Loulou's guide to summer festivals - part 1 the 3 day posh one



My view at Glasto 2010 from the tent

So I've mentioned before that I love live music - I love watching/listening to all types of music especially when the sun is shining and I have a cold cider in my mitts. And this summer I am lucky enough to be going to 2 festivals this month!!!! So for this guide to festivals (part 1) I'm going to divulge my key tips for surviving a festival when if you are anything like me the whole idea of not having easy access to showers/flushing loos and washing machines makes you feel a little queasy.

First up I'm off to the Isle of Wight festival which is this weekend the 10th, 11th and 12th of June and includes acts I love including Lissie, The Script, Plan B, Kaiser Chiefs and most excitingly for me and the main reason for going the FOO FIGHTERS - cue whooping and screaming!! I'm also very excited about seeing Pulp I do hope they rock some of the classics!!

After a week or so off we then head off back to my home county of Somerset for the megafest of Glastonbury where Coldplay, U2, Biffy Clyro, Jessie J, Don McLean and so so so many more than I could ever list here so click on see here to see the full list! This is a 5 day festival so not for the faint hearted but rest assured in part 2 I'll tell you how to survive in style.

But first up how to survive a poshfest like Isle Of Wight....

Things to take with you

1. What to pack...clothing
The most important thing when packing for any festival is to be aware of the weather. You will be outside pretty much the whole time so you will need comfy, warm, lightweight and waterproof clothing to meet any eventuality. It can be roasting hot from bitterly cold and wet late at night so layers are your friend. Try and pack the following and you shouldn't go far wrong:

• Vest tops
• Long sleeve t-shirts
• Fleece jumper (tragic nerd that I am mine is a glasto one)
• Pac a mac (also handy for sitting on)
• maxi dresses (great for if it's hot)
• flipflops
• wellies (well it doesn't take a lot of rain to make it muddy with thousands tramping around)
• trainers
• leggings (to keep the chill off at night under skirts)
• sun hat
• lots of socks (nothing worse than wet feet!)
• cross body handbag (need the hands for drinks and waving in the air while dancing)

2. What to pack...toiletries
Now I think I'm relatively low maintenance for a girl but even I have standards so I do tend to take a fair few bits with me:

• wet wipes (these really are the festival essential if you take nothing else take a whole large packet of these)
• 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner (just add a standpipe and you're all set)
• leave in conditioner
• dry shampoo (for when there's no tap/too cold/wet to wash under it)
• shower gel
• toothbrush and toothpaste plus mouthwash (well just because you are camping there's no need to neglect your health!)
• make up essentials (for me that is eyeliner, foundation compact and mascara)
• hairbrush and comb
• suncream (no burnt bits please peoples we don't want to grow old before our time now do we)

3. Key things to remember...
Now we all have different tastes but there are some key things that if you remember to take them with you will make your experience that bit more comfy...

• Airbed - call me a snob but sleeping for more than 1 night on anything less than an airbed at my age isn't fun. For the few hours I get of kip a night I do like to be comfy so an airbed is now a must
• Camping chairs - handy for by the tent for early mornings waking up or last thing at night before bed because you do a LOT of walking every now and again it's nice to take a load off away from the floor!
• Power monkey - mobiles are essential if you loose your friends etc but they don't last long these days. power monkeys are great for giving you extra charge - my iPhone lasted the whole of Glasto last year thanks to my monkey!
• First aid kit - not the earth but some key things like paracetamol, neurofen, anti histamine (even if you aren't a hayfever sufferer it sure can come in handy),
• Anti bacterial hand gel
• Loo roll - or as I like to use packets of tissues - so much easier to carry around with you but either way you'll need em!
• Pen and paper - or if you're me a pocket filofax - handy for making sure you have everyone's phone numbers (in case you loose yours), making notes of any bands you want to see, leaving notes for other people etc etc
• Money - you really don't want to waste time away from all the fun queuing for hours to get some dosh. So take plenty, you don't have to spend it all. But make sure you spread it around and don't keep it all in one place. For example I usually take a small purse in which I keep that day's spends and then in a separate cash bag in my handbag in a different pocket some more of my money. Well you can never be too careful!
• Torch - it gets dark at night, you're outside and it's grass. Torchlight is essential to make sure you don't sprain an ankle (as is not drinking a bottle of wine while putting up your tent and then drinking shots and cider but that is another story!)
• Camera - well you don't want to miss some essential sunsets/facebook/blog/twitter moments!
• And finally in your absolute essentials - bin bags! Handy for keeping stuff dry if it rains, putting dirty clothes in and of course disposing of rubbish!

