reassure me please that dd will be fine at the Reading Festival??

[brimfull]

she's 16 ,going in a group of 12 boys and girls.

worked with someone last night who was totally against her dd going as she'd heard awful tales of what goes on.

I am a bit worried now...anybody got some good things to tell me about it?
Any advice I can give dd?

It's a pretty mainstream festival nowadays s I wouldn't worry about her any more (or less) than at any other festival.

Are they a sensible lot on the whole?

Advice - keep herself to herself, don't accept drinks from anyone, and call home if she is worried at any stage - Reading has the advantage of not being in the middle of nowhere so she can easily leave if she needs/wants to.

yes they're a sensible lot..thank god

Is there police/security people there if she needs help or something?

Course she will. She will have a ball. Main problem is cost of everything so my DS1 tells me. Apparently even a burger costs about £7. He takes as much stuff as he can carry - pot noodles, all sorts of awful stuff - to save money. Also it is really difficult to get any sleep as music goes on ALL the time. But that may not be a problem DS is taking a tarpaulin to go over his tent for shade as last one Glade? down in REading was so hot. DS1 is 17 and is also going to two Festivals in Portugal before Leeds THEN joining us on holiday in Italy - if he ever gets there. He seems to have appointed as main organiser for his group which, unfortunately means it is always my credit/debit card that ends up paying for everything - tickets/travel etc and then getting paid back. btw there are lods of security people etc at all festivals. Don't worry. She will be FINE. You HAVE to let them go. The person who is "totally against" her DD going prob has no idea what festivals are like - I wonder what "awful tales" she has heard and from whom! Some parents just don't want to let go. Just make sure she is well prepared - tent/sleeping bag/cutlery/mug/plate etc. Unlikely she will be able to wash or sleep well and she will desperate for a hot bath and a long sleep when she comes home. She may be a bit smelly

My ds2 is off to V ggirl and I feel your pain. My main worry with him is that he won't be able to find his tent - he has trouble finding his underpants most days!

thnks guys-that's made me feel better

good idea about taking food,will tell her
this letting go thing is hard-glad she's got a nice group of friends

what's the v-festival?

[[http://www.vfestival.com/ V Festival]

The food thing will be a bit of in issue for us too - he's camping for 4 nights so will probably have eaten everything we send by the 2nd night!

V Festival

Festivals are generally very happy, friendly places. yes, lots of drinking goes on. And drug-taking, but the vast majority of people are there to have a good time, listen to some good live music and enjoy the atmosphere. I would be more concerned at them going out on the town on a Saturday night, than going to a festival. There are welfare/first aid tents at festivals. She will be given a map to show where these are. She'll be fine, and she'll have a fabulous time.

thanks
feel nuch better now

Both DD (18) & DS(20) will be at Reading, this is the third year they have camped though they have been there for single days before (we live about 8 miles from Reading)
The first year, when DD was 16 they were in a tent together, since then they have been in separate tents with groups of friends.
Like you I was worried the first year, although DD's boyfriend's brother was one of the security guards, so I knew there was someone who would be able to help if needed.

From what I've heard from both of them, it's pretty safe - of course, there will be people with drugs, but tbh, so there are any weekend in Reading town centre & probably most cities - if she's with a group of sensible friends, she's no more likely to get involved than in her home town.

I've not heard tales of any great violence, though there is a fair amount of petty thieving - DD's sleeping bag was stolen on the Sunday last year & she spent Sunday night wrapped in someone's coat.

It does help of course that we live so close - the first year DD came home on the trian every morning for a shower! but she hasn't bothered with that since.

If you have an old mobile phone it might be better for her to take that rather than one that might be a target for thieves - DD always takes my old one, thoough if she uses it much the charge is unlikely to last the weekend.

As for food, the festival is within a walk of the town centre, where food will be cheaper - last year DD seemed to exist on pasta & Marmite and cucumbers!

If you're worried about her finding her tent, get her one of these that she can paint in an easily identifiable way (though if she brings it back, I wouldn't read all the comments it will probably acquire if you are at all prudish....)
Otherwise, I'd recommend one of these as they are easy to carry & put up - packing them away does need quite a bit of practice first.
Oh, and tell her not to pitch the tent near the toilets - DS did this the first year because he thought it would be convenient - they were woken up all night by people falling over the guy ropes & the smell was pretty unpleasant after the first day!

I'm sure she'll love it & be fine.

If there's anything else you need to know, just ask (I'm normally RustyBear btw, I'm only The LadyofShalott atm becacause the Curse has come upon me, in the shape of MIL staying...)

great advice rusty

the painted tent looks good,will look that up.

that other tent looks ideal as well.

just not sure how much money she's willing to spend

she's not here now but I may be back to ask more later thanks

My dd went at sixteen too with a mixed group of friends and loved it, she came home full of mud, exhausted but smiling. I was really worried about her going too, but you just have to trust them and hope for the best.
As for advice, tie a flag or pom-pom, or even a bright carrier bag to the tent to make it recognisable, take those little travel packs of tissues instead of loo roll,wipes for washing with and lots of food.
Oh-wellies, v.important.

There's always a high police presence and lots of security.
Will she be going by train? If so there's a shuttle bus from Reading station to the capsites at Rivermead. (www.reading-buses.co.uk)
Also there's shops at caversham which is a 10 min walk so they could get food from shops there if needed.

James

Lots of info here
You might like to read the checklist & Personal safety bits to your DD - she will probably say 'Yeah mum, I know', but sometimes it sticks...

Tell her not to get too drunk to stay with her friends and not sleep in any of teh larger tents on site if she does get too drunk, don't accept anytging from anyone and to have a fab time, if she needs food or drink andhas no money there is usually a place to get soup etc from for nothing.

I went to Reading lots of times when I was teenager but that was in the Dark Ages

Patti Smith, The Police, Motorhead........

She'll have a great time!! come home stinking and tired

I second.. if she gets drunk... to stay with friends and not accept anything from anyone.

Wellies and give her a pack of babywipes.. they will be a godsend!

I survived reading many times in my youth..most of its a blur tho

great thanks for all the reassurance
and thansk for the link rusty

kinda wish I was a teen again

the site is walking distance from waitrose, which is still cheaper than the Festival. We used to wander into town every morning and get something filling to eat, beer from Sainsburys etc. Going in a big group is definately sensible, you need someone keeping an eye on the tents nearly all the time TBH.

oh christ -dd will be stocking up on waitrose pasta salads ,she'd better start saving now

I went at 15 and 16. Amazing fun. Don't remember any trouble at all but I do remember the most amazing Chili Peppers performance (show my age) and just having the coolest time.

I live in reading and we go most years, although not this one as dh forgot to get tickets!!!!

theres a waitrose in caversham just over the bridge (she'll know which bridge i mean when she gets there, over the bridge by the hotel and turn right carryo ona dn theres a shopping precint with costa coffee, superdrug, waitrose and a tesco express)

i live on the toher side of reasing but am happy to provide my number for emegencies but i am sure as long as she is reasonably sensible she will be fine. and i would say the most she needs to worry about is theft so don;t take anything she really wouldn;t want to part with, stay away form drugs and above all have a fab time.