Tramlines

Live music in a massive park what could go wrong.

Friday day one. So, we entered the park via the accessibility entrance. Bags were checked and wrist bands received. The accessibility access was there to make my tramlines experience less of a hassle- well that’s what I thought!

The place was packed, heaving crowds of people turned out to see live music in the rain. The ground was muddy and that wasn’t great underfoot. With boots in situ (my mum would say sensible shoes) we made our way like the tag team through the crowds, holding hands so no one fell or got lost. The night was young and manic street preachers were playing.

I had my first encounter with a disabled porter loo- not bad! I did remind myself that it was only day one, hence why the flush was working and there was bog roll.

The bar was packed. My accessibility band allowed me to use the bar with ease last year. There was a separate entrance and exist making the whole experience more manageable. Queuing is not great for me, standing still and then moving with a crowd, sounds easy but takes careful consideration. My spatial awareness is laughable and walking carrying drinks can often result in returning with empty glasses. Not ideal at £5.50 a pint. So I took it upon myself to talk to the security, who were dressed in yellow with important ear devices in. It’s hard explaining yourself. Explaining why things are difficult, especially when you look and appear so “normal” it’s embarrassing and having to shout this information due to the ear device and loud music this was a tad overwhelming. The chap had no idea what I was on about and radioed to a colleague who also had no idea. Great! Accessibility should make things easier, not harder. After several minutes I was able to access the bar from the front. How great! Not really when swarms of people are coming towards, trying to leave the bar with pints balancing from every finger and you are spatial awareness means you often move out of the way too late risking the prospect of wearing the drinks people are carrying!

The music was brilliant we were singing and smiling, laughing and joking. Feeling good. I had my friends around me and this was great.

The night ended on day number one at tramlines with the two door cinema club. I had never heard of them but they were good. The time had gone so fast. It was time to venture home.

Oh what a joy…. no public transport. Trams were packed with people squashed on and not a single bus was passing on the main road. Or a taxi (Crying noise) we had no choice but to walk from the park to the city centre. 3.5 miles to be exact. Now, I’m not lazy. Far from it. My mind thinks tasks like this are easy, my body however has other ideas. I’m not gonna bore you with the details……. of my shin splits, the balls of my feet hurting, my inability to keep up with the others, my fatigue during the task in hand. Oh and my bus journey once I arrived at the city centre! Then another walk from the bus stop home. Now I sound like a right party pooper, I’m certainly not. Just trying to put things into perspective. Some things are difficult.

Day number two, Saturday. I had not fully recovered from the 3.5 mile ordeal the night before. Haha! But today was a new day a great line up, the sun was out at last and more singing and smiling was on the agenda. These kind of events surrounded by friends are certainly good for the soul. I had forgotten for a while last nights ordeal and was having a whole heap of fun. We enjoyed each other’s company and laughed so much. We ate chips and cheese a classic combo. Listen to local Sheffield bands… no oven no pie! Courtesy of the everly pregnant brothers. I watched reverend and the makers, thinking that Laura McClure is a lucky lass! 😂 We left the venue early to ensure we didn’t have a situation like the night before. The tram home was empty, this was more like it. Perfect. No hassle, no hiking home. Shin splits still hurting but distracted by the fact I knew I would be home very soon.

Then disaster strikes 01:45.. tummy ache and running to the toilet…..

The following morning I was shattered. I had drank 3 pints of water from the drinking station at tramlines- I wondered how clean those pipes were!

Sunday day 3. Feeling drained from lack of sleep with the toilet events during the night. I checked in with the girls and said I might have to bail. Toast and water sorted me out and I suddenly realised that I’m not 21 anymore…. This doesn’t mean I can’t have fun, dance until my feet hurt, laugh until I nearly pee my pants! sing the wrong words to EVERY song. I surround myself with beautiful people, two very special people helped me through this weekend. Collected me in their car. Offered me a hand told, made me laugh when things got difficult. Said I would be ok and they were right. What a cracking weekend. We went back in time watching The Riffles, I dragged Penny some years ago to the leadmill to watch this band! Blast from the past. Lewis Capaldi cracked some jokes. The sun was out and we rocked the fancy two step (dad dance) to Nile Rodgers.