OK, weather was crap, dull, cold, windy, autumnal. Sunday morning’s rain was depressing. And wellies were essential, I spent the weekend trudging around through mud. The trouble with no sunshine and wet ground: you end up standing all the time.

That said, I had a great time. Musical highlights: Madness, the last 20 minutes of Chic, Brian Wilson, Laura Izibor. As ever, Dublin Gospel Choir on Sunday morning lifted my spirits. Cuckoo Savante and Reader’s Wives both gave excellent gigs, on a smaller scale.

Found the Leviathan tent consistently interesting. Bob Gruen the photographer was cool.  The Emergency were really, really good, and very funny.  David McWilliams hosted excellent debates on the economy on Saturday, and on gay marriage on Sunday, and they were passionate and thought-provoking.

Food as ever was great. And it has to be said that, despite the conditions, the organization was excellent, at least as far as I was concerned. Muck was everywhere, but the showers and toilets were much better this year than last, at least for me. But hey, I’m a guy.

But for me the unmistakeable joy of the festival was Arcadia; every night the music was impossible to ignore, the visuals breathtaking.