If day one, Friday, was all about orientation, finding the stages, beers, toilets and food (the Glastonbury site is so big, apparently it would take one hour to walk from one end of the other, in daylight, sober, with no obstacles!) then day two (Saturday) was all about the music and alternative entertainment.
The Dance Village got going with an early-morning tune-up at 10.30am, ready for Phil Kieran to start the day off. Elsewhere, it was Liz Green opening the Pyramid Stage, with Blue Bullet on the John Peel. But one of the festival highlights so far was Lily Allen at 4.30pm, who wowed the crowds with an excellent performance, joined at one stage by guests from The Specials, and really connecting with the crowd and her fans. Lily said she was amazed to be playing Glastonbury's main stage, The Pyramid, as last festival time she 'hadn't even played her first proper gig'. Emotion was also running high for Klaxons, over on the Other Stage, who apparently met at the last Glastonbury festival two years ago. These were followed by Babyshambles, probably more famous for the drug-fuelled antics of lead singer Pete Doherty than for their music. Surprisingly, they turned up on time and as far as we know, Pete managed to hang onto his hat during his performance.
Backstage, celebrities wandering around included Doherty's girlfriend Kate Moss, plus Damien Rice, Harry Enfield, Magic Numbers, Kasabian (in a black Landrover), Kiera Knighley, Quentin Tarantino, Stella McCartney, Chaz 'n' Dave, Suggs from Madness, Peaches Geldof, Will Young, Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse and Billy Bragg.
So what else went on on the site? Well, unfortunately the rain - and mud - came back with a vengeance during the day. A few big downpours meant sticky, deep mud - hard to walk in for most people, who were simply shuffling from one stage to the next or staying put for long periods. As well as the sludge and dirt, the mud proved more dangerous for some people - apparently by noon Saturday, there had been 1268 casualties on site - with 32 patients taken off site. That's not a huge number for a temporary 'city' of this size, but it's obvious the injury figures contained a few sprained ankles from the amount of people on crutches walking around later in the day. We admire their persistence and dedication for coming back and braving the mud with crutches!
For those mere mortals who are managing to get moving and wander around the fields, they are rewarded with stacks of treats and delights. The Greenpeace field focuses on global warming and stopping climate chaos, but there's also lots of entertainment, from an organic cafe, to the Soulmates matchmaking tent, and techno-dome, a 30 metre geodesic with audiovisual artists and performers. Over in the Green Futures field, it's all about solar power, with a solar cinema 'Groovy Movie', art, cafes and a speakers forum. Croissant Neuf is an entirely solar-powered event tent - with 16 solar panels on a truck roof, the pa and lighting systems run entirely on solar power. Unfortunately, when we visited, the tent was closed - due to rain perhaps, or just taking a break?
The healing fields behind Green Futures have the usual array of alternative healing remedies for anyone who needs reviving or their energies realigned. There's psychological astrology, spiritual healing, yoga, an 'inner images' workshop, medical herbalists, a sauna and a pretty, flowery Earth Garden in the centre. If you really want to delve deep, you can do biodynamic massage, shamanic healing, cupping, Tibetan pulsing or a geopathic stress workshop.
The Green Crafts Field is fascinating, full of every type of craft workshop. There's wood carving and turning, stonecarving, pottery, metal foundries and blacksmiths and all sorts of textile making, such as feltmaking, knitting, spinning and papermaking. If you're feeling creative, you can have a go of the crafts, like stone chipping or wood turning or even 'pedal your own mushroom' by cycling a bike which is rigged up to a wood turning device. Apparently it takes about 15 minutes to make a nice wooden mushroom ornament - for about £3.
The Tipi field is full of just that - tall white, elegant Tipi tents, where people can camp and also trade or entertain. There's a dance and movement space, yoga, creative dance and Rainbow Lodge - a kids' space with face painting, music making and badge making and there's a Global Games area with rounders and 'ultimate frisbee'.
The Green Fields experience - Green Futures, Green Crafts, Healing Field, Croissant Neuf and Greenpeace, the Tipi Field and the Field of Avalon are fascinating to wander around, absorbing music, crafts, yummy food and healing experiences - great for taking a break from the muddy main stages.
However the line-up on the main stages is always too good to miss and thousands descended on the Pyramid Stage at 9.15 for The Kooks, and 11pm for the Killers, who played a superb hour and a half of their anthemic hits, perfect for this type of setting. The performance had the crowd ecstatic with some amazing lighting, pyrotechnics and fireworks, but it was the music rather than the special effects that left the lasting impression. Some stages rocked on till the early hours, with late gigs including midnight cabaret at La Belle Epoque, Circus at 12.45 and Brakes playing in Left Field till 2.30am. Festival goers were still on the move till 4, 5 and 6am on Sunday morning and the atmosphere, despite the rain and mud, was one of pure party and fun!