Splashy …

Open your mind and become a fenner …. pack your “sweet disposition” and become a fenner ….Shout out to the world “Stop – I want to get off” and become a fenner …

HF (Happy farmer) and I joined the festival goers on the farm outside Underberg called Splashy Fen. We were part chaperone but 100% happy to go. What memories. Fun, tolerance, laughter and happiness. This all in the sun, rain and frost surrounded by the mountains. The mountains revealed their true beauty for us. You are so close to the rocky outcrops on the southern berg and they are so clear your feel like you could touch them.

The music line ups in the various tents was phenomenal. We saw some old favorites like Nibs Van Der Spuy, and found lots of new front-runners for the position like Michael Franti from America and The Temper Trap from Australia (yes, something good from down under !) My best was lying in the sun at the river stage listening to the Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters (what excellent performers).

The nights were cool (OK ….. freezing) but the days were crisp and clear. All shapes, sizes, super heros and cartoon character were braving the icy cold clear waters of the Mzimude, cruising down to the sounds of “Jackal and Wind” ….During the day it was definitely “bikini weather”. I even got the HF to take a drum playing session …..

We got down and dirty (literally by camping on an air mattress and not showering for four days) with the other thousands of general campers. We were situated about 200 M to close to the Electric Boma and so levitated to the sound of the base until the early hours. We were very happy to see a mix of age groups and have since learnt that the average age of festival goers is 35.

A big thank you must go to every person who attended the festival. Thank you to the cleaning crew who kept the site clean, the ablution staff who worked day and night through sub-zero temperatures, the security guards, the mounted police, the Red Frogs, the wood sellers, the gate staff and the food vendors

It was a total escape from the world – a much needed one – that allowed us to forget what was happening in the world around us. Who was upset with who, what the Rand was doing on the international markets, the milk price and what the politicians were doing next.

A total escape and a real break from reality – see you next year !!