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Original poster

Reading festival

97 replies

funnylady · 24/08/2011 08:16

Hi, Our son is going to Reading festival (camping) for the first time. Any tips on how we can survive the worry and tips for his safety etc. Have looked at various hepful sites but any other tips very welcome. Thank you!

OP posts:
maddiemostmerry · 29/08/2011 11:41

Ah Berry your poor dd. That is so random. My ds has been for three years running and has never seen anything like that. Hope she is feeling a little better and i hope it won't put her off.

My ds arrived home at 8.00am. He is now sensible enough to divide his clothes into wet and dry bags. He said some of his mates went to the Toby Carvery.

He survived on cereal bars(must be the festival staple, Claw) and pizza.

He said it was either very hot or very cold. The pyrotechnics during Stockholm Syndrome warmed the crowd up.

He thought Pulp, Muse, MCR, Enter Shakari and Bring Me the Horizon were epic.Smile

BerryMojito · 29/08/2011 11:45

DD said much the same, no trouble really. Apparently she got knocked over in a mosh pit and he jumped on top of her, punched her in the cheek and then scratched her face to bits. Really looks like he tried to take her eyes out tbh. Thumb marks under her sockets and then finger marks on the sides of her jaw line.

Doesn't sound like there was any particular trouble though, so just being in the wrong place at the wrong time I think. very glad to have her back I must say!

BerryMojito · 29/08/2011 11:47

Oh, and she agrees on the very hot or very cold bit - her friend fainted in the crowd at one point due to the heat! Sounds like they had a mad time...

sieglinde · 29/08/2011 12:06

Berry, how awful. Despite obvious delights, some of it does sound scary. Ds says that he nearly got strangled when trying to break out - apparently you have to find someone in the crowd to pick you up ! - and the people who had lifted up the person in front couldn't find anyone to hand them to, so the other kid's feet were around ds's neck. He was mainly upset because the security people had changed the route back so he missed a Muse song... :). No mosh at the front, though.

Interestingly ds got in a mosh at Wembley this year and lost his glasses, and the whole mosh stopped and searched for them. I think berry's dd was therefore terribly unlucky; most of these kids are actually very nice and chilled. He too says MCR were awesome. Glad everyone is getting home safely.

Claw3 · 29/08/2011 12:12

Oh i see, more like extemely over enthusiastic and dangerous 'moshing' than out of the blue attack, not that it makes it any better, what on earth was he thinking. Hope it didnt spoil her experience too much.

TheSecondComing · 29/08/2011 12:47

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MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 29/08/2011 12:52

Just picked up my three (plus extras!) from the station..... hot water on... DD2's corkscrew curls are now dreadlocks Grin and I may have to incinerate their stuff..... but they can't wait to go back again next year:)

Ponders · 29/08/2011 14:58

Berry, your poor DD, I hope it won't put her off going again

DS2 just got back - he is clean! & he brought his tent & everything back! (wondering now where he's really been for the last 4 nights Grin)

Claw3 · 29/08/2011 15:13

Ponders, ds was clean too, well his clothes were, he hadnt showered for the whole 3 days!

His tent, wellies and raincoat are on the missing list so far, apparently they were muddy.

Is that everyone home safely now?

nomorefrizz · 29/08/2011 16:46

My boy has just rung to say he is back in town and can I pick him up- a whole gang of them are in a cafe having a civilised cup of tea. Poor tea shop, having not washed for 3 days I hope they are sitting outside! Such a relief to know they're back in one piece though.

IloveJudgeJudy · 29/08/2011 17:19

DS1 (16) got back about an hour ago. Had a great time. Very sore voice from singing too much and not enough sleep. Got a bit wet on thursday night as they hadn't bothered to put up the tent properly. Sorted themselves out on Friday. Was both too hot and too cold as only took one fleece and that got really wet on the first night. Lived in wellies (he only bought them for Reading, wouldn't ever wear them before), saw MCR, Pulp, Shikari, Pete Doherty among others.

Has a few bruises and a very big scratch from the mosh pits, but can't wait to got again. Didn't wash at all, I don't think, apart from his face. Didn't even change his boxers Shock. Threw all his socks away and bought some new from Tesco. This from a boy who will have at the very least one shower a day when at home. He said it was a bit rougher than he had expected, but he had a brilliant time. Got squashed at MCR and another band. He's just having a bath now.

FellatioNelson · 29/08/2011 18:36

My son has just got back from Reading about an hour ago. He looks like death warmed up and lsightly zombie-like (as usual; it is the the post-festival state I have come to know and dread) but at least he still has his voice. When he comes home from Sonisphere or Download he cannot speak for three days.

lazymumofteenagesons · 29/08/2011 18:43

DS2 got back at about 10am and has had one shower, a sleep, huge amount of food and then a bath. I got a detailed description of the toilets Hmm and he seems fine. Said the food was good but pricey and all his friends are fine. Left the tent and the camping chair I bought just for this and can't understand why I'm bothered.
I have not even looked inside the rucksack he can deal with it.

lazymumofteenagesons · 29/08/2011 18:45

Oddly enough DS2 has come back sun tanned - he looks like he has been in the carribean! Must be wind burn.

FellatioNelson · 29/08/2011 19:00

Oh the setting fire to leaving behind your tent is normal - they are too knackered to carry it! Although my son is pretty good at bringing his tent back, along with case-loads of beer that get left behind by the people who have to go home by train. Hmm 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth even if it cripples you' is his motto.

nomorefrizz · 29/08/2011 19:00

Same about the tan! It may well wash off.

monkeyhandbag · 29/08/2011 19:53

My lovely ds 18, is home and knackered. They found a tesco to buy a duvet because they were so cold in the tent at night. For once, I'm glad tesco rule the world.
Neither the tent nor duvet made it home and my house now smells of campfires.
He has been in bath for three hours- still not clean apparently.

Original poster
funnylady · 29/08/2011 21:07

DS and friends all back now safely. It was definitely an eye opener for him (and me!). He had the most amazing time and going next year without doubt. Berry - I'm so sorry to hear of dd's experience, hope she's ok now. Thanks guys for sharing this with me, hope they are all back safely and we can all get a good nights sleep! x

OP posts:
acsec · 29/08/2011 22:05

Glad they are all home safe and sound and that they all had an AMAZING time :o

berry glad DD is ok, poor thing - I've never been one for moshing - I bruise like a peach!

Make them all do their own washing and put some disinfectant in the washing liquid drawer (to combat the germs from the 'toilet' floors and seats that the clothes have brushed against - you only trult know the horror of the campsite toilets when you have used them!)

tokenwoman · 30/08/2011 08:05

mine got a cab from reading to the depths of surrey cost his last £50 at about 1am monday morning, the train station at reading was packed, ticket machines not working only one member of staff on duty, his sleeping bag, pillow and only dry towel got nicked on friday but he doesn't seem too bothered left the tent for charity is now back home safe and sound with a peeling sun tan (only my boy could get a suntan in all that rain) had a great time and he body surfed the crowed which i think was his best moment and he put all his dirty clothes in the washing machine! isn't it funny how their eyes light up when they tell you of all the goings on the music, the crowds, the wet, the food, hooray for tesco in reading which seemed to be the mecca for all things a festival goer needed including the use of the loos

Corrina1 · 23/08/2017 13:07

My daughter is camping at Reading festival this weekend but we have to pick her up on Saturday eve as we fly on holiday on Sunday. Any tips on where we can pick her up. Thank you

salmanufc · 10/07/2018 17:52

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