Monday 19 August 2013

We've Gone Green, Man!




Oh yes, it's Vix & Jon at yet another festival.


A photo-heavy post featuring unwashed, dishevelled folk, having the time of their lives.






This time we were revellers rather than sellers so an entire four days of uninterrupted 14-hour drinking sessions, crazy dancing, listening to the best in Indie, psychedelia and folk music whilst absorbing the magic of the Black Mountains.


The Green Man Festival, the pride of Wales.


 Surely the most gorgeous location in the UK. 


And only one afternoon of rain!


Check out those ominous clouds coming in from the mountains.


 Here's the entrance from live-in vehicle camping to the main festival site. 


The obligatory self-portrait.


Sunshine, cider, sounds...Summer doesn't get much better.


Highlights? John Cale, Patti Smith, Kings Of Convenience, Edwin Collins, Half Moon Rising, an audience with the legendary Julian Cope. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Ben Howard, too (although it could have been the gin's influence).


Loved the outdoor drum'n'bass disco (as you can probably tell).


It wasn't all hedonism, mind you. We managed a four mile ramble along the banks of the River Usk


Dressed in our usual rambling attire.


And spent a wonderful afternoon in nearby Crickhowell.


 Explored the town's charity shops (Jon found himself a vintage jacket to die for).


 And ate chips in the shadow of the castle (built in 1121).


In hindsight maybe an eight-mile walk with an arthritic hip wasn't the greatest idea but after a can of gin and tonic and a couple of ibuprofen I was ready for Saturday night.


It didn't half get cold after sunset. Thank goodness for the festival camp fire (and the 1970s Indian quilted block-printed jacket I snaffled from a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago).



The Green Man is ritually burnt at Midnight followed by a spectacular firework display. 


What a weekend! I can't wait to go back. 


I've a billion blogs to read, a mountain of washing to tackle and another festival to prepare for but sod that..there's a dial-a-pizza on the way and a couple of cats in need of a cuddle in front of the TV.

See you soon!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday - a day late.

72 comments:

  1. Amazing pictures! I'm glad you had such a good time. Your outfit with the brown leather waistcoat is my favourite, suits you so well! xxx

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  2. Gorgeous photo's looks like you had a ball it always helps when the sun comes out and stays out. Enjoy your pizza and your cuddle with the cats and rest up that hip. hugs, dee xxx

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  3. Wow--what an amazing time you had!! The scenery is GORGEOUS!!
    I love your rambling outfit--the most stylish hiker in Wales!!

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  4. What a beautiful country we live in gems like this location say it all , glad u had a good time xxx

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  5. Amazing Place and festival!
    Cuddle the Cats and enjoy the pizza ....
    Xxx

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  6. Green Man is one festival I have always wanted to go to, but never have. It looks as fabulous as I expected it would. I love your rambling attire, far more stylish than my kit, lol. Xx

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  7. You make me want to go to these things more than any PR could do. It looks amazing. Is that a bridge with grass on it? I love the pics of you and Jon at the outdoor disco! So much fun! Is that the jacket he is wearing with the collar up? If so, it is to die for.

    I love the fact that your puss-cat is sat behind you in the pile-of-washing photo. Bet s/he is your shadow for the next few days. Enjoy your pizza and cuddles and a nice night's sleep before the merry cycle starts all over again. xxxxx

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  8. You guys always find the greatest events! Looks so much fun and that huge greeb "Zeus-look-alike" is so cool! and I just adore your outfit with brown little "vest dress", like Pocahontas :)

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  9. Hi there! Looks like you both had an awesome time, so glad the weather was good too-fabulous photos, the scenery is stunning! Xxx

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  10. Brilliant love! I adore that part of Wales and spent many happy times there over the years. I do fancy doing Green Man next year. Lots of my Welsh mates who go had a wonderful time too. You look bloody great and I bloody loves ya! Gissa chip.
    xxxxxxxxx

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  11. Looks and sounds amazing and I am loving your hiking outfit, definitely the most glam I have ever seen. I definitely need to get myself to more festivals this year.

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  12. This all sounds lime it was an excellent time! I love looking at all the pictures. And your hiking outfit is perfect.

