Another mudbath weekend

I think I’m getting too old for this camping lark. This weekend my friend Rach and I made our way up to Beautiful Days festival near Exeter. The Friday went really well. Last year we arrived there about 10 and spent over an hour in a queue to get in, this year we left later and there was no queue. We got in found our friends and set up camp in the dry. We wandered in to the main area, and went to get a drink and got served right away, even when we went to get food we didn’t have a wait. It seemed like we were blessed.

We got right down the front for Mr Hudson and the library http://www.myspace.com/mrhudson and danced our socks off, and then caught Willy Mason http://www.myspace.com/willymason who rocked up some of his more chilled songs, and everyone sang along to Oxygen. He finished just in time to get to the main stage to see K.T.Tunstall, who was the first female to headline at Beautiful Days. She played songs from her last album and some of her new ones. I had thought she may not produce an album as good as the first, however the new songs rocked. She has so much energy and such a powerful voice, for me she was the highlight of the evening.

Afterwards we went to find the dance tent, which had moved so we went to the Tiny tea tent for some brandy hot chocolate, and ended up staying there all night chatting to lots of people. They were playing some great music and around 3 they started playing swing which was great fun. We got back to our tents at around 4 and I slept in till 3 on Saturday afternoon.

I knew Friday had been too good to last, Saturday it rained all day, and I’d left my wellies in the car. I wasn’t inspired to go wandering at all, I sat in my friend’s big tent and drank coffee, and eventually took the plunge to go and see Dreadzone http://www.myspace.com/gregdread. My shoes were really slippy and the whole time I was out I was having panic attacks and felt really tearful. After Dreadzone I decided I had to get back before it got dark so I missed Gogol Bordello who I was really looking forward to. I was disappointed with myself but I was very wobbly, and felt relieved when I made it back.

Sunday I was on a mission to enjoy myself, we retrieved our wellies from the car and I wandered in and had a look around the stalls. I was dead chuffed to find a leather embroidered tobacco pouch for £4. I hadn’t seen any of my friends who I knew were there, but in the afternoon I bumped into everyone. We got to the main stage for Babyhead http://www.myspace.com/babyheadbristol who were probably the best band I saw all weekend. They put on a great show. We spent all afternoon wandering and catching other acts, and headed back for half an hour to grab some more money and my gin and tonic ready for the evening out.

In the evening I mainly danced. I danced to the Samba band, a couple of Irish folk bands, and Afro Celt Soundsystem http://www.myspace.com/afrocelts who didn’t seem to be on for any time at all. And then danced in the Pussy parlour to some funky tunes, which wasn’t too crowded as the Levellers were also on. After the Levellers it became too crowded and I was a good girl and headed back to the tent.

All in all it was a fun weekend, although Saturday for me was a washout, I made up for it on the Sunday. Monday morning the heavens opened and totally soaked to the skin I packed up a dripping tent and Rach and I struggled up the hill with all our stuff. The car park was a field, and dotted all over the place were cars with their hazard lights on. There were also a couple of tractors zooming around and giving cars a tow to the lane.

I was able to change in the car, so I had dry clothes on, which was just as well as we were in the queue to get out for about an hour. We did get stuck once and just put our hazard lights on when the car behind gave us a push. The mud in some places was about 8 inches deep, and when we did finally get out the brakes weren’t too good. We got back around 3 and I jumped in the shower and then into bed and stayed there. I was absolutely shattered and I could feel my legs starting to ache from all the walking in mud and dancing over the weekend.

I have one more festival this weekend and if it wasn’t for the kids going I would have quite happily not gone. I didn’t want to face camping in the rain and mud again, but luckily it looks like its going to be hot. I so hope they’re right.

Up to my eye-balls in it

It doesn’t seem like I’ve had a moment to relax the past couple of weeks, I’ve been up to my eye-balls in it. I’ve had so much writing to do; I’ve still got writing to do about the Port Elliot festival, and have had an article for Vitality Matters to write (which I finished today), as well as keeping up with my weekly magazine blog. I’m getting lots out there, and now I just need to get paid. Another few weeks and I’m on the case.

On top of that I’ve been quite a social butterfly. I went to Falmouth for a night the other week and caught up with many of my lovely friends from Uni. It was great to catch up and I don’t know why I hadn’t made it down before. Ian’s mum, Josie, came down on holiday and I took her out for a day around the North Cornwall coast. I really like Josie and we had a lovely day. I’ve also been to the beach with Megs and her friends, not that I did much but lie down and catch the rays.

