Monday 2 June 2014

Festival Fun



I haven't had a wash since Thursday, my hair resembles a rat's nest and I've lost the ability to string a coherent sentence together - it can only mean one thing, its the Great British festival season.


This weekend took us to The Acoustic Festival of Britain, a few miles down the road in Uttoxeter. The Guardian call it a massive strumfest whereas we'd describe it as a small scale event popular with a bizarre mix of folk fond of dressing up and serious music fans.


Druids, folk dancers, Masai tribes people, belly dancers.....

That's the lovely Chico on my right, meeting him was one of my festival highlights.

.....welcomed us with open arms.


The weekend didn't start well with torrential rain, grey skies and plummeting temperatures. The site was flooded, the electrics failed and the local council's health and safety inspectors threatened to shut down the festival before it even started.


Luckily a corporate background has its advantages, my risk assessment, fire procedure, signage, first aid kit and fire extinguisher passed with flying colours and, unlike some unfortunate traders, Kinky was allowed to stay. 



Its a great little festival but you won't make any money said more than one stall holder as we were setting up, which didn't fill us with much confidence, but as we were the only vintage traders out of over 70 trade pitches at least we were offering something a little different to the usual Indian hippy clobber.

Wearing: 1970s Van Allen maxi (eBay, 7 years ago), fake fur coat (£7, retail, 2012)
Day one (Friday) was bastard freezing, but the bags of premixed Mojitos, cans of pear cider and dancing kept off the frostbite until we fell into bed fully clothed at midnight.

Wearing: Kali tee shirt (Goa), Diesel Black Label waistcoat (Charity shop), Tootal scarf (car boot sale), Vintage jumbo cords (jumble sale)

We employed the same strategy on Day Two (Saturday). I was able to get into the mosh pit and freak out to The Counterfeit Stones with some new found friends while Jon held the fort. 

Wearing: Egon Shop metallic maxi (Courtesy of darling Curtise), Neon feather earrings (50p, Superdrug, 2012), Ted Lapidus vintage sunglasses (Charity shop, 2009)

That warmed me up enough to cast off the coat for a few hours.


Our stall was right opposite the Solar Stage so we got a prime view of the acts from the comfort of our deckchairs. Eric Faulkner formerly of The Bay City Rollers (which probably won't mean a thing to you if you're not British, female or under 45) went down a storm.


 After another night of sleeping fully dressed, we woke on Day Three (Sunday) to glorious sunshine. 

Wearing: Raf Simons tee shirt (charity shop), 1950s Levis Panatella shorts (flea market, Goa), 1970s needlecord trilby (present from a friend)

  The woman who can spend months lying on tropical beaches to no ill effect managed to burn herself to a crisp.

Wearing: 1970s Prova maxi (Sarah Misfit), Wood beads (handmade by Tania), Neon peace sign earrings (off the market), Lime juice carton bangle (Senora Allnut)

A 1960s Hawaiian maxi dress found itself a home with the man who ran a techno/rave spoons workshop. 


Despite the mostly denim and fleece-clad crowd Kinky's stock was surprisingly well received with Jon's boom boxes proving hugely popular.


What a weekend!

Just enough time to recover, recharge and restock ready to do it all over again next weekend.

See you soon!

Linking to Patti and the gang over at Visible Monday.

84 comments:

  1. I know the Bay City Rollers!!! Wow what a weekend, I hope the weather is better next weekend!!!

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  2. DO you mind , i was bay city rollers fan when i was 14 and i am 54 in July, Lol , Glad u had a great time and hopefully took loads of money , I cant believe health and safety showed its ugly head yet again ,you showed them though , well done xxx

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  3. Looking lovely as ever :) Love how that guy is rocking a 1960's frock! :p

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  4. Oh my goodness what a crazy ass weekend, you had a bit of everything didn't you! I'm so glad you didn't get shut down and even happier that the sun came out on the last day. You poor things sleeping all your clothes!
    The booth looks amazing, like a proper stone and mortar shop! Chico's jacket is amazing and so is that old man wearing the pink dress. I love all the color I see and all the different people! So glad you had a great spot to hear and see the music. You looked beautiful everyday honey!
    LotsofloveXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOO
    Now rest and stay warm.

