Apres Swanage

Doesn't time fly?

Roz with Daniel and Adam

Last time I blogged we were just about to go to Shrewsbury. That's been and gone, a lovely relaxing weekend, apart from a few 'issues' between John & Roz and their grandsons. It was the first time the boys were away camping without Mum & Dad and they missed them, but seemed to have a good time and behaved very well. There were a few toilet issues as it was a walk to the nice, mains plumbed, toilets and sometimes it was a bit too far or there was a queue and someone couldn't hang on long enough.
I managed to see most of the concerts I wanted to see, catching our friends Two Coats Colder on the small village stage. I hope they get a marquee spot next time. They were miles better than some of the acts they had there *cough*Americanos*cough*.

Camp Wessex Acoustic

The weather wasn't brilliant but was mostly dry and cloudy. Not too hot, not too cold and bearably cold at night. I was warm enough with the one 13.5 tog duvet this year. Last year I took a 4.5 tog with me in case it was too warm for 13.5tog and ended up with both on me and my head buried under one to stop my nose freezing in the night!

Dervish

Shrewsbury have upgraded their marquees this year making the main stage 2 better, and making the Sabrina tent bigger with a bigger stage. All good - apart from megalomaniac lighting engineer - just because you CAN have flashing dancing light patterns above the artists doesn't mean you SHOULD. It was very distracting during several performances. I prefer static lighting per song, or minimal subtle changes during a performance. Light patterns whizzing around the tent do nothing to enhance the music.
Back lights that blind the audience are another pet hate of mine... oh lord I am sounding like a real grumpy old woman now. LOL
While I'm on the subject...it is fashionable to have coloured side lighting too and this gives weird effects on photos, but I suppose it adds to the atmosphere in some cases.
Anyway the weekend passed happily. I enjoyed my Koompirs :-) (Turkish jacket potato with a mountain of salad stuff on top - delicious!) and I had fish and chips from Coast & Moor food stand once - fresh and tasty.

Only two weeks later and it was Swanage Folk Festival! This is the one I've spent the last 12 months+ planning and working on with our committee. We were blessed with a warm sunny weekend and the crowds came. Swanage was heaving. Folk Festival, Steam Railway Gala, and day trippers all managed to fill the car parks to overflowing. The whole town was buzzing, or to be more accurate jingling, with Morris dancers bells everywhere!
It wasn't just the town centre alive with mad Morris dancers, some brave souls decided to cool off dancing in the sea on the Sunday after finishing their scheduled dancing. I'm not sure sea water mixes well with Melodeons!
I spent most of the weekend either applying wrist bands to wrists large and small, or driving back and forth to Bournemouth Airport, collecting and returning the delightful Colum Sands who flew in especially from Dublin Airport.
It was a physically tiring weekend but highly pleasurable all round.
We are awaiting the financial outcome for the weekend. It is touch and go. Concert ticket sales were a bit up on last year, and the trade stalls all came and stayed this year. Some did not turn up last year due to an iffy weather forecast, that did not materialise into bad weather as predicted, but this drastically reduced the festival takings.
The festival is totally self funding and does not get any major sponsorship or grants to help with the finances. This means we are not affected by withdrawal of grants or sponsorship at any time, unlike some other festivals who are facing serious problems due to lack of funding. However it means we have to be very careful with costs and pricing. I am hoping we make enough profit to make a charity donation to a local worthy cause.
I found the weight loss I've managed since last year made it a lot easier moving around, but the old knees did complain a bit at night!
Don't expect another blog too soon - I have websites to update!!