Tuesday 28 June 2011

Glasto 2011 - Mud, Cider and Banging Tunes

What with dead Tories in toilets, mud galore, acres of trash, a denser population per square mile than Manila and a "violent anti-U2 protest" if you believed the media coverage you'd be forgiven for thinking Glastonbury 2011 was more of a disaster zone than an arts festival.



Don't believe the hype, the last six days have utterly rocked!



My highlight was Morrissey and I was thrilled that he did loads of the old Smiths stuff. Listening to There Is A Light That Never Goes Out in the pouring rain explains the massive grin I've got on my face. Blazing sunshine and The Smiths would have just seemed wrong.



U2 were amazing. I've never been a fan but they won me over (unlike Coldplay, who remain as dull as ditch water). Pendulum, Pulled Apart By Horses and Queens Of The Stone Age delivered the kind of banging hard-edged rock tunes we love. Paul Simon sent me to sleep and Big Audio Dynamite washed over me. I also adored Tinie Tempah and The Wu Tang Clan.



The new Spirit of '71 stage offered some crazy retro psychedelia including Steve Hillage and Nick Turner, who both played back in 1971.



It's brilliant meeting up with the Glasto gang again....




drinking all day...


 and basking in the sunshine....



What's a little mud when you've got wellies and pear cider? Glastonbury is the only festival I know which allows you to take your own booze into the arenas and don't believe any toilet tales either, there were no loo queues throughout the entire festival and that includes the ones by the Pyramid stage after the headliners.



I didn't spot a single celeb but felt a bit like one myself after being stopped by blog readers.


  
I've returned with a suntan, a heap of muddy clothes and a bad back but I've got ten days to recover until we do it all again.


Peace, love and happiness - kinda sums up our week.

105 comments:

  1. wow, this seems like an amazing festival trip! really lovely pics of you :)

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  2. Looks like you've had a wonderful time - whats a bit of mud when you're having fun :)

    I loved Morriseys set - I agree he just wouldn't work in the sunshine.

    Where are you heading next?

    Only 16 days till I get my festival fix :)

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  3. you look lovely as always, and sounds like you had a great time! pear cider is my favorite, yummmmmm......

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  4. p.s. that pic of you with the hat and the cool shadows is gorgeous!!

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  5. Ugh I hate Morrissey AND U2! How cool that you were recognised by blog readers though!!! xx

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  6. Ha ha, I love that it rained for Morrisey! I bet he was awesome. You look lovely as always, much better than I'd fare I think!

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  7. Glad to see you had a great time there!

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  8. Sounds great. Glad the weather wasn't TOO bad for you!! But you're so right - a mac, a van and some booze is festival luxury!!

    I only watched it on the telly, but Morrissey was ace - and I switched off for Coldplay. I met them once before they were famous and thought they were bland as... to be honest, at least fame hasn't changed them! Miaow!

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  9. Aw, I've been looking forward to this post! Glad you had some sunshine but I completely agree with lashing rain for any Smiths track! You look festival fabulous! xxxxx

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  10. Welcome Vixcita!!!
    you look radiant like always amor.
    I know I was watching Morrissey on Friday looking for you and Jon in the crowd. I enjoyed watching Morrissey, I hope to go to his concert here in July.you look like you had a blast, all I kept thinking how is Vixcita doing in that damn mud and rain. love your flower crown and hat, rain plastic spotty coat.
    hugs

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  11. whouuuwhou, such a fabulous party - festival- summer time!!!, and such a delightful thing to be stopped by blog readers, so lovely!!
    I'm glad you enjoy everything, the rain and the sun, the mud and the pear cider!
    besos & fun

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  12. This looks like so much MUCH!!!! You look sexy in that sunshine and content in that rain. Glad you had such a good time. What an adventure! Thanks for sharing pictures!

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  13. wow! such a great environment. good times!

