Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Festivel fun and friendships
heyhey
first of all just want to say a big WOOHOO to Francie, Dan and Ra for their totally amazing and inspirational action against solid energy in the weekend, really stoked to get back online and read about it, all the best for court, sending love and solidarity :)
So, I've just spent the last couple of weeks at festivals - the Big Green Gathering was just fantastic and I had so much fun. Turned up really early to be a steward (free ticket and food) and immediatly made some new friends - Kathyrn who is English but teaching in Italy, and Renee from Tauranga! Funny to meet another kiwi and hang out together but we got on really well and she has lived in Golden Bay and loves all the same music etc (we are going to Fat Freddies in London next month). Also hung out with some guys, Chris and Gary, so a little bunch of us worked our shifts together then went and partyed together too. We were there 4 days before the festival even started so great to see it grow and get to know people 'behind the scenes'. Went out for a look round Cheddar one day and got dropped off by a local at a real cider farm where we drunk straight from the barrel and stocked up on very cheap, strong, yummy cider for the festy. It was a beautiful area, Somerset, very traditional English countryside.
I was having the best time and the festival hadn't even started!! When it did there was just too much to do - a big crafts area where you could try woodworking, pottery, felt making, stone carving etc, a market place, campaigns field, permaculture area, sustainable homes stuff, a spiritual/philosophical area, and 'earth energies' and healing fields too. Then there were 4 or so stages with all sorts of great music - caught some truely brilliant acts and danced lots! (Catlin and Sika from NZ played even!). Cos I did stifts before and after I had most of the 5 days of the festival to play and wander around taking everything in, do workshops, lie in the sun, drink chai, watch spontaneous theatre and people dressed up crazy.
I had my birthday on the Saturday which was the best place to be for it - up to do some yoga, eat yummy food, lounge in one of the cafes with all me mates and have some drinks, before going out to see some bands and dance and go from cafe to cafe inbetween.
Did some extra shifts at the end and earnt some cash which was cool - as it involved sitting round the fire and talking to lots of people as they pass by. Didn't want the fun to end so I took up the offer of going on to another festival - Lost Vagueness - which is all about dressing up, and living in a surreal, over-the-top party land for a weekend. It was very different from the big green, and ended up working both nights but still had fun, met a different bunch of people and saw some crazy stuff! You could boogie in the disco, twist and shout in the diner, dance in the ballroom, flutter in the casino or go on the ferris wheel, all out in the middle of a farm field!
Back in Nottingham now, just over night to sleep in a real bed before going off again for more camping adventures. Going to the Earth First gathering in the Peak district today for a diferent time yet again, then thinking I will go to Ireland and stay at a protest camp in County Mayo where a local community are fighting to stop Shell pulling a big oil pipeline right through their homes and land. Its all go I tells ya! Having a blast living the travelling lifestyle and living in the moment!.. oh, nearly forgot my other news - I've got a carzy new hairstyle! Its very short at the front and sides with long dreads at the back - its been a work in progress, very different and getting used to it but I love the freedom and the change!
well, lots of love my wonderful friends and family, thinking of you all as always xxx
first of all just want to say a big WOOHOO to Francie, Dan and Ra for their totally amazing and inspirational action against solid energy in the weekend, really stoked to get back online and read about it, all the best for court, sending love and solidarity :)
So, I've just spent the last couple of weeks at festivals - the Big Green Gathering was just fantastic and I had so much fun. Turned up really early to be a steward (free ticket and food) and immediatly made some new friends - Kathyrn who is English but teaching in Italy, and Renee from Tauranga! Funny to meet another kiwi and hang out together but we got on really well and she has lived in Golden Bay and loves all the same music etc (we are going to Fat Freddies in London next month). Also hung out with some guys, Chris and Gary, so a little bunch of us worked our shifts together then went and partyed together too. We were there 4 days before the festival even started so great to see it grow and get to know people 'behind the scenes'. Went out for a look round Cheddar one day and got dropped off by a local at a real cider farm where we drunk straight from the barrel and stocked up on very cheap, strong, yummy cider for the festy. It was a beautiful area, Somerset, very traditional English countryside.
I was having the best time and the festival hadn't even started!! When it did there was just too much to do - a big crafts area where you could try woodworking, pottery, felt making, stone carving etc, a market place, campaigns field, permaculture area, sustainable homes stuff, a spiritual/philosophical area, and 'earth energies' and healing fields too. Then there were 4 or so stages with all sorts of great music - caught some truely brilliant acts and danced lots! (Catlin and Sika from NZ played even!). Cos I did stifts before and after I had most of the 5 days of the festival to play and wander around taking everything in, do workshops, lie in the sun, drink chai, watch spontaneous theatre and people dressed up crazy.
I had my birthday on the Saturday which was the best place to be for it - up to do some yoga, eat yummy food, lounge in one of the cafes with all me mates and have some drinks, before going out to see some bands and dance and go from cafe to cafe inbetween.
Did some extra shifts at the end and earnt some cash which was cool - as it involved sitting round the fire and talking to lots of people as they pass by. Didn't want the fun to end so I took up the offer of going on to another festival - Lost Vagueness - which is all about dressing up, and living in a surreal, over-the-top party land for a weekend. It was very different from the big green, and ended up working both nights but still had fun, met a different bunch of people and saw some crazy stuff! You could boogie in the disco, twist and shout in the diner, dance in the ballroom, flutter in the casino or go on the ferris wheel, all out in the middle of a farm field!
Back in Nottingham now, just over night to sleep in a real bed before going off again for more camping adventures. Going to the Earth First gathering in the Peak district today for a diferent time yet again, then thinking I will go to Ireland and stay at a protest camp in County Mayo where a local community are fighting to stop Shell pulling a big oil pipeline right through their homes and land. Its all go I tells ya! Having a blast living the travelling lifestyle and living in the moment!.. oh, nearly forgot my other news - I've got a carzy new hairstyle! Its very short at the front and sides with long dreads at the back - its been a work in progress, very different and getting used to it but I love the freedom and the change!
well, lots of love my wonderful friends and family, thinking of you all as always xxx
# posted by claire @ 5:41 AM 
