Happy Camping- an inside take on Glastonbury 2011

Yes bloggers- I am one of those lucky gits that spent the last 5 days in festival fever- covered in mud, immersed in music and taken back by the spectacular awesomeness that is the Glastonbury Festival. From the glorious sunshine to the pouring rain- the deepest mud to the greenest field- the heaviest rock to the gangsta' rap- I can say: I was there!

I have showered and slept and I can divulge into the highs, lows and mind blowing events of Glasto 2k11. The biggest festival has done it again- with 175 000 muddy campers arriving home as happy as larry. 

On arrival you are thrown straight into the outdoor life- hurded through the Glastonbury fields like a cattle. Seas of people like pack-horses buckling under the weight of everything plus the kitchen sink. And let me tell you- when your brother dishes out 4 years worth of Festival experience and suggests you "take two trips from the car"- LISTEN! The walk was, in a word, agony. A camping bag nearly your size strapped to your back and a bottle of Ashbeck in hand as you treck through foreign fields for 2-3 hours desperately trying to find a pitch- is not fun. But what follows makes the gruelling pain entirely worth it.

When a pitch is found- and the tent is up (thanks to the boyfriend) a well deserved nap is on the cards. At £700 plus for a tipi, glamping was not an option but our four man tent provided all the shelter we needed from the pouring rain and beaming sun that followed. It was goodnight Sienna as the journey turned our afternoon nap into a 14 hour sleep.

Thursday was the perfect day for some sight seeing at Glastonbury- walks around the campus-- through the stalls of food and festive clothing, to the healing fields and the stone circle, the Holywood-esque 'Glastonbury' sign and when the sun goes down a trip to Shangri-La. It was the perfect time to check out the Post Apocalyptic design of Block 9. A late night wonderland of breathtaking creations and serious soundsystems including bars, nightclubs, a restaurant, huge art installations and extremely alternative cabaret. This grunge-heaven included taxi cabs and tube trains smashed into buildings and actors scattered everywhere to "infect" you with UV paint. In many ways, Glastonbury is like loads of different festivals converging on the same gorgeous countryside for one blissful weekend. Each area of the Festival has its own character, its own loyal fans and its own special attractions: so the Dance Village is as distinct from the Green Fields as the Circus & Theatre fields are from The Park.

The line up Mike Eavis had in store for us lucky campers was incredible- but the clashes made the choice incredibly difficult! My Friday kicked off at the Pyramid stage with The Two Door Cinema Club. Set to complete a few summer appearances before heading back into the studio, the Bangor boys warmed up the Glastonbury crowd as the weather stayed surprisingly warm and the trickles of rain didn't seem to spoil the atmosphere as the crowds joined in with What You Know and Undercover Martyn. Next to appear on the Pyramid Stage was the Wu Tang Clan- there I was- the least gangsta' of the lot, at the front of the crowd with my 'W' sign bowing in the air as the bass blew from the speakers. What I thought would be a bit of a giggle actually turned out to be unbelievably enjoyable- and while I question some of the things said by the clan (about us being brethren whether we are black white or yellow-risqué) the energy omitted by the rappers was incredible. 

A visit to the Acoustic Tent to see Newton Faulkner was the perfect remedy to the rainy blues. Newtons charm teamed with his beautiful performance of Dream Catch me and infamous Bohemian Rhapsody cover left me with a smile the size of Jupiter. While Biffy Clyros performance wasn't all I hoped it would be they saved face with their last few songs including Mountains and Collide. Then it was straight to the Other Stage for a set made of dreams by Mumford and Sons. The folk bands rabble rousing set had us singing, dancing, cheering and generally falling in love with their every move. 

It was back to the Pyramid for Fridays headline act to top off the 'Beautiful Day'; U2. Ego and frontman Bono, briefly dropped the social crusade and appeared to evoke The Fly rock star persona with a leather outfit that would make Morrissey physically sick, and the traditional sunglasses which provoked much the same reaction. He removed the iconic eyewear once to ‘wipe the tears away’ during a crowd pleasing rendition of Sunday Bloody Sunday. U2 will never fail with a greatest hits set that had the entire crowd crooning. Bono apologised for 'phoning in sick last year' and even played homage to fellow headliners Coldplay with a cover of Yellow and a less advisable cover of Destiny’s Child chart hit Independent Women. 

