Ode to Glasto

How I have gone nearly a year of writing blogs without writing anything about my favourite place in the whole world?

I have been to Glastonbury Festival for the past 5 years, the first time at the age of 17. From the moment my tent was pitched my mind was blown away. Everywhere you looked there was something going on. Even the bins were interesting.

As I lay in my sleeping bag on my first Worthy Farm night I knew Glasto was where my soul belonged. Fast forward to June 2018, something feels wrong, and I know exactly whats to blame... There is no festival this year.

That's right. Every 4/5 years Michael Eavis (founder of Glasto) calls off the festival. His reason is completely understandable; the farm has to recover. The grass takes a proper beating every year for around a month, and for the rest of the year it is used to raise the Yeo Valley cows. Every now and then it needs a break. But, even though I understand (to quote Ross from Friends) 'We are on a break', I along with around 250,000 other festival goers aren't quite ready to do it alone.

To combat the Fallow Year blues here are the things I love the most about Glastonbury Festival (in no particular order), and some of my favourite Glasto moments so far.

1 - The Music (and Theatre and Circus acts etc etc etc)

You can't talk about Glastonbury Festival without mentioning the acts. Without them we'd just be standing in the fields twiddling our thumbs. There is something for everyone, with over 28 different areas with their own line ups. I have witnessed so many standout performances from over the years but here are my top 5.

1. Mik Artistik - every single time I have seen him (seriously youtube him... HILARIOUS).

2. Run The Jewels - West Holts Stage 2015

3. Mumford & Sons - Pyramid Stage 2013

4. Katy Perry 2017 - Pyramid Stage 2017 (we were right at the front yay!)

5. Catfish and the Bottlemen - Other Stage 2016.

2 - The Food.

I love food and it is EVERYWHERE at Glasto. Yes, it may be a tad overpriced, but I am yet to have a bad meal at Glasto. The only annoying thing is that there is never enough time and enough room in my stomach to try everything I want to. I aim to try something new every year, but there are some places that have to be included in my Glastonbury diet every year.

1. Ghandi's Flip Flop - Vegetarian and Vegan curries that have just the right amount of spice for a wimp like me. Their mango lassi is heaven in a cup.

2. Strumpets with Crumpets - Crumpets topped with Brie served by Victorian Strumpets - need I say anymore?

3. Leons (West Holts) - Our Monday afternoon tradition - watching the festival be packed away with all you can eat Vegan food. Last year I tried the coconut milk aubergine - SO GOOD.

It's always important to wash all of this deliciousness down with a festival strength lemon cider from the Brother Bar. My first experience with festival strength cider saw me headbutting the floor as I tried to tie my laces - it's lethal stuff.

3 - The Recycling Team

Every Glastonbury Festival I have been to I have been part of the Recycling Team. My Dad and Stepmum have been doing it for years, and you get free tickets, so naturally I was going to work with them. But the brilliant thing is that is doesn't feel like work at all. Yes, getting up at 5am after only going to sleep at 2 is not my fave thing to do in the world, but the feeling of accomplishment once the fields are clear is so worth it. Giving back to such a magical place is such a great feeling.

I have made so many great friends through being part of the Recycling Team, and every year our gang grows. There is no better group of people I would want to pick up cig butts with.

4 - The Night Life.

Glastonbury Festival changes at night. It's like a completely different but equally as magical festival. With the 'Naughty Corner' dedicated entirely to night time debauchery, you never really know what you will get up to. With a gay nightclub (NYC Downlow), Heaven and Hell stages and an Aztec Temple, you sometimes think you are walking through a crazy dream. My first experience of Shangri-La at night saw me and my friend stumbling into a tiny bar that only played Bohemian Rhapsody - who comes up with this madness? Last year was the first year we went dancing in Glasto Latino and I know for a fact we will be making another trip.

5 - The Love

I have yet to meet a nasty or rude person at Glasto. Despite everyone running off little to no sleep and full to the brim of cider, there is a feeling of being surrounded by so much love. Everywhere you look there is laughter and smiles. You dance with complete strangers, share your food/glitter/beer with those in need and there's always someone to sit with and have a chat. One year I met a family who had travelled from Tibet to see the Dalai Lama. If it wasn't for Glasto I probably would never have met anybody from Tibet! Also, I SAW THE DALAI LAMA - W H A T ?

I know there is a Glastonbury sized hole in my heart this year, and I don't think there is anyway of filling it. To make the matter worse, now that I am living in the UAE for a while I'm not sure whether I will make it to 2019's festival. What get's me through the heartbreak however, is the knowledge that Glastonbury Festival will be there to welcome me back with open arms next time I make the pilgrimage to Worthy Farm.