It's the return that's hardest.

And washing, tons of bloomin' washing.
And the outside, whatever the weather you just have to be out!

But now there is stuff to be done indoors, things to cleaned. And you have to cook for the kids, not go to some nice lady with a paella van. Ah, post festival blues. Your own bed feels wonderful as you arrive home tired and dusty. A toilet all your own is a blissful thing, but the morning after and reality hits. You return to your normal life and the fun filled crazy days of festival seem to have disappeared in a flash.

So here are the memories. Well some of them. My phones battery kept going down suspiciously fast and I was only prepared to charge it at a cost once and I can't work out how to download the ones off the camera!

Outside our Yurt and ready to explore

Climbing in the kids garden area

Mia and Evora

Not sure what we're watching but it must have been good

On the castle steps looking out towards the crowds at the main stage

Some light reading relief 

Our favoured spot to see the castle stage

It's all too much

And another one's gone

Oh! and another

Barely even bounced to Madness last year, this year raving like a loon to Groove Armada!

Castle just before it burst into life with animation and fireworks- it was awesome!

Lulworth Cove the morning we left. Stunning.

Eloise soaking up the rays.

A picture of calm after a frantic three days. 

It's crazy, busy, noisy and smelly. But it's such fun! There was so much we just could not do it all and some things we only discovered when it was too late. Everyone has their own best bits. Mine? 

Okay, top three, no, top five!

Mark Ronson (with very special guests)

Ed Sheeran - Inspiring and motivating (especially a certain 13 yr old here)

Gentlemans Dub Club - Wow, such energy

Blondie (big, big squeal!)

Bad Sheperds - Ade Edmonsons band, brilliant!

Camp Bestival Costumes

So the excitement is building, Blondie is on permanent repeat in the car and I am on frantic sewing duty to make the costumes for this year.

There's a Medieval theme and our plans are not too difficult but as a perpetual putter offer I have of course left it to the last minute. Today I pulled my finger, and sewing machine, out and got on with it! Putting the finishing touches to a dress for Mia and tabards and cloaks for the boys and there is one tabard spare with a daddies name on it!!

Okay, so only 2 sleeps today!

Maid Mia?

Job done

Squeal! (I am very excited)

Weeks of waiting are finally over. We have all been awaiting the news. What will it be, What will it be? But now we know, it will be Medieval!

No, not our new topic of choice, although it may spark an interest. But the theme of this years Camp Bestival fancy dress. Headline acts have also been announced. OMG! I am going to see Blondie and Mark Ronson all in one sun filled (hopefully!) weekend.

What? It's not that exciting? Well you should try living with four children and a few grown ups for the past couple of months, you would think it was the most important thing to be happening to them EVER! There was a little disappointment that a James Bond outfit would not be required but that has been replaced with cries of "never mind, I can be a medieval samurai warrior, you can make that can't you Mummy?".

We are all a little bit music obsessed, our lounge looks more like a practice room now and our favourite family game is our own version of the intros round from Never Mind The Buzzcocks! Also known as the kitchen game where it is invariably played! Someone is normally singing or playing or dancing somewhere in the house. And we love the fact that, as we did as children, our children love listening to all sorts of music and genres. Not for us a car cd player full of nursery rhymes, they never really had a choice!!!

Outside our Tipee 

Waiting for the very first act

sword making at spinney hollow

View from the Castle towards main stage

My dressing up concession!

Waiting for The Wurzels (a highlight!)

David rocking out with the "school of rock"

Now Camp Bestival is a big thing, it's expensive and a long way from home. But as family festivals go for us it's a winner. Now we just need to find some gigs closer to home to fill the gap between now and August!