Winter is Coming

Well the weather in England has finally taken a turn and Summer is now well and truly over - and I reckon I'm the only person who doesn't actually mind. 

We had the most incredible Summer here and, whilst I do like it when it's warm, imagine how boring it would be if every day was cloudless and sunny. I like interesting weather personally - there should be seasons and when we follow them we get a sense of the passing of time which is how it should be. I know from past conversations that not everyone agrees with me here and most people would love to live in a country with hot weather every day; but not me.

I like seeing mist making halos around street lights, watching the rain fall out of dark distant clouds over a moody sea, the sound of rain pit-pattering on my umbrella and pounding on the window as I snuggle under soft winter duvets, the sploshing of cars driving through puddles as I sit at my laptop with the windows steamed up and a cat dozing on my lap, reading a book on the sofa with a hot water bottle wearing big fluffy socks with my fairy lights twinkling round the window and snow falling silently outside... Lovely.

It's important I think to really get into and experience each season. The coming seasons for me are hot chocolate, glasses of rich mulled wine or ruby port, soft jumpers and scarves, knee socks and boots, flickering candlelight, wood smoke, steamy windows, roast chestnuts and baked potatoes, fireworks and bonfires, crispy autumn leaves, fruit crumbles, box sets, and having time to reflect and plan.

Hell, I just love the whole damned COSINESS of it all!

Mud, Mud, And More Mud

Little tiny Van Morrison

Long time readers will know that I work for the bars department at the Green Man Festival each August. Because I'd been so busy (read crap) these last few weeks I hadn't had time to write up the event so I thought I'd do it now while I was on a roll.

It's an understatement to say that I'm not much of a festival-goer as I hate crowds, mud, and public toilets - which I stay in a little cabin called a BunKabin during my 11 day stint. This is a little diddy cabin with a coupla beds, a desk, a loo, a radiator, a sink, and a shower. It's frankly a godsend and I would refuse to go if I didn't get one! 

Last year was lovely and sunny but, as in 2010, this year was a mudbath. Oh yes, whilst the rest of the country sweltered in a mini heatwave, I was up to my arse in stinking mud. In fact I had to endure BBC articles asking "how do we sleep in this unbearable heat?" when I was being rained on. Well it was Wales after all.

Apart from the mud which smells a bit fishy after a few days (who knew?) the festival went well. My job went very smoothly as usual and the event itself was a resounding success. Van Morrison headlined this year which was actually a bit of an anti-climax. 

Sadly he just hasn't got it any more, so when you're hearing him blandly sing "The Way Young Lovers Do" from Astral weeks when you've heard him energetically belt out the original, it's a bit sad. He hasn't got the lungs capacity to give it what it needs any more so he's just singing the song rather than feeling the song if you know what I mean?

I also had a really infuriating intern who couldn't somehow understand how to do an inventory. He over-complicated everything and got completely caught up in the details which you can't really do in events - you have to pick your battles and keep any eye on the big picture otherwise you go off chasing after fluff and the whole thing goes tits-up. 

He kind of got it around halfway through but at one point I thought I might actually kill him. Luckily  my colleague who works with the staff took him off my hands most of the time. He has much better people skills than I do which means he can handle people's nonsense better than I can. Saying that, my colleague did at one point tip everything out of all the crates in to one big pile and started hurling things in to demonstrate how to do the bloody inventory.

Clouds across the arena

Wales is very lovely though and Brecon really is something. Often the clouds were tumbling over the top of the Sugarloaf Mountain and actually floating through the main arena in the morning. Wales is notoriously wet as well and it lived up to its reputation this year. Strange really as the UK isn't that big compared to other countries, but the weather really does vary from one end to the other. We get the best of it in the South East luckily.

So overall the festival was great. It's my 4th year of doing my job there so it runs pretty smoothly now. It went really quickly but I have to say that I was really happy to come home. 3 days before I was due back I walked into the catering tent and exclaimed "get me the FUCK back to Brighton". I do love this festival but I am always, always very glad to come home.

Wet And Windy Weekend

Well I'm pleased to report that the weekend went well and BBF managed to survive without being too appalled by my massive family - I think he was quite shocked by their literal massiveness however...

I'm the fattest I've ever been (I'm not FAT, fat, but I'm definitely chubby) and my family are really quite large so I had been worried that he would think I would be heading the same way. I look a lot like my Mum as well who, lovely as she is, is a rather rotund lady! There's no way I could ever be as large as her but if he has these fears then he's keeping them to himself.

We checked out our little kitty who was actually pretty large considering he was only 5 days old! He is a dear little thing and I am so excitied about getting him that I could squeal loud enough to shatter glass. BBF wants to call him Chairman Miaow but I'm not entirely convinced.

Sadly it was raining so we mostly just drove around the place - through Woburn deer park and round where my best friend and I used to live and go to school. Happily we also discovered there was an Ikea near my folks house so we now are fully stocked up with tea lights and Kilner jars - 99p! bargain.

We also went to the viewing gallery to see people in those skydive tubes - it looked good fun but I wouldn't want people watching me in a shiny jumpsuit looking like a Hollywood wind-tunnel plastic surgeon's experiment. I also noticed the tornado-like upraft had rendered the trainer's jumpsuit a little snug around his nether regions. It was also £20 for one minute... mugs.

STG's Post - Rain, Christmas And Fur Coats

Hey Star Trek Girl how's it going? Welcome to your weekly round-up!

