Voewood Festival and The Sunday Scribble

If only I could afford
to sleep in this bed!

This weekend saw the second ever Voewood Festival in Kelling, Norfolk. It is lorded as The Arts Garden Party of the Year. Usually I need to rob my childrens' piggy banks to go to any social event-and I mean any-but happy chance found half-price tickets on the wonder that is Group-on, thus, I was at the festival on the opening night-

Friday. Although I had a sneaky peek at the house and grounds, on the 2nd wonder that is google, I wasn't quite prepared for how stunning the venue actually was. Feeling slightly out of place, lacking in vocab and plums in mouth, I headed straight for the Hendrick's tent-if the house doesn't blow your socks off the gin cocktails will (the price may also give you palpitations!) I felt like an aunts poor neice, but after managing to fit a 5 syllable word into conversation-without the use of the internet-and after 3 cocktails, I relaxed in the ambience that is Voewood. The chilled DJs in the Hendrick's bar, HMS Sweet Charity, who only play records found in thrift and charity shops (I was afraid Bananarama and, worse, Chesney Hawkes, may be infecting my ear drums!) played a great collection of sound tunes from many moons ago, some of which my Nanna would croon and swing too.

As this was the first evening there were, of course, a few hiccups-the veggie tapas selection was Gazpacho and dry bread-ER...yum? The garden expert was stuck in traffic, as was Kate Mosse-OO and John Hurt was apparently at Voewood, but we didn't see him because he fell off a wall during a party the evening before -sounds like a good night!-and the helpers/workers weren't sure where some events were happening-luckily it's a small venue so it would be hard to get too lost and the charm that oozes from the setting canels any hiccups out-the most amazing port-a-loos I ever seen were also a point of awe and wonder!

It may seem that we spent most of our time staring in amazement at the loos and drinking but we actually managed to see all of Kate Mosse's slot where she discussed her latest novel-she only finished editing it this week and read out the opening page to an awestruck audience-she also discussed 'labyrinth'-apparently Ridley Scott has just serialised this, and I believe Mr Hurt is part of the cast, however, I may have been in a gin haze and completely confused conversations so don't quote this!! I admit, I've never read Kate Mosse's work-shamefaced I am-but her focus on female heroines puts her on my pile of books to read!

The evening finished with a music set by British Sea Power-my lovely pal Cindy(a committed fan-of BSP, not of me) knows me well and said I'd love them despite the amount of the foliage they'd strewn around the stage-she was spot on-rock and rolllll! They were absolutely amazing-fab tune after tune after tune-I am a new fan! The lead singer fell off of the stage and right on top of me and STILL carried on playing-now that is rock and roll!  

The list of literary guests was mind-blowing and I'm sure the festival will grow and grow so get on the mailing list for next year and I'll see you...yes-in the gin tent!

Oh, and as of next Sunday the Sunday Scribble will begin-a spark will be on the blog and an invite to you all to write 100 words max relating to the spark-Go wild!