TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

As of today, it’s only 4 weeks to Cropredy!

What kind of prep do you all do?

We’re having a dry (hopefully!) run of the awning this weekend at a campsite just outside Glastonbury.

Then over the next few weeks I’ll be listening to something from every artist playing so I know in advance which ones I can skip  ;D I’ve never heard a bad act at Cropredy (well, maybe one or two…) but we do like to pop into the village and over to field 8 to see what’s appertaining.

4 weeks!!!  :o

this IS a light hearted reply honest :-)

No "bad acts" ? ...  bootleg beatles were awful.  IMO.  YMMV natch :-)

There have been far worse acts than them!! ;D

OMG!!!

Only four weeks… WKWTTG?

Can’t wait!

We'll just about have recovered from NFFF!

I’ll be getting in the snacks for comfort eating and the tissues for crying, because I can’t go to it this year  :'(

Oh...and finding Radio Oxford on the internet,assuming it will broadcast the Saturday evening as usual?

 My main preparation will be buying a ticket  ;D

Looking forward to it very much..  have found my tiara and Wendys water pistols..  ;D

I'll be glamping for the first time this year, so looking forward to that. I may be treating myself to a new, sturdier, collapsible chair (if that's not an oxymoron!) ;D

A practice run at Wickham then a one day turnaround before Cropredy.

Caravan booked, mobility scooter hired, message sent to all weather presenters
asking for no more than 24C and no rain with just a gentle breeze for five days…

Sorted!

See you there xxx

The really good thing about last year was that, having been so warm during the day, it didn't get too cold in the evenings.  That would be nice this year as well.

Will if you found last year pleasant weather wise you really do spend too much time in Africa!!!

Camper is booked for a service in a fortnight - which gives a bit of time if something needs done - hopefully not

Other than that I've got to replace our chairs - after 5 years they are looking a bit dodgy and I don't fancy tempting fate.  If I end up on my uppers I  want  at least to be able to blame the beer.

Vince

Millets have got some decent Directors chairs in the sale, £20 each

 ;D ;D

I certainly prefer being too hot to being cold, and I've had too many times at Cropredy in recent years where it has got too chilly in the evenings.

You can always put more clothes on when it is chilly, but you can only take off so many when you’re too hot.  ;D

We nearly dropped in the heat last year and only really relaxed and enjoyed it after 7pm each night. Partly because we had acclimatised to a cooler, fresher climate all year round having lived in the Hebrides for 4 years at the time, let alone the exceptional temperatures.

I found a water spray was helpful, one of those little indoor plant sprays. It gave a cooling feeling on the clothing. If I was coming this year, I would definitely bring one again just in case.

Getting back to the theme of preparations, I have booked my Weds night overnight with youngest son in Abingdon, so I can get away at a decent time on Thursday morning, rather than having to leave home at stupid o'clock!

Air b'nB booked for TraddArr, hope it's a bit more civilised than last year (B'nB, TraddArr were great), practice run with tent a couple of weeks ago. Memo, must sort out deflating air bed....

Book a table at the Brewery Tap (https://www.thebrewerytap.net/#morland-reunion) and try their brisket. You'll thank me later.

It feels real now..  I have bought a camping ticket and Polly Oxford (Andie) is selling me her spare ticket so we're all happy!  :)

I just need someone to prepare the weather so its neither unbearably hot nor raining badly..  my tent is starting to leak  :-\

Looking for a 3 day ticket for a Cropredy virgin who has just decided to come...  If all else fails we'll buy one at £175 but if anyone had one to offer for less please let me know  {:-)

there are quite a frew crop-ping up (see what i did there?)  in the Facebook groups "Fairporters" and "Fairports’ Cropredy Festival" - usual caveats etc apply if buying from a FB post etc

didds

Got the Mr Sheen polish on the tent poles! Not bad after last year's heat, but makes 'em hopefully slide through the slits and not keep separating. Just my idea.......

Got the Cropredy box out of the wardrobe…. Checking fo waterproofs, sarong… in case it’s hot! Shot glasses… in case we have the toast? And plenty more besides 😁

Ooh. Now that's a good idea.

Just found where I'd stashed our tickets.
 
Now to find somewhere to put them so I don't forget to take them.  (Yes it did happen  :-[)

Vince

Don't forget the hot water bottles.

Hi all, we're looking for two or three Cropredy tickets, preferably to collect at Cropredy. Please let me know if you have spare!

TIA

Packing List updated and printed;

Ticket, camping sticker etc - located (!);

Gazebo checked - OK;

Next: tent check, then shopping list for next Wednesday.

Might be overkill, might not… : https://www.wired.co.uk/article/best-tents-for-families-festivals-camping-waterproofing “We enlist the help of McLaren and use its state-of-the-art testing facility simulating a car driving through a monsoon at 50mph to discover the best tent for surviving festival season”

;-)

We use two Air tents. The smaller being a Quelcher from Decathlon and I can concur with that review ,its really good.

Still no volunteer bagman for the toast . Come on ye all.

I HAVE MY TICKETS!!!

