The worst festival ever
With the bottle issue aside, it was still the worst festival I have ever been to. So badly organised! You had to line up to go out of one show and then again to go into another and they closed off most of the stages so for most of main acts most people couldn't even enter. A friend of mine got a ticket just to see girl talk and despite trying to cue hours before the show still couldn't enter along with hundreds of other people.
They clearly sold too many tickets (even though tickets were not even sold out) as it was way too crowded.
The little lonsdale st was the worst, even if you could get in, you couldn't actually see anything unless you were in the first couple of rows because there was no slope or hill.
Also, most of the shows the general public could see for free. In fact for the library, and QV stagse not only could the general public see but they could actually sit down and enjoy the shows without paying. The lonsdale st stage was one of the main stages and you could stand outside the barrier on the footpath where the hobby shop was and enjoy all of the acts if you wanted to for free. Next year, I might go and see a few shows for free instead of giving them my money as I am never handing my money over to them again.
It was also supposed to be a non smoking event, but so many people were smoking and security didn't pull up anyone. On a side note I've disovered that retro type ray bands tends to equals annoying smoker.
I was so over being there that I along with most people left early before the main acts (well I couldn't get in anyway).
Also, despite being quite close to the lonsdale st stage you couldn't actually hear stereolab's vocals.
Never again!
(I will go back to non rant posting next I promise)
Monday, February 02, 2009
Dear Laneway festival organiser,
I had a very unfortunate thing happen to me at your festival yesterday.
I was advised that I couldn't bring in my stainless steel bottle even after I emptied the water from it. I was told that I should have known because it was on the website, but I didn't. There was no information on the ticket and while I understand that you don't want people sneeking in alcohol. I'm not sure what the problem is with an empty bottle. Yes you might argue that it could be used as a weapon, but so could anything- my phone, bag, sunglasses, purse, keys anything.
Both my husband and myself argued with your staff for a few minutes. I explained that it is an expensive bottle, and one staff member assured me that she will still be at the gate until 10pm and will look after it. My husband tried to give his number just in case but they wouldn't take it and I expressed concern that someone might take it, and even asked how will she recognise me. We had about 5 members of staff all assure me that it will be ok and I could collect it at the end of the night and I couldn't come in until I handed it over. So I relunctanctly gave it over. They placed it behind the large rubbish bin at the lonsdale st entrance.
Several hours later (at about 6pm) I went back to where I had seen the staff member put my bottle and realised it wasn't there, I told staff at the same gate and was advised to go talk to Katie. I went around the coner to Katie who basically said there is nothing she can do. She didn't even ask for our details or suggest that she will look into it. We even advised of her the exact time we entered and explained that 5 staff members witnessed what had happened but she didn't even attempt to search who was working at the time. Instead she basically told me that I shouldn't have handed it over, even though I didn't have a choice. So I asked to speak to the manager. I was given a number for a manager named Rachel(0401 455 444) and told I can call her. I called her and again she didn't get my details or even attempt to talk to staff who were on at the time instead when I asked to speak to her manager she hung up the phone of me. I think the most frustrating thing is that no-one even tried even a little to help me.
No this bottle that we are talking about is not some disposable bottle, it's not even a bottle you can buy in shops. It's a special bottle (it's both aluminum free and plastic free and is eco friendly) and as you can see from the website you can buy it from, it is $37.20 not including the shipping charge or the sports cap ($4.95). I think it is only fair that given I know the exact time that I entered and the exact gate (approximately 1pm at the lonsdale stage gate)- that you either locate my bottle (it's a large blue klean kanteen bottle) and return it to me or compensate me the money that it costs.
By the way, my friend has the exact same bottle and showed staff who allowed her to enter the same stage 3 times with it. I also saw another person be told that they can either empty it's content or leave it there. It angers me even more that the mesage is so inconsistent.
By the way, I have since looked at the website which states that:
It does not state that I can not bring in an empty bottle!
I had a very unfortunate thing happen to me at your festival yesterday.
I was advised that I couldn't bring in my stainless steel bottle even after I emptied the water from it. I was told that I should have known because it was on the website, but I didn't. There was no information on the ticket and while I understand that you don't want people sneeking in alcohol. I'm not sure what the problem is with an empty bottle. Yes you might argue that it could be used as a weapon, but so could anything- my phone, bag, sunglasses, purse, keys anything.
Both my husband and myself argued with your staff for a few minutes. I explained that it is an expensive bottle, and one staff member assured me that she will still be at the gate until 10pm and will look after it. My husband tried to give his number just in case but they wouldn't take it and I expressed concern that someone might take it, and even asked how will she recognise me. We had about 5 members of staff all assure me that it will be ok and I could collect it at the end of the night and I couldn't come in until I handed it over. So I relunctanctly gave it over. They placed it behind the large rubbish bin at the lonsdale st entrance.