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  5. It looks great, despite the dodgy start! See, you're not just a pretty face, are you? Got to get the paperwork and risk assessments in order or it's all over!
    I always think your pitch looks fabulous, and this weekend's is no exception. And you and Jon are, as ever, the perfect ambassadors for a bit of vintage style.
    I love all the snapshots of the bonkers festival folk (the techno/rave spoons man in the maxi frock springs to mind, God love him!) And who knew any of the Bay City Rollers could actually play an instrument? Nice one, Eric!
    That last selfie (sorry!) is gorgeous!
    Now - slap on some after sun lotion, put your feet up and have a rest for a bit! Just till tomorrow, of course!
    Love you - welcome back! xxx

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  6. Your weekend sounds mental. Eric Faulkner, blimey I haven't heard of him in donkeys years, can't imagine he's doing a BCR set at a festival? Aren't the Counterfeit Stones fab? A man on the
    spoons in one of your vintage frocks....just what you expect at a
    festival! Pleased you did well and hope your burnt bits aren't too sore. Xxx

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  7. Washing, washing, what the hell were wipes invented for? Glad you had fun and did your stuff to enable you to stay - clearly the alcohol played an important part. Learned about mojitos in France so must get some in.

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  9. Washing, washing, what the hell were wipes invented for? Glad you had fun and did your stuff to enable you to stay - clearly the alcohol played an important part. Learned about mojitos in France so must get some in.

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  10. Washing, washing, what the hell were wipes invented for? Glad you had fun and did your stuff to enable you to stay - clearly the alcohol played an important part. Learned about mojitos in France so must get some in.

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  11. Washing, washing, what the hell were wipes invented for? Glad you had fun and did your stuff to enable you to stay - clearly the alcohol played an important part. Learned about mojitos in France so must get some in.

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  12. Heaven only knows what happened there, I only posted one comment - honest!

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  13. Crazy ass weekend ! And of course i do know Bay city rollers ... im and oldie ..
    love your life !
    hugs !

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  14. Sounds crazy but fun! and you look great even with a burn! S-a-tur-day night! Yes, I remember the Bay City Rollers! :)

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  15. Sounds crazy but fun! and you look great even with a burn! S-a-tur-day night! Yes, I remember the Bay City Rollers! :)

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  17. Hello Vix,

    You are a trooper. Where others fear to tread you March headlong into the thick of it all.

    Your stall looked great and we are pleased that others liked it all well enough to set the cash register ringing. Your preparation came in handy and you maintained a smile throughout. Good for you!

    Wishing you success at your next port of call.....and hot water!

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  18. Crazy weekend indeed. That festival looks utterly bonkers.
    Your outfits must have brightened up a sea of denim and fleece a bit! xxx

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  19. You ARE a trooper! So, I'm assuming you sleep in the same tent you sell from during the day? And (of course) you look gorgeous no matter your condition. You're a walking billboard. And I mean that in a very good way..

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  20. Great photos Vix, glad the sun came out eventually so you could pack away in the dry. Have a good week. xx

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  21. you and jon are the coolest!!!
    that dress from curtise is a stunner - and with the neon bling its extra special marvelous!!!!
    glad you sold some of the gorgeous stuff and had time to enjoy the festival.
    and of cause i know the bay city rollers - they had a gig in the GDR-telly back then and young me was very impressed :-)
    xxxxx

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  22. yep its the season of festivals and bucket bogs ...just what is needed at the moment

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  23. Your pitch always looks fab and I'm surprised people aren't buying the clothes literally off your back - I would've with Friday & Saturday's dresses. x

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  25. Good to know you did well- the festival looks like fun and your pop up looks AMAZING!

