skinslife

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Up in leafy North London, we've stumbled upon the rather obvious solution to the 'festival's are far too expensive problem': Do it yourself.

So in time honoured, Blue Peter fashion, you will need:

ONE HOUSE, GARDEN or FIELD… preferably with understanding neighbours. Maybe not parents’ houses, especially while the Daily Mail survives. They'd have you on the front page as 'Skins Horror Teen' at the first hint of fun.

MUSICALLY MINDED FRIENDS… Most people can play the guitar. After a couple of drinks, the rest think they can. Three hours in and magically, everyone's a DJ. Music; done.

AND FINALLY, PEOPLE. Obviously.

And here’s one we made earlier…

May 30th and 31st saw the first ‘Manorfest’, a two day extravanganza of live music and all good festival activites (ie. face painting). With three different areas and music from Alice Young and others, Salmaan Bhutta and Joe Brooks on the decks...

The festival goers were a wide ranging group and, to my stylistic delight, wearing a wide range of festival outfits.

Forget wellies, forget Kate Moss style hot pants and make up by ‘mud’. Despite being indoors there were still the chewed-looking straw trilbys, sunglasses and visors and of course… a glittery cowboy hat! There was even an eye patch, but I didn’t like to ask if it was authentic or just an accessory. In fact, hats were the order of the day. Even Couch was spotted running around like Oliver Twist in a train driver cap...

Back in 2004 it was trucker caps, this lasted for a couple of years until cowboy hats became the festival sunshade of choice.

The Doherty effect has led to thr profusion of the trilby, but what's next? Boho head scarves???…

Anyway, let me know and all home-made festival stories welcome...