Part 2 Am I getting too old for this??
I warned you, it's becoming a theme. It's all the fault of that last stupid birthday. I was going to deny all knowledge of it but it was rather nice having so many people be nice it was almost worth it (until I recently discovered people getting trips to the USA and Hawaii for their birthdays, although I did enjoy my Chinese meal with friends in Nerja.....)
So after trying to pretend that two out of three nights en route were holidays (the F1 doesn't count, I mean who would go there on hols??) down to serious work at the first festival, which is closely followed by the second. And if I couldn't wait to get off site and home to a shower and Dave the cat on the bed last weekend, this shorter version was no exception only again it's a pretend holiday. I've been at Stepping Stones up near Carlisle, at Kirklinton Hall (which is mostly ruin, a main hall and some fantastic garden, oh and some rather posh timber built loos and a couple of showers added since last year) - this is the festival of the lovely Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, and a very wonderful little festival it is too. Last year I caused chaos by asking to trade there which was a learning curve for all of us since they'd never had anything more than tichy gazebo one day craft stalls, and I had no idea that they had no idea. But it was good! and we all agreed to do it again! But I almost digress as I should explain that since it was a bit of a drive and a long set up, I chose to stay the night before the set up in a b&b I found in a nearby village last year, and a very hospitable and comfortable place it is too. So this year I had no hesitation in booking for Thurs night and also Sunday as it seemed everyone left on Sunday last year. Plus I am going to visit my old mucker and erstwhile house sharer tomorrow in Crewe and a freshly off site distinctly not fresh apparition I would be without this oasis of calm and warmth and big big bath.
This is the life, shame about the work sandwiched between the stays, how lovely to be on real holiday and stay in such places.........and I couldn't wait, and I'm thinking how on earth am I going to cope with.....only another 10 of these weekends......and last week I was wondering how I could possibly survive 11 more. And those figures only make sense if you allow me to cancel the tentative booking I have for 3 weeks time since they only just sent the invoice and I'm not at all sure it's right for me anyway...........
But what is causing this phenomena? Is it old age creeping up or what? I've battled the past two days with pouring rain and gales including dangerous gusts of wind. The framework can't be pegged down as it's on gravel with who knows what under it. Today I started packing so that when the roof finally took off it would be less of a disaster if it rained and eventually a few minutes more would get me to the stage when I would call on the stewards to help remove my 9m x 9m top sheet - they were all primed and ready to help - and the stall lifted right off the ground and put itself down on top of a box, through the chest of one of the dummies I hang clothes on, and through the tall book rack. Bugger.
At this point I shout for help and the response was incredible, a veritable army of people spread out all round the stall and off came the clips followed by the sheet, onto the floor, folded and rolled at my instructions and all done within minutes. Superstars. I wonder if they would like to come with me next week? I
At this point it also rained, and when I had almost but not quite finished stuffing things in the van, it came down with more purpose. I have seldom been so glad to get off site, and where I had fully intended to go to the pub which is more or less next door to the b&b, I've had the biggest bath and enjoyed the central heating and snacked and downed a glass of wine, I feel like a human being again and I love it.
I'm only 2 festivals in, there are 10 to go if I drop the one I'm not sure about, and two weeks running I am wondering how the hell I am going to cope......this bodes badly. Has the novelty worn off? Is it like the drive, that I have nothing to prove now? Or am I just getting too old for this.........not the music, or the people, or the festival scene, just the sleeping in the van, the hardship of a framework stall which lifts in the wind, where the sheets sag and fill with rain whatever I try to do, where it takes hours to put up and almost as long to demolish a stall, suddenly I feel there is too much stock, the stall is too big, but I've been through the alternatives a million times and this is what works..........unless I'm getting to old for it...........