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  26. S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y ... Night! Oh yes, my cool older sis listened to the Bay City Rollers when I was a kid in the 70s. My Dad had another name for them: replace "City" with a rhyming but less desirable word! :)

    Looks like you had a grand time! Glad it got warm enough so you could shed your woollies. Xoxo

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  27. What a fab weekend, great pictures and you look as gorgeous as ever Vix thank you for your comments you leave on my blog xxx

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  28. You look like you are in your element at the festivals. I remember the bay city rollers, stripes and platforms?

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  29. P.S. I don't mind being called "love" now, but yes, it used to grate on my nerves! It's waaaay friendlier than the French. :)

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  30. Wow! Loving the whole care-free, vibrant, hippie vibe of the festival!!!
    And you gorgeous woman, you...you wear your maxis so well!!! <3

    P.S.: Can I have your e-mail ID pls?

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  31. Oooh Eric! I'd have been up on that fecking stage! Bay Shitty Rollers as they were known on my estate when I was a nipper with tartan socks on.
    Looks fab... I do like a small scale festie..it's about time I went back to a few. Mind you, you always make me feel the festie joy! Very glad to hear that your risk assessment passed muster and that the Mojitos were on tap..or in bag.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxxxxx

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  32. Always been aware of the bcr & I'm u45!

    X

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  33. yOU DESCRIBE IT SO VIVIDLY THAT i FEEL i AM THERA, YEAS i AM LAUGHING, AHHHHHHHHHHHH
    I would be dead on the first day. we are 22ºc and I feel cold, lol
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  34. yOU DESCRIBE IT SO VIVIDLY THAT i FEEL i AM THERA, YEAS i AM LAUGHING, AHHHHHHHHHHHH
    I would be dead on the first day. we are 22ºc and I feel cold, lol
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  35. Brave lass and good sport, you are, Vix. Rain, cold, sunburn - nothing keeps you down! Looks like you and Jon stayed fabulous as always. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox.

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  36. Wow! You really know how to jam pack your weekends.

    Remember those striped socks with the toes? The BCR wore those. Of course I had a pair! LOL I think they wore them with pants that were too short. Oh the days...Saturday night, Saturday night.

    I know how much work weekend shows are. I can't imagine it camping though. Already I find it hard enough dragging everything around and setting up the booth. You look like seasoned pros though.

    Hope you have a bit of rest during the week so you can be pumped again by the weekend.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  37. How Fab, but you must be exhausted! And ahem, I am 44 and know who The Bay City Rollers are. I am Scottish though, ya know. ;-)
    V
    xxx

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  38. The two of you look very happy, and your outfits are spectacular. No wonder Kinky Melon was a huge hit at the festival. Looks to me like outrageous fun!

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  39. The two of you look very happy, and your outfits are spectacular. No wonder Kinky Melon was a huge hit at the festival. Looks to me like outrageous fun!

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  40. Good to have you back - Bloglandia isn't the same without you! )

    Oh festival days! Setting a tent in a grass, packing, unpacking, days in the sun or in the freezing temperatures (those cold toes), live music, fun people, making some cash... good times! :)

    You and Jon are sooo lovely! Hugs to you both! The man in a pink dress is quite adorable too. xxx

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  41. Oh wow that does look like fun. Looks like a little bit of everything for everyone. Nice shots.

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  42. Yay for festivals. Looks like you had a fab time and great that you got such a prime pitch. We went to Vintage Nostalgia this weekend which was amazing with loads of vintage cars, campervans and caravan, plus vintage stalls and music.

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  43. Yay for festivals. Looks like you had a fab time and great that you got such a prime pitch. We went to Vintage Nostalgia this weekend which was amazing with loads of vintage cars, campervans and caravan, plus vintage stalls and music.

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  44. Looks like a fantastic festival, it must be so much fun to be able to combine your work with play! Here's you have another successful weekend this week. xxx

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  45. This is so my bag! LOVE the Bay City Rollers and can sing along to all of their hits. I am seriously in lust with that purple maxi and with Jon's boom boxes. Indian and hippy clobber is totally my thing and I love a festival like this but I would have a delightful time checking out your stall too. We have a festival like this every summer but I haven't been in a couple of years.
    Thanks for sharing it all, Crispy Vix. I hope you did make some money as well as have a good time!
    xoxo

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  46. Love the blue fake fur jacket & the techno dress - you look fab! And hooray for festival season, we're off to Field Day to see the Pixies on Sunday.

