Wednesday at Glastonbury. Do I have the right wellies?

It was many years before I remembered to bring wellies to the Glastonbury Festival. What a difference. It was wonderful. But I’m never sure if I have the right wellies! When I started, black wellies were common & green wellies were special. Gradually green wellies became common and fancy patterned wellies were special. This year, patterned wellies seem common. I have no idea what’s special. Mine are green.

A wet but colourful and good natured crowd trudge to the entrance.

I knew I’d need my wellies today so got them on as I got out the car and started the long walk to the gate loaded up with our first load of camping equipment. It is several miles to the pedestrian gate (all of the public enter the festival on foot) and we trudged in a weary but colourful and generally happy crowd till we finally got on-site.

The Pyramid Stage is dark and quiet, for now.

Three loads later I was all settled in the field with friends and relaxed as we planned both the evening and the weekend. We had an invitation to an early backstage party but decided to take a wander round the site in the evening sun first. As we walked out towards the Pyramid Stage, it felt like we hadn’t been away. Nothing really changes. Glastonbury’s like a big patchwork quilt of a festival. They’re constantly replacing and adding colourful patches, but it’s still a patchwork quilt. There are new stages and venues this year and as we wandered round looking for food we discovered lots of new eateries, but some of our old favourites were missing. Personally, I like the noodle bars but my first impression of the newer ones was poor. They were expensive and charged extra for even a basic sauce. Some other favourites have proliferated though and I also look forward to trying the new ‘Moorish’ North African food stalls. There seem to be many more bars and many more unofficial stages but it’s nice to note that some of the smaller stages are finally making it onto the full programme of events. I’m looking forward to seeing my own Plymouth friends, Mad Dog McRea at the Avalon Cafe stage at 10pm on Thursday night (following another old favourite, Rory McLeod). Of course, by the time we wandered the length of the site and back, we were weary, sore, and were too late for our party. Yep. It was time for bed.

We did get a chance to stop off at Medicine Man Pharmacy. James Powell was set up and busy and I got a chance to meet the team I’ll be working with in the morning. He’s been through the usual admin just to get onto site with the legal rules, Glastonbury rules and Pharmacy rules all satisfied. The lights are on and we’re ready to go. There is now a first aid post behind the pharmacy but many people come to the pharmacy first. It’s good to have somewhere so handy to refer patients with cuts, bumps and breaks. Once again, the market pharmacy isn’t allowed to do prescriptions and we already have a constant stream of patients clutching, festival written, prescriptions. It’s a shame we have to redirect them all so far up the hill to the pharmacy in the medical centre at Ivy Meads. I’ve not looked into the Festival Medical Services Pharmacy up there yet but do look forward to seeing all my old friends up there too! Signage for the pharmacy has always been unpredictable but this year they’ve attached the sign to a little shed at the I Market gate. Don’t be fooled!

Goodnight everyone. Jim.