4. Things to look out for...
There are some key things that can make or break your festival experience but with a little knowledge and planning you can make sure you enjoy every moment:

1. Know where you want to camp...knowing where you want to put your tent is key as once you get on site it is a bun fight to get the best space. You want to avoid a) being anywhere too near the loos - v whiffy by day 2 b) avoid being at the bottom of a hill - if it rains where do you think all that water is going to go c) try and avoid being too close or too far away from the path - too close and you'll be kept awake all night and too far away trying to find your tent in the dark can be a nightmare
2. Organise a meeting spot should you get separated from all your friends at any point - remember your mobile may die so a little preparation can be key
3. Agree in advance on your must sees with your group and see what everyone else wants to see - me and my man don't always want to see the same things so we go off and watch stuff and then meet up again later. The key to enjoying a festival is be aware of everyone but make sure you also get to see what you want - remember it is an experience that you will never get again!
4. Be aware of your surroundings - you are there to have a good time BUT it is no different than being out on a Saturday night. Don't take unnecessary risks and be aware of who and what is going on around you. Which also means being careful not to get so out of it you don't know what you are doing! Being disorientated in the dark can be a scary feeling.
5. Utilise the property lock ups - remember your tent has no security! Don't leave anything in it your would be bereft to loose. While (touch wood) I've never had a problem I really don't think it is worth the risk of taking all your best clobber!!

Loulou's festival fashion parade

So what will I be wearing to the Isle of Wight? Being that this is a more suburban festival on a smaller scale than the acres and acres of Glasto I can be a bit more girlie so here are some of my festival wares (I'm keeping everything crossed for good sunny weather)

First up the Maxi Dress - this one is from Warehouse and fits me remarkably well - plus even on my midget like height I can wear it with flip flops/converse as well as wellies if necessary! I'll team it with a cardigan and denim jacket for when the evenings draw in (oh and a pair of leggings underneath for warmth at night too)


Maxi Dress


The cross body bag - this one is from Fossil and I got it for less than half price (yay!) I love the yellow colour and it's leather! Perfect for carting around all my essentials!

Bag

And a bright top to stand out from the crowd, I do like some bright colours in the summer. Now I need a camisole with this top otherwise it is positively indecent but teamed with cropped denims it will be a perfect jump around in top for IOW.


Top

 So there we go, my very brief guide to surviving a festival! Have you any tips that you would like to share?

Lx

Things I Love Friday

Is this not the best V Day card ever?

So another Friday has arrived with another week flying by (OMG is it really nearly March?) so therefore it's time for another Things I Love Friday post...I can hear the celebrations and cheers from here :0)

So here are my Top 5 this week:

1. VALENTINE'S DAY
I was lucky enough to receive the most gorgeous bunch of flowers on Valentine's Day from the lovely Mr P. A combination bunch of red roses and lilies (my absolute favourites) arrived for me at work bless him, with a lovely card all Vegas like - he's a keeper this one!! But even better than the flowers and card Mr P's appetite was back in full flow after feeling dodgy all weekend. So we had a romantic meal in of steak and chips plus garlic butter (him) and Diane sauce (me) yummy so a truly perfect V Day.

My gorgeous flowers and all his get well type cards!!

2. CHINESE FOOD
Along with the many other side affects of chemo Mr P's tastes have changed quite dramatically and rice is currently banned from our house. He's no idea why really but the idea of it makes him quite queasy. Not a problem, only I've been craving Singapore Fried Rice from our local Chinese for weeks now (absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that) so this week while Mr P sneaked out for a long overdue escapade from the house I binged in Chinese and it was amazing. Even if I did eat it with all the windows open and scented candles burning to make sure that my contraband dinner smells didn't give away the fact that I'd riced it up for tea. Simple pleasures are the best.

3. PARIS PLANNING
While the big holibobs plan is for a trip to Whistler in Canada next January we are thinking of lots of lovely things to do this year to celebrate being here (Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals are a given of course) we needed something just slightly nearer to look forward to and a jaunt across the pond seemed just the ticket. I've always wanted to go and see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Élysées while he wanted to see what Euro Disney is like - and with it being such a short hop, skip or train ride away a potential May trip would be perfect. So I now have in my possession a Lonely Planet guide for Paris (we loved the Vegas one so this brand new 2011 guide just slipped into the Amazon basket so easily) this weekend will include lots of researching and list making, bliss.