Saturdays acts kicked off with a breathtaking set by Jessie J. I was in awe as the injured diva performed flawless vocals while sitting down! Jessie had the crowd laughing, singing and dancing with her incredible stage presence- she invited fans to dance on stage with her, one lucky little girl to sing "Price Tag" with the star while cuddling up on JJs thrown- and the down to earth Jessie even covered her face with mud to feel closer to her fans. Jessie J was definitely a highlight.

The days acts remained at a high as Tinie Tempah took to the Pyramid stage-the current golden boy of UK hip-hop. The time was ripe for the rapper to supply Glastonbury's big pop moment and he happily obliged. There is something in the 22-year-old's lyrics -- a sense of humour, some hints of self-doubt -- that reaches people through the usual rapper bravado, though of course it helps that 'Wonderman', 'Written In The Stars' and 'Pass Out' are all impossible not to dance to. He had the crowd crouched down low and going crazy as he performed not only his tunes but a medley of the biggest pop music of 2010/11. Tinie Tempah passed the Pyramid test with flying colours.

Paolo Nutini was next to grace the Pyramid stage- he was his usual drunk and drugged- but his songs were as always catchy- so the set wasn't a complete let down. The next band surprised me and had possibly the anthem that I'd take away from this years Glastonbury as the crowd repeatedly sang for several minutes "one day like this a year will see me right." Yes- Elbow rocked Glastonbury 2011- the reverse Mexican Wave was epic and ultimate lad and frontman Guy Garvey gave into the DOWN IT peer pressure and storpeedoed his beer to celebrate the bands 20th anniversary. The perfect band to gear-up the audience for Coldplay.

Headliners Coldplay, now old-hands at this Glastonbury headlining lark, showed newbies U2 how it's done with lasers, flares and pyrotechnics aplenty, and a fair few tunes thrown in to boot. Chris Martin even apologised for playing new songs, including single, 'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall', saying "Please forgive us for playing new songs, one day they'll be your favourites." He needn't have worried even with new song blunders -- with a set which included the singalong power of 'Fix You', 'Yellow' (to which I made my TV debut on BBC 2- full face shot: see 4:07 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhko_rOF6Uo ) and 'Clocks', Coldplay made sure the amassed Glastonbury crowd didn't leave feeling short-changed. 

Sunday began with welsh band Joy Formidable taking to the John Peel Stage- an amazing rock set of a lesser known band which could only end in the complete destruction of the stage set and instruments complete with wailing and lead singer Ritzey trashing on the floor. It was then on to the front of the Pyramid Stage for a non movable 6 hours worth of bands and waiting for Beyonce. During the wait was legend Paul Simon whos 'throat infection' paired with an audience who really wernt there for him left the set with alot to be desired. While renditions of 50 ways to leave your lover and slip sliding away got the audience singing and spirits flowing-something was still missing. However, short, unassuming, in jeans, a T-shirt and an open shirt, Simon had few words and fewer grand gestures. He wasn’t there to play the superstar, he was there to sing and play with his band. And there can hardly be a more musical collection of hired hands on the superstar circuit. 

Next to proceed Simon was Plan B whose ascendency to pop fame is confirmed by the size of the crowd he drew. It's hard to work out what's more striking: the way he manages to project emotional fragility to such a huge audience, or the sight of such a vast crowd cheerily singing along to Prayin' (a song about a prison murder.) While it wasn't my favourite set of the weekend the duet of stand by me, kiss from a rose and my girl between Plan B and his beat-boxing support act FX was just incredible. The sense that Plan B is a unique artist is heavily underlined throughout the set. Now what follows, was probably the most horrific part of the weekend, and an error on Mikey Eavis' part. Why anyone would chose Pendulum to support act Beyonce is beyond. Dont get me wrong- Pendulums music is amazing- and their live set was outstanding- or it would have been if I had time to catch my breath and unlodge myself from between two overly large ravers, soaked in sweat- not entirely their own. I literally went through blood, sweat and tears to keep my front spot for diva Beyonce Knowles. The amount of girls that had queued hours for B- who were heaved out by security men throughout Pendulum was ridiculous and the constant water dished out by security was wasted- ending up over my head several times.


