Feeling ickle bit scurred

[Discoduck]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have been reading it and getting increasingly excited for months now

Glastonbury is one of those things that I've always wanted to do but always put off as I didnt want to do it alone and none of my mates are into the English festival scene (they only do Bollywood!). However this year my closest friend caved in and agreed to acompany me, only she's just called to tell me she's been made redundant at work and won't be able to make it.

Gutted!

I'm way too excited about it to cancel now and will be going it alone, but a couplee of things are niggling at me

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

sighhhhhhhhh

[rosstopher]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have been reading it and getting increasingly excited for months now

Glastonbury is one of those things that I've always wanted to do but always put off as I didnt want to do it alone and none of my mates are into the English festival scene (they only do Bollywood!). However this year my closest friend caved in and agreed to acompany me, only she's just called to tell me she's been made redundant at work and won't be able to make it.

Gutted!

I'm way too excited about it to cancel now and will be going it alone, but a couplee of things are niggling at me

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

sighhhhhhhhh

Edited April 26, 2009 by rosstopher

[Amlo4ka]

1. Only if you want it to be, you'll be fine!

2. Nowhere better to start

3. Make sure you practice putting up the tent before hand!

4. This may be a problem in normal life...at Glastonbury everyone is so nice that you wont be able to help yourself! Maybe try and meet up with some people off here

Good luck!

[TheNewUnion]

by no means an expert, last year was my first Glasto but

1) If you're into your music, you'll be fine. There's a lot of booze and drugs but they ain't the be all and end all.

2) There's no better place to start, my first fest was V and once I'd seem Glaso I realised what I'd been missing out on all these years!

3) I'll give you that, it's a bit of a slog - 5 days in a tent can be punishing. Read the forums, get advice on tents, kipping bags, sleeping mats etc. For fear of sounding like a boy scout - be prepared and you'll be fine.

4) Try and camp with some of the guys off here. Loads of the posters have community camp over at Pennards, I hear they are a friendly bunch.

You are going to have 4 of the best days of your life, to have the experience on you own can only enhance it I recon.

[glastoman417]

I'm way too excited about it to cancel now and will be going it alone, but a couplee of things are niggling at me

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

sighhhhhhhhh

[Kaye]

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

Edited April 26, 2009 by Kaye

[Francis Biley]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have been reading it and getting increasingly excited for months now

Glastonbury is one of those things that I've always wanted to do but always put off as I didnt want to do it alone and none of my mates are into the English festival scene (they only do Bollywood!). However this year my closest friend caved in and agreed to acompany me, only she's just called to tell me she's been made redundant at work and won't be able to make it.

Gutted!

I'm way too excited about it to cancel now and will be going it alone, but a couplee of things are niggling at me

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

[glastoman417]

Seriously though you should be ok, there are several cider meets.

[flibbitybob]

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

[Discoduck]

Awww thanks guys, you really are a smashing lot! Infact one of the reasons I decided not to cancel when my friend pulled out was because of this forum - you lot have got to be the friendliest online community I've ever come across, which hopefully is a sign of things to come!

I know deep down that I'm going to have a ball whatever the weather/company/music, I just felt a wee bit anxious but feel miles better now.

I dont mind drink and drugs and dont mind people around me partaking - can be rather funy to watch when sober(!) so the cider bus idea is probably a good idea. Will also start looking at places to camp ... sounds like a lot of fun, but I fear at the ripe old age of 29 I'm a little too used to the idea of having atleast 4 hours of sleep a night so maybe one of the family camps which someone mentioned earlier may be more to my taste

Thnakyou sooooo much guys

xxxxxxxx

[Laura_Babs]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have been reading it and getting increasingly excited for months now

Glastonbury is one of those things that I've always wanted to do but always put off as I didnt want to do it alone and none of my mates are into the English festival scene (they only do Bollywood!). However this year my closest friend caved in and agreed to acompany me, only she's just called to tell me she's been made redundant at work and won't be able to make it.

Gutted!

I'm way too excited about it to cancel now and will be going it alone, but a couplee of things are niggling at me

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

2) never been to a festival before

3) never even been camping before

4) I'm not very good at striking up conversation with strangers

Am i going to have a truly miserable 4 days?!

sighhhhhhhhh

[BlackHole2006]

1) I dont do alcohol and drugs, and this seems to be a fairly integral part of the whole experience

[paulo999]

Will also start looking at places to camp ... sounds like a lot of fun, but I fear at the ripe old age of 29 I'm a little too used to the idea of having atleast 4 hours of sleep a night so maybe one of the family camps which someone mentioned earlier may be more to my taste

Thnakyou sooooo much guys

xxxxxxxx

[Pilton]

yep, What they all said... Really, I would eat my Flag if you didn't have the best time.

PS Glastoman, pic is up..

