(Photo from Flickr)
It is that time of the year again when the Glastonbury Festival is on or the Pilton Pop Festival as it is known locally (It is held in a place called Pilton which is about 3 or 4 miles away from Glastonbury).
Our quiet little lane has suddenly become busy with traffic as cars, vans and lorries try and avoid the main road which is at this very moment crawling very slowly. IT IS TAKING 3 HOURS FROM FROME TO THE TOP OF OUR LANE. It should only take 15 minutes! As the lane that we live in is a single track lane, you can imagine the difficulties with the unusually high volume of traffic. Several cars reversing and maneuvering around our drive... Many of them driving TOO FAST!!!
This morning more cars trying to maneuver in narrow space outside our drive
The helicopter activity above has also increased and soon... we will hear the music coming from the Festival depending on the direction of the wind. We live about 5 -6 miles away from where the event takes place. During that time access to our nearest town, Shepton Mallet is to be avoided! Getting children to school and running any errands is very awkward during the Festival especially at the beginning of it and that the end of it.
Despite all that there is a special atmosphere in the area during the festival, with a feeling of fun and livelyness. So many different people making their way there. I love seeing all the different outfits , individual styles and colourful vehicles!
Phoebe took it on upon herself to make up her own sign and is waving it at cars which go past our house too fast.
Phoebe took it on upon herself to make up her own sign and is waving it at cars which go past our house too fast.
Here is a taster of what the festival looks like
Before the crowds arrive...
Tent invasion
Pictures from Flickr
Thunderstorms are forecast at the weekend, lets hope that they won't result in this sorry looking outcome....
You can also see some photos in 3d (red & cyan glasses needed) if you click on the following links
If any of you are going to the festival, set out early and have a great time!
A bientôt!
Isabelle x
29 comments:
Poor you, I can only imagine at the chaos something this big causes. Lets hope for a good weekend for it, at least everyone stays happy in the sunshine!!
Sue xx
Oh my godness, that's incredible!!! Poor Isabelle!It must be very difficult!!!
Have patience!!!
Take care,big hugs
I have some idea how you must feel, Isabelle, since the same happens to the south of Spain from now until September: crowds of (often drunk) tourists!
x Nora:)
PS What beautiful countryside in the photos!
Oh poor you I don't think I would like it that close to home. Phoebe bless her making her sign she looks so cute holding it over the hedge lets hope they take some notice. I would have to say it is not my cup of tea the festivals......
Have a good weekend xxx
Oh my goodness! And I thought negotiating Bath during peak tourist season was bad! You poor thing - it is horrid to see so much traffic along country lanes. I hope you are well stocked with food and supplies for the weekend so that you don't need to go anywhere!
I'm also excited at seeing your pics as we are going to a festival next month and taking Ruby camper van for the first time - can't wait!!
Denise x
Hi Isabelle,
I think Phoebe has her career all mapped out...either a traffic warden or traffic policewoman! Good for her! Lets hope the festival goers heed her sign!
It always strikes me, in todays health and safety conscious world, that tents are allowed to be pitched as close together as they are at Glastonbury...nowhere else would you get away with it!
Anyway, fingers crossed that the weather men are wrong about the forecast...
Niki x
Oh my gosh Isabelle, that's crazy. I've never seen any thing like that, and all that traffic goes past your house? If I was younger, this is the very thing that I would like to try. It really does look fun to me. I love music festivals and meeting new people. I just wouldn't want to be sleeping that close to them.
Hope you like the music.
Smiles,
June
Wow--what a crowd! It's like the Fourth of July, when 100,000 people crowd into our very small town for the parade and fireworks. We live right on the main drag. People are not very nice to the locals sometimes.
I hope people paid attention to your little daughter's sign. She is a little darling!
Hello my friend! Ohh iwas in Glastonbury 3 years ago with my children and my ex...we spent a week in Somerset...it was fantastic!!! I can understand it's difficult to live there in this period! So crowded! But I see that Phoebe is very well organized!!!
Have a nice week end!
Vale
WOW....amazing what you have to put up with...a peaceful little part of your world turned upside down...though you do seem to have a great attitude about the whole thing...your yard and sweet lane looks amazing..i would love to visit your part of the world....maybe when it is not quiet so busy.
I have learned living in festival central to just roll with it. Squeeze in some fun of your own if you can. If you can't beat them, join them (sometimes) :)
invasion indeed...wow!!!
your Phoebe is one smart cookie and such a pretty girl too:)
Oh my Lord! speechless.
