Camp Bestival 2011.

[QueeferSutherland]

Has anyone been?
Going?
Is there a festival thread somewhere?

DH booked tickets today. I haven't been to a festival in an age, and DH has only been camping once. We are taking the 3 DC who will be 1, 3, & 9.

Any tips/reassurance?

Or perhaps I shoudl set up my own cafe for MN'ers only

thank you very much have noted, it all depends on the weather and how much time we have, we like leaving the campsite really early in the morning then head out for a chill out until the drive back to London before rush hour starts

well if you do a mean cooked breakfast you are on

Another three? really won't make a difference. Give us a shout nearer the time, have 2 MNers and families possibly staying with us.

that is sweet but dh would have a panic attack at meeting yet another MN group, he knows a few of our locals and feels slightly paranoid that his every move is being reported back
to be fair I knew, before he got home, that dd had wondered off from him just briefly when she was about 2 and they were in town

Keep him sweet with pool, shower etc they are only possible.

we actually love camping and I can scarcely wait for this festival, was looking at the line up and there are about 5 I would very much like to see, not headliners and I am sure I will find more stuff once on site

last year I really liked the guy who was going around with a bunch of instruments doing mini sets/ busking type, he was great

and the opera people were good too, we stumbled on the performance one evening on the kids field, dd would not move until the end she was very excited when they started interacting with the audience and performing off stage

My favourite bit last year was Suggs doing his DJ set in the Boden tent, it was very relaxing. And the blue coats on Sunday were fab, had a very hapy hour or two watching them while the security guards in the coctail bar were taking bets on which of my children would take the other out (just 2 and 4.5 at the time), which actually makes me sound very irresponsible.

did not see Suggs or Madness at all
I did try to nab one of those beds for lounging in but some childless couple always beat us to it
also the very stoned bubble guy doing a demo was very very funny

This year I am being taken back to my college days.

We loved the Cocktails and Dreams tent last year but we had DH's nieces staying so they babysat in the evening.

And the Gruffalo was amazing.

Nice dresses here Still obsessed.

Soulpad 5 m tent arrived today, wop wop wop!

I have started making lists that might be to planny obsessive

The DCMB party have decided to forego fancy dress in order to have more money for pie and gin.

I have however bought a Shmangle festival blanket, and ordered a flag and flagpole.

Hi, pie and gin definitely the priority.
Been getting excited reading this thread as we are going to CB for the first time, me, DP and DS aged 9 and 10. Haven't taken the kids to a festival since they were toddlers when we went to WOMAD (and got stuck behind some horrible teenagers whose own parents had sensibly camped away from them). My 2 aren't very stoical so my worries are that they cope ok, that we find an ok bit to camp in, and that we manage it without too much money as we are always quite broke... will have to watch the pennies which sounds like it might be hard with all the middle class delights on offer.My list of stuff to take getting longer by the day.

Fivegomad, are you an organiser of CB, or do you just live nearby?

Some of those dresses are lush, lucia, although pricey.

We still don't have a tent. How long did the soulpad take to deliver, lucia? We may be able to get one next month, but we've just had an eye-watering gas bill. We may have to get a cheapie.

We live very near. Family involved but not me.

Replied on other thread but c. 2 weeks from order to arrival. Oh, just thought, I signed up as a 'like' on Facebook, I think I knew about the stock having arrived via that.

re dresses, I know, pricey :-( Made to measure though & lovely. Need to decide soon as time's getting on.

Just gatecrashing to say I'm very envious of you lot-my dc are too young but maybe next year :)

5gomad-thanks for the tips re cafes-only been local for 18mths and still have so much cake to eat to visit

Cheers Lucia! Not stalking you, honest.

The website says 7 days, so that's interesting. I need to get my arse in gear and sell my ridiculous shoe collection on ebay.

We had our 'trial' camping trip this weekend, surprisingly the sleeping arrangements (all in one 'room') weren't too much of a problem, but dh agrees that we need another room for all our crap kit.

However it was bloody freeeeeezing at night so we had to do a quick run to asda for a cheap spare duvet & some extra sleeping bags. Poor dd1 woke me up with hands like blocks of ice saying 'it's very cold mummy, can you warm me up?' so ended up with me, her & dh all on a small double airbed. Not v comfy. Dd2 must be warm blooded as completely unaffected by cold but refused to sleep before the sun went down. Then dd2 woke up at dawn. Need to get some blackout material!

On the whole though, was quite pleased. No sign of my medieval dress patterns though.

If it's relating to belltents & assorted topics Queefer, stalk away!

I am gathering together a box of CB equipment now, anyone like to join in with some must haves?

So far I have:

ear defenders for children
facepainting kit
illoom balloons
glowsticks
headtorch *3
Travel john(s)
cagoules for everyone
Do we need to take wellies? or would (hushed tones) crocs do?
many many babywipes
travel wallet and money belt for DH and I.

I'm acquiring loads of general camping kit at the moment, so it's hard to separate it out from that!

My main CB-specific purchase is a flag and flagpole, having established that the other adult camper in the group also has no sense of direction, and I'm definitely not trusting the kids (you'd think sod's-law-wise, they'd be better, but I spent three days on a campsite in Cheddar over halfterm telling my daughter which way to go out of the ablutions block EVERY SINGLE TIME we left it).

I'll be taking wellies. I just nearly drowned the on the school run.

Yay, lists!

Ihave, so far;

Large swirly rug/bedspread
Torches for DS & DD
small rugs x 3
Unreliable head torch
Confirmation email
Ear defenders x 3
Costumes for DS & I
camping stove & pans
Flower garlands for hair
Blow up beds etc
Sleeping bag liners
Fleecey PJs for DC (primarni)
A raincoat.
Bunting

I still need;

A TENT!
Costume for DH
Some shorts
Tins of peaches/custard.
Pringles x 4000000
Decent torches
reliable headlamp
Glowsticks/neclaces
Purdy fairy lights

Have I missed anything out?

Bubble stuff for the DC is a good idea. There was a horrifically expensive bubble stall last year. I think I'll be going to Poundland for bubble wands etc.

Thinking of the important stuff first, clearly.