cdm22 Posted Friday at 11:40 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 11:40 AM (edited) 5 hours ago, MilkyJoe said: This was my plan last year to just try and ignore it. When it started however I ended up watching everything and living it through my friends who were having their best time. I'm glad I did. I did the same. I ordered myself some cider bus cider in the run up and watched a bunch of it on the TV with the stereo on. Very much enjoyed it all. The only time I really felt like I was missing out was the Wednesday and Thursday when friends were meeting up and bimbling about. The rumours of the line-up so far are certainly helping the FOMO at the moment too 😄 Edited Friday at 11:41 AM by cdm22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernangel Posted Friday at 11:41 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 11:41 AM (edited) 14 minutes ago, gooner1990 said: Not sure when you started going but I started in 2004, and it feels noticably busier in the central areas these days to me. We started going in 2008, my second festival I think after having been to Leeds for two years. I remember camping in big ground, just over the railway line from oxylers, turn right and into the field where Joe Bananas camp shop used to be. I remember the Queens head tent being close by too and and one night only playing in that on Thursday night with Glasvegas and them playing the other stage the next day, foals played I believe and Vampire Weekend too. I went down just popping back to the tent to refills drinks very easily and casually walking back down. Those days were great. But there was a 134k with upto 136k we'll say from other crew until Sunday. Now we have over 30k extra weekend, the crew has doubled so the amount of extra crew around has so there is upto 50k extra on site by Sunday I'd say and they've actually taken away row mead for the Pyramid and taken away that space of camping between the oxylers and the toilets....which is a good thing. But it's basically like having a classroom of 22 seats and 32 pupils, where are they going. My friend used to literally say who needs a holiday when you've got this which not even I agreed with. He'd have chosen Glastonbury over a holiday in the sun everytime compared to now it's a case of if he missed out. There is a large part though where he said it feels like it's turning into an open site Reading and it's a struggle to disagree. Edited Friday at 11:46 AM by northernangel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner1990 Posted Friday at 11:45 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 11:45 AM 2 minutes ago, northernangel said: We started going in 2008, my second festival I think after having been to Leeds for two years. I remember camping in big ground, just over the railway line from oxylers, turn right and into the field where Joe Bananas camp shop used to be. I remember the Queens head tent being close by too and and one night only playing in that on Thursday night with Glasvegas and them playing the other stage the next day, foals played I believe and Vampire Weekend too. I went down just popping back to the tent to refills drinks very easily and casually walking back down. Those days were great. But there was a 134k with upto 136k we'll say from other crew until Sunday. Now we have over 30k extra weekend, the crew has doubled so the amount of extra crew around has so there is upto 50k extra on site by Sunday I'd say and they've actually taken away row mead for the Pyramid and taken away that space of camping between the oxylers and the toilets....which is a good thing. But it's basically like having a classroom of 22 seats and 32 pupils, where are they going. I used to really enjoy weds and thurs arriving in those early years you got the pick of the campsites and it was quite 'chilled out' - now its utter mayhem as everyone is there plus as you say lots of extra crew etc. I used to do big ground back then until 2015 when we switched to near the park. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilkyJoe Posted Friday at 12:00 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:00 PM 18 minutes ago, cdm22 said: I did the same. I ordered myself some cider bus cider in the run up and watched a bunch of it on the TV with the stereo on. Very much enjoyed it all. The only time I really felt like I was missing out was the Wednesday and Thursday when friends were meeting up and bimbling about. The rumours of the line-up so far are certainly helping the FOMO at the moment too 😄 Yeah I felt like I was missing out the whole time but I felt the next best thing was enjoying the music via television. The worst thing I guess was not socialising with my group who I hadn't seen since the last festival. Gutted that this this years ticket sale has gone exactly the same way as last year meaning I potentially won't be on the farm for 3 years but I'm trying to stay optimistic about the resale... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernangel Posted Friday at 12:01 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:01 PM 9 minutes ago, gooner1990 said: I used to really enjoy weds and thurs arriving in those early years you got the pick of the campsites and it was quite 'chilled out' - now its utter mayhem as everyone is there plus as you say lots of extra crew etc. I used to do big ground back then until 2015 when we switched to near the park. 