To think Glasto and other festivals like it are for kids?

[expatinscotland]

and to find late 30-somethings and 40-somethings who go to them (and are not press) a bit sad?

Festivals are better when you're older. You have more money to spend on Pimms and food, oh and a lovely vintage VW camper van to sleep in, have a crap in so I don't have to slum it with the yoof in their £10 Millets tents.

I agree entirely. Festivals are for kids. I'm 3, I just look a lot older....

Oh fgs festivals are fab - total escapism for a couple of days - brilliant music, lovely time with partner / friends and usually pretty good food. Ok, the toilets are vile but that is really the only downside.....

I just got back and I have to say that as a sober pregnant person I found 'the kids' to be the most annoying part. By kids I mean the 20 somethings with their forced eccentricity, selfish behaviour and downright rudeness.

Even when I was a kid I think I was a lot more respectful of my environment and those around me. Fuck, some parents out there are bringing up some pretty selfish individuals.

I just got back and I have to say that as a sober pregnant person I found 'the kids' to be the most annoying part. By kids I mean the 20 somethings with their forced eccentricity, selfish behaviour and downright rudeness.

Even when I was a kid I think I was a lot more respectful of my environment and those around me. Fuck, some parents out there are bringing up some pretty selfish individuals.

so pissed off I said it twice!

Just got back from 5 days at Glasto - love it there SO much. I'm a boring middle class accountant in real life but can't stress enough to all the doubters just how absolutely amazing it is - don't knock it til you've tried it!! No way is it just for kids - I'd say the average age there is approx 35. I was a sniffy, sneery doubter myself until my first visit 3 years ago age 39 (love music so was persuaded to go) - total convert now though....

YABU.I've never been to a festival but I have been to several concerts in the last few years and I'm in my 5o's. A lot of bands at Galstonbury this year have been around a long time and those over 40 would have been listening to them more than kids.

stripey sorry for hijack and personal question but do VW campers have toilets or do you have one of those portapotty things?

Not Stripey I'm afraid - but will I do?

We have a VW Bay Window camper. They don't have toilets generally speaking (although I think some of the modern ones do) but you can buy a portaloo/camping loo that is almost exactly the same as the really good flushing/disinfecting portaloos they have at some of the festivals. They cost between eighty and one hundred pounds.

Then you have to decide whether or not you are going to let people use it inside the camper (definitely not in our case) or you are going to put it in a separate 'utility tent'. Alternatively, if you're not using the bedding compartment in the awning, you can put in in there and its doubly private, iyswim.

hth

Yes, moose, you will do nicely! Funny enough, since I saw this cloth nappy I have suddenly gone all nostalgic and would love to buy a VW campervan! But sadly don't even have the funds for the feckin' nappy at the moment!

I have a portapotty. We do use it inside the van, mainly 'cos we're often driving about from one place to another and only spend one evening in one place. Do a lot of wild camping, laybys, car parks, etc so a utility tent not really an option.

How reliable are the VW's? And if they do break down do they require specialist mechanics who say things like "Jaysus, we'll have to order that part from Jairmany and it'll cost ya a tousand yooros!" all said in thick Dublin accent?

How can anything that's about music be just for kids? I was at a concert on Sat (not Glastonbury). The band I was seeing were mostly in their 60's and better, rockier, more energetic than they've ever been. I'd like to see someone tell them they're too old. I bloody loved it, there's nothing like feeling the music pumping through you. You don't get that from cds/radio/whatever. Much as I love my iPod, to have that as my sole source of music is a very sad thought.

They are reliable. I had a few problems starting last year, the glow plugs had burnt out and needed replacing. I once got a fuel blockage and it conked out, never did work out what happened but touch wood hasn't happened since. Apart from that only problems have been a flat battery if I've left the lights on all night (no warning buzzer).

Most parts would be fairly standard. Some things may require a specialist part, not sure. I know you can buy parts off the internet and from the prices I've seen things look quite cheap.

You don't need a specialist mechanic for breakdowns. I choose to take it to a specalist mechanic for services and mots. I want someone who understands them sorting it out not some greasemonkey from Kwikfit.

Thanks, stripey! I have decided to always be prepared for the worst, after breaking down between Wexford and Dublin in our "reliable" Toyota in freezing conditions and having to stay in a hotel because no one would take us home in the extreme weather. But there's something very reassuring about German products!

I think aa membership and a set of jump leads are a must. Though if you do breakdown at least you make a cuppa while waiting for the aa, or you have somewhere to sleep if need be!

I'm 31, I've never been to a music festival, or a concert.

I would love to Go to Glasto and I would if it was cheaper, the reason I don't do music things and hardly go to the cinema is because I am so tight I squeak when I walk, I only like to spend money if I end up with something to show for it.

Anyway if it was cheaper I would put up with the portaloos and washing in a cow troth (or they could just improve the washing and toilets).

Everyone in my family watched some part of Glasto on the TV, I watched Muse, my 67 (?) year old mum watched the Pet Shop boys and Scissor Sisters, my 75(?) year old dad watched Stevie Wonder etc.

Chipmonkey, ours have all been very reliable (well except the first one - but we'll skim over that particular aberration, as the other 5 have been ok).

Dh tinkers to keep ours up and running and we do have a great local mechanic who specialises in them, but the AA have been great with ours on the couple of occasions we have needed to call them. Like Stripey said though, if you ever do break down at least you are comfy and can have a drink and a snack while you wait to be rescued.

They really are workhorses and very easy to work on once you get the hang of it, hence while they are still around after all these years. That said, a good mechanic that knows his stuff about air-cooled vehicles and VWs in particular is worth his weight in gold.

It tends to be the bodywork rather than the mechanics that's the problem with them. We need a new left-hand (so right-hand drive) sliding door and they are like hens-teeth, you literally have to pay a grand to get a second hand one that is worth salvaging and then you have to pay to have it repaired/prepped and resprayed.

We take ours to Wexford every year on holiday. There's a big VW club Waterford way - I think, or at least there used to be.

Every VW camper that's on the road should definitely contain a copy of this book.

Our copy is well used and has been invaluable over the years.

moose, my dh most decidedly does NOT tinker but I have an uncle who is a very good car mechanic.

My Mum lives in Wexford so we spend the bank holidays there and the odd weekend in the summer. Great beaches!

I would love to go to Glastonbury but know I would get bored of it after a few hours and want to go home to sit on a nice comfortable sofa with a cup of tea.

It is one of those things which sounds fantastic in theory but I know I would in reality loathe. In this category I also put boat trips, days out to theme parks and go karting.

I was tempted to go and see Pendulum in concert some time back but know I would be an old duffer stood there tapping my feet in time to music and waving my hands in air like evangelical christian, whilst 19 year olds jumped around like maniacs all round me. So gave up on that plan.

I was never into boat trips but went on a Great one in Croatia which converted me. It was pretty much going from island to island getting slowly drunk. bliss!

GetOrfMoiLand - just go and jump around like a maniac too.

GetOrfMoiLand - I really doubt you could get bored at Glastonbury. There's just so much other stuff going on. I went one year and only saw two bands. {grin]