Monday 6 August 2012

Rock On!


What a weekend! Our first time at the Y Not Festival but definitely not our last. 


A back-to-basics grassroots festival for real music lovers with four stages, each offering eleven hours of live music and the organisers were awarded winners of 2011's Cleanest Festival Toilet Awards!


Y Not is refreshingly free of the things that manage to piss us off about other festivals. No corporate sponsorship, no VIP areas, no Champagne bars & hair straightening stands, very few logo-emblazoned designer wellies & no people barging you out of the way to film the bands on their poncy mobile phones or posh kids called Tarquin & Saffron being allowed to run amok over your picnic blanket by their over-indulgent, dim-witted parents. Heaven.

Reverend & The Makers never fail to get me dancing.

The folk in the mosh pit know the words of every song and are far more interested in getting down to some serious dancing than calling their mates or updating their status on Facebook/Twitter.


The campervan field had glorious views of the Peak District complete with traditional dry stone walls and grazing cows.

Hand-printed 70s maxi (courtesy of Sarah) worn with Poundland socks, turban-style headband (50p, Peacocks 2010), Frida pendant (made by Tamera) and purple & stud bangles (made by Krista)

Occasionally the sunshine was warm enough to bask in,


but we enjoyed a fair bit of torrential rain, too,


which resulted in a veritable mud bath,



Not that it bothered us. This is England, we're used to it.



How do we do it? Easy, we drink slowly and steadily from 10am in the morning until bedtime, it sure helps you see the funny side of being constantly covered in mud.


Festival fashion? My advice, avoid it like the plague and be you, not a weak imitation of a magazine feature. Denim cut-offs can look great but on 500 other women combined with the same tartan shirt/animal print blouse, aviator/Wayfarer sunglasses, neon/floral print satchel and khaki army jacket it's like a bloody uniform. 

Sportoville catsuit (Second To None Period Clothing Emporium, Walsall), feather headband (jumble sale)

Playing havoc with the art installations.


Supermarket own-brand ready mixed Gin & Tonic and Vodka & Cranberry juice, 21st Century miracles.

Fake fur jacket (£5, car boot sale), 1970s high-heeled wellies (Liz found at a jumble sale), Marks & Spencer Kingfisher opaque tights (sale bucket), 1960s vinyl bag (the pink-haired Clare)

My Komodo jacket is my fave festival coat ever - warm, lightweight, ethically-made and with built-in beer mittens.


No access to hot water or a decent-sized mirror for over three days? Pah! So what? Stick on a few bindis and a Sassy Vamps head band and no-one cares. Life's too short to worry about looking normal.


We spent a whopping £4 all weekend - Jon's Kangol beret was £3 from a vintage stall,


 and my appallingly trashy pole dancer platforms were £1 from the Arthritis charity stall. 

Silver maxi dress (Courtesy of Curtise) worn with a Krista-licious pendant

Favourite acts? Reverend and The Makers, Jake Bugg, Roots Manuva, The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats, King Charles, The Subways, Hadouken! and GhostPoet.


The birthday boy!

Roots Manuva set 

Less than four weeks until The End Of The Road Festival...I can't bloody wait!!
I'm off to do battle with a bagful of mud-encrusted clothes then I think we'll reward ourselves with a takeaway.
See you soon.

84 comments:

  1. Good for you Vix rocking the mudbath in style! And at least those bargain stripper shoes are wipe clean as well! he he ;) x

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  2. Looks like you had a real great time! And sounds like a really free from all the usual trappings festival too!

    I loved your stripy socks too cool and I like the sounds of built in beer mitts on a jacket a must have I reckon! lol.

    I have just only discovered King Charles but love his album and I love the Wombats too. Sounds a really ace weekend! You guys looked like you had a blast!


    P x

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  3. Excellent! No one doses a festival quite like you! Looks like the business..proper back to basics like the festies of yore!
    God, I love Reverend and the Makers...bloody brill.
    xxxxx

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  4. it sounds as a genuine festival would be, with all the people just enjoying the music!.
    And I think you are fabulous, indeed!
    Love your striped socks and Jon's beret!
    besos & music

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  5. I haven't been to a festival since 2004!