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  14. That picture of you in the straw hat with Jon is GORGEOUS! Sounds like you had a fab time, but I really missed your blog posts so I'm glad your back :-) xx

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  15. Hi my dear-what a totally awesome time you had, nice to see lots of sunshine pics too!! So pleased you had a blast, welcome home too!! xxx

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  16. yay your'e back!!..
    i kept an eye out for you on the telly but didnt spot you!.. i was very jelous when i was watching as we arnt going to any festivals this year so i was so wishing i was there!!
    so glad the weather came good for you.. it looked fantastic on the telly with the sun setting when elbow were playing aww !!



    you'll have to show us all what you wore each day.. and give us your tips on how to last at a festival especially for that length of time you were there.. we only went to V for 3 days and spent an absolute fortune i was gutted when we got back!!

    charl
    x

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  17. Jealous moi? Yes! I watched the tv coverage and it looked fab as ever. I never saw the appeal of coldplay, they really do nothing for me. Queens of the Stone Age had me moving though. Did you see Beyonce? x

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  18. Your contentment with your setting and companions shines on your lovely face. Or maybe it's the booze. Either way, it looks good on you! The festival sounded like great fun.

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  19. Excellent! I've been looking forward to your Glasto post. I had friends texting every now and then and even heard a bit of Beyonce...just..via a phone! I saw a bit on TV and Coldplay were indeed dull, dull, dull. My son loves Tinie Tempah.
    I'm glad the sun shone too.xxxx

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  20. You know, i watched morrissey on the telly and i nearly cried during there is a light that never goes out. i don't know why, that song makes me feel all emotional.

    I thought it looked great fun despite the mud!

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  21. Ah Vix nice to have you back! So pleased you had a stonking time.

    I always wondered if for the long term Glastonbury goers it's all gotten a bit too commercial but you obviously had a great time, so that's good enough for me!

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  22. Wow, looks like you and Jon had a great time. It also looks like the sun came out for you too. I saw Beyonce on TV last nite on Piers Morgan and funny, I didn't think she would be the type of act that would play Galstonbury. Anyway she said she had a blast.

    Enjoy the new pics on your sidebar especially Jimi. One of my fave Hendrix songs is All Along the Watchtower.

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  23. Oh it looks brilliant despite the mud and your pictures look so sunny!

    You really are the queen of festivals. I'm not surprised you got recognised. I'm so glad you had a brilliant time. I watched it on TV and the atmosphere was so good I did wish I was there. Love you xx

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  24. Welcome back! Sounds like you all had a fabulous time. The photos are great and you have a natural way of looking glam even through all that mud! Its nice to hear someone dispell the myths about the loo ques too as thats something thats always put me off lol.
    x

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  25. Cool! I love your striped tights and pink lipstick. And I'm surprised at your musical reviews. Thanks for the fun info.

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  26. Looks amazing - I watched lots of the highlights on TV and wished I was there. I was madly dancing Saturday night after discovering Omar Souleyman on the 'red button'. I'm not at all surprised you were spotted by blog readers with your festival chic!

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  27. The last sentence of this post made sense to me. The rest, I confess, sounded like a foreign language to me. I'm hopelessly old!

    You looked the celebrity, as usual! And after reading your last post, I'm wondering if I can find any of that Lipcote on this side of the ocean????

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  28. Um. Jealous doesn't even cover it. Your pictures are fab, Vix and your outfits even fabber... if that's a word? Erm, no, no it isn't! I totally had to ignore Glastonbury and not read my mates fb updates or twitters due to extreme envy and regret. Still... there's still time for the Wilderness or Big Chill or Bestival – eek! Where are you off to next then?
    I'm off to see Pulp in Hyde Park on Sunday with my very best mates – can't flippin' wait!! X

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  29. I saw the gloopy mud on the first day from a video on the Gazette website but luckily the sun did shine for you after all!

    I was at a car booty on the Sunday and it was sweltering hot! We only managed to get half way around the outside bit before giving up and retreating into the indoor bit.. I can't imagine sitting out in it all day long like you did!

    You look great in everything you were wearing.. a vision on sunshine and happiness without the use of narcotics! I love that picture of you in the sun hat!

    You're our celebrity Vix! xxx

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  30. Oh and we were sat in mums back garden on the Sunday night and we could hear the festival even from 7 miles away! xxx

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  31. Glad you had fun! Love the style of your photos :)

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  32. Hi Vix, fab post and pics. Oooh, seeing Morrissey (amongst others) at the Hop Farm Fest - I cannae wait!

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  33. My biggest pangs of jealousy were felt during Morrissey's set. Only in Britain could you have photographs taken days apart with such different weather. Your pictures sum up the vibe perfectly, so glad you enjoyed yourselves. Lucy x

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  34. Welcome back!!! :) Looks like you had a great time!!!

