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Post by calndel on Jul 2, 2016 14:40:53 GMT
nice review DM but it's too big for us
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Post by digitalmonkey on Jul 2, 2016 22:07:07 GMT
nice review DM but it's too big for us The review? Or the Festival? 
I think I prefer the smaller festivals as well but having said that most of the gigs I went to had smallish crowds, in some cases too small which was a shame. WOMAD is some ways too large as well but I seem to love it
You have to plan schedule differently due to time to get between stages, especially with the flippin mud 
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Post by standing stone on Jul 3, 2016 9:36:47 GMT
What was your camping ground like, DM? Did you have to pitch in mud too?
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Post by digitalmonkey on Jul 3, 2016 20:18:47 GMT
What was your camping ground like, DM? Did you have to pitch in mud too? No, the camping ground was fine. No need for mallets to bang in the pegs.
The issue was the site. The rain in the week before festival caused havoc as that was when much of the site was being constructed or vendors driving onto site thus churning up all the ground. There was no hot weather to dry out the ground.
Ah well. Surely WOMAD will be fine
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Post by calndel on Jul 3, 2016 20:44:23 GMT
lol DM Glasto is too big for us and like you WOMAD can feel a bit big too but we love it too
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Post by jax2000 on Aug 22, 2016 20:03:45 GMT
Well.....what a birthday weekend it has been! My family have been deliciously devious and I had absolutely no idea what was in store for me! Warrior and I left home on Friday morning. It became obvious to me that we were headed towards Dorset, but via a route that I wasn't familiar with. We ended up at a pub restaurant called the Half Way Inn in Wareham, where we were to have lunch. Still a bit bemused I was looking at the menu when lo and behold, Oscar suddenly appeared, with Adam, Sophie, Sarah and Ian in tow! I had thought that I wouldn't be seeing my family until we got home today and the surprise reduced me to tears....of happiness! Over lunch it was revealed that Sarah had arranged for us to stay in Monkey World (one of my favourite places) owned supporters flats just 5 minutes from the park. Rental of the flats also entitled us to early entry before the general public and a bacon butty breakfast watching the primates wake up and start their day!! It was amazing!! Saturday saw the boys going off to the Tank Museum while we girls had a spa day and afternoon tea.....it was amazing! We had a Chinese takeaway in the evening. Sunday being my birthday, I got to open my cards and have a slice of my homemade rainbow birthday cake.....(it was amazing!)...before we headed to Monkey World for breakfast. I was privileged enough to meet one of my heroes, Jeremy Keeling and then had a guided tour of the park. We spent the rest of the day there before going out to a riverside restaurant in the evening. We travelled home today after our last MW breakfast and a final wander around the park.....amazing! There has been so much laughter this weekend....I feel like the luckiest woman alive.....for anyone who doesn't do Facebook, here is my collage of good times.  |
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Post by standing stone on Aug 23, 2016 7:47:57 GMT
Jax, very happy to hear of your birthday weekend - we passed the signs to monkeyworld and the tank museum yesterday morning on our way to RSPB Arne and would have waved if we'd known! We set off Saturday morning, listening to World on 3; two hours which fitted perfectly with our journey time to Lyme Regis where we parked up and started exploring the mill area and sea front and got the lay of the ups and downs of the place (it is very up and down - wouldn't fancy pram or wheelchair pushing around); had breakfast at The Galley Cafe, booked onto the Fossil Walk for tomorrow morning and had a pint at the end of a stroll along the beach (Otter bitter for me, Cornish pale ale for H) bought pasties and bottles Cobb bitter and Lyme Gold from the Lyme Regis Brewery for later and drove to Hook Farm Campsite at Uplyme and were welcomed and shown to our pitch where we completed our pitching in 8 minutes - hurrahs all round! Contrary to all the weather reports, it was fair and nothing more than slightly breezy; the camp site is sheltered and pitches are large and the site is terraced so gives a nice feel of having your own patch. The loo and shower blocks were clean and very spacious - lots of room in the loos and plenty of space and shelving in the showers; nothing cramped at all - felt really well thought out. Back into Lyme Regis for a wander round Dinosaurland, a private collection of fossils and more, collected and exhibited by the owners who run the museum too - if you go, have a chat; lovely people. It started to get a bit wet weatherwise so we headed back to the campsite, beer and pasties and bed. Woke Sunday morning to gorgeous sunshine, happy birthday day for H, decided to walk into Lyme Regis along the river Lym - saw dippers!! Been looking for them all year and here they were!! Gorgeous walk through lovely woodland, fields, thatched houses, mill, winding into town arriving at the Mill area. Fab walk, though again, wouldn't take a pram or wheelchair). Back to the Galley Cafe for breakfast, then onto the pebble beach for kite flying and a few piccies - the sea was shimmering and glistening with the sun - wonderful. We joined the 40+ strong fossil walkers and had three excellent guides in Chris, Paddy and Tom. The walk ran to 4 hours which flew by - it really was just so absorbing and informative - top points to all three guides .... looking forward to going back and doing again in Winter. Fish and chips on the beach, a stroll to the other end of the prom for a beer on the beach then picked up some treacle and ginger and chocolate brownies and headed back to the campsite along the river Lym. Asleep by 6.30pm; awake next morning by 7am and we silently packed up and left for RSPB Arne. Arrived there 8.30am and took the red route for the longest wander round; loved the place; don't think I've seen so many curlew in one place before...sat for a long time on the bench by the shore with binoculars - such a peaceful place; lovely before anyone else is there, though there were bare footprints in the sand.. Stayed three hours then made our way home. By contrast, H's twin brother spent his birthday silent disco dancing at the Shard ...... |
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Post by calndel on Aug 24, 2016 19:32:37 GMT
wow and we thought we packed a lot into our trips!!
