Port Eliot Day 3

Day 3 of Port Eliot – still going strong! Colourful Mai and her brother joined us this time! We did a stop at the Co-Op for Twiglets, Strawberries, Tonic Water and the Sunday Papers, planning a leisurely read by the river! We started with coffee in the walled Garden then headed to The Park for food, we bumped into Colourful Mai so joined her and had red pepper Pakora with a citrus coleslaw! Homeopath Girl texted to say there was already a queue forming to get into the church to hear The Villagers so we hastily ate our food and headed over! Music was already playing so presuming this was the end of the previous performers set we waited at the back. Turns out it was The Villagers sound check! There was a short interval whereupon I had a chance to photograph the church which was just a visual feast for the eyes! Once the music started it was just an hour of pure pleasure. His voice, pure, powerful, perfectly pitched as it both sunk and soared the notes, their playing, their lyrics, the stained glass windows and acoustics of the church made it an elevating, transporting experience. Even the many children, toddlers and babies sat quietly! The church was positively packed with people both sitting and standing in every available space. Once they had finished I took more photographs, partly as the windows were simply stunning, partly to give myself space before venturing out into the festival outside! 
We set off for the river with Homeopath and band Member husband, and broke open the bubbly and added the St Germain Elderflower Liquor with Cucumber! I had much fun photographing the derelict boat and then spotted the Hay bales across the river!! Delightful but seriously, when I already had so much choice as to what to blip?! Homeopath wanted to do the Tango Dance class, and her husband obliged despite his obvious lack of enthusiasm – luckily for him they could not locate it! Bumped into Camera Man and the rest of his choir group and several people we knew from the village. After a chat we left to find more food!! Stilton and pear grilled sandwich for me and Jerk chicken for FD! We sat in the Seasalt deckchairs and just watched everyone pass by and passed comments on whether we believed they pulled off the look they were obviously going for! Most did but some really didn’t!! Colourful Mai and brother spotted us and gave me a Port Eliot 2015 cotton bag they had bought me to say thanks for the tickets and driving – this annoyed FD as she felt she deserved credit as she was sleeping in Homeopaths house to keep an eye on their teenage son in return for the tickets!! 
We had a nosey in The Park tent and I’m so pleased we did! The Krar Collective, an Ethiopian band with dancers that was just phenomenal! Such energy and compelling rhythms and major photo opportunity!!!Was torn between dancing or snapping!
After this we wandered back up to the Bowling Green, bumping into Unicycle Girl and Busman fleeing the woods and the midges.  I sat outside with a coffee as FD listened to a singer. This was my big mistake and where I got all the bites! I was aware of them flitting around and attempting to land on my hands as these and my face  were  the only parts of me uncovered – I did not realise they were having a fine time feasting on me! We headed back down to the Park and caught a very dancey set by a folk come swing come country group! After this the tent began to fill ready for Mad Dog Mcrea! FD had been looking forward to this all weekend! By the time they started it was like a game of sardines, bodies packed together and moving frenetically in unison to the music! Colourful Mai stayed outside with Busman as FD, Unicycle Girl and I gave it our all! She said she could feel the heat radiating out from the tent!!
The evening ended with Mai’s brother going awol! He left his bag with us, went to the toilet and never came back! We swept all venues and bars in the lower park and I spoke to a couple of ambulance men and security guards, Mai finally gave up, checked his bag for his phone and wallet, which were not there, so she said to leave him! He was taking the P, she was not responsible for her big brother  and he could find his own way back! I got a message in the morning to say he had turned up at 7am, he had hitchhiked to Saltash and got a taxi from there! Alls well that ends well! 
It was a damn fine 3 days and I can’t wait to do it all over again next year!! Or the year after if like last year they make it a biennial event!
Day 3 photos on Flickr - so hard to chose a favourite to blip so am going for the best experience of the day - The Villagers in the church!