Active discussions

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

Talk
Teenagers

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

Original poster

Reading 2022 Any of your 16 year olds going?

146 replies

MumofSpud · 16/08/2022 19:26

DD is off to Reading next week - planning on going on Thursday-- morning (as soon as possible her GCSE results email (to avoid any falling out!)--
She is going in a group and they also have friends going on the Wednesday - these friends will take their tent and put it up for them so they all get a good spot together
Can't see what could possibly go wrong with that plan!
I went to Glastonbury (a million years ago) so am a bit out of touch with current festivals!
I had originally said no to her going but when I saw here on Reading threads that most Ops would let their 16 year old DC go / Reading is full of Year 11s, I changed my mind.
We watched the recent Woodstock 99 documentary but she thought it all looked great funConfused
She is used to going to gigs / mosh pits - although is horrified that I was moshing in the early 90s!
Any advice? (For either of us - although she won't listen to me!)

OP posts:
sovielverloren · 27/08/2022 23:37

Oh @Gottoomuchgoingon , how worrying - although best to hear once it is being dealt with I guess. I haven't heard again from DS; but as far as I know will be collecting tomorrow morning.

Original poster
MumofSpud · 27/08/2022 23:39

@legosunqueen
Ya she puked (not in the tent) and was ok
She had a lie in today and then a nap this afternoon
Bloody expensive place to go to sleep (or maybe that's just what she's telling me!)

OP posts:
SkiingIsHeaven · 27/08/2022 23:43

Reading and Leeds Festival are nothing like Woodstock 99. I am in Reading now and have been to the festival over the last two days. Don't worry. Your kids will be fine. Please ask them to pick their rubbish up though. It is the worst I have ever seen and I have been going to festivals for at least 10 years.

Gottoomuchgoingon · 27/08/2022 23:57

We're in South Wales. His mates have collected him and taking him back to his tent. Silly boy. He has no idea of his tolerance because he doesn't drink due to his sport. His dad isn't amused.

At least he's safe and been looked after
I've been in worse states so I can't say much

JanePrentiss · 27/08/2022 23:58

SelfMadeWoman · 21/08/2022 09:09

I live near the site, if anyone has a child in need of an emergency get out, pm me and I will go and rescue them until you arrive. I've done it a couple of times over the years. It can be a bit overwhelming!

SelfMadeWoman

What an awesome gesture - my dcs aren't at festival age yet. But if anyone had to take up your offer I hope they realise what a star you are 💐

Metimeneededasap · 28/08/2022 00:03

My three children all went to Reading post GCSE results…they had a fantastic time !!

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2022 08:38

@Gottoomuchgoingon gosh how scary for you but I suppose exactly what the welfare peeps are there for! Hopefully he will just sleep it off in his tent and go easy today!

DD called me at 2am this morning. Obviously I picked up straight away and had all kinds of awful visions running through my mind. There was nothing wrong, she was just calling for a drunken chat. In her alcohol haze I don’t think she’d been able to deduce it was an inappropriate time to be calling! 🤨

sovielverloren · 28/08/2022 08:54

Heading up there in a minute (we are about an hour away) to pick up DS and will see what 's wrong....Hope everyone else's DCs have an awesome final day!

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2022 09:22

@sovielverloren hope your DS is feeling a bit better and picking him up runs smoothly.

HappyKatieA · 28/08/2022 09:28

@sovielverloren I hope all is well when you get there 🤞🏽

@Gottoomuchgoingon I hope your DS has had a good sleep and is feeling better!

I messaged our DS Happy Birthday just after midnight, he sent a drunken response about 2am, so at least I know he's alive.

legosunqueen · 28/08/2022 10:11

@sovielverloren not the most relaxing weekend for you, hope he's okay.
@MumofSpud totally!

TeeBee · 28/08/2022 10:52

My DS is apparently having a great time but is 'a bit tired'. Looking forward to his roast dinner tomorrow. I just hope things don't get any more crazy tonight 😳

sovielverloren · 28/08/2022 11:21

We're home! DS in shower, was very chatty in the car so despite everything I think he had a good time. He has a bad cold (but will do covid test as we are supposed to be seeing relatives this week) but in good spirits; I think it was all a bit full on (only child and used to his own space) and plus not feeling 100% made it all more difficult. Pick up really easy at 10am, so I am not complaining about how it has turned out!

HappyKatieA · 28/08/2022 11:36

@sovielverloren excellent news! Hope he feels better quickly!

