NFR NFC 2017 - The friendly thread for lovely people

[Havors]

Scorchio in Liverpool today. Imagine if it stayed like this for the next 2 months.... pleeeeease!!!

[dizzymoo]

3 hours ago, Nia Wagenaar said:

We are taking family for the first time to Glastonbury this year - 3 kids age 13, 11 and 10. Any tips for staying the campervan area. Is there a space set aside for families. I have no idea if we are East or West or in a family zone as my husband sorted out the ticket.....any top tips gratefully received as I want to make it an amazing experience for my gang!

There are family areas in CV East, not sure about West.  East is much more convenient for Kidz field and Theatre/circus areas. We've been in both family and general CV fields and I can't say there was much difference (others may correct me);  CV fields are generally pretty quiet and mostly civilised.  If you can, take a camping loo and bog tent so you have an extra loo, makes a huge difference in the morning when everyone needs to go at the same time.  If you have an awning make sure you tell the stewards as you arrive so they give you enough space.  You can also pitch a tent in front/behind your van, which could be a useful refuge for kids (or you!).  You'll be parked where the stewards put you so won't have a say how far from water points or portaloos you are.  Make sure the kids know where these are straight away and they can help by fetching water. Make your pitch distinctive with flags/lights and make a note of encampments nearby so you can find your van at any time of day.  Get to know neighbours as well - people will be friendly and pitch in to help. Unless you arrive ridiculously early in CV east you'll be a minimum of 15 min walk from pedestrian gate C;  Make sure you take everything you need as it's a pain to go back for anything.  You can always put stuff in the lockups so you don't have to carry it all day. Use Clashfinder to plan;  decide on your must-sees, but otherwise be willing to explore and go with the flow.  The festival is absolutely huge, you'll be lucky to catch 10% of what's on offer.   If you split up to go and see different acts, arrange a very specific place and time to meet up afterwards.  Get the printed map from the information points, much better than the one which is in the mini-guide you get with your wristband.  Buy the Guardian Friday - Saturday and you'll get a lovely canvas bag with it.  Buy T shirts early on as they run out of the nicest designs and colours. You can get a fab poster at the  Glastonbury Free Press.... I'll shut up now!

[carlosj]

4 hours ago, Nia Wagenaar said:

We are taking family for the first time to Glastonbury this year - 3 kids age 13, 11 and 10. Any tips for staying the campervan area. Is there a space set aside for families. I have no idea if we are East or West or in a family zone as my husband sorted out the ticket.....any top tips gratefully received as I want to make it an amazing experience for my gang!

On East (don't know West), there have been 1-2 fields set aside as 'family' areas nearer the gate (field 23?), encouraging no loud noises at night. You'd arrive in the inspection field and ask to them to direct you to those fields (driving straight on instead of turning right). Even so, if those areas have stopped or you park somewhere else, the fields are fine for young ones. Once vans are parked up, there's very little traffic, no gangs of hyper people and everyone's friendly. You'd be 20-30 minutes from the gate maximum.

Re an experience, take bunting and solar lights, flags etc for your van and surroundings. You could take a wind break although it's nice to chat to neighbours. Get them to paint your faces for the day.

It's a fair trek to go back to the van during the day, if you can avoid it so I'd suggest keep dropping off supplies and warm clothes at lockups onsite each morning and then pick them up from there instead of going back. If you take some pop and sweets with you in your supplies, that saves money which you can spend on other things, like food or craft fields activities for them. There are water pipes all over so you'll never be short of that sort of drink.

Forgive me if you've planned this already, but get your kids to wear a wristband with your numbers on (available in the kids field?) and to think of places to meet up if you get separated in crowds, or point out something to aim at when you walk off together. I lose sight of my party and they're tall adults, so kids have it harder. If they go to the loo, tell them to look for a local flag in the crowd to head back to etc etc.

Have fun!

Edit, crossed posts with Diz! Only addition I can think of is that sometimes texts get delayed or calls don't connect, so if you all separate, type the time of the text in the message as a reference and tell your three not to panic if they don't get a reply immediately.

Edited May 7, 2017 by carlosj

[Quark]

Afternoon tea today, drank gallons of tea and ate a lot of scones.

The (clotted) cream went on top of the jam. There was no butter.

Come at me haters

 

[lucyginger]

3 minutes ago, Quark said:

Afternoon tea today, drank gallons of tea and ate a lot of scones.