    I'm with you on everything that makes them a clone of each other (apart from the live music, of course!).

    I love that these smaller festivals exist and I hope I'll be able to get to a few next year.

    As usual, great photos and fab attire! x

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  6. What kind of festivals have hair straighteners ha ha ha! Great motto 'stick on a few bindis' brilliant! You always have the best times when you arent caring what you look like, a bit of mud never did anyone any harm! Glad you both had a fab time xx

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  7. What kind of festivals have hair straighteners ha ha ha! Great motto 'stick on a few bindis' brilliant! You always have the best times when you arent caring what you look like, a bit of mud never did anyone any harm! Glad you both had a fab time xx

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  8. Sounds like a great festival - especially the lack of Boden clan brats ;) Line up looks good too - loving Jake Bugg & King Charles at the moment.

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  9. You do make me laugh, Vix! Love your comment about posh kids!! Sounds like a good weekend was had, despite the dreadful weather xx

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  10. Have to say you have guts Lady Vix!
    I would not be able to do this!
    Good for you!
    Arianexxxx

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  11. No one can rock a festival like you can Vix! I love the comment about sticking on the bindis and Jon looks quite continental with a beret.

    xo, Bonnie

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  12. Looks like a great festival. I love Roots Manuva x

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  13. Looks like a seriously great time!

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  14. What a blast, you must be shattered though, I would chill back with a take-away and some vino for sure.
    V
    xxx

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  15. Looks like you and Jon had a blast. You certainly do muddy festival style beautifully.

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  16. Looks like you and Jon had a blast. You certainly do muddy festival style beautifully.

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  17. This festival looks great Vix, I like a lot of the bands you mentioned and it's so wonderfully refreshing to see people (i.e. you) writing about more 'boutique' festivals that shun corporate sponsorship and general twattiness!!

    And you look gorge as always my dear!

    L xx

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  18. Vix, looks like you had a blast, I love your outfits as always!

    I hope Jon had a fab bday!

    And I loved Reverend and The Makers The Pigeon Detectives and The Wombats way back in 2007. And I saw the pigeon detectives at a festival too!!

    xo

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  19. Sigh..we have nothing cool like that anywear near me.....Unless you like bluegrass music.
    I am DYING over the stripper shoes!!! Perfect for mud because--they are plastic and washable. But I'll bet those 6" stilletto heels were MURDER to manouvre in the mud!!

    You looked fabulous and I'm excited Frida got to go to her first festival!!

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  20. O how I remember seeing The Subways once supporting Razorlight - they were pretty good. You certainly know how to rock your fashion even at a festival with a load of mud. But then what would be an English festival without mud?!

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  21. Happy birthday to Jon. He looks oo-la-la in that beret. And your stripper shoes never had such a good time than they did with your striped socks. What a fun time. Great attitude and great style. I wonder if the cows produced more milk or less from being so close to the festival? I suspect more!

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  22. I love your description of boring topshop and topman fesitval hipsters! You always look amazing at festivals and those stripper shoes are something special! xxx

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  23. Wow, looks like a very amazing time you had there! You are so unique in your clothes -- and always so lovely -- there is no danger of being just one of the crowd! How inspiring! Have fun getting settled back in and gearing up for the next one!

    xx
    Lynn

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  24. No hair straightening stand!!! I'll cross that off my list then LOL. It had never crossed my mind that you could get your hair straightened at a festival - whatever next!

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  25. good lord i sound like a broken record but my goodness you inspire me. i feel so fortunate to have found your blog at my age. i think i may have been tempted to start aging gracefully but not anymore. we will be seeing jack white friday and saturday night in los angeles and i cannot wait. i'm vixing (get it?!) my bootleg concert t's from his last show. i hope i do you proud! xoxo

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  26. What fun! It sounds great. The last time I went to a festival I was 18 and it was global gathering, it was great but I would love to go to another festival and get muddy. Love your hooker shoes lol. Xx

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  27. This sounds like such a great festival... not an imitation event. Jon and you look totally yourselves (as you always do!) and I'm in awe of your methods of 'keeping the spirits high'! xxx

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  28. You stand out beautifully in every crowd. Dancing and celebrating Jon's birthday in style! Love the names of your favorite acts.

