It may not be what you think it is…
The festivalling days…
I’ve thought a lot about this but never shared about it because it felt too personal, embarrassing even, to admit out loud, but here goes.
For me it was never about partying and drinking. It was accidentally finding community when a fickle world turned their back. It was hard and crazy work and it saved my life when I wanted it to end, so I wanted to tell you a little about it.
It was about travelling, camaraderie, constant improvising and flexing your creative muscles. Very little box to think outside.
It was about helping each other out, and looking out for each other.
Wearing more than one hat, feeling useful and being seen as an asset.
Being part of something bigger than you, and together facilitate an experience for others.
I loved the nomadic life, where no day ever looked the same; discovering and seeing new things. The feeling of freedom. Meeting random people you felt an immediate affinity with. About going somewhere.
The thrill of driving onto the ferry and knowing you’re on the road again!
Knowing you can deal with whatever life throws at you with what’s in the pockets of your cargo-pants and shoulder-pack, except maybe spiders.
Seeing new places, and returning to old ones.
Reconnecting with people, who felt like long lost friends.
Seeing each other again and catching up felt so good.
Falling in love with a velveteen jacket and handmade jewellery, or discovering a new sandwich at a service station for lunch. Discovering world music.
Pizza by a beautiful lake en route somewhere.
Sitting around a campfire, before or after the event, before you break camp and move on to the next destination, and set up once more…
Be given an improvised dreamcatcher by an old hippie because they heard you had a bad dream (I still have it).
Losing five cigarette lighters in one evening, being given chai by a stranger, and singing old hits with a bunch of strangers in a field…
Washing your hair in a public toilet somewhere in Copenhagen – or was it Belgium, or France?
The feeling of being clean with clean hair and clothes after a hot shower when all you’ve had for 5 days is babywipes.
Listening to your favorite chillout collection of music, driving home through the night, everyone else asleep. Headlights, white lines, and black tar rivers… Too much coffee, cola, and haribo bears, longing for salad, vegetables, sushi, and a hot bath. Then the moon rises to keep you company…
https://youtu.be/9N40ghQ4z0Y Danya – Frederick Rosseau, from The Karma Collection.
Beer or mugs of hot tea around a potbelly stove as the nights got darker and colder and the season is drawing to an end. Until next time…maybe next year…
https://youtu.be/6SxhzWZrGmg Autumn is here – Craig Armstrong – Weather storm, The Karma Collection.
It was never about drinking, bands, or party-drugs, those aren’t my thing. Those were my least favorite parts. The things I just put up with.
It was some of the best times in my life, but after nine seasons it was time for me to move on. New phase in life. Like now. I have two cats this time, famously neophobic as a species, they want a homebase. So do I.
New friends. A workplace that appreciates me. That stuff.
Catpaws Cafe 