Glasto Day 1: No Glamour So Far

Hair blow dried, check. Manicure in place, check. Stylish yet functional wardrobe, check. Not having a nervous breakdown because you're in a field with 200,000 other people and you're carrying twice your bodyweight in luggage, uncheck.

Yes, within five minutes of arriving at the site after traveling on the NME Love Bus (it was like being a sixth former on a school trip, except without the Kia-Ora) it dawned on me that I was not in the backstage VIP bubble that I usually inhabit. I was in a situation where I had to walk for 40 minutes carrying my clothes, a pillow, a sleeping bag, enough nutritious food for 4 days (so I can avoid festival grease) and a big stack of printouts for the whole team (there are nearly 40 of us NME-ers here), and I hated it. I kept having to put my bags down so I could wail about how heavy my bags were as I watched my male co-workers effortlessly carry their stuff and enormous wooden cows with the NME logo on.

I blame myself really. I packed at 1am last night and in those situations I just end up taking everything because I can't trust my judgment and need to cover for every eventuality. Silly me. I am so embarrassed to admit I have actually brought one barbour jacket, one parka and one leather jacket, and a hoody and a cardigan. At least I won't get cold and I have the freedom of options.

I calmed down when I checked into my cute little pod pad. I've made my bed, unpacked and burned some incense. I'll let you know what kind of night's sleep I get tomorrow. I had a lie down on the inflatable bed a bit earlier on and it seems pretty comfy. What de-stressed me most though was being plied with some Amaretto by Tim Mattia, the cameraman for all the NME podcasts. I think I may have found my festival drink. A whole lot more fabulous than cider!

The weather conditions are perfect so far; dry, sunny and mild. To celebrate we're all heading off to the Stone Circle in the Healing field for some calm before the storm drinks. Marian and I are going practical with our outfits tonight (tomorrow when I start doing all my interviews I'm going all out), I'm wearing jeans and an All Saints bomber jacket with my favourite heart sunglasses. Marian still looks pretty glam in her tightly belted Barbour jacket with beret (which will help keep her hair last for the whole weekend). The same can't be said for the rest of the NME girls, who are planning on buying £5 ball gowns to swan around and trash. Let's hope they're more Relik than rubbish.