Sunrise, Sweat & Synchronicities: Our Glastonbury Solstice Kickstarts The Mixtape Life
How It All Began (With a 3am Rave, A Hill That Tried To Kill Me, and a Phoenix in the Sky)
Midlife crisis? Pfft. Try this on for size: a 3am hill hike, an accidental rave crash, a gravity-assisted tumble down a soggy slope (spoiler: dew 1, me 0), and a very firm vow to never make eye contact with naked strangers in a freezing sacred spring. Welcome to The Mixtape Life.
Because when you swap binge-watching for chasing sunrises, life serves up epic surprises… bruises included. Oh, and possibly a rogue glow stick lodged somewhere you’d rather not mention.
Us at around 6am (after coffee and a fight with the stinging nettles)
✨ Why Glastonbury?
Not that Glastonbury you think of — you know, mud-fest chaos with questionable porta-loos and bands you pretend to like. No, this is the real Glastonbury — the mystical Isle of Avalon, where legends roam free, everyone carries at least three crystals, and emergency drums appear like magic in backpacks everywhere.
It’s a swirling, colorful mash-up of myth, magic, tie-dye nightmares, and enough incense smoke to make you cough for days. You can hike a spiral path to the Tor’s summit, baptise yourself in the icy White Spring (hello, numb toes and sharp inhale of WTF), and maybe casually buy a singing bowl before breakfast because why not?
Perfect setting for a spiritual obstacle course disguised as a holiday. I booked this trip on a whim a year ago — clearly, I was auditioning for some kind of endurance reality show.
🌅 Day 1 - Sunset on the Tor (Pre-Solstice Madness)
We brought my mum along — in spirit and ashes — carried her up the Tor, which honestly looks like the back of a giant turtle (who knew turtles were so scenic?). Because if you’re going to say goodbye, you might as well do it with style, right? Now she’s got the best seat in the house — a prime spot to catch both sunrise and sunset like the VIP she is.
Craig, ever the treasure hunter, found a tiny turtle-shaped stone that magically appeared in a little hole perfectly placed for her ashes to rest. Universe: 1, Skeptical Me: 0. (I was this close to calling him a wizard.)
Cue emotional meltdown, big cosmic “all is well” vibes, and a few happy tears that made me look like I’d been caught in a sudden rainstorm. Glastonbury was our healing backdrop, and this moment? Like the universe handing us a golden ticket wrapped in magic and mystery. (Spoiler alert: there’s a book brewing — think wild, crazy, “did-that-really-happen?” memoir territory.)
A tiny turtle with a spiral - a gift from the Tor
🌠 The Night We Saw a Phoenix (…and Lost a Drone)
Later that night, while filming at the Tor under a velvet sky, we looked out over the twinkling lights of Glastonbury town — and there it was. A phoenix. Not an actual one (although, who knows in Glastonbury?) — but the shape of a phoenix rising, formed by the lights. Wings outstretched. Heart alight. Blazing across the dark like a cosmic postcard. You’ll have to see the film, it’s quite stunning.
Were we seeing things? Nope. It was breathtaking. One of those moments that makes you whisper “wow” without even realising it. And with the Glastonbury Festival lights shimmering beyond the hills like a diamond-studded dream, it felt like the whole land was alive, watching, winking back at us.
🛸 Meanwhile… Craig vs. the Drone
Of course, because nothing ever goes smoothly with us, Craig was also battling for his life — or rather, the drone’s life.
First maiden flight. No connection. No clue where it was. And no idea how to bring it back. Turns out, the drone couldn’t return to home because… it didn’t know where home was. Bit like us, really.
There were only a few minutes of battery left, the light was fading, and so were our chances. Cue Craig running around in a panic with a remote control, yelling at the sky, while I tried to manifest a rescue with pure intention and caffeine.
Miraculously — it made it. With seconds to spare. Probably traumatised. But back all the same. Only then did we laugh about it (mostly out of relief).
🚀 Solstice — The 3AM Rave That Broke Reality
Three hours’ sleep later, we set off for what was supposed to be a peaceful solstice sunrise hike. Instead, we stumbled straight into a full-on rave in the orchard— bass pounding so hard it shook us to our core, glow sticks buzzing like neon fireflies, and there we were: looking like over prepared geography teachers armed with drones, enough cables to launch a spaceship, and zero clue how to rave.
Me: “Are we sure this is really Glastonbury?”
Craig: “Yep. Exactly the beautiful madness we signed up for.”
We danced our way past, awkwardly, sweatily, and maybe a bit desperately — but hey, that’s living!
Huddled up to stay warm
🌅 Sunrise on the Tor — Cosmic Reset Button Activated
Hundreds of us gathered, drumming and hugging like we’d just reunited after a decade-long quest. The air buzzed with joy—and possibly a hint of frostbite. The sunrise? More like a shy peek from behind the clouds, as if the sun was saying, “I’m up… but not fully awake yet.” Meanwhile, my toes were negotiating a ceasefire with the cold.
Barefoot dancing on dew-soaked grass looked magical—until you realised your feet felt like tiny ice blocks. Faces glowed by candlelight, smiles wide enough to warm a room, even if our teeth were doing their own chatter dance. I half expected a penguin to waddle by and give me a nod of approval for commitment to this chilly ritual.
