This is a post for people who've been to Greenbelt or have camping experience (you don't have to be a SofaChurcher, btw) to post their tips to help everyone else. I'll get the ball rolling...
24 comments:
Anonymous
said...
My tips are a bit girly. But then I'm a bit girly.
* There are proper loos. The only time I ever used the portaloos on the camping site was when I was pregnant and peeing six times a night.
* The portaloos aren't as bad as you might think.
* There are proper sinks over on the main racecourse that you can wash in. Take a sponge and a jug if you want to do your hair over the basin.
* Another less public hair/body washing option is huddling over a bucket in your tent with a sponge. Baby wipes are an even easier freshening up option.
* Take a brolly - good for wet weather but equally essential for heatwaves. There's a lot of being outside with the sun on your head. A sunhat's a good idea too.
* Take your knitting/sewing. There is lots of time for listening to talks, drinking cuppas, lying on grass outside tents etc - all made even more pleasant with a little project in hand!
* Exchange mobile phone numbers with everyone you want to see again.
* Sharing cooking can work well between two or so families.
* Food on site is a bit pricey, but smells very tempting. Bacon sarnies and jackets are reasonably priced lunches. Homemade lunch is even cheaper. To save on car space, there is a Tesco in Cheltenham so you can do a food run when you're pitched.
* Hot chocolate.
* Sun block - even if it's not sunny.
* Bring your kids' fairy/monster/goth outfits as anything goes wardrobe-wise. Also bring your fairy/monster/goth outfits.
* There are loads of stalls on site, but they're all in the same area so kiddy-pestering can be avoided by clever avoidance of this bit of the site!
Don't think so, no. You could always contact them and check though. They do have a couple of little shops near the campsite that sell fresh milk, bread and stuff like that.
Those going to greenbelt- what are your travel plans? The Janes' and Prevetts and going in covoy (with walky talkies) and leaving first thing friday morning so that we get there ready for the site being opened- when is anyone else arriving? - if we all want to camp together it may be an issue as we're not allowed to save places
We're planning on leaving first thing too, with Emily in convoy. Although they say you that can't reserve spaces in practice you often can keep a bit of ground free next to your tent and squeeze more tents in later. We've always managed to camp in a group. When you arrive you go into a multi-column queue which can take an hour or so to get through and on to the campsite - you park up and can walk around. We normally phone our friends who we meet there at this point and see who got there first and can reserve a bit of space. Make sure you go for the curfew camping area, not 'general' and especially not 'youth' unless you want to be kept up literally all night.
Good thinking. We're hoping to leave at about the same time. The queuing to get in bit is a bit of a nightmare, especially when it's hot and all you want to do is get settled in and make a cuppa.
I'd advise packing a bag of stuff for that waiting bit - some games, books, food etc. Stewards wander around selling programmes, so you can at least read about what's on, but it's still a bit tiresome.
I'd echo the bit about not camping in the youth area. We did it one year by mistake and what a mistake that was. We were next to a group of kids from inner London who I think it's safe to say, judging by their fruity language at ALL hours of the night, may not have Made Jesus Their Lord And Saviour. ;o)
Oh, and this is a bit anal, but we take pencils in different colours so we can ring on the daily planner thing what talks etc we each want to get to. Andy's blue; I'm pink.
Oh dear. That really is anal, isn't it? Forget I admitted that.
Goths don't have to feature black or dark clothes either; thought out individuality is the principle: as in this,this, or this. All pictures are "safe"!
You're right - but probably with you in mind, Goth-boy. ;o)
Wow - you're right - those girls look amazing. And one of them is very, very pink.
I'd love to be brave enough to dress more individually. I did a bit at art college (still in a very girly way mind you) but I feel a bit old for all that now.
I've not 'gothed up' once since being out here - waaaay too hot / humid to do it casually - would need to be heading for a club or something specific to do it. Has been shorts and t-shirt nearly all the time!
Well, Suse - Scandals is Goth friendly by virtue of the fact it's gay and drag friendly. While I am happy for others to do their thing, it isn't my thing! I'd prefer a dedicated Goth Gathering myself.
Came across this this morning and thought I'd share it:
The Greenbelt Prayer
Help us remember that the idiot who cut us up in traffic is a single Mother who has worked nine hours that day and is rushing to Greenbelt to cook a meal and settle the kids down so they can have a good first day at the festival and spend a few precious moments with her friends who have saved hard to get to Greenbelt.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t handle his change correctly is a worried YMCA Hostel resident who is behind in his rent and cannot afford the cheapest hotdog on site. At the same time balancing his apprehension over his fear of not getting on well with the group he came with.
