Thursday

For the first time ever, base for the FATEA team was to be a camper van. The slower pace of the vehicle combined with the effect of Thursday night now being official meant an earlier start than in previous years.

The camper being somewhat higher than I'm used to, also meant that I saw things on the trip year that have just passed me by previously. All in all a really nice drive. As soon as I reached the Coldham's Common Site, camper vans not being allowed at Cherry Hinton, another advantage came to mind. Whilst those around me worked up a sweat in the hot sunshine, I merely secured the van and headed off to the festival site. Fortunately I had managed to get parked a reasonable distance from the food hall at Coldham's so I picked up a snack on my way to the free bus service that connects the two sites.

A message on my mobile informed me that Steve, another member of this year's team, was already at Cherry Hinton, so I arranged to meet him by the pass exchange.

Steve had pitched tent at Cherry Hinton and was more than ready for the first pint of the day. It's a FATEA tradition that the first pint should always be served in a festival tankard, this year was no exception.

Adding the Radio 2 Stage to the Thursday Night entertainment, seemed to have had the effect of getting more people to the site earlier. By four o'clock the site was noticeably busy. A couple of people we bumped into commented that by the time they'd got there this year, their usual camping space had gone. A quick scan of the campsite showed that my usual space was already taken.

Festival Press Supremo Tim Holt was being interviewed by local TV so we took the decision to get in another pint before checking in and seeing where we stood on the interview front.

It also gave us the chance to wander around the site and see what changes we could see. Apart from a couple of food stalls changing and some new traders in the main marquee, there wasn't anything unexpected. Thirty Six Festivals brings with it a lot of experience and apart from the odd little tweak here and there things are always where you expect to find them.

This means that you can arrange to meet people at the Festival very easily, so as the night progressed, the rest of the FATEA team arrived on site and met up.

In the meantime it was time to check in and see what was happening presswise. An interview with Rory McGrath of Short & Curlies as well as They Think It's All Over fame is arranged for later. Whilst we're there, the cases of beer for the various competition winners arrives to be stored safely in the caravan. Unfortunately, it's a bit on the heavy side and the van starts taking on an interesting lean to the left.

As six o'clock approaches, it's time to decide on which act I'm going to start off with this year. Not really being in a ceildh mood, Cambridge Crofters miss out and Suntrap kick the music off for me.