🙂 I left an extra bit for you in that comment above as well. We camped next to JP one year which was cool to just pop in there and back for a drink....really really hot year. 2010 maybe? Good group around us all too. My mate camped above Pyramid once up the hill a bit....I would camp there but the hill is a pain. I've gone oxylers for years now as it's flat ground, toilets are close enough and I can watch bands there at the tent, loads of eating options but it's far too crowded now with crowds going by. But it's not like it's better elsewhere now. All the JP camping had even all gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shuttlep Posted Friday at 12:44 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:44 PM no tickets for next year, first time since 2004. and I am not that bothered, for the past few years I have had a great time, but always walked out thinking , not sure if i will do it next year. it is a lot of money, a lot of time. I am getting old. maybe it is for the best people who have never been got my ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidstorm523 Posted Friday at 12:48 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:48 PM (edited) Realistically, I’m feeling like I’m flogging a dead horse for myself. I don’t have a ticket and I don’t feel that bothered. after Covid, the change has been tangible for me, and I didn’t really enjoy this year. Too much trudging around in crowds, missed things like Kasabian where we couldn’t even get in the tent and watched them on a screen outside. I felt like I was somewhat aimless and nothing really stood out. The Dragonfly was cute but so quiet. I’ve been holding on to what it represents for me and my past, but it’s not what it used to be for me, and what I love is increasingly hard to find there. I’ve been every year since the 90s bar pregnancies , my kids have grown up with it every year, but I guess our time is done. The social media squabbling annoys me ( on Facebook not here) and the new system failures add to the feeling that it’s just changed beyond recognition. so trying some smaller things this year and Glastonbury on tv! Edited Friday at 12:57 PM by acidstorm523 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner1990 Posted Friday at 12:59 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:59 PM 57 minutes ago, northernangel said: I left an extra bit for you in that comment above as well. We camped next to JP one year which was cool to just pop in there and back for a drink....really really hot year. 2010 maybe? Good group around us all too. My mate camped above Pyramid once up the hill a bit....I would camp there but the hill is a pain. I've gone oxylers for years now as it's flat ground, toilets are close enough and I can watch bands there at the tent, loads of eating options but it's far too crowded now with crowds going by. But it's not like it's better elsewhere now. All the JP camping had even all gone. I would agree with the Reading festival comment a bit! 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernangel Posted Friday at 01:08 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:08 PM 5 minutes ago, gooner1990 said: I would agree with the Reading festival comment a bit! 😄 So would I. It was quite funny because I had to buy a new tent this year and all the time I was looking I thought how much longer am I going to need own for lol....but my current one was leaking way too much to be tried at another festival. Glastonbury first and then Y not fest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shuttlep Posted Friday at 01:13 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:13 PM 24 minutes ago, acidstorm523 said: Realistically, I’m feeling like I’m flogging a dead horse for myself. I don’t have a ticket and I don’t feel that bothered. after Covid, the change has been tangible for me, and I didn’t really enjoy this year. Too much trudging around in crowds, missed things like Kasabian where we couldn’t even get in the tent and watched them on a screen outside. I felt like I was somewhat aimless and nothing really stood out. The Dragonfly was cute but so quiet. I’ve been holding on to what it represents for me and my past, but it’s not what it used to be for me, and what I love is increasingly hard to find there. I’ve been every year since the 90s bar pregnancies , my kids have grown up with it every year, but I guess our time is done. The social media squabbling annoys me ( on Facebook not here) and the new system failures add to the feeling that it’s just changed beyond recognition. so trying some smaller things this year and Glastonbury on tv! I agree, feels like I am chasing m youth at times, chasing the high i used to get . Now it's not the same 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidstorm523 Posted Friday at 01:18 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:18 PM 2 minutes ago, shuttlep said: I agree, feels like I am chasing m youth at times, chasing the high i used to get . Now it's not the same It’s like I’m doing it because that’s what I do! I said this would be my last in 2025 , but maybe it’s over already! I got divorced a few years ago, and it’s a very similar feeling, missing what once was and the grieving is because it actually no longer exists! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip997 Posted Friday at 01:24 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:24 PM 1 minute ago, acidstorm523 said: It’s like I’m doing it because that’s what I do! There’s an element of that for me, but it’s also (for me) more than a festival. It’s an annual meeting of very long term friends who I rarely, if ever get to see anywhere else. As we all arrive days or weeks before and stay after, there’s a real “family feel” about it and we can properly catch up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidstorm523 Posted Friday at 01:28 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:28 PM 1 minute ago, Skip997 said: There’s an element of that for me, but it’s also (for me) more than a festival. It’s an annual meeting of very long term friends who I rarely, if ever get to see anywhere else. As we all arrive days or weeks before and stay after, there’s a real “family feel” about it and we can properly catch up. That’s wonderful and beautiful. I wish I had that! But the folk I used to go with have mostly drifted away, and I wasn’t able to get too deeply involved with 3 small kids from 2000 onwards, so I kind of missed out on solidifying those connections. if I had that now, you wouldn’t keep me away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner1990 Posted Friday at 01:30 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:30 PM 4 minutes ago, Skip997 said: There’s an element of that for me, but it’s also (for me) more than a festival. It’s an annual meeting of very long term friends who I rarely, if ever get to see anywhere else. As we all arrive days or weeks before and stay after, there’s a real “family feel” about it and we can properly catch up. Not all of us have that luxury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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