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  47. Welcome back! Bet it feels lovely to get clean. I was thinking of you on Thursday and hoping you wouldn't be soaked all weekend. Sounds like you had the best time and your new friends look fab. Look at the spoon man with his Hawaiian frock. How brilliant. I once went to a fancy dress as a Bay City Roller. Might be time to revisit that look! Look at Jon! They should have a category in the Vintage awards for best Vintage couple. There would be no competition! Xxxxxxx

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  48. Ah you met Chico! I know him from the dancing scene, he always goes to the Hep Cats weekenders that I go to. He's a character isn't he.

    It looks like you had a great weekend, glad to hear that the stall was well received. x

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  49. What fun!!! Beautiful you!!! So glad you managed to make some good sales. The selling of that Hawaiian dress reminds me, my Mum was selling handmAde things at a festival last month and a white bearded man in a pink dress really wanted to buy a punk rose circlet she was selling but it was too small for his head! X

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  50. Good grief! Remember when girls used to dress up just like the BCR? Music festival season is well underway and good on you both for digging your heels in and staying despite the bastard freezing first day and the torrential rain. Being the only vintage sellers there was an absolute godsend!! I adore your new Hawaiian frock-wearing spoons player, I'm sure I've seen him on YouTube. Get some aloe vera on those shoulders pronto! xoxoxoxoxxx

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  51. Welcome back! You've been missed!
    All your photographs look brilliant, I ca tell you've definitely had an amazing time.

    I must get to at least one festival this Summer.

    I love the final image of yourself and Jon xx

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  52. WOW ... what a weekend ... shame about the weather but it looks like you made the best of it.
    The Bay City Rollers ... I do vaguely recall them ... weren't they the One Direction of the seventies?? With a penchant for tartan??
    xx

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  53. Bloody hell! What a wild looking festival! You Brits know how to do it proper like! YAY for doing well, goes to show that many peeps are well over the same old shite everyone else has got! Love the fella with the spoons, he looks a treat in his lovely frock!
    And YOU! Hottest seller of the century, let alone Vintage Personality of the Year! Bloody fox, I'm amazed anyone can stop drooling over you long enough to buy anything!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  54. You brought fire extinguisher to the festival??!!! Amazing -- you really do come prepared!

    Love,
    Masha

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  55. Omg! I saw the Bay City Rollers when I was 13 and Eric was my favorite! What memories... looks like a great festival shoddy weather and all.

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  56. I want to be friend with the man wearing the dress, he looks very cool. I also lost the ability to speak in a sentence and for some reason I keep calling the chimney sweeps lumber jacks!

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  57. Looks like a lot of fun. It was quite unexpected to see Masai people right there. The guy who bought the maxi dress did the right thing - he looks gorgeous in it.

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  58. Damn it Vix. Sometimes I think I'm living in the wrong country. This is just too much fun. Mr. Spoon Vintage Dress Guy. Seriously. Too Much Fun!!!! Now I'm off to go stand behind the khakis at the grocery store. Yawn.....
    BTW. Thank you for the thoughtful comment on my latest post. XXXOOO

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  59. what a fun post! it looks like a blast. The baby in the pic at the end is super cute!!! :-)

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  60. Fantastic event and pictures, the perfect back drop to sell your fun stuff, you look great love the purple dress, had forgotten van Allen existed, used to get my winter coats there they were expensive compared to Chelsea girl. Have fun next weekend. Betty

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  61. Looks utterley fab - and is making me excited for the festivals we're doing later this summer. Any festival that has Morris dancers has to be a good one ;)

    I know who Eric is and I'm under 45 (by 9 months!) - we used to sing about them on the bus to Primary school!!