    I laughed out loud at you and your pile of laundry. The pizza and pets seemed like a much better way to recoup after so much action.

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  13. Oh wow - that looks amazing. Beautiful setting. One thing that little NZ is missing is old bits o' castle like that!! I loved exploring when I was over there..

    Whoever made that green man was very talented =- colossal!

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  14. i love your hiking outfit! So practical and stylish! Glad to see you had a good time - green man sounds similar to burning man, but with maybe only 50% weirdness. Are they related do you think? haha

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  15. I love this post! So much fun! I wish I had gone to at least one music festival this summer. I guess it will be on my bucket list for next year. Thanks for sharing your fun!

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  16. I love this post! So much fun! I wish I had gone to at least one music festival this summer. I guess it will be on my bucket list for next year. Thanks for sharing your fun!

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  17. What fun! Is that long dress a bit of curtain couture? It really suits you!
    Wishing you great drying weather!
    xxxx

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  18. Welcome home! Green Man looks great, I always like to see your fabulous photos and live vicariously through you!
    Friends of mine went last year and said it was more Brown Man (or other words to that effect...) because of all the rain and mud, but this year looks far better. Love to see you in your festival finery and having a mad dance! An 8 mile hike? You bloody bonkers woman! Bonkers but utterly, wonderfully beautiful.
    Now forget the laundry, enjoy your pizza, don't worry about all those blog posts, and make it up to those poor pussy cats, they will have missed you. I missed you too! xxxxxx

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  19. Looks fab, what a beautiful site. Sounds like it's similar to Glastonbury was supposed to have been back in the day? I'd love to make it to Green Man one day - annoyingly it's in the middle of uni clearing so Mr R&B isn't free to go. Have a good night with the cats x

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  20. I don't know what is more beautiful that location or you with the green hills and river behind you! Why is seems Wales is the perfect location for a Green man festival! I love how happy you and Jon are, my favorite is you both digging the drum and bass, I too would have been moved to dance! Your hiking attire is as it should be friggin bright and fabulous, I want those chips right about now too!

    Take it easy with that hip will you?!?!? Are you trying to not get another 4 years outta her? If we don't talk this week we must next for sure as I'll have loads to tell you by then.
    MISSYOUandlovemorethanfestivals!
    xxxooo


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  21. Totally AWESOME!

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  22. You look STUNNING!! Going to festivals agrees with you.

    As per usual, I love everything you are wearing.

    Keep on thrifting!!!

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  23. wouauau, hurrah for green man!, it sounds like heaven for me, all that landscapes, music, fun and fabulousness!!, and you look delightfully relaxed and gorgeous!!
    wishing you an awesome festival season!!
    besos & música!

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  24. What stunning scenery and fab weather by the looks of it. The Green Man looks far more civilised than Glasto but then what would I know as I've never been to a festival in my life! The forecast's good this week so you should get all that washing dry in time for the next one.

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  25. Yay, you're back!!!
    Looks like a right pearler, this Green Man festival! I love the Green man himself, he'd be a spectacular garden ornament!!!
    What a load of FUNNAGE! You were both frocked up perfectly, most especially for rambling! Thank goodness for gin and ibuprofen, diet of champions!!!
    Yeah, the aftermath of dirty clothes and unpacking Gilbert sux, but it was all worth it!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  26. Sounds like such fun, enjoy your cat cuddling!

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  27. wow, that ones looks like a good one. Love the Green Man and the music line-up. Enjoy doing the laundry!

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  28. My friend's son went and said it was fabulous - it's on my to do list.
    Love your pix.

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  29. I agree that your blog is the best advertisement for festivals. I've never been to a one and after reading this post, I want to go! This one had everything. So glad you and Jon had a great time. Can't wait to see more of that Indian quilted jacket.

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  30. You looked very happy and relaxed. Such a beautiful smile!

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  31. Haha, love your rambling outfit, guess there were no nettles to contend with :) Also, I love miniature castles so I think I love the gatehouse at the festival more than the real thing!


