A BEAST of a week – but we survived!
I’ve been flitting around at Glastonbury, Wimbledon, Roof Gardens and lots more. Here’s the tea.
Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome!
I said I’d give you the low down on my trip to Glastonbury. So here it is. In short, there was no horrific hangover and no ghastly comedown this end. Mission accomplished.
But I thought I’d round up the festival through my eyes. It’s been a very busy week aside from Glasto. Thoughts, highlights and funnies.
Firstly, Glastonbury.
1. The best thing about going to Glastonbury with a sober friend who’d never been to the festival. Her excitement was exceptional. Probably 50% less booze was consumed by me. There wasn’t a night later than 2.30am. Thursday was pretty much sober, Friday was ‘fun day’ and Saturday was a couple of margs and that was it. Smug git, I know. I just need more sleep these days and know what works for my body. Day raving is essential over playing with the 4am crew dem.
2. I avoided most dance areas like Shangri-La and Block 9. But did manage to enjoy Arcadia far more this year. Fat Boy Slim and Barry Can’t Swim were proper highlights.
3. The sound on the Pyramid stage was terrible throughout the weekend. Cyndi Lauper was properly ruined for over half the set. You just couldn’t hear her. Felt like a rehearsal.
4. Little Simz was one of the best things I saw and I don’t know her music. Powerful, confident and actually very emotional. I’m now a Simz fan.
5. Busiest crowd I stood in was for the Sugababes in West Holts. Literally sardines and took forever to get outta there. The girls sounded great. Should have been on The Other Stage – everybody wanted a piece.
6. Not sure how I felt about Soho House having a discreet area at Glastonbury with Hospitality. Felt a bit Coachella. But the food was obviously great. And they did a frozen paloma which made it a great refuge/pit-stop.
7. I wore one of those funny umbrella hats on Saturday to provide myself with shade throughout the day. I might have looked like a twerp but I was genuinely kept cool.
8. Anya Taylor-Joy was super fun. We’d not met before. We reenacted The Romy and Michelle “Time After Time” dance during Cyndi’s set.
9. We brought back Jager-Bombs on the Friday. I mean. The belching afterwards will never provide an attractive quality. I shall not be doing that again.
10. The Park Bar was a vibe. Mostly avoided the hospitality area and the Winnebago areas. So easy to get stuck and not see anything.
11. There were still dozens of friends I didn’t manage to see. TBH Glasto felt a little too busy compared to when I last went four years ago. The dance areas were getting shut down due to overcrowding every night around midnight. In some ways cut down our step count in half. Still walked over 17k a day.
12. Staying at Winding Lake Farm (slightly off site) was joyous. Far quieter, far more chilled, no shower queues (and boiling hot) and the staff there were excellent. Only slight downside was having to shuttle in. You must be properly prepared.
13. Catching up with Melanie C on Friday meant I was in the loop for her guest spot with Orbital on the Park Stage on the Saturday. Genuinely a joyous scene and a ‘forever’ memory. Can we just get the Spice Girls to headline the Saturday next year already? Come on Geri and VB – it’s time!
14. No, I didn’t see Coldplay. I watched it back on telly. Looked amazing. But I wanted to see different people this time round. No regrets.
15. I still have zero desire to camp in a tent. It still looks hideous.
16. I loved wearing my Patrick Cox hoodie and bomber around the festival. One with a Disco Ball on the back and one with shrooms. Both went down exceedingly well.
17. Sure, I loved Glastonbury this year. But it did feel like a little of the usual magic was missing. I’m not sure if it was the line-up being slightly off beat. Or maybe the sound issues. Or the crowded spaces. But something was missing from the vibe for me. BTW, it could just be me having gotten a little older.
18. I had the best chicken gyros on the Saturday night heading home. The food was proper good out with the masses this year.
19. We nicknamed one of my best friend’s Swampy. This caused endless high jinks. #swampyforever
20. I watched Dua on the telly when home and skipped her too. Looked fine. I still don’t really get her as a live artist. Sure, she has bangers. But it’s just a little meh for me. She was very much mincing around hospitality infront of the paps for most of the weekend which feels mildly ghastly too.
21. LOVED catching the Manfreds in the acoustic tent singing Handbags and the Gladrags and Build me up Buttercup (amazing to think Mike d’Abo wrote these classics, is 80 and still able to bash out these hits so wonderfully).
You might enjoy Vogue Williams’ take on Glastonbury below…on my favourite podcast btw.
Now, some might say booking a posh day out at Wimbledon was a bold move following three nights at Glastonbury. But nah, I was fine. No hangy or comedown. I was invited to enjoy the day with Emirates who have a swish swish bish hospitality suite that runs throughout the competition.
Joyous scenes, I love tennis. We got to see both Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz win their matches on Centre Court. I was my friend Kirsty Gallacher’s plus one and we had James and Sofia Blunt with us for the day too. A lot of laughs, a lot of bubbles and really special to enjoy a lush afternoon tea.
Hilariously, my hangover from the champagne (which was over £120 for four small bottles of rose Lanson with straws!) was MILES worse than my entire trip to Glastonbury. How is this even possible? Thanks to Susie Richardson for the wonderful invite to join Emirates at Wimbledon. You’re the best!
THEN I REACHED FOR THE CLOUDS
Then, over to the newly reopened Kensington Roof Gardens where a friend was celebrating her birthday. I’ve become a founding member for the year to have a nice spot for lunch or dinner in the Kensington area. IT’s so tricky to find anywhere great round there. The décor is ace, the food was fabulous and I’m excited for it to settle down into something cool for the area. They don’t like pictures (we were getting told off all night) but THIS article gives you an idea of what it’s like inside. Arguably, the best rooftop in London. So many memories from my days on the showbiz beat when we’d always be there for some of the best events in the showbiz calendar. I cannot wait to delve further into the place as it fully opens.
FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT…
Podcasts I’ve loved listening too this week below…
AND FINALLY…
Did you vote? I did. I don’t usually, which is silly of me. But this year I couldn’t make up my mind about the three main parties who, to me, have no proper plan about what to do with this silly little country. So, I voted Green. I just want rivers and seas that are clear from sewage being dumped in them. You’ve got to follow your gut in these weird times. I think they got four seats in Parliament, so I doubt we’ll have any change happening. But it really fucks me off that water companies are dumping sewage into our waters.
Follow Hugo Tagholm on X for all sorts of posts about sewage, oceans and rivers. I love this guy’s vibe.
So, there we have it. Let’s see how this new era of government progresses shall we? I still don’t see anybody who is a true leader uniting a nation. I guess it’s a case of hold tight, gang.