MN tour...

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what a weekend

After two nights in a freezing cold tent, portaloos, cold showers, rubbish everywhere, Carling beer cans, smelly unwashed minging hippies, Marylin Manson and Iron Maiden, I'm not quite sure that festivals are my thing. Nevertheless, I raised a whole 130 quid for Oxfam, so that's something to be cheerful about! Still, I went, did stewarding, and survived... and came home sunburnt (believe it or not). If anyone is thinking of stewarding at an event like this, I would seriously think twice, unless of course you are completely broke and are desperate to see some band or other. I did two shifts that involved nothing more than standing in the bitter cold. Trying to make conversation with the same person/people for eight hours is not an easy task (believe you me). The second shift on Tuesday was not so bad - I was at exit c (ha, like anyone knows where that is...) with two guys (Bob and James) who were really nice and we chatted quite a lot. Bob (I hope his real name was Robert, otherwise he has pretty cruel parents) was telling me how his new student house next year has a huge garden, so he is going to grow vegetables! Wow. I don't think there are many students who grow vegetables in their back garden! Actually, exit c was near the main stage, so although I was on a shift, I got to see Elbow and Graham Coxon play. The gate we had to "guard" (I don't really know how else to explain) was for emergency vehicles only, so nobody was allowed to enter or exit the arena through those gates. Anyhow, at one point there was a loud bang on the gate, so we asked the two guys wanting to get through for their ID. It turns out that they were from Kasabian! Wow! (I say wow, but I don't know their music at all, only that they're pretty famous.) And, later on, the bassist from Ladytron asked me where the loos were (or something). Had never heard of Ladytron, but people tell me they're good... So quite an exciting afternoon overall.

That evening I got to see The Coral and Queens of the Stone Age. Not that exciting really... Although I do like the Coral I guess. On Sunday afternoon Katharine said we should go and see Roots Manuva... Not my kind of music at all, but they sounded really good on the stage and in the end I decided they were quite likeable.

The last shift I worked was the most exciting of the lot (!) - checking wrist bands on the main gate. (By the way, after working at the festival, I'm never going to complain about being bored in the office again...) Sooo many people try to get through with fake wrist bands, and it's really great when you actually catch someone and they just stand there looking really guilty not knowing what to do or where to look whilst security come over. I felt a bit bad for them because I would resent paying 60 pounds or whatever for a day pass... I saw a bit of Kings of Leon during my break, but (yet again, shock horror) I don't know them at all. I feel like an old woman, so out of touch with music, but then again I don't care that much.

So, I don't know. It was an experience, but after a few days there (and even cheating by coming home to sleep on Saturday night) I really don't think festivals are my thing. Or, should I say festivals sponsored by Carling... It's all about money... (We weren't allowed to let the punters in with cans so that they would have to buy Carling once they got inside. But sometimes we turned a blind eye...) Evil Carling. I think maybe Glastonbury would have been a better festival to go to - not commercialised, better bands, nicer people. Although, most of the people were friendly enough, just very very drunk and very annoying. And there were even families there! (I would never take my children to a place like that...) But, I'm glad I went, despite the grimness of it all. And, what was really great, was that one guy (who, wasn't drunk!) came up to me and said that he was going to go right home and make a donation to Oxfam because he thought we were such great people doing a great job!! Lovely, lovely man!!

miscellanea

I guess the right thing to do is to have a proper, defined topic for each blog entry, but this is my blog so I will just record a few observations and thoughts I had today.

Fran got us tickets for Fiddler On The Roof. Despite being hugely disappointed not to get to see Spamalot (virtually impossible to get tickets) I think FOTR will be well worth seeing. Although I've only seen half of the film, I think there'll be enough tunes in there that I recognise to enjoy it. But, this is Broadway we're talking about, not the Theatre Royal in York (not saying the Theatre Royal is rubbish or anything...) so I doubt I will be disappointed. But, I'm gutted about Spamalot... (OK, I'll have to save that for next time I visit...) Nevermind. It might even make it to London in the near future.

If I see or smell another beetroot I am going to scream! Seriously. Why is my dad obsessed with getting beetroots from his friend and then boiling them and pickling them? Our kitchen is full of jars of beetroot, and empty jars waiting to be filled with beetroot. I hate beetroot!! I live in a beetroot factory.

My mum met Wendy tonight. She thought Wendy was pretty cool. We took her to the pub and we drank wine (that tasted like vinegar though). That might be the last time I see Wendy (what with holidays and moving etc). I couldn't tell her that. I hate goodbyes too.

I packed for the weekend. I packed lots of old clothes and also a pair of wellies (spotty ones....oh dear...borrowed from a friend...). I am going to really appreciate my bed tonight. No, I don't want to camp in the cold and the rain!

Sunni has now finished working at the uni (we had a leaving party yesterday). She was one of the kindest people I've met. It was sad to see her go (and retire in France, lucky...) (She was the first one to make me a cup of tea when I'd just started working there~)

Oooh, I watched 'As Good As It Gets' the other night. Just one of those films you absolutely must see.