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  29. Looks like fun- I'm so sick of big corporate festivals, much better to get back to basics!

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  30. I would definitely stalk you at a festival Vix. :) Would love to see the outfits each day. Although those shoes look a bit dangerous on the mud!
    LOVE the bindis, and jealous you got to bopp to The Wombats.
    xx

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  31. Amor,
    You look gorgeous in the mud!
    That's what I love about you your so fabously hardcore.
    Thank God for sassy vamps and puta eyeshadow.
    Oooo so envious of your prosti stripper heels!
    Besonones

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  32. Sounds like the perfect festival - I love escaping reality and leaving my phone and the real world behind! What a fab way to celebrate Jon's birthday, you two always look like you're having the most fun! x

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  33. This looks awesome. Can't believe you only spent £4 the whole weekend. I love places that let you take your own booze and hate bag checks/confiscations. xx

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  34. OMFG! Those shoes are just sluttishly delicious! Love, love, love them! The whole festival sounds amazing!

    As for the feral posh kids, they were following me around and making my life a misery, kept pondering the thought of arranging for some kind of Chitty Bang Bang child catcher to wizz them of to a school for undisciplined!

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  35. Vix darling, you are made of stronger stuff than I! I couldn't have lasted three days with no hot water and all that mud; call me a wuss! You and Jon look like you are having a wonderful time despite the weather. I love the photo of Jon as the "Man in Black", and your faux fur coat is sooo cool, especially with "beer mitts".

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  36. What a life huh, kombis, music festivals and vintage clothes. You look like you had a wonderful time, and looked fablolous doing it. X

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  37. Yay, a festival post! As always you look wonderful. The 'anti festival' paragraph is so well written, concise, and on the money. Hair straightening stands - wtf!! This illustrates why you have so many loyal followers. You're totally unique and you don't stand for any pretentious BS!

    PS. I LOVE those Poundland socks!!

    xxxx

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  38. What a great post Vix. That could have been me talking (that list of things that piss you off) although I've never been to a festival. Your clobber is totally unique and there is no way you'd blend in with the festival fashionista's. Looks like you had a brilliant time. Did I tell you I bought some Poundland socks after seeing yours?

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  39. Sounds like you had an ace time, and the pics are amazing. Love your socks - do you remember the mania for everything rainbow at the end of the 70s? Pretty much all my clothes looked like your socks LOL!

    Hairstraightening stands? As my daughter would say - ffs! xxx

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  40. Oh Vix, mud mud glorious mud!!!!!
    What fun, I love that you still look so fabulous and happy, even if it is pouring down.
    Jon's new vintage beret looks great. Perfect birthday present.
    The park of campers makes me whimper we still have not found our Gilbert. Eeeekkkk going to be homeless soon.
    Happy washing day!!!!
    Love v

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  41. Vix you are the undisputed Queen of Festivals.... still looking glam despite the mud! Looks like a blast and good birthday weekend for Jon :-)

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  42. This looks like SO MUCH fun!! Even with the mud and rain. *lol* I adore all your festival wear.

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  43. Stripper heels, all kinds of awesome! I've seem them on traniegear.com that light up when you walk. Love the cows in the background. Never heard of any of the bands, I'm so out of touch with music.

