Mr.Tease

Wish we could go back in time and tell us that 2 years ago before we wasted all that time engaging with that infamous covid thread!😂

I've had to listen to my body the last year or so and alter my fitness and food habits- after the initial resistance, it's not so bad- some changes I feel a bit better for and I do feel physically fitter than I think I ever have been (it is a low bar)- though tiredness (sleepy more than physical) is very challenging to overcome- think I just have to accept I need more sleep and am more susceptible to 'power naps' than I used to be! When I first started going my amount of sleep per night halved each day I was there until it was down to nothing- unimaginable now!😂

Yeah, this is the first year I didn't go since 2003- wasn't ready physically (due to a recent op), or mentally (still processing the past two years with a ll the covid, death, loss and change). I'd been dreading not going for years, but it wasn't as bad as anticipated- had more pangs of wanting to be there rather than a burning desire. I think I had it my brain that if I didn't go once, then I would never allow myself to return for some reason! Which is daft when you think about it😂 It is alright to not go and see how that feels, it doesn't mean you're banned for life

Must be hard for her (and you worrying about her), especially after the past two years of social distancing/lockdowns etc. If she/ you need crowd detox, like Megatonicmeatwagon said there are quiet areas- the hill above the tipi's is usually deserted and you can go to strummerville, the peace garden by the stone circle, plus all the green fields and Toad hall etc from there, that's usually where I hang about if the crowds are getting to me.

I think this plays a role- crowds are the first thing I forget- nearly all my memories of Glastonbury I seem to 'forget' there were loads of other people about- it's only when I go back and look at the photos, everything looks rammed- in my mind it was just me pottering about with a smattering of other people!

I'm not there this year, but I remember doing something similar in 2019, which I thought seemed more crowded than the previous few years, especially on the Thursday- decided then there's no point in planning/trying to see anything on a Thursday in future, and instead would just potter about in quieter places. So it's not necessarily new. Maybe everyone's (punters and stewards) a bit rusty too and not used to crowds and how to behave/act in large crowds due to the past 2 years of lockdowns and social distancing etc?

Remember in 2004 when this man (Paul McCartney not glastoweather watch)claimed he'd hired a special cloud busting plane to stop the rain- I think I believed him at the time 😂

That cookbook they released a few years ago tells you how to make them- pretty simple too, you can indulge your addiction all year round now!

Sometimes bits of water would fall from the sky

I used to like those marathon jamming sessions in some of the tents/cafe things. Think the Banyan Tree used to have 24hr ones ongoing throughout the festival (wasn't hat their undoing? They breached the license times for live music or something?), where people and acts could join in or take over the different instruments and some people were just amazing- seem to remember a jam leading into some Pink Floyd covers or some tribute band or something in 2003 in the early hours of the morning- it was great. Seem to remember stumbling upon something similar between the market and the circus fields back in 2007 maybe. Though I think they had something similar as a tribute in the Greenfields a few years ago too. I could never work out whether the music was really great (or even if they were even ongoing jam sessions) or whether it was just because I was high (maybe both!)- but it seemed like mind-blowing stuff at the time! Real or imagined, used to be one of my favourite bits!

Me and my friend did too- we heard the rumour, dismissed it as a hoax and then when all the stalls started playing Michael Jackson music immediately afterwards we said to each other "what a weird coincidence!"- the penny did not drop!😂

Agreed! Tell Tale Signs is great, filled with loads of great stuff- inspired me to sift through the bootlegs series after initially thinking I'd just work through his studio albums

Just finished working my way through most of his stuff (began during one of the lockdowns!) after not really liking him that much (I am now ready to repent!)- time well spent! Aside from the ones already mentioned on this thread, I like these lesser known ones too: and I'm a bit worried as the other two things I got not were John Prine, who then perished and Nanci Griffith who also then perished soon after! Anyways, I like the latter's Bob Dylan cover a lot:

I went solo for the first time in 2019- overall very enjoyable! I like my own company and am used to travelling by myself (though am also an anxious chap too!), so that helped, but it was something I always wanted to try and I'm very glad I did (especially since it turned out to be the last one before covid hit!) Trickiest part for me was the Wednesday, mainly because there's a lot of people meeting up with friends who they haven't seen for a while, and that was one of the things I liked most about the Wednesdays in the past- plus with not too much on, I felt a bit self conscious from early evening until the sun set when people were settling down! But it did give me chance to potter about and reminisce, and sit in the shade as it was hot! Just took a little while to adjust to. Plus you don't have the stress of worrying if there will be enough space for your friends to pitch their tent next to yours or waiting for them to arrive for hours on end. I can never remember what I do on the Thursday or what it was like! Once all the main music and stuff got going Friday through Sunday, it was easy-peasy and a lot of fun- freedom to just do whatever you want without having to faff about meeting up with people (though, to be honest I mainly do my own thing even when going with other people, so it wasn't too much different!) Yeah, it's a bit of shame you can't meet up with your friends at night and share what you've done and hang out, but it does give you more time to explore and immerse yourself- it was a definitely worthwhile experience for me. So yes, apart from the early evening Wednesday hump, I did like it and it turned out to be one of my favourite years. It sounds daft, but I didn't realise before hand that after the Wednesday people aren't really joined at the hip and most people are too-ing and fro-ing between things by themselves, or are sat about waiting for people by themselves or with just one person, so you don't feel as self-conscious and it's a lot easier to talk to people too if you want to. And like others have said you can join solo camps if you'd like to know some people back at your tent. I didn't (I was quite content camping by myself as I only really go back to my tent for supplies/ changing clothes/ power nap, and it's usually deserted!), but got lucky with some nice tent neighbours so if I wanted to I could chat to them about what I'd been up to. If you do find yourself getting self-conscious, there are quiter areas to sit or relax- whether it be the woods or the edges of the hills over looking the site, or Strummersville, or the Greenfield's or circus fields etc. Can't go this year unfortunately as I'm awaiting an operation (would have been happy to go by myself again otherwise), but I do hope you enjoy yourself and have the kind of festival you'd like to have