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  35. Vicki it looks like you had a fantastic time and so much fun.
    XXX

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  36. I've been waiting excitedly for your Glasto post! I get sick of reading the same coverage over and over..I wanted a true perspective! xo

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  37. Love stripy socks. And the spotty mac.

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  38. So glad to hear you had a wonderful Glastonbury! I never believe what the media have to say, though that mud did look pretty intense, which will more than likely make it all the more memorable.

    I adore your stripy socks, and flower garland, so very pretty Vix. The pink lippy looks fabulous too xxx

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  39. Looks awesome. I love music festivals but never yet made Glastonbury.. your comments make it much more likely that I will. You looked fab, will draw fashion inspiration for my trip to Latitude. Flower garlands rock & I love that it rained for Morrisey - naturally!! xxx

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  40. Welcome back my lovely! I'd have loved to have checked out the Spirit of '71 stage. Your floral head piece is perfection! xxx

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  41. so glad you had fun in the sun....you look sooo pretty in the pictures.....happy festival daze!!!x

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  42. Looks fantastic! Coldplay were on last time I went to Glastonbury and I lasted about four songs.

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  43. Welcome back - the photos are fab! How on earth did you survive 6 days living out of that tiny suitcase yet have all those amazing clothes? Is the suitcase any relation to Mary Poppins' handbag?;)

    I completely surprised myself by being blown away by Beyonce's set - she was on for the duration of my dishwasher cycle so it had to be 90 minutes or so. I was surprised my dad didn't watch her - he's 79 and was raving about Kool & The Gang!

    QOTSA looked good and I've seen bits of the rest (but tut tut, I didn't watch Morrissey - will catch what I can on iplayer). As for Coldplay... I taught the kids to call them Cowpat last time they played there :)xx

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  44. I'm so, so, SO jealous! I can't ever go to Glastonbury unless I either ring in sick or my school gives us the weekend off! Watched a bit on telly, and it looked good. Looking at your photos has made me want to go to a festival right now! You are a bit of a celeb - I bet it was funny being recognised! I had it at a West German pottery exhibition recently, and did feel very odd. Glad you enjoyed it so much, but good to have you back too! Emma :)

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  45. I was just thinking I should do a festival at some point, this one looks like the place to be! Love that Smiths song too, my friend and I used to sing it to each other. Glad you had fun despite the weather! :)

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  46. I was one of the readers that approached you!! I think I may have grabbed your arm early on Wednesday as you passed me so apologies for that!

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  47. Welcome back Vix! We had the coverage on six music all weekend - it sounded amazing!

    My favourite performance of 'There is a light' was seeing Morrissey in the Royal Albert Hall, a few years ago now. The acoustics in there gave it a slightly euphoric feel. Amazing

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  48. Fantastic, you look so chilled out. Would have loved to go, but the tickets are way out of my price range x

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  49. @Polly - Were you the gorgeous girl down by Cubehenge? Thanks for saying hello! Hope you enjoyed Glasto as much as I did. xxx

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  50. Love love love this post! I managed to grab bits of it on the TV and it looked amazing. As ever x

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  51. Oh, I am so envious you got to attend this spectacular event! And see MORRISSEY. I die. Whenever he comes to my town, he never plays the old Smiths songs (well, except, How Soon is Now, of course). Sigh.

    You look so boho chic and relaxed and happy. I want your life. ;)

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  52. Your are amazing. Your blog is amazing! Thrilled to have found you. Please take me next time! ;) xo Samantha

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  53. Vix I was on constant look out for you all weekend! Maybe see you in 2013?

    I agree, it was such a fab weekend; even the rain didn't dull our spirits!

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  54. Looks like you had a brilliant time, I was so looking forward to this post and seeing all your wonderful pictures. You look fab in every one of them, even looking glam in the rain:D xxx

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  55. Fabulous photos of you and Jon looking very happy admist all the other festival goers. I agree about Coldplay (yawn); however The Wu Tang Clan would have definately got me onto my feet and I think that the Spirit of '71 stage would have been the main attraction for me especially with those two playing.

    P.S. Loved your comment about 'Emanuelle'; I'll have to check it out again for the chair shots!

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  56. Looks like you had a great time Vix.

    Your the only person I know that can still look glam even covered in mud!! Get you.

    Great to have you back mind!

    X x

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  57. yes... the media is always doom and gloom. whereas your tales prove it was all... groove and bloom :-) haha

    Glad you had a great time!

