How to do a festival in comfort and warmth - a few festival tips.

I am by no means a festival expert and have only been to 5 music festivals but I do think that I have picked up a few tips on how to 'do' a festival along the way.

The First festival I ever went to was V Festival back in 2012. The day before my friend and I headed on the bus up to Shropshire we received our A-level results and so in the evening I went over to a friends house to celebrate which meant that we were a bit tired setting off - not a great start. It took us what felt like years to find somewhere to pitch our little two man tent. We finally decided on a little patch of grass close to the fence right by a burger fan - convenient, easy to spot and the first free patch of grass we saw after about 20 minutes of walking in wellingtons with massive backpacks on our backs. From Saturday morning to Sunday evening (baring one trip to a different tent to watch Tim Minchin) we stood by the main stage. No seats, no moving. A terrible idea. We did see some awesome bands though including The Killers, Noel Gallagher, Stone Roses and Madness but it was definitely not the best way to do a festival. By Sunday evening we were ready to pack up our tent and head home.

2013 I headed to V festival once more and this is when I decided that I am too old for V festival. Is swear that the average age for V fest goers is 14, it is crazy. Different to the previous year I went to this festival with four other friends and we all stayed in one big tent. Yes, 5 people in one 4 person tent. It was tough at times but it wasn't too bad and in the end I had good fun. I think if I was to go with a group of friends again, I would definitely take 2 tents or at least a bigger tent just so that we could have a little space and some room to breathe. Also, make sure that you head to a festival with proper friends, like really good friends where you can be yourself and tell them how you really feel etc because you've paid £200 to be there so you want to have the best time you can. If you want to go your separate ways do. I went to see Seasick Steve on my own while 2 of my friends stayed to watch one act and my 2 other friends went to a totally different stage. You don't have to stick together at all times, just agree on a meeting place and time and you'll be fine.

I also went to Reading in 2013 and despite a man falling on our tent in the middle of the night, a little bit of rain and some anxiety, it was all good and I really enjoyed it. Reading is much more of my kind of festival and even though there are a lot of young people, they are a different sort of young people to those you find in V fest. The general demographic is much older and the music is better.

This year's Reading I went with my mam and we stayed in a hotel. Yes, a hotel and it was the best thing ever. We woke up in a massive comfortable and warm bed, had a lovely shower, ate some Wagamamas or some hotel breakfast and at around 1/1.30pm we strolled down to the festival. We'd watch a few bands, have a sit down, watch the likes of Simon Amstell, Seann Walsh, Milton Jones and Bill Bailey in the Alternative tent and then made ourselves comfortable while waiting for the headliners to come on the MainStage. The best way to do it! We didn't have damp clothes, my back wasn't hurting and I didn't have constant anxiety that someone was going to fall on our tent or set the whole place on fire with a rogue fire. I know that you miss out on some banter with the other tenters (is that even a word?!) but I would much rather feel fresh and clean ready to conquer the day than fell like absolute shite after only managing 3 hours sleep and waking up in a damp tent.

Also since Reading 2013 I have learnt to relax at festivals. I used to think that you had to go go go and see as many acts as you possibly could but I have come to learn that it's a holiday and it should be as relaxing and fun as possible. So my mam and I, like I stated, would get down to the field at around half 1 then we'd see a few acts, open our deck chairs, watch a few more acts and just chilled. We also bought all of our food outside the festival, so we got our dinner from M&S everyday just because it was cheaper. There were a few Tescos and Sainsbury's about so if you are camping, make sure that you venture out of the camp in the morning to grab some food etc. We were staying in a hotel right near the centre of town and it only took us like 25/30 mins to get down to the arena. It's worth it and you'll save some money.

If you are camping remember to take a torch of some kind because the tent is dark when you get back after the headliners set finishes and you won't be able to find your clothes, food, toiletries etc without some sort of light. Put your clothes in plastic bags and then put them in your backpack, this will stop them from getting damp throughout your stay. Nobody wants damp/damp smelling clothes. Bring some snacks with you which will keep you going throughout the day - cereal bars etc. If you bring alcohol make sure that its in a plastic bottle/cans because they won't allow you in with glass bottles and I saw numerous people lose their 1 litre bottles of Vodka at the security gate. Sad times. Taking deck chairs is a great idea, even if you don't take them with you into the arena they are such good things to have outside your tent. My friend Nicola and I would sit for hours on our camping chairs outside the tent and we made so many new friends that way and loads of random conversations with drunk strangers. LEAVE YOUR IPHONE/SMARTPHONE at home. Bring an old school Nokia/brick phone because it won't be a big deal if you lose it and the battery will last the whole 4 nights so you won't need to pay an extortionate rate to charge it. Loads of baby wipes and hand sanitisers are a must. Try to bring as much cash as you think you'll need because taking money out at the arena is expensive as they charge you something like £2 to just take some of your own money out - where is the logic in that. If you do need to take money out go off site and look for a local garage/ATM. One last thing - a music festival is not a fashion show so take practical clothing such as coats and fleeces because it gets super cold when the sun goes down.