    And I really don't want to come across as being snarky, so I hope I don't, but the comment above about Burning Man made me laugh a bit, cos we've had those kind of festivals over here well before Burning Man was invented. Actually, it's why I've always wanted to go to Green Man, it seems to be the closest to the free festivals I went to when I was a kid, did you ever go to any of those? Some of these ones http://fairsarchive.wordpress.com/
    So much nicer when it's on a much smaller scale than Glastonbury -- less frantic... I remember seeing giant green man type figures being burnt at least once at one of those.

    Awww, I'm getting all nostalgic now.

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  32. That looks like the best of the best weekends! I am a bit envious because all I did was lie on the beach, and while excellent, that cannot compare to 14 hour drinking and drum n bass sessions in a sylvan welsh valley!

    Love to see you guys in all your hedonistic (and rambling) glory!

    xx

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  33. Haha! I love your "rambling" outfits! I was in Wales earlier this year and fell in love with the countryside - I can imagine the festival must have been gorgeous set in those mountains. Looks like you had a awesome time!

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  34. Looks like such fun! You and your man are always so styling!

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  35. You both always have so much fun, and how beautiful is that place! Love your rambling ensemble, with the fab boots .. perfect! xx/Madison

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  36. Your rambling outfit is totally hot!! But then again, you always look hot. I love your square framed glasses. I enjoyed seeing the countryside and I'm so glad you had good weather. Welcome back. XXXOOO

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  37. What a fantastic festival!! Like Helga I would love the Green Man in my garden, and I so wouldn't burn him! Thank you for taking us all to the festival via your photos, no wonder you and Jon always look so happy and healthy.

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  38. Wow - what an amazing weekend - and not bad weather either!

    Love the clothes yourself and Jon wore.

    It's always great to get home and do some cat cuddling : )

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  39. You certainly are making up for having been born too late to attend Woodstock. Do you always look that beautiful when you do laundry???

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  40. At least it looks like the crowd of festival goers there respect their surroundings. The mess left at the V festival at Weston Park is a damned disgrace - filthy pigs !!

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  41. ha ha love the sunglassses. Love the outfit with the short dress and boots. It looks like you had fun x

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  42. Wales is so beautiful isn't it? The castle is amazing and so is the big green guy! I love seeing you frolicking in your festival gear, which we all know you wear pounding the streets of Walsall too ... no trashy, extraneous, expensive festival shopping for our Vix! The layout of the festival and all the amazing tents looks so people-friendly, not too overcrowded, while I had a wee giggle at the weather blackboard, which I'm sure you did too. If it was here it would be "fucking blinding sunshine, temp: hot as hell, humidity: sweaty, UV: extreme, chance of rain: fuck no!" So glad you two had a chance to let your hair down!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxox

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  43. Yay Vix....welcome back from what looks like the most fantastic weekend.
    The green man tree thing is amazing.......kind of sad they light him.....but it must have been a big bonfire.
    Glad you and Jon had a fun filled weekend and time off from the selling.
    Hope you have your feet up and the fur babies are sitting soaking up the love and attention.
    Love V

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  44. What fun you two have! I love the pics of all the festivals and shops you go to. Nothing like that around where I live.

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  45. dang! that looked like an awesome festival, Edwyn Collins! Julien Cope (a fave of Mr Foxy) that was an amazing line up too - and looked like so much to see - I'm chuffed you and Jon had a ball - you looked delicious as ever, I am still doing my washing wtf! till next time! xx I am still sulky!! bah! xx

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  46. The festival looks amazing and the green man is a stunner - seems a shame to burn him. How do you look so good while tramping around the woods?! xx

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  47. Yay glad the weather was (mostly) good for you, Wales was not that pleasant when I wad there! Good luck with the washing pile ;)

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  48. My Darling Vix,I can't stop staring with delight at these beautiful photos since yesterday! You captured the festival atmosphere so well it seems to be there with you and Jon (well, even if I obviously prefer to meet you in person)you both look magnificent and the concert highlights makes me so excited..if I don't remember wrong, one of my favourite band performed at the Green Man this year: the SWANS, so I think that is the best music festival of 2013!!!
    Lots of love xxxxx

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  49. What an awesome post! Is that a rooster on your bag? I love that bag. The obligatory self portrait is adorable, I began to think I needed to put visiting the Green Man on my bucket list, arthritic hip, gin and ibuprofen - CRACK UP!, sad they burnt the beautiful Green Man but that means they will build again!, and can't wait to see the post when you go back. :-) xo

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  50. Thanks for the mini tour of Green Man, it looks like an amazing experience, especially when it's sunny. The Green Man himself is very impressive - it's too bad he gets torched! The countryside is beautiful, and the two of you are the best dressed ramblers ever! Eating chips in the shadow of a crumbling castle sounds delightful.