I’ve been so busy, on Saturday morning I woke up with a sense of dread when I realised Beautiful days is on this weekend. It all seemed very overwhelming. Megs is off to a week camp with her Youth club on the Saturday, and I’m off on Friday, which needs a lot of organising. I’ve had to make sure someone is here for her on Friday and someone can pick her up to take her down on Saturday morning. I also need to pack for two separate trips. I haven’t done any packing yet, and I’m dedicating the day to sorting everything out tomorrow.

On top of everything, on Sunday, I was offered a ticket to do face painting at Beautiful days. A couple of years ago I would have grabbed at the chance, as I had face painted at fetes and parties and the chance to get into face painting at festivals would have been my dream. I could have sold my ticket and been quids in, but as I’ve been so snowed under, and really needed a break I turned it down.

I feeling more on top of it, now I’ve finished the article for Vitality, and it all seems more achievable. I am actually getting quite excited. There are some brilliant bands I want to catch, including K.T.Tunstall, Afro Celt Sound System, Mr Hudson and the Library, and Gogol Bordello. And they have a shit hot dance tent with music till the early hours. Party on! I just hope it doesn’t rain too much; some sunny days would be nice.

No doubt my next posting will provide all the details of how the weekend went.

The power of crystals.

About two months ago I was feeling pretty low and I decided a bit of retail therapy was in order. When I was younger I had a couple of necklaces (one after the other) I would wear all the time, and I had in mind I wanted one again, one I could wear 24/7, and I wanted a crystal.

I was drawn to, and picked out a rainbow obsidian. After I had brought it I realised it was rainbow obsidian Ian had given me a year ago. A year ago when I was given it, I felt I couldn’t wear it; it was not right for me at the time. So I looked it up in ‘The crystal bible’ by Judy Hall (an inexpensive book for anyone interested in crystals).

Judy says obsidian:

“works extremely fast and with great power. Its truth-enhancing, reflective qualities are merciless in exposing flaws, weaknesses and blockages. Nothing can be hidden from obsidian…………….Obsidian impels us to grow and lends solid support while we do so.”

She suggests it is best used by qualified therapists as it can bring negative emotions to the surface, which needs to be dealt with. However it is also a very spiritually protective stone. Many people find its powerful effects overpowering and prefer a gentler stone. Reading the information on obsidian I felt I was ready for it at the time when I was drawn to it, but not a year earlier.

I wore it for a couple of months and I think it did bring a lot to light, which I dealt with. However I think wearing it for so long it ended up bringing me down and for the past few weeks I’ve been dealing with really horrible lows. At Maker at the weekend I got an amethyst pendant and on Saturday morning I put it on.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I read up on amethyst in Judy’s bible. Reflecting on changes in me since Saturday I was surprised to hear what the book said. I knew it was a good all-rounder, but what was said seems to suggest it is really the right crystal for me at the moment.

Amethyst is a natural tranquillizer, blocking stress. It has strong healing and cleansing powers and enhances spiritual awareness. It’s traditionally worn to prevent drunkenness, and has a:

“sobering effect on overindulgence”

On Saturday night I went out for a bit and had a good time but I wasn’t bothered about drinking, and I had two gin and tonics all evening.

Amethyst is also beneficial to the mind, as it can be calming or stimulating as required. It can bring restful sleep for people who suffer insomnia because of an overactive mind.

“Amethyst balances out highs and lows, promoting emotional centering, it dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety……………Amethyst can stabilize psychiatric disorders but should not be used in cases of paranoia or schizophrenia.”

Since Saturday I have been feeling more positive. For the past few weeks the extra weight on my body has been really affecting me and bringing me down, and since the weekend I’ve been happier with my body. I’ve been focused and been able to get on with writing and keeping the house tidy. And (this is the biggy), I haven’t been anxious and fearful when I wake up.

Physically amethyst boosts production of hormones, and can boost the metabolism. It’s also cleanses the blood, and can be useful for healing dis-eases of the respiratory tract, and digestive system.

I will have to wait and see if any of the physical benefits come to fruition.

I do suffer from depression, however I am essentially a positive person, my outgoing persona was always happy Jacqui and although now sometimes I can’t hide how I feel, most of the time I can keep that persona up. I’ve always had a critical mind, I’ve always questioned everything, but I have reached a stage where I feel I need to accept some things I can’t explain. If I find something that works for me, I will believe in it. The belief in the crystal I’ve picked, is working for me at the moment, and I don’t want to shut my mind down to any spiritual influence in my life.