FESTIVAL SEASON!

I'm writing this post in the middle of a freshly-painted ice cream manicure, which is making me type very slowly and carefully. Good timing as always. But undoubtedly worth it.

yes, right now it looks like an extremely snow-capped miniature mountain range but bear with.

Summer weather is among us now. There's no denying that the air is warmer and this time of year is the only time of year where I get anywhere near the amount of water you're meant to drink in a day (2 litres, yep). And that means it's FESTIVAL SEASON!!! Yaaaaaaaaaaay. FUN TIMES AHEAD. I'm packing to go to a festival very soon, and have been warned to take as little as possible. "The bare minimum" is a concept I often struggle to undertake, but I think I may have it cracked this year. Here's my list of bare essentials...

• Wellies and waterproofs. No matter how optimistic you are or how many sun dances you do, Mr. Cloud could come over and he could unleash his magical waterfall. (of rain). Be prepared! Even if there is no rain, the morning dew may encourage muddiness - I've seen WAY too many people wearing converse-type shoes and being defeated by Day 1. You can buy Welly Socks from stores like The Range to stop welly burn - Google has all the answers.
  
• Clothes. Yep. You may need these. Remember to bring things for all weather conditions (e.g. shorts, tees, a warm jumper, underwear and lots of socks).
• Teeny tiny rucksack. Some may travel with things just in their pockets but you can keep an eye on a rucksack at all times and prevent theft of your valuables. Also this will make room for a decent-sized water bottle, keeping you hydrated throughout hot days.
  
• Tiny toiletries and a jumbo pack of Baby Wipes. Keep the weight of your hold-all as light as possible to ensure easy transfer to your tent - the walk there from your car/bus/train can be long and will seem longer with uncomfortably heavy luggage. Festivals are usually a weekend/long weekend and you won't need much soaps and potions as you think! Use baby wipes in between showers (if you can be bothered to wash) to feel fresh.
• Sunglasses, sunhat, sun lotion. Little Miss Sunshine is a dangerous threat if you don't protect yourself from her. Splash out on some SPF and prevent nasty sunburn, sunstroke, or worse. A sunhat will keep your head cool, especially if you have dark hair like me. I'm not a hat person at all but I made an exception this year and bought something that resembles a sombrero. Thirdly, sunglasses will be your saviour in the daytime. Top tip: If possible, stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm - this is when its rays are strongest.
• Mobile phone and solar charger. It might be tempting to leave your phone at home if it's an expensive one. If this is the case, and you really don't want to run the risk, pop into town and buy a cheap brick phone such as this Nokia and order a free Sim from any network of your choice. Often on festival sites texts don't get through very quickly due to the mass of people in one area, but it's better than nothing if you're in trouble or need to find someone. Solar chargers are perfect for festivals.
• Torch. You may have one on your phone, but carry a spare wind-up one in case (batteries could get lost easily). Those guy-ropes are your enemies at night.

  

  If only everyone did this...

• Money belt, ear plugs and plasters. These three I bought from Millets. They have special offers on right now for all camping gear and I'd say these three are definitely needed. The belt to keep your phone/money/suncream safe, ear plugs to aid sleep or protect your hearing when standing near speakers and plasters for those little bumps and scratches you may receive when stumbling back to your tent in the insane drunken peaceful hours of the morning. Check out these amazing Bullet Bill ear plugs:

  

  WOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW

• Roll-up mat. Putting this on your tent floor will make your festival nights much more comfortable. I often take my yoga mat (but never have enough energy to start Sun Salutations at any point).
• Travel-pillow and thin sleeping-bag. These two items take up more room than you think, so make sure they're small and compact. A low toggle sleeping bag will make hot mornings more pleasant. This pillow from Tesco is extra cheap and reliable.
• Times and stages of your favourite bands. Timetables are available on sale from most festivals, but they cost about £5-£10, which could easily buy you a delicious meal and some glow sticks. Go on Clashfinder just before the event and highlight all the bands you want to see, then click print, and VOILA! Your very own personalised festival agenda.
• And finally...SNACKS! Little biscuits, fruit flakes, nuts, raisins - keep some with you throughout the day to fight off hunger and prevent you from spending more money than you need to on food - festival food is quite expensive these days so buy in bulk. Top tip: Avoid chocolate. It will melt and it will not wash out of your bag/shorts pocket very well with the mere washing supplies you'll have to hand. Unless you like getting melted chocolate everywhere and wasting money - in which case, GO CRAZY.

  

  These are my breakfast essentials! Especially the ones with the yogurt in

If you're not lucky enough to be in attendance of a festival this year yet, don't fret, as you can still buy tickets for festivals like Leeds, Reading, and many more. Or create your own atmosphere - find an outdoor gig, put UV paint on your face and flowers in your hair and then camp out in your garden at night. A much cheaper alternative, with less drunk people and mud and better hygiene, if the festival scene isn't for you!

Happy Raving!

Rhiannon x

Ta-DA!

Images from sources bla, bla, bla, bla, bla.