Sarah's Woodford, Day One

Thursday 27th Dec

I was up at 4:45am, on adrenaline and a mere 4 hours sleep. I was so nervous I was actually sick - God Sarah, pull your head in - a great start to the Woodford week! I finally managed to be packed and ready to go around 7-ish when I received a phone call from Paul:

Me: 'Haven't you left yet?'
'Erm, no, Mannie's running late again'
'What's his excuse this time?'
'He slept in. He got up 15 minutes ago.'
'Are you serious?'
'Yeah, he said he's really sorry, but he schlep in.'
'He schlep in, huh. Is that a new Mannie-ism?'
'He reckons he'll be over here in 15 minutes'
*Me laughing* 'Mmm-hmm. Sure he will!'

Cue 8:30am when the big white van finally pulls up. I go to give Mannie a hug & he greets me with, 'If you say one word about me sleeping in I'm gonna boot you up the date.'

Well Good Morning Mannie!! It can only get better from here :) My reply was that I wasn't going to say anything until we were well & truly on the road, and then it was open season. And how :) Paul was on such a roll he made myself and Mannie laugh so hard on the drive up that I cried & Mannie had to stop the van, get out and throw up on the side of the highway - nice one Paul! :)

Today consisted of making camp. Bridget is Camp Queen with her awesome camping gear - table, stove, tent, etc. It craps all over Paul's stuff (it really does! Something he was quite vocal about too), much to mine & Mannie's delight :) It began to rain as we were setting up, so Bridge & I dragged out the trusty gumboots - hers are funky shiny purple ones :) Mine are the standard fashionable black rubber ones that have been worn only once since I bought them - Woodford 02/03, so it's fitting that I should drag them out at this one! We heard from a doom & gloom-er that a cyclone is headed this way. Not quite sure if he's serious or seriously taking the piss.

Highlights for today were listening to Sarah Blasko do her extensive soundcheck from the Amphitheatre - she sang for a good half hour, it was fantastic!! Paul made a spicy/sour vindaloo for dinner on Bridget's awesome stove, using her awesome saucepan (not quite sure what the desired taste was supposed to be though. Still, it was yummy), and I'm sure we'll all pay for it tomorrow. Much exploration was made, & I've concluded that the Guinness tent is a pretty kewl place, particularly as it sells cider. We caught up with ex-Sunas member Brendan & played a session until the wee hours (it was great to get the session blood fizzing again!). Tomorrow is our first gig in the enormous Concert venue. I'm excited and ready to throw up again. Nerves normally don't get the best of me - in fact I rarely have them. I'm more at home on stage than anywhere else, so this is really unusual that I have butterflies. Will have to get over that one quickly. The rain has set in now, and I have a feeling I'm going to be very glad I brought my gumboots with me :)