The Glastonbury Diaries - Saturday 28th June

Humans, humans, humans! I just carved my way through what must be a 70,000 strong crowd to the back of the Main Stage field in order to write refuge from the sun in the shadow of the tree here. I look before me and see a sea of people. Human bodies crammed into this field in the name of music, the heartbeat of our lives. Flags fly and sunglasses reflect both the sunlight and the scenes that lay before them. As i sit in this amphitheatre for the worldly i wonder about the thousands of people joining me. All of them having their own journey, sharing their own jokes and fashioning their own views on the event as the weekend progresses. It is a long haul that requires patience, calmness and most of all, a sense of humour. We all have to work on it, but if we collectively put the effort in, the rewards are obvious. Now for the Raconteurs.

The Glastonbury Diaries - Saturday 28th June

Dont save me from tomorrow; tears poured out of all holes from Peter Doherty last night. I'm not sure if any wild-eyed festival-goers will be treated to a more sincere and heartfelt show all weekend. It certainly was iconic for me. The surprisingly tall and elegant Doherty was in fine form. Who ever said crime doesn't pay? It certainly did for us lucky enough to witness such a flawless spectacle. A dish of greatest hits was served up fresh as can be, by the prancing, dreaming Doherty. The natural arena-rise of the Park Stage field offered a perfect view for all who were watching, singing, and videoing the show (espeically for YouTube, of course). As a big fan of Peter Doherty, i basked in the glory of seeing one of modern music's most romantic, poignant, epic and natural songwriters up close and personal in such an intimate scenario. I can't help but feel that Peter is now taking his solo performances very seriously. Perhaps a solo album is on the cards, and based on this gift from him, it will be a big hit.

The Glastonbury Diaries - Thursday - 26th June

A lazy day, all in all. However, with so much going on in our surroundings it is hard not to get sucked into the mystic madness of this celebration.
A bright idea is pitched: We should walk to the new field opened for the '08 festival, next to the Stone Circle field. Eavis has claimed that this vantage point offers special views over the site. I am hasten to add that the word 'special' might be an embarrassing understatement. This is mainly because only one kind of view would be worth the extreme exersion needed to reach this point. It wasn't easy in skinny jeans under a burning sun, but the view made up for it. It is quite simply a jaw-dropping sight. Flags and Tee-Pees embellish the field below. This panoramic view of the entire festival is a gift from the gods. No camera or painting could replicate this, you simple have to see it to believe it. I feel so touched to be here witnessing all this. Sun, friends and views. Bliss. We are disciples on this hill, worshipping the homeland.

The Glastonbury Diaries - Wednesday Day - 25th June

Upon arrival we are blown away by the sheer selflessness of a group of chaps who are willing to aid our hardship of carrying rucksacks and other general paraphernalia by accepting donations to carry it all to our tents (which were already erected, i might add) on a train-like contraption. We felt like A-List celebrities during this process as everyone watched us being chauffer driven. Pure collective elation erupts every 10-15 minutes with the 'Mexican Roar', which windmills its way around each camp site. Glad to be here at sundown.

The Glastonbury Diaries - The Night Before, 24th June, 2008

I have visions of thousands of Halo-Illuminated heads all channelling, focusing and hording in one direction. People, friends and families from all walks of life, all corners of the earth brought together in Albion-like harmony for one single purpose; Walking, dancing, experiencing. One universal journey. Can we beat the rain?

And so it begins.