No danger of humans becoming an endangered species - almost 200 couples showed up at the Greenpeace field to get hitched this afternoon.

Guardian Soulmates and the Ministry of Fun performed an uncivil service that binds the couples in love for one year and one day, and then they can do it all over again if they want to. The couples had a special guest for the ceremony this year. Michael Eavis showed up for the final hymn of the ceremony. I was his first time seeing the ceremony and he was clearly enjoying himself. He even took the time to bless a few of the newly weds.

The highlight for most was Coldplay on the Pyramid stage. Chris Martin, long time supporter of the Make Poverty History campaign, said he's really tired of people being cynical about the Live 8 concerts. "It's amazing that people are trying to do something rather than sitting at home counting their money."

They played a fairly straight version of "Can't get you outta my head" as a tribute to Kylie and the crowd went mad.

After the main stages closed and thousands streamed out to every corner of the fields the party really kicked off. Lost Vagueness hosted an eclectic group of performers and bands including a woman who could thread a string of pearls through her nose and out her mouth and set her hand on fire - impressive. Revellers danced in the ballroom in the finest and often unusual evening wear.

It was a day that will become a Glastonbury legend - the day the heavens opened and turned much of the valley into muddy water. Lightening struck the Dance Village, roads were closed down, about 200 tents submerged under as much as eight feet of water and the show delayed.

Yet once the clouds parted and the bands were on stage the festival resumed a life of its own. By night fall the mud was just another unique feature of the festival. The White Stripes and the Killers put on fabulous shows to a packed audience on the main stage, music could be heard all over the 100-acre farm on both big and small stage. And tucked throughout the site were performance artists, acrobats, comedians and dancers.

The best thing I brought to Glastonbury - my pink sparkly wellies.

You can hide out in one of the various tents, or your own, during the rain and stay mostly dry. But getting around the site when the weather clears is more of a challenge unless you're well prepared. The rain started in the middle of the night, and except for the odd clearing, continued into the afternoon. At times it felt like buckets being dropped on us, regularly accompanied by loud rolling thunder and bursts of lightening.

It's the night before the festival really gets going and excitement hangs in the air with the humidity of the day.

I've had my solar shower to wash off the sweat and dust and am ready to head backstage. Yes that's right, I have been given one of the most coveted festival perks - a backstage wristband. Now I'll have to admit that I am actually not that excited about hob-knobbing backstage with the musicians, the real fun is to be had in the fields and tents on the other side of the wall. No, the backstage pass offers something better - access to real flush toilets.

When I walk in I can hardly believe the pristine state and lack of any offensive odour. So this is what they mean by the rock and roll lifestyle? Bring it on.

It's the day before the music starts, yet the site is already packed with people and tents. The finishing touches are being put on fields, sculptures and stages. Sound checks on the Pyramid and Other stages signal it isn’t long now before the festival officially begins. But that hasn’t stopped many from getting an early start.

Wondering the site there is already music piping out of every café and dance tent. The Levellers played an impromptu gig at a café across from the Greenpeace field. Solo artists and small bands can be found playing at smaller stages and cafes all over the festival. Techo and trance fill the dance area, and here and there is someone with a guitar or a drum playing for a willing crowd.

In the Greenpeace field volunteers are hammering in the last pieces of the climate criminals fairground and setting up the climate gym. But the solar powered showers are open for business by 8:30am and there is queue throughout the day. Whether it is washing off the sweat and sunscreen, or the mud after the rain, a warm solar shower is a highlight for many of the visitors to the Greenpeace field.

Take a look at the time-lapsed video of our climbing and FSC skateboard ramp being constructed. You can also see the first queue for the showers in the background at the end.

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It's my first Glastonbury, and I'm not really sure what to expect. I've heard the stories, brought my pink wig and sparkly wellies. But by the time the festival is in full swing on the weekend there will be as many people here on the farm as the city where I was born.

Months go into the building of the site, 150,000 people arrive for a few days and then the site is dismantled and the cows come back to graze.

Coming to volunteer with Greenpeace I am lucky enough to get into the site the day before the gates open and get a chance to walk around to see what is going on.

This is not like any small city I know. The creativity and energy that has gone into the production of the site is amazing. There are beautiful flags blowing in the breeze in the jazz field, sculptures of cows, gardens, lights projected onto the clouds in patterns across the sky above and spiral sculptures that are lit from the inside. It is magic what people can create in such a short period of time when they work together.

Michael Eavis strides over to greet me, beaming in the sunshine, shakes my hand warmly and asks me inside for a cup of tea.

The clock is ticking, literally, as we sit in his farmhouse kitchen, soon the largest gathering of fun loving people will descend on Worthy Farm in Pilton - for the festival of all festivals.

"That clock always seems to go faster this time of year," Michael remarks, "although we're doing really well because we've had some decent weather which makes a lot of difference to the mood and we are all really excited about what's happening."