Last year Hay sponsors the Guardian had a House of Hay…literally a house, made of hay, at Hay. Genious. Actually it was very good, it doubled as a base for journalists and as a host venue to intimate chats with said same. Last year I sheltered from the rain and had a very fine organised natter with Emily Bell.
This year there is a Yurt instead and it troubles me for a variety of reasons:
- It’s not really a Yurt it’s a bell tent with scatter cushions.*
- There are no events – seemingly no possibility of engagement with the august organ.
- It is ambiguous, the inviting carpets and cushions suggest relaxation but can anyone go in or is it just for Guardianistas?
- Even Sarfraz Manzoor appears to prefer Ascaris.
- C’est un peu pretentious, non?
* Wikipedia – A yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.
MAKING HAY at the Hay Festival 
The key to the Guardian yurt: it is free, and the House of Hay cost a gazillion pounds, and advertising revenue collapsed… the yurt is austerity…
OK, I’m a bit less troubled by the Yurt then, at least with regard to points 1 & 4.
When we looked in through the door to marvel at the scatter cushions a bloke rushed over and said “oi theres no f*****g way you are going in there” so I dont think ‘anyone’ was allowed in!
Great blog by the way