It's been pretty rainy and windy here all week; in fact I've started drawing up plans to build an Ark. The 2 cats and 2 fish resident here have already booked their place - although I think the fish are taking liberties given the nature of their physiology!

I've bought myself a desk as well to work at; the chiropractor pointed out that I'd spend £99 in a month with her so I went out and bought one the next day. I have the cheap N cheerful Argos special and much swearing and nearly a tear went into setting it up, but I now have a lovely little work corner where my empire is being built!

The Christmas lights are up in Brighton; they're the same as usual but look lovely; it's hard to take a photo as my camera phone doesn't like the dark much. It's a bit sad that they put them up so early, as when Christmas finally comes, it's kind of like old news. Like how I hate cooking because by the time I've cooked it I'm bored of it already!

Here's this fabulous fake fur coat in a shop on Gardner St which feels as soft as sunshine. It's not my usual style (I generally hate animal print and think it's beyond tacky) but it has incredible electric pink lining and is just fabulous dahling! I can't justify spending the money on it but I go in to stroke it sometimes! Sometimes you need an amazingly glamorous purchase to get you through a winter but it's only November and I could always get shoes instead!

I still miss Dexter like crazy and see him everywhere, but it's getting better as Spice Girl who lives here, has taken to sleeping on my bed at night. She gets me all to herself (her sister Sugar Puff hogs my landlady's bed) and gets a nugget of kitty crack for making me feel better. I would still love another cat or a little dog but as I know I can only have one when I move, it's given me good incentive to get my own place.

I hope things are good with you; I read your blog with interest and am there in spirit with you! My Mum reminded me to get my passport in order so I can come to see you so I'll get Christmas over with and sort it out. Until next week; take care my dear friend. x

STG's Post - Celebs, Chiropractors And Cats

Hey girly; been pretty manic this week so my apologies for the overdue post.

You haven't really missed anything, it's been raining and a bit windy so obviously we're on panic storm alert as Britain is unable to cope with any variables in weather - even though we're a country that is and has always been home to various assorted types of weather. 2 guys did take the opportunity to use the tad breezy conditions to kite surf over Worthing Pier however!

The main topics of conversation in the media this week, have been Jordan on 'I'm a Celebrity...' (frankly I've barely taken notice as she's a fame-hungry, high-maintenance, waste-of-space publicity whore who can't fart without having to ring the press) and whether Jedward on the X-Factor are rubbish; I don't watch it any more as I decided that even I had to draw the line somewhere as that by watching such lowbrow, tat I was contributing to the homogenisation and lowering of standards - even though I like watching ANTM, Worlds Most Amazing Videos and Ghost Hunters! The consensus in case you're remotely interested is that yes, they're talentless wankers - so will probably win it.

Work is fine; I need a few more clients so will be doing some marketing this weekend, I'm going to see the new Coen Bros film on Saturday and that's about it really. I fucked my back again so had to see the chiropractor twice in one week (painful both in wallet and reality) but It's kinda ok again now. I still firmly believe that you have to be fantastically good-looking to become a chiropractor as mine is deeelicious - In fact I recommend everyone throws themselves down the stairs just so he can give them the once over!

I've been missing Dexter a lot. Sometimes it feels like he never existed; I keep dreaming about him and then wake up upset as it feels like I get him back only to have him taken away again each morning; that feeling hangs over me for most of the day like bad dreams do. Because he replaced Fraidy, it's like they've both died again - I'm very much a pet person and feel like I have no purpose to be honest. I can't have a pet here so I'll have to wait, but I'm finding it hard if I'm truthful.

I'm enjoying reading your Blog; sounds like Amman is an amazing place and I really wish I was there with you; I miss you loads but hope you are enjoying yourself. I can't believe that things are so cheap there - more photos of everything please!

So until next week my Star Trek friend... x

Next Stop - Square Festival

Tomorrow morning I leave for Wales for the third of the five festivals I'm helping at. Square Festival is on the West coast, just by the beach (see photo) and looks like it should be fun.

Our license is until 3am this time so I will be working from around 5am until lunchtime; having a break then coming back for a couple of hours around 6pm. I get different sleep patterns at each event, but luckily I have ear plugs and a talent for sleeping!

The rest of the time I shall be able to have a good look at the event which has the Solar Cinema (looking at the forecast it'll be on pedal power!) a comedy night on Friday, a classical orchestral concert in the nearby church, a 'human zoo' where you have to wear an animal costume to enter and a clothes-swap area. It also appears they are attempting to break the World-record for mass skinny-dipping... which I will NOT be taking part in, but I may have a gander for 'research purposes'.

Bit worried about the weather forecast as it does not look very sprightly. I have decided to leave my flipflops, suntan lotion, bikini and sunglasses at home, but I will however be taking my black purple-spotted wellies, brolly and fleecy jamas instead! Luckily they are having lots of drum n bass so I can dance myself warm.

Slightly annoyed about this English Summer washout frankly, as I had made an executive decision not to bother with much sunbathing earlier in the year as it was supposed to be a lovely long sunny summer. I thought I'd have plenty of time and now I only have a sniff of a tan (lovingly assisted by Johnsons) and am left feeling solarly short-changed.

As usual, I will give you a full run-down of the event when I return next Tuesday - they'd better have adequate catering and showers... fingers crossed!