[scaryclaireyfairy]

Awww thanks guys, you really are a smashing lot! Infact one of the reasons I decided not to cancel when my friend pulled out was because of this forum - you lot have got to be the friendliest online community I've ever come across, which hopefully is a sign of things to come!

I know deep down that I'm going to have a ball whatever the weather/company/music, I just felt a wee bit anxious but feel miles better now.

I dont mind drink and drugs and dont mind people around me partaking - can be rather funy to watch when sober(!) so the cider bus idea is probably a good idea. Will also start looking at places to camp ... sounds like a lot of fun, but I fear at the ripe old age of 29 I'm a little too used to the idea of having atleast 4 hours of sleep a night so maybe one of the family camps which someone mentioned earlier may be more to my taste

Thnakyou sooooo much guys

xxxxxxxx

[incident]

Will also start looking at places to camp ... sounds like a lot of fun, but I fear at the ripe old age of 29 I'm a little too used to the idea of having atleast 4 hours of sleep a night so maybe one of the family camps which someone mentioned earlier may be more to my taste

[paulo999]

One thing worth noting about Cockmill is that it is totally quiet late on. Many people are regulars in that field and the evolved etiquette is that it's hushed voices as night draws in. This isn't to everyone's taste (I do all my partying out and about, so it's never bothered me).

Pennards is the other extreme, but it's generally not the kind of carnage you get at places like Reading Festival where the combination of nothing to do at night, and predominantly younger age group, mean that things can get a little the wrong side of crazy.

One other consideration is whether you are a "big group" person or "small group". I'm the latter, but a plus point with a big group is you're more likely to find a kindred spirit, although at Glastonbury it often seems like everyone is a friend you haven't met yet, to use that dreadful cliché.

But hey... I'm probably over analysing. You'll have a great time regardless I'm certain. Almost everything people have written above is true. It's a great place, and you can do it as madly or as relaxed as you like. Hope you friend had some better luck soon and will join you for 2010... Because you *will* be back

[mandypants]

The best advice I can probably give is to take the one thing that will make your weekend awesome - a big SMILE! Seriously, smile at anyone who catches your eye, especially your camping neighbours, you'll be best friends in no time. Everyone loves a cheery face You might even pull if you're single

I don't drink or do drugs either, apart from a bit of spliff, I don't get off my face, but I adore festivals, they're the mutts nutts!

[strudders]

HI Discoduck!

Great to hear you are coming. I am on my tod bar the crowd from Efest in . I was there last year and I can say without doubt not a nice bunch of people could be met.

Lots of people will be drinking and taking substances but please don't be put off by that , that is how they experience and enjoy Glastonbury, the same way you will have a fantastic time yourself.

If you need a hand with your tent just ask, somebody will jump in. If I am there I know I will, so just ask!

I am as shy as they come (many who know me will disagree but its the truth) so come along to the bus on Wednesday and I know you will meet a whole load of people to hook up with and let you know what the secrets to Glasto as they occur.

The main thing is to be open minded about everything and just let yourself go!

Glastonbury is the best place on earth, bar none, for having a great time and meeting people.

So see you either when you pitch or at the bus! I will be the fat one with a huge grin on my face with a pint of very good cider in my hand!

[Stuzo]

I don't drink or do drugs, but that hasn't effected my enjoyment of Glastonbury. If you enjoy seeing 180,000 people with great big smiles on their faces and almost every kind of music or art based entertainment imaginable you'll be left wishing there were more hours in the day and that Monday never comes.

I first went in 2005 and before that had never been to a festival, and like you have never been great at starting up conversations with strangers, but the festival is nothing like the outside world and everyone there revels in the friendly approachable atmosphere. It's hard to put into words how people change once they are inside the festival but I will try: In the real world most people have somewhere to be and something to do, so to avoid things that might slow them down or get in their way they avoid distractions, like stopping to interact with those around them. At Glastonbury there are no shortage of things to do, but stopping to interact with those around you seems to be what everyone is there for and everyone competes to play their part in making Glastonbury the friendliest place on earth.

As for having never been camping before, I'm going to go against conventional wisdom and suggest that you don't practice putting up your tent and instead use it as a tool to get to know the people around you. There will be no shortage of people who would love to help you and it gives you an opportunity to get to know your neighbours. What you should do is be as prepared as you can be for every type of weather and take everything you can to ensure you are as comfortable as possible, it may turn out that you don't like camping, but if you get soaked it's important to know that if you have plenty of dry clothes, somewhere warm and dry to sleep, and suitable products to help you stay clean and fresh it will be the difference between contemplating going home early and wishing it never ends. There are plenty of threads offering advice on essentials to take and out of excitement as much as anything I'm sure you'll read them all, but I'll give you a quick list of what I would take to ensure you are as comfortable with camping as possible:

- If you’re driving keep a complete set of dry clothes in the car, otherwise keep them separately in a waterproof bag and try and save them until it is time to leave.

