The big four zero

1) Gin and pink grapefruit tonic - bliss! 2) High School Musical plates and chicken kebabs 3) Obligatory flower garland 

4) My feet. Horrific 5) Ubiquitous flags 6) The crew, heading for the cider bus 

7) More flags... "I'll meet you by the flags" No, you won't 8) Cube Henge 9) Aaah, beautiful sunset

So, Glastonbury then.


This year's was without a doubt the best festival I've ever been to. It was exhausting, sweltering and there were a fair few ridiculous moments (waking up in a chair at 10.30am on the opposite side of the festival after a sunrise gathering at the stone circle was a new low. Or high, depending on which way you look at it) but it was just incredible.

I'm not going to post any more about it after this as I know that festivals aren't everyone's thing but I just wanted to share a couple of my highlights...

A song from my favourite set of the whole festival. The wonderful Pet Shop Boys covering 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay. As one of my friends said they "shat on Chris Martin, rubbed his nose in it and then sang his song better". The whole set was just incredibly special...

One of my favourite moments of the entire festival... Florence joining Dizzee for 'You Got the Dirty Love'...

As an aside, if someone could please get this song out of my head then it would be muchly appreciated. Ever since hearing it about 3am in Shangri-La I've not been able to stop humming it...

Ta-ta for another year Glastonbury, see you in 356 days xx

Viva los Glasto

Glastonbury was...

Hot. Oh so very very hot.
Incredible. So incredible I can't even remember all the amazing moments.
Dirty. The dust has rendered my feet unfathomably filthy.
Magical. As always.

Because I'm exhausted and have barely slept for the past five - days due to an intense combination of the hottest tent in the world (seriously, gasping for air at 7.30am is not enjoyable), vuvuzelas, a night time trip to the stone circle and too much fun - for now you get facts and a couple of photographs. Nothing more. 

Things I lost:
A filling
My foundation
My Chanel eyeliner (sob)
My mirror
Dignity and a fair few brain cells

Things I ate:
Jerk chicken, rice and pea and dumplings
Pieminister
Pura Vida nachos (the best on site)
A garlic guzzler burger at 4am. Mistake
A pancake with ham and cheese (served to me by a Gunter Von Hagens lookalike who called me beautiful and didn't charge me. I am a whore for free food)

Oh Monsieur Eavis, with this festival you really spoilt us.

The time is now

I'm off!

To Glastonbury, that is. In five and a half hours to be precise. I've just finished packing, the hair is freshly dyed and I can barely lift my bag due to excessive Strongbow. I think I'm ready.

I had all sorts of plans to schedule lots of posts for while I'm away but, of course, I haven't gotten around to it. I've got lots to write about but just haven't been able to find the time. So, With Eyes Wide Open will be on a little holiday until next Tuesday.

While I'm away, and if you're so inclined, feel free to follow me on Twitter, where I may or may not update you on all things Glastonbury. If I've not fallen in nettles in the permaculture garden after one too many ciders.


Have a fabulous week everyone!! xx

"I love you in the morning, when you're still hungover..."

Sartorial elegance has taken a massive hit this weekend.

Firstly, I did Race For Life (there's still time to chuck a couple of quid my way if the purse strings allow) yesterday morning. My Mum decided we were wearing pink. Now, I don't mind a bit of pink. I do draw the line at a bright pink (Take That, haha) t-shirt, a pink tutu and a pink flower in my hair though. But it was all in the name of charidee and it was a fantastic experience. It was more emotional than I thought it would be and there was such a lovely atmosphere. I didn't run the whole way though and I'm using my darling Mum as an excuse for that. It's up to you to decide the level of truth in that. Haha.

Secondly, I went to a Hawaiian themed barbecue last night. Cue flowers leis, the big pink flower in my hair once more and a tropical playsuit. Yes, that's right, I said tropical playsuit. I did wear stupendous gold heels though. And drink my body weight in giant cocktails and gin. Tut tut.

Today I've been mostly feeling sick as a dog but I've powered through, for my Dad's sake more than mine! I cooked lunch for him and my Mum today. On a side note, why do I always volunteer to cook lunch the day after a big night out? You'd think I'd have learnt my lesson during the great Christmas Eve lunch debacle of 2007, when I'd been out until 7am and then had to cook a three course meal from scratch. Making brandy snap baskets with no sleep and a pounding head was the worst thing ever.

Anyway, I made Lamb Cochifrito. Which is basically lamb with lots of lemon, garlic and shallots. It was delicious.

For dessert, and at my Dad's request, I made flourless chocolate brownies (using a Nigella recipe that I tweaked). These have walnuts in, and I added some pecans too for a bit of variety. They're the richest brownies I've ever eaten and I defy anyone to manage more than two.

So, what have you been upto this weekend?

Papa

My Dad is great. Fact.


He never judges me, no matter what I do (and I've done some fairly ridiculous things). He cheers me up when I'm sad. He gives the best hugs. He is the wittiest person I've ever met. For all these reasons, and so many more, I'm so so lucky to have him .

Although, judging by this photo (taken in 1967!) his dress sense was no better then than it is now. My Mum was quite the little hottie though, wasn't she?!

I'll be back later on with a more substantial post but, for now, I just wanted to wish all the lovely Dads in the world a very Happy Fathers' Day!