If I was to give one main piece of advice it would be to just chill and you'll have the best festival experience. You don't need to rush from one tent to another to watch everyone. Just grab a pint of cider, sit down and just enjoy the music and the atmosphere.

THANKS TOM AND MEG

I love to read be that books, newspapers, magazines or blogs. I can find that sometimes I just get frustrated by TV and just want to sit down with a piece of paper in front of me, or a screen filled with words, with no distracting noise and just read. Over the summer I have been reading a lot for my dissertation work and random magazines but there is one blog that has caught my eye more than anything else.

Scarlett Curtis' blog (here) is one that gives you hope and makes you feel as though it's ok to feel how you feel and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You don't have to be suffering/recovering from depression like Curtis for the blog to help you in life. I experience anxiety in every aspect of my life and it can get a lot overwhelming and sometimes I find it hard to find something that just calms me down and allows me to relax. Although, I have been finding it a little bit easier after logging on to Scarlett's blog as she shares her experience and what she does to make herself feel better e.g. bake and watch films. 

What I think annoys me more than anything about anxiety is that it makes me frustrated and angry that I feel this way and then it turns into a vicious circle of frustration, anxiety and thus tiredness which just makes it all worse. It has been a long while since I sat down and watched a film from start to finish or even an hour of a TV programme as I feel guilty/lazy for sitting down while others are working. 

However, after reading Scarlett's post on her moving to New York and her list of films that sparked her love for the city I sat down and watched You've Got Mail. Granted I didn't watch it in one siting, I paused it to do some uni work etc, but gosh didn't it feel good to just chill for 2 hours and watch Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fight over books in New York. The film is so comfy, it makes you feel comfortable and happy. I certainly understand why Scarlett watched it again and again. I mean, I just pressed the 'buy' button on iTunes so I can watch the film whenever and wherever. 

It's strange where you find comfort isn't it. Thank you Scarlett. Oh, and Tom and Meg. 

SUMMER PLANS & STUDENT WORRIES

My Italy posts will be up as soon as possible. While in Venice we endured a day of torrential rain, so much rain in fact that it broke my camera thus I now have to wait for my friends to sort out their pictures and send them to me before I can actually get to posting them. Ohh the joys of rain and not so waterproof coats! 

After an awesome 2 (very hot) weeks travelling around northern Italy I am home for summer for a few weeks before I am off once more back down to Windsor/Egham with my family for a few days, Reading festival and then to the South of France to surf :D All of these things I am really excited for.

However, I am home and despite sending a gazzilion e-mails searching for work experience I have heard nothing thus far although I only sent some off recently so their is still some hope. Sometimes, actually most of the time, I feel really guilty for not having anything planned in terms of work/experience over the summer but to be honest, neither have my friends. I feel as though I should be doing something productive which will benefit me in the future. Despite this feeling, being at uni is incredibly stressful and tiring. Throughout first and second term which lasts from September to the end of March I had an essay a week to complete as well as seminar work and readings. Even through christmas holidays I was tapping away at my laptop writing essays while all my other friends from home were chilling and enjoying the break. I am not complaining because I love to learn and I like (although not always) being at a hard university because I really think (hope) that it will benefit me in the future but it does sometimes get a bit much.

I can not sit and do nothing and I think this is my biggest downfall. My friend Ruth was amazed by the questions I would randomly ask while we'd just be sitting in a cafe somewhere in Italy. She would say to me "Lisa, you think way too much in depth about everything. Just stop thinking for a bit". When I look into the sky I immediately think about space and planets and where does it all end - does the blackness just go on forever, surly it has to stop somewhere. Even while typing this my mind has drifted into attempting to figure out the unknown.

It's because of this relentless mind spinning that I have been throwing myself into reading a lot over the last week or so while also exercising everyday and working on my fitness blog - theimportanceofbeingstrong.wordpress.com . Working on this blog is something that I am really into at the moment and I hope that it will grow into something bigger in the next month or so. So really I am getting work experience, the experience of writing on a daily basis (with Lisi Loo and Importance of Being Strong) it's just that I am working for myself rather than a magazine or newspaper. Over the next few weeks I have also got to start reading and planning for my final year dissertation which is a bit scary but that's all I can do is my best and if that isn't good enough then I can't do much more than that.

So here's to relaxing, writing, working, exercising and enjoying summer.

