Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Reading Festival - who else has D there this weekend?

27 replies

Milliways · 23/08/2012 18:33

DS set up camp last night - this is his first time there but we live so close he could walk home if he wanted too, but we can get him if he needs a "proper" loo or shower at some point! Grin

Looking at the clouds he is going to get damp. His decent tent was stolen at V last weekend so he is using a freebie give-away tent (from V) as didn't want to spend money on another one....

It is so funny watching the wellie clad, beer carrying youth descend on the town every year. DO you have someone here too?

OP posts:
MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 23/08/2012 18:51

My friend's dd is there but only for the day (it's her 16th birthday)

Hope the weather keeps fine!!!!

aliportico · 23/08/2012 18:59

My dh, dd2, and dd's friend are going, but just each day - think it is nearer to walk back to ours than out to some of the campsites!

Dd2 came back from Wales yesterday and got interrogated about her age at the station - she has bleached blonde hair at the moment and was all in black and the guy clearly thought she was a festival goer trying to sneak through with a child ticket. He asked her her date of birth, lol. She said she was just going home, not to the festival, and pointed out that she had her 11 year old brother with her!

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 23/08/2012 19:06

Both my girls are there.. I dropped both of them plus their friend this morning. It's DD1's 4th time and DD2's second.. they are veterans who go clad in wellies shorts and rain macs and take the bare minimum:) The tent rarely makes it home tho.

They were told this morning that Greenday are the mystery act..I'm jealous! (but couldn't do the loos....)

funnylady · 23/08/2012 19:36

We live very near, ds got the early bird and set up yesterday too. He's 17 and it's his 2nd year. Has taken tent, sleeping bag, wellies etc but I was worried when I saw only 1 spare tee shirt and a pair of pants in bag. No waterproof, he won't be told. He got filthy last year, had an awful cold, thought he'd broken his nose but had an amazing time and will do so this weekend I'm sure. He did come home for a shower and poo! but says he won't this year. I love to see them all arriving, they look so happy, fresh and excited then leaving - knackered! Henley Rewind last weekend for us oldies! though Greenday - yes jealous!

ScapeGoat · 23/08/2012 19:52

My dd18 has gone for the first time. We got up at 5.45 to get there early (from Kent) as she and her bf wanted a good spot to pitch their tent. She's been worried about the camping and stuff from their tent getting nicked/trashed.

funnylady · 23/08/2012 20:02

Ds is in yellow camp again, I think and he said the only thing nicked last year was alcohol from tents, nothing trashed that he heard of.

boohoohooshouldhavewongold · 23/08/2012 20:15

My dd(17) I walked her to the station this morning at six, I must admit I welled up when I saw her on the train because her bag and tent was so big and heavy she looked as tho she was going to fall backwards. Anyway, have had text to say her tent is up and shes camped with all her friends. Smile

blondieminx · 23/08/2012 20:19

DH is there, also wouldn't be told about taking a waterproof!

AliceInSandwichLand · 23/08/2012 23:04

My DD 17 is going tomorrow - very little camping experience and will I think find it a bit of a shock. No waterproof for her either. Oh well, I'm sure they'll all survive!

twoteens · 24/08/2012 14:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aliportico · 24/08/2012 14:29

I was helping cook breakfasts at the church near Tesco (we're there tomorrow and Sunday too! Fundraising for the Girls and Boys Brigades that meet there.) and we had lots of festival goers in - all extremely polite and lovely :-) They were also extremely grateful to be able to use the toilets!

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 24/08/2012 15:16

Aliportico... that is VERY lovely of your group to let them use the loos... :)
I think the festival goers often get a bad press when most ARE just decent teens/young adults out to enjoy the experience:)

Last year I made mine strip in the back garden before I let them back n the house Grin My DD2 has waist length spiral curls and came home with virtual dreadlocks so had me plait hers this time like a school girl:)

I have had a text today saying they are alive but hungover so all is good...

aliportico · 24/08/2012 15:32

Tomorrow when they're likely to be muddy it will be wellies off at the door :-)

The Tesco next door is pretty big, but its toilets are in the Costa in there - apparently Costa were charging £1 to use the loo!

Milliways · 24/08/2012 16:37

DS popped home for shower & loo his morning - and he had already packed a waterproof coat! Shock

Having a great time, and he music hadn't started yet! We will collect his gear Sunday am and bring him home after the music ends Sun night to avoid the chaos that sometimes ensues where he is camped.

OP posts:
boohoohooshouldhavewongold · 24/08/2012 16:54

Havent heard from dd today, so presume shes having a good time, now Im a bit worried because I wont be here when she gets home on Monday and knowing her she will drag all the mud through the house and dump everything in the kitchen, hallway, living room........ you get the gist Grin

boohoohooshouldhavewongold · 24/08/2012 16:54

ooo, yep she hasnt taken a waterproof but a whole role of binbags instead!

tartanbuggy · 25/08/2012 07:52

Yes, DD (16) and three of her mates went up on Thursday. Collected their GCSE results and then off they went. Have had a few texts including one at 12.30am saying she was still alive and had seen The Cure. Think they might get a bit damp today, though. The girls, not The Cure.

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 25/08/2012 15:30

Mine just saw Greenday and apparently DD2's life is now complete Grin...
..bless'em....

aliportico · 25/08/2012 16:19

The weather has stayed far better than forecast :-) couple of showers earlier, but pretty nice again atm :-)

funnylady · 25/08/2012 18:23

Ds came home today for shower! Having an amazing time and said he crowd surfed during the Cure with this old man. How old was he I asked (thinking 60?) 40 he replied! Fell asleep and missed Greenday - oops! No rain really in Reading so far, just a drop, has been pretty sunny.

Milliways · 25/08/2012 19:28

DS has just texted asking for a shower run tomorrow am - having a great time but really tired. :)

OP posts:
mumblechum1 · 26/08/2012 08:08

DS went, I think Fri am (we just got back from hols last night so don't know when he went). Had a txt asking for a bank transfer Hmm.

When does it end, tonight or tomorrow?

Milliways · 26/08/2012 17:46

Music ends 11:30 tonight, and we were going to collect DS but he decided to stay and be collected Mon am

He got to bed at 5:30 this morning after a "Silent Disco" until 4am!

OP posts:
aliportico · 26/08/2012 18:00

Well, we served over 350 breakfasts over the weekend, and made a lot of money for the Brigades despite not charging rip-off prices :-) Everyone was sweet and thankful, so if anyone here's kids were there, they are a credit to you :-) One girl went up to one of the church stewards who was helping today, and said something along the lines of, thank you for everything you've done for us this weekend, I'd like to give you a donation for the church - and gave him a £20 note :-D

funnylady · 26/08/2012 18:55

Thats brilliant - well done you and thank you for being there to feed them, you've done a wonderful job. How lovely of that girl to make a donation, there are some great youngsters around. Ds found a wallet and Ds g/f found a blackberry both of which they handed in. Think Ds will be home late tonight as he's shattered and had enough of camping but is having a fantastic time. It's been great reading your messages too!