I want my "cider days" back

[worthyraver]

Everybody has their favourite year, all for various personal reasons, mine was 2008 and I have been trying to beat it ever since. I dont want to bore you with exactly why 2008 was so good for me, but if dont give a brief summary the rest of the bleat will make no sense.

2008

Arrived 08.00am in the east car parks parked in E1, this is perfect I want PGB for an easy run to Big Ground, however 2 hour queue to get in due to issues with PGC thus only PGB open on the east side for a while. This the only bad thing and it is minor, camped in Big Ground great neighbours still in touch with them now.

Wednesday

Bimbling round site drinking cider in the sun just two of us, my lightweight mate cant last late on Wednesday but meet up with other randoms and back to their camp for more cider.

Thursday

As Wednesday except the rest of my crew turn up in the evening in the rain, however they have the "special stuff", awesome night still talked about now.

Friday

Miss Fun Lovin Criminal but I dont care, still on a high from the previous day, meet some more great people I am still in touch today.

Saturday

Great day finished with Dave Seaman headlining dance west I believe.

Sunday

Nice relaxed cool down, not like me that.

The point to all this is: at this years festival I was walking around on the Wednesday and Thursday and there were far too many people on site so early and too much entertainment. It was at this juncture I had my epiphany, I would never beat 2008 as I no longer had my "cider days" ie the Wednesday and Thursday with less people on site room to more around and explore with almost the only entertainment being cider. I know there is no putting the genie back in the bottle for the Wednesday and Thursday, but can we not have Monday and Tuesday as the new "cider days" or even just the Tuesday would be something.

I know it will never happen, but I feel a bit better now I have written it down.

[Cooter]

Yep, see your point, nothing will ever beat your favourite and as the years roll on the memories from your best year just get better and better. So in short, stop going, you've had the best and no future Glasto's can match that!

[niceandfriendly]

Wednesday and Thursday still remain my favourite days for the exact reasons which you speak of. Glastonbury is what you make it, so if you just want to chill and drink cider on those days, there is nothing stopping you. There are plenty of places on site where there's no entertainment on before Friday.

Edited July 20, 2010 by niceandfriendly

[Glasto fan]

There did seem to be a lot more people on site Wednesday and Thursday this year. In fact, on Thursday it was pretty much like when the full-on festival starts around the main areas as there were crowds of people and no-one was getting anywhere fast! I still managed to find some quieter places though and of course, plenty of cider!

[worthyraver]

Wednesday and Thursday still remain my favourite days for the exact reasons which you speak of. Glastonbury is what you make it, so if you just want to chill and drink cider on those days, there is nothing stopping you. There are plenty of places on site where there's no entertainment on before Friday.

[GlastoEls]

Just a thought to the original poster - if you're deliberately "trying" to beat 2008 you'll never make it - you're too busy "thinking" rather than "enjoying" 2010 for what it was.

That make sense?

[Guest musiclove123]

Wednesday and Thursday still remain my favourite days for the exact reasons which you speak of. Glastonbury is what you make it, so if you just want to chill and drink cider on those days, there is nothing stopping you. There are plenty of places on site where there's no entertainment on before Friday.

[worthyraver]

Just a thought to the original poster - if you're deliberately "trying" to beat 2008 you'll never make it - you're too busy "thinking" rather than "enjoying" 2010 for what it was.

That make sense?

[worthyraver]

+1-the Wednesday and Thursday are the days when you can just chill out around the site, take it in and relax with a few ciders. No pressure of rushing to see anybody. I defo noticed alot more people on site on these two days-I didn't mind too much though

[Pinhead]

Agree - I miss those pre-entertainment chill days with fewer people on site. Have to be careful here though as I've no exclusive right to those days over other people - they're all entitled to turn up early as well, so I suppose you can't win really as that changes the atmos.

Still, on the plus side, it has meant that as the ents have moved into Thursday and even a little into Wednesday, there is more provided for your money and time there.

Perhaps we'll all start to turn up Monday! Did that when I was working there once - very quiet - remember dragging my trolly across the site to Dragon's and was passed by no-one at all. All there was to hear was just me and my squeaking trolley - and the odd hammering from crew. Was very surreal. Unfortunately Cider Bus did not drive up until Tuesday and everything else was shut

[amfy]

You have to think that you lose something and gain something.

I still had a good feeling of not having to be anywhere on Wednesday and Thursday - but unlike previous years, the pre fest excitement was at fever pitch by Thursday night and was quite heady! I quite liked that.

I think the football did get everyone on site that bit earlier this year, but now people have felt the fear over camping spaces, i can't see it getting back to what it was next year. I think this same fear would also move to Tuesday or Monday if the start date moved - theres no going back now.

The football changed a lot of stuff for us. Our usual routine of bimling round the site, grabbing a burrows hill here, and a brothers there, just never happened! I'm glad it was on - but it did make things very different.

We were Thursday people till last year (except 2000). I always wanted to go on Wednesday but could never persuade any of the people I went what the point was.

[Glasto fan]

I never used to turn up until Thursday evening, until 2007 when I heard a lot of people were going earlier so we arrived Thursday morning. Our usual camping field was already full so we had to go elsewhere and vowed to go on the Wednesday in 2008. That year we arrived Wednesday evening, last year it was the afternoon (or evening by the time we'd got through all the traffic!) and so this year we got there first thing Wednesday morning. Like you say, if the site was open Tuesday everyone would be getting there then! The festival seems to start earlier and earlier each year. I think it is because it only lasts for a short time anyway, so we want to be there for as long as possible! I think Wednesday and Thursday are still my two favourite days though. When everything starts on Friday it is almost like the beginning of the end!

[Pinhead]

Years ago and before the fence, people used to turn up and start camping weeks in advance of the festival. Many were working there, some were just travellers, others were just sneaking in early.