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Teenagers

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Reading Festival Drama

152 replies

Susue999 · 29/08/2026 14:34

DD 17 is at Reading for the first time has called us to say tent has leaked all bedding and all clothes are soaked. We are 2.5 hrs away and debating driving to take her to a launderette and give her dry bedding to then sleep in her mates tent. She has been hyped for months so feeling bad for her. Any seasoned Reading parents have any other brain waves?!!

OP posts:
6ate9 · 29/08/2026 14:45

Can’t she find a laundrette and do it herself?
I’m sure they have one on the Oxford Road in Reading, which isn’t too far from the festival.

Cantstopeatingjaffacakes · 29/08/2026 14:51

There’s a washing machine and dryer at the garage on Oxford Road at the town end. It’s only an extra 5 mins walk from town. I’d direct her there and maybe transfer her some extra money to cover the cost.

canalbird · 29/08/2026 14:54

Can’t she get an uber to a laundrette in town?

hardshoulderr · 29/08/2026 14:55

Driving is a mistake

Malariahilaria · 29/08/2026 14:58

Might be easier to just buy a new sleeping bag, there's a decathlon in town and an argos. Would cost similar to driving all the way there and paying for laundry.

Soontobe60 · 29/08/2026 15:03

It’s all part of the Festival experience!

Tinybirdie · 29/08/2026 15:07

How times have changed. When I was a teenager, the last people I would have contacted would have been my parents. For fear they'd insist I came home! My daughters first instinct is to call me for all inconveniences and dramas!

FlapperFlamingo · 29/08/2026 15:34

id tell mine they are a festival and thats part of it! No way would I rescue that situation!

Hatty65 · 29/08/2026 15:38

I'd leave her to resolve it, whilst making sympathetic noises.

DS ended up sleeping in his tiny little Fiat for 3 nights (he is 6ft 3") at Leeds Fest when he was 18. I'm not sure if that was his plan, or he didn't take a tent or there wasn't room in the mate's tent for him.

It was not my monkey. Or at least it was, but the chimp could have driven himself home if he'd wanted. His choice.

KookyScroller2 · 29/08/2026 15:41

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KookyScroller2 · 29/08/2026 15:42

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millmoo · 29/08/2026 15:44

You can buy duvets there.

ThereWeAreThensmileyface · 29/08/2026 15:46

There's a camping shop on site there called fat franks

truepenguin · 29/08/2026 15:51

Oh gosh this reminds me of the Glastonbury flood. I woke up in what felt like a lake of water, absolutely soaked. My mate slept through it all. I was furious with her! I was all like - everything is soaking! She was like, er so what? Never camped since tbf. Also didn't do a poo for four days to avoid the loos. Came back constipated and soaking but had the best time.

HumptyDump · 29/08/2026 15:52

Tell her to go buy one, they sell them there

ChaosAD · 29/08/2026 16:05

I think there's a laundrette in Caversham which is very close to the festival site - over the river and go right basically! 10-15 minute walk.

KookyScroller2 · 29/08/2026 16:05

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RaininSummer · 29/08/2026 16:13

Needs to just get on, deal with it not call on parents I think if old enough to go to a festival.

6ate9 · 29/08/2026 16:14

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She probably wanted her friend to ‘suffer’ with her!

KookyScroller2 · 29/08/2026 16:18

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Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 29/08/2026 16:18

My 17 year old is at Reading and no way would I get involved in that! Sick or injured, sure I’ll be there. But wet and uncomfortable is part of the festival experience- she’s with her friends, she’ll figure it out. When I was a teenager I hitchhiked to Glastonbury without a ticket or tent and blagged my way in (the lawless 90’s!) didn’t sleep for 3 days then found a lift home and sat my GCSE’s 😂

cestlavielife · 29/08/2026 16:21

She needs to figure it out! You can transfer sone ££ for laundrette or cheap sleeping bag from argos!
Old enough for a festival old enough to work something out

Shedmistress · 29/08/2026 16:22

My first Reading festival, I had a bottle of cider for a pillow. But I had a press pass for my car so I could at least drive it in and out of the leisure centre car park and go to the nearest supermarket to freshen up in the mornings.

The 90s were great.

malefields · 29/08/2026 16:22

Surely if you’re old enough to attend a festival and stay over, you’re also old enough to deal with it?

6ate9 · 29/08/2026 16:22

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@truepenguin “I woke up in what felt like a lake of water, absolutely soaked. “