4. WARDROBE CHALLENGE
I mentioned on Monday about taking part in the wardrobe challenge - well I sort of did - only I didn't blog about it so a massive round up blog post tomorrow of how I got on, photos and the such like coming up. In brief it was far more fun that I expected and I clearly love stripes, maybe a bit too much....you'll see all tomorrow!!

5. WINE
Thursday night involved accompanying Mr P to a band practice (he is a uber fab bass player with a brilliant covers band much in demand in our town) they had a couple of gigs planned before he got poorly that they didn't want to cancel (good upstanding boys these) so they have enlisted the services of Ben - the hardest working bass player in the world. He currently works full time and plays bass in 4 bands already and is now a special guest star standing in for Mr P in their band Hybrid (see their myspace Hybrid for lists of gigs and to see photos and hear some of their stuff or why not like them on Facebook sorry shameless plug over!!) So while they had a practice session all together to make sure everyone knew what songs they were playing or when to come in I quaffed 2 glasses of very nice vino (Temperanillo) and got quite squiffy. As I've not been drinking much in the past couple of months the vino went straight to my head - but despite that (because of that?) it was a most enjoyable evening hanging out with some friends listening to some good tunes. And on a school night too!! Thank goodness we have the half day Friday policy at work is all I can say.

So anyone done anything good this week and fancy sharing? Right beef noodles for tea to prepare - yummy

Lx

p.s. Am currently watching Mr P play LBP2 and I want to adopt a sackboy, just too adorable

Things I Love Friday

A view of Glastonbury Festival 2010 - the sunshine was amazing!!

So it has hurtled round again and wooohooo it's Friday! This week has been a strange one, what with a v poorly feeling Mr P, mega hectic work schedule, slight anger management issues (more of that to come in a later post) and abysmal weather. But being the beacon of positivity I am here are the Things I Love this Friday...

1. SUNSHINE - just in time for me getting home from work today at lunchtime the rain ceased and out popped the sun. (I had to look it up in google just to make sure it has been so long) Doesn't everything seem so much better when the sun shines? Almost time to crack out the flip flops and wedges again HURRAH. So inspired was I by the reappearance that I dug out the photo above to maintain the sunny joy after the clouds came back over!!

2. EATING - this week has been a difficult food week for Mr P and therefore me. He has the nausea I get the earache (only joking, I get that all the time) Anyway with the Big Battle (see here) currently going on there are days where he is extra sensitive to smell/texture etc etc. So this week I have been banished to eating my tea in the kitchen, door closed, windows open - and this is having salad and bread - not even mildly stinky cheese. But along with the sunshine it seems Mr P's appetite has returned so I may be liberated from the kitchen and allowed to eat again RESULT!!

3. FRIENDS - my friends are amazing. They are there when you need them, rally round in a crisis and say the most hilarious things to cheer you up when you are stressed or angry. Love you all :0)

4. VALENTINE'S DAY - I know I'm a very lucky loved up lady and even though this year we won't be going out for dinner and the such it will still be an occasion to cherish and celebrate just being together. But I think Valentine's day is also about showing your friends and family how much you love them too. So even if you are single embrace all your loved ones and lets celebrate life on Monday in all its shapes and guises.

5. NEW FILOFAXES - OMG I think I actually squealed when I saw this post on Philofaxy about new binders, notebooks and colours. I can't wait to see what new styles and colours are available and especially if any of them will be out in time for the Philofaxy meet up in March (squeaaaaaal) I may be a total stationery nerd but hey everyone needs a hobby!!

So that's my Top 5 Things I Love Friday. What's yours?

Lx

p.s. Beyonce for Glasto - I may be in the minority but WOW I'm really excited to see what she does. Bet it will be an awesome close to the festival....

Resolutions Update....how am I doing vs the charter?

Gorgeous Notepad see here

So on the 3rd of January I posted a blog about Resolutions and what mine were for the year. Some challenges and goals to keep me motivated for the year to acheive new and exciting things ahem (read here). In a regular feature here is how I'm getting on with these since I put them out there into cyberspace...