Alas!-the wait and sweaty pain was worth it- as Beyonce ascended through mists of smoke to join   her all female band on stage for her opening number Crazy in Love- which feaured giant fireworks on each side of the stage in time to the track's signature trumpets. She told us: "I always wanted to be a rock star, and tonight we are all rock stars, I want to make beautiful memories and be free tonight.” And what memories we have to take away fellow Glastonburiers! After a raunchy performance of Naughty Girl she brought out British rapper Tricky to guest on Baby Boy, while he seemed a bit lost, his microphone non-existent and almost like someone who had won a competition to sing along side her B brought the temperature right back up with a series of mash-ups – 'Alanis Morrissette's You Oughta Know during If I Were A Boy before her own Sweet Dreams slid into Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics. Along with new breathtaking songs Beyonce also heralded back to her nostalgic Destiny Child past with a medley of their best- as all 175 000 of us shouted hello to Kelly and Michelle. Not to mention the intersperse of her and Lady Gs 'Telephone'. 'Irreplaceable' saw a mass singalong in the crowd as we took the lead on the entire first verse with Beyonce standing in awe. As her set came to an end with 'Halo' Beyonce told the crowd: "A girl, a woman, a young lady has not headlined for 20 years. This is history for me." She did herself proud, she did Glastonbury proud- what a finale to Glastonbury 2011.

Now- sitting back home with a bronzen glow, a UV Glastonbury 2011 band on my wrist and a pair of very muddy wellies in my garden I can smile and say- I was at Glastonbury 2011.


-ZB

Once a rapist always a rapist?

The Government announced today (after much dispute) that thousands of sex offenders, including rapists and paedophiles, will be able to apply to be removed from the sex crimes register under human rights laws.

A Supreme Court ruling forced the Government reluctantly to draw up new rules allowing those serious sex offenders put on the register for life to have their place on the list reconsidered. The new rules were drawn up because the Supreme Court ruled that automatic lifetime inclusion on the register breached the Human Rights Act.

So-under current rules, anyone sentenced to more than 2years in jail for a sexual offence is put on the register for life on release. Those on the register are monitored by police and visited regularly by officers. Home Office estimates that there are about 44,000 people on the register, with over half of them for life.

Under the proposed rules, adults listed for life could apply for removal after 15 years. Their cases would be considered by police and probation officers. 

The Home Office estimated that the change would mean more than 2,000 people a year would be eligible to seek a review. Offenders whose applications are rejected will have to wait another eight years before being able to seek another assessment.

In my eyes adults who sexually abuse children should stay on the offenders register for life as we will never be sure their behaviour will change. No amount of litter picking or college courses will ultimately guarantee the offender is on the straight and narrow- so to speak. Sex offenders are after all criminals. Why these people are allowed to use human rights laws to protect themselves when their victims had no protection against them is beyond!

Through basic research on sex offenders on the media agenda its clear that a new sexual offence is brought into media limelight every other day. These are just the ones brought to our attention. There are vast numbers of sex offenders- to think the government will just allow these people to walk away from crimes practically scot-free is deplorable when victims are left scathed.

This is one journo saying black marks by names should stay.

-ZB

A Week in Photos.

SUNDAY: A Kern County fire helicopter makes a water drop on the Key fire near Keyesville, Calif., as another helicopter makes a drop in the rugged terrain near Lake Isabella. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire started Sunday near Keyesville 45 miles northeast. Three hundred firefighters from Kern County Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management, and US Forest Service responded to the incident. Three water dropping helicopters, three air tankers, Air Attack 490 from Kern County Fire Department, five crews, 11 fire engines, and two dozers are were utilized.

MONDAY: Cucumbers are spread on a field to be used as fertilizer by French farmers who are unable to sell their produce in Carquefou near Nantes, western France. Authorities in Germany have yet to pinpoint the exact source of the three-week outbreak that has killed 22 people in Europe and stricken more than 2,200 in a dozen countries -- all of whom had been travelling in northern Germany. So far, bean sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce have all been suspected of spreading ecoli.

TUESDAY: Volcanoes in Chile's Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle range have been erupting, sending 5km (three-mile) wide columns of ash and pumice stones into the air. Stiff winds blew ash from the Chilean volcano Tuesday in a widening arc across Argentina to the capital, grounding most air travel to and from the country.

