Friday at Glastonbury. A damp start.

Actually, it was sunny this morning. So sunny that I put sun lotion on!

Damp but lovely. Glastonbury.

So far the weather has followed Met Office predictions so I did take waterproof stuff out with me. I had no work this morning so this morning was dedicated to shopping! The markets at Glastonbury have everything you can think of and lots of things you wouldn’t think of in a million years! (Or perhaps I’ve misjudged you!) Before the rains came back I browsed leisurely but also did constructive things like buying T-shirts and sending postcards. I quite fancied the “Rehab is for Quitters” or the “Does this body make me look FAT?” ones but settled for the official Glastonbury 2011 ones. (Very good value at £10 for kids and £14 for adults!) The ground was still muddy and sticky so Medicine Man Pharmacy was still doing good trade in blister plasters but they were in VERY short supply. At least now the sun lotions were selling. The pharmacy had a busy morning. I saw James working with five assistants at one point. Every assistant was serving but there was still a queue. Once the main acts start though, it’s a very different story. One or two staff can deal with the customers who wander by.

Staff are kept busy.

Last year the festival kicked off with Rolf Harris on the Pyramid Stage. He filled the auditorium, fired up the crowd and the Festival really took off. This year was very different. Despite the sun, the Pyramid started with a poor crowd for The Master Musicians of Jojouka. No? I hadn’t heard of them either. The audience ebbed and flowed throughout the day but didn’t at any point threaten to reach capacity, even when headliners, U2, took to the stage. It looked busy from the edges but when I met up with family and friends, about half way up the field, the crowd was sparse with lots of gaps. I enjoyed the music and the visuals but it wasn’t up there with my favourite performances.

U2

Earlier in the evening I wandered again. I love the sights you come across around the site and was fascinated during the heaviest rain to find three ladies in ballgowns, swimming past the marketplace bandstand. I popped back to the pharmacy and covered, while James headed out to bring tomorrows pharmacist, Brian, onto the site. Afterwards I considered Morrissey but went to Mumford & Sons with my daughter, Micki, and her friend, Dee. This is Dee’s first Glastonbury and she WILL be reminded of the time she asked where the ‘Triangular Stage’ was? We took her to the ‘Triangular Stage’ for U2 but before the end they headed off to see Fat Boy Slim. I decided my old bones had had enough of the rain and the cold and wandered back to my tent.

Swimming and posing in the pouring rain.

All in all a damp start to the festival. Never mind. We’re due sunshine tomorrow!

Night all.

Jim.