Remind us Lord, that the scary looking young woman rolling her eyes and cannot stop moving her body, is a recovering slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Remind us that the scars of the self harming woman, scarred for life, is just like me with my scars that hinder and equip at the same time. And remember that we, maybe, can just hide ours better.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the festival site and blocking our process are savouring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they will be at Greenbelt together.
Creator God, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. That it is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. But those for who, on first impressions, make us shudder, or sigh or grunt with irritability.
Open our soul and press your finger tip right on that part, the part to raise your love to the surface. So it touches the practical. The proactive. The love department
M6 South until junction 8 M5 South Leave at junction 9, turn left onto A46 After 1 mile turn right at the crossroads with lights on to the B4079 Turn right onto A435 Carry on through Bishop's Cleve Eventually you will come to a big roundabout where you turn left into the racecourse
The children and I just sat and looked through those photos together and now we're even more excited! So good to have a little flavour of what it's going to be like.
Today is going to be absolutely full of Greenbelt preparation! So much to do and not enough hours to do it in...!
No big fall out! Personally speaking I'm just too knackered and busy at the moment to do it justice.
I do have a big blog post about it brewing in my mind, and will link here when I've written it. Really looking forward to hearing others' views on the weekend too.
This is a post for people who've been to Greenbelt or have camping experience (you don't have to be a SofaChurcher, btw) to post their tips to help everyone else. I'll get the ball rolling...
24 comments:
My tips are a bit girly. But then I'm a bit girly.
* There are proper loos. The only time I ever used the portaloos on the camping site was when I was pregnant and peeing six times a night.
* The portaloos aren't as bad as you might think.
* There are proper sinks over on the main racecourse that you can wash in. Take a sponge and a jug if you want to do your hair over the basin.
* Another less public hair/body washing option is huddling over a bucket in your tent with a sponge. Baby wipes are an even easier freshening up option.
* Take a brolly - good for wet weather but equally essential for heatwaves. There's a lot of being outside with the sun on your head. A sunhat's a good idea too.
* Take your knitting/sewing. There is lots of time for listening to talks, drinking cuppas, lying on grass outside tents etc - all made even more pleasant with a little project in hand!
* Exchange mobile phone numbers with everyone you want to see again.
* Sharing cooking can work well between two or so families.
* Food on site is a bit pricey, but smells very tempting. Bacon sarnies and jackets are reasonably priced lunches. Homemade lunch is even cheaper. To save on car space, there is a Tesco in Cheltenham so you can do a food run when you're pitched.
* Hot chocolate.
* Sun block - even if it's not sunny.
* Bring your kids' fairy/monster/goth outfits as anything goes wardrobe-wise. Also bring your fairy/monster/goth outfits.
* There are loads of stalls on site, but they're all in the same area so kiddy-pestering can be avoided by clever avoidance of this bit of the site!
Just replying to say thank you, so that I can tick the special box that means any further comments on here land in my inbox! ;-)
*watching* to get e-mail replies to my inbox without having to check each post in person.
Does anyone know if they do a freezer block exhange service- they certainly do at new wine
Don't think so, no. You could always contact them and check though. They do have a couple of little shops near the campsite that sell fresh milk, bread and stuff like that.
Those going to greenbelt- what are your travel plans? The Janes' and Prevetts and going in covoy (with walky talkies) and leaving first thing friday morning so that we get there ready for the site being opened- when is anyone else arriving? - if we all want to camp together it may be an issue as we're not allowed to save places
We're planning on leaving first thing too, with Emily in convoy. Although they say you that can't reserve spaces in practice you often can keep a bit of ground free next to your tent and squeeze more tents in later. We've always managed to camp in a group. When you arrive you go into a multi-column queue which can take an hour or so to get through and on to the campsite - you park up and can walk around. We normally phone our friends who we meet there at this point and see who got there first and can reserve a bit of space. Make sure you go for the curfew camping area, not 'general' and especially not 'youth' unless you want to be kept up literally all night.
I think we talked about leaving at about 7ish which allows for loo stops etc. Car loaded etc night before. Will have to exchange mobile numbers
Good thinking. We're hoping to leave at about the same time. The queuing to get in bit is a bit of a nightmare, especially when it's hot and all you want to do is get settled in and make a cuppa.
