Camp Bestival 2012 - Day 2

Everyone slept well, but the boys were up at 6:30am.  The tent felt damp and not very nice so I didn't lay around too long.  I got the door open and the boys dressed so they could go out.

We spent time messing around, sorting out the tent and running around after the football while Rob went off for a shower and I got the buggy and trolley ready for our first day at the festival.

We had to go back to the gate to sort out the boys safety bands and to grab a map of the grounds, but we were soon off exploring and taking in the atmosphere.  It was brilliant!  I've been to a festival before but this felt different.  We were lucky to have good weather which helped but I think just the people around you (mainly families) made it feel all the more exciting.  Our boys were loving it.

Rob got us some breakfast from the red double decker cafe bus!  It was good, especially the cup of tea.

We stopped in the children's tent (Little Big Top) to have a snack and to watch some shows.  They were great fun and Ellis and sometimes Leo, spent most of their time stood at the very front.

The young ones had a nap and I was so pleased that Rob had bought the trolley as it was so useful, especially at keeping us all together as we moved through the crowds.  I think next year we will need a bigger one!   There are lots of trollies around, and some of them are really decorated, have shelters, lights etc.  I think they are brilliant.

Rob went off to do something, not sure what but when he got back, we had been transformed by this amazing lady!  She turned the boys into tigers within seconds.  On one sponge she put 3 colours, swiped it across their faces, then used a black paint brush to add the details. Bish bash bosh and it was brilliant!  She has been doing it over 30 years!  I also managed to get a little something done too which made me feel in the festival spirit.

It made them itchy for a bit and I think Ellis smudged his a little but it soon dried and they forgot about it.

We watched another show in the Little Big Top. It was one half of The Bopps.

We then let the boys have a go on the helter skelter and the carousel.  Leo went up the slide on his own though and the mat was so big and heavy and they had a lot of stairs to climb.  We should have gone with him really.  We managed to get a picture of Ellis coming down and then we waited and waited for Leo.  He finally made it but was too scared to come down and wanted to go back down the stairs but he wasn't allowed.  He eventually came down but both Rob and I missed him with the cameras.

Rob took Ellis to watch Adam Ant for a bit and I soon joined him for a walk around.

We hung out, we ate, and I bought a new hat, which I loved!  It was just so hot!

As the cooler air started to arrive, I went back to the tent to grab some warmer clothes for the babas.  The plan was to stay out quite late to watch the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics!

We managed to find a dot of grass in the main tent to watch the ceremony.  It was very crowded and the kids were getting restless and bored, Oscar particually didn't seem right and felt quite hot to me.  We were all hot though as we had been in the sun all day but I just knew he wasn't right so I took him to the doctors tent.  I jumped the queue as I wasn't asking to see a doctor but rather I just needed someone to take his temperature to confirm his fever for me.  Which they did, and he had, so I went back to the tent again to get some Calpol for him.

As the evening went on the kids were just so worn out that they just all suddenly crashed out.  I was so uncomfortable though.  My legs were squashed, my bum was numb and my back was aching, but I didn't moan once as I was having such a brilliant time!

I think I forgot to mention that Rob's friend Matt from work was at the festival too, and his wife Emma with their boys, which was great for our boys.

Can you spot all 5 of them?

We watched the ceremony, which was amazing, and left as the athletes started their walk around the arena.  We loaded everyone up, Ellis in the buggy and Leo and Oscar fitted very snugly in the trolley.  So cute! Pretty sure next year they won't fit so Ellis will have to go in the trolley, the boys in the double buggy and Rob and I carrying everything and pushing/pulling a buggy/trolley!!!!  Sound fun, NOT!

We made it back to the tent, made the older ones have a go on the toilet, changed them into their pyjamas and settled them into bed.  They all transferred fine and went back to sleep.  Rob and I followed very quickly after.  A brilliant first day at the festival.

Camp Bestival 2012 - Day 1

Day 1 of Camp Bestival 2012!

Rob worked from home, which was great as he helped me out a bit so I could continue packing and we also tried out our trolley, which we will be taking to help us transport the kids and our stuff about.  Rob just bought a garden one.  The boys loved it and were really good at sitting in it.  We are taking the buggy too, so lots of space for carrying everything.

To break up the day a bit, Leo had his swimming lesson and I thought it would be a good idea to go and hopefully make him tired enough to have a nap in the car on the way to Lulworth later.  I sneakily took some pictures of him.

We had to wait for Rob to finish his work before we loaded up the car.  It was rammed from top to bottom. The borrowed roof box was full as was the boot and the foot wells.  We did manage to get it all in though which was a brilliant result and we set off at 4pm, on the dot.

Rob then sprung it on me that he wanted to go clothes shopping!  We made a 30 minute stop at Tesco for him to get a few bits.

We were eventually on our way at 4:40pm.

The younger 2 had a nap, and they all ate their packed lunches on the way.  I never let them eat in the car so that was a treat for them.

I wanted all the boys to sit together, so that they could all watch a film on the screens and also so that I could sit in the front with Rob for a change.  This didn't last very long though as Ellis was soon complaining about a bad tummy.  We pulled over and moved it all around and I sat in the back again.  It was much better for Ellis and it wasn't long before he said he was feeling better.  I sat and watched Charlotte's Web which was actually really nice and helped to pass the time.

We arrived at Lulworth Castle and followed signs to our entrance gate.  It was really, really busy with people and cars everywhere but there was a really happy, buzzing atmosphere.  We were shown to a parking space at the furthest point away from the gate!

We got out and met up with Mat (Rob's friend from work), and eventually Pete, who helped us to do the first load.  We had to walk up a huge hill, pulling our trolley, pushing the buggy etc.  They did actually have a tractor helping to pull people and things up the hill but we managed.  We could see it was going to take a few trips but I just needed the tent up to get the kids out of the cool evening air, and to get them into bed as quickly as we could get them blown up!

We all worked really hard, but it was fun and exciting too, and eventually we were set up.

The generator actually ended up being a positive thing as it was very good white noise and blocked out all the chatter, snoring, crying babies etc.  We put the boys to bed and I went off for a wander, then Rob went off to try and find some food for us.  He came back with a cuppa which was definitely required.

After a bit of chatting we were soon all snoozing away in our home for the next 4 nights.  I was so pleased we had done a practice run at home.  The boys were great going to bed.  Rob and I had a rather late night but I was sure the excitement of the next day would stop us being tired.