Gone Sailing (Ornes to Svalbard). Back middle of July

Triban at the Sunrise Celebration Festival.

We were lucky to be able to work with Triban at this year's Sunrise Celebration Festival. This was the first time we had been to the new site which is near Bruton in Somerset. The festival site is great  and much smaller than the old one which was near Yeovil. When Rae and I and my two children, Tom and Matt, arrived on the Saturday before the festival was due to begin we were made to feel very welcome by the production and security team. The security guys, particularly Bear and Spanner were great and looked after us really well, cheers guys.

Rich of Triban had asked Rae and I to go to the site on the Saturday to attend a fire training course. The course lasted about an hour and a half and took place in a tent in pouring rain. The training itself was ok, but it sent shivers down my spine, reminding me of my past when I used to be the Training, Education and Workforce Development Manager for Somerset PCT. I used to have to organise statutory and mandatory training and I am so glad I know longer have to do that anymore.

Being on site six days before a festival starts is great. It is wonderful watching fields slowly becoming covered in marquees, big tops, such as the one belonging to the Invisible Circus along with wonderful structures such as the Bimble Inn.

Triban who were at the Small Worlds Festival near Headcorn in Kent were not due to arrive until the Wednesday and so we were able to just relax and enjoy ourselves whilst all those around us worked their  socks off. Mind you, we too worked hard when Triban did arrive and Rae and I particularly enjoyed helping raise their new big marquee. Roly who had made this beautiful tent was on hand to oversee and teach Triban how to put the structure up.

This was the first time I had worked at a festival and I really, really enjoyed it. It was great working in the cafe. My son Tom was lucky to be taken under Steve's, the sound engineers, wing introducing him to  sound engineering. Thanks Rich, Steve, Shahid and Alisa for teaching Tom.

My other son Matt enjoyed playing with the other children and particularly enjoyed relaxing in the hammock slung from the big Triban trailer.