Okay, so we set out for Sanctuary 2008 on Thursday, planning to camp in the queue a day early... but we were told by Security we had to stay off-site. We made our way back from the Builders/Artists gate all the way round to the local pub for some first pint refreshment and then went ahead to find a place to camp for the night. Luckily, there was a local derelict house with a shed load of wood we could burn for a fire. From the site we could see the huge hill where the queue line would start in the morning.

Along comes Friday morning, we make our way over to the queue line at an early 8AM... we were indeed the first people there. Around 9AM security came down to make sure no-one started to proceed up the hill until Slammin' told them otherwise... which was at about mid-day. Sure, we got some coffee from the guys (THANKS!!) to keep us warm while we waited.

Come 12 we started to walk up the hill to the search tent... where we seen loads of cars, and around 30 ravers in front of us already there. We were happy that we were near the front as we could get through and pitch up quite quickly. It's not cool to be near the middle/back and have to wait for a stupid amount of time. Though I was pi$£ed off about being sold a FAKE guide for the event whilst in the queue, and extra £5 in someone else's pocket and not mine. I heard the people selling them did get kicked from the event so it's not all bad.

So we got through the search, an hour late starting though. Starting at three instead of the published time of two, but VIPs were being let in at two. We got out pitch sorted, and our tent was erected. We did take a tarpaulin to stretch over the top, knowing that tents can't handle too much rain and also having see the forecast for the weekend.So the tent was up, and it's time to wait for the Arenas to open and let the Friday Ravers in to kick off the Festival in style.

Mainstage on Friday was great for me, being a fan of Hardcore/Hardstyle. Mark EG and then Hixxy... wow! What an atmosphere it was too. The Hardcore Room for Friday was also just as good. Though I didn't really see much of any of the other rooms. As expected, food/drink prices weren't great, but that was budgeted in my money that was taken with me, don't mind paying a bit extra but sometimes it did seem a bit high. Means when you're out things seem cheap.

Due to the Campsite Music Tent blasting out all through the night, I didn't get any sleep during Friday night until around 5AM... and that ended at 11AM when they started up again. Saturday was a bit boring during the day I suppose, could of been more happening for the campers, but we kept ourselves busy with a few rounds of eye spy and cards... good old poker!

Looking over to the queue, from around mid-day (again) I could see people gathering waiting to get searched and into the Saturday Swing for the long hours that were ahead of them. The queue never seems to die down, even though people were being let in. I guess it was going to be packed in there for the Saturday, and I'd rather have it busy than empty!

Sooner than I thought, my wellies came out as there was mud everywhere. It had been raining pretty much all day from 7AM and people walking around in it only makes it worse. Water on top of the mud was being flicked everywhere, tents were getting covered in mud and so were people. Due to the title of the event "Festival" I would of thought more people would of wore wellies, but obviously not. The forecast for the event was always showers/rain... maybe I'm just being silly!

During the Saturday night, I stayed mainly in the Slinky room. They always seem to have the loudest sound system, I'm sure they take their own speakers/amps. I did briefly go a few times to see what was happening in the Hardcore room, but there was simply mud four inches deep from the front to the back, no way could you dance around in there, wasn't worth making the effort to find a place either. The only set I did go and see was Cally Gage vs Frisky, in the Bionic room. I must admit I'm glad I went to see it, they rocked the place. Being right at the front was also a bonus.

What it all comes down to is... a great event but it was a bit of a shame it was so muddy. Bring on Westfest 2008.