What did you learn this year?

[CaledonianGonzo]

That I quite like Brandi Carlile

[lefthandedopener]

Last one was 2013 and regular 6am finishes. I learnt that in my 40s, i can have an incredible festival by partying between 2pm and midnight and getting myself to bed to rest and be on form for the next day. Had an amazing time and not a single hangover. 

[Gashead86]

Only negative encounter I had was in the queue for the urinals on the junction by leftfield on Sunday night.. Very rare to ever see a queue for the urinals obviously, so there were quite a few blokes who I think quite innocently went to the front of the queue sincerely not realising what we were all queuing for and after being politely made aware there was a queue, made their apologies and went to the back of the queue.. That was until two posh little twats did the same and after being made aware of the queue, rather than go back they instead just aggressively said 'I'm not queueing to take a f**king piss mate!'. 

I guess what with the heat and the fact that we were all a little sensitive by that point, nobody could be arsed to argue with them and in they went for their piss.  

 

Couldn't help but chuckle to myself as they came back out I heard one say to the other 'No f**king way! Look, it's Haimish!'.. Sounds like Satire, but I promise really did happen as they walked past me! 

[giantkatestacks]

25 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

That I quite like Brandi Carlile

I could have told you that beforehand 😉. Have you listened to the Highwomen? 

[philipsteak]

28 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

That I quite like Brandi Carlile

Wasn't at her set and barely know any of her music but she seems properly sound

[steviewevie]

Youngsters today don't know how to rave, not like the good old days.

[Bags73]

My sixteenth Glastonbury festival and the first one where I really felt like I need to get fitter.  Drinking less beer also seemed to help for the first time too.  The joys of being in my 50s.  

 

It was my first one back in general camping for a few years.  I re-learnt that lugging stuff miles from the car park to the tent isn't much fun.  

[The_Fish]

My first time since 2009 and I learned quite a few things.

• The SE corner is now absolutely massive. 
• On my last visit I think it was around 70/30 male/female ratio, now feels about 50/50, maybe even more women than men now.
• I was glamping in Festivue and I don't think I can face having a sh*t in a long drop again
• It's still the greatest place on earth for that weekend
• I used to spend a lot of time at Woodsies and The Park, now I spent more time at Avalon and The Acoustic Stage...
• A lot of people who were there with kids looked miserable, but not as miserable as the kids did.
• There were a few times it felt really busy (trying to get a drink after Rod wasn't pleasant...) but overall it wasn't as busy as I feared
• Elvana are amazing. 

[Gashead86]

9 minutes ago, The_Fish said:

My first time since 2009 and I learned quite a few things.

• The SE corner is now absolutely massive. 
• On my last visit I think it was around 70/30 male/female ratio, now feels about 50/50, maybe even more women than men now.
• I was glamping in Festivue and I don't think I can face having a sh*t in a long drop again
• It's still the greatest place on earth for that weekend
• I used to spend a lot of time at Woodsies and The Park, now I spent more time at Avalon and The Acoustic Stage...
• A lot of people who were there with kids looked miserable, but not as miserable as the kids did.
• There were a few times it felt really busy (trying to get a drink after Rod wasn't pleasant...) but overall it wasn't as busy as I feared
• Elvana are amazing. 

 

Not sure which kids you saw, but all of the kids I saw looked like they were absolutely loving life! 

[Quark]

With a Fresh & Black tent, probably don't need to take my camping stove. Was laying in longer so wasn't as much time knocking around camp in the morning before heading out to make a brew, didn't use it once this year.

 

Having a shemagh scarf was an absolute game changer.  No sunburn on neck, face, ears this year. And soaked in water it was a perfect way to cool down a bit.

 

Went a bit too loosey goosey with my planning.  Had loads of options but didn't lock down enough sets to give me a bit more structure.

 

Don't need to make quite as much vodka next time.  And while choc orange works, it does curdle after a few days so won't bother with that one again.

 

I'm still just about strong enough to carry a full grown man on my shoulders for a song, but no more than that.

 

Nabihah Iqbal is fantastc live.

[Pipine]

I decided I need a fitted sheet for my thermarest so I can just sleep on it directly and drape my sleeping bag over my on hot nights rather than get inside the sleeping bag and get too hot.

 

That it’s ok to go to bed at 1 some nights and save myself for other nights when there’s something I really want to stay up for, also maximising sitting down opportunities during the day works for conserving energy later on.

 

 

[giantkatestacks]

Heat rash is my biggest enemy. I need two bags of babybels. Or three.

[Respectfatfrog]

4 hours ago, The_Fish said:

My first time since 2009 and I learned quite a few things.