LISI LOO READS // Tina Fey & Mindy Kaling

Last year it was the hilarious Miranda autobiography, this year it was the incredibly intelligently funny, Mindy Kaling's book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without me - I am talking about a book that got me hooked on reading once more. I love to read but while at uni I read all day everyday so when I get back to the house for the evening I just get into bed and sign in to Netflix to watch The Office (U.S) and Parks and Recreation. However, since being home for easter, after finishing revising for the day I sit on my bed and read page upon page until I turn around to see the clock has passed 10pm.

I loved The Mindy Project from the first episode and when I found out that Kaling was also a writer on the US Office (which I absolutely love) it sealed it for me - My Mindy Kaling obsession began. I think, the thing I like most about both Kaling and Fey is that they are incredibly intelligent women who are undeniably funny. That is something that, sadly, many people today still don't seem to believe add up. Kaling's stories about friendship, university and most interestingly, life after university, gives you some hope that you will eventually find your way.

I downloaded Tina Fey's Bossypants audiobook back in October of last year but only listened to a few chapters. I don't know about you but I am not too sure about audiobooks - I feel like I'm cheating a little bit. I prefer to read the book and feel like I've accomplished something. Selfish? Probably. Fey, like Kaling, writes about her hilarious upbringing on the East Coast of America and working her way up, via a stint in a Chicago YMCA, to become one of the most loved comedic actors and writers in the US today. From writing and performing on Saturday Night Live to creating the internationally known 30 Rock, Fey has become an American national treasure.

Not too many people inspire me, and I think that's how it should be. If everyone inspired you then who knows what you'd end up like - either totally amazing or immensely confused. My money's on the latter. Although, Kaling and Fey have made it on to my list. I know that's all I've been discussing lately but during this occasionally monotonous time of revision (I state occasionally because sometimes I find it quite interesting) I need something to keep me motivated, something to aim for. Reading both these books have reminded me that in order to get to where you want to be in life you need to work incredibly hard but you can have a laugh along the way.

Get Reading.

READING FESTIVAL 2013 // AMAZING

Last Thursday Nicola and I packed our things and headed on the short train journey from Egham to Reading to get our tent pitched and ready in preparation for the start of Reading festival on Friday. We found an OK spot that would later lead to someone tripping over our pegs and falling on our heads in the early hours of Saturday morning but that's another story! Thursday night we sat outside our tent on our deckchairs watching the world go by. The chairs were such a great idea because we had so many people just come up and talk to us (or slur, because they were all drunk or high) - a great way to make some friends. After having to get a German guy to drag a man from Neath out of our tent we had some rest before venturing in to the arena around lunchtime on Friday.

Can you feel the love Reading?! Two of many people dishing our free hugs over the weekend

 Most early afternoons there was no music that we really wanted to watch so we would just perch ourselves in the alternative tent where over the weekend we saw comedians such as Josh Widdicombe, Russell Kane and Stephen K Amos. Friday we began our music day with Kodaline who were great and managed to fill the NME/ Radio 1 tent until it was overflowing. We stayed in the NME tent and watched Deap Vally. I've been listening to a lot to this Californian duo over the last few months and I was really excited to finally see them live and they certainly did not disappoint. A set filled with energy, great guitar rifts and heavy drum beats. Later that day we also watched Frank Turner and Bastille who attracted a massive crowd and one of my Friday highlights which we saw before the night's headliners - Green Day (!!!) - were teenage Irish rock 'n' roll band The Strypes. They performed on the smaller Festival Republic Stage but they still managed to pull in a very sizeable crowd. From the moment they walked on stage the energy was massive and by playing classic blues covers as well as songs from their new album Snapshot they attracted both young and old festival goers alike.

Deap Vally

 The Strypes

But the Friday belonged to one band and one band only and that was Green Day. Both myself and Nicola have loved the American punk-rock band since they released American Idiot back in 2004 so seeing them live after almost ten years was nothing short of AMAZING. They kicked off with 99 Revolutions and went on to play all the classics from American Idiot to Basket Case and to the marathon that is Jesus of Suburbia. The band also managed to fit the whole 1994 Dookie album in before Billie Joe Armstrong left the crowd to go back to their tents after a beautiful solo acoustic performance of Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). Oh, and they also threw in some of AC/DC's Highway to Hell which was pretty awesome. Absolutely great :)

The Mighty GREEN DAY

Still reeling from Green Day's performance the night before we got out of our tent's with a slight headache after quite a rough night in the little pop up tent we were sleeping in, (RE: man falling on our heads) we pumped ourselves up for another day at Reading fest. We caught the very end of what seemed like an actual mental set by Palma Violets in the NME tent before we watched Johnny Marr get the crowd excited by playing some Smith's songs. Just before Marr finished his set the tent began to overflow as people tried to find a good spot to watch the next band that was about to take the stage - Imagine Dragons. From the first bang of the massive drum, the Dragons were insane! They finished their set with their big hit Radioactive and I can not wait to watch their performance back on iplayer because it was awesome being there and I'd love to see what the crowd looked like as the men from Las Vegas rocked the tent.