The (clotted) cream went on top of the jam. There was no butter.

Come at me haters

 

This makes me twitchy but I am too tired to fight! 

[Quark]

1 minute ago, lucyginger said:

This makes me twitchy but I am too tired to fight! 

The Great White Hunter smells weakness...

And welcome @Nia Wagenaar. I don't have a camper van and after being left in charge of nieces and nephews for 5 minutes today they were fighting, so I have no useful advice for you I'm afraid! But hope you have a lovely time

[dizzymoo]

2 minutes ago, Quark said:

The Great White Hunter smells weakness...

And welcome @Nia Wagenaar. I don't have a camper van and after being left in charge of nieces and nephews for 5 minutes today they were fighting, so I have no useful advice for you I'm afraid! But hope you have a lovely time

Was that a fight with cream cakes?

[Quark]

Just now, dizzymoo said:

Was that a fight with cream cakes?

I wish. We came to the conclusion that I'm a great climbing frame but a rubbish authority figure.

[dizzymoo]

Just now, Quark said:

I wish. We came to the conclusion that I'm a great climbing frame but a rubbish authority figure.

I guess you have to play to your strengths!

[lucyginger]

1 minute ago, Quark said:

The Great White Hunter smells weakness...

And welcome @Nia Wagenaar. I don't have a camper van and after being left in charge of nieces and nephews for 5 minutes today they were fighting, so I have no useful advice for you I'm afraid! But hope you have a lovely time

We shall have to agree to disagree for now, even though I don't want to! 

Yes hello Nia  no idea about vans or children either! As Quark says, hope you have a lovely time!

[lucyginger]

1 minute ago, dizzymoo said:

I guess you have to play to your strengths!

Or not look after children! That's what I do!

[dizzymoo]

Just now, lucyginger said:

Or not look after children! That's what I do!

I tried that strategy but it's generally frowned upon when they're your own!

[Quark]

2 minutes ago, lucyginger said:

We shall have to agree to disagree for now, even though I don't want to! 

 

[Guest]

Good day down at the allotment. I finished preparing the soil for my Peas and French Beans and erected the netting they're going to be (hopefully) growing up. Most of my brassica plants are now planted apart from the Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Spinach which will be planted this week. Early Potatoes are growing well. Main crop and Sweet Potatoes will be planted later this month. The greenhouse is now looking a bit empty so time to buy some grow bags and plant the heritage Tomatoes, Cucumber and Melon plants I have growing.  

Time to open a bottle of white wine I think. 

[lucyginger]

Blimey you've done well!

I've had a Chinese and a cider and am now going for a fag then probably going to bed! So very tired! 

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, lucyginger said:

Blimey you've done well!

I've had a Chinese and a cider and am now going for a fag then probably going to bed! So very tired! 

You ok?

[lucyginger]

25 minutes ago, Ommadawn said:

You ok?

Yes thank you  have been at my sisters hen do all weekend and I'm knackered! A big sleep should sort me out. Thanks for asking though xxx

[mr gumby]

2 hours ago, lucyginger said:

This makes me twitchy but I am too tired to fight! 

Finbarr?

[Quark]

6 minutes ago, mr gumby said:

Finbarr?

Creepy finbarr

 

[lucyginger]

5 minutes ago, Quark said:

Creepy finbarr

 

Just a bit!

[mr gumby]

17 minutes ago, Quark said:

Creepy finbarr

 

Yeah, hence the question mark!

 

[mr gumby]

15 minutes ago, lucyginger said:

Just a bit!

Sorry, lucyloo

Please don't make me wear the cone of shame. I do not like the cone of shame

 

[MilkyJoe]

Evening folks, sounds like you've all had busy weekends doing family stuff, I hope the weather has been kind. I'm just about to start another long night shift, falling into that Groundhog Day repetitiveness now! Efests helps keep me sane throughout the night mind!

[Curlygirl]

I'm drunk. So I was supposed to have a day/night of glastobating but my mate sent me a text... beer?? I've been drinking since 2pm. I'm too old for this! Why is it at Glasto I can party all night but at home I can't cope. Do you think it's cos l have to be work at 7am tomorrow and the thugs are going mental? 

[guypjfreak]

Watching dara and ed Rd to mandalay and Ed always has a pearl jam t shirt..... Cooool