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  58. fab pictures looks like you all had super time,I have heard some complete horror stories about the loos this year being the worst ever, maybe they were just unlucky with their choice of portaloo! x

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  59. Great pics! Looks like you had a Great time!

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  60. I kept looking out for you on the telly!! I did laugh (I know so wrong) about dead Tory in the toilet - how bizarre was that!

    So glad you had fabulous time. I like Pendulum too. Coldplay looked good on tv and glad you were converted to U2 - they are a great live band.
    Did you see Beyonce??xx

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  61. Ha, I love that so many of your readers feel the same way about Coldplay as you do. I mean, seriously, who on earth buys that turgid drivel! I saw QOTSA on TV after Beyonce whom, strangely enough for me, I really enjoyed. As Lauren Laverne asked "Is it OK to like both?"

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  62. OH! It looks like you had a blast! You look gorgeous in your pics Vix!

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  63. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HOME!!!!
    I've missed you.
    Pleased you had an awesome time,though!!! You looked heavenly throughout!! Yay for tans and fab music and lots of boozing!!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    Love you to BITS!
    Helga

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  64. So jealous of your amazing trip. Wu-Tang! Awesome! We got tickets to see them in August as our wedding present :) that's pretty cool you got stopped by blog readers xxx

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  65. woo! So glad to have you back vix and so glad the necklace arrived safely!

    So jealous you saw Morrissey-I've recently discovered the smiths (I know, right-where have I been!?!) and Pulled Apart By Horses are amazing, Adrian's band supported them on one of their tours last year and they blew the roof off the venue, fantastic live band!

    Glad you had a wonderful time-no wonder you got stopped, you look so glam in your pics! Love it :)

    Much love Amie xxxxxxx

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  66. Aaah, the Queen of Festivals is back. I bet you had a great time (I'll take your words and pics as proof) and I said to Sarah - who cannot wait to go - that when she's at Glastonbury she needs to find you!
    xxx

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  67. Glad you had a great time! Great photos xxx

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  68. Wow, I have heard stories about the mud at Glasto! Sounds like you still had a fantastic time, though :-) However did you cope out in the boiling sun all of Sunday, though? It was outrageously hot!

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  69. You are the coolest celeb I know!
    I love U2 and too bad Paul was a snoozer :(
    I too dig "Queens" and you always look like you had soooo much fun!
    Love the photo of the hat where it is beaming spots on your beautiful face!
    xXx
    Reva

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  70. With each new glasto headline I thought of you! You trooper! Looks like you had a grand old time. I went to Glasto once when it was horrifically wet and muddy and was traumatized. I would have loved to see U2 but not even being a dyed in the wool U2 fan was enough to tempt me back!

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  71. Looks like a great time! I can't get over the dead Tory!

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  72. Hooray for Vix!! Glasto would have been nothing without you - I'm not surprised you had readers recognising you in your amazing outfits and head piece. You look so gorgeous, even in the pouring rain you look incredibly happy - so glad the sun shone for you - happy days indeed!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

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  73. Such an extraordinarie and uplifting event. Enjoying friends, love, alcohol, mudd, inner hapiness, freaking good new and old music and the beauty of a mass experience that is so closely personal at the same time. Amazing!!!

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  74. Oh Vix, it looks like you had an amazing time, as usual! I love the outfit with the bright big spots and pink and orange socks - what a total babe you are. So glad you had fun despite the mud (Isn't that part of the fun?!!). What is the next festival that you're off to?
    Xooxoxoxoxox

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  75. oh your blog is fantastic!!!! I want to be at this festival or concert..whatever it is. Looks like so much fun!!love your blog.. following .

    xo
    francesca
    http://www.frankvinyl.com

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  76. Vix - thanks for fab pics - you look AMAZING! I love you in the chartreuse/purple frock but my fave is the psychedelic mini with the socks! You look AMAZING in everything - and your Jon is such a spunkybum!

    Two years and counting and I'll be there! YAY!

    Sarah xxx

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  77. "Listening to There Is A Light That Never Goes Out in the pouring rain"
    ahhh sounds like heaven <3 so glad that you had a brilliant time, you looked amazing as usual xoxo

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  78. Love it ! Thanks for sharing your fun with us all :0) xx Glastonbury is on my 'bucket list' so who knows, one day I might get there ! Fantastic picture if you in the spotty dress and bright socks, you look simply divine xxx

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  79. So glad you had a fantastic time, the photo of you in your sunhat is so beautiful. Next year I'll try to do our campout a different week to Glastonbury so you can join us xxxx

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  80. Welcome back. Love the photo of you in the raincoat...and in the hat with the sun shining through. You ARE a celebrity.