Overall report on January's progress is must try harder!! (ooh gosh how I remember that and "if she applied half as much effort to her school work as she does to talking she would be an A student" from my school reports)

So a quick refresh on what were the goals -

1. Visit Oxford Family
2. Go to Warmwell (dry skiing place)
3. Book ski holiday
4. Train to complete a half marathon
5. Go to Snowdonia
6. Enjoy IOW and Glastonbury festivals
7. Learn piano

So where are we at?

1. We will hopefully be going up in May to Oxford for a party (plenty of outfit planning time huzzah). So Mr P can meet the whole of the clan in one fell swoop yay
2. Clearly with Mr P being sub-par at the moment a trip to Warmwell is on hold for now, but I think a trip in maybe April/May time for a starter lesson for me on skis (seriously he would hate to miss the chance of seeing me tumbling down a slope at speed) will be on the cards!
3. We have started talking/planning/costing up a January 2012 trip woohooo - although ages away the looking forward part of a holiday is almost as good as the actual holiday so I'm glad we have ages to plan (LISTS and LISTS and LISTS oh the joy I love, love, love it!!) Plus this gives me ample time to track down all the things I will need and purchase them over time so I can hunt out the bargains and not do a last minute expensive emergency panic shop.
4. Hmmm - epic fail here. No training. None whatsoever. Not even stuck my nose inside the gym. Not even driven down the road with the gym on it. I could blame the crazy life at present but that would just be an excuse as I haven't been for ages before things all went mental so - MUST, MUST, MUST TRY HARDER.
5. Again no actual progress on this one, not even in the discussion phase, but possibly this is a latter part of the year, post summer type trip s I'm not too worried.
6. Clearly can't do until June - however am avidly following all twitter updates for any hint of a line up announcement on Glasto (U2, Coldplay and Prince to headline possibly? Who knows) and IOW's line up is looking awesome
7. The piano playing has actually made some progress for a change...I have worked my way through my first beginner's piano book - it is so adorable I think it is actually aimed at the under 10's but made learning the notes/finger placement/dual hand playing so much easier than I thought it would be! So I am now available for all social occasions requiring a piano player to play Happy Birthday, Good King Wenceslas and Help! by the Beatles. A strange repertoire maybe but one that is very satisfying for me.

As for my other current challenge - the downsizing from Personal to Pocket Filofax, after last week's wobble I'm doing better. I've bought some more notepaper and to do sheets for the Deco and am trialling a new set up...post on that to follow

So how are your New Year Resolutions going? Fallen off the wagon yet or are you steadfast in your missions? Tell me all....

Lx

2011- Resolutions, Goals and all things positive

So it is now day 3 of 2011 and so far I have managed to accomplish the following:

1. Recover from hangover due to NYE excesses
2. Cook the emergency snow turkey for a lush Sunday roast
3. Get very drunk with Mr P on vodka while playing Buzz (and Singstar apologies poor neighbours for our out of tune warblings at 4am this morning)

As you can see this is not a list packed full of notable achievements. So today after recovering from said vodka binge I pulled out my trusty Chameleon Filofax and decided a quick reorganisation of the layout and voila My Charter for 2011 (or new year resolutions) is born...



As you can see I've used a traditional To Do list to start entering my wish list for 2011 or to make it sound less formal and more fun my 2011 Charter. On this list will be things that I want to achieve this year, to push myself into trying new things but also to be used as a reminder to focus on the people in my life as well. So they are not really resolutions, more future achievements to live by if that makes any sense. By having them in my trusty Filofax it also means they will always be with me :)

So the key ones, for if I say them out loud here on my blog then I really have to do them are:

1. Visit my family in Oxford - I have a large number of relatives hat live in the Oxford area all on my Dad's side but we only ever seem to meet up at funerals so I want to spend a weekend enjoying the sights of Oxford as well hopefully enjoying some time catching up with the family.

2. Go to Warmwell - a dry ski slope nearby in preparation for...

3. Book a ski holiday with Mr P for next season. Mr P has skied a few times, me never, but his passion for the sport means it is something I really want to try. So step 1 is booking the holiday, then later on this year get in some sneaky lessons at Warmwell which will hopefully at least get me used to wearing the kit!

4. Complete a half marathon - now this will come as a massive surprise to anyone who knows me in real life, I have a gym membership and for a while I was very good at going but I have been bad for the past couple of months. But reading the blog Hang on Little Tomato has given me the courage and conviction to think if I put my mind to it maybe I will learn to love running, and having an ultimate goal in mind while we train should give the project a purpose.