amazing times had by all
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Post by dorsethelen on Aug 25, 2016 8:17:31 GMT
Wow, two of you in Dorset last weekend! Glad you both had a wonderful time and the dire weather failed to arrive . We have lived in Dorset since 1989 (though my my mothers family is Dorset for generations ) and wouldn't live anywhere else. Go to Monkey World a lot but it's years since we have been to Lyme. Now I have retired (two days ago!) we will have the time to explore again.
Right, no time to hang around - off to Dorsets own festival after lunch, Purbeck Valley, and the forecast is warm and sunny. The new pet tent is jumping up and down with excitement at the prospect of its first holiday. Sorry we didn't share the coffee this morning but the aero press is packed! See you Monday and have a great weekend,
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Post by standing stone on Aug 25, 2016 8:21:42 GMT
Congratulations on your retirement too, Dorset Helen - hurrah! Have a fab time at Purbeck Valley; we wish you, Dorset Steve and your new pet tent (name needed? ) a brilliant time! |
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Post by jax2000 on Nov 2, 2016 9:31:23 GMT
We're off to Norfolk on Friday morning and will be staying with Betsy on a campsite in North Walsham until Sunday. Does anyone have any suggestions of must sees in the area? I lost all your suggestions for Betsy trips when the forum migrated.  |
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Post by jax2000 on Nov 2, 2016 9:31:54 GMT
We're off to Norfolk on Friday morning and will be staying with Betsy on a campsite in North Walsham until Sunday. Does anyone have any suggestions of must sees in the area? I lost all your suggestions for Betsy trips when the forum migrated. |
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Post by standing stone on Nov 2, 2016 10:27:02 GMT
Ooooooo - how wonderful Jax! Very envious here - we absolutely loved our time in Norfolk last year; we went at the back end of November, so much the same, with longer days for you. Jambo gave us the heads up on the wonderful seals and bulls and pups on the shore at Horsey Windpump (NR29 4EE) and if you fancy a boat trip to see them out at Blakeney Point (NR25 7BH) then phone Beans Boats (01263 740505) to book ahead. Despite the distance, I would make Minsmere an absolute must; if you're an RSPB member and don't mind the hours, then arriving before sunrise pays off spectacularly; especially if you are in the Bittern hide or Island Mere Hide...... keep as quiet as you can as you walk there; you may well walk amongst red deer... Titchwell Marsh (PE31 8BB) and Welney Wetland Centre (PE14 9TN) would also be great to visit, though they are further away and if you have just a couple of days, then Minsmere would have to be at the top of my list.... set aside a day to enjoy all of it and don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to go back again the next day! Take binoculars! If you don't fancy Norfolk's natural world, then I'll hope some alternative suggestions are posted here for you! Have a great time and tell us all about it when you get back |
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Post by jax2000 on Nov 2, 2016 10:48:29 GMT
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Post by standing stone on Nov 3, 2016 9:33:07 GMT
Have a fab time,Jax, Jambo recommended a pub for good eats near Horsey Windpipe - I forget the name as we tend not to stop for lunch, but she may be able to let you know! Time is the thing; our last Minsmere visit was made on the way home; not sure whether practical for you on this trip; nice to have something wonderful to go back for next time:) |
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