Several hours later (at about 6pm) I went back to where I had seen the staff member put my bottle and realised it wasn't there, I told staff at the same gate and was advised to go talk to Katie. I went around the coner to Katie who basically said there is nothing she can do. She didn't even ask for our details or suggest that she will look into it. We even advised of her the exact time we entered and explained that 5 staff members witnessed what had happened but she didn't even attempt to search who was working at the time. Instead she basically told me that I shouldn't have handed it over, even though I didn't have a choice. So I asked to speak to the manager. I was given a number for a manager named Rachel(0401 455 444) and told I can call her. I called her and again she didn't get my details or even attempt to talk to staff who were on at the time instead when I asked to speak to her manager she hung up the phone of me. I think the most frustrating thing is that no-one even tried even a little to help me.
No this bottle that we are talking about is not some disposable bottle, it's not even a bottle you can buy in shops. It's a special bottle (it's both aluminum free and plastic free and is eco friendly) and as you can see from the website you can buy it from, it is $37.20 not including the shipping charge or the sports cap ($4.95). I think it is only fair that given I know the exact time that I entered and the exact gate (approximately 1pm at the lonsdale stage gate)- that you either locate my bottle (it's a large blue klean kanteen bottle) and return it to me or compensate me the money that it costs.
By the way, my friend has the exact same bottle and showed staff who allowed her to enter the same stage 3 times with it. I also saw another person be told that they can either empty it's content or leave it there. It angers me even more that the mesage is so inconsistent.
By the way, I have since looked at the website which states that:
You can only bring water if it is in a sealed plastic bottle. No glass or cans will be allowed.
It does not state that I can not bring in an empty bottle!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
We did it
In the week before the wedding, we had a lot of horrible things happen:
* my family's dog had a horrible fit in front of us (they think he ate poison) and had to be put down
* my brother's very expensive car window got smashed by some asshole while he was helping out
* and my relative had a seizure and had to go into hospital
* and a thousand other small things
I was starting to feel like not having a wedding at all after all the horrible incidents, but am so glad that we did. It was nice to get together for a positive reason with friends and family and Mr T and I had an absolute blast. It was so nice to stand in front of everyone and say vowels that actually meant something (will include later so you can see what we mean), and to eat, drink and dance the night away.
Pics and proper post once we get back from our very short honeymoon.
Thanks again to everyone who come and made the day/night so special!
In the week before the wedding, we had a lot of horrible things happen:
* my family's dog had a horrible fit in front of us (they think he ate poison) and had to be put down
* my brother's very expensive car window got smashed by some asshole while he was helping out
* and my relative had a seizure and had to go into hospital
* and a thousand other small things
I was starting to feel like not having a wedding at all after all the horrible incidents, but am so glad that we did. It was nice to get together for a positive reason with friends and family and Mr T and I had an absolute blast. It was so nice to stand in front of everyone and say vowels that actually meant something (will include later so you can see what we mean), and to eat, drink and dance the night away.
Pics and proper post once we get back from our very short honeymoon.
Thanks again to everyone who come and made the day/night so special!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
New year Eve potluck
Emily helped several of us welcome the new year in the best possible way, with a potluck.
She provided the sausages, burgers and this healthy salad.
And one of my favourites, rum balls ( I had several):
I decided after I got a cupcake courier and individual cupcake holders for xmas that I had to make cupcakes. I make choc cupcakes and topped them with melted white choc and sprinkles. The first batch sunk and so I decided to fill the middle with more white choc which was great in theory but of course after it was set it was super hard.
I also make Fatfree BBQ seitan ribs, which looked great and tasted good on the outside but texture wise it sucked in the inside, it was really hard. It was my first time making seitan and my first time kneading so it might have been that.
Chad make this cheezy pasta bake.
Lisa made a healthy but tasty pasta salad.
Lidia made these cookies:
Pip make these yummy tarts
and her man Tim made these amazing brownies
Emily helped several of us welcome the new year in the best possible way, with a potluck.
She provided the sausages, burgers and this healthy salad.
And one of my favourites, rum balls ( I had several):
I decided after I got a cupcake courier and individual cupcake holders for xmas that I had to make cupcakes. I make choc cupcakes and topped them with melted white choc and sprinkles. The first batch sunk and so I decided to fill the middle with more white choc which was great in theory but of course after it was set it was super hard.
I also make Fatfree BBQ seitan ribs, which looked great and tasted good on the outside but texture wise it sucked in the inside, it was really hard. It was my first time making seitan and my first time kneading so it might have been that.
Chad make this cheezy pasta bake.
Lisa made a healthy but tasty pasta salad.
Lidia made these cookies:
Pip make these yummy tarts
and her man Tim made these amazing brownies
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