Isabelle-
does that mean that you are participating??
you can get your daughter involved too you know :)
Hi Isabelle
Thank you for visiting my blog. I feel for you with all that extra traffic along your lane. We usually get Sunday tickets for the festival (as we live in Somerset) but sadly this year we were unlucky. I think they took the names out of a hat! Have a lovely weekend if you can! Lizzie x
Hi, I have been listening to the traffic jam reports and I still secretly wish I was there again... I went about 5 years ago and I was terrified... but the people are so nice there... especially the ones that I probably would not pass the time of day with normally.. I am not a snob but some of these people smell really funky... you normally avoid them in every day life but up there everyone is really chilled and mixes and mingles...
I worked in the Green field doing arts and crafts with the children..as I use to run the Scrapstore at the Community Resource Service in Yeovil... and some kids had mobile phone numbers written on their backs or arms in permanent ink in case they got lost and other children are abandoned at the red cross tent and picked up at the end.. as the parents realised they would be fed and cared for.. its completely unbelieveable and I would go again in a flash... the music isn't really my thing but the art and crafts are amazing... the Teepee field is stunning... and the food is diverse... my only tip.. take a portaloo and a big tent...
hugs
Alex
x
Hi Isabelle,
You're a good sport. It's like here when we get all the summer people coming to the shore. It stops traffic. I could never be in a crowd like that....tooooo many people.
I love the sign Phoebe made....she'll make a good activist when she grows up!LOL
Carole
The "Disguise Fete" is all set up Suzy....hope you come by........
Hi Isabelle
I drove past the festival last Sunday and felt quite wistful. I wish I was there, it's been years since I went. I think it must be hard to have to try and carry on with normal life with it all going on around you. I hope you get free tickets!
That's a very splendid sign . I particularly like the No Smoking bit ...... a blanket ban , obviously , on anything anyone might roll up in paper and puff ! I hope your weekend's
sunny and fairly peaceful !
Dear Isabelle
Thank you so much for commenting on my blog!
It's always just LOVELY when someone new pops by. Thank you.
I have been reading your past few posts. I love your blog - love the colours and the beautiful picture on the top.
Hope you are surviving the weekend. I'm sure there are many, many people out there who would love to be so close to 'the action' (although I'm not one of them!!) and as you say it must be kind of exciting. It's only once a year eh?
I'm not into it myself, haven't even had it on the TV. Prefer Wimbledon. Actually, haven't been watching that either really this year. Prefer reading!
Lots of love and please come again?
Charlotte
xxx
Hello Isabelle, You sound far more patient than I would be, there again we do get our fair share of tourists here in our little village. I wish I could visit Marmalade Yarns, good luck with the crochet, you seem to be doing really well. It is a very relaxing pastime. Keep up the good work.
Love Fi x
Gosh what a beautiful place you live in. I don't envy the trafficy weekend, but I can see where you're coming from on the atmosphere front! Perhaps locals should get free tickets! x
Hi Isabelle,
thanks for taking the time to visit my blog, I know excatly what you are going through! The beautiful quite little seaside town where I live (Miltown Malbay in County Clare, Ireland) also gets 'Invaded' for the first week in july for a traditional Irish Music Festival, thankfully I live a few miles outside the town and so I don't have to suffer the extra Traffic that you do but it is so bad that none of the Locals go into town for that week unless we absoutely have to! However the people who come to the festival do seem to really enjoy themselves so I suppose we should look on the bright side! Your beautiful daughter has the right Idea I hope they pay heed to her! Your blog is very lovely,
I will call back to see you again soon!
Moe x
I've just popped over after seeing a link to you on The Sewing Room. What gorgeous countryside you live in - half of my family come from Somerset, so I love that part of the world.
I hope everything is back to normal, following your 'invasion' - well for another year at least ;0)
Hi Isabelle what fantastic pictures and your daughters poster is fab good for her, I have been out of blog land for a while so I will go and catch up with your news.
Jan
You sound quite calm - I'd hate my spot of calm being invaded like that, but then you don't have much choice really do you as it's got so big. I used to love going to WOMAD in my twenties apart from the toilet, washing and people playing drums next to your tent until the wee hours bit. Now it's my idea of hell - I like going places when everyone else has left really.
Lisa x
Hello Isabelle.. That is very gracious of you to wish people a good time when it must be very stressful and trying for you and your family with the constant noise and thoughtless traffic on your doorstep.
I used to frequent Glastonbury in the 1980's when it was more of a village atmosphere and the traffic was unbearable then...!
Now it has grown to such a vast event.. I really have no desire to visit any more.. too many people... and I love my home comforts too much..
I hope your days are returning to some peace now..
Love
Michele x
oh my! that quiet little town gets quite a crowd! good luck with that.
xox
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