Well, that about sums that up. Not much to say really. Well, nothing interesting. Maybe next time there will be more interesting things to say...

first music festival

Well, after wanting and wanting to go to a music festival for such a long time, it seems that, finally, I'm going to one! (Well, I have to go now, because Oxfam has cashed my deposit so if I don't turn up for my shifts then I've lost 130 quid). So, yay, I'm an Oxfam steward at the Leeds festival! I registered tonight, and was given a bright pink wristband (that, apparently, if I remove, becomes void. So yes, I will look pretty ridiculous at work tomorrow). My shifts aren't too bad I suppose (I'm not doing any overnight ones) and I get Saturday evening off to go and see some cool bands perform. (Although I think the lineup is a little disappointing altogther this year... but still, it'll be cool) Anyone have any recommendations? Here's thelineup. I have my wellies ready (weather forecast doesn't look too good) and will be taking gloves, hat, and a scarf (mainly to sleep in). Looking foward to the provided meals too haha (although they could just be Pot Noodles - but that's ok because I like them). Anyway, I will write more after the event (if I survive and don't get too cross with all the drunk people). So watch this space!

“It’s hard to tell whether the world we live in is either a reality or a dream.”

An interesting quote from Kim Ki-duk on 3-Iron:

APA: What did you want to express throughout the film?

KKD: Well, it may be the words said at the end of the film: “it’s hard to tell whether the world we live in is reality or a dream.” Just as in this room, now. Our life is not clear about what is true and what is false. In fact, there is no clear boundary between those two, and this is how we live. What I wanted to express is, it is in confusion whether I do the right thing or the wrong thing at this moment.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Yesterday I went with some friends to see a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds. We thought it might be cancelled because of the rain (the stage was not under cover, although our seats were...). However, we got there, in the pouring rain, and took up our seats as the play was to go ahead as planned. So it began, the players gradually getting soaked, whilst we sat in comfort under the awning, sipping tea:) At one point the rain was so heavy that we could no longer hear what they were saying. The director eventually took pity on them and called a ten minute break... They continued for a while, and then, all of a sudden, as if by magic, the clouds dispersed and out came the sunshine!! Brilliant sunshine! So we watched one third in the rain, and the rest in the sun, and what a wonderful play it was too! OK, I'm no critic, but I enoyed the production (and as I told Carmen, maybe the first Shakespeare I really, truly enjoyed...). I tend to lose concentration quickly, and get lost in the plot, but I found this one easy to follow, mainly because it was so visual. I especially liked Demetrius (not his character, really, but his facial expressions) and I agree that Helena is a very brave character. I was surprised too to see a Coronation Street "star" as Hermia. (I think she was a good Hermia though.) And of course, the lion, the wall, and the dog were all hilarious. So, I spent a lovely afternoon with friends, in the lovely English sunshine (rare as it is), drinking tea and watching a wonderful play. When are we going to see The Taming of the Shrew??

one week, two movies

Leeds festival volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed at the Leeds Carling Festival. C'mon people! Help out if you can!

Today

I have been listening to Eva Cassidy's Anthology today... This collection is a companion to the Songbird compliation from 1998. I'm just getting into it (but so far I really like the songs Say Goodbye and It Doesn't Matter Anymore). It always takes a few listens for me to get into an album, but given that this is Eva it shouldn't take me too long. I also read "The Dog In The Manger". I don't think I've read a play since we read Macbeth at school... But, yes, this play is really amazing! Basically it is the story of a love triangle. (Written for "anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone they shouldn't have fallen in love with", according to the blurb.) I liked it a lot, and yes, it did make me laugh out loud, although there are serious messages behind all the jokes... I think I need to re-read it though. I couldn't help feeling sorry for Marcela. And the whole question of whether jealousy is born of love, or vice versa, was pretty interesting.

It was such a lovely morning that I couldn't resist taking a picture of the wonderful "star-gazer" lilies that are in our garden... Aren't they beautiful?

rambling about being worried and a bit scared

I think if you have too much time to think it is really dangerous. The more you analyse things, the less they make sense. And the more confused you get. And in my case, the more worried I get. So I'm starting the course in September (eek, next month!) and I am incredibly scared. Ok, so I've taught classes by myself before (albeit not to the brats in this country) and generally the kids respected me and I think I know that I can teach well. But why am I so scared? I should be excited that I have new challenges... I think it's the fact that everything will change, all at once. New home, new(ish) city, new friends (I hope). New life. Maybe new direction? But I don't want everything to change. Because there are many things and people in my life that I like right now (and obviously things that I don't like - my laziness). I have to find the energy to start again. (I don't like change!! Well, little changes are quite nice.) But I don't want things to stay the same either... I should be thinking more positively. I hope others have confidence in me because I'm not so sure that I do right now... (Sorry this is kind of a weird entry.)