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  81. Glad to see and hear you had a wonderful time it was great looking at your photo's. Sorry to hear your back is bad hope it rights it self soon. Take care, dee xx

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  82. See that's the thing! You are a celebrity!!

    Love all the pics hon! welcome back, the wait is always worth it! What a fun time you had but of course! You look gorgeous and relaxed and I love all your outfits but most of all the "basking in the sunshine" ensemble!

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  83. Looks like you had a fantastic time! Love your floral headband :)

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  84. You look so happy Vix, I'm glad you had a brilliant time. When I saw all the rain pictures I thought 'ooh, glad I'm not in a tent in that' but you don't look phased. And you are right, listening to Morrissey in the rain DOES make more sense ;) xx

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  85. Great to have you back Vix! You sound and look as though you had a brilliant time, glamorous as always, and of course people would recognise you - you ARE a celeb!

    Hope the piles of washing have been sorted...

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  86. Gorgeous!! I'd expect people would be stopping to admire you regardless of whether they recognised you or not. are you up for a chat on Friday morning (your time)?

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  87. This sounds and looks so amazing - I love many of the bands you wrote about, I want to go to a festival right now!:)

    Pop Culture&Fashion Magic

    Alice&Sara

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  88. Vix, you're back! Hurrah! Blogland always seems so lacking in vintage sparkle when you're not here.

    Love, love, love the fact that bloggers kept recognising you at Glasto! Who did you meet there?

    You look so beautiful and happy in all of these photos. Festivals are clearly your natural element.

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  89. Hi Vix, I dont know about gorgeous but yes, I saw you by stonehenge, stopped you and said 'I love your blog' and then got all shy and ran off while I just heard you and John chuckling behind me!

    Yes I had an absolute ball despite the rain - Primal Screm blew my mind and you might be proud to know that just as the Chemical Brothers started, the lazers came on and the whole crowd fell silent so I screamed 'F**k you Coldplay' at the top of my voice and the whole crowd cheered!! xx

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  90. Stonehenge? This is what happens after 6 days at Glasto, a birthday party that finished at 5am this morning and a 9am start at work!

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  91. I'm made up you had a fab time! Your pics are so great. I love camping beyond all reason, there's just something about falling out of the door to your tent in the morning and being in fresh air that just makes me smile! Em xx

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  92. Sounds like you had a great time, with a bit of all weathers thrown in :)

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  93. You are like official Ms Glastonbury :) Looking fab even in mud. Good that you had great time.

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  94. Vix looks like you had a fabulous time and such great photos. xx

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  95. Hello everyone! What a welcome back, I'm blown away with all your comments!

    Polly - I am so proud of you. Can't wait to see the Chemical Brothers at The Big Chill. x

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  96. Fabulous pics - looks out of this world. Must get round to watching the Moz footage. xx

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  97. You always look your most gorgeous in festival photos. It's obviously your spiritual and fashionable home! x

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  98. You have some amazing outfits and it sounds like you had a blast! Can I ask,were those striped rainbow socks or tights you were wearing in the spotty rain-mac shot with wellies? If so, where did you get them from please? They're great!

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  99. Welcome home!! Looks like you had a fab time, and every kid of weather! xoxo

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  100. I worship Morrissey. Seriously. He is my God.

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  101. I watched Morrissey's Glastonbury set on BBC4 and wished I was there! We saw him in Inverness the previous Friday (my zillionth time seeing him live!) and he was fab. He seemed grumpy at Glasto, but was dead chatty in Inverness. Love that man.

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  102. I wasn't at glasto but Morrissey was the best act there by far! Looks like you had a blast!

    Julia @ Retro Jules

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  103. Awwwww vix! You should do the festivals coverage. Someone sponsor this lady now!! You make me want to have been there, even more than i did at the time.
    Have to confess, i only really sat down to watch Morrisey, and of course Two Door Cinema club as they're local lads. But i did give a great big grin for you when i heard the sun had hit glasto...Yay.
    Gorgeous pics by the way. That straw hat image with jon is beautiful
    xxx

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  104. Looked like loads of fun.Love all your outfits and cool socks.Loved your rain jacket.to cute.xxx

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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