As far as customer experiences go, spending two hundred pounds on a ticket allowing you to stand in a muddy field sheltering from the rain, barely sleeping in a semi-submerged tent on a half inflated lilo for four nights and listening to XFM's finest might not appeal to everyone, but to a surprisingly large number of people the Glastonbury Festival is the highlight of their summer. This weekend (if last year's figures are anything to go by) 180,000 people will begin to secure their passes for the fortieth anniversary event and cross their fingers for sunshine.
Dating back to 1970, Glastonbury is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. It combines two of us Brits favourite obsessions - the weather and queuing. The lines both into and from the festival are legendary with stories of eight-hour waits in the car park fairly common, whilst the climatic conditions over a 900 acre square in Somerset becomes a national story in the media for the last weekend in June each year.
Yet despite the expense, the regular downpours, the mud, sleep deprivation and some of the worst examples of terrible novelty headgear you will see anywhere, there is something magical about Glastonbury which takes these ingredients and somehow fuses them into a weekend unlike any other. I should admit to being something of a Glasto addict having attended the last eight and love the diversity, atmosphere and friendliness on site as well as the genuine enthusiasm and determination of the crowd to enjoy themselves no matter what is thrown at them. It is impossible not to be dragged along with it. The good nature of it's attendees, the worthy causes it promotes and donates to, the alternative cultures it celebrates are all inspiring and enlightening.
... and I haven't even mentioned the music yet.
So if you're looking for an experience to challenge and reward in equal measure as well as the chance to witness some weird and wonderful acts and the guarantee of some fantastic performances by brilliant bands then register here, buy your ticket here, pack your wellies and introduce yourself to me by the Pyramid stage, I'll be the one in the novelty hat.