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  44. Farkin' rock on indeed!!!
    You looked glorious throughout! Funnily enough,I can go for days without looking in a mirror....
    Now,I am bloody amused at thsoe amazingly fabulous pole dancer shoes coming from the ARTHRITIS charity stall!!! BAHAHA! I'm also amused by your coat having built in beer mittens! How thoughtful!
    This festival sounds like I would like it,for all the reasons you stated!I haven't been to a music fest in years.....I just can't be arsed with crowds usually!I did enjoy the food fest we went to earlier in the year though.
    That red and white combi is to die for cute!
    Trashy hurrahs all round!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  45. You and Jon sure know how to have a good time! The birthday boy is looking cool as ever, and you have festival chic down pat. No identikit uniform for you, love, you are always dressed in your inimitable style but manage to be practical at the same time - that's some skill!
    Love all the pics of you and Jon looking so happy (euphemism for pissed!)
    It does sound like the perfect festival for you, I chuckled at your trenchant views of some other festivals! Shame about the rain, but we all know British summers by now...
    Hope the washing machine is working hard and you've enjoyed your takeaway. Xxxx

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  46. Wow, looks and sounds like had an amazing time. So glad Jon has a good birthday too.

    X x

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  47. Wow it seems like you had the most amazing time ever at what might be just the best festival out there! Amazing style choices too - you can do it all you two)

    >'."<

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  48. Wow, looks like one fab Festival - mud included! And of course we all know your next blog post will have a "tutorial" on how to pole dance with said shoes!!! he he he *nudge nudge, wink wink*

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  49. You make mud and rain sound like so much fun. I love how you accept what is thrown at you and just work with it. People could learn alot from you Vix!! My favourite photo is a close up one of you and Jon, all smiles, matching lippy and headband of flowers, and colourful bindis!! ♥ Who needs a mirror??

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  50. Vix you are one of the coolest people I know, and it's so cool that you're going to The End of the Road Festival, I've always wanted to go. Reverend & The Makers are awesome, looks like you had a brilliant time, especially with all the acts you, love The Pigeon Detectives and Hadouken! xxx

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  51. You've captured the feel of the event so nicelly Vix. And you look like a festi-goddess!

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  52. You make me happy for so many reasons but I think it's the way you live that I admire most! I love that you and Jon live for today and really make the most of your time together. All the mud, your colorful clothes, flowers, bindis, must have brought big smiles to everyone who saw you. You have me smiling at the free and beautiful spirit you are! I can't wait to spend time with you my dear, it's nearly here and I am so so so looking forward to it! I love you baby girl!!!
    Xxxxxxxx

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  53. Oh man, I LOOOOVE your festival posts! Every single outfit is KILLER - the jumpsuit in boots is my have! - the birthday boy is as big a spunk as ever - and I love the irony of buying the stripper shoes from the Arthritis charity - HA!! You are so beautiful - I LOVE that fab blue eyeshadow (Barry M?) and hot pink lippy and of course, the fabularsehole Sassy floral headpiece! Love you more than Pigeon Detectives! Sarah xxx

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  54. Oh man, I LOOOOVE your festival posts! Every single outfit is KILLER - the jumpsuit in boots is my have! - the birthday boy is as big a spunk as ever - and I love the irony of buying the stripper shoes from the Arthritis charity - HA!! You are so beautiful - I LOVE that fab blue eyeshadow (Barry M?) and hot pink lippy and of course, the fabularsehole Sassy floral headpiece! Love you more than Pigeon Detectives! Sarah xxx

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  55. Aww, this post brings me sweet memories from my childhood. I swear my mom used to have that same clear polka-dot raincoat!! I used to love playing dress up in it along with Mom's clear umbrella :)
    xx
    maya

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  56. Perhaps someone should start a UK festival called 'MudFest.'

    You guys are the perfect example of living in the moment and enjoying every second. I hear ya, sister, on the morons spend their lives on their phones talking and texting -- instead of living their lives they are talking about a life they aren't actually living.

    Happy Birthday to Jon, I'm glad that he got to use clean toilets on his birthday.

    That butterfly sculpture is rather phallic, is it not? It seems that you thought so as well.

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  57. You look fab even when covered in mud. I love Jon's Kangol beret and your shoes. I have a thing for stripper shoes.

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  58. You've almost convinced me that I do want to go to a festival after all. It sounds pretty fun! I love seeing all your outfits too. I suppose it's not a proper British festival unless it rains...

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  59. I always love your festival posts!

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  60. Aww...looks like you guys had such a blast! I love all the bindi's - they look really great. I can see from the pictures you high heeled rain boots are being put to good use.

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  61. You look gorgeous! You're very beautiful couple.

