Anyone who knows me will have spotted that I am not really a festival person. Whilst many year's ago I used to enjoy various camping weekends with the Scouts, as I have grown older I have decided that I don't need my character building any further. Well I may have become a soft southerner; A little further confession: I treat visiting venues that are not near  tube stations as expeditions of Livingstonian proportions (thats Dr not Ken).

But in 2007 I have decided that adventures are good for the soul and a source of endless discovery. So came about my third adventure in 2 months. After the success of my last expedition to see Little Fish in Oxford, it seemed a natural progression to journey into the wilds of Oxfordshire to this free festival (well its only 200 meters from the Paddington to Hereford mainline rail station, so wilds may be a bit of an exaggeration, but its wild in spirit, just like the blanket).

The ticket office person looked slightly bemused when I offered him cash and didn't have any travelcard, but he recovered quickly, and I just caught the train. It was lunchtime on a Sunday and I was lucky to find some standing room in front of the toilet. Well it was only £20 for a cheap day return. Fortunately lots of people de-trained at Reading, so I got a seat for the last hour of the journey. The trip has been  pretty exciting so far, I'm sure you'd agree.

Arriving at the site it occurred to me that my preparations for the trip had been at best optimistic; dark clouds swept across the afternoon sky, threatening to re-inact the imagined downpour of the previous day. As I had not been here yesterday I could only imagine what had ensued but the excitement of my trip had fuelled my imagination. OK to cut to the quick it looked like the weather forecast of DRY with sunny intervals could be WRONG. Being British I hardly spared a thought for the waterproof jacket which was still at home (as it is bright yellow one could not wear it at a hip gathering of cool people, although in this field in oxfordshire I may have been mistaken for a steward) and set out to find a cup of tea and some organic festival fare. In this mission I was very successful and thoughts of torrential rain soon faded like a tescos till receipt shown to the sun. When I took my sunglasses off the clouds weren't really threatening at all, more like a boisterous uncle playing a joke which isn't quite funny. I had a couple of cameras, a bag to keep them dry, sunglasses and some cash and a return train ticket ....actually it sounds like I had everything I needed, perhaps I should just delete this paragraph, ahhh but you've read it now so there wouldn't be any point.

Better wizz on a bit, you've probably got better thing to do than this, really if you come back later you will find there is  a sort of review of Little Fish's show. After a couple of pictures of me hobnobbing with the stars of the show and their entourage. Actually I had a pleasant afternoon with several people taking pics with my cameras and their own, whilst several bands played in the background. All the bands were good and if I had been less 'chilled' I would have taken some pictures and been able to share the names of the bands with you. But wait I have found a picture of The Black Hats, so there's the name of a band too.

Seriously the black hats and the other bands whose names I really don't remember did set a high standard.

This picture includes me, so look quickly as if people in the office are too unkind I might remove it - you can guess that I didn't take the picture, as even by myspace standards of self-portraits it would be an awesome achievement; instead photography was by juju of little fish, I think she must indeed be a great photographer as I look kind of normal (usually pictures of me mysteriously disappear)

And below, Little Fish look like experienced festival goers, all they need for Glastonbury is the wellies.

Just as Little Fish were taking the stage there was a rumour that it was starting to rain. I was already at the front so can not testify as to the truth or otherwise of the rumour. The effect was to draw the crowd near to the stage undercover. This immediately gave little fish a proper crowd. Whilst the listeners may have been creeping forward like the tide at Blackpool, it must be said that the earlier bands had performed to a far-flung crowd, thus providing plenty of space to lie down for a Sunday afternoon snooze. (just to be clear it was the audience not the bands who were taking a nap).

JuJu has prepared a little surprise for us followers of fashion. She is sporting trend-setting braces. It a nice little touch. She has been suffering with a throat infection but songs are sung with their usual gusto and the beat goes on.... There is a surprise for me when JuJu jumps in the air ! I had not seen this at previous gigs and was intially caught out with the wrong lens, but was more prepared when she launched herself a second time later in the set.

I'm lucky enough to know several good bands who have the potential to be great. Little Fish are already stars, just waiting for the audience to catch them. I think you know I like them so I won't go on, but their performance didn't disappoint.

This blog has taken several days to write and has been crafted with the care of a ghostwriter for a premiership footballer. I like to think it may be a bit more reflective of the truth, but there are times where it looks like I'm being paid by the word.

Ah well just in case you've skipped to the punchline, or maybe dozed off in the middle somewhere let me end by quoting JuJu's review of the day: "we had a real great day out". That just about sums it up.

17.6.07 18:00, comment