I've never been able to cope with mud. Its ok to play sports and get filthy, but I couldn't live in it for a sustained period of time, and that's where my praise for Glastonbury goers begins!
In recent years, the sludge has unfortunately taken over from the music, and now plenty of people seem to look forward to purchasing their wellingtons and hoping they get a pair no one else has, rather than wondering which acts they are going to see.
To be fair, wellies are an essential part of Glastonbury these days, given the all the rain that's fallen over the last few years, and don't you think the weather seems to be part of the allure to the festival?Do you remember the downpour that happened in 2005, rivers running through tents, BBQs and campfires? Kudos to the people who were there that year, I couldn't of handled it any longer, and would have swiftly hopped on the long train journey home.
I'm more than happy to watch the acts from the comfort of my own armchair, get a can out of the fridge every now and again, and then at the end of the day trot upstairs to my spring mattress and feather pillow. Does that make me a miserable soul, with no sense of adventure...probably, but at least I don't have to go to sleep caked in mud.
Anyway, for those of you that are going, who're you looking forward to seeing? As you can probably guess from the few words I've written above, I won't be visiting the fields of Somerset anytime soon, but that doesn't mean Im not looking forward to the music.
I cant wait to watch Florence and the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds, Julian Casablancas and The Courteeners, a band I saw in my local with 40 other people, not a year ago. The BBCs coverage over the last few years has flourished with the use of the 'red button' and it's now possible to see plenty of acts with just a tap of the finger.
For all you tent-lovers I'm not having a go at you, in fact I admire you, and I guess this is my ode to you. Unfortunately Ill never have the same love for camping as you, and it means Im going to miss out on so much. Festivals, campfires and sleeping in a bag are all activities Im not going to experience too much over my lifetime.
Anyway, for all of you that are visiting the green, green grass of Somerset this weekend, I hope you have a great time and don't get forced to wash in an unforeseen torrential downpour.