- A Blanket or 2 – it gets cold at night and a blanket under you will stop the cold coming up from the ground and makes a massive difference.

- Waterproof boots, trousers and jacket + hat or hood – Staying dry is key to maintaining your comfort.

- If you can afford to, don’t worry about taking much food or stuff to cook with and eat from the caterers onsite, there is so much variety that you will feel you’ve missed out if you don’t try as much as you can.

- Wet wipes and bacteria killing hand wash to keep clean

- A flag! – given your Bollywood reference I’m assuming you are of Indian origin, Stick an Indian flag on a stick by your tent and you’ll get the double benefit of being able to find it again, as well as giving your neighbours something to talk to you about. I always take loads of flags, mainly of nations that have no relevance to me (I just like flags) but it always leads to conversations with those around you. Don’t think I’ve ever seen an Indian flag at Glastonbury though, so you can be sure of flaunting a bit of originality!

- Something to sit on – Walking about all day, especially if it is muddy will make you grateful for any chance to have a quick sit down

As for where to camp, I've always camped in the Park Home Ground. It's quiet enough to get plenty of sleep (I usually sleep from about 3am - 10am) but if you're a light sleeper you might want to take some ear plugs to be sure of peace and quiet. You should also be aware that it gets very hot in tents in the morning sun, so it’s very difficult to stay in the tent past 10am unless you enjoy sleeping in a oven.

If you see huge array of flags from obscure nations in the Park Home Ground then that's us. You’re welcome to come and join us any time you like, or camp with us if you can find a spare bit of ground. Not sure what time you plan on getting there but if you fancy the Park home Ground it usually gets full around midday on Thursday.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Stuzo

[lillypip]

Rrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Sorry, just had to let out some of my extremely pent up excitement about glastonbury!! It has been the best week of my year, ever since i started going. Its not about the drink and drugs....its not even about the music! Its about the random times you have with the random people you meet. It doesnt matter who you go with, because inevitably you'll lose them after half an hour anywyay and only find them back at the car at the end!! You'll have an awesome time, so much so that you're excitment will be contagious on all your friends when you get home. You can guarantee that you won't be going alone to the next one!!

Dont be scared...be excited. It's the only emotion acceptable in the lead up to Glastonbury!

[dibbul]

Discoduck

You so must go.

I spent years trying to persuade my mates to go with me until last year when I persuaded one for the first time. Loved it, loved it loved it. Best week for years & of course we are going again this year.

I now just wish I had gone on my own earlier !

The whole talk to a random stranger thing is utterly true & wonderful.

Last year one of my favourite moments was meeting a guy from California who had the biggest grin on his face. We both agreed that there was nowhere else in the world we would rather be at that moment in time. How often can you say that ?

Only advice I would give is that I did not think you were allowed to camp in the family areas unless you actually had kids but anyway I agree with other posts you will have more fun in other areas & will still get a good nights sleep.

You will have a great time.

[grumpyhack]

Lots of good advice above. Yes Glasto is friendly. Like most things in life you get back what you put in. Lots of people around who'll help you as a newbie.

A few words of advice. The site is big. It's a long walk from your car or the bus station to where you pitch your tent so make sure you can carry everything or have a trolley or similar. It's a drag having to go back to your car to make a second trip to bring everything if you can't manage it in one go.

Secondly make a mental note or even mark on a map where you parked your car otherwise finding it when you want to leave can be a problem.

I'd go for one of the quieter camping areas first time, especially if you want some sleep.

[Discoduck]

Just when i thought you guys couldn't get any sweeter! I am now fully reassured that I have made the right decision and will be having the best time.

Also, because of your enthusiasM I've decided to travel up on the Wednesday morning rather than Thursday - sounds like the more time i get to spend there the better!

Still in two minds about where to camp - didnt realise the cockmill camp was a family camp, don't think i'll be camping there. I like the sound of the park home ground and , so it's probably a toss between those.

Thanks for the great advice guys, have taken it on board and will be smiling ear to ear the whole time I'm there!

Can't wait!

Edited April 26, 2009 by Discoduck

[flibbitybob]

Just when i thought you guys couldn't get any sweeter! I am now fully reassured that I have made the right decision and will be having the best time.

Also, because of your enthusiasM I've decided to travel up on the Wednesday morning rather than Thursday - sounds like the more time i get to spend there the better!

Still in two minds about where to camp - didnt realise the cockmill camp was a family camp, don't think i'll be camping there. I like the sound of the park home ground and , so it's probably a toss between those.

Thanks for the great advice guys, have taken it on board and will be smiling ear to ear the whole time I'm there!

Can't wait!