To a few people choosing an event like Nude Fest as my first social naturist outing might seem like a choice bordering on insanity but to me it seemed like the perfect baptism into a world I have longed to be a proper part of since I was introduced to it 10 years ago. How I got into naturism is a story for another time but in the area I live Naturism is a difficult lifestyle to choose.
Early this year I decided that if I was going to make myself known as a naturist there were two ways to do it the easy way – which would be to go to a small event and “dip my toe” into the world or the adventurous way…guess which one I chose….
Preparing for the adventure
If anyone was to ask me how I first found out about Nude Fest I would give them the same answer and to be honest it’s a pretty boring one – I can’t remember. But I do remember why I started looking at British Naturism instead of the country I live in and that is because I am a single male and membership is not easy in Ireland in my local club. I received a very positive introduction to British Naturism from one of its Organising committee and paid my fees as soon as I could.
It’s funny because when I first heard about the date that Nude Fest bookings were going live I had thoughts of it booking out as quickly as Glastonbury and had my booking made within the first hour of bookings opening. In hindsight I am both glad and not so glad that I did this
Why?
Glad because it meant I had committed to going to it.
Not so glad because if I had known the program of events I would have booked a different couple of days or booked for a longer stay.
Either way I knew that I had my first holiday in 7 years booked and it was a short stay at a naturist event.
Now all I had to do was pack – but what does a person pack for a Naturist holiday?
As I was flying I had an immediate restriction of liquids and that proved to be one of my downfalls but I also wanted to travel light to avoid paying for luggage (the joys of low cost airlines). So with a 7kg allowance I started making my arrangements for the bits I knew I would need for a trip to a camp site.
Welcome to Nude Fest
I guess in many ways I didn’t know what to expect when I got there and was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted warmly and had met a few people within an hour of arriving that would become acquaintances for the duration of my stay – I felt at home almost immediately. My first evening didn’t get off to a good start unfortunately when I was advised very quickly that I was blocking the door to the marquee and told to find a chair. Realizing very quickly that I didn’t know anyone I went back to my tent and retrieved my folding chair spending the rest of the night in the bar area concealed from the entertainment but thankfully able to hear it.
On to Day two
I was relieved to see that there was a daily meet and greet and even more relieved to find out it came with a free cup of tea. Just like any first day meet and greet there were a lot of people who already knew each other but were happy to talk to the “new boy in town” and it was at this event that I met two people who I can honestly say made my stay as memorable as it was. Jane and Kathy who were running the shop were only too happy to help with every enquiry I had even offering me a place to charge the phone that I was reluctant to use but knew I would need to keep an eye on during my stay (Thank you to Kathy for the use of your power supply)
Don’t forget your sun cream
It seems like such an obvious thing in hind sight but with the restriction on liquids I didn’t even give the need for sun cream a second thought. As much as I can still feel the burning in my shoulders the reason for me having it remains as one of my fondest memories of Nude Fest. It all started off with me dropping my phone to Kathy for charging and being invited to an outdoor coffee and cake morning with some of the “Cast and Crew” as well as 3 dogs that seemed to enjoy knitting their leads together. I guess two hours of talking, laughing, joking and preparing a very unique recipe for trifle whilst wondering why the sun felt so good on my shoulders was too much.
Charlotte’s lunch
This is just a small mention and in some ways it was one of the unexpected finishing touches that remains lodged in my memory. Arriving back at my tent I decided to prepare for lunch when something caught my eye – I thought I was seeing things, possibly having hallucinations, but there was a small golfing style buggy heading toward my tent. On board that trolley (and one of the only people fully dressed) was a bubbly young lady called Charlotte who was offering a snacks on wheels service, what a lovely idea – thanks to Charlotte for adding to my meagre lunch.
My last evening
It seems strange to jump from my first evening to my last evening but two nights was the full duration of my stay. It was around 7 pm when I met the crew and started regretting having booked such a short visit and realizing that the sun was not going to be as kind to me as I had thought it was. An Après Ski event with Baron Von Schmitthouse and 4 of the BN crew with painted on Lederhosen (why wear real ones on a naturist event) all suspiciously named Helga.
I don’t have enough words to give the event its full justice – It is one of those events you simply had to see to believe. Possibly one of the stand out events was when the bar staff started dancing on the bar and found themselves being encouraged to join the naturist way of life – when in Rome as they say…I do wonder if the one bar person who started disrobing is going to become a member any time soon – would be nice if she does as female membership does need a boost.
Final Reflection
So what can I say?
If you have read my blog to this stage thank you – I hope you have enjoyed it – if you haven’t well you won’t know I have written this bit anyhow. If I had to sum up my experience at Nude Fest in a few words it wouldn’t give it justice but let’s just say “an experience I will not forget and hope to repeat again.” Two days is definitely not enough but at the time I was not sure how I would get on with social naturism having only practiced the lifestyle at home.
The people, the atmosphere, the entertainment and the facilities at Thorney lakes are amongst the best I have ever met or experienced. The journey home was a different experience but I might have managed to get a new person interested in naturism. Wearing clothes again after the experience has been the most difficult thing I have to do because I can see how restrictive textiles are and apart from anything clothes really itch…skin doesn’t
