DDR: Our final stop. Glasto remains the best place in the world. We’re getting married!
What better way to end our trip then with our third visit to the happiest place on the planet, Glastonbury. Worthy farm has been a somewhat of a bookmark for the different chapters of our relationship. On our first trip as a couple we were riding high off our maiden adventure to Costa Rica and were very excited to learn that we both holidayed and festivalled together well. In a particularly nerdy chat we’d used the mathematical method of proof by induction to decide we’d likely be together indefinitely. This was just as well, as just a few weeks later would be Nik’s fateful car accident in Mallorca. A year on and we had thought we’d turned a corner in his recovery after multiple surgeries and many screws in his knee, when at Glastonbury we heard that there were some outstanding criminal charges being pressed against Nik from Spain. The months that followed were very dark, with the Balleriacs’ judiciaries long summer break resulting in an agonising wait before the judge dismissed the case. This year we glided in to Sticklinch on Wednesday, refreshed from 6 months of pure joy, ready to spend our final week with some of our favourite people. We’d be sharing a tent with Izzy and Isha, with Izzie and Rory in the next door field, Rich, Marta, Hugo, Gabs and many more of Niks gang living the high life in Glastotel, Chloe, ABC & Rambo in Worthy View and even Robbo rumoured to have got a ticket last minute.
I don’t think it makes much sense to write much about the festival itself. If you’ve been to Glastonbury you can suitably imagine what we got up to; sunshine, dancing, laughing, headliners, snacks, drinks, Mez Bar, showers(ish), impressive step count, bemoaning/ envying GenZ fashion, tinnies, crying, hugging, repeat. If not, it’s probably even more boring than people talking about their dreams.
However, this will perhaps always be the most memorable Glastonbury for us, as in a highly surprising but very wonderful move, Nik proposed! I had been wondering why he was so keen to reminisce on our travels on Saturday, having been so reluctant to do so the past few months. It did seem weird he appeared to want to walk away so quickly from good friends Dan and Lara we bumped into on our way to the Park. It almost seemed rude the slight annoyance on my inviting Suze to join us, and ignoring her request to pop into Scissors on the way up the hill. However, I am not a suspicious person and anyone can behave weirdly on a hangover so I didn’t put too much thought into it as Nik lured me up the Park stage hill, beyond the Glasto sign to the edge of the fence. It’s a magestic view and you can sit in the breeze and take in the whole festival. Suze had been given a sneaky signal and made her temporary excuses. I thought the latest hangover symptom was a particularly weird joke when Niks voice changed and he got down on one knee. But no, he was serious. 2 days shower free and a late entry back to the tent at 6am and he still wanted (and still wants at the time of writing, woo!) to spend the rest of his life with me. I was shocked and overjoyed to squeal yes. The people down the hill cheered on confirming the news, Suze returned. Having one of our favourite people in no way third wheeling was perfect, and being at the worlds best party meant the day could only get better. We made it to Little Simz for a superb set and started to convene our pals. Gitanjali dropped a burrito, Coldplay did their thing, we managed to locate Isha, more Mez bar. A solid 12 hours of blissful dancing later and we were being ushered into Scissors with Izzy and Ish, ready to close out the best 6 months with an exceptional set from Gabs and the Shakedown DJs. Tottering back at 7am it was hard to think of a happier day.
Driving home the next day energy levels were low, but only because we’d given Glasto our all. It would take a while before we could muster proper excitement for our engagement back at Rushout.
Nik had announced clearly at the start of our trip that I should in no way expect a proposal. We’d discussed not getting married many times. However, 6 months of Stockholm syndrome clearly altered by his mind. Glow worms, baby sharks, snowboards, coconut sambol, basket boats, surfing, the caravan, onsens, foot spas, cherry blossoms, vegan noodles, old/ wide trees, turtles, celeb spotting, tea plantations, rice paddies, IKOS, flix buses, bullet trains, boats, bikes and many planes had all worked their magic. We couldn’t be happier and I can’t imagine a better way to end this most glorious 6 months.
On to the next adventure!
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