But hey, it’s all part of the Glastonbury magic: wild, messy, and totally worth every freezing, fuzzy-toed second.
Glastonbury Tor, Solstice 2025 - DJ Set and Film coming Soon
🧗♀️ Hill vs. Me — Spoiler, I Lost
Dew-soaked grass turns hills into slip-n-slide death traps. Yours truly performed an epic slow-motion fall worthy of a viral fail video, arms windmilling like a confused windmill (yes, that’s my actual maiden name — fate, clearly).
Craig? Glued to the drone, filming everything except my graceful demise.
Dog? Smug. Champion of the hill.
Me? Swearing, bruised, but undefeated in spirit.
She was soooo smug!
💦 The White Spring Baptism — Arctic Plunge
Next up on the bucket list: The White Spring. Picture this: plunging headfirst into icy, shock-your-soul-cold water, surrounded by a crowd of joyful, mostly naked strangers, all softly chanting while flickering candles dance around you like you’re in some mystical, yet chilly spiritual meeting.
Me? My entire brain was on a single mission: don’t lose any toes to frostbite and try not to scream like a banshee. It can’t be that cold - can it?
Craig? Oh, he somehow got crowned the Solstice King — serenaded by goddesses and wading through the cold water like Poseidon himself, looking majestic and totally in his element. Not even a flicker of recognition it was cold (until we were outside - he he).
Meanwhile, I was over here, trying to ease myself into the cold water and not make too much direct eye contact with the wobbly bits around me (which, spoiler: wasn’t always successful). But hey ho. I’m quite shy - what can I say. I have no problem with nudity. Honestly, it took me far too many attempts than I’d have like to get fully immersed. But I did it.
Would I do it again? Absolutely — because there’s something insanely powerful about facing icy fear head-on. But will I ever be a cold water swimmer? Ha! Let’s just say my frozen toes and gasping lungs have other plans.
Stunning Mandala - Called haART by Paul
🌀 Mandala of the Heart That Found Us
Around 11pm that day, as you do when the magic’s thick in the air, we bumped into an artist named Paul. The conversation was bubbling like a mystical cauldron, and then—boom—I fell head over heels for his mandala, made entirely of tiny hearts. It literally spoke to me.
But here’s the twist: Paul told me there were only 13 of these mandalas—“heART”—and he wasn’t letting any go. No chance. They were his babies. Only 3 of the 13 are activated.
I came back the very next day at 6:30 am, there it was again right by Chalice Well. The mandala, was glowing in the dawn light. I asked Paul once more, and this time he offered to do a commission. We agreed, but then, in a wild turn of events, he later confessed the original mandala was singing to him—it wanted me to be its guardian. I still can’t believe this happened.
Spoiler alert: the original mandala arrives later today and I’m buzzing with excitement! Stay tuned for cosmic art magic in full effect.
🏕️ Wild Weekend, Wild Hearts
We rolled home sunburnt, sleep-deprived, nettle-scratched, and buzzing like we’d conquered Everest — or at least survived a weekend of Glastonbury’s finest madness. Every scratch, every sleepless hour, every wild moment felt like a badge of honor, proof that we’d fully lived the chaos and magic of that place.
This is the wild, messy, mixtape, joyous life we’re chasing — the kind that sneaks up on you when you least expect it, and leaves you both utterly exhausted and wildly inspired. Who knew magic was just around the corner, hiding in the mud, the music, and the unexpected moments?
If you want to chase that kind of wild magic too, come along with us on this journey. Follow for more tales, tunes, and bucket list adventures that remind us all why life’s best moments are the messy, imperfect ones. Let’s get out there and live life out loud!
🎧🎥 What’s Next?
Sunrise + Sunset + White Spring = bucket list smashed
DJ sets filmed in wild places — more coming soon
Drones, mixtapes, behind-the-scenes chaos
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❤️ Takeaway:
Life’s most transformative moments often happen when we step out of our comfort zones and lean into uncertainty—whether that’s diving into freezing water, climbing a hill with heavy hearts, or simply showing up for the wild, messy parts of the journey. These experiences remind us that growth, healing, and joy rarely come from playing it safe.
If you want to live fully and feel truly alive, start saying “yes” to the things that scare or challenge you a little. Embrace the awkwardness, the discomfort, the imperfect (ha ha and wobbly bits)—because that’s where you find resilience, connection, and stories that shape who you become.
So next time you hesitate to take a leap, ask yourself: What’s waiting on the other side if I just jump in? Spoiler—it’s often the exact magic and healing you didn’t know you needed. Life’s not about perfect moments, but about being present through the messy, beautiful chaos. That’s where the real adventure begins—and it’s waiting for you right now.
Next Stop: Maldives! 🌴☀️
The furthest we’ve ever gone, and a dream two decades in the making. Expect sunset DJ vibes, island adventures, and zero drone mishaps (this time). For the film debit, bring flip-flops and your best flamingo. This is bucket list item 4 and we can’t wait! We’re filming a DJ set there, ‘Chasing paradise’, which we anticipate will launch on Youtube at the end of August in time for my 50th birthday. Woo hoo! Strangely this is my kinda introverted party.
Bucket list item 4 & - staying in a Waterville and filming ‘Chasing Paradise’ DJ Set