Thursday

If it's the end of July, it's Cambridge, that's just the way it is. I get into the car with the usual sense of expectation. The weather can't decide what its going to do, but so what this is Cambridge Weekend and nothing gets in the way of that.
As per usual there are some differences. Last year camping at Cherry Hinton nearly brought Cambridge to a standstill in the rush hour so changes had to be made.
The main difference is that unless you're disabled or have a trailer tent, you can no longer drop off at Cherry Hinton. You have to park your car at one of the car parks and bus your tent in. Everything was advertised well in advance and it seems to have worked remarkably well.
Talking to one of the organisers confirms that the rush hour ran as smoothly as usual and there have been few complaints about the new system. If it safeguards the festival, I'm in favour.
Lessons also seem to have been learnt from last year's downpours. Plastic tracks have been laid to keep the mud down and ensure disabled access around the site.
Passes collected, programme bought, it's time to grab a drink and catch up with a few old friends whilst waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. The music's not due to start for another three hours, but you can already get a palpable sense of the atmosphere building.
A wander around the site confirms all of the regular stalls are here. All the pre-festival activity's going on. Crews are being briefed about their roles. Old staggers taking the newbies under their wing to ensure all goes as smoothly as possible.
Throughout the afternoon the crew gradually check in and the day really starts coming together. Cat seems to be in shopping mode, new hat and crystals the order of the day.
Fed and watered, it's time to head around to The Radio Two stage for the first act of the festival. Uiscedwr (The name actually means water in Irish and then Welsh) have the honour of starting the proceedings.
The band are a three piece Anna Esslemont, Cormac Byrne and Ben Hellings, who joined subsequent to the band winning the Radio Two Young Folk Award.
The set was in the words of Andy Kershaw, "Pure Belter". The band played a combination of their own songs combined with one or two more traditional tunes thrown in.
It was easy to see why the band won the young tradition award, they were great. They played with a sound that defied their experience, but still managed to capture the enthusiam of an act vital with teenage years.
What a way to start the festival! This is everything that Cambridge is about and for.