As some of you will know, I lost them one year  :-[ I found them within an hour of returning home on the Sunday!   ::)

I have also located my waterproof trousers & have new purple wellies. Just in case…  ;)

I’m looking forward to the Sandy Denny exhibition at the Brasenose, from noon on the 10th.

So am I.
I just hope they allow those with Cropredy tickets to see it and don’t limit it to those with Fringe tickets.

It may be worth getting there early in the day to make sure.

Getting excited now…umpteen years, and I still get a thrill when I see the Cropredy village sign on arrival…

All camping gear is in the front room now and we will check it later, plastic glasses and mugs are cleaned, shopping list finished, we will set up the tent in the garden on Monday to see how many peggs are missing, tickets and car pass are on the shelf, preparation looks good so far.

Found confirmation in the FB event chat, you can go with an fcc wristband unless they’ve reached capacity. So concur on getting there early.

Snacks bought, tiny but potent and ok warm M&S cocktails acquired.

Child’s steampunk top hat nearly complete  ::)

So it’s not just me then. 😁😁

I get one when I see the fields in the distance.

It’s Warwick services for me! We often stop there on the way & you always see others you know are going to Cropredy (they have a”look”  :D)

I’m also partial to the Cropredy Sold Out sign  ;D

It starts for me when I see signs for Hook Norton, Great Tew, drive through Bloxham (silent hello to Ric S), then the first glimpse across the fields from the A423 Southam Road.  I know I've arrived as I head for Nick's Bridge to the accompaniment of Myal Piper.

Already started for me cos I go the day after tomorrow….  Just soooo exciting.

See you all there, ready for hugs and fun.

Camping stuff got out of the attic yesterday, snacks and drinks bought on Saturday.  Tickets recovered from desk drawer this morning.  It's beginning to look a lot like C...ropredy!

We only ever stop there for a wee.

We usually stop at a farm shop for a quick bite, can’t remember where, also spotting other Cropredy goers.

Sad we can’t be there this year, but it is nice to live it vicariously through your posts, folks!

Just dug out the tickets, no pink slips in the envelopes though.

Passing Sports Direct yesterday I picked up a spare pair of Karrimor Mount Mid 9 Weatherproof boots, on at half price (£44.95), to go with the ones I bought 2 years ago. They're really very good at coping with wet ground whilst allowing my feet to breathe and not get too smelly. Also, Size 13 is a difficult size to get, but SD seem to stock them as standard.

Yes a “comfort break” & a top-up coffee to keep me awake, as we’ll have been on the road since 3:30!!

It's happening now.

Sitting on the Dublin to Holyhead ferry, exhausted after a long drive down and that after a full day spent packing with the dubious help of a tireless 6-month-old puppy.
Stretching my break by taking in the warm up and Trad Arr, courtesy of Field 8 and their extended opening. Yes. Its happening now ...

Just booked TradArr for tomorrow night. Does anyone know roughly when it finishes as I want to sort taxi from and to Banbury.

The latest it'll finish will be 11pm.

Thanks

Does anyone know if we will still be prevented taking a bottle of water and a packet of sandwiches to the Brase tomorrow night please?

Hope everyone’s okay, just hearing about a couple of road closures due to an accident in Banbury area.

We’re happily ensconced in the glamping field. Full of tagine and gin, so unlikely to move for the rest of the day. This is just perfect.

Van is *nearly* packed… I must have forgotten something, I always do. But not tickets this year  ;D they’re safe  ::)

Just watching the Pilot of the 6 Million Dollar Man then bed for a few hours, leaving around 3am  :-\

See you at the Cricket Club some time tomorrow!

We did, and I did, and I do  ;D

I'm not sure I'll need to eat for the whole of the festival now! (Though I'm sure I will  :) )

 I just wanted to wish everyone who's attending a peaceful, safe and delightful few days  [;-)

Probably good that I didn't suggest doubling it up with the Pulled Pork...

Have a great festival, Will, and all who are attending.

Cheers

Nick

...the same from me to everyone, wish we were there, have a super time  :)

Have a wonderful time everyone! :)

Had decided not to go this year & have just realised that my last Cropredy was 2018! I think I can guess where a lot of that time disappeared! :(

I was thinking it might be nice to go along on Saturday...Would anyone know if there is a ticket sales point at Cropredy? Doubtful I know, but I am only familiar with the ticket/wristband exchange from my previous times attending.

Always used to be just in from the top gate (not the 'arena' but the camping side), but I haven't been for 13 years so may be very wrong.

Thanks David! :) Yes, I do seem to recall this as well (certainly pre internet days)! Always seemed a great way of generating a bit of last minute extra income! Maybe I will just go along & try my luck! ;D

Just charging the big wifi speaker and an emergency little one, ready for 8pm, when BBC website  states that Radio Oxford will be broadcasting highlights and the Fairport set.

Getting my Cropredy jewellery ready and my hair flowers, to wear in the sitting room  ;D

It took me over 30 minutes to remember how to set Task Scheduler for recording - now in Windows 11 it seems rather temperamental!!

Will shout extra loud when they come on for you Lorna!  :D

 Thanks  ;D