    Thanks for the sweet comment on my latest post <3

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  51. loving your looks here...your makeup is so awesome,full of attitude!! and love the bindi...you & your guy are totally rocking!!

    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

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  52. You have mean festivals at gorgeous locations - I love the idea of camping, i don' know if we have the equivalent here, but we do have lots and lots of Festivals in Quebec !
    Love your Lolita sunnies and Jon is pretty elegant in his shorts!

    Ariane xo

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  53. It really has been a fab summer for festivals. I'm impressed that you've been to so many - we only made it to the Stones in the Park (which was fan-bloody-tastic)

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  54. Looks like you had a great time - I'm busy liking the pictures on Facebook ;D

    Love your rambling attire too!!

    Sal xx

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  55. I just love your rambling outfit! It sounds like you had a great weekend x

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  56. The actual Green Man is wonderful, brings out some hidden Pagan fervour in me. Looks like a wonderful site. I love your hiking gear, no Gortex in sight and no dreadful walking poles too. Love those brown boots. Like me you can't resist a bit of charity shopping in a new place. Now for the next festival, bet you can't wait!!

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  57. Such a brilliant, evocative Green Man post, dear Vix, I feel like I've been there with you guys! So happy you got to see John Cale and so many greats...I'm a big Patti Smith fan too. It's clear from the smiles on your faces you had a fantastic time, and well dressed throughout I see rain or shine, mountain walking or raving in a field. Special congrats go to you on your walking gear - I've never seen any so stylish and sexy before, you're an inspiration to me!

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  58. I think I need to go to this!

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  59. Wow! I am always so jealous of all your festival adventures. This looks like a blast!

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  60. Absolute Amazing. I coming next year with you!!!!! Oh yes drum & bass the lot, I've got to say this festival looks the bomb, I'm busy next year haha I'm coming in my car right behind you TOOT TOOT ;) xxxx

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  61. Ooh your post makes me want to go there so much next year Vix, in fact it'll probably be full of people who read this post and decided they must go and see it for themselves. Full of unwashed dishevelled folk you say, I'd fit right in! Though you look stunning, you are the mistress of dressing practically and for fun at the same time. I love the pics of you and Jon dancing the night away and the Green Man himself, it seems a shame to burn him he looks so good. And I'm so jealous of you seeing Julian Cope, it's many many years since I've seen him live. It all just looks amazing. xx

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  62. yeaha! looked like you guys had lots of fun while getting green out there. so fun to see all those pictures.

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  63. Fantastic festival! I thought it was funny that a lot of the people sitting in the distance behind Jon are all wearing wellies haha.
    I also spotted the Portugal bag - I can recognize the Barcelos rooster in every shape or form, be it on a bag or a Nando's logo. It's a really nice traditional motif, I even have it tattooed, altough I'm glad it's not in a visible place as everyone thinks it's Nando's!!!!
    Huggles xx

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  64. Love all the local culture in this post :)

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  65. I am so lovin that Green Man...

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  66. I am so lovin that Green Man...

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  67. WHAT FUN!! I hope me and my husband turn out like you and Jon when we get older. You two a SO cool and do such cool things!

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  68. Oh I love this post! I want to go to Green Man now. And sneak off for a hike and some chips too. All your outfits are swell, but my favourite is your brown 60's dress and hem, cock bag ;-)

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  69. OH! What can I say! This whole post was amazing!!! XXX

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  70. I love that photo of you and Jon together in your sunnies - You've got such a cheeky grin!

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  71. Ooh that looks like my kind of festival! YOu look so happy and beautiful! And yes, that is an incredibly gorgeous location. What I wouldn't give to have a castle!

    I'm crazy bastard massive envious!

    Love you more than stone bridges and rivers and green rolling hills!

    Sarah xxx

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Lots of love, Vix