very well with each other.  They spent the evening running, running and running - playing chase and other games.  Also in the crowd were another family Yvonne, Sam and Ciara - Ciara is 10 - a little older, but not too old to not to play.  They also got some fantastic bubble wands that make huge bubbles and spent a lot of time making them and chasing them.  It was a good night.

Eye on the ball?

Can't say we had a good night's sleep!  The music on the stage didn't finish until 1.30am, then there were lots of drunk people walking past not being quiet, and then - and this was the biggest problem, there was getting used to sleeping in a sleeping bag again!  You are so constricted - no where for arms or legs to go.  As we usually sleep in a king size bed, it was very difficult to get used to.  I was also overheating as I was in the sleeping bag I used in the Himalayas that goes down to -20 degrees.  Matt was having similar problems (but not overheating as he was in my sleeping bag from India - much thinner), however, Tom was fine.  He went happily to bed and straight to sleep!  We were pleased but jealous.  However, he woke up at 2.30 needing a wee, so we had to go for a long walk - toilets were miles away (we found closer ones the following morning)  I was quite pleased, gave me something to do!

Samsam Bubbleman

We did finally get to sleep, but I was awake by 6am and Matt and Tom were awake at 7, as was everyone around us.  The sun was shining, so we got up, queued to go to the toilet, had breakfast and then headed back to the festival (Matt needed his coffee fix and we didn't take any cooking equipment with us knowing everything we needed would be in the festival).  First stop was a story telling tent with an author explaining about life in Georgian times, then a quick game or two of swingball before heading to the Big Top to see a show by SamSam BubbleMan who is a whizz with bubbles - a great show, lots of fun, plus Tom managed to squeeze his way to the top which meant he had the best view.

The axeman

By then we were in need of sustenance so we stopped off at a crepe van and got ourselves one.

We then headed to the science tent where we (Tom) made a paperclip helicopter which was partially successful.  We then went to the paper aeroplane making area which was run by a world champion paper aeroplane maker.  Tom (and Matt) made one to his specifications and then climbed up a stage to fly it - it was amazing - flew straight and strong.  Think they must have flown it about 20 times as it was so good.  In fact I could collect it and fly it back to them with minimal problems.  Matt was so impressed he took a photo of the instructions so he could remake it at home.

We then headed to the children's workshops where Tom decided to make a guitar - this involved painting and gluing - neither or which are his fortes, but he concentrated and saw it through!  I was amazed but pleased.  He decided on making a yellow guitar because he wanted to play yellow submarine on it.  He finished it off with some sparkle - I was impressed.

The arena

By now we were hungry again, so we looked in search of lunch and had some stuffed flat breads.   We then decided to head back to the tent for an afternoon nap as Tom was looking tired and both Matt and I were tired.  It was lovely to lie down, but Tom was too excited to nap.  We told him to read a book - so he read it out loud (very cute) and then he was fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting!  In the end the sun put an end to it as it came out and the tent heated up so hot that we couldn't stay inside it any longer.

Best of friends

We went back to the festival and had a second lunch - churros and chocolate for Matt and Tom and chickpea curry for me.  It then started to rain so we headed back to the tent for shelter.  At about 7pm we headed out with our chairs ready for dinner and to listen to the music and catch up with the others.  It wasn't the best time to head out as when I was queueing up for my rather lovely Thai Chicken Curry the heavens opened and we got more than damp.  Oops.  Once it was lovely and sunny again the others caught up with us and we had the evening together.  Once again Tom and Isabella had a great time, there were lots of bubbles, I took them both on the swings ride, there was a lot running a giggling, it was a joy to see.

After the rain it was very cold and by the time we got back to the tent we were shivering.  We were so cold that I couldn't stop shivering, even in my sleeping bag which goes down to -20 degrees!  I ended up having to get up for a walk to warm up and then get back into my sleeping bag.

Spark out!

I was fine after that and got to sleep as did Matt, but Tom woke up needing a wee!  He couldn't wait a moment so we had a fountain go off in his part of the tent and then an argument about wet socks.  His socks were soaking wet, but he wouldn't take them off as he thought they were dry!  I had to negotiate for a good 20 minutes to get them off him, get him changed into dry warm clothes and back into bed and asleep again.  He of course went straight back to sleep, but of course I was freezing cold again!  Oh hum.  I did get back to sleep eventually.  Need to work out what to do when we go to France to avoid that again.

Daddy's not a natural camper!

Sunday morning dawned lovely and sunny.  Tom didn't wake up until after 9am - that was because once again the tent heated up big time.  The forecast was for a lovely morning and rainy afternoon so we decided to have a lazy morning and then pack up the tent whilst it was still dry.  So it was malt loaf for breakfast and then we packed up, got a trolley and packed up the car (the car was miles away of course - a result of being so late to get there).

Playing Yellow Submarine on his new guitar

The only way to travel

We then headed to the festival for lunch (fish finger sandwiches for Tom and I and Thai curry for Matt).  I was made to go on the big wheel with Tom which gave a great view.  At 2pm just as the weather men said the rain came,  and it was going to stay with us, so we decided to head home.

Must say we thought the festival was very well arranged, lots of happy people everywhere.  So much for children to do, even the toilets stayed clean and in toilet roll for the whole weekend!


It was a great weekend.  Notes for next time:

+ Arrive as early as possible
+ Ignore marshalls and park in the glamping bit - their car park is much nearer
+ Take potty / other toilet thing for Tom to use in an emergency
+ Don't need to take any food - everything is available on site
+ Take a blanket each for the evenings outside
+ Take plenty of cash
+ Tom's bedding was a sleeping bag and duvet - that was just right.
+ Don't bother with towels - there were only 4 showers for 1,000s of people!  Just have to go greasy!