WEDNESDAY: Blowing smoke rings - a South Korean K1 tank fires smoke shells during a joint military drill between South Korea and US forces in Paju near the border with North Korea.

THURSDAY: Suspects are lined up as weapons are displayed to the media by the Mexican Navy in Mexico City. According to the Mexican Navy, 204 rifles, 11 guns, 15 hand grenades, uniforms of the Mexican navy and of the U.S. army, over 29,000 cartridges and over 441 pounds of cocaine were seized in an operation against the Zetas drug cartel in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon in the north of Mexico.

FRIDAY: Madame Tussauds give a celebratory party makeover to the wax figures of the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, to mark The Dukies 90th birthday. Happy Birthday Duke of Edinburgh!

SATURDAY: Thousands of people staged anti-nuclear rallies in Japan today as the country marked three months since its massive quake and tsunami, which resulted in the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years.

-ZB

Huw Lewis talks Childrens Wellbeing.

In conjuncture with Working Word PR I was fortunate enough to interview Huw Lewis-Dep. Minister for Children. The interview took place at the Senedd on Monday the 21st of March 2011. The basic Background for this is as follows:

1.    The Children and Young People’s Well Being Monitor was launched on Wednesday 30 
March. This is the second in the series, the first edition was published in 2008.

2.    The Monitor is vital in helping us understand the broad picture of children and young people’s wellbeing 
in Wales and will assist us in understanding actions that need to be taken to ensure 
children and young people in Wales can have the best start in life and have a happy and
 fulfilling childhood which will prepare them for life as an adult.

3.    A children and young people’s version has been made available on line from early May.

4.    To complement the launch this Youtube film was made available on line at the beginning
 of May (a little later than originally intended).

5.    A communications plan has been developed and will be implemented to engage with 
stakeholders.

Huw Lewis is really a lovely bloke and as down to earth as he appears in the video from our
breakfast banter to the embarrassing noddies. He was a pleasure to interview and I hope many 
interviews like this follow! One step closer to becoming journo.

For the original video and other Welsh Assembly Government videos please visit: 
http://www.youtube.com/user/welshgovernment#p/u/3/QyMRVb7_Yfg

-ZB

Prince Charming or King of Blunders?

For some, Prince Philip is an embarrassment with a knack for ill-judged humour and gaffes that have seen him accused of racism and xenophobia. But for others, he is a patron of goodwill, devoted to charitable causes and selfless acts and a stalwart of the royal family. Whatever the reality is, the Duke of Edinburgh, who turned 90 today, has mastered the knack of polarising the population.

Over his sixty years as royal consort, Philip became famous for making remarks which some people regarded as offensive or based on stereotypes. Some of them were immediately interpreted as gaffes; but other awkward observations were construed as merely odd or occasionally even funny.

 In his own words, comments attributed to the Duke have contributed to the perception that he is "a cantankerous old sod" but I think historian David Starkey has best described him as a kind of " H.R.H Victor Meldrew". The I-dont-believe-it attitude of Philip who constantly puts one foot in it has led to much of the media today looking back at on the Princes blunders.

Overtly racist, sexist and all-around insulter Phil has been noted with such retorts:

"If you stay here much longer, you will go home with slitty eyes." To a British exchange student during a visit to China.

"You look like you're ready for bed!" Speaking to the President of Nigeria, who was dressed in traditional robes, during a state visit..

"Do you still throw spears at each other?" To William Brin, a successful Aboriginal businessman, during a visit to Brin's Aboriginal Cultural Park in Queensland, Australia.

To female sea cadet last year: “Do you work in a strip club?”
To deaf children by steel band, 2000: “Deaf? If you’re near there, no wonder you are deaf.”
On the Duke of York’s house, 1986: “It looks like a tart’s bedroom.”

But despite his quips he always has one fan in The Queen who made him Lord High Admiral — the titular head of the British Royal Navy and an office until now held by her — as a birthday gift and partly in recognition of the promising seafaring career Philip gave up to spend a lifetime at her side.

Awwww- one must suppose there's a soft side to the bumbling old git after all! Happy Birthday Dukie! 

-ZB