This year it will again be returning to Blondin Park in neighbouring Ealing. As in previous years we have invited event manager Linda Massey to give her own unique insight into the highs and lows, thrills and spills, that come with trying to organise such a huge event.

It is usual for me to take a short break in June to stoke my engines ready for the full-on planning of the Brentford Festival over the next few months ready for the other D day; Sunday 7 September 2014. As I queued for the plane blow me down but I saw Hounslow Chronicles’ very own Chris Longhurst with his golfing buddies ready for his own short break. To then see two members of the management team from Brentford FC Sports Community Trust, who have in the past provided sporting provision for the festival, on the same plane was spooky.

I may have been out of sight but certainly not out of mind as the phone calls, emails and text messages came in at regular intervals just one day in to my break to say that travellers had taken over the event site, BLONDIN PARK. I was very grateful to hear that within two days the travellers had moved on and it does not sound like any real damage has been caused to the ground or the surroundings. Thanks must be extended to the police, council staff and local councillors for keeping the pressure up and giving back the space to the local community and giving me peace of mind.

Yet again members of the event team have been trying to modernise me by bringing me in to the world of Twitter and Facebook. I do understand that it makes sense to get the message out there via social media but I still have to feebly say that I do not have the time to invest in learning this yet so thanks Jackie and Sara for keeping this going.

On the music front I mentioned last month that we had a new musical director – musician Elaine Samuels. My laid back I will get there in the end approach is quite different to Elaine’s who has brought a different perspective to the planning. Elaine has speedily vetted the musical applications already (with the help of Ian Whitfield and Peter Samuels) and has sent out the invites, so in July we will be able to make the big announcement of the lucky performers. From the musicians’ perspective, they wish to know well in advance if they have got a gig so that they can continue to take bookings elsewhere although I secretly think it is to give them more time to practice ( joke).

As I mentioned in June we did get some of our layout wrong last year, the first time at the new location BLONDIN PARK and hope not to make the same mistakes again. What we are finding however is that we cannot come up with a definitive layout plan yet as more and more people come forward and say that they wish to be a part of the day. So just where can we put bumper balls?

The dog show run by SIT DOG Training is definitely on board and are very organised in that the programme has already been set. They will be in a new position at the end of the allotment site which near the trees will also give them a certain amount of shade.

There will definitely be 7 live musical performances (can’t say bands yet because I do not know the final selection) and if we have space either for a buskin area or 2 stage we will be able to accommodate more. We are interested in the offer of a ukulele workshop which has yet to be followed up.

The police have said they would like to bring their old police vehicles again and we are talking about possibly their dogs and horses ...early days.

We are working with extremely enthusiastic Adam from Red Routemaster to not only have buses on display (did you know that it is the year of the bus?) but also to have an effective route bringing people from Hanwell, Brentford and Ealilng to and from the event. As is usual there will be no public parking on site.

Caterers are sending in their expressions of interest applications for the 14 pitches we have available. We have already received 87% of the available quota of applications for stalls. At £10 for charities and £30 for commercials this is still a very reasonable cost. So if you were thinking of getting involved then time is running out but Stall holder application forms can still be downloaded from here. You may also visit the website to see who has already signed up to this much talked about event.

We have placed orders for the toilets, the all important drinks licence for the bar and also the picnic tables and benches (kindly sponsored by PATHWAYS) so we already have the makings for a good event.

Keep ideas, suggestions and bookings coming and I will be back with you in July.

eventmanager@brentfordfestival.org.uk