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  62. I love your festival reportages and you and Jon are my favorite rockstars!
    I'm always in love with all your outfits, the fur jacket and the playsuit are amazing and so the hand printed maxis!
    The turban-like headband is lovely and you are beautiful with it !
    The bindi make up too is fabulous..what else can I say I'm enthusiastic like a screaming fan girl!!!
    Lots of love

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  63. Oh how I have missed reading your blog...my pc died on me yet again! *yawn* and as ever you are looking so glam even with all that mud, looks like you had a fantastic time too... and as they say Y NOT! loving it xxx

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  64. Oh! It (and you) looks great! (except the fact that you have to pee in strange circumstances).

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  65. You gotta love a festival with a clean toilet award! Looks like an ideal summer getaway, esp if leaving Tarquin and Saffron to posher affairs! Oh and the stripper heels are beyond fabulous.

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  66. Looks like you had a great time! Reverend and the Makers are always a great band to see live and I'm jealous that you got to see Jake Bugg! x

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  67. Mud, mud, glorious mud
    Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
    So follow me follow, down to the hollow
    And there let me wallow in glorious mud ;-)) Looks like you had a ball you both are such lovely and grounded people its like a freshing tonic ;-)) Good luck with the washing ;-) dee xxx

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  68. Thanks for the great photos. It was like being there with you. I can't believe those plastic see-through platforms! Zowser!!

    Cheers,
    Rosemary from www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com

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  69. It looks amazing, Vix! Sounds like a fab time xx

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  70. You look like you had a ball! Brilliant! Your wellies are VERY muddy!

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  71. I know all about drinking all day!! That's what festivals are for!!

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  72. Vix, I have to tell you I live vicariously through you and Jon! You see my idea of camping has A/C and room service, so festivals are completely on the "no, not ever" list! But you make it look so fun that I'm tempted (only to be bitching the whole time I'm sure - where do I plug in my iPhone? haha!) It was Jon's bday? Wish him a happy from me! Love these posts and so happy you had a grand time!
    XXX Suzanne

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  73. I had never even heard of this festival before but if it got the cleanest toilets award then definitely sounds good to me. Camp Bestival was great for us but there were plenty of Tarquins and Saffrons around not to mention the dim witted parents.

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  74. Ha you had me giggling!! Love that regardless of weather good time is had by all!! Looks like a great festival love your bindi's and wellies....a few months ago I had a bindi on and Anna thought there was something wrong with my forehead hehehe she had not seen one before lol!! Wow the place where you camped looked fantastic!! Is it possible your having to much fun??? Life is short Y NOT right!! :D ~So glad your enjoying your summer great pictures Love Heather

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  75. Thanks for the advice re: tents, not sure I can cope with the idea of two muddy kids in one as well, but softly softly! I did laugh at your stripper shoes and stripey socks - classic!
    xx

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  76. Aw - Happy Birthday to Jon - looks like you are having a whale of a time!

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  77. They sound like my type of festivals! As I get older I like more relaxed festivals. Looks like you guys had a ball! xx

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  78. Ok 3 things I NEED here: colorful bindis, Sassy Vamps headband (been wanting!), & another pair of clear platform pole shoes :) (with socks of course!)

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  79. festivals are the greatest :)

    I literally laughed out loud over your posh kids run amok statement. There is a plague of those in the US

    http://shaktidove.blogspot.com/

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  80. Awwwwwww it's so lovely to see the pink headband gadding about in the festival funnage:))))). I'm in LOVE with your perspex shooooooz and I say "feck off" to festival fashion - pfffftt!! People should be looking to YOU for inspiration my lovely, why you even show up the punters by sparkling in the rain!!! xoxoxoxoxoox

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  81. so glad to be back today to see my best blogs. your pink floral headband looks really adorable and so do the accessories around your eyebrows.

    the sleeveless denim jacket too and the red and gold headband looks adorable.

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  82. your posts with Jon always make me mushy, it's so nice to see how well you two bounce of each other! This post really made me smile:)

    I love the tarty transparent heels, I would've picked them up too!

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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