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  62. Well done having all the proper things done which allowed you to stay. Looked like a great weekend

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  63. Wow that was a bit of a crazy weekend. Great to hear that you didn't have to pack up your pitch, which looked fabulous by the way. You looked most fabulous and happy in the sunshine and I must also say I always love Jon's style.

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  64. Looks like a wonderful time, despite the weather. Must be a lot of work setting everything up and taking it all down, not to mention maintaining it all weekend long.
    S-A-T-U-R-DAY Night! Lol, I thought they'd long fallen comfortably into obscurity.

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  65. What a fab weekend all round and you two must have been the most glamorous couple there by a mile!
    Love that whatever the weather throws at you, you just make the most of it...

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  66. What a bloody good time! the tent with Mr Spoon techno rave man! I would have been there! and of course shopping at Kinky Melon, damn straight! I'm glad your super organised risk assessment paid off and you got gorgeous weather too, I love festival time, love it! I will be living vicariously through you - ps gorgeous pics x x x

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  67. Bay City Rollers, Gosh thats a blast from the past. Looks like you had a great time. And I bet people loved your stall compared to most of the usual stalls you get.

    Recharge your batteries hun and have a great week.

    X x

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  68. Bay City Rollers, Gosh thats a blast from the past. Looks like you had a great time. And I bet people loved your stall compared to most of the usual stalls you get.

    Recharge your batteries hun and have a great week.

    X x

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  69. Brains and beauty running around in those maxi dresses ~ no shutting down Kinky ( she comes prepared).
    Glad the weather brightened up for you near the end.

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  70. Sounds and looks like you had a lot of fun. Also good to hear that kinky did well at the festival. xoxo.

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  71. The Bay City Rollers were huge in Canada too! That man in the pink frock needs a bit of fashion advise from you by the way. Cheers!

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  72. Looks like you had a wild time! Love the old chap with the spoons in your frock, and Eric from Bay City Rollers too. All of life was there, by the look of it! All of your dresses are lovely but I think that Curtise dress has to be the best one of the weekend for me, it's sublime!

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  73. Could the two of you be any more cool and interesting? The answer to that question is 'No, no way'.

    Although it had it's rough points, this sounds like it must have been a real blast. You both looked fantastic throughout. And good for you for being so organized with your safety kit. xoxo

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  74. Us Canadian gals liked the Bay City Rollers too! I always wondered what happened to those boys.

    That is quite a mixed bag of outfits at the festival - lots of good photo ops for sure. See, your corporate background does come in handy - you were probably the only vendor who knew enough to follow the safety regulations. I'm sure your maxi dresses were a bit hit with the other festival fans.

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  75. LOVE your booth set-up. Inspires me, gotta set-up and sell some vintage this weekend. :D

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  76. Glad there was only 1 cold day.

    I love a smaller fest, often full of little gems and not tooooo busy (not to say I don't love Reading/Leeds and so forth too!).

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  77. Wonder if Erik could get Les on the techno spoons..... shang-a-lang.....good luck with the next one!!x

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  78. Looks like you had a great time, despite the shaky start!

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  79. Small world ~ the beautiful girl in the punk skirt in your belly dance pic is a dear friend of mine & the sweet soul thought brought yoga unto my life. Looks like a great weekend & good for you for planning ahead with the paperwork side ~ shows it was worth it

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  80. I'm so late, I hate myself for not jumping right in and telling you how glorious you look in your maxies ... can't pick which I like best!
    Great post, Vix ... what a treat. Your tent/booth is so cool that it should always rock any crowd that is blessed with it!
    We used to have a big Folk-Life festival in Seattle that Dan and I used to enjoy. Not just acoustic, but World Music certainly, and lots of fun and eclectic fashion.
    That's a Bay City Roller now ...???? !!!!! Yikes. I'm so old. They were something, even here.
    So happy to see you kids looking so great!

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  81. 53 & American here & I was mad for the Bay City Rollers!!

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  82. The Bay City Rollers were HUGE in New Zealand! (Actually everywhere probably)

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  83. The Bay City Rollers were HUGE in New Zealand! Showing my age.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix