Glastonbury has dominated my life for the past month: I’ve been researching it, I’ve been writing about it (see my festival footwear, one-pot cooking and Glastonbury hair care articles!) and watching it. But I’ve not actually gone to it. No, I didn’t spend my whole holiday fund on tickets and I haven’t been getting sunburnt and muddy in equal measure this weekend. What I have done is pitch my tent to attend ‘Gardenbury’ again (read my original blog post about it here) and have been enjoying watching the coverage of the festival from the comfort of my own garden.
During the week Loose Women discussed glamping and mentioned my “Gardenbury” idea on the show – I’ve filmed the segment on the TV and have uploaded it to YouTube – sorry about the quality, I hope it’s okay at your end! My photo pops up on the show after about 40 seconds of the video, which was a very exciting moment for me! During the discussion Colleen Nolan remembers her childhood camping trips and is challenged to pack a tent away, and Sherrie Hewson and Kay Adams reminisce about being in the Girl Guides. Here’s the video:
I think (like the Loose Women!) I’ve reached the age where camping just isn’t that much fun any more. I’m not keen on being cold and damp if it rains, and even more so I dislike being hot and sweaty in a clammy tent when the weather is nice. I basically find something to grumble about at every opportunity while camping! It’s acceptable when it’s part of a lovely holiday to the Lake District, when I have a comfortable blow-up mattress and access to a nearby swimming pool (just like when we went camping last year at a Haven holiday park!) – I enjoy that type of camping. We once camped right beside the lake at Pooley Bridge, which was picturesque and rather romantic to begin with but soon became a beacon for midges in the evening and after a night-time storm, we were practically floating on the lake by the following morning. Maybe that was what put me off camping??
However, I’m sure I’d be happy with a spot of glamping – just look at this Ogden & Jenkins bell tent I saw at a wedding fair last weekend – it has a bed, dining table and plenty of space. I’ve never been glamping before but I’d love to give it a go and am pretty certain that this kind of ‘hotel-room under canvas’ will be fine with me!
In terms of festival camping, it’s the noise that naffs me off the most because when I want to sleep, I want to sleep and not be kept awake by loud neighbours in the tent next door or teenagers shouting their way around the campsite all night long. Nope, I’d much rather stay home, save money and enjoy the best views at the festival by watching Glastonbury on the TV during my Gardenbury weekend!