After Imagine Dragons we bought ourselves some Gourmet Burger Kitchen burgers (yes they had a burger van there and it was very reasonably priced) which were absolutely delicious - so delicious that I had the same thing for dinner on Sunday night as well! We ate our burgers while listening to a bit of Chase and Status before we went to see the spectacular Jake Bugg. The man is just too cool. He rocked the tent even with just his acoustic guitar and everyone was mesmerised by his 60's bluesy/country/rock 'n' roll voice. Unfortunately we had to leave before we got to hear Lightning Bolt because we had to fight our way through the ginormous crowd to get a good spot to watch Saturday's headliner Eminem. Eminem is a legend - like Michael Jackson was for pop Eminem is for rap and it's very cool that I can say that I have seen the man live but he was far from my favourite performer of the weekend. It might have something to do with the fact that we could barely hear him over on stage right because the speaker wasn't working so for most of the set it sounded like he was raping in a box but like I said it is very cool to say that I've seen Eminem perform Stan with Dido!

 We slept until 11:30am on Sunday! This is the miracle of the weekend - we went to bed just after 2am and had (on and off) almost 9 and a half hours sleep - MENTAL! Sunday's headliners, Biffy Clyro, were the band both Nicola and I had been looking forward to watch all weekend so it was great that we'd had a decent rest in preparation for it. We spent most of our day by the main stage watching The Lumineers, the classic punk rock band - Fall Out Boy - who were really great and we also saw the Editors before getting ourselves ready for Biffy! We decided to watch Nine Inch Nails before Sunday's headliners came on stage and I was really surprised how awesome they were. I'd heard of them and had noticed a lot of hype surrounding their new album but I'd never heard their songs. They are a metal band with a lot of aggressive shouting and I loved it! The most funny thing I saw was a man carrying his 5(ish) year old child out of the crowd as she had fallen asleep watching NIN - she fell asleep watching a heavy metal screaming band!

Having a chillax watching Nine Inch Nails

 When Biffy Clyro came on stage both Nicola and I did not stop smiling and I still don't think we've fully recovered from how incredibly amazing their performance was. Simon Neil is just something else isn't he! Many had questioned Biffy's credentials as headliners but the Scottish band slapped all the doubters in the face as hits such as The Captain, Black Chandelier, Biblical, 57 and many others got the crowd going crazy. After setting his guitar alight after a massive version of The Captain Biffy came back on stage and closed out the show with a magical version of Mountains. Wow - that is basically all I can say. Green Day were Amazing but Biffy were just incredible. Mon The Biff!

Reading is such an awesome festival and I definitely think it's my kind of festival. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed my time in V fest the week before but I LOVED my time in Reading. My type of music and my type of people. It's strange, whenever I tell people I've been to Reading fest they always ask what the crowd was like expecting me to say aggressive etc. because it's a rock festival but despite the tattoos, leather and piercings they were the nicest people ever - much nicer than the V fest crowd. I have already booked a hotel for Reading 2014 (because camping is too much - I am now suffering from a bad cold!) and I will be taking my Mam with me to her first ever Reading fest and her first rock festival since she went to Download when she was a teenager. An amazing weekend! See you next year Reading Fest :)

LOOK AT THAT // Reading Hype.

Over the last week I've been on a complete reading hype. In the last week I've read two books - Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart. I think it's just because I just want to do anything other than revise to be honest. Also when I go to the gym, instead of taking my phone or listen to music, I take my books with me and just read. I have actually now ran out of books to read here in uni (didn't think I'd go on such a reading hype, evidently) I have now ordered two more books, one of which is Keith Richards' Autobiography which looks awesome. These pictures down here are just some that I took while doing my laundry at 8am on a Saturday morning! Yes 8am on a flippin Saturday. To be honest though, days just mold in to one here. I geniuinly don't know what day it is most of the time. I look really tired in the pictures - probably because I literally just rolled out of bed, changed and went to the laundry room (you can probably tell by the bed hair, although my hair looks like this all the time even if I've just washed it so . . .) By the end of this week I'll be free from exams - can I get a HELL YEAH! We do have lectures next week but it's like one a day so I can cope with that!

Once my exams are done I'll be blogging much more and I might also do some book reviews. :)

 

I know it's not a Sunday but I have just found one of my favourite songs ever and I just have to share it with everyone. It's by my recent obsession which is Rival Sons. The song is called Jordan and is just about perfect. Please have a listen. Oh, and how cool are they - I mean.