Folkeast 2013 - a very Vicki weekend

Good morning

Oh what a weekend - a great combination of some of my most favourite things - folk music, live music, camping, Morris dancing, friends, family and beer - all mixed with some very sunny days and one rather wet one!

Here's just a few pictures from the weekend - my camera never left Bertie - instead the few pics I took were snapped on my Iphone;

 Always the sign of an excellent Morris weekend - henna tattoos - the perfect way to start a Sunday morning - sitting with friends and drawing with henna pens on each other! I hate taking my festival wristbands off - this one will remain for a few more days.

I am an early-bird these days and this was the view when I peaked out of the caravan window on Friday morning - the most gorgeous sunrise.

Friday was spent getting camp sorted and waiting for all the side to arrive. There was lots of sitting in the sun, drinking cider and beer and also a crochet session. Once everyone was there, we headed into the arena for our first dance spot. Quite a big crowd to watch us and another side dance - including for the first time rather a lot of people I knew. No nerves and lots of dancing and twirling happened.

Back to the campsite to change and then off to listen to music. One of my favourite musicians was opening the festival with his musical friend, John Spiers. Am sure I've mentioned before my love of Jon Boden - I was a very happy Vicki standing at the front dancing with friends.

 I stayed till late watching the others bands and dancing and drinking more. Once the music was over I headed back to the campsite and to bed - I knew we'd a long day ahead of us on Saturday.

Saturday was a long and hard day - an early start with a Morris workshop - I got to teach a dance to a niece, a friend and her daughter - we had such a blast and by the end of the session there was a massed dance and very few stick injuries!!  Off to the pub for a lunchtime dance fringe event and then back to the festival site for another dance slot. The weather was not kind for most of the day - the heavens opened and we all got soaked. We huddled together in the dance tent and most of the Morris side took part in the afternoon ceilidh. For some of us this was our first proper ceilidh experience and we loved it. I danced with so many people and had such a blast. We then had another Morris dance slot.

Another evening of watching bands was next - I'd gone back to the campsite to get find dry & warm clothes and some dry boots too. I was shattered but determined not to miss anything. I fell into bed after midnight and knew nothing until almost 7.30 the next morning - trust me that's a lie-in for me!

Sunday was sunny and warm and also my friends birthday. We started the day with jugs of Pimms and birthday pressies! The Morris side went off for a lunchtime fringe dance session and I stayed on the festival site - firstly to decorate Fi's caravan with birthday banners and balloons but also to go and see a band with 2 of my sisters who were there this weekend.

More beer and dancing in the afternoon before back to the campsite for supper and birthday cake.

Back again to the arena for the closing acts of the weekend. More dancing with friends and yes more beer! Gradually during the evening lots of the side headed back to the campsite with aching limbs and sore heads! I was determined to see the last act of the weekend and managed it. We were almost the last people on the festival site before we headed back to the campsite. It was extremely late when I crawled into the caravan - tired but very happy.

My home for the weekend - Bertie my caravan - rather lovely to spend 4 nights in him - he's cosy and water tight and with the amount of stuff I needed to take it was much better to be in him than my little tent.

The festival site early on Sunday afternoon - lots of space and not overcrowded - lovely - here's hoping that 2014 is similar.

One last picture from the weekend - me with my niece - selfie stylie!!

Back to reality today - festival washing to sort, kit to unpack AND the boys have been away with P for a lads camping weekend and there's a heap of their washing to tackle too!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx