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My Glastonbury highlights
Now that I have recovered from the mud and mayhem of Glastonbury I can reflect on what was probably the wettest weekend of my life. I managed to catch some great bands but also missed quite a few - so many bands, so many stages - it would be impossible to see all of them. I skipped The Killers to see Iggy Pop but he was such a legend I think I made the right choice. Bat For Lashes in the John Peel tent was the most moving and the Artic Monkeys the most upbeat.
The Oxfam team were amazing to work with and it was so inspiring to hear we got over 45,000 signatures. Everyone from the stewards to the people on the sari mela stall worked with a smile on their face despite the atrocious weather conditions.
I enjoyed embracing the spirit of Glastonbury, dressing up and exploring the weird and the wonderful variety of arenas.
The thing I will remember most about my experience will undoubtedly be the MUD! However there was a brilliant camaraderie and amazing spirit from all who were there.
Would I go back? After washing all my mud-covered clothes, having a long hot soak in the bath, resting my weary legs (from incessant mud-trudging) and having a good nights kip, would I go again next year? Just try and stop me!
posted at 15:46
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Who are you?
My last night at Glastonbury began with a bit of Shirley Bassey. The crowd went to town dressing up for the musical diva with many a chap squeezed into a ladies frock. The Oxfam fancy dress stall had a run of blokes snapping up evening gowns, so my sari look was not out of place.
 After Shirley's set the Welsh flags stayed aloft for the Manic Street Preachers, then the Pyramid Stage got lairy with the Kaisers. The festival came to a close with The Who and, despite the rain, the crowd were wowed, watching under their brollies and holding candle torches.
 The rain continued to lash down throughout the night and was particularly heavy at 5am when we chose to dismantle our tent. The trudge back to the car with luggage was made worthwhile by the warmth and mudlessness of the car. On the radio on the drive home we heard that 1,500 people were suffering from mud-related injuries! The people at Glatonbury have really been brilliant and the atmosphere was always upbeat despite the weather. Over 45,000 amazing folk signed our climate change petition over the festival, bringing in a total of 70,000 signatures for the I Count coalition - an astounding job. I will be back tomorrow for my round up but now I am going to have a well deserved warm bath.
posted at 20:19
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Sunshine at last
 The sun is finally shining and our campaigners are doing their last shifts to collect petition signatures. The hardy souls have really braved the elements this weekend and have done a cracking job. I have been to the park this afternoon and there are loads of people there chilling out in the sun. I made a wish at the wizards wishing tree for world leaders to address climate change. I also paid a visit to the super friendly chaps at the Oxfam sari mela to buy a little number to wear for Shirley Bassey later. On my way back to the Oxfam stall I passed through the Circus arena to observe all the fun of the fair. Trapeze artists, belly dancers and street performers all doing their thing in knee deep mud.
 Oh, and I just spotted Gazza out and about - fog on the Tyne!
posted at 16:12
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Wedding belles
There is an age old Glasto tradition of dressing up in bridal attire and we were only too happy to give it a go. The Oxfam stalls here have a fab selection of second hand wedding dresses and tuxedos for a tenner which sell like hot cakes. Becs and I managed to get ourselves some cracking dresses and our ‘husband to be’ Stuart got himself a rather smart tux and a couple of Oxfam badges did the job as cufflinks.
Our big day began with a trip to the John Peel tent to see Bat For Lashes, an awe-inspiring musical experience from the super talented Natasha Khan. Then it was on to the weird and wonderful Lost Vagueness where being in fancy dress is the norm. There is actually a wedding chapel there where people can pretend to get married, nothing legally binding I might add, but it was closed when we arrived. We still enjoyed dressing up, and it was all for a good cause. We have set up an Oxfam unwrapped wedding list all the same, so if anyone wants to contribute there are brilliant gifts on there, including providing people with safe drinking water or a toilet.
We finished the evening by watching the living legend that is Iggy Pop and The Stooges. He really rocked and had fun inviting half the crowd up on stage with him. On our way back to our campsite we stopped in at backstage where I managed to slip over in the mud. Luckily a very helpful band helped me up and said that Luke from The Kooks had just done exactly the same thing!
posted at 13:32
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Green fields
Up in the Green futures and Tipi fields there is a brilliant vibe and lots to see. I spotted some Green police who are scattered around the festival, making sure people pick up their rubbish.
Apparently today 50,000 extra loo rolls have been brought onsite, as the original supply of 160,000 rolls has run out! Glastonbury is full to capacity now and even though the weather is so bad everyone is having a brilliant time. Our campaigners are doing really well and have managed to get 30,000 signatures so far - amazing stuff!
posted at 13:26
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Embrace the mud!
 Friday was a really good day despite the onslaught of rain and massive quagmire. The way forward is definitely to embrace the mud - trying to stay clean is futile.
 The Magic Numbers were great and their laidback Californian tunes even enticed the sun out for a brief spell.
 The Fratellis got everyone jumping around to Chelsea, Chelsea, causing even more mud splattering. By the Arctic Monkeys’ set there were many mud caked revellers with full body coverage and the odd cheeky mud handprint. This morning I spotted several lone wellies embedded in the mud, I wondered why there was a stall here selling odd wellies!
There are some great bands on today, think I will check out the rocking line up at the Pyramid tonight: Paul Weller, The Kooks and The Killers.
The rain has just let off so I’m off to explore the tipi and green fields.
posted at 13:09
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Together Glastonbury will make a big difference
 Photo credit: Pete Axford/Oxfam
Last night Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis held a press conference alongside speakers from Greenpeace, Oxfam and Water Aid and pledged his support to the I Count climate change  campaign. Michael also announced his plans to erect a 100kw solar panel on his cowshed, which will be the biggest in the South West of England and will produce enough power for several villages. All the more reason to pray for sunshine over Worthy Farm! The whole festival is really geared towards eco living; there are recycling bins just about everywhere you go, then of course there are the long drops, very stinky but biodegradeable, and there are loads of banners and information about steps people can take to reduce their carbon footprints. Eavis himself said last night “Together Glastonbury will make a big difference.”  Last night they also unveiled an artistic representation of cutting personal carbon emissions by the Glasto artist in residence Kurt Jackson. 15 additional ‘carbon footsteps’ will be customised by various artists over the coming weekend. Kurt’s artworks from the lasto Glasto were recently auctioned, raising over £50K for Oxfam. Nice one Kurt! After a night of torrential downpours the sun is actually shining and the mud-splattered folk are eager for the bands to kick-off. I'm looking forward to The Magic Numbers this aft.
posted at 13:59
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