It’s Glastonbury THIS WEEK and I am not prepared. I have downloaded the app but failed to listen to all those wonderful bands I have never heard of. So I must step up and make a wish list of who I want to see, otherwise it will consist of The Pretenders, Chic and Barry Gibb.
What to pack for Glastonbury when you’re old, or indeed young is a bit of a fine art. Especially this year when the security is going to be tighter and the queues therefore will inevitably be longer.
The main difference between me and the gorgeous young things I will be partying with for four days is the amount of floaty tops and shorts I will be bringing (none). My daughter keeps looking on ASOS for me, but honestly there is very little point as far as I’m concerned in going for pretty tops. Last year it pissed with rain for the whole entire time and my most favourite item of clothing was a head to toe cagoule that covered even my backpack which meant I basically wandered around looking like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Glitter was another item missing from my wardrobe because at my age my friends and I were more concerned with eye infections and the glitter sinking into the rather alarming wrinkles on our face – not a good look.
Here I was on arrival, in my (daughter’s) wellies, looking hopefully clean and shiny:-
This is what they looked like just a few hours later:-
Yes, there was more mud last year than at any other time, but mud is mud…
mud is mud is mud:-
and rain is rain is rain:-
So I will be bringing very few items of clothing – no more than four changes and will expect to have it all covered up in green plastic because it will probably rain.
There were a few moments when we were able to remove the wet weather gear:-
So my basic list consists of the following:-
YOUR TICKET AND ID
OK, I won’t need my ID, but most of you younger things will.
PHONE
Goes without saying and download the Glastonbury app to make sure you don’t miss your chosen bands.
PORTABLE CHARGER(S)
These are essential as phone charging not easy
BIN BAGS
Loads of them – used mainly for stuffing muddy wellies and clothing into for the long journey home.
TENT
Light and inexpensive – will get disgustingly dirty and you will want to leave it behind, although don’t do that because it’s rude.
My home for four days:-
ROLL MAT
Waterproof and thick as possible so that you are not too Princess And The Pea-ish every morning
SLEEPING BAG
It gets cold at night – put it in a bin bag during day so that it doesn’t get muddy. The mornings can bring dew so things get a little damp too.
EYE MASK
You will want to stay asleep long after the sun comes up as you will have only just gone to bed. Trust me. This is essential.
EAR PLUGS
I know I’m sounding really old now and will have to pass them to all my fellow travellers to avoid waking them up with my snoring, but the music literally goes on all night so you might not want to stay up until 6am listening to electronic music (OK, that’s just me then).
TORCH
I know you think you will use your phone torch, but your battery will be dead relatively often and this is necessary to get yourself out of the tent and off to the loo (OK another old comment as probably most of you won’t need to go to the loo in the night).
NO GLASS
A Glasto rule because of the cows.
WELLIES (AND COMFORTABLE SOCKS TO GO WITH THEM)
A must and the socks are essential for the 50 mile walks you will be doing every day and trust me, even if it’s not muddy, the loos are revolting and wellies are useful!
FLIP FLOPS
For that night wander off to the loo
SUNTAN LOTION
We can but hope
HAT
Ditto
MEDICAL KIT
OK so my kit won’t contain contraceptives or tampons but apart from that the contents will be similar for the young and old: painkillers, insect repellant and itch cream (trust me, you need insect cream, strange bugs there), Berocca (or dioralyte or similar for rehydration mornings, of which there will be many), plasters (loads of walking in wellies!)
WATER BOTTLE
Good idea to take one and fill it up every day
HIP FLASK
As above, but not with boring old water
CHEAP WATCH
For when your phone has died and you’ve got to get to your favourite next band.
DAY BACKPACK
You won’t be going back to your tent much so you need a bag with your days provisions in.
LOO ROLL AND WET WIPES
Essential
MAKE UP AND TOILETRIES
Keep it simple – make up essential obviously. As is dry shampoo, a hair brush, TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE, DEODORANT and maybe perfume, but not in a glass bottle.
BUM BAG
If you don’t have pockets this is good for your money, fags, etc.
FLAG
We didn’t really need one of these as we weren’t desperate to get to the front, but if you’re in a group who are planning to do this, then a flag really is the only way that you will find your tribe. They have to be very, very tall too (the flag that is, not your friends, who you can’t find).
CASH
In case not everywhere takes cards.
DISPOSABLE CAMERA
I probably won’t do this and will hope that I can rely on my phone, but it’s a risk. So take it if you want to be sure of securing your memories!
PJ’s
Or something to sleep in – or is that only if you’re old and have to go off to find the loo in the middle of the night?
WARM JUMPER
You can never rely on the British weather and also I had to wear something extra at night as the temperature dropped significantly.
Don’t take valuables/laptops/cameras etc – things go missing and/or get covered in mud.
ENJOY!! It’s so much fun!
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