I've just spoken to birthday boy, he's lacking in voice - apparently from the silent disco?! I feel better now we've spoken. I hope not to worry so much the remainder of this...

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2022 12:33

I’ve had a delirious sounding DD on the phone asking if I can drop 2 new friends to Reading station when I pick her up tomorrow. I might be wrong but I think it’s probably closer to walk to the station then it is to go to the official pick-up car park? She seems to think that I can just stop somewhere wherever they are near the main entrance/exit and load 4 of them along with their tents and bags in to the car with no problem!🤦‍♀️

I’m actually stressed just thinking about how chaotic it’s going to be at pick-up tomorrow.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 28/08/2022 13:00

Yes the closest you can pick up is thi/range/Aldi car park and that is about two minutes walk from the station

the car park for this has never been shut in previous years. It’s a retail park so still needs to be open for customers. If you’re brave enough to do your weekly shop on that day you’d need to get in the car park.

I dropped dd there the other day and that’s the plan to pick her and friends up from as always picked ds’s up from there. It’s like a scene from a zombie movie all these unwashed tired hungover teenagers descending on the station and Aldi on their way home.

snowstorm2012 · 28/08/2022 13:12

My son is coming home tonight (which was always the plan). Another mum is picking them up at 9pm. Have had daily morning/night texts from him so he's alive 😃👍🏼

He says it's been good but will properly catch up when he's home ☺️

Original poster
MumofSpud · 28/08/2022 13:33

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2022 12:33

I’ve had a delirious sounding DD on the phone asking if I can drop 2 new friends to Reading station when I pick her up tomorrow. I might be wrong but I think it’s probably closer to walk to the station then it is to go to the official pick-up car park? She seems to think that I can just stop somewhere wherever they are near the main entrance/exit and load 4 of them along with their tents and bags in to the car with no problem!🤦‍♀️

I’m actually stressed just thinking about how chaotic it’s going to be at pick-up tomorrow.

I feel your growing panic re collection - I dropped off outside the train station on Thursday morning - there was an empty taxi rank - I was so relieved that this was easy that I didn't care if I ended up with a fine!
Bit for pick up I am trying to persuade her to get a train and go at least one stop!

OP posts:
ScratchyCat · 28/08/2022 15:45

My son has been feeling unwell so is coming home this evening with his friend. He's suggested I pick him up on Richfield avenue but I'm not sure if I will be allowed drive down that road.
Does anyone know?

ApplePippa · 28/08/2022 16:21

@ScratchyCat Richfield Avenue is completely closed between 10.30pm and 1.00am when the day ticket people are leaving. There are parking restrictions, including no stopping for pick-ups, for the whole duration of the festival. (I'm a Reading local.)

I think the Aldi/Range car park might be your best bet - It's not too far from the festival site.

ScratchyCat · 28/08/2022 16:36

ApplePippa · 28/08/2022 16:21

@ScratchyCat Richfield Avenue is completely closed between 10.30pm and 1.00am when the day ticket people are leaving. There are parking restrictions, including no stopping for pick-ups, for the whole duration of the festival. (I'm a Reading local.)

I think the Aldi/Range car park might be your best bet - It's not too far from the festival site.

Thanks @ApplePippa

I will be picking up at about 8:30.
Will the Aldi/Range car park be open at that time?

ApplePippa · 28/08/2022 16:53

@ScratchyCat Sorry, I don't know. It was open earlier today when I went past, but it is a car park with barriers - the shops all close around 4pm on a Sunday, so there's a good chance it won't be open at 8.30pm.

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2022 17:08

So DD and friends latest hatched plan is that they intend to pull an all-nighter tonight. They have made friends with some lads and they can crash in their tent for a bit if need be. They want to pack up all their stuff tonight and are trying to persuade one of the girls sister to drive down there and pick it all up, including their tents. Then they want me to pick them up at 8am in the morning. If it wasn’t for the whole not sleeping thing I actually think it’s not a bad idea to go really early tomorrow and try and miss as much traffic as possible.

Sistanotcista · 28/08/2022 18:14

ApplePippa · 28/08/2022 16:53

@ScratchyCat Sorry, I don't know. It was open earlier today when I went past, but it is a car park with barriers - the shops all close around 4pm on a Sunday, so there's a good chance it won't be open at 8.30pm.

@ScratchyCat - the TGI Friday there is open until 10.00 pm so I think you will be able to park there at 8.30 pm

ScratchyCat · 28/08/2022 18:17

Thanks @Sistanotcista that's good to know