*Bob*

Are you sure you're the right person to be leading this charge, Sagatelsagouni? From your opening post "I hope on Thursday that all of us who have children in local Schools show support for all those teachers and staff who dedicate themselves to teaching the next generation... The private sector need to grow some back bone and fight their own battles" - a spectacular exercise in both asking for support whilst simultaneously alienating all the people you want it from - you're off to a flyer. And it's downhill from there.. a succession of increasingly shrill, unintelligible and garbled messages - half of them aimed at a target you've misjudged completely. Every time you open your mouth, a car stops honking. I speak as someone with sympathy for the cause.

I bet they do. I bet they get Viz, fillet steak and as much money as they can eat. That's the problem with the armed forces. It's all about them, them, them. They will never be able to comprehend the plight of a teacher, out on the front line.

Do they get Viz on submarines?

Huggers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Worrying about the weather is like going to the > men's finals at wimbledon and being disappointed > there isnt a Brit playing. You're there arent > you! True to a certain extent, but I do remember thinking (after a third or fourth successive year of comedy mud) what a pleasant change it would make to actually be able to just 'sit down on the ground' at some point during a four day festival - without involving the laying down of plastic bags and negotiating filth-encrusted clothing. That sort-of run can grind-down even the most ardent fan.

No Burning Man for you then? Had some friends went to Beni last year, but found the overall experience a bit pedestrian and were somewhat underwhelmed. Have heard really good things about Exit but, like Glaston-Berry, it won't be long before it's on the turn.

Definitely tempted by Exit.. or some other eastern Europey affair. Anyone been?

Ted Max Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You can stay in a Cornish cottage on wheels for 4k > for the weekend at The Secret Garden. That does sound like Brilliant value.

To be fair though, anything would be nice after Reading - baby or no.

Oh, how my heart yearns for the ethnic polyrhythms of Womad. Not long to wait now..

You got me. When it comes to the Blue Barons I'm always the one at the front, with the glowsticks and the Vicks inhaler.

Good God.. Thunderdome. It looks like hell on earth.

StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > *Bob* has Latitude written all over him You're projecting there, I think..

Anyway, the best thing about Glastonbury is that it's o-vah. I can stop feeling slightly jealous about not going, smug in the knowledge that I have a festival 'in hand'. Ha! Take that, sunburnt, come-down Glastonbury victims.

Kool and the Gang though.. now you're talking.

Can anyone (who saw it) offer any insights as to exactly what Tricky was supposed to be doing during his brief guest appearance?

There was definitely a touch of the Tinas going on. She was doing the leg thing. Mrs *Bob* and I discussed it at the time - and she did point out that there are limited ways of dancing in six inch heels - and that's one of them.

A festival performance, especially Glastonbury, is different to doing the O2. It's not about having a slavishly perfected backing track or a load of shit-hot musicians hidden away round the back - with a handful of people with crazy hair who look the part augmenting it out front. It was irritating. But then half the people watching were only 12 so probably didn't care.

She was/is amazing, but it was a strangely un-connective affair. The massive backing track and styled 'playalong grrrlz band' was deeply irritating. We watched it all but (to some extent) with the same fascination that we might have watched a sumo wrestler doing backflips in front of a giant strobe light - whilst a swarm of midgets juggled fire.

You're absolutely right - I was speaking regionally, as a non-Southerner. Southerners should 'green out' Northerners should 'brown out'

I'd prefer to go down/up with the house. Like the captain of a doomed ship.

I think it's important to 'brown out' your clothes as you get older. First, dispense with any bold colours and strident patternation. Then, imagine that your wardrobe is controlled by two giant levers; one which controls contrast and the other which fades from colour to brown. Begin by fading to brown and then - slowly - lower the contrast. If you've timed things right you should be on beige by the time your heart gives out.

The answer at festivals always used to be 'from an American or a Canadian wearing a tie-dyed smock and a necklace made from shells', but I wouldn't know these days.

It was weird to see 'roving reports' from such areas as the Stone Circle and green fields - and only ever seeing about six people sitting there. But I'm prepared to admit that the long term future of the festival won't be secured by ageing hippies beating pieces of bronze whilst people who've forgotten where their tent is look-on, waiting for the acid to wear off.

You know the same goes for 'unpopular', right? Poor Jeremy. Was it the sight of all those fresh-faced youngsters with their whole lives ahead of them, singing away, arm in arm. It is disheartening, I know. But at least you can feel secure in the knowledge that popular is not the the same as good. The fools!

Well that was all quite surreal.. even without any drugs. I kept expecting her head to pop off, revealing sparking wires and Jay-Z with a remote control.