I'm off to a festival... wish me luck!

Last year The Actor and thirty boys went to Latitude Festival in Southwold, Suffolk for our great friend Stuart Laing's stag weekend.  All the girls expressed an interest in going then, because of course we were excluded.

This year The Actor bought me a ticket.  I know I should have been grateful but I've not wanted to go from the second he told me.  I even said why doesn't he sell the ticket to one of his friends.  I feel bad but I'm just not into festivals at all anymore.  I've done my fair share... and then some.  I have had a face like a wet weekend every time it's mentioned.  And it looks like will be one!  This morning it was sunny, then it rained, then there were strong winds, then it was sunny etc etc.  

He has done everything he can think of to jolly me up about going.  The main issue I've moaned about is camping and the whole tent situation.  The last festival we went to together we hired a huge tipi, luckily we knew the guy so got it cheap, as per.  When I booked the tipi they asked if we'd like it furnished - the luxury tipis had rush matting, persian rugs, futons, cushions, tables, fairy lights and vases.  I laughed when I heard this.  Vases?  why would I want a vase at a festival?  Am I expecting a flower delivery or something?  I've only got a couple of vases in my house, let alone having or even needing them in a tipi.  Apparently the vases were purely decorative!  Hmmm.

The tipi was great, really big and very airy, apart from the fact we didn't actually see it until the last night of the festival when we ended up having a party in it.  When we finally went to sleep they were taking the tipi's down.  We managed to negotiate them leaving ours up and when we woke up again we were the only tipi left in the field.  Sleeping under canvas is massively preferable to sleeping under a nylon tent.  The Actor bought himself a pop-up nylon tent for Latitude last year at the last minute and there was only one colour left which he attractively describes as "bogey green."  He said he hated his tent so much he considered leaving it there.  He really was not selling the camping thing to me with that tent!

To cajole me into a better mood about the whole thing and to stop giving him ear ache about how much I hate camping, he has absolutely pulled all the stops out to please me and bought a four metre bell tent. Even I had to admit this didn't look quite so bad...

It's like a mini tipi

He bought a "luxury" queen size airbed for us too.  The tent is bigger than I thought it would be, although once all my clobber's in it...

And a tea light "chandelier"

This one is very Cath Kidston

He's bought a big rug too

I have to admit it looks rather good all lit up

The preparation has been like a military operation for him, if not for me.  I've had umpteen calls to discuss which duvets we should take, which pillows, whether I'm allowed to take a cashmere blanket (only one that folds to the size of a jumper apparently).  How many outfits I can take... Three outfit changes apparently.  Is that a day?  I doubt it somehow.  Does that include loungewear, waterproofs and all that?  Probably not.  Of course I'll slip a load of extra stuff in.

I've been my usual disorganised self.  I was still doing my washing at 3am this morning.  I probably won't take any of it but I like to have the choice.  The tumble has been going non-stop and I've had to put the heating on to dry the rest!

My hairdresser, the lovely session stylist Matthew Wade came round at 8.30am!! to give me one of his legendary blow dries.  My vague attempt at festival glamour.  They usually stay in for three days... when I'm in a house, not a field!

We were supposed to be leaving at 10am.  Then The Actor had a call from his agent, they wanted him to do a voiceover today.  All that rushing about and we now don't have to leave until 3pm!  It's very hard to pack for "changeable" weather.  I'm currently looking at a mound of clothes trying to work out how on earth I'm going to squeeze them into small-ish holdall... story of my life.

I'm going to have to liven up my attitude and have a good time.  Loads of good friends will be there so I'm sure it will be fun.  Three days just sounds SO long, especially in this weather.  Oh and I forgotten to mention I have VIP passes to Lovebox in Victoria Park which is on at exactly the same time as the festival we're going to... Grace Jones, Roxy Music and Dizzee Rascal, ten minutes from my house... Sigh.

Think of me in the pissing rain in a kagoule, waterproof trousers and wellies.  I shall look an absolute picture.  Not!!

Oh God!! Wish me luck!  I'm going to need it.

Have a wonderful weekend xxx