I'd advise packing a bag of stuff for that waiting bit - some games, books, food etc. Stewards wander around selling programmes, so you can at least read about what's on, but it's still a bit tiresome.
I'd echo the bit about not camping in the youth area. We did it one year by mistake and what a mistake that was. We were next to a group of kids from inner London who I think it's safe to say, judging by their fruity language at ALL hours of the night, may not have Made Jesus Their Lord And Saviour. ;o)
Oh, and this is a bit anal, but we take pencils in different colours so we can ring on the daily planner thing what talks etc we each want to get to. Andy's blue; I'm pink.
Oh dear. That really is anal, isn't it? Forget I admitted that.
Goth Communion 11pm Sunday if anyone were up for that.
Two problems with that idea:
1. My predominantly pink wardrobe
2. My ridiculously early-waking daughter
But thanks for the suggestion, Tim. :o)
You mentioned it first! ;o)
Goths don't have to feature black or dark clothes either; thought out individuality is the principle: as in this,this, or this. All pictures are "safe"!
You're right - but probably with you in mind, Goth-boy. ;o)
Wow - you're right - those girls look amazing. And one of them is very, very pink.
I'd love to be brave enough to dress more individually. I did a bit at art college (still in a very girly way mind you) but I feel a bit old for all that now.
Middle aged and boring. Tuh.
I've not 'gothed up' once since being out here - waaaay too hot / humid to do it casually - would need to be heading for a club or something specific to do it. Has been shorts and t-shirt nearly all the time!
What? You've not been to that cool goth club yet?
I was wondering if I could do an experiment at GB; goth-up and sneak into the Goth service, see if anyone spotted the fluffy fraud.
But then I remembered it was on at 11pm; I'll be well and truly sleeping-bagged by then.
Well, Suse - Scandals is Goth friendly by virtue of the fact it's gay and drag friendly. While I am happy for others to do their thing, it isn't my thing! I'd prefer a dedicated Goth Gathering myself.
Came across this this morning and thought I'd share it:
The Greenbelt Prayer
Help us remember that the idiot who cut us up in traffic
is a single Mother who has worked nine hours that day
and is rushing to Greenbelt to cook a meal and settle the kids down so they can have a good first day at the festival
and spend a few precious moments with her friends
who have saved hard to get to Greenbelt.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man
who can’t handle his change correctly is a worried YMCA Hostel resident who is behind in his rent and cannot afford the cheapest hotdog on site.
At the same time balancing his apprehension over his fear
of not getting on well with the group he came with.
Remind us Lord, that the scary looking young woman
rolling her eyes and cannot stop moving her body,
is a recovering slave to addictions
that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Remind us that the scars of the self harming woman,
scarred for life,
is just like me with my scars
that hinder and equip at the same time.
And remember that we, maybe,
can just hide ours better.
Help us to remember that the old couple
walking annoyingly slow through the festival site
and blocking our process
are savouring this moment,
knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week,
this will be the last year that they will be at Greenbelt together.
Creator God, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us,
the greatest gift is love.
That it is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.
But those for who,
on first impressions,
make us shudder, or sigh or grunt with irritability.
Open our soul and press your finger tip right on that part,
the part to raise your love to the surface.
So it touches the practical.
The proactive.
The love department
© Pip Wilson
Directions to Greenbelt:
M6 South until junction 8
M5 South
Leave at junction 9, turn left onto A46
After 1 mile turn right at the crossroads with lights on to the B4079
Turn right onto A435
Carry on through Bishop's Cleve
Eventually you will come to a big roundabout where you turn left into the racecourse
You can see some photos of the site being set up here.
The children and I just sat and looked through those photos together and now we're even more excited! So good to have a little flavour of what it's going to be like.
Today is going to be absolutely full of Greenbelt preparation! So much to do and not enough hours to do it in...!
There is a cartoon style map here that might be of interest too...
There has been minimal feedback on Greenbelt... did you all have a big fall out or something ? ;o)
I've been waiting for a vicarious SofaChurch Greenbelt and it's not happened! (Apologies if that seems selfish)
No big fall out! Personally speaking I'm just too knackered and busy at the moment to do it justice.
I do have a big blog post about it brewing in my mind, and will link here when I've written it. Really looking forward to hearing others' views on the weekend too.
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