Summer might not be the most consistent of seasons but the way we optimistically dream it can be could still happen and I am resolute that garden time in England is still the best; as Sam Keen famously stated; “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” The sun is up until ten, the pigeons coo from six and any refreshing alcoholic beverage is not frowned upon at any hour - because it’s summer and you’re in the garden! Halloumi, peppers, burgers, sausages, salmon - its barbeque central and everyone is a chef. Add some candles, outdoor fairy lights and some music and you got yourself a classy, grassy joint. I recommend listening to Volare by The McGuire Sisters (very late 50s, whisky chinking, lips pouting) or jazz is also good for a garden party, but as it’s your party, you’re on the decks – Dirty Diggers, For The Haters? Do it!
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“Summer Festivals used to be free you know?” those immortal words I’m forced to endure every year from my father as I contemplate yet another summer where I choose to spend hundreds of pounds of my pay packet on festival tickets. It’s safe to say that this year I’ve been more than over indulgent in a season that will see me take in at least three festivals within three months. It’s this statement that makes me question why I and so many others choose to shun summer holidays abroad in the guaranteed sun to run the risk of a dreary weekend camping in the great British countryside.
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Summer, in reality, is very rarely a collection of postcard moments - that ideal dream we develop throughout the winter of our tanned, carefree selves lounging at a bar under the moonlight or running on a sandy beach clad in brightly coloured bikinis. In reality, our airline will lose our luggage, we will get serious bright red burns instead of the Caribbean tan we were going for, our hair will be a victim of humidity instead of the sun-kissed piece of natural beauty we want, and we will spend quite a lot of time waiting around in crowded airports, stations and other transport-related nightmares getting us to that fleeting vision of a destination. Or we might simply not even go on holiday and the vision will remain just that.
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Everything you need to pack for the ultimate Summer Festival experience. Make 2010 a classic summer!

A Strong Friend – This fellow can be a vital commodity for many things at the festival; carrying beer, sitting on their shoulders for a view and even protection if you happen to bump into the wrong person too many times.

Cereal Bars – Trick your stomach into thinking you’ve eaten a breakfast.

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Saturday 24th April 2010 @ The Prom, Bristol
Featuring Performances From: Henry’s Funeral Shoe, Broken Vinyl Club

I love festival season! The sun is officially out, drinking in the day is officially acceptable (sort of) – and the all day mini-festivals have hit Gloucester Road once again. I started this year with the Prom Bar’s first offering, Gwyll Y Ddraig Goch – an all day Welsh Festival featuring 8 bands playing till midnight, which finished off with the hotly tipped and brilliantly named Henry’s Funeral Shoe, promoting their new album, Everything’s For Sale. There was a massive buffet, oodles of cheap festival offer booze, as well plenty of drunk and indecipherable Welsh rock and metal-heads. What more could you want to kick off the summer?
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Nothing says I love you but I am both boring and unoriginal than a dozen red roses on Valentine’s Day. Really boys, there is nothing wrong with flowers, we adore them but has life really got that pathetically predictable that the only way you are able to express your love is through a tired wasteful cliché? All a girl really wants is for the man in her life to express his love, to show her she is understood and appreciated. It does not have to cost anything, it’s not about money, of course we love diamonds but that’s not really the point.

Here are some cheap ideas on gifts that will wow the lady in your life, seriously just pull your finger out your arse are do something special:
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Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th February 2010 @ Bridewell Island, Bristol

www.invisiblecircus.co.uk

As we prepare to enter a new decade in 2010, Suit Yourself looks back and asks - What will be remembered about the decade that was the Noughties?

Where to start, where to start…well, right back at the beginning seems as good a place as any; one minute past midnight to be exact, on the first day of our new millennium when the greatly feared Millennium Bug spectacularly failed to rear its ugly head. Never has such a hyped and anticipated issue been such a non-event. The Millennium Bug: memorable simply for its non-existence; an excellent way to kick off the decade!
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Thursday 12th November 2009 @ Arnolfini, Bristol

‘All I Want For Christmas’ is a festive project that aims to raise money to support Bristol-based charity, Young Bristol, by selling Christmas cards designed specially by 25 local artists and illustrators.

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Saturday 31st October 2009 @ College Green to Stokes Croft, Bristol

Over one thousand zombies descended on Bristol city centre this Saturday afternoon. Was it the apocalypse or a mega Halloween party? ….or both?

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