Jack Johnson weekend

This might take a bit of following..... We got tickets for Jack Johnson's Saturday 5th July gig at Watergate Bay when they first went on sale. That sold out so he added another on Sunday 6th. At that point we were umming and aarrring about camping. Then I found out on myspace that they wanted volunteers at all the gigs for some sort of eco-worrier type thing. So we applied but didn't hear anything. A couple of weeks back we canned the camping idea and were going to drive back Saturday night. Then we hear we are accepted to volunteer on the Sunday...change of plan.

We opted for a cheap (but nice) B&B. So having booked that, I then injured my ear (see blog below) Still with me? So now I'm not sure a) what we're volunteering for and b) Whether I'm up to whatever it is!

Off we set at lunchtime Saturday having phoned the volunteer co-ordinator to say we're not sure etc. We are then oblivious to the rest of the world (we were in Devon or Cornwall) and had no idea until we reached the site that the gig was CANCELLED about an hour after we set off!

Now what???? Full refund no problem, but do we a) go home b) Buy tickets for Sunday which are still available or c) volunteer? Much more ummming and aaarrrring and an early exit from Newquay before the Stag and Hen parties got going. Back to the B&B (having paid for it.)

Next day dawned....well about half-eight it was a little brighter so we agreed to volunteer - still not knowing what we were letting ourselves in for.

We had to be at the site at 1.30, 90 mins before the gates opened. About 20 of us were met given wristbands and taken in to the arena. We were greeted and kitted out with free t-shirts which had to be stretched over the waterproofs! We were given a bag and shown the "Village Green Passports" we were to hand out. But not just willy-nilly. We had to talk to punters and get them to think about environmental stuff. If they did positive things like recycling we had a stamp to stamp their passports. 3 stamps and they could enter a draw. I said this would take some explaining...anyone still reading? Oh well!

Just as we were getting sorted a familiar face appeared through the gloom - it was Jack come out in the rain just to see me! OK to thank us for volunteering and have a picture taken. Guess who was too slow to get his camera out? Me, Starsruck?

Well, that's about it. We slogged around in the wet from 3 til 8 ( and I mean 8, the Americans sent us out at ten to eight with more leaflets even though the draw was over!) We got to hear some of the support acts and were free to watch Jack's set.


"Does my bust look big in this?"

"Does my head look big in this?"

Sam ready for launching

sssssh! You know who!

The healthy surfing lifestyle!

My eye went bloodshot on sunday night it's a .....
A pinguecula is a yellowish patch or bump on the white of the eye, most often on the side closest to the nose. It is not a tumor but an alteration of normal tissue resulting in a deposit of protein and fat. Unlike a pterygium, a pinguecula does not actually grow onto the cornea. A pinguecula may also be a response to chronic eye irritation or sunlight.....so that'll be the surfing: salt spray, sand, polluted water, staring into sunsets for 30 years

Best thing to do ? GO SURFING! Went in at Woolacombe (2ft ish hardly anyone out) about 3/4 hour in I fell off and got a clip round the ear from my board. Lost all/what little balance I had, luckily it was shallow enough to stand up and after 1/2 a minute of staggering & falling I walked up the beach. My ear was bleeding from somewhere. Sam came and got me & we headed for NDDH A&E. 4 hours later they decided that as the bleeding was coming from INSIDE MY EAR they'd keep me in overnight. This morning I gatecrashed ENT but there was nothing to do and my ear drum is intact - not clear where the blood's coming from. Anyway, now I've got more tinnitus in my right ear than my left. I hope it'll fade in a week or so.