• The SE corner is now absolutely massive. 
• On my last visit I think it was around 70/30 male/female ratio, now feels about 50/50, maybe even more women than men now.
• I was glamping in Festivue and I don't think I can face having a sh*t in a long drop again
• It's still the greatest place on earth for that weekend
• I used to spend a lot of time at Woodsies and The Park, now I spent more time at Avalon and The Acoustic Stage...
• A lot of people who were there with kids looked miserable, but not as miserable as the kids did.
• There were a few times it felt really busy (trying to get a drink after Rod wasn't pleasant...) but overall it wasn't as busy as I feared
• Elvana are amazing. 

on the kids front everyone I saw in the kidzfield etc was ecstatic and smiling no ipad or phones in sight , mine had a great time but did become bored when I wanted to watch something so may of looked as much. they both would love to go again 

[goldfishboy]

that dropping a rehydration tablet in the water bottle really helps when it's hot out

 

that i can never seem to bring enough snacks to last a week

 

that you can suspend your bag from the hook of the long drops (thank you to whoever it was that pointed this out)

 

this year i made it my mission to speak to at least one stranger a day, and found that this helped me as when i'm solo i can be in my own world going from one stage to another and not make connections which this festival is all about

 

that loop earplugs are a gamechanger (not a sponsored post)

[The_Fish]

13 hours ago, Respectfatfrog said:

on the kids front everyone I saw in the kidzfield etc was ecstatic and smiling no ipad or phones in sight , mine had a great time but did become bored when I wanted to watch something so may of looked as much. they both would love to go again 

 

I was in the theatre tent for the Doherty and Barat Q&A (Doherty was on top form) and just before it was a Cbeebies event and so I did see lots of happy kids at that point, but by the time I saw people walking between stages in the afternoon and evening, that happiness was replaced by exhaustion, overheating and crankiness. That heat and sun was pretty relentless. 

[Respectfatfrog]

6 hours ago, The_Fish said:

 

I was in the theatre tent for the Doherty and Barat Q&A (Doherty was on top form) and just before it was a Cbeebies event and so I did see lots of happy kids at that point, but by the time I saw people walking between stages in the afternoon and evening, that happiness was replaced by exhaustion, overheating and crankiness. That heat and sun was pretty relentless. 

fair points raised I think its about being sensible and staying still for a while after or leaving early for each gig, it worked for us. 

 

we headed out of Raye for the last couple of songs and watched the last the one my daughter most wanted to see near the mandala bar.

[sime]

I learnt that middle aged Irish couples at Neil Young performances smoke the mellowest spliffs and are generous with sharing it 🙂

[Kashkin]

You can catch covid even outside in a field.

[SPW]

F&B tent really was a game changer for me and a brilliantly designed tent all round.

Coupled with a camp bed (fishing bedchair) I slept way better than last year.

 

Volunteering was v.rewarding for me personally. Okay, missed a couple of bits and time wasn't my own, but felt the foremost reason for being there and talking about something I care about felt a privilege, especially as the vast majorority of folk were receptive and supportive. 

 

Unusually for me for a set like that I went down the front for Prodigy and the security folk were terrific looking after folk. I look at Glastonbury as a lesson in how to treat folk and the response you get in return. Football and other events could so well to heed the lessons......

[nikkic]

On 02/07/2025 at 13:22, Quark said:

With a Fresh & Black tent, probably don't need to take my camping stove. Was laying in longer so wasn't as much time knocking around camp in the morning before heading out to make a brew, didn't use it once this year.

 

Having a shemagh scarf was an absolute game changer.  No sunburn on neck, face, ears this year. And soaked in water it was a perfect way to cool down a bit.

 

Went a bit too loosey goosey with my planning.  Had loads of options but didn't lock down enough sets to give me a bit more structure.

 

Don't need to make quite as much vodka next time.  And while choc orange works, it does curdle after a few days so won't bother with that one again.

 

I'm still just about strong enough to carry a full grown man on my shoulders for a song, but no more than that.

 

Nabihah Iqbal is fantastc live.

Asked my mate to get me on his shoulders during Alanis Morisette. 
 

He lasted about 10 seconds before his legs buckled and I went flying forwards, luckily for me my wife was in front and managed to catch me.

To be fair I weigh about 90kg, so i was maybe expecting a bit much from him!

[CaledonianGonzo]

Slushies are a good option from the ice cream vans when all their cans are warm

[kalifire]

Always have an alternative line up itinerary to cater for unfavourable weather. Way too many last minute decisions this year because it was way too hot. Should have planned that sh*t in advance. 

[sedra]

Learned to walk away if not enjoying it ( Charlie XCX) 

take time to just chill and rest in the day  and go back to tent when tired at night

Falling over in the Oxfield for a second year in a row is not fun 😩Last year ended up with bloody nose and two black eyes, this year hurt my knee and ankle with extensive bruising and swelling- a week later and still hurting resulting in a visit to the hospital yesterday and 6 X-rays! Note to self - don’t fall over again! 
I think I really need a stand up tent these days!

[Skip997]

6 minutes ago, sedra said:

Learned to walk away if not enjoying it ( Charlie XCX) 

 

Learnt this a long time ago, doesn’t matter how famous or supposedly good they are. If they’re sh*t on the night, or only good in the studio, or you’re just not feeling it, then leg it. 
 

Did I ever mention the time…

 

Oh never mind 

[mandana]

On 02/07/2025 at 15:50, giantkatestacks said:

Heat rash is my biggest enemy. I need two bags of babybels. Or three.

Asepso soap is a good antidote to heat rash/prickly heat if you havent come across that already