5. Go to Snowdonia - I've never been, heard it is lovely and think it is worth the trip. Simples.

6. (an easy one) Enjoy the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury Festivals. I'm lucky enough to have tickets to both of these festivals with Mr P. And with a different mix of friends also attending each I think they will be fantastic experiences. Fingers crossed for the weather!

7. Learn a mixture of songs on the piano. Mr P and I for Chrimbo this year purchased an electric piano. I've never played, he played Organ when young so we are both novices (albeit he is so musical he can replicate tunes very quickly when he hears them and I am struggling to remember where C is) but I always wanted to learn. And now we have the piano there is no excuse not to be able to learn how to play and build up a repertoire of tunes to amaze the family.

So that is where currently I got to on my 2011 Charter list. But the plan is to also have a running monthly target list to help not only achieve these bigger goals but also allow for smaller achievements along the way. January for example includes which songs I want to learn this month on the piano, what the training targets are for the running task, finishing/reading a couple of books and also a loose x lbs target to remove the excess Christmas blubber layer I added to keep warm this winter.

And this is where my Filofax comes in (cue bad picture of gorgeous Chameleon)



As all the different goals and targets can be safely stored in easy to find sections but also be ever present to be the motivator that I know I'm going to need. As readers of this blog will know there is nothing I love more than making a list after all!!

If anyone has any tips on how to keep motivated with big goals and targets then please do pass them on I think I'm going to need all the help I can get!

And coming soon a full review of how I use my Chameleon Filofax, I love seeing and reading how other people use their Filofax so I thought I'd share my current set up with you. Of course this could all change as soon as the pocket Deco arrives (eeeee excited squeak) hopefully she should arrive this week once the postal service gets back to normal.....so I better finish that post asap

Review of 2010 from fabulous to fraught and all the stages in-between

So as it is that limbo time, the in-between section where one year is coming to an end and a new one is just about to begin I think it is a good time to reflect on the memorable bits of 2010 - good and bad - before starting to work on my resolutions for the new year. So here goes:

The Bestest Bits

~ My first full year living with Mr P
I moved in with the fabulous Mr P at the end of last year and somehow he has managed to to put up with me and all my quirks, eccentricities and mood swings during the whole of 2010 without kicking me out. For that he deserves a medal, instead he gets to play PS3 uninterrupted while I blog...

~ Las Vegas
Mr P and I went on the best holiday ever in the world this year, taking in LV and the Grand Canyon. I look at our photos from that trip often because they bring back such happy happy memories. Travelling with the other half can be stressful (more for him with my list obsessions!) but travelling with an other half who is also your best friend as I found on that trip is just the best feeling :)

~ The iPad
Since purchasing iPad (which didn't go without it's own ironic sub plot - see Un-Imagineable iPad Irony for more details on this!!) I have fallen totally in love with it's magic internet surfing ways, the amazing apps and the beautiful interface. The calendar feature while pretty will never work as well as my Filofax but is cute none the less.

~ Discovering the blogosphere
2010 was also the year I discovered reading blogs, being inspired by blogs and the year I decided to start my own blog. Not with an aim of being popular or inciting thousands of page views (although that does appear to be happening - very strange that people seem to be reading my ramblings!) but more that I started my blog to write about my life as a mini journal. A diary of sorts, where I could practice writing with the view that one day it would help me write the novel that I feel is inside me somewhere....

~ The year of live music
I love live music. Watching bands and singers perform live on stage is just a fantastic feeling when the crowd go nuts and you all sing along in unison - it is just magic. And 2010 involved a lot of that!! From going to dozens of gigs by Mr P's fabulous band, seeing Lady Gaga, the Kings of Leon and taking a very apprehensive Mr P to his first Glastonbury Festival it was an awesome year for me getting out and about. And 2011 is shaping up to be even better with Take That, Isle of Wight, Glastonbury Extravaganza and Glastonbury Festival 2011 all booked in the diary already woohoo

The Leaving in 2010 Bits (or crappy things that happened)

~ The big C - affecting more and more of the people I love and care about. Either directly because they are affected, or because people they care about are afflicted with this horrible disease. Enough already, please go away and never darken my door again. When you have been to more funerals than weddings at only 33 then something needs to change.

~ Nosy family and friendies - as a legally free but happily boyfriended up lady during 2010 reaching the age of 33 seemed to unleash the questions from hell...the If/When/Why not type ones. So in 2011 here is a forewarning - I'm looking forward to being a flighty "single" for a while longer. So no questions about when am I getting engaged/married/having babies please. If I am lucky enough to have any/all the above happen I will tell you I promise!!

~ Getting older - I love birthdays I really do, my own, other peoples, I just love them. However I am done with getting older, so for the record I am remaining at 33 forever more. Thank you...

So there are my highlights and a couple of bum notes that I am releasing into the outdoors never to darken my thoughts again hopefully (wishful thinking maybe but it has to be worth a try)

What are your highlights and lowlights? Have you thought of all you thankees? The things you are most thankful for? I know I certainly am and will fill you in all soon!







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Musical musings. Part one...

So I got to thinking today while driving home listening to the dulcet tones of Wessex FM (imagine your typical south west yokels let loose with a record collection circa 1985) about the importance of music to me and how certain records really do provide the soundtrack to my life.

Now I warn you the following post may offend some people (those with musical tastes for example) but these are the songs and why that make up my Top 8 ...

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
Now I love ALL the Dire Straits songs, they are just one of the best bands ever in my opinion (just in case anyone was unsure I am totally the un-coolest person I know) and this song above all epitomises them to my eardrums. The riffs, the lyrics, the mix heaven in a audio file. It brings back memories of hearing my Dad typing into all hours of the night, of my Mum walking down the stairs that always creaked to tell him to turn it down as it was late and we were supposed to be sleeping. Most of all it reminds me of being happy and safe and secure and a kid.

The Verve - Love Is Noise
This song epitomises the summer of 2008 to me, a turbulent year when I decided to totally change my life (quit my job, ditch the London life and the unhealthy relationship that went with it) watching The Verve play this at Glastonbury that June barely a month after my total life change was an awesome moment where for the first time I knew for sure that no matter what happened I'd made the right decisions and I remember hobbling to dance - this was the year I foolishly wore trainers as it was sunny on the Thursday drank cider (and wine, and shots and erm..) and then managed to slip over and sprain my ankle so badly I spent 3 months in flat shoes - oh the shame.

Faithless - Don't Leave
A haunting but amazing song taken from the soundtrack of A Life Less Ordinary. I don't know why I love this song so much but it is one of those that is always on my most played list and would be a desert island disc number purely because it resonates so much with me. The haunting simplicity of the lyric don't leave i think encapsulates how sometimes you can be so totally wrapped up in yourself that it comes as a shock when the person you need the most ups and leaves.

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
I was lucky enough to see Michael Jackson twice in concert - on the Dangerous and HIStory tours in his prime these were the most awesome and exciting concerts that you could possibly home to see

Don Henley - Boys of Summer
I love everything about this track it sums up summer in 4.48 minutes with iconic lines like "I saw a deadhead sticker in a Cadillac" it makes me smile every time I hear it and to be best enjoyed it has to be full blast in the car on a sunny day with your sunglasses on :)

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
This song was played at my Dad's funeral - now this was nearly 20 years ago but as soon as I hear the first few bars of this song it takes me back to being 14 years old and missing my Dad, however this is also why I love it - the song in some way links me back with that 14 year old me; the one that was confused and hurt and unsure of what was to come and being the old timer that I am now it is almost a link to the past to say it's OK, it sucks but everything will turn out the way it is supposed to.

Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Summertime
I am of an age where if you don't know all the words to this song shame on you! The most timeless and iconic of the early 90's everything about it just makes you laugh and smile. From the lyrics to the happy sample straight through to the rapping (so bad it hurts but it rhymes and is child friendly so not all bad if not as hip as some rappers like to be these days)

Jamelia - Superstar
This song takes me back to the September of my first birthday bash in the house I had just bought in Yeovil. I played this single (remember CD singles??? Back in the day before mp3s and iPods became the norm - lord I am so old) dancing around my lounge playing it over and over and over again - my poor neighbours I don't think they ever recovered. I had all my friends round for drinks starting at mine before hitting up the bright lights of Yeovil town, all the girls were out in the kitchen/garden knocking back the cocktails (I love a good cocktail me) the boys were sat in the lounge dribbling over the Eric Prydz video - you know the one some random dance track with scantily clad exercising ladies in lycra

Now I know 8 is a random number to have a top list of anything however I figure my musical tastes are so amazing I need to take this blog over several entries to build on the excitement you must be feeling by now!!! Surely I can't top this selection? Oh but I can..........