20//01/09

I have been nagged by the webmidget to write a new blog before the old one becomes so stale and crispy it is evicted from the internet for being in an unknown dialect modern folk don't recognise. So here I am. I haven't written a blog recently because I have been out in the world of real people and away from computers-hurrah. So where have you been I hear my one solitary reader (that’s you that is) ask? Ah, well we are slap bang in the middle of festival season so I have been lapping up the sunshine and bathing in the rain in lovely fields.

I have had two very contrasting festival experiences so far. First off I was at Glastonbury-blimey that's big! Half the country seemed to have donned willies and converged on a small field in the arse end of nowhere. And I have never seen a festival with so many stalls, it was some kind of weird retail experience for hippies, an overwhelming one in many ways. I did however manage to avoid buying an assortment of attractive tie dye accessories and headed for various tents and stages where I saw so many good acts my head nearly exploded. Fortunately it didn't and I survived to perform a gig to a very friendly and enthusiastic posse in the enchanted tent. Hurrah. Well done to the marvellous Helen Gregory for organising such a great line up of poets.

Next up was Bhuddafields, which must be one of the friendliest festivals in the world ever. I was camping with a host of Oxford types and about a million small children, at least that's what it seemed like at 6am when they all woke up. But not even screaming babies could upset the calm of Bhuddafields and I wandered round the pleasant tents of entertainment, food and workshops feeling generally relaxed the whole time. That said, we whipped up a massive flood of extreme energy for both the open mic night and the slam. I was performing with two great poets, Lizzie McHale and the George Roberts. We had a terrific crowd and there were soooo many good performances my head nearly exploded for a second time. Thanks to Lizzie Mchale for organising the whole thing and being the most amazing host ever!

So, I am off to get some bandages to keep my head in place for my gig in London on Sunday, more festivals coming up as well....watch this space.