Greenbelt

Happy, happy, happy me!

Until the past few weeks, it’s looked rather doubtful that we’d all be able to go to the Greenbelt2005 Christian Arts Festival. Which would be a shame. I’ve been going for over 15 years now, although last year it was by myself (Anne didn’t think festival life was compatible with two children, one only 4 months old, which was fair enough!). Finally, though, it seems that we’ll be able to go after all. I’ve got a free ticket from the Franciscans, which means I’ll be working with the team again, cooking, talking, listening and organising services, and we’re buying Anne a ticket.

The big problem was camping. Having decided to go, we checked our trailer tent (I know – decadent!), only to find that water had got in and the wooden base was mouldy :-( The canvas and so on all looks fine, just the mattresses and wood have died. It might be fixable, but not in the few days before the festival! So, we needed a new family-sized tent, quickly. Buying a new one on eBay would have cost £60-80 or so; buying a new trailer tent is prohibitively expensive ATM (£300-500). Anne’s parents were willing to courier their tent down to us, but that would have been £40-50 itself! Fortunately, the vicar has a tent that we can borrow, and a small trailer to carry it in so that the car doesn’t overflow!
Edit – indeed, this tent is huge, with separate rooms inside to sleep in and masses of living space :-)

So, we’re all set, and hoping that the weather isn’t too windy and wet over the weekend. We still have to leave the festival early (on Monday) because Anne has to be back at work on Tuesday, but it’s still a whole lot better than nothing :-) Hopefully, a chance for both of us to recharge our batteries a little, meet some old friends, learn some cool stuff, sing some new songs. I’m hoping to make the new Folk Club that been organised this year, as well (of course!) as going along to the Forum discussion (the Tank, Saturday 12 noon) and the blogging seminar (Sunday 3pm, Cedar), which includes Maggi Dawn as well as several others.

Greenbelt are also putting together a blog collage this year, using Technorati. Click the link to see other posts about the festival: greenbelt2005.

See you there! :-)

pax et bonum

Article posted at 2:19pm on 22 August 2005
Category: Faith, Life, Struggling

Cool. Unfortunately, our family won’t be able to make it this year, but here’s hoping you have a great (and dry!) time.

graham () (URL)
3:12pm on 22 August 2005

Hooray! It would have been strange not to have at least the possibility of running into you…and I’ve not met Ruth yet. I’m not actually camping this year (rather alot of good people staying here) tho most of the family are…but will hope to come and join you at Evening worship/cocoa one night, if we don’t run into each other anyway.